Parish Bulletin – February 10, 2013
36th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
RIGHT BELIEVING PRINCESS ANNA OF NOVGOROD, HIEROMARTYR HARALAMBOS
TONE 3
1 Timothy 1:15-17
Matthew 15:21-28
Choir Director: Veronika
Welcome
We welcome you to the Orthodox Church. Please feel at ease and free to participate in the singing. As a visitor you are welcome to come forward at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy and venerate the Cross offered by the priest. Additionally you may receive the blessed bread (Antidoron) that is offered at that time. If you have questions or would like further information, the priest or one of the members of the parish will be pleased to help.
A word to our visitors on Holy Communion
The Orthodox Church does not practice open Communion. Therefore, only members of Canonical Orthodox Churches exercising jurisdiction in America may approach the Chalice for Holy Communion. The Orthodox do not regard Holy Communion solely as an act of personal piety, but also as an expression of union with the Orthodox Church’s faith, doctrine, and discipline. Orthodox visitors wishing to receive Holy Communion should make their intention known to the priest in advance — ask any member of the parish for help in relaying your intention to the priest. Orthodox Christians should prepare themselves to receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion through recent Confession, prayers of preparation for Holy Communion, and fasting (at minimum, from midnight before receiving).
“Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in a an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord.” – I Corinthians 11:27
TROPARIA AND KONTAKIA
Troparion of St. Anna, in Tone I:
Having shone forth from the West like a star of heavenly radiance, thou wast vouchsafed to receive the Orthodox Faith; and having brought forth right glorious fruit for the Russian land therein, O holy right-believing Princess Anna, thou didst love Christ with all thy heart, keeping His statutes and laws. Wherefore, celebrating thy most holy memory today, through thy supplications we receive remission of sins.
Kontakion of St. Anna, in Tone II:
In thy love for thy Lord Thou didst suppress all longing for rest, and by the patient endurance of afflictions thou didst bring thy soul to divine enlightenment, repelling all the assaults of the demons, O venerable mother Anna; wherefore, in thine intercessions pray that we also may overcome the wiles of the enemy of our race.
Opportunities to give:
➢ Food donations to the Ashland Food Project
➢ Processional Cross for Pascha
Announcements:
- Please sign up for coffee fellowship/kitchen cleanup. This is very important if we are to continue with our fellowship meals after Sunday Liturgy!
- We are hoping to buy a new processional Cross for Pascha this year. If you would like to contribute towards it, please specify so on your donation!
- Saturday, Feb 16, 12.00 PM – Baby shower for the Dunns here at the Newman Center.
- Parish Council meeting following Liturgy next Sunday (Feb 17).
- Please sign up for house blessings, if you have not already done so.
Service Schedule this Week:
Wednesday – 6.00 pm, Vespers
Thursday – 6.40 am, Hours, Divine Liturgy
Saturday – 5.00 pm, Panikhida
6.00 pm, Great Vespers
Sunday – 8.40 am, Hours, Divine Liturgy
Confession after Vespers or by appointment!
Other Activities Next Week:
- Wednesday, following Vespers: Adult Education Class
- Saturday, 4.00 PM – Choir practice
St. John the WOnderworker Family Camp
Monday July 22 through Friday July 26, 2013
What is Family Camp?
Family Camp is an Orthodox camp for the whole family. It is an opportunity to gather with other Orthodox Christians of the Northwest and pray, learn, play, and fellowship together. There are activities for everyone: for the kids of all ages, talks for the adults, and an opportunity to make new friends and renew old friendships for all: There are fun activities for children, teens, young adults, parents, and grandparents.
Where is family camp?
The Family Camp is located near Eugene, Oregon, at a beautiful lakeside Kiwanis camp.
Why go to family camp?
The St. John the Wonderworker Family Camp offers the opportunity to retreat from the world and set aside time for prayer, fellowship, classes, and other ways of building the Faith for those who may not have the possibility to regularly travel to a monastery or other places of pilgrimage. World-class speakers and teachers and helpers experienced with working with children contribute to a full experience of the Church in a beautiful wilderness setting. Every day we gather together to pray Matins, Vespers, and Compline and we always have a mid-week Divine Liturgy. We also have a special children’s Vespers, where the kids get a hands-on opportunity to participate in a service.
Family camp is also a fun place for children of all ages. Children, teens and adults will have age appropriate seminars, activities and crafts in an environment that will build their understanding of the Orthodox faith.
More details coming soon so stay tuned!
FOR REGISTRATION INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT ST. JOHN FAMILY CAMP REGISTRAR AT:
The Fox and the Peasant
In Egypt, in whose ancient Christian past there had once been many grand monasteries, there once lived a monk who befriended an uneducated and simple peasant farmer. One day this peasant said to the monk, “I too respect God who created this world! Every evening I pour out a bowl of goat’s milk and leave it out under a palm tree. In the evening God comes and drinks up my milk! He is very fond of it! There’s never once been a time when even a drop of milk is left in the bowl.”
Hearing these words, the monk could not help smiling. He kindly and logically explained to his friend that God doesn’t need a bowl of goat’s milk. But the peasant so stubbornly insisted that he was right that the monk then suggested that the next night they secretly watch to see what happened after the bowl of milk was left under the palm tree.
No sooner said than done. When night fell, the monk and the peasant hid themselves some distance from the tree, and soon in the moonlight they saw how a little fox crept up to the bowl and lapped up all the milk till the bowl was empty.
“Indeed!” the peasant sighed disappointedly. “Now I can see that it wasn’t God!”
The monk tried to comfort the peasant and explained that God is a spirit, that God is something completely beyond our poor ability to comprehend in our world, and that people comprehend His presence each in their own unique way. But the peasant merely stood hanging his head sadly. Then he wept and went back home to his hovel.
The monk also went back to his cell, but when he got there he was amazed to see an angel blocking his path. Utterly terrified, the monk fell to his knees, but the angel said to him:
“That simple fellow had neither education nor wisdom nor book-learning enough to be able to comprehend God otherwise. Then you with your wisdom and book learning took away what little he had! You will say that doubtless you reasoned correctly. But there’s one thing that you don’t know, oh learned man: God, seeing the sincerity and true heart of this good peasant, every night sent the little fox to that palm tree to comfort him and accept his sacrifice.”
– Excerpt from Everyday Saints and Other Stories, by Archimandrite Tikon (Shevkunov)
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