Sts. Peter & Paul Orthodox Christian Church

Transcription

1 Sts. Peter & Paul Orthodox Christian Church Sunday of the Carpatho- Russian Saints July 3, 2016 American Carpatho- Russian Diocese of the USA Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople Reverend Father William George SSPPACROD.ORG acrod.org campnazareth.org facebook.com/ acroddiocese youtube.com/ acroddiocese twitter.com/acrodnews Sun, July 3: + 8:15am + Thurs, July 7: +Divine Liturgy for the Birth of John the 9 am +Bible 6:30pm Service Schedule Mon, July 4: Tues, July 5: Wed, July 6: +Home Matins@8am +Office 9-5 +Great Vespers w/ 6 pm Fri, July 8: +Office Hours 9-5 The next class for the Bible study on the Epistle to the Romans is Thursday, July 6:30pm. It is not too late to join in! The second pirohi pinching session is Tuesday, July 19th at 9:30am. Thank You for all who helped with pirohi pinching this past Thursday! It was a wonderful time together of fellowship as we work to support our church that we love. The Sts. Peter and Paul Picnic is just around the corner. Sunday, July 17th after Divine Liturgy we will gather in the front yard for a picnic to celebrate our churches Patron Saints. Invite family and friends to attend this celebration. Epistle Reading Schedule 7/10 Alexa Fitzgerald 7/17 Lance Michealsen 7/24 Joe George Sunday Social Hour 7/10 Barbara Kmech 7/17 Sts. Peter and Paul Picnic 7/24 Joyce Lyasko Sat, July 9: + Great Vespers 5pm A Quick Look "The mouth which is continuously giving thanks, receives blessing from God. In the heart that always shows gratitude, grace abides." St. Isaac the Syrian Sun, July 10: + 8:15am + The Narthex Memorial Project is still underway see the poster in the back of the church for more information. We are looking for Delegates to go the SOBOR in October 9-12 in Johnstown, PA. The Saints Peter & Paul Fast begins Monday, June 20 and goes until Monday July 11th. The Semi Annual Meeting will be on Sun, Aug 21 after the Divine Liturgy. All Members are encouraged to attend to show your support and conciliarity as we work towards our salvation in Christ by working at our mission here as a church in a community in America.

2 Prayer List: Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:16 NKJV Sick: Desiree Stanchina, Peter Lyasko, Esther Horchor, Ann Willis, Marilyn/Tony George, Margot, Adam, Debbie, Rosalie Nemerovich, Michael Carmona, Klava Trofimova, Inna Kudryavtseva, Joan King, Eleni Matangos, Evangelia Portelos, Jeannette Webb, Elizabeth T., Mary Elizabeth, George Matangos, Gregory Griff, Dorothy Schmidl, Lillian, Sandi Mahtook, Sandi Reisbeck, Anna Hollis, Catherine Bowan, William O Keefe, Ann Smith, Anna Thompson, John Buzek, Sonia Geiger, Tatyana and Zoe Ellis, Dolores Falk, Joann Talmadge, Estella Vreeland Stewardship around the Parish Finish insulating priest vestment room Organize and clean shed Photographer for parish events Fix gutters on shed and church Install the new screen door in the church Call someone for maintenance on dishwasher Fix baseboard in Social hour hall Add rubber border outside candle closet(extra border is in attic) Please Note: If you need to speak with a priest during the week please call Fr. William at Rectory # If Fr. William is unavailable and it is an emergency please call Fr. John Theodosion his number is Readings and Saints for the Coming Week: Sun: Hieromartyr Methodius & Saints of all of Carpatho-Rus; Rom 2:10-16; Matt 4:18-23 Mon: Martyr Julian of Tarsus; Rom 7:1-13; Matt 9:36-10:8 Tues: Hieromartyr Eusebius; Rom 7:14-8:2; Matt 10:9-15 Wed: Martyr Agrippina; Rom 8:2-13; Matt 10:16-22 Thurs: Birth of John the Baptist; Rom 13:11-14:4; Luke 1:1-25, 57-68, 80 Fri: Virgin Martyr Febronia; Rom 9:6-19; Matt 10:32-36; 11:1 Sat: Venerable David of Salonica; Rom 3:28-4:3; Matt 7:24-8:4 One God, One Father; by Fr Thomas Hopko First of all, it is the Church s teaching and its deepest experience that there is only one God because there is only one Father. In the Bible the term God with very few exceptions is used primarily as a name for the Father. Thus, the Son is the Son of God, and the Spirit is the Spirit of God. The Son is born from the Father, and the Spirit proceeds from the Father both in the same timeless and eternal action of the Father s own being. In this view, the Son and the Spirit are both one with God and in no way separated from Him. Thus, the Divine Unity consists of the Father, with His Son and His Spirit distinct from Himself and yet perfectly united together in Him.

3 On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life: Part 47: Squandering God s Gifts "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62 RSV) The story is told of a young woman, a senior in high school, who tried out for the lead in the high school s spring play. She was a very talented young woman who wanted dearly to get that lead role. However, she was not chosen for the lead. She we offered a lesser, though significant, role in the play. In her disappointment she refused that role. In fact, she refused any role in the play. She spent her spring pouting in her room about that major disappointment. Looking back on the situation later, the young woman was sorry she had wasted her entire spring. She was lonely and she missed being with her friends. The play was a success, and she could not be a participant in the happy times that followed. She said, I learned a hard lesson that spring. As Jesus Christ made His way to Jerusalem for the last time, he was met by several people who want to follow Him and serve Him. Jesus first reminds them of the difficult road ahead. Some of the prospective followers then make excuses for not coming immediately. One has to bury his dead father. One wants to say good-bye at home. Following Christ, however, means no delay. Jesus says, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." So much for human excuses. What Jesus has to do and what we have to do as His followers is more important than everything and anythings else. No matter what the excuse, it does not matter to the Master. Everything is to be sacrificed for God s kingdom. If we have talents to use for the sake of the Kingdom, they are wasted if we misuse them, or, like the young woman in our story, we don t use them at all. But seemingly much worse is to make excuse for using them later (which usually means not using them at all). The young woman in our story missed out on the entire spring of her senior year. She missed her friends. She missed her opportunity to be a part of the group. All because she did not get her way. Good stewards give of their time and talents completely to God and the work that He can only do in us and through us. If we are to be followers of Christ, we must go. Go now. No excuses. Our Examples of Holiness Sainted Lucius (Leukios) the Confessor was born in the city of Alexandria of pious parents named Eudykios and Euphrosynia. They gave their son the name Eutropios. The mother died when the lad was 11 years old, and his father took monastic tonsure at the monastery of Saint Hermias, taking along his son with him to the monastery. The boy was raised under the spiritual guidance of the hegumen Nikita and also experienced monastic elders. The boy showed himself to be very capable, and assiduously he studied Holy Scripture. Eutropios grew up into a quiet, meek and obedient lad. When he reached age 18, the hegumen Nikita died. The brethren of the monastery unanimously chose Eutropios as hegumen, even though he was not yet tonsured into monasticism. Reckoning himself unworthy to guide someone at something he was not, Eutropios refused. For seven years the monastery of Saint Hermias remained without head. And in these years Eutropios, asceticising at monastic deeds, attained to an high degree of spiritual life. One time Eutropios set off on the feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God to visit all the churches of the Dormition in the surroundings of the city of Alexandria. At the celebrations presided Hellios, bishop of Heliopolis, together with his clergy. At the same time he visited the monastery headed by the hegumen Theodore. And it was at this monastery that both father and son then remained. By night the father Eudykios had a revelation about his own approaching end, and also that his son would become a bishop and enlighten with the light of the Christian faith the city and region of Brundusium (Grk. form Bruntisiopolis, now Brindisi in Calabria-Apuleia) in Italy. And in this same vision there was foretold for Eutropios his new name Lucius (Leukios), meaning "the Spirit of the Lord is come upon him". And it was on the Dormition feastday in the church of the Mother of God that bishop Hellios heard a voice from

4 Heaven, blessing "Leukios" for archpastoral service, and he directed the archdeacon to enquire of those praying who it was that bore this name. Then with love he blessed Saint Lucius and his father. The monks of the Hermias monastery earnestly besought the bishop to install Saint Lucius as hegumen of the monastery. Although the ascetic initially refused, considering himself unworthy, he then submitted himself to the bishop and was ordained to the priestly dignity and was made hegumen. From this time Saint Lucius intensified his efforts, and he was granted by God the grace of wonderworking, and casting out demons. One time a devil assumed the form of an immense serpent, and killed many in the nearby villages. The holy ascetic hastened to come to the aid of the villagers and he delivered them from the power of the devil. Seeing this, about three thousand pagans in the vicinity accepted Baptism. During this period the Alexandria bishop Philip died a martyr, and Saint Lucius was chosen in his place. Seeing that Saint Lucius was converting many a pagan to Christianity, the eparch Saturninus decided to kill him. And wanting to defend their archpastor, certain of the Christians wanted to kill the eparch. Learning of this, the saint forbade them to cause the eparch any harm. Saint Lucius declared to his flock, that the Lord had commanded him to go to a pagan land and to enlighten with the light of the Christian faith the city of Bruntisiopolis and its surrounding region. The holy archpastor established in his place a worthy bishop, and he then took with him the deacons Eusebios and Dionysios and five students, and they hastened onto a ship sailing for Italy. Along the way they were joined by the presbyters Leon and Sabinus, and upon their journey to Brundusium the saint met up with the tribune Armaleon and his 67 soldiers, all whom he converted to Christianity. In the city he began to preach to the people about Christ Jesus. The head of the city, named Antiochus, learned that the tribune Armaleon had converted to the faith in Christ, and so he summoned him and for a long time he asked questions about the Christian teaching. And learning about Saint Lucius, the governor wanted to meet him. At the meeting the governor said: "If thou desire that we believe in the God that thou preachest, beseech Him to send down rain upon our land, which we have not seen these two years already". The saint, having summoned his clergy and all the newly-baptised Christians, made fervent supplication, after which there poured down rain in abundance, soaking the parched earth. Seeing this miracle, Antiochus and all the city of Brundusium (27,000 people) accepted holy Baptism. In memory of this event, in the city was built a church in honour of the Mother of God, and at the spot where the people were baptised a second church, in honour of Saint John the Baptist. Soon the saint fell ill, and it was foretold to him in a vision, that he would die of the sickness. Summoning his spiritual son Antiochus, Saint Lucius gave final instructions to bury him at the place, where the ship carrying him from Alexandria had landed. Antiochus fulfilled the request of the archpastor and built on this spot a church in the name of Saint Lucius. In it were transferred the relics of the saint, from which occurred numerous miracles. Narthex Memorial Project: Our church is beautiful. The hand painted iconography on the walls, the ornamentations surrounding them, the byzantine curtain, and the breathtaking Iconastas let our minds and hearts ascend to heaven with our prayers. When we first enter the church, in the narthex, we should see that same beauty and allow icons to draw our minds, our hearts, and our prayers to heaven. This memorial icon project will be funded by your generous donations. The watercolor images that you see below are the proposed designs to continue the beauty of our church into the narthex. The Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ will be surrounded by saints that the donors propose. With a donations of $500 you may propose a saint to be included in the vine icon and offer a name to be added to the memorial wall. Additional names for the memorial wall can be offered for $250 each. The project will begin as soon as $3250(half of the cost of stage 1) has been collected. Pledge your donation today!

5 When to Call a Priest When someone in your family dies. Call immediately. We want to be involved as your loved one approaches death. We don t mind you waking us up, and we want to be on hand and available to you in the midst of your grief, not just after the fact. There are special prayers for the soul departing the body that are supposed to be read as the person is passing away or as soon after as possible. When someone in your family is critically ill. Call immediately. We will do our best to see them in the hospital as soon as possible. When someone in your family is going to have surgery. Call in advance. Let us know time and place. In this age of outpatient surgery centers, the more detail you can give us the better. We are happy to bring communion to the hospital or to have healing prayers with those awaiting surgery. When you or someone in your family is having a crisis of faith. Call to make an appointment to come and sit down for a conversation. You really are our top priority and we will see you just as soon as possible. When someone in your family is planning a wedding. There are restricted days that weddings cannot take place, please check with the priest before planning with the reception hall. When someone in your family loses a job, or loses a friend to death, or is suffering from chemical dependency or depression. When a child is born. It s great to get a call even before the birth. We d like the opportunity to make a visit to bless both parents and child. When something wonderful is happening in your life. We know it is important to share your saddest times, but we want to be with you in the best times of your life, too. When you buy a new car, get a new house or apartment there are blessings that can be said, that offer and thank God for what He has given us! When you need confession call the priest and we will schedule a time he can hear your confession Before you travel or go away on a vacation there is a prayer that asks Christ to watch over us. Tell the priest the week before or give him a call so that you can have Christ keeping you safe. When you buy a new cross, icon, prayer rope, or something for your icon corner, there are blessings for those objects which dedicate them to God. There are many other times that we can seek the priest asking for help, prayers, or service. Remember the Priest is the servant of God, who was set aside in the community to offer to God what is brought to Him. If we want to put Christ in our lives first the easiest way is making sure that the priest is involved in our own lives. This will bring the presence of Christ to the community through prayer. When we have our physical property blessed it is dedicating it to God s service. Meaning that Icon is blessed and set aside to be prayed in front of. The car is for your own use, but if someone needs help we can offer it to them because we are giving to God all that we can by helping our neighbor. This list is not exhaustive, if there is something lacking feel free to talk to your priest and ask about dedicating something to God, getting something blessed, or if you need to talk or feel that you need prayers for something just ask. We as priest are here to serve you. Even just approaching your priests with your hands folded and asking, Father, Bless is a way to remind ourselves and to actually receive a blessing not from Fr., but from Christ who s grace resides within the priesthood. This is allowing us to bring Christ into our lives.

6 New Office Hours: To make sure I, Fr. William, am accessible and available to you, I am including in my schedule office hours. Many days of the week I am in my office working, as well as out visiting the sick, shut-ins, and those who ask for prayers. I want to make sure that everyone who wants to speak with me, talk about confession, the sacraments, concerns in their life, confusion about church teaching, or about anything else has an opportunity to do so. I will also be doing home vespers and matins each of the days that I have office hours to begin my work day and to end my work day. Everyone is invited to the rectory office for these services to see how they are done at home, to end your day or begin it with prayer, and to continue our efforts to come to Christ as often as possible. The only exception for the vespers and matins services if there is a feast day vespers or liturgy scheduled they will take place in the church. The Matins will begin at 8 am and the Vespers will begin at 5pm. I am offering these times that I will be in the office because I care about each and everyone one of you. I want you to feel that I am available to help serve you as your priest. I want an open line of communication so that as individuals and a community we can grow together in Christ s image. I care about each and every person in this communities salvation and growth in Christ. I do not want you to be hurt. If you are hurt we will address this and to find a way to heal the ways we have been hurt as long as we continue communicating between each other. We are all imperfect human beings, but if we strive after Jesus Christ and try to lead our lives according to His image we will begin a process of healing and a growth in the community, not just spiritually but physically as well. The road to salvation is impossible as individuals, even the desert monks did not stay alone their entire lives, they needed community too!