SAINT JAMES ORTHODOX CHURCH 195 N. Main Street Milpitas, Ca 95035 www.sjorthodox.org Matins 8:00 a.m. Liturgy 10:30 a.m. The Very Reverend Fr. Jiris Hanna (408) 509-8802 Fr. Dcn. Joseph Kawar (408) 398-6357 Sunday October 18 (10/5), 2015 20 th Sunday after Pentecost Martyr Charitina of Amisus (304) األحد العشرون بعد العنصرة تذكار القديسة الشهيدة خارتيني )فرحة. نعمة( Matins (Eothina IX): John 20:19 31 Epistle: Galatians 1:11 19 Gospel: Luke 6:31 36 Services This Week Wednesday 10/14 at 10am The Protection of Our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary St. Romanus the Melodist Friday 10/16 at 10am Saints of the week Starting Saturday 10/17 at 5pm and every Saturday Vespers Service The Protection of our Most Holy Lady The Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary Wednesday October 14 (10/1) Fish is allowed on this day Today the Virgin stands in the midst of the Church, and with choirs of Saints she invisibly prays to God for us. Angels and Bishops venerate Her, Apostles and prophets rejoice together, Since for our sake she prays to the Eternal God!" This miraculous appearance of the Mother of God occurred in the mid-tenth century in Constantinople, in the Blachernae church where Her robe, veil, and part of her belt were preserved after being transferred from Palestine in the fifth century. On Sunday, October 1, during the All Night Vigil, when the church was overflowing with those at prayer, the Fool-for-Christ St Andrew, at the fourth hour, lifted up his eyes towards the heavens and beheld our most Holy Lady Theotokos coming through the air, resplendent with heavenly light and surrounded by an assembly of the Saints. St John the Baptist and the holy Apostle John the Theologian accompanied the Queen of Heaven. On bended knees the Most Holy Virgin tearfully prayed for Christians for a long time. Then, coming near the Bishop's Throne, she continued Her prayer. After completing Her prayer She took her veil and spread it over the people praying in church, protecting them from enemies both visible and invisible. The Most Holy Lady Theotokos was resplendent with heavenly glory, and the protecting veil in Her hands gleamed "more than the rays of the sun." St Andrew gazed
trembling at the miraculous vision and he asked his disciple, the blessed Epiphanius standing beside him, "Do you see, brother, the Holy Theotokos, praying for all the world?" Epiphanius answered, "I do see, holy Father, and I am in awe." The Ever-Blessed Mother of God implored the Lord Jesus Christ to accept the prayers of all the people calling on His Most Holy Name, and to respond speedily to Her intercession, "O Heavenly King, accept all those who pray to You and call on my name for help. Do not let them go away from my icon unheard." Sts Andrew and Epiphanius were worthy to see the Mother of God at prayer, and "for a long time observed the Protecting Veil spread over the people and shining with flashes of glory. As long as the Most Holy Theotokos was there, the Protecting Veil was also visible, but with Her departure it also became invisible. After taking it with Her, She left behind the grace of Her visitation." On the Feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos we implore the defense and assistance of the Queen of Heaven, "Remember us in your prayers, O Lady Virgin Mother of God, that we not perish by the increase of our sins. Protect us from every evil and from grievous woes, for in you do we hope, and venerating the Feast of your Protection, we magnify you." والحسد الغيرة THE SPIRITUAL LIFE إن الغيرة والحسد هما دنس للنفس ويولدا من الكبرياء. ال تغر يا أخي من نجاح أي إنسان على هذه األرض. وال من الغنى والمجد. وال تطلب كنوزا على األرض حيث يفسد السوس والصدأ وحيث ينقب السارقون ويسرقون"...)مت 19:6(. بل غر وقل د من يعمل الفضيلة. من إنسان هللا والمنعم عليه من الروح القدس األمجد من المجداء واألغنى من األغنياء الذي يد خر " كنوزا في السماء حيث ال يفسد سوس وال صدأ وحيث ال ينقب سارقون وال يسرقون " )مت 20:6(. ال تغر من الذي يمدحه الناس ويتمل قونه. ألن المدائح اإلنسانية هي متغي رة وغير ثابتة. وعادة تكون سيئة الني ة وذات طابع أناني. كلماتهم اليوم " أحلى من الشهد والعسل" )مز 11:18(. أما غدا ففمهم " مملوءا لعنة ومرارة " )رو 14:3 (. بل باألحرى غر من عظمة إنسان الفضيلة الخفي والمهان بحسب العالم "الذي مدحه ليس من الناس بل من هللا " )رو 29:2(. ال تذوب من حسد اآلخرين الذين يملكون ما لم تملكه. فإن الرب الحاكم العادل يعرف أفضل منك لمن يعطي ومن يحرم متى يمنح ومتى يطلب ماذا سيعطي وماذا سيحرم " أو ما يحل لي أن أفعل ما أريد بما لي" هذا ما قاله الرب نفسه لعم ال الكرم الذين احتج وا من "ظلم" معاملتهم )مت 16-1:20(. There is physical blindness and deafness. It is difficult to endure them, but spiritual deafness and blindness are much worse. May the Lord deliver us from these! - St. Barsanuphius The lips and the heart that give thanks to God in any trial or temptation receive His blessing and Divine grace. -- Elder Justin Parvu
Happy Birthdays Christin Khoury 10/12 Denise Zeidan 10/12 Christina Swaiss 10/12 Hazem Sarsam 10/14 Maritsa Salfiti 10/14 Rosalia Landino 10/14 Maha Shehadeh 10/14 John Munoz 10/14 Yolanda Ganim 10/15 Sawsan Nijmeh 10/15 Samer Theodossy 10/15 Alaa Shuhaiber 10/16 Mitri Sousou 10/16 Fadi Wahhab 10/17 Christopher Khoury 10/17 Manar Zuriakat 10/18 Sa d Haddad 10/18 عقبال المئة سنة!!! Lunch This Sunday October 18 will be provided by St. James Ladies Auxiliary Group Thank you and God bless you. E-mail sjoc@earthlink.net for your bulletin personal announcements, comments, or feedback. *** Food for the Soul *** For The Youth Group This Friday 10/16 at 7pm Please come for some food for the soul. Fr. Moen would like to have all the youth come for this Bible Study so we can also discuss the best days and times for future bible study sessions. Are you 13 or older and like to join St. James Youth Group? Please visit St. James Youth page on facebook Mark Your Calendars Saturday November 21, 2015 at 7pm Biltmore Hotel in Santa Clara Featuring our own Samer Theodossy and his band Dinner includes Mix Grill of Shrimp, Pork, Chops, and Filet Mignon Don t miss out More information and details coming soon!
St. James Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive For I was hungry and you gave Me food - Matthew 25:35 It is that time again Time of giving and thinking of others who are less fortunate. St. James Orthodox Church is sponsoring Thanksgiving Food Drive again this year. Three big bins are now available at the church entrance and in the church hall for your food donation. The Food bank is in need of the following: The bins will be available through Monday November 23 rd. Meals in a can (stew, chili, soup) Tuna and canned meat Peanut butter Canned foods with pop-top lids Low-sugar cereals 100% fruit juices in single serving boxes Canned fruit packed in juice Canned vegetables (low salt) Frozen whole Turkeys or Ham are also acceptable Please avoid donating items packaged in glass. Please do not donate bulk quantities of rice, flour, or sugar. God gave us a gift by having food on the table. Please share this gift with the poor and needy families in the community. A story of the Elder Barlaam. A certain man had three friends. Two of them he loved sincerely, but with tedium, he avoided the third. It so happened that the king summoned this man before him to render account and to repay his debt. He turned for help to his first friend who rejected him and departed. He then turned to his second friend but even he did not help him. With shame, he then turned to the third friend and he joyfully accompanied him before the king. The interpretation is this: the first friend is wealth; the second friend is a relative; the third friend is the good works of men in this world. The king is God Who, through death, sends summons and seeks payment of debt. A dying man seeks help in his wealth, but it turns away and passes on immediately into the hands of another owner. He then turns to his relatives, but his relatives send him off alone and they remain. Then, he reminds himself of his good works, which he carried out with tedium and these immediately accompany him on the path in the presence of the King and Judge. He, who has ears to hear, let him hear. The only companions of the soul to the other world are the works of man, be they good or be they bad. All of that which was dear and precious to man, leaves him and turns from him. Only his works, to the very last one, accompany him. He, who has a mind to understand, let him understand.