Divine Liturgy, Saturday, March 22, 2008,
on the Sretenje Monastery grounds in Escondido, California

Литургија у Манастиру Сретење, 22. мартa 2008

По устаљеном обичају, сваке суботе у Манастиру Сусрета Господњег, у Ескондиду, на југу Калифорније, служи се Света Литургија. У ову суботу, 22. марта, Литургију је служио домаћи Епископ Максим, уз саслужење свештеника Милана Вуковића, Лазара Васиљевића, јеромонаха Нектарија Радовановића и Јована Бабића. Пре само две недеље, овде је био сабор благочестивих верника из Сан Дијега, Лос Анђелеса, Оранџ Каунтија,, Чикага, Сијетла, Сан Франциска, Краљева... који су дошли ради подршке оснивању првог православног манастира на југу Калифорније, који ниче помоћу несебичних ктитора Ратка и Јованке Ђекић, али и других доброжелатеља.
После трпезе љубави одбор за изградњу Манастира је одржао састанак на коме се расправљало о следећим етапама изградње.

Photo by Miroslav Boskovic

By the Grace of God, our Western American Diocese celebrates its forty-fifth anniversary this year. There is no more blessed way to express the great joy and thankfulness for our many blessings than by building to the glory of God the first Orthodox Monastery in Southern California.  As a result, this Serbian Monastery, dedicated to the Feast of the Meeting of Our Lord God and Savior Christ in the Temple, will be a spiritual oasis for all Orthodox Christians and every God-seeking, thirsty soul.

The prayers offered at a monastery by monks and nuns are not just for their individual salvation: the prayers are offered for the salvation of all of you wherever you live and the salvation of the whole World.  The monastery is a place where we encounter God’s presence; a place where we can find a true peace and solitude; a place where we can find comfort when we are in travail, strength when we are weak, light when we are in darkness; a place where we can retreat from the world to strengthen and renew our spirituality.  Without the ascetical ethos as manifested in monasticism, our modern civilization and society would reach the tragic dead-ends of its life.

Truly we are blessed, as God has given us the opportunity to continue in the path of Saint Sava, the Saints of the Nemanjic family and other founders of our holy Churches and Monasteries.  Just as Faith in God expressed through the Holy Orthodox Church was of singular importance to our ancestors, so also it must be for us.  Living and unshakable, our Faith teaches us that there are both temporal and eternal things.  Our Lord guides us, saying: "What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet to forfeit his soul?  For what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Mark 8: 36-37).  Truly, we cannot exchange anything greater for our souls than to erect a monastery, a temple of God, a home of prayer for us, for our children and for future generations.

With God’s help, we are ready to embark upon the first step toward our goal – creating the conditions for the construction of a small church and living quarters for monastics on the land donated by Ratko and Jovanka Djekic.  We must obtain governmental approvals, conduct soils testing, obtain engineering reports and prepare architectural drawings and plans.  As you can readily see, financial support from our faithful is necessary in order for us to start this blessed task and project.

St. Paul teaches us (2 Cor. 8-9) that every Christian has a stewardship responsibility.  “Every man according as he purposes in his heart, let him give.”  In this way, our Holy Orthodox Church grew and accomplished its work throughout the centuries.

Let the words of Saint Sava guide us, “Faith can save us only (when) united with and expressed in good works, inspired by the love of God.”  Working together for the glory of God and giving sacrificially, we will meet our goals.

May our Lord bless and reward you for your love and generosity!

Maxim, Bishop of Western America

Directions to the Monastery:  Take highway 78, which turns into Lincoln Parkway, east.  Turn south on Broadway, then east on Washington Ave.  Go across Bear Valley Parkway (highway S6) and Washington becomes Hidden Trails Rd.  Turn east (left) at Meadow Creek, which turns into Guejito Grade Rd. at the pipe-framed gate.  At the fork go right, which is Stonebridge Rd. and that brings you onto the monastery grounds.

THE MEETING OF OUR LORD, JESUS CHRIST, IN THE TEMPLE

 MONASTERY  BUILDING FUND

GIFTS TO TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE AS ALLOWED BY LAW.

We hope you will take time to:
Reflect on the meaning your Orthodox faith and Church have in your life;
Think about the opportunity you have to carry on in the tradition of our ancestors 
through this building project and what it will mean to future generations;
Make a meaningful and sacrificial decision to support this project at a level of
giving which challenges you and is commensurate with your true ability to give;
Complete and return a donation/pledge form as soon as possible and mail it to:

The Meeting of Our Lord God and Savior, Jesus Christ, in the Temple Monastery
2541 Crestline Terrace, Alhambra, CA 91803

The Meeting of Our Lord God and Savior, Jesus Christ, in the Temple Monastery

Building Fund Pledge Form

In response to the Building Fund Campaign for The Meeting of Our Lord God and Savior, Jesus Christ, in the Temple Monastery,

 I/we pledge the amount of $_________________ as follows:

Gift enclosed: $_____________ Pledge balance: $____________ to be paid as follows:

$_______________**            Date________________**

$_______________**            Date________________**

Donor information (Please print):

Name(s):________________________________________________________________

Home Address:___________________________________________________________

City___________________________________State________Zip Code______________

Signature (s)_____________________________________________________________

Contributions are tax-deductible as provided by law.  Checks should be made payable to:

Western American Diocese Monastery Fund.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT!

The Meeting of Our Lord God and Savior, Jesus Christ, in the Temple Monastery
2541 Crestline Terrace, Alhambra, CA 91803

The Western American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church
cordially invites you to attend
Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, Banquet, and Monastery Fundraiser
Saturday, March 8, 2008, 10:00 a.m.,
on the Monastery grounds in Escondido, California.

Directions to the Monastery:  Take highway 78, which turns into Lincoln Parkway, east.  Turn south on Broadway, then east on Washington Ave.  Go across Bear Valley Parkway (highway S6) and Washington becomes Hidden Trails Rd.  Turn east (left) at Meadow Creek, which turns into Guejito Grade Rd. at the pipe-framed gate.  At the fork go right, which is Stonebridge Rd. and that brings you onto the monastery grounds.