2012 May 6 – Sunday of the Paralytic

Fourth Sunday of Pascha: Paralytic –

Welcome to Holy Archangels Orthodox Church (OCA)! We’re glad to have you worshipping the Holy Trinity with us! If you are new or are worshiping with us for the first time, please introduce yourself to our priest, Fr. Robert Miclean, after the service.
A Challenge and a Great Opportunity

The ‘summer schedule’ is fast upon us—that time of year in our Mission when most of the students leave and our ‘permanent’ members remain.  Most Saturdays and Feast days the students make up the ‘core group’ of those participating, praying, singing, serving, and confessing.  They take the services of the Church very seriously and they have the fruit to show for it! I’m so proud of them!  Great Vespers (Vigil) is the service where we hear all the didactic (teaching) of our Faith, put to hymnody and verse.  As Orthodox, we truly ‘pray as we believe.’  If you want to know what we believe about a particular Feast or event in the life of the Church, come to Great Vespers and Matins (Vigil).

With most of the students leaving for the summer, the CHALLENGE for those of us who remain is how to grow the Mission by keeping our worship life active and inviting for those who may come to visit and may consider joining us this summer (without the student presence and help)   I believe Holy Archangels is at a juncture: will we grow, bringing in more families and individuals seeking growth and healing in the true faith, or will Holy Archangels remain mostly a ‘student’ ministry alone?  Wouldn’t it be an even greater blessing if our mission’s core group was made up not only of students, but also of a diversity of ages and stages in life?  We all benefit from the students’ energy and enthusiasm.  The students could benefit more from us ‘older folks,’ modeling family life and the relative stability of the post-college years and home life.  We have a great OPPORTUNITY this summer to really INVEST ourselves, our gifts, talents, time in this church to help it to blossom and flourish, knowing that its growth brings fruit in our own lives even as we make Holy Archangels accessible and inviting to others seeking the fullness of the Orthodox life in Christ.

Christ is risen!

Fr. Robert+

This week at Holy Archangels:

  • Wednesday, May 9, 6 p.m. Daily Vespers, St. John’s Boathouse
  • Saturday, May 12, 5 p.m.,Vigil. Confession following.
  • Sunday, May 13,  9:30 Hours and 10 a.m. Divine Liturgy

Looking Ahead:

  • Thursday, May 24th, Ascension, Service TBD
  • Saturday, June 2,  6pm, Great Vespers for Pentecost
  • Sunday, June 3, Pentecost Sunday with Baptism 9am Hours, 9:30 Baptism, 10am Divine Liturgy. Charlotte Juliana will be baptized and chrismated.
  • June 4-8, Fr. Robert and Pr. Krissy out of town. Fast free week before St. Peter and Paul Fast begins
  • June 11, St. Peter and Paul Fast begins

Prayer Requests:

  • Please pray for Azariah (Brian) who is applying for teaching positions for the Fall.
  • Please pray for our Mission that we may find a full-time Choir Director.

Troparion         (Resurrection) Tone 3 
Let the heavens rejoice!
Let the earth be glad!
For the Lord has shown strength with His arm.
He has trampled down death by death.
He has become the first born of the dead.
He has delivered us from the depths of hell,
and has granted to the world//
great mercy.
Troparion        (Holy Archangels)  Tone 4
Commanders of the heavenly hosts,
We who are unworthy beseech you,
by your prayers encompass us beneath the wings of your immaterial glory,
and faithfully preserve us who fall down and cry to you:
“Deliver us from all harm, for you are the commanders of the powers on high!”
Kontakion        (from the Pentecostarion) Tone 3          
By Your divine intercession, O Lord,
as You raised up the Paralytic of old,
so raise up my soul, paralyzed by sins and thoughtless acts;
so that being saved I may sing to You://
“Glory to Your power, O compassionate Christ!”
Kontakion  (Pascha) Tone 8    
You descended into the tomb, O Immortal,
You destroyed the power of death.
In victory You arose, O Christ God,
proclaiming: “Rejoice!” to the Myrrhbearing Women,//
granting peace to Your Apostles, and bestowing Resurrection on the fallen.
Kontakion        (Holy Archangels) Tone 2
Commanders of God’s armies and ministers of the divine glory,
princes of the bodiless angels and guides of mankind,
ask for what is good for us, and for great mercy,
supreme commanders of the Bodiless Hosts.