On Saturday 14 December and Sunday 15 December we had services in honour of the Holy Prophet Habbakuk (Avvakum) (7^th Cent. B.C.). Although the service on Saturday evening was a quiet one, our church was full on Sunday morning, with many young children receiving Holy Communion. During the Communion of the clergy, the choir sang the beautiful irmosi – the opening hymns of the canon – of the Nativity of Christ. The appointed reading from the Gospel was that of the Rich Young Man (Luke 18:18-27) who, despite having kept the commandments from his youth up, stumbled at the prospect of giving up his wealth. In his sermon the parish rector spoke of the importance of not trying to serve God on our own terms, and of the Lord’s promise of eternal life to those who turn away from things in this passing life for the sake of their salvation.