Sunday, June 25, 2017
Third Sunday after Pentecost
Apodosis (Leave-Taking) of the Forerunner’s Nativity
Visitors, we warmly welcome you to all services of the church.
Nourishment of the Soul: “You find yourself in a darkened room, and you move your hands so as to try to brush away the darkness which, of course, doesn’t move. If you open a window and light enters, the darkness disappears. The same happens with study. The Holy Scripture, the lives of the Saints, and the writings of the Fathers are the light that chases away the darkness of the soul.” – St. Porphyrios the Kapsokalyvite
Disposal of food products and papers during the week, Monday – Friday: Good fragrances have been happening! Thanks for continuing.
Today, June 25th, the Myrrh Bearers meet, and the Parish Council may also.
Coffee Hour Foods: Contributors this Sunday are those whose last names start with I -Z. Fasting foods (no meat, cheese, or dairy or bi-products) are served, but fish is allowed.
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.
THIS WEEK
Apostles Fast will be observed during social hour on June 25th.
Wednesday, June 28: Festal Evening Liturgy for Ss. Peter & Paul at 6:00
Friday, June 30: Akathist to the Protection of the Theotokos at 6:00
Saturday, July 1: 5-Year Memorial for Archpriest Peter E. Gillquist of blessed memory at 4:00
Saturday, July 1: Great Vespers at 5:00
Sunday, July 2: Matins at 9:00; Divine Liturgy at 10:00
Monday, July 3: 7:00 start time for the Annual Independence Day BBQ and Fireworks – The church will provide meat for the grill, but side dishes should be donated by those attending. Fireworks will light up the sky as darkness approaches.
FAMILY NOTES
Blessed Name Day: Elise Arnold (Elizabeth, New Martyr of Russia – 28th); Ss. Peter and Paul (29th): Fr. Peter Jon; Robert R; Paul B; Petroula; Paul B; Andrew Paul
Many Years on Your Anniversary: Fr. Peter Jon & Kh. Kristina Gillquist (30th)
Memory Eternal: Met. ANTONIO; Lavonne; Amanda
LOOKING AHEAD
Festival Planning Meeting is coming soon. Consider what role you can fill for the Festival on Fairfax, scheduled for October 14th.
Prayer List: Matthew & family; 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 child-Improved); Fr. Basil; Fr. Philip; Grant (Leukemia); Chris; Doug & Dorothy Barrett; Eileen; the Tabbals; 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; Tammy K.; Terry Lee Pope & Susan
Today’s Epistle and Gospel Readings
Prokeimenon: “The Lord is my strength and my song.”
Verse: “The Lord has chastened me sorely!” – Psalm 117:14,18
Epistle: The Reading from St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans. (5:1-11)
Brethren, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us. While we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Why, one will hardly die for a righteous man—though perhaps for a good man one will dare even to die. But God shows His love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we are now justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. Not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received our reconciliation.
Gospel: The Reading 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
Do you Know: The choir or chanters follow the clergy’s lead, and then the people follow the choir or chanters in the responses and hymns of the services. This avoids an echo effect, and lets the parish be one angelic voice.
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 Nativity of St. John the Baptist – Tone 4
O prophet and Forerunner of Christ God’s coming to us, * all we who with longing now extol thee are at a loss to honor thee worthily. * For thy mother’s barrenness and father’s long silence, * by thine all-renowned and hallowed birth, were both ended, * and the Incarnation of the Son of God is preached unto all the world.
Kontakion for Ordinary Sundays – Tone 2
O Undisputed intercessor of Christians, O Mediatrix who is unrejected by the Creator; turn not away from the voice of our petitions, though we be sinners. Come to us with aid in time, who cry unto thee in faith, for thou art good. Hasten to us with intercessions, O Theotokos, who didst ever intercede for those who honor thee.