Parish Bulletin – July 21, 2013
4TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
ST. SYMEON FOOL-FOR-CHRIST, HOLY PROPHET EZEKIEL
TONE 3
Rom 6:18-23
Matt 8:5-13
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 the Holy Prophet, in Tone II:
Celebrating the memory of Thy prophet Ezekiel, O Lord, through him do we entreat Thee: Save Thou our souls!
Troparion of the Venerable Ones, in Tone IV:
O God of our fathers, deal with us ever according to Thy meekness. Take not Thy mercy away from us, but by the supplications of these saints direct our life in peace.
Kontakion of the Holy Prophet, in Tone IV:
Thou hast been shown to be a prophet of God, O wondrous Ezekiel, and hast proclaimed unto all the incarnation of the Lord, the Lamb and Creator, the Son of God Who hath revealed Himself forever.
Kontakion of the Holy Prophet, in Tone II:
Let us praise the God-bearing Symeon, the peer of the angels, who appeared in the flesh as one incorporeal, and with him the ever-memorable John: for with faith and love they entreat the Lord unceasingly in behalf of us all.
Opportunities to give:
➢ Food donations to the Ashland Food Project
Announcements:
- Please sign up for coffee fellowship/kitchen cleanup.
- There will be no mid-week services this week due to St. John’s Family Camp. You are more than welcome to take day-trips there and participate in the services and activities.
- There will be a Parish Council meeting following the Divine Liturgy today.
- Next Sunday we will serve the Akathist to the Mother of God, Nurturer of Children before the Divine Liturgy (8.30 am).
Service Schedule this Week:
Saturday – 8.40 am, Hours, Divine Liturgy (Archangel Gabriel), 6.00 pm, Great Vespers
Sunday – 8.40 am, Hours, Divine Liturgy
Confession after Vespers or by appointment! If Catechumen class will follow the service, Fr. Andreas will be available for Confession and hour before Vespers.
Other Activities Next Week:
- St. John the Wonderworker Family Camp (Monday through Friday)
- 4.30 pm, Saturday – Choir Practice
True Prayer
God is the teacher of prayer; true prayer is the gift of God. To him who prays constantly with contrition of spirit, with the fear of God and with attention, God himself gives gradual progress in prayer. From humble and attentive prayer, spiritual action and spiritual warmth make their appearance and quicken the heart. The quickened heart draws the mind to itself and becomes a temple of grace-given prayer and a treasury of the spiritual gifts which are procured by such prayer as a matter of course. “
– St. Ignatius Brianchaninov
Why do you worry and grieve more than necessary?
“Why do you worry and grieve more than necessary for the various incidents? We are not outside of Divine Providence, so as to be directed by mere chance. Therefore, whatever happens to us happens with God’s knowledge, and so nothing will happen to us beyond our strength! Let those who do not believe in Divine Providence drown in worry; they are certainly justified. But we, who believe that God is present everywhere and that there is no creature outside His providence, are not justified when we worry more than necessary, for through this action we show a lack of faith and illumination.
‘Blessed is the man who hopes in God, for as a lion he will trust in Him.’ (Prov.28:1). If God is the One Who permits it, Thy will be done, Lord. ‘Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?’ (Rom.1 1:34). Who is able to search out the will of the Lord! ‘If you do not become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven,’ (Mt. 18:3) that is through faith and innocence. ”
– Elder Ephraim
Our Thoughts Influence Everything
“If our thoughts are kind, peaceful and quiet, turned only towards good, then we also influence ourselves and radiate peace all around us — in our family, in the whole country, everywhere. When we labor in the fields of the Lord, we create harmony. Divine harmony, peace and quiet spread everywhere. However, when we breed negative thoughts – that is a great evil. When there is evil in us, we radiate it among our family members and everywhere we go. So you see, we can be very good or very evil. If that’s the way it is, it is certainly better to choose good! ”
– Elder Thaddeus
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