SAINT JAMES ORTHODOX CHURCH

Transcription

1 SAINT JAMES ORTHODOX CHURCH 195 N. Main Street Milpitas, Ca Saturdays Vespers 5:00 p.m. Sundays Matins 8:00 a.m. Sundays Liturgy 10:30 a.m. The Very Reverend Fr. Jiris Hanna (408) Fr. Dcn. Joseph Kawar (408) Issue No. 647 Sunday June 19 (6/6), 2016 Pentecost Trinity Sunday Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Disciples St. Hilarion the New, abbot of the Dalmatian Monastery (845) احد العنصرة تذكار ابينا البار ايالريون الجديد )بهيج( رئيس دير الدلماتن Matins: John 20:19 23 Epistle: Acts 2:1 11 Gospel: John 7:37 52; 8:12 Services This Week Saturday 6/18 at 10am سبت األموات Dead Commemoration of the Please bring Bread Offering and the names of your departed loved ones to commemorate their souls. Trisagion memorial service will be held at the end of the liturgy. Pentecost Sunday Sunday June 19 The ten days between Ascension and Pentecost in the Church are unusual. In some sense we have been living between two realities. On the leave-taking of Pascha we ceased the sustained celebration of the Holy Resurrection of the Lord as well as our saying, Christ Is Risen. Truly He is Risen. The next day we celebrated the Glorious Ascension of our Savior into the heavens to sit at the right hand of the Father. For these days between Ascension and Pentecost we have been in a waiting mode. We, like the Apostles of old, have been heeding our Lord s ascension instructions to wait in Jerusalem to be clothed with power from on high (St. Lk. 24:49). We have been waiting for the Holy Spirit to come. Why were the Apostles waiting? The obvious answer to this question is that they were waiting because the Lord Jesus commanded them to tarry until Pentecost. There is, however, much more to this waiting than that. We must understand very clearly the difference between the apostles before Pentecost and after Pentecost. Something dramatic happened to them that changed them personally. They were transformed. Fear turned into martyric boldness; fishermen became the world s teachers; doubt was replaced by mountain-moving faith. All because of Pentecost. Some of us do not understand the necessity of Pentecost. Pentecost is revelation of the Holy Trinity to the world. This is why this Feast is also called Trinity Day in the Church. The Apostles knew the Father. They had become the disciples of the Son. And now they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Pentecost is also the birthday of the New Testament Church. It is the democratization of the Spirit of God to all believers. It is the unification of all mankind. Holy Pentecost is the evidence that

2 Christianity is not a man-made or earthly religion. It is not a set of ethical standards. It is not for moral guidance. Christianity is a miraculous and divine communion between God and man. Christianity is the spiritualization or divination of man. If Christianity were simply a man-made religion, even if it were the best and most beautiful man-made religion, there would be no need for the disciples to tarry in Jerusalem these days awaiting Pentecost. Why would they need to? They had for years lived in close contact with Christ, and had been His most intimate students. They could have simply begun to write and teach and pass on what they had learned. They had been fully trained, and so it is time to start training. This is how it is with every other of the world s religions. Not so with Christianity. Christianity is not about ideas, moral guidance, ethical norms, social structures, etc.. Christianity, of course, is not free from these things, but this is not what Holy Orthodoxy is about. Holy Orthodoxy is about the coming of the Holy Spirit into man. It is about human transformation and deification, not ideas. There is no Christianity without Pentecost. Orthodoxy without the Holy Spirit is not Orthodoxy. Many Christians tragically live between Ascension and Pentecost. With that said is it not tragic how often we live with our Orthodoxy as a set of ideas? We think we are Orthodox because we believe certain things in our heads and were born or converted to a certain family or at a certain time. If the Apostles had remained in the state they were in between Ascension and Pentecost they would never have brought the Gospel to the world. They would never have become the great saints they did. They would never have crushed the demons like they did. They did all of these things because they were living in union with the Holy Spirit of God. Sometimes we Orthodox, evidence little proof that we are living post-pentecost. Our faith is weak. We are bound by sins. We have little Christian joy. We read or listen to the Acts of the Apostles and think that the Apostles were living a different way of life. We pick up and read a book on the life of a particular saint and the saint s mode of being appears to us to be foreign and almost unintelligible. Why? Because we are not living in the Holy Spirit. We are more like the fearful and doubting disciples prior to Pentecost. Others around us seem to be radiant. They endure trials with joy. They don t worry. Why? Because they are in a dynamic relationship with the Holy Spirit. They are sincerely praying the Prayer to the Holy Spirit, O Heavenly King, O Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, Who art in all places and filleth all things, the Treasury of Good Things and Giver of Life, come and abide in us, and cleanse us from every stain, and save our souls O Good One. The Holy Spirit is in these ones abiding in them, cleanses them, and saving them! Christianity without Pentecost is Empty Form! If our Orthodox life is not permeated with the presence of the Holy Spirit it is all in vain! Consider first that the Holy Sacraments or Mysteries of the Church are all dependent completely upon the Holy Spirit. Baptism saves us because we are not born of the water alone, but of water and the Spirit (St.Jn. 3:3-5). Chrismation itself is an individual s personal Pentecost. The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Ordination is the special bequeathal of the Holy Spirit to men, and the substance of the priesthood is that priests bear the Holy Spirit in the community. This is why our Lord gathered the twelve together and breathed upon them and said, Receive the Holy Spirit. Whoever s sins you remit are remitted. Whoever s sins you retain are retained (St. John 20:23). Marriage is simply temporal and earthly if it is not consecrated by the Holy Spirit and bound together in His love. Holy Unction without the Holy Spirit is simply a complex skin treatment! It is the Holy Spirit in the sacred oil healing our souls and bodies! Confession is insincere and pointless unless it is a Spirit-inspired compunction and a Spirit-empowered absolution. And think of the Mystery of Mysteries and the Sacrament of Sacraments: the Holy Eucharist. The existence of the Holy Eucharist is completely dependent upon the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit Whom the priest calls down upon the Holy Table: changing them by Thy Holy Spirit.

3 This liturgical reality is beautifully evidenced in many different saints lives, especially those saints who were bishops or priests responsible for the celebration of the Eucharist. The story is told of St. Basil the Great that he had hanging over his altar a beautiful oil lamp made in the form of a golden dove. Always at the time of the transformation of the gifts the dove would begin to swing. A similar story is told about our Holy Father St. John of San Francisco and Shanghai. St. John would see the Holy Spirit descend as fire into the holy chalice as he served liturgy. On one occasion the liturgy was delayed because St. John would not go on since he saw no fire. Wondering why he turned to his deacon and saw his face was covered over in a black cloud. Asking the deacon what was wrong the deacon confessed that he had not prepared for the liturgy properly. Once the deacon divested and left the altar the fire came and liturgy could continue. All of the Holy Mysteries are empty forms without the Holy Spirit, and this may be said about all matters of our faith and practice. Fasting is simply dieting if it is not an attempt to acquire the Holy Spirit. It is not a coincidence that our Lord went into the desert to fast for forty days led by the Holy Spirit (St. Lk. 4:1). Sin is not overcome except by the Holy Spirit. He is One Who enables us to mortify the deeds of the body (Rom. 8:13). We could go on and on. There is no prayer without the Holy Spirit praying in us. There is no church without the Holy Spirit. There is no Church Temple without the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit lives there. If He does not then the Temple becomes a Temple of Satan (Rev. 2:9). All of our Christian effort and spiritual struggle is guided toward this one thing: obtaining an increase of the Holy Spirit. This is what it means to become spiritual. This is the goal of Christianity: the union of man with God by the Holy Spirit. Let us not betray the true nature of our religion by living as though Orthodoxy was about ideas, morals, etc.. Nonsense. Christianity is about becoming one with the True God: by grace becoming what He is. Now to God the Father, and to the Ascended Lord Jesus Christ, and to the Holy Spirit poured forth today be all glory. Amen. We will have a special Kneeling Service for the Pentecost immediately after the Liturgy service this Sunday. أحد العنصرة العظيم المقد س - ١٩ حزيران في هذا اليوم األحد الثامن للفصح ن عي د عيد العنصرة. وهو عيد يهودي أصال. يحتفل فيه اليهود بذكرى نزول الشريعة على يد موسى كليم هللا. وكان أيض ا عيد الحصاد. د عي أيض ا "عيد األسابيع". ألنه يقع سبعة أسابيع أي خمسين يوم ا بعد الفصح. ولذلك د عي أيض ا "عيد الخمسين" وباليوناني ة "البندك ستي". من هنا اشتق اسم كتاب البندكستاريون أي كتاب خدمة الخمسين يوم ا. وبالعربي ة الخمسيني. الكنيسة تحتفل بإنجاز وعد ربنا وإلهنا ومخل صنا يسوع المسيح بإرسال الروح القدس على التالميذ األطهار بهيئة ألسنة نارية. وتعتبر الكنيسة هذا العيد عيد الثالوث القد وس. إلى هذا تشير صلوات الكنيسة: "ليرحمنا المسيح إلهنا الحقيقي الذي أفرغ ذاته من األحضان األبوي ة متنازال. وا تخذ الطبيعة البشري ة برم تها وأل هها. وبعد هذا صعد إلى السماء. وجلس عن يمين اآلب وأرسل الروح القدس اإلله األزلي. لينير ويقد س نفوسنا". تدعونا الكنيسة إلى السجود للثالوث القدوس بنشيد رائع ينتهي بهذه المجدلة الثالوثي ة المثل ثة: "قد وس هللا اآلب الذي أبدع كل شيء باالبن ومؤازرة الروح القدس. قد وس هللا االبن الذي به عرفنا اآلب وأتى الروح القدس إلى العالم. قد وس هللا الروح القدس المعزي الذي ال يموت. المنبثق من اآلب والمستريح في االبن. أي ها الثالوث القدوس المجد لك". وت عل منا أن نصل ي مرار ا وتكرار ا: "اآلب رجائي واالبن ملجإي والروح القدس وقائي. أي ها الثالوث القدوس المجد لك". وهكذا تعي د الكنيسة بفرح لحضور الروح وإنجاز الوعد وتمام الرجاء. تعي د لسر التقوى الشريف العظيم. ال ذي أجمل اآلباء القديسون الكالم عنه فدعوه: سر التدبير الخالصي الذي بلغ تمام ه وقمته وكماله يوم العنصرة. كما ي عتبر عيد العنصرة بحق عيد ميالد الكنيسة في القدس أم الكنائس كل ها ألنها كنيسة القيامة وكنيسة الروح القدس. سفر أعمال الرسل وصف حياة الكنيسة الناشئة بقوله: "كان المؤمنون األولون مع مريم أم يسوع. ومع الرسل والتالميذ مواظبين على تعليم الرسل والشركة وكسر الخبز والصلوات. وكان المؤمنون يعيشون مع ا. وكان كل شيء مشترك ا فيما بينهم. وكان لجمهور المؤمنين قلب واحد ونفس واحدة. وكان الرسل بقوة عظيمة يؤدون الشهادة بقيامة الرب يسوع. وكانت عليهم نعمة عظيمة. ولم يكن فيهم محتاج. وال ينفكون يعل مون ويبشرون بالمسيح يسوع. وكانت الكنيسة في سالم. تسلك في مخافة الرب. وتزداد نمو ا بمؤازرة الروح القدس". هذا الوصف لحياة الكنيسة األولى تحد كبير ودعوة ملحة موجهة إلى كنيسة اليوم في العالم. فبشفاعة رسلك القديسين أفض علينا روحك القد وس وثب تنا في إيمان الكنيسة الواحدة الجامعة المقد سة الرسولي ة. أي ها المسيح إلهنا وارحمنا. آمين

4 Icon of Pentecost The feast of Holy Pentecost is celebrated each year on the fiftieth day after the Great and Holy Feast of Pascha (Easter) and ten days after the Feast of the Ascension of Christ. The Feast is always celebrated on a Sunday. The Feast commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles on the day of Pentecost. It also celebrates the establishment of the Church through the preaching of the Apostles and the baptism of the thousands who on that day believed in the Gospel message of salvation through Jesus Christ. The Feast is also seen as the culmination of the revelation of the Holy Trinity. The story of Pentecost is found in the book of The Acts of the Apostles. In Chapter two we are told that the Apostles of our Lord were gathered together in one place. Suddenly, a sound came from heaven like a rushing wind, filling the entire house where they were sitting. Then, tongues of f ire appeared, and one sat upon each one of Apostles. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as directed by the Spirit (Acts 2:1-4). Icon of the Feast The icon of the Feast of Pentecost is known as "The Descent of the Holy Spirit". It is an icon of bold colors of red and gold signifying that this is a great event. The movement of the icon is from the top to the bottom. At the top of the icon is a semicircle with rays coming from it. The rays are pointing toward the Apostles, and the tongues of fire are seen descending upon each one of them signifying the descent of the Holy Spirit. The building in the background of the icon represents the upper room wher e the Disciples of Christ gathered after the Ascension. The Apostles are shown seated in a semicircle which shows the unity of the Church. Included in the group of the Apostles is Saint Paul, who, though not present with the others on the day of Pentecost, became an Apostle of the Church and the greatest missionary. Also included are the four Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John holding books of the Gospel, while the other Apostles are holding scrolls that represent the teaching authority given to them by Christ. The the center of the icon below the Apostles, a royal figure is seen against a dark background. This is a symbolic figure, Cosmos, representing the people of the world living in darkness and sin, and involved in pagan worship. However, the figure carries in his hands a cloth containing scrolls which represent the teaching of the Apostles. The tradition of the Church holds that the Apostles carried the message of the Gospel to all parts of the world. The tongue of fire rests above the head of Saint Peter. In the icon of Pentecost we see the fulfillment of the promise of the Holy Spirit, sent down upon the Apostles who will teach the nations and baptize them in the name of the Holy Trinity. Here we see that the Church is brought together and sustained in unity through the presence and work of the Holy Spirit, that the Spirit guides the Church in the missionary endeavor throughout the world, and that the Spirit nurtures the Body of Christ, the Church, in truth and love.

5 June 2016 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 7:30 pm Parish Bible Study 3 10:00 am Divine Liturgy Sts. Constantine & Helen 4 5pm Great Vespers 5 6 th Sunday of Pascha (Sunday of the Blind Man) 1:30pm Ladies Meeting :00 am Divine Liturgy Third Finding of the Head of St. John the Baptist 8 9 7:00 pm Divine Liturgy The Ascension of Our Lord Last Day of Sunday School 12 7 th Sunday of Pascha Sunday of the Holy Fathers :30 pm Board of Trustees Meeting 16 7:30 pm Parish Bible Study :00 am Divine Liturgy- Commemoration of the Dead 5:00pm Fund raising dinner for the Life Giving Spring Monastery Pentecost Sunday & Kneeling Service Father s Day Luncheon :00 am Divine Liturgy Holy Apostles Bartholomew and Barnabas 25 7:00 pm Skin Health Presentation & Dinner 26 Sunday of All Saints 27 Beginning of the Fast of the Holy Apostles Peter & Paul 28 Apostles Fast 29 Apostles Fast 30 Apostles Fast Notes:

6 ENVY In the beginning, envy is revealed through inappropriate zeal and rivalry, and later by fervour with spite and the blaming of the one who is envied. - St. Ambrose *** Food for the Soul *** Happy Father s Day For The Whole Parish Every 1 st & 3 rd Thursday of the month Next Session Thursday 6/16/16 at 7:30pm Please come for some food for the soul. We will split into three groups in the church, hall, and upstairs, with Fr. Giris, Fr. Moen, and Dn. Joseph. Attention Parents and Friends of 2016 Graduates! *** Final Week *** Please Don t Miss Sharing Your Good News With Us Any College or School Level Graduates: Please your graduation or regular pictures to sjoc@earthlink.net to be posted in the bulletin. All graduates pictures and greetings will be posted NEXT WEEK. Best Wishes and God Bless all the fathers for their Father s Day this Sunday. Scrip Scrip Scrip For Dads & Grads Father s Day and Graduations are just around the corner. Please consider buying Scrip gift cards for dads and your graduates. Big variety of restaurants and department stores. Complete list of retailers at Please allow one week for delivery. See or call Lilian (408) to place your order early. Lunch This Sunday June 19 will be provided by A parish family Thank you and God bless you. sjoc@earthlink.net for your bulletin personal announcements, comments, or feedback.

7 Mark Your Calendar St. James Annual Christmas Party Saturday November 19, 2016 Nimer & Arlene Mogannam 6/14 For Many Years! Mark Your Calendar St. James 11 th Annual Food Festival September 16, 17, 18 Happy Birthdays Nahla Nijmeh 6/13 Samantha Ammari 6/13 Siham Sousou 6/15 Luma Akkawi 6/15 Deana Zeidan 6/16 Elias B. Khoury 6/16 Tamara Saba 6/16 Jizelle Shehadeh 6/16 Jamieleh Saoud 6/18 George Mihaila 6/18 عقبال المئة سنة!!! Sunday Dress Shorts? With the hot summer days already here, shorts, short sleeves, and less clothes naturally become the normal dress code on Sundays! Of course they are much more comfortable to wear in warm days. And it becomes much easier to forget about the proper dress code for Orthodox services in the Orthodox Church: Long sleeves and long pants or dresses. We never want to wear short sleeves or shorts at a job interview. God s house deserves even a better dress. If you cannot be merciful, at least speak as though you are a sinner. If you are not a peacemaker, at least do not be a troublemaker. If you cannot be assiduous, at least in your thought be unlike a sluggard. If you are not victorious, do not exalt yourself over the vanquished. If you cannot close the mouth of a man who disparages his companion, at least refrain from joining him in this. - Saint Isaac the Syrian (of Nineveh) - 7 th century

8 True Beauty. Is it only Skin Deep? Dinner & Healthy Skin Workshop St. James Orthodox Church Saturday, June 25, :00-9:00pm $20 donation per person Dinner provided! True Beauty and real health, there is only one place where these two come together in a perfect blend; a glowing, vibrant skin. How can we create this perfect blend? Are expensive cosmetics the answer? Are there any other ways to build beautiful skin? Do your bathroom habits play any role? What is the one super food that makes all the difference? Get the answers to these and many more important questions on skin, hair, and nails health and beauty. Learn what are the myths and the reality of skin care and enjoy a great evening at the church. Come to this fun, entertaining, and above all educational lecture and bring a friend as well! Please contact Yanni (415) or Anna Keilo (650) to RSVP!

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