On Saturday 15 March and Sunday 16 March we had services for the Second Sunday of Great Lent and in honour of Saint Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica (+1359 AD).  Matins was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning.  Our church was beautifully decorated with flowers donated by the family of the late Nina Lichman (+17 February 2025).  As Saturday 15 March was a day of commemoration of the departed, Matins was preceded by a general panikhida.   As an act of kindness in memory of their departed ones, those attending the panikhida brought non-perishable foods to be passed to a local charitable organisation for relief of the homeless.  At Divine Liturgy on Sunday the parish rector was assisted by Protodeacon Martin Naef and prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine.  We were joined by friends from Sydney and Newcastle.  At the end of Divine Liturgy prayers of blessing were read over a new black set of priest’s vestments that will be used for the first time during Holy Week this year.