Thank you to those who cleaned in preparation for our Holy Week and Paschal feast! We had a record turnout this year with volunteers and appreciate your time and hard work! Our celebration was enriched by those who ordered our palms, pussy willows and flowers, assembled, organized and guarded the tomb, gathered our candle bearers and our procession participants and coordinated our celebration after Great and Holy Pascha! Your support and organization made this Feast a seamless celebration! Holy Saturday and Pascha also had record attendance this year. Our church basement was full after baskets were blessed – a wonderful celebration!
Our Lenten journey was enriched by meaningful testimonials on almsgiving. Five pledging units have formally reached out to increase their pledge to the church. Others have simply given more in their weekly offering. We will continue to report on our progress to improve our financial position each month.
The Cleveland Chapter of the International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) hosted a Bright Friday fund raising event at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church. The IOCC, in the spirit of Christ’s love, offers emergency relief and development programs to those in need worldwide, without discrimination, and strengthens the capacity of the Orthodox Church to so respond. The event was well attended, included Russian and other ethnic dancing and will be hosted again in 2027. Archangel Michael donated two Cleveland Guardians themed baskets that included tickets for a June Guardians game. Five parishioners attended this event and we hope to expand our participation next year.
I want to wish all of our Mothers, Grandmothers, Great Grandmothers, Godmothers and Mothers to be, a Happy Mother’s Day! I hope you can join us as we celebrate with lunch at Woodside after Divine Liturgy. Special thanks for Mary Jane Lucak (of blessed Memory) and Robin Lucak for organizing this event! Mary Jane hosted this luncheon for many years as well as leading our Woodside Event Center from its inception until her retirement – our ultimate party planner. Memory Eternal!
