Today is the Sunday of the Holy Fathers of Nicea.  This day commemorates the Holy Fathers who sat in council at Nicea, the first of the ecumenical councils.  Through them we see the commitment to the immutable truth of God for all the faithful, especially those who lead in the faith.  The men of this council bear special note by the significance of their creed, for it is the fundamental statement of orthodox Christology and an enduring guide to our faith.  The events of the ascension and the scriptures of this day emphasize to us the nature and action of Christ, and the history of these fathers puts us in mind of the work of the Holy Spirit in the church, work proclaimed by the glorious events which we now anticipate in the preparation for Pentecost.

 

Acts 20:16-18,28-36:  In the reading from Acts, we hear St Paul speak to the elders of the church at Ephesus, encouraging them to follow his example in their shepherding, and bidding them his final farewell as he approached his imprisonment at Rome.

 

John 17:1-13:  In the passage from John, Jesus prays for His disciples, that they would be united as one and kept from evil.

 

Troparion of the Resurrection:  When Mary stood at thy grave looking for thy sacred body, angelic powers shone above thy revered tomb, and the soldiers who were to keep guard became as dead men.  Thou led hades captive and wast not tempted thereby.  Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst give life to the world;  O thou who art risen from the dead! 
O Lord, glory to thee.

 

Troparion of the Holy Fathers: Thou, O Christ, art our God of exceeding praise who didst establish our holy Fathers as luminous stars upon earth, and through them didst guide us unto the true Faith, O most merciful One, glory to thee.

 

Troparion of the Ascension: Thou hast ascended in glory, O Christ our God, and gladdened thy disciples with the promise of the Holy Spirit, having become confident of the blessing.  Verily, thou art the Son of God, and Deliverer of the world.

 

Troparion of the Chains of St. Peter: O Holy Apostle, Peter, thou dost preside over the Apostles by the precious chains which thou didst bear.  We venerate them with faith and beseech thee that by thine intercessions we be granted the great mercy.

 

Kontakion of the Ascension:  When thou didst fulfill thy dispensation for our sakes, uniting the terrestrials with the celestials, thou didst ascend in glory, O Christ our God, inseparable in space, but constant without separation, and crying unto thy beloved, I am with you, and no one shall be against you.

 

 

 

Monday, June 9
 CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED – FATHER JOHN'S DAY OFF

 

Tuesday, June 10
 NO Daily Orthros
 6:30 p.m. – Choir Practice
  
Wednesday, June 11  (Apostles Bartholomew and Barnabas)
 NO Catechism Class
 6:30 p.m. – Daily Vespers

 

Thursday, June 12
 NO Daily Orthros
 NO Ladies Reading Group at the Algoods'
  NOTE: Ladies Reading Group – Only on 3rd Thursdays
  
Friday, June 13
 NO Daily Orthros 
        
Saturday, June 14
 5:00 p.m. – Catechism Class
 6:30 p.m. – Great Vespers

 

Sunday, June 15   (Sunday of Pentecost)
 8:50 a.m. – Orthros
 10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy
 6:30 p.m. – Kneeling Vespers of Pentecost

 

 

The Eucharist Bread was offered by the Richard Roots for the Divine Liturgy today.

 

Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:
    Eucharist Bread  Coffee Hour
June 15   Algoods   Skirtechs
June 22   Katools   Joneses
June 29   Schelvers   Algoods 

 

Congratulations to Beth Ann Baker for graduating from Millsaps College, summa cum laude, on May 10. Beth Ann also received the Founder's Medal at the graduation ceremony which is awarded to the student with the highest cumulative GPA for the four years of college. Also, congratulations to Beth Ann for her acceptance into the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

 

We welcome Father Christopher Harner as the new priest and pastor at Holy Trinity and St. John the Theologian Greek Orthodox Church.  Father Christopher will be replacing Father Theo Harris, who has retired.  Please keep him and his family in your prayers.

 

 
 * This year we will celebrate the feast of Pentecost on Sunday, June 15th.  As is our parish custom we will have the Kneeling Vespers for Pentecost on Sunday evening at 6:30 p.m.  The feast of Sts. Peter and Paul falls on a Sunday this year (June 29th).

 
 * Father John will taking a family vacation June 5-13.  If you have any pastoral needs during this time, please call Father Leo or Father James.

 
 * Mark your calendars now for the Parish Life Conference, June 18-22, in Raleigh, North Carolina.  The conference is a wonderful opportunity to meet and build relationships with members of other parishes in our diocese.

 
 * We are scheduled to serve at the Stewpot on July 5th.  More information will be available as the time approaches.

 

Please supervise your children to avoid spills, ink stains or marks from their writing and drawing on our new chairs.  Thank you for your help with this.

 

Fasting Discipline for June
The traditional fasting continues on Wednesdays and Fridays (no meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, wine and oil).  There is no fasting during the week following Pentecost Sunday, June 15th.  The Apostles Fast (the same as the fast on Wednesdays and Fridays) is observed from Monday, June 23rd through June 28th.  The traditional fasting is again observed on Wednesdays and Fridays in July.

 

Major Commemorations During  June
 June 8  Holy Fathers of the 1st Council of Nicea; Theodore the General
 June 11 Apostles Bartholomew and Barnabas
 June 15 Pentecost
 June 22 Sunday of All Saints
 June 24 Nativity of the Forerunner
 June 29 Sts. Peter and Paul
 June 30 Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles

 

Quotable: "Behold the Creator of the world, all of Him, within myself!  I know that I shall not die, for I am within Life.  I have the whole of Life springing up as a fountain within me.  He is in my heart, He is in Heaven; both there and here He shows Himself to me in equal glory."

    - St. Symeon the New Theologian

 

    - St. Theophan the Recluse

 

WORSHIP: Sunday, June 15, 2008 (Pentecost Sunday)
  Scripture:  Acts 2:1-11; John 7:37-52, 8:12
 Celebrant:  Father John
 Homily:  Father John
 Deacon:  Deacon Terry, Deacon Richard
 Acolytes:  John Wood
 Prosphora:  Algoods
 Coffee Hour:  Feast
 Teen Hosts:  No Meeting