Parish Life

Homily for July 26, 2015

Here is the homily for July 26, 2015

posted by Daniel Root at 6:57 PM Parish Life

8/2 announcements

August 2, 2015

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

I Corinthians 3:9-17: In the reading from I Corinthians St Paul admonishes the Corinthian Church to give credit to the Lord for the work done by men in building the Church.

Matthew 14:22-34: In our reading from Matthew, we see Jesus' mastery over creation by walking on the Sea of Galilee; Peter's attempt to join Jesus shows us that our faith is weakened when we take our eyes off the Lord.

Troparion of the Resurrection: O compassionate One, thou didst descend from the heights; thou didst submit to the three-day burial, that thou might deliver us from passion. Thou art our Life and our Resurrection, O Lord, glory to thee.

Troparion of the Proto-Martyr Stephen: The crown of the Kingdom hath adorned the brow of thy holy head because of the contests that thou hast endured for Christ God, thou first of the martyred Saints; for when tou hadst censured the Jews= madness, thou sawest Christ thy Saviour standing at the right hand of the Father. O Stephen, ever pray Him for us, that He would save our souls.

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 Transfiguration: Thou wast transfigured on the mount, and thy Disciples, in so far as they were able, beheld thy glory, O Christ our God; so that, when they should see thee crucified, they would remember that thy suffering was voluntary, and could declare to all the world that thou art truly the effulgent Splendor of the Father.

CALENDAR

Sunday, August 2 (Ninth Sunday after Pentecost)

8:50 a.m. -- Orthros

10:00 a.m. -- Divine Liturgy

5:00 p.m. -- Young Adults

Monday, August 3

6:30 p.m. -- Paraklesis Service

Office Closed -- Father John's Day Off

Tuesday, August 4

6:00 a.m. -- Daily Orthros

Wednesday, August 5

6:00 p.m. -- Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy

Thursday, August 6 (Transfiguration of our Lord on Mount Tabor)

Before His Passion, Jesus ascended Mount Tabor with His disciples Peter, James and John, for the purpose of prayer. There the three disciples beheld Him transfigured and saw a vision in which Moses the Lawgiver (shown on the icon on the right holding the tablets of the Law) and Elijah the Prophet appeared and spoke with Him. "And He was transfigured before them, and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with Him" (Matt. 17:2-3). The fact that Moses and Elijah appeared at the Transfiguration is very significant in that these two men were the leading figures of the Old Testament - which confirms the fact that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets (see Matthew 5:17). Their presence confirmed that Jesus was indeed the Christ, the Messiah whom the people of the Old Testament had been anticipating. The Gospel account also says that a voice from a bright cloud said "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased, listen to Him" (Matt. 17:5), further confirming the person of Jesus as the divine Messiah. When the three disciples saw and heard these things they fell on their faces and were filled with awe (this is shown on the icon by the way Peter, James and John are depicted at the foot of the mount). When they came down the mountain Jesus told His disciples to "tell no one the vision, until the Son of man is raised from the dead" (Matt. 17:9). Jesus did not want everyone to know what had happened until the time was right. The Kontakion of the feast gives understanding as to why Jesus allowed Peter, James and John to be present at His transfiguration: "On the mountain wast Thou transfigured, O Christ God, and Thy disciples beheld Thy glory as far as they could see it; so that when they would behold Thee crucified, they would understand that Thy suffering was voluntary, and would proclaim to the world that Thou art truly the Radiance of the Father."

NO Daily Orthros

11:30 a.m. -- Men's Lunch

Friday, August 7

6:30 p.m. -- Paraklesis Service

Saturday, August 8

10:00 a.m. -- Ladies Meet for Akathist

5:45 p.m. -- Ninth Hour followed by Great Vespers

Sunday, August 9 (Tenth Sunday after Pentecost)

8:50 a.m. -- Orthros

10:00 a.m. -- Divine Liturgy

12:00 p.m. -- Pot Luck Meal

5:30 p.m. -- Youth Group

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Hendersons for the Divine Liturgy today.

Please be reminded that the Sacristy/Vestry which is adjacent to and behind the altar in our church is considered by the Orthodox Church to be part of the Sanctuary (Altar area) and should not be entered without the blessing of the priest for a specific purpose. If you need to speak with a member of the clergy while they are in the Sanctuary, please ask them to come to you in the nave.

Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

August 2 Henderson Skirtech/Skirtech/Parker

August 5 (Wed. p.m.) Katool Karen Cooper

(Feast of the Transfiguration)

August 9 Schelver Algood/Lasseter

August 15 (Sat. a.m.) Morris Brenda Baker

(Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos)

August 16 Jones POT LUCK MEAL

(set-up: R. Root/Abraham/Habeeb)

August 23 Davis Schelver/Lavric/Turner

August 30 Brocks Henderson/Baker/Lockhart

Schedule for Epistle Readers – Page numbers refer to the Apostolos (book of the Epistles) located on the front pew. Please be sure to use this book when you read.

Reader Reading Page#

August 2 Brenda Baker I Cor. 3:9-17 130

August 5 (Wed. p.m.) Reader Basil II Peter 1:10-19 401

August 9 David Turner I Cor. 4:9-16 135

August 15 (Sat. a.m.) Walt Wood Phil. 2:5-11 403

August 16 Sh. Charlotte Algood I Cor. 9:2-12 141

August 23 Warren Strain I Cor. 15:1-11 146

August 30 Kh. Sharon Meadows I Cor. 16:13-24 152

Please be reminded of the following:

Be very careful with the Blessed Bread when you take it after communion. Because this bread has been blessed, we should take care not to let crumbs fall on the floor. Parents, especially, please help your children to choose a small piece and treat it carefully.

Also, at the end of the liturgy, maintain a prayerful disposition during the veneration of the cross as the prayers of thanksgiving after communion are still underway. Please exchange your greetings with each other in the Fellowship Hall during Coffee Hour.

Continue to pray for Metropolitan Paul (who is also the brother of our Patriarch) and the Syriac Archbishop John of Aleppo who were abducted while on a humanitarian mission in Syria.

As we are approaching the hot days of summer, please remember to dress appropriately for the services of the Church. Throughout the ages, the Church has called all to show reverence and love for the Christian Faith through modest, but respectable dress. Please do not wear shorts, tank tops or revealing clothing at our services.

Please remember the following in your prayers: Steve, Sheryl and Stephen Chamblee; Amy and Brantley Oliver; Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Sam and Lamia Dabit and Sammie; Georgia Buchanan, George Johns (Georgia's grandson) and his family; Mary Greene (Lee and Kh. Sharon's sister); Fr. Stephen Tewfik; Sh. Gail Shannon; Dn. Sidney and Sh. Mary Elliot;

Walt and Charlotte Wood and their family; Tom and Jennifer Skirtech and their family; Tom and Kathy Willingham; Athena and Anthony Zouboukos and their family.

Please continue to pray for the health of His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN.

Please remember Fr. Joseph and Kh. Joanna Bittle, and their daughter Abigail, in your prayers.

August Ladies' Lunch: The Ladies Lunch in August will be held at the Meadows' home on Saturday morning, August 29^th, beginning at 11:30 a.m. Fr. John will be giving a short teaching and we will be discussing plans for the upcoming year. Please mark your calendar!

Calendar Items:

* The Men of the parish meet for lunch and fellowship on the first Thursday of the month.

* The Ladies of St. Peter will meet at 10:00 a.m. on the second Saturday of the month to pray the Akathist to the Mother of God, Nurturer of Children. Those who are able will go out for lunch and fellowship afterwards.

* The Fast of the Dormition began on August 1^st and runs through the 15^th. As is our custom, we will celebrate the Paraklesis Service to the Theotokos on all Monday, Wednesday (except the 5^th) and Friday evenings, beginning at 6:30 p.m., during the fast.

* The Feast of the Transfiguration will be celebrated with Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy on Wednesday evening, August 5^th, beginning at 6:00 p.m.

* We will celebrate the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos with Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy on Saturday morning, August 15^th, beginning at 9:00 a.m.

* The Ladies Lunch in August will be held at the Meadows' home on Saturday morning, August 29^th, beginning at 11:30 a.m. Fr. John will also be giving a short teaching.

* Father-Son Prayer Breakfast at the church, Saturday morning, September 12^th, beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Young Adults Study Group: The Young Adults agreed to begin meeting twice a month. One of these meetings will feature a teaching by Fr. John on various aspects of the Orthodox Christian faith. Topics will include education, ethics and parenting children. The next meetings will be Sunday, August 2^nd, 16^th and 30^th.

Fasting Discipline for August

From August 1^st through August 14^th (The Dormition Fast), the traditional fasting discipline(no meat, dairy, eggs, fish wine or oil) is observed on all days, except August 6^th (the Feast of the Transfiguration) when fish and wine are permitted. After the 15^th, the traditional fasting discipline is observed on the remaining Wednesdays and Fridays of the month. August 29^th is also a strict fast day in remembrance of the beheading of the Forerunner.

Major Commemorations for August

August 6 Feast of the Transfiguration

August 15 Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos

August 25 Apostles Bartholomew and Titus

August 29 Beheading of the Forerunner

August 31 Depostion of the Belt of the Theotokos

Thermostats in the Fellowship Hall: There are two thermostats in the Fellowship Hall—one in the main room to control the air in the main room, and a second one in the Nursery room that controls the air in all four of the Sunday School rooms. Please be sure when you leave the building that both thermostats are set to 80 degrees in warm weather or 60 degrees in cold weather.

Father-Son Prayer Breakfast: The men of the parish will begin meeting at the church once each quarter for a Saturday morning Father-Son Prayer Breakfast. The first prayer breakfast is scheduled for Saturday morning, September 12^th, beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Happy Birthdays in August:

August 4 -- Simeon Root (#6!)

August 7 -- Joseph Katool

August 18 -- Virginia Stewart (#5!)

August 20 -- Suzi Fino

August 24 -- Anastasia Jones

August 26 -- Bob Buchanan

August 27 -- Eli Dabit (#5!)

August 31 -- Elizabeth Root

Happy Anniversaries in August:

August 16 -- Rick and Kay Carlton (#40!)

August 17 -- Steve and Sheryl Chamblee (#26!)

August 18 -- Jesse and Sarah Milnor (#13!)

August 25 -- Nimr and Mona Fahmy (#41!)

August 27 -- Alfred and Christina Katool (#27!)

Quotable: "It is a commonplace to declare from the start that there is a difference between philosophy and theology, since philosophy is man's invention, founded on the brain and the imagination, while theology is God's revelation to man, to his purified heart. There is the same kind of difference between theology and philosophy as there is between nous and mind.

Man has two cognitive centres. One is the nous, the organ suited for receiving God's revelation which is then formulated by our reason, while the other is reason, which knows the tangible world around us. With our nous we acquire knowledge of God, while with our reason we acquire knowledge of the world and the learning offered by the science of sensory things. "

The Person in the Orthodox Tradition

by Metropolitan NAFPAKTOS Hierotheos

Worship: Sunday, August 9, 2015 (Tenth Sunday after Pentecost; Sunday after the

Transfiguration)

Scripture: I Corinthians 4:9-16; Matthew 17:14-23

Celebrant: Father John

Epistle Reader: David Turner

Prosphora: Schelver

Coffee Hour: Algood/Lasseter

posted by Daniel Root at 10:21 AM Parish Life

Homily for July 26, 2015

Here is the homily for July 26, 2015

posted by Daniel Root at 12:00 PM Parish Life

7/26 announcements

July 26, 2015

Eighth Sunday after Pentecost

Galatians 3:23-29;4:1-5: In this reading from Galatians we hear St. Paul explain that prior to the coming of Christ, we were under the Law and hence divided, but now that Christ has come we are justified by faith in Christ and have become one, belonging to Christ. Therefore, we are no longer under bondage to the Law and the world, but are now free as children of God.

Matthew 14:14-22: In the reading from St Matthew we hear about Jesus' feeding the five thousand with five loaves of bread and two fish. In this miracle we see that Jesus is the Bread of Life.

Troparion of the Resurrection: Thou didst shatter death by thy Cross; thou didst open paradise to the thief; thou didst turn the mourning of the ointment-bearing women into joy, and didst bid thine Apostles proclaim warning that thou hast risen, O Christ, granting the world Great Mercy.

Troparion of St. Paraskeva: Showing a diligence befitting thy calling, O namesake of preparedness, thou hast gained, as thy dwelling, a faith worthy of thy name, O prize-winning Paraskeva. Hence, thou pourest forth healings and intercedest for our souls.

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 Theotokos: 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 in time, who cry to thee in faith, for thou art good. Hasten to us with intercessions, O Theotokos, who didst ever intercede for those who honor thee.

CALENDAR

Sunday, July 26 (Eighth Sunday after Pentecost)

8:50 a.m. -- Orthros

10:00 a.m. -- Divine Liturgy

5:30 p.m. -- Youth Group

Monday, July 27 (Great-martyr Panteleimon)

Office Closed -- Father John's Day Off

Tuesday, July 28

6:00 a.m. -- Daily Orthros

11:30 a.m. -- Ladies Lunch

Wednesday, July 29

6:30 p.m. -- Daily Vespers

7:15 p.m. -- Choir Practice

7:30 p.m. -- Parish Council Meeting

Thursday, July 30

6:00 a.m. -- Daily Orthros

Friday, July 31

Saturday, August 1 (Procession of the Holy Cross)

5:45 p.m. -- Ninth Hour followed by Great Vespers

Sunday, August 2 (Ninth Sunday after Pentecost)

8:50 a.m. -- Orthros

10:00 a.m. -- Divine Liturgy

5:00 p.m. -- Young Adults

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Algoods for the Divine Liturgy today.

Please be reminded that the Sacristy/Vestry which is adjacent to and behind the altar in our church is considered by the Orthodox Church to be part of the Sanctuary (Altar area) and should not be entered without the blessing of the priest for a specific purpose. If you need to speak with a member of the clergy while they are in the Sanctuary, please ask them to come to you in the nave.

Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

July 26 Algood D. Root/Dansereau

August 2 Henderson Skirtech/Skirtech/Parker

August 5 (Wed. p.m.) Katool Karen Cooper

(Feast of the Transfiguration)

August 9 Schelver Algood/Lasseter

August 15 (Sat. a.m.) Morris Brenda Baker

(Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos)

August 16 Jones POT LUCK MEAL

(set-up: R. Root/Abraham/Habeeb)

August 23 Davis Schelver/Lavric/Turner

August 30 Brocks Henderson/Baker/Lockhart

Schedule for Epistle Readers – Page numbers refer to the Apostolos (book of the Epistles) located on the front pew. Please be sure to use this book when you read.

Reader Reading Page#

July 26 Kh. Be'Be' Schelver Gal. 3:23-4:5 160-161