Sunday, August 20, 2017

Sunday, August 20, 2017

Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

After-feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos

Prophet Samuel; Martyr Photeini of Blachernae; Martyrs Heliodoros and Dosai of Persia

 Welcome,  incoming students and faculty at Indiana University and Ivy Tech.  

Come today to receive a blessing as the new semester begins.

 Nourishment of the Soul: “If stinginess takes hold of a person, there is no greater illness.  It is good to be thrifty, but one must be careful not to be gradually overcome by the spirit of stinginess.  Being thrifty does not mean being miserly. Once there were two housewives in the neighborhood discussing salads and vinegars, and one of them said, ‘I have very good vinegar.’ One day, the other poor woman needed some vinegar and went to ask her neighbor for some. ‘Look here,’ the other said, ‘If I were to be giving it away, I would not now have this vinegar for 7 years!'” – St. Paisios the Athonite.

Do You Know that Liberality – or generosity, is the virtue that is counter to greed – the sin of immoderate desire for earthly things. The virtue of liberality is focused not merely on the appropriate concern regarding one’s earthly things, but furthermore on generosity and a willingness to give, freely and without request for commendation.– One of the Seven Capital Virtues

The Myrrh Bearers will once again be offering a selection of “Treasures” for purchase on Sundays, September 10 and 17.  Please plan to donate like-new or gently-used home decor items, icons, jewelry & scarves, books and small household items beginning today, August 20th, and ending September 3rd. Place your donations in the bin in the hallway. The funds raised support the women’s outreach activities. Thank you for your generosity!

Coffee Hour: Contributors this Sunday are those whose last names start with G-H.

Receiving the Eucharist: We invite you to receive the Holy Eucharist if you are an Orthodox Christian who has prepared yourself through fasting, prayer, and recent confession.  If you are not Orthodox, or are Orthodox but  have not prepared, we invite you to receive a piece of the blessed bread in the wooden bowls held by the altar servers at the front of the church.

Safety First: If you walk around and  into the various construction areas, please watch your step.  No children should explore unattended.

Parish Council meets today at Noon.

St. George Orthodox Church in Terre Haute is planning its 90th Parish Anniversary for Labor Day weekend. See the announcement in the hall for details.

THIS WEEK

Monday, August 21: Solar Eclipse – be prepared to protect your eyes.

Wednesday, August 23:  Daily Vespers at 6:00

Thursday, August 24: Bible Study at Becky Hrisomalos’s home – 3:00 – 5:00

Friday, August 25: 1-year memorial for Kh. Loretta Wilson at 11:00 – Memorial meal follows.

Friday, August 25: Akathist  at 6:00 – Protection of the Theotokos

Saturday, August 26: Noon Day Birthday Luncheon for Amal at All Saints. All are invited! Look for a sign-up sheet on Marcia’s office door to add  dishes to the planned meal.  A card shower is planned.

Saturday, August 26: Great Vespers at 5:00

Sunday, August 27: Matins at 9:00; Divine Liturgy at 10:00 – Myrrh Bearers meet around noon.

FAMILY NOTES

Happy Birthday: Shannon R (22nd); Karen H (23rd); Liam G (26th)

Blessed Name Day: John C (St. Oswin – 20th); Aidan G (Prophet Samuel – 20th)

Memory Eternal: Terry (1st), David; Joe (14th)

LOOKING AHEAD

August 31: Bible Study at Becky’s

August 29: Father will bless the Jordan River at IU with OCF, but all are invited – 4:00

September 3: Memorial for Dr. William Nasser (Labor Day weekend)

September 6: Orthodoxy 101 resumes each Wednesday after Daily Vespers.

October 14: Annual Festival on Fairfax

Prayer List: Adrian (Olga’s brother); Cathy;“For the suffering Christians of Egypt, Syria, Palestine, Iraq, & all of the Middle East, and for those suffering in Ukraine.”; Fr. Steven Rudy (cancer); Finley (infant girl); Fr. Basil; Fr. Philip;  Grant (Leukemia); Chris; Doug & Dorothy Barrett; Eileen; Mary Ann & Jen; Dee and Don;  Kh. Kristina; Betsy and Hannah; Leslie (paralysis); Jasmine; Deborah & Thomas; James; Becky H; Tom; Annie; Catherine; Janett;  Julian; Kh. Mary Sue Walker; Vicki; Hoppes &  Jesse Brandow (Missionaries); Vivian; Natalie; Senior Saints; Patricia; Nicetas; Barb; Shirley; Metropolitan Paul, Archbishop John; Fr. John Koen; Archpriest George; Heather; Susan; Gabriella & Matt; Sara; Shelley; Geni; Emily D; Emma; Nancy; Neal; Bob R;  Leanne; Beth; Lillian; Julie; Roger; Virginia; Marilyn; Eric; Cheryl; Lori; Pam; Debbie; Natasha; Michael & Shelley: Gabriel; Mary; Janet; Kelly; Matushka Raisa; Marty; Charles; Mary; Marvin, Alice; Katie; Ruth; Steve; Romaine; Derek, Claire & Micah; Tim; Sharon; Sherri; Dianna; Michael and Diane; Aaron; Brent; Jennifer; Brigid; Ethan; Lena, Dean; Gayle; Thomas; Amy; Heidi; Gene & Connie, Caleb D; Megan & Colin; Bill & Sandy; Sabrina; Christy; Pete; Phil & Barb; Tammy K

 Today’s Epistle and Gospel Readings

Prokeimenon: “The Lord is my strength and my song.”

Verse: “The Lord has chastened me severely!” – Psalm 117: 14,18

Epistle: The Reading is from St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. (9:2-12)

Brethren, you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.  This is my defense to those who would examine me.  Do we not have the right to our food and drink?  Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a wife, as the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?  Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living?  Who serves as a soldier at his own expense?  Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit?  Who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?  Do I say this on human authority?  Does not the law say the same?  For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain.”  Is it for oxen that God is concerned?  Does he not speak entirely for our sake?  It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of a share in the crop.  If we have sown spiritual good among you, is it too much if we reap your material benefits?  If others share this rightful claim upon you, do not we still more?  Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the Gospel of Christ.

Gospel: The Reading is  from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew.  (18:23-35)

The Lord spoke this parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.  When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents; and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.  So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’  And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.  But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’  So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’  He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt.  When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place.  Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant!  I forgave you all that debt because you besought me; and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’  And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt.  So also My heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

Divine Liturgy Variables

Resurrectional Apolytikion – Tone 2

When Thou didst submit Thyself unto death, O Thou deathless and immortal One, then Thou didst destroy hell with Thy Godly power.  And when Thou didst raise the dead from beneath the earth, all the powers of Heaven did cry aloud unto Thee; O Christ, Thou giver of life, glory to Thee.

Apolytikion  of the Dormition – Tone 1

In thy birth-giving, O Theotokos, thou didst keep and preserve virginity; and in thy falling-asleep thou hast not forsaken the world; for thou wast translated into life, being the Mother of Life. Wherefore, by thine intercessions, deliver our souls from death.

Kontakion of the Dormition – Tone 2

Verily, the Theotokos, who is ever watchful in intercessions, and whose prayers are never rejected, neither tomb nor death could control. But since she is the Mother of Life, He Who dwelt in her ever-virgin womb did translate her to life.