Saint Mary Magdalene Orthodox Church - Schedule of Services

The Three Great Days

nospam@example.com (Fr. David) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:01:00 -0700

Lamenting the Crucified Christ

Orthodox Pascha!

We are beginning the Three Great Days in the worship life of our Church. There is no holier time than now, when we re-present the saving mystery of our Lord's passion, death, and resurrection. To see the major services of our Holy Week & Pascha, click HERE.

This is a time of intensified prayer and fasting...of reflection on what God has done for us in Christ, and where each one of us is at in relation to our salvation in Christ.

Continue reading "The Three Great Days"

Parish Calendars for Summer, 2008

nospam@example.com (Fr. David) — Sat, 31 May 2008 09:14:07 -0700

Click on the following links to see or download our parish calendar of events for the following months:

Calendar for the month of June, 2008: 2008.06.church.pdf
Calendar for the month of July, 2008: 2008.07.church.pdf
Calendar for the month of August, 2008: 2008.08.church.pdf

See also our church's online, interactive calendar. (If you are computer savy, you can subscribe and integrate this into your own computer calendar.)

The Christmas Cycle 2007

nospam@example.com (Fr. David) — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 18:18:02 -0800

Christmas, 2007: an invitation to Something More

We of the St. Mary Magdalene Orthodox Church (SMMOC) in Merced invite you to join us for Christmas services. Our Christmastime worship of God uses ancient Christianity’s living holy tradition and liturgy to center our hearts on God himself as well as on the truths of authentic Christian Faith. You might have heard that Orthodox churches celebrate the Nativity of Christ (that is, “Christmas”) on January 7^th, but that’s not true for our church here in Merced. We at SMMOC celebrate Christmas on December 25^th, like most everybody in America.

A Cycle of Christmas Services?

In talking about our Christmas services, I have had folks say to me, "You have services on Christmas Day?"

Yes, indeed! Many folks today might be surprised — perhaps even shocked — that the historic Christian Church had a wonderful cycle of services for Christmas, including Christmas Day itself. When I say a “cycle,” I mean services “before,” “on” and even “after.”

Continue reading "The Christmas Cycle 2007"

Schedule of Services

nospam@example.com (Michael F.) — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 03:39:57 -0700

Please visit the Calendar Here

SATURDAY EVENING WORSHIP:

Vespers: 6 pm

"Vespers" means evening, and so Vespers is evening worship, and is associated with the setting of the sun. Saturday evening "Great" Vespers prepares God's people for Sunday morning Holy Eucharist.

SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP:

The Hours: 9:40 am

The Office of the Third and Sixth Hours is done just prior to main service of the Divine Liturgy, or Holy Eucharist. These "Hours" are chanted simply, by a Reader; they are a great time for preparing for the Divine Liturgy, centering our hearts on God. During the Hours it is possible (though not ideal, due to time contraints) to receive the Sacrament of Holy Confession, or Reconciliation; please do not hesitate to do so.

Divine Liturgy: 10 am

The service of the Divine Liturgy is the Holy Eucharist, which is the main Sunday morning service. It has a twofold nature: the Word of God, and Holy Communion. All are welcome to join is the worship responses as they feel led, and to make a candle prayer-offering, etc. However, Holy Communion is available only to those who have confessed their full unity of faith and life with the Holy Orthodox Church. We long for the union of all Christians, and understand Communion as the fulfillment--and not the means of attaining--true Christian unity.

The Divine Liturgy is followed by our Fellowship ("coffee") Hour. All are urged to join us for refreshment and a time of fellowship. The location is the Mercy Education Annex, on Canal Street, just a block down from the chapel.

Other Major Feast Days, Seasons, and Services:

We also serve the offices of all the Great Feasts of the Church Year, in addition to a relatively full schedule of the services for Great Lent, Holy Week, and Pascha. Please see the "Calendar" pages of this website, or call, for times of special feastday services.