In what manner can man upon earth, clothed as he is with mortality, return to incorruption? I answer, that this dying flesh must be made partaker of the life-giving power which cometh from God. But the life-giving power of God the Father is the Only-begotten Word: and Him He sent to us as a Saviour and Deliverer. And He became flesh in order that, having implanted Himself in us by an inseparable union, He might raise us above the power both of death and corruption. For He clothed Himself in our flesh, that by raising it from the dead, He might prepare a way henceforth, by which the flesh which had been humbled unto death might return anew unto incorruption... And Paul testifies, "For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead" (1 Cor. 15:21).

     Therefore by having united unto Himself that flesh which was subject to death, the Word being God and Life drove away from it corruption, and made it also to be the source of life...When therefore we eat the holy flesh of Christ, the Saviour of us all, and drink His precious blood, we have life in us, being made as it were, one with Him, and abiding in Him, and possessing Him also in us.

     The peace, love and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us all.

     My beloved, I would like to express my gratitude for the generosity and kindness of heart that you have shown towards your needy brothers and sisters in Egypt, the Brethren of the Lord.

     From the depths of my heart, I would like to congratulate you on the Holy Resurrection Feast. May the Lord fill your lives with all spiritual blessings, joy and peace.

Christ is risen.

     Our celebration of this glorious and holy feast should be spiritually oriented. We can not lose sight of what our Lord bestowed upon us by His glorious resurrection. Our Lord Jesus did not resurrect only to resurrect us with him upon our Day of Judgment. That alone would not have warranted or justified the Lord's incarnation and resurrection. Rather, "the Word became flesh" (John 1:14), "bore our sins," "carried our sorrows" (Is. 53:4, 1 Pet. 2:24), suffered for us, was crucified, buried, and rose from the dead to give humanity the power of His resurrection. This "first resurrection" (Rev. 20:5) enables us to experience and share in the power of the Lord's resurrection now, in the present life of this world.

     In Revelation, John reveals the first resurrection. He declares, "Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection" (Rev. 20:6).

     Our Lord has stated and confirmed the same concept when He says, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead [because of their transgressions and their ungodliness] will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live" (John 5:25). Our Lord also affirms the first resurrection when He says, "I am the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live" (John 11:25).

"That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection..." (Phil. 3:10).

"And [God] raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:6).

"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God" (Col. 3:1).

     Also, during the Holy Liturgy, we sing, "For you are the Life of us all, the Salvation of us all, the Hope of us all, the Healing of us all, and the Resurrection of us all" (The Prayer for the Gospel).

     This first resurrection, my beloved, is the work of God through His Spirit that dwells in us. Our teacher Paul the Apostle further explains, "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you" (Rom. 8:11). His Spirit can, and does, transform us into joyous, victorious and living beings.

     Upon this most blessed of feasts, we are pleased to inform you that, through the unceasing compassion of our resurrected Lord and through your constant prayers, the service has undergone some advancements in order to better serve the Brethren of the Lord (people in need).

     As of late, eight distinct structured groups have taken form for the purpose of better adapting the servants to the specific needs of the service. These groups are Member Services, Christian Education, Publications, Internet, Research, Distribution & Mail, In-Kind Contributions, and Servants' Orientation. 

     We thank our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for allowing us to better serve His brethren through these additions, and in future newsletters, we will continue to update you on the progression of the service.