كنيسة مار نقوال االنطاكية االثوذكسية St. Nicholas Weekly Bulletin

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1 كنيسة مار نقوال االنطاكية االثوذكسية St. Nicholas Weekly Bulletin Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church Antiochian Archdiocese of North America Diocese of Los Angeles and the West 5200 Diamond Heights Boulevard, San Francisco, California Tel: (415) stnicholas-sf.com V. Rev. Fr. George Baalbaki (586) Rev. DEACON NIPHON SWEISS SUBDEACON MICHEL KHOURY PARISH COUNCIL CHAIRMAN: SALIM QARU أحد األمعى Sunday, June 9, 2013 Sunday of The Blind Man Memorial Service: Sunday June 9 th Nine- Day Memorial Service for the servant of God Joseph Milano (Wakim) is being offered by his sisters Samira, Fay, Lamis and their families, and by his children Caroline, Joe Jr., Carol, Suragha and their families. May he rest in peace and memory eternal! We would like to offer our sincere condolences and Sympathy to the entire Kakunda families on the passing of Nazar Halteh kakunda into eternal life. May she rest in peace, and memory eternal! This Sunday s Holy Bread of Oblation will be offered by: St. Nicholas Parish Family for the good health of Ishaq Qaqish, Issa Khoury, Najla Jarjura, Chris Atwan, Janette Tannous, Fifi Batshon, Sally Habeeb, Rose Habeeb, Georgette Baba, Nabil Dabai, Issa Nijmeh, Najla Fadayel. Many years! Wehbe family and by Josephine Tannous in loving memory of Georgette Wehbe. Memory Eternal Tannous family in loving memory of Yousf Tannous. Memory Eternal Nadim, Basma, Brandon, Jenifer and Mathew Howell, Dean and Oscar, Moran for the good health of Janan Howell on the occasion of her birthday (June 10 th ) and for a speedy recovery of Jamil Howell. John and trix Salih and family in loving memory of nephew Joseph Milano. May his memory be eternal.

2 This Sunday s Altar Candles & Coffee Hour will be offered by: John and trix Salih and family in loving memory of nephew Joseph Milano. May his memory be eternal. Nader and Shadia Dahdah for the good health of their family. Nadim, Basma, Brandon, Jenifer and Mathew Howell, Dean and Oscar, Moran for the good health of Janan Howell on the occasion of her birthday (June 10 th ) and for a speedy recovery of Jamil Howell. Wehbe family and by Josephine Tannous in loving memory of Georgette Wehbe. Memory Eternal Sponsors for March 10 th are needed. Please make checks payable St. Nicholas Church in the amount of $25.00 or more. Mark Your Calendar: 1. This Sunday May 16 th the monthly Ladies Auxiliary meeting will take place at St Nicholas church. 2. This Sunday May 16 th we will have the Sunday School graduation. 3. Attached you will find the 2013 St. Nicholas Census Form. We ask everybody to fill out the forms and return them by mail or to the office. 4. All, Beginning last Sunday, we will have a table set up downstairs after liturgy to sign people up for photo appointments and to update their contact information. In order for this to be a success we need EVERYONE to actively send people to the table to make appointments and to update their information. Please note, we all need to start spreading the word to get our extended families and our friends to sign up. It's better to get everyone to sign up early so they can get their preferred times. People can also sign up online by visiting the Church website Thank you. 5. Father's Day Picnic (June 16th) will be held at the Heather Farm Park in Walnut Creek. Admission is $10 per person and food is included. Please see Maurice, Fr. George, or the church office for more details. We will be joining St. John's parish at the park.

3 6. The Parish Life Conference will take place this year on July in Anaheim, CA. All our organizations are encouraged to participate. For more info please visit 7. The Antiochian Archdiocese National Convention will take place on July th 2013 in Houston, Texas. For more information please visit : 8. Our annual Festival will take place on August The diamond Jubilee Anniversary will be held October Please submit any memorabilia or old pictures you have to the church. We are working on a souvenir booklet ******************************* Let us believers praise and worship the Word, co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit, born of the Virgin for our salvation; for he took pleasure in ascending the Cross in the flesh, to suffer death, and to raise the dead by his glorious Resurrection. لنسبح نحن الىؤمنين ونسجد للكلمة المساوي لآلب والروح في األزلية وعدم االبتداء المولود من العذراء لخالصنا. ألنه سر بالجسد أن يعلو على الصليب ويحتمل الموت وينهض الموتى بقيامته المجيدة. Thy work of justice did reveal Thee to Thy community as a Canon of faith. The likeness of humility and the teacher of abstinence. O, Thou Father and great Bishop Nicholas. Wherefore by humility thou didst achieve exaltation, and by Thy meekness wealth, intercede therefore, intercede with Christ that He will save our souls. لقد أظهرتك أفعا ل الحق لرعيتك قانونا لإليمان وصورة للوداعة ومعلما لالمساك أيها األب رئيس الكهنة نيقوالوس فلذلك أ حرزت بالتواضع الرفعة وبالمسكنة الغنى فتشفع إلى المسيح اإلله في خال ص نفوس نا Though thou, O deathless One, didst descend into the grave, thou didst destroy the power of hell and, as Victor, thou didst rise again, O Christ our God. Thou didst greet the ointment-bearing women, saying, Rejoice! Thou didst bestow peace upon thy Disciples, and resurrection upon those that are fallen. ولئن كنت نزلت الى قبر يا من ال يموت اال أنك درست قوة الجحيم وقمت غالبا ايها المسيح االله. وللنسوة الحامالت الطيب قلت افرحن ووهبت رسلك السالم يا مانح الواقعين القيام. (The angel spake to her that is full of grace, saying, O pure virgin, rejoice; and I say also, Rejoice; for thy Son is risen from the tomb on the third day. Shine, shine, O new Jerusalem; for the glory of the Lord hath risen upon thee. Rejoice and exult now, O Zion, and thou, O pure one, Theotokos, rejoice at the Resurrection of thy Son.) (ان الىالك تفوه نحو المنعم عليها ايتها العذراء النقية افرحي وايضا اقول افرحي ألن ابنك قد قام من القبر في اليوم الثالث. استنيري استنيري يا اورشليم الجديدة ألن مجد الرب قد اشرق عليك. افرحي االن وتهللي يا صهيون وأنت يا نقية يا والدة االله اطربي بقيامة ولدك)

4 Acts 16:16-34 In those days, as we apostles were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by soothsaying. She followed Paul and us, crying, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation." And this she did for many days. But Paul was annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, "I charge you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out that very hour. But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market place before the rulers; and when they had brought them to the magistrates they said, "These men are Jews and they are disturbing our city. They advocate customs which it is not lawful for us Romans to accept or practice." The crowd joined in attacking them; and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely. Having received this charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and every one's fetters were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here." And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out and said, "Men, what must I do to be saved?" And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their wounds, and he was baptized at once, with all his family. Then he brought them up into his house, and set food before them; and he rejoiced with all his household that he had believed in God.

5 الرسالة: أمعىال الرسل 43-61:61 في تلك األيام فيما نحن الرسل منطلقون الى الصالة استقبلتنا جارية بها روح عرافة وكانت تكس ب مواليها كسبا جزيال بعرافتها. فطفقت تمشي في إثر بولس وإثرنا وتصيح قائلة: هؤالء الرجال هم عبيد هللا العلي وهم يبشرونكم بطريق الخالص. وصنعت ذلك أياما كثيرة فتضج ر بولس والتفت الى الروح وقال: إني آمرك باسم يسوع المسيح ان تخرج منها فخرج في تلك الساعة. فلما رأى مواليها انه قد خرج رجاء مكسبهم قبضوا على بولس وسيال وجر وهما الى السوق عند الحك ام وقد موهما الى الوالة قائلين: إن هذين الرجلين يبلبالن مدينتنا وهما يهودي ان ويناديان بعادات ال يجوز لنا قبولها وال العمل بها إذ نحن رومانيون. فقام عليهما الجمع معا ومز ق الوالة ثيابهما وأمروا أن يضربا بالعصي. ولما أثخنوهما بالجراح ألقوهما في السجن وأوصوا السج ان بأن يحرسهما بضبط. وهو إذ أوصي بمثل تلك الوصية ألقاهما في السجن الداخلي وضبط أرجلهما في المقطرة. وعند نصف الليل كان بولس وسيال يصل يان ويسب حان هللا والمحبوسون يسمعونهما فحدث بغتة زلزلة عظيمة حتى تزعزعت أسس السجن فانفتحت في الحال األبواب كلها وانفك ت قيود الجميع. فلما استيقظ السج ان ورأى أبواب السجن انها مفتوحة استل السيف وهم أن يقتل نفسه لظن ه ان المحبوسين قد هربوا. فناداه بولس بصوت عال قائال: ال تعمل بنفسك سوءا فإن ا جميعنا ههنا. فطلب مصباحا ووثب الى داخل وخر لبولس وسيال وهو مرتعد. ثم خرج بهما وقال: يا سيدي ماذا ينبغي لي أن أصنع لكي أ خ لص فقاال: آمن بالرب يسوع المسيح فتخلص انت وأهل بيتك. وكل ماه هو وجميع من في بيته بكلمة الرب. فأخذهما في تلك الساعة من الليل وغسل جراحهما واعتمد من وقته هو وذووه أجمعون. ثم أصعدهما الى بيته وقد م لهما مائدة وابتهج مع جميع أهل بيته إذ كان قد آمن باهلل. John 9:1-38 At that time: When Jesus passed by, he saw a man blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him. We must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day; night comes, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." As he said this, he spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle and anointed the man's eyes with the clay, saying to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar, said, "Is not this the man who used to sit and beg?" Some said, "It is he"; others said, "No, but he is like him." He said, "I am the man." They said to him, "Then how were your eyes opened?" He answered, "The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash'; so I went and washed and received my sight." They said to him, "Where is he?" He said, "I do not know."

6 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. The Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, "He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see." Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not keep the sabbath." But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?" There was a division among them. So they again said to the blind man, "What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet." The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight, and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age, he will speak for himself." His parents said this because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if any one should confess him to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, "He is of age, ask him." So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, "Give God the praise; we know that this man is a sinner." He answered, "Whether he is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see." They said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?' He answered them, "I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you too want to become his disciples?" And they reviled him, saying, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from." The man answered, "Why, this is a marvel! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if any one is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that any one opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." They answered him, "You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?" And they cast him out. Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, "Do you believe in the Son of God." He answered, "And who is he, sir, that I maybelieve in him?" Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and it is he who speaks to you." He said, "Lord, I believe"; and he worshiped him.

7 اإلنجيل: يوحنا 43-6:1 في ذلك الزمان فيما يسوع مجتاز رأى إنسانا أعمى منذ مولده. فسأله تالميذه قائلين: يا رب من أخطأ أهذا ام أبواه حتى ولد أعمى أجاب يسوع: ال هذا أخطأ وال أبواه لكن لتظهر أعمال هللا فيه. ينبغي لي أن أعمل أعمال الذي أرسلني ما دام نهار يأتي ليل حين ال يستطيع أحد ان يعمل. ما دمت في العالم فأنا نور العالم. قال هذا وتفل على األرض وصنع من تفلته طينا وطلى بالطين عيني األعمى وقال له: اذهب واغتسل في بركة سلوام )الذي تفسيره المرسل(. فمضى واغتسل وعاد بصيرا. فالجيران والذين كانوا يرونه من قبل انه كان أعمى قالوا: أليس هذا هو الذي كان يجلس ويستعطي فقال بعضهم: هذا هو وآخرون قالوا: انه يشبهه. واما هو فكان يقول: اني انا هو. فقالوا له: كيف انفتحت عيناك أجاب ذاك وقال: انسان يقال له يسوع صنع طينا وطلى عيني وقال لي اذهب الى بركة سلوام واغتسل فمضيت واغتسلت فأبصرت. فقالوا له: أين ذاك فقال لهم: ال أعلم. فأتوا به اي بالذي كان قبال أعمى الى الفريسيين. وكان حين صنع يسوع الطين وفتح عينيه يوم سبت. فسأله الفريسيون ايضا كيف أبصر فقال لهم: جعل على عيني طينا ثم اغتسلت فأنا اآلن أبصر. فقال قوم من الفريسيين: هذا االنسان ليس من هللا ألنه ال يحفظ السبت. آخرون قالوا: كيف يقدر انسان خاطئ ان يعمل مثل هذه اآليات فوقع بينهم شقاق. فقالوا أيضا لألعمى: ماذا تقول انت عنه من حيث انه فتح عينيك فقال: انه نبي. ولم يصد ق اليهود عنه انه كان أعمى فأبصر حتى دعوا أبوي الذي أبصر وسألوهما قائلين: أهذا هو ابنكما الذي تقوالن انه ولد أعمى فكيف أبصر اآلن أجابهم أبواه وقاال: نحن نعلم ان هذا ولدنا وانه ولد أعمى واما كيف أبصر اآلن فال نعلم او من فتح عينيه فنحن ال نعلم هو كامل السن فاسألوه فهو يتكل م عن نفسه. قال أبواه هذا ألنهما كانا يخافان من اليهود ألن اليهود كانوا قد تعاهدوا انه إن اعترف أحد بأنه المسيح يخرج من المجمع. فلذلك قال أبواه هو كامل السن فاسألوه. فدعوا ثانية االنسان الذي كان أعمى وقالوا له: اعط مجدا هلل فإنا نعلم ان هذا االنسان خاطئ. فأجاب ذاك وقال: أخاطئ هو ال أعلم انما أعلم شيئا واحدا اني كنت أعمى واآلن انا أبصر. فقالوا له ايضا: ماذا صنع بك كيف فتح عينيك أجابهم قد أخبرتكم فلم تسمعوا فماذا تريدون أن تسمعوا ايضا ألعل كم انتم ايضا تريدون ان تصيروا له تالميذ فشتموه وقالوا له: انت تلميذ ذاك. واما نحن فإن ا تالميذ موسى ونحن نعلم ان هللا قد كل م موسى. فأما هذا فال نعلم من أين هو. أجاب الرجل وقال لهم: ان في هذا عجبا انكم ما تعلمون من أين هو وقد فتح عيني ونحن نعلم ان هللا ال يسمع للخطأة ولكن اذا أحد اتقى هللا وعمل مشيئته فله يستجيب. منذ الدهر لم يسمع ان أحدا فتح عيني مولود أعمى. فلو لم يكن هذا من هللا لم يقدر ان يفعل شيئا. أجابوه وقالوا له: انك في الخطايا قد ولدت بجملتك. أفأنت تعل منا فأخرجوه خارجا. وسمع يسوع انهم أخرجوه خارجا فوجده وقال له: أتؤمن انت بابن هللا فأجاب ذاك وقال: فمن هو يا سيد ألؤمن به فقال له يسوع: قد رأيته والذي يتكل م معك هو هو. فقال له: قد آمنت يا رب وسجد له.

8 The Blind Man (Fr. Ihor Kutash) "Do you also want to become His disciples? The Sixth Sunday after Pascha is dedicated to the remarkable account of our Lord s healing of the Blind Man (John 9:1-38). Again the Church reminds us about the meaning of Christ s Resurrection for humanity. On the Fourth Sunday we realized that the Resurrection brought us wholeness. On the Fifth Sunday we recalled that the Risen Christ energizes us with the Holy Spirit. Today we recall that it is by His Resurrection that we are able to see. The sight which God gives us is the sort which penetrates the darkness of confusion and forgetfulness brought on by living in a fallen world. It opens before us the panorama of the eternal Kingdom, our true Home given us by our Lord. In the light of this Kingdom, which is renewed again and again by our experience of the Divine Liturgy, we go through our daily lives with joy, hope, peace, faith and love, seeking to do the Lord s work, humbly acknowledging our failures, and pressing on to realize the fullness of our glorious vocation as His friends, His children and His amabassadors. As was the case with Lazarus and the Samaritan woman, the Church tells us that this recipient of the Lord s miraculous care went on to become a Saint who is commemorated in the Calendar. St. Demetrius (Tuptalo), the Metropolitan of Rostov, whose life s labour was to compile the Lives of the Saints for the Menaion, gives the name of the man who had been born blind as Celidonius. He recounts that when persecution of the Christians broke out in Jerusalem, St. Lazarus who had been raised from the dead, fled on a sailboat together with the Lord s disciple, St. Maximin, and St. Celidonius, who had been given sight by our Lord. Lazarus stayed in Cyprus, completing the rest of his earthly days there as a Bishop, while Maximin and Celidonius went on to Gaul (France) where they laboured for the Gospel to the end of their earthly sojourn. St. Demetrius gives this account in writing on the Feast of the Synaxis of the Seventy Apostles on January 17 on the Gregorian Calendar. St. Basil the Great and other fathers draw attention to the uniqueness of this miracle of our Lord s. They say that this was not just a case of a man whose eyes were not working. They say that Celidonius was actually born without eyes. In other words Jesus

9 placed the clay upon empty sockets, the place where the eyes ought to have been, and lo, eyes appeared eyes which saw perfectly! Our Lord showed Himself to be the Creator Who had made man out of the dust of the earth. Along with these eyes also came spiritual sight as Celidonius gave courageous testimony to his healing in response to the hostile questions about the miracle by those who felt threatened by the emerging Messiah. Finally he posed the question to them: Do you also want to become His disciples? This brought an angry and haughty response from the interrogators and he was cast out of the community. But our Lord instated him in the eternal Community of the Faithful,revealing to him that He Himself was indeed the Messiah sent by God the Father to save the world. Celidonius question resounds in our ears as well, challenging us to see clearly and labour as Jesus Disciples in the night of this world, for the eternal Day has already dawned with the Resurrection of Christ and its Light will soon fill the whole world. انتصار الحق "إن ما أعلم أن ني كنت أعمى وها إن ي أبصر اآلن" )أنظر: إنجيل اليوم(. هذه العبارة التي نطقها إنسان كان أعمى رد ا على م ن شك وا في قدرة يسوع على الشفاء تبي ن لنا بوضوح ظاهر أن الشهادة للرب إن ما هي أن نبوح بما أجراه هو لنا أي أن نكتب أو بما ال يخالف التواضع الحق أن أكتب أنا نفسي على صفحات الكون قص ة حب ه التي كتبها لي بدمه. إن ها إذا قص ة هللا معي أنا شخصي ا. ما من شك في أن الرب قد مات عن العالم كل ه. ولكن كل إنسان في العالم شأنه أن يرى في موت ابن هللا حدثا تم من أجله هو. و"تم من أجله" عبارة تعني في عمقها ومداها أن هذا الحدث الذي ال يحصره زمن هو ما يحيا عليه المؤمن من دون أن ينتظر من هللا برهانا على حب ه له أي أمر آخر. فهل بعد موت ابن هللا من حاجة إلى برهان آخر هذا ال يعني أن الرب ال يعطيني كل ما أطلبه إن رأى فيه خالصي. إن ه يعطيني دائما. و"يعطيني دائما" تعني أن ه يعطيني مباشرة أو بما يغدقه من خير نافع على أي من إخوتي. فاألعمى الذي أتحفنا بشهادته شفاه الرب من عماه. وهذا كما ينبغي لنا أن نفهم ال يخص ه وحده بل يخص نا جميعا أيضا. فنحن كل نا يجب أن نرى أنفسنا في هذا الشفاء المحيي. هذه قراءة يشر عها تعليمنا الذي يشج عنا على أن نرى في األحداث اإلنجيلي ة أحداثا تعنينا كل نا. كل ما فعله الرب فعله من أجلي أو فعله معي أيضا.

10 أنا األعمى. وأنا كل شخصي ة كتابي ة استقبلت فعل هللا الخالص ي. أنا أنا. ومن دون أن أنكر أحدا غيري أنا فحسب. أن أؤمن بأن هللا يحب ني حب ا شخصي ا أمر يشك ل عصب حياتي في المسيح. فكل الحياة المسيحي ة كل ها أن أؤمن بأن ني محبوب أي أن أرى في حب هللا لي كل ما أحتاج إليه في حياتي. أن أراه حياتي وغناي حاضري ومستقبلي. وعلى هذه المحب ة المثبتة لي تقوم شهادتي. فالشهادة ال يشك لها بالغة ما أقوله لفظا بل ما اختبرته فعال وأقنعني وأحيا عمري عليه. لقد قال األعمى: "إن ما أعلم". ليس هذا علما مجر دا بل علم دخل أعماقه وتأص ل فيه. أنا أنا أعلم. أنا أعلم أن الرب بي ن حب ه لي. إن ه شفاني من عماي وأنا اآلن أبصر. وهذا قاله لكل م ن اجتمعوا عليه خوفا أو فضولي ة أو شك ا أي ألهله وجيرانه والمسؤولين الديني ين في زمنه. والمؤسف أن أحدا منهم لم يصد قه. كانت عالمات محب ة هللا له بادية جلي ا على وجهه. قال لهم أشياء أخ اذة. حاورهم. رد على أسئلتهم. جادلهم. وكل ما جرى على لسانه نبع من ذلك اللقاء الذي خطفه الرب فيه من ماض متعب إلى حاضر جديد. وعلى ذلك لم ي صد قوه. أم ا هو فكان واثقا بما اختبره. وما اختبره كان يكفيه. وإذا دق قنا في ما جرى بعد شفائه تو ا فال يفوتنا أن ه لم يكن قد رأى يسوع بعد. فعندما اعترض الرب سبيله وأمره بأن "يغتسل في بركة سلوام" )اآلية ال 7 ( لم ا يكن يرى. وقع ظل الرب عليه بلى. أحس بيد ي المعل م تداعب وجهه بلى. سمع صوته أيضا بلى. ولكن ه لم يره وجها بوجه. كان يدافع ع م ن اختبره في أعماقه أو بكالم يناسب سياقنا ع م ن رآه في قلبه. لقد دفعته رؤية ليست كأي رؤية أخرى إلى أن يواجه كل م ن قاربه بقوله: "كنت أعمى". رمى ماضيه خلفه. قال: كنت. ما لكم ولما كنت عليه. انظروا: ها إن ي أبصر اآلن. ذاك المعل م الذي لم ا أره أهداني جد ة لم يهبني إي اها أم ي وأبي. ما لكم وألم ي وأبي. إن ه أم ي وأبي. إن ه خالقي. أنا اليوم ولدت. أنا ابن. أنا ابنه. ال يحتاج أي قارئ راض إلى كثير من العناء ليدرك أن م ن كان أعمى سكنه أن ه مسؤول عن أن يعي بنو جلدته خالصهم. هذه من مقتضيات الشهادة أو مقتضاها األعلى. كان يريد كل م ن اجتمعوا عليه أن يؤمنوا أن يشفوا. كان يريدهم أن يولدوا اآلن. فالشهادة التي خرجت من فمه كانت تبحث عن أهلها. ال يشعرنا هذا الشاهد المبصر بأن ه يتباهى بشفاء تم من أجله حصرا بل من أجله وأجلهم وأجلنا في آن. أخبرهم بما يخص ه ويخص هم ويخص نا أو بما آمن بأن ه يعنيه وهم ونحن أيضا. كالمه يبي ن أن منطلق الشهادة قناعة تسكن ناقلها ومداها قناعة تطلب أن تسكن م ن تصل إليه. وما بين المنطلق والمدى رباط يحكمه ثبات يزي ن الناقل أو يجب أن يزي نه أبدا. وهذا عينه معنى اإلخالص. فالشهادة ليست حماسة تتعل ق بآن حاضر بل بكل آن بل بآن مستمر. كل أمري مخلصا أن أتعاطى اللحظة التي أنا فيها على ضوء اللحظة التي وعيت فيها أن الرب أنقذني من عتاقتي. ومن اإلخالص أن أ بعد نفسي عن نتائج تفرحني أو رب ما ال تفرحني أن أكون حر ا من أن أتأ ثر إن بقبول م ن أشهد له أو برفضه. بلى يجب أن يفرحني م ن يقبل الشهادة هلل يفرحني كثيرا ويحزنني م ن يرفضها يحزنني كثيرا. ولكن فرحي وحزني يجب أن يكونا على قاعدة وعيي أن ما أنا أفعله يعود إلى الرب فعال ومجدا. فأنا للرب. سواء نجحت أو فشلت أنا له وحده. لست أنا موضوع النجاح ولست أنا موضوع الرفض. ثم ة واحد هاجمني على دروب حياة عتيقة وبي ن لي حب ه المجد د. وما لي من شأن سوى أن أروي قص ة حب ه لي إلى كل م ن أراه على دروبي قص ة حب المسيح "الذي أحب نا )جميعا( فحل نا من خطايانا بدمه" )رؤيا يوحن ا 5(. 1: هذه البالغة التي خرجت من فم مولود أعمى هي بالغة الحب المقبول الذي وز عه هللا الحي على العالم بسخاء ليسحق كل شكوك التاريخ وينتصر الحق إلى النهاية. )رعيتي(

11 upcoming Feasts: June 13 Holy Ascension June 23 Holy Pentecost Our dear beloved ones in Christ: You can help in spreading the word of God by providing us the s addresses of the members of your family and your friends who do not receive our bulletin via . Please send their s to: stnicksf@msn.com or revbaalbaki@yahoo.com Food for Hungry People Boxes Please return your boxes for the Food for Hungry People soon. You may give them to any of our ushers. Thank you! Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen! Al Maseeh Qam! Haqan Qam! Kristos Anesti! Alithos Anesti! المسيح قام! حقا قام كل عام وأنتم بخير Maher Aljada Hair Stylist (415) Allure Salon Park Plaza 1590 El Camino Real San Bruno, CA Diamond Jubilee

12 Ladies Auxiliary Meeting Sunday, June The Church Everybody is welcomed! Sunday School Sunday, June 9 th ST. NICHOLAS HONORS 2013 Sunday School Graduation! Followed by a luncheon for the graduates

13 Thursday, June 13 th 2013 ق د اس خ ىيس الص عود Divine 11:00 AM Commemorating the Holy Ascension of our LORD St. Nicholas Parish Father s Day Picnic Sunday, June 16 th At: Heather Farm Park in Walnut Creek. Admission is $10 per person and food is included.

14 Parents of High school and college graduates! الى أهالي المتخرجين والمتخرجات!!! We would like to recognize our graduates by placing their photos and biographies in a special edition of our Weekly Bulletin. PARENTS, we need you to send us their photos and a summary of their biographies. Come to Anaheim, CA in 2013! أهلنا األحباء: أخبروا أوالدكم Parents: please make your reservation now 2013 Parish Life Conference Diocese of Los Angeles & The West July 3 7, 2013 organizations are encouraged to participate. For more info please visit

15 St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church 5200 Diamond Heights Boulevard, San Francisco, California Celebrating 75 years Honoring our past, embracing our present and looking forward to our future September 30, 1962 The ground breaking ceremony for the new church building is held, Archbishop Bashir shoveling the first cut of earth. Joseph Ayoub and Ernest Nackord were Co-Chairmen of the Building Committee Save the Date October 25 27, th Anniversary Celebration Your Church needs you!!!! Your pictures Your memorabilia Your favorite stories Your help on a committee

16 5200 Diamond Heights Blvd. San Francisco, CA Come visit us for Weddings, Baptisms, Birthdays, Anniversaries and All Other Occasions We are located in the heart of San Francisco Please call us to make an appointment at (415) Make memories for a lifetime!

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