SAINT JAMES ORTHODOX CHURCH

Transcription

1 SAINT JAMES ORTHODOX CHURCH 195 N. Main Street Milpitas, Ca Matins 8:00 a.m. Liturgy 10:30 a.m. The Very Reverend Fr. Jiris Hanna (408) Fr. Dcn. Joseph Kawar (408) Sunday March 8 (2/23), 2015 Second Sunday of Great Lent Commemoration of St. Gregory Palamas Hieromartyr Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna األحد الثاني من الصوم - تذكار القديس غريغوريوس باالماس رئيس اساقفة تسالونيكية تذكار القديس الشهيد في الكهنة بوليكربس اسقف ازمير Matins (Eothina VI): Luke 24:36 53 Epistle: Hebrews 1:10 2:3 Gospel: Mark 2:1 12 Commemoration of St. Gregory Palamas Second Sunday of Great Lent On the second Sunday of Great Lent, we commemorate St Gregory Palamas, as a second "Triumph of Orthodoxy." Saint Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica, was born in the year 1296 in Constantinople. St Gregory's father became a prominent dignitary at the court of Andronicus II Paleologos, but he soon died, and Andronicus himself took part in the raising and education of the fatherless boy. Endowed with fine abilities and great diligence, Gregory mastered all the subjects which then comprised the full course of medieval higher education. The emperor hoped that the youth would devote himself to government work. But Gregory, barely twenty years old, withdrew to Mount Athos and became a novice in the Vatopedi monastery under the guidance of the monastic Elder St Nicodemus of Vatopedi. There he was tonsured and began on the path of asceticism. A year later, the holy Evangelist John the Theologian appeared to him in a vision and promised him his spiritual protection. Gregory's mother and sisters also became monastic. guided it for five years. St Gregory combined his priestly duties with the life of a hermit. Five days of the week he spent in silence and prayer, and only on Saturday and Sunday did he come out to his people. He celebrated divine services and preached sermons. For those present in church, his teaching often evoked both tenderness and tears. Sometimes he visited theological gatherings of the city's educated youth, headed by the future patriarch, Isidore. After he returned from a visit to Constantinople, he found a place suitable for solitary life near Thessalonica the region of Bereia. Soon he gathered here a small community of solitary monks and St Gregory performed many miracles in the three years before his death, healing those afflicted with illness. On the eve of his repose, St John Chrysostom appeared to him in a vision. With the words "To the heights! To the heights!" St Gregory Palamas fell asleep in the Lord on November 14, 1359.

2 Services During Great Lent Presanctified Divine Liturgy Mondays Tuesdays Wednesdays Thursdays Fridays 11:30am يا رب القوات Compline Great Wednesdays at 7:00pm مدائح العذراء Hymn) Little Compline (Akathist Fridays at 7:00pm ان الكلية النقاوة لم ا ابصرتك معلقا على الصليب بالجسد تجر ح قلبها بالغم وو ل ولت باكية وقائلة اين غبت يا يسوع المسيح الكلمة المحبوب جدا فال تتركني وحدي انا التي ولدتك ياابني والهي. We Are Accepting Donations For The Flowers For The Bier Of Christ In Memory Of And/Or For The Good Health Of Your Loved Ones To Make A Donation Please Fill Out This Form By:... For The Good Health Of: And/Or In Blessed Memory Of:.... Please give the form back to Treasurer Samer Aboujudom All names of the Living and the Departed will be prayed for during the Holy Week

3 Pacific Daylight Time Don t forget to set your clocks one hour forward this Saturday Night. Needy Families Fund Box For I was hungry and you gave Me food - Matthew 25:35 With entering the Great Lent season, let s remember all those less fortunate around us. Thanks to so many of you for your donations for the Needy Families Fund Box. Your donations were privately distributed by Fr. Giris to many needy families in the community. You brought smiles and joy to many souls. Guard The Door Fasting is not irrelevant. Fasting is not obsolete, and it is not something for someone else. Fasting is from God, for us, right here and right now. Most of all, we should not devour each other. Don t just fast from certain foods, but ask God to set a watch and keep the door of our lips. This is an on-going effort for this fund box. Please keep this virtue going and donate whatever you can. Every dollar helps. There are so many families struggling to meet the basic needs during these tough times. Thank you in advance and may God bless you. Palms For Palm Sunday Oasis In The Desert We got the blessings to plan our annual pilgrimage church trip to St. Anthony s Greek Orthodox Monastery in Florence, Arizona the week during the Bright Week God willing. Monday April 13 Thursday April 16 of 2015 Book your own flights. Please contact Dcn. Joseph (408) to sign-up. Palm Sunday is approaching soon. If you like to order handmade palms, please contact Amal Khoury (408) Deadline to order is April 2 but the sooner the better. Availability might be limited due to the lack of rain this year, but we will do our best to accommodate all orders. Great opportunity to learn how to palms. Please call Amal and ask how you can help. sjoc@earthlink.net or call (408) for your bulletin personal announcements, comments, or feedback. Southwest Airlines Departure Monday April 13, 2015 Return: Thursday April 16, 2015 San Jose Airport 4/13: San Jose Phoenix, Flight # 814, 10:50am 4/16: Phoenix San Jose, Flight # 1164, 6:25pm Oakland Airport 4/13: Oakland Phoenix, Flight # 767 / 4838, 9:35am 4/16: Phoenix Oakland, Flight # 4016, 5:55pm.

4 Help Feed the Homeless "Do you fast? Then feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, visit the sick, do not forget the imprisoned, have pity on the tortured, comfort those who grieve and who weep, be merciful, humble, kind, calm, patient, sympathetic, forgiving, reverent, truthful and pious, so that God might accept your fasting and might plentifully grant you the fruits of repentance." - Saint John Chrysostom We will be serving lunch on Saturday, March 21, 2015 at Commercial Street Inn in San Jose. The shelter houses women and children from around Downtown San Jose. Please sign up if you can help donate the items, cook, or serve at the shelter. We will be preparing Friday, the evening before, and meeting 9 am that morning to cook. INGREDIENTS (50 people): 3 lbs. Spaghetti Dressing 5 lbs. Ground Beef Water Bottles 5 Large Jars Tomato Sauce Cookies/ Fruit Salad 5 large Salad Mix For any questions contact Anna Keilo at (650) or Marya Husary at (707) Family Shelter Drive "An old man was asked, 'How can I find God?' He said, 'In fasting, in watching, in labors, in devotion, and, above all, in discernment. I tell you, many have injured their bodies without discernment and have gone away from us having achieved nothing. Our mouths smell bad through fasting, we know the Scriptures by heart, we recite all the Psalms of David, but we have not that which God seeks: charity and humility.'" - The Desert Fathers We will be collecting household items for the Haven Family House in Menlo Park. Haven Family House is a transitional housing for homeless families. Haven offers a 2-4 month program consisting of a case management plan for the families which includes workshops on life skills for the parents and an after school program for the children. ITEMS WE ARE COLLECTING: DEADLINE: SUNDAY, MARCH 29, 2015 Kitchen Supplies (ie paper towels, dishware, aluminum foil, etc) New bedding and sheets for twin/full beds New pillows Cleaning supplies Tall kitchen trash cans Diapers, formula, bibs For any questions contact Anna Keilo at (650) or Marya Husary at (707)

5 يا نفس تنه دي دم عي ارجعي توبي فأن اليوم قد قر ب والدي ان على األبواب فاستعدي للجواب واهتفي اخطأت اليك ايها الرؤوف الرحوم الصالح فترآف علي منعما. Fasting Keep It Simple Times of fasting should not be times of stress, but changing the way your family eats can be a very real source of stress. Try to plan simple foods for your meals, prepared relatively quickly and, hopefully, cheaply. SIN Why do people sin? Either because they have no idea how they should act and what they should avoid, or if they do know, they forget, or if they do not forget, then they become lazy and despondent. Since people are often indolent when it comes to piety, and they very often forget that their main obligation is to serve God, from laziness and not being mindful they progress to complete thoughtlessness and ignorance. Despondency or laziness, forgetfulness, and ignorance are three giants which bind the whole race of mankind in unbreakable bonds, causing indifference towards the hosts of evil passions. For this reason we must pray to the Heavenly Queen: My Most-Holy Lady Theotokos, through Thy holy and all-powerful prayers, take from me, Thy humble and sinful servant, despondency, forgetfulness, thoughtlessness, carelessness, and all defiled, evil, and blasphemous thoughts - St. Ambrose We are supposed to be devoting more time to prayer and almsgiving and less time to food preparation. If we are constantly making elaborate meals that trick our taste buds from thinking that we are fasting, we are, in a way, defeating the purpose of the fast. A few favorite side dishes work very well as a meal. Mark Your Calendar ***Youth Group Picnic*** Karima Hina The parish of St. James Orthodox Church wishes Karima Hina a full and speedy recovery after a surgery. May our Lord bless Karima and grant her good health for many years. Fresh السالمة Dates هلل على For احلمد Sale We have fresh dates for sale If you need dates for Easter we have a limited quantity for sale. Three pounds for $10 Saturday April 18 th More details soon Stay tuned please contact Ghada Khoury (925) or Georgette Isied (408) to place your orders. Order ASAP before we run out...

6 SAINT JAMES LADIES AUXILIARY ANNUAL EASTER BAKE SALE PLEASE PICK UP YOUR ORDER ON MARCH 29, 2015 Let Us Bake For You ******************************** Qty Price Kaek w/ dates (Fasting) (Not Fasting) x $ 15.00/Box $ Ghraibeh (Sugar cookies) x $ 15.00/Box $ Ma3moul w/walnuts (Fasting) (Not Fasting) x $ 15.00/Box $ Subtotal Amount Baklava (Fasting) x $ 15.00/Box $ Circle one: Spinach pies / Maneesh x $ 15.00/Box $ Semsimeh (nut bar) x $ 15.00/Box $ Also, please accept my Money Donation $ Total $ Please Return Your Order Form to the Church, by Person or by Mail, 195 N. Main St. Milpitas, CA By MARCH 22, 2014 THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT, GOD BLESS YOU. Name Add. Phone Please make your check payable to Saint James Ladies Auxiliary Check must accompany the order Questions? Please call Ghada

7 Dialogue With an Athonite Elder on Fasting Bless Elder. "The Lord bless you, my joy." Are you on Mount Athos for many years? "I've been here for sixty years, but what is sixty years to God; it is a breath. Elder, I would like you to tell me a few things about fasting. "In order to say something you must experience it, you must live it. Only one who was born near the sea or is a seaman can speak of the sea. But I will be obedient to your will and tell you what the Fathers said who were friends of fasting." Elder, is fasting the aim? "Fasting is not the aim, but the means towards it. See, it was your aim to come to Mount Athos, it was your destination. The boat which brought you was the means by which you arrived. Such is fasting; it is one of the means given to us by the love of God to crave for Him. God is our destination." When did fasting appear? "Fasting is commingled with humanity. In Paradise it was given to man by God, says Basil the Great." But why did God give fasting? To reduce man? "No, in order to free him! The Sacred Chrysostom writes that when God created man He took him and placed him in the hands of fasting, which is an affectionate mother and excellent teacher. He entrusted it for his salvation. Though fasting is a teacher, it does not limit but it cultivates man." Is fasting necessary, Elder? "Chrysostom will again reply to you: 'If fasting was necessary in Paradise, it is much more necessary outside of Paradise. If medicine was useful before an injury, it is much more useful after an injury.' Do you understand?" What? "Fasting was given in Paradise as a precaution to not fall. Since man fell it is given therapeutically." Then what is the purpose of fasting? "Fasting withers evil desires, says Saint Maximus the Confessor; and Saint Symeon the New Theologian says it softens our hearts. Through fasting every good work is accomplished and perfected, says Saint Gregory Palamas.

8 For all these reasons Sacred Chrysostom confesses his love for fasting: 'I love fasting, because it is the mother of wisdom and the well of philosophical acts.'" How should we fast? "Fasting is a means and spiritual tool which is not limited to food, but the entire man must participate in it psychosomatically. Listen to what John Chrysostom says: 'Do you fast? Give me proof of it by your works. If you see a poor man, take pity on him. If you see a friend being honored, do not envy him. Do not let only your mouth fast, but also the eye and the ear and the feet and the hands and all the members of our bodies. Let the hands fast, by being free of greed. Let the feet fast, by ceasing to run after sin. Let the eyes fast, by disciplining them not to glare at that which is sinful. Let the ear fast, by not listening to evil talk and gossip. Let the mouth fast from foul words and unjust criticism. For what good is it if we abstain from birds and fish, but bite and devour our brothers?'" How do we bite and devour our brothers? "With slander and criticism, which proceed from the lack of love for our brother." Thank you, Elder. You have benefited me much. "May we thank God for enlightening our saints." Your prayers. "Go in goodness, and may the Grace of God cover you, the Panagia protect you, and the saints accompany you. And don't forget that fasting is primarily to hunger for God!" Youth Bible Study This Saturday 3/7 at 7pm Youth 13 & up, please join us for Bible Study and faith talk and discussion. Lenten Lunch This Sunday March 8 Happy Birthdays will be provided by Samer & Luma Theodossy & family Thank you and God bless you. Christopher Habash 3/4 Helen Toma 3/4 Cathreine Crinigan 3/5 Susie Khoury 3/5 George Bakas 3/7 عقبال المئة سنة!!!

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10 VISIT US TODAY! ST. JAMES BOOKSTORE OPEN EVERY SUNDAY AFTER THE DIVINE LITURGY Come on in and enjoy our newly remodeled Bookstore Featuring hundreds of Orthodox products Special Orders are welcome! ENJOY 10% OFF ANY PURCHASE STARTING THIS SUNDAY FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH! Questions? us:

11 St. James Sunday School invites you to an Easter Egg Hunt & Bunny Visit Saturday April 4th, 12:30pm-3pm Gill Memorial Park Santa Rita Dr & Paseo Refugio, Milpitas Come enjoy a fun day with your St. James Family & Friends! $3 Per child includes egg hunt, picture w/bunny, a small snack & drink **Dont forget to bring your baskets!** RSVP by March 28 Luma (408)

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13 The Lord said, "Learn from Me to be meek and humble of heart." There are many types of humility. You can be obedient and reproach yourself in everything this is a form of humility. Another can repent his sins and count himself the lowest before Christ this is also a form of humility. But when a soul sees the Lord through the Holy Spirit in all His meekness and humility, then it also becomes humbled to its limits. This is a special sort of humility which cannot be described, it can only be experienced through the Holy Spirit. And if people could experience the Lord through the Holy Spirit, they would all change the wealthy would despise their wealth, the learned their studies, the powerful their glory and authority, and all would be humbled and would live in great peace and love, and the earth would be filled with great joy. He who has experienced God through the Holy Spirit has a different understanding and taste. - St. Silouan the Athonite Dunlap / Hume Lake Trip August 5 8, 2015 We plan to have a short trip, 3-nights/4-days, to visit the Life Giving Spring monastery and also head to the summit to Hume Lake and enjoy a day at the lake and beautiful nature. We need a minimum of 15 people to book St. Nicholas Ranch Retreat Center. Please talk to Dcn. Joseph for details or to sign-up if interested. St. James Orthodox Church 195 N. Main Street Milpitas, CA Thursday 3/5 (2/20) St. Leo the Bishop of Catania in Sicily

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