My dear brothers and sisters in faith,

I greet you in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus The Christ.

Today the Second Sunday of Lent (Sowma) I preached about the necessity of Sowma and what our focus should be on, and I thought it would be beneficial if I share our decision with you through social media.

We are asking everyone to join us this week in fasting from anger, yes anger. I am asking everyone for the next six weeks to join us as we fast every week from a certain weakness that is destroying our self, family, friends, and the community at large. We are starting today, Sunday the 14^th, with anger, no matter what happens to you this week you will not get angry. How is this possible, you might ask, “all things are possible through Christ our Lord” the Bible says. Pray about it every day, multiple times if you need daily.

This does not mean that we don’t observe fasting from certain kinds of food, we continue to do that, but that is not the focus of Sowma, that should only serve as a reminder about the spiritual cleansing we are going through.

Please join us and spread the word, let us defeat Satan and enjoy life as it is meant to be.

With Love and Blessings,

Cor-Bishop George Bet-Rasho.

Happy Valentine’s Day

Locally, On Sunday, April 12, 2015 a special memorial service will be held honoring his legacy (His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV) at St. Mary's Church. 5955 Lindley Avenue, Tarzana, California at 2:00pm

His Beatitude Mar Gewargis Sliwa, Metropolitan of Iraq elected Catholicos-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East. The Metropolitan will take the ecclesiastical name 'Mar Gewargis III' following his forthcoming consecration in St John's Cathedral, Erbil, Iraq on Sunday, 27 September 2015.

https://www.facebook.com/AssyrianNationalBroadcasting/videos/423396567862239/?fref=nf

St. Mary’s Parish

Assyrian Church of the East - Los Angeles

To all the Faithful and Caring People.

The Assyrian Church of the East, St Mary’s Parish, will be holding a special prayer on Friday February 27th 7:30pm at St Mary’s Church located on 5955 Lindley Avenue, Tarzana, in support of our brothers and sisters who have been eradicated from their homes located in the northeast part of Syria, namely the 35 Assyrian villages on both sides of the Khabur River. Hundreds of families have been displayed. Over 150 men, women, children, elderly and clergy have been captured by ISIS. Let us all unite our efforts in support of our brothers and sisters.

We are also asking everyone to call the White House on Thursday, February 26, 2015. (202)456-1111 or (202)456-1414. When calling use following statement:

“Hello, My name is [First Name, and Last Name], and I live in [City, State].

I am calling about the recent attacks that occurred this week on the Assyrian Christians in Syria by the so called terrorist group ISIS.

In this raid, ISIS militants abducted at least 150 Assyrians, mostly women and children, and have threatened to execute them if the Kurdish militias in the region do not release several ISIS militant prisoners.

Please, Mr. President we beg you to continue to stand as a leader on human rights. We cannot now stand by idly and watch at these people are pushed from their indigenous lands as a result of  our past actions. It is incumbent on the United States to act affirmatively on behalf of the survival of the Assyrian people in their homeland.

I thank you for your time.”

For those of you who would like to donate to support the displaced, please go to theAcero.org or make a donation at any of our church offices. The Assyrian Church has immediately sent $50,000 from our US parishes, and is in the process of sending $50,000 more within the next 10 days.

Please support our cause.

Cor-Bishop Father George Bet Rasho