Sunday, July 10, 2016
Hieromartyr Joseph of Damascus & His Companions; The 45 martyrs at Nikopolis in Armenia; Venerable Anthony of the Kiev Caves; Venerable-martyrs Nikodemos the Albanian and Nektarios of St. Anne Skete on Athos
To our Visitors: We are blessed by your presence.
Nourishment of the Soul: “In the atmosphere of the world today, prayer requires super human courage. The whole ensemble of natural energies is in opposition. To hold on to prayer without distraction signals victory on every level of existence. The way is long and thorny, but there comes a moment when a heavenly ray pierces the dark obscurity, to make an opening through which can be glimpsed the source of the eternal Divine Light.” — Elder Sophrony of Essex
They Don’t Vacation: Our parish operating expenses do not take the summer off; so please do your best to keep your tithes and offerings current. Thank you.
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.
Parish Council meets today rather than on the third Sunday.
THIS WEEK
Wednesday, July 13: Daily Vespers at 6:00
Thursday, July 14: Bedford-Mitchell Fellowship at the Haney’s home — 10:00 – Noon
Saturday, July 16: Great Vespers at 5:00
Sunday, July 17: Divine Liturgy at 10:00
LOOKING AHEAD
Bible Study will resume on August 4th at Becky Hrisomalos’ home and on August 9th at Kh. Marilyn’s home.
July 18-22 –– Clergy Symposium at Antiochian Village–Father will travel July 17th through July 24th.
July 30 — After Great Vespers, Rdr. Tikhon ( Erik Wallace) will present a slide show of his travels in the Holy Land.
CHURCH FAMILY NOTES
Birthday Greetings: Wyatt C (10th); Thespina C (11th); Abby B (14th)
Name Day Blessings: Olga I (11th); Vicki G (St. Olga– 11th)
Memory Eternal: John (7th); twin infants Michael and Isaiah (10th); Infant Brennely Grace (26th)
Prayer List : “For the suffering Christians of Syria, Palestine, Iraq, & all of the Middle East, and for those suffering in Ukraine.” John Griggs; Kh. Loretta; Amal H; Dee and Don; Kh.Kristina; Betsy and Hannah; Leslie (paralysis); Jasmine; Deborah & Thomas; Iva.; James; Alex John; Jason; Steve D; Becky H.; Alexis T. ;Tom; Jake; Annie; Catherine; Janett; Jill; Angie; Julian; Kh. Mary Sue Walker; Vicki; Hoppes on leave from Albania; Jesse Brandow in Guatemala (OCMC Missionaries); Vivian; Natalie; Senior Saints; Patricia; Nicetas; Barb; Shirley; Metropolitan Paul, Archbishop John; Fr. John Koen; Archpriests George & Stephen; Adrian; Heather; Susan; Gabriella & Matt; Sara; Shelley; Geni; Rachel B with child; Emily D; Emma; Kim; Nancy; Neal; Lyuda; Bob R; Leanne; Beth; Lillian; Julie; Roger; Virginia; Marilyn; Eric; Cheryl; Lori; Pam; Debbie; Natasha; Michael & Shelley: Gabriel; Mary; Doug; Janet; Kelly; Matushka Raisa; John C; Marty; Charles; Eileen; Mary; Marvin, Alice; Katie; Deborah; Ruth; Steve; Kevin; Romaine; Derek, Claire & Micah; Tim; Preston; Sharon; Sherri; Dianna; Michael and Diane; Aaron; Brent; Jennifer; Brigid; Caleb; Dennis & Joyce; Ethan; Lena, Dean; Gayle; Thomas; Amy; Heidi; Gene & Connie, Myrna.
Today’s Epistle and Gospel Readings
Prokeimenon: “ The saints shall boast in glory, and they shall rejoice upon their beds.”
Verse: “Sing unto the Lord a new song; His praise is in the church of the saints!”
Epistle: The Reading from the Second Epistle of St. Paul to St. Timothy. (2:1-10)
(For St. Joseph of Damascus)
My Child Timothy, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things which you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. Suffer hardship as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier on service entangles himself in the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier. And if someone also contends in the games, he is not crowned, unless he has contended lawfully. The husbandman who labors must be the first to partake of the fruits. Consider what I say; and may the Lord grant you understanding in all things.
Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, of the seed of David, according to my gospel, in which I suffer hardships and even bonds, as a criminal; but the word of God is not bound. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
Gospel: The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (6:22-33)
The Lord said, “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink; nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not the soul more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of heaven: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his stature? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon himself in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O men of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.”
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 St. Joseph of Damascus — Tone 5
Come, ye faithful, let us honor the martyr of Christ, a priest of the Church of Antioch; who by the word of the Word, and by his blood and the blood of his companions, baptized the land of Syria, its Church and its people. Being immersed in the light of the Gospel from his youth, he worked and taught and defended the Church of Christ and her flock. O Father Joseph of Damascus, be for us an example, defending us and interceding for us fervently before the Savior.