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
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.
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 begins on August 1st and runs through the 15th. As is our custom, we will celebrate the Paraklesis Service to the Theotokos on all Monday, Wednesday (except the 5th) 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 5th, 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 15th, beginning at 9:00 a.m.
* The Ladies Lunch in August will be held at the Meadows' home on Saturday morning, August 29th, 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 12th, beginning at 8:30 a.m.
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 12th, 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 2nd, 16th and 30th.
Fasting Discipline for July/August
In July the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, eggs, fish wine or oil) is observed on all Wednesdays and Fridays of the month. From August 1st through August 14th (The Dormition Fast), the traditional fasting discipline is observed on all days, except August 6th (the Feast of the Transfiguration) when fish and wine are permitted. After the 15th, the traditional fasting discipline is observed on the remaining Wednesdays and Fridays of the month. August 29th is also a strict fast day in remembrance of the beheading of the Forerunner.
Major Commemorations for July/August
July 27 Great-martyr Panteleimon
August 1 Procession of the Holy Cross
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.
Happy Birthdays in July/August:
July 29 -- Robert Abraham
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 July/August:
July 30 -- Clyde and Mary Ellis (#21!)
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: "Are the holy Fathers really philosophers? Did they develop a philosophy in their time? If not, then what is the difference between philosophy and the the theology expressed by the holy Fathers?
…Nevertheless it is essential that we understand the teaching of the holy Fathers about the person and freedom. For we shall find that when the holy Fathers concerned themselves with such topics, they did it not as philosophers, but as deified men who were expressing their experience of revelation in the terms of their time. "
The Person in the Orthodox Tradition
by Metropolitan NAFPAKTOS Hierotheos
Worship: Sunday, August 2, 2015 (Ninth Sunday after Pentecost)
Scripture: I Corinthians 3:9-17; Matthew 14:22-34
Celebrant: Father John
Epistle Reader: Brenda Baker
Prosphora: Henderson
Coffee Hour: Skirtech/Skirtech/Parker