As we are reminded this day in our Epistle that the Apostles and their successors, and indeed all faithful Orthodox Christians, will suffer living out our faith in this world. The life of a faithful Christian by necessity, involves our denial of self and our coming outside ourselves to love and to serve. This is part of our ‘cross.’ We give of ourselves not out of a sense of duty, but in a desire to love and grow in the love of Christ, to become more and more like Him through deification, our participation in the life of the Church. Our Gospel today prompts us to see that prayer and faith go hand in hand in enabling us to be these fellow partakers with Christ and victors over the hold that the world and its priorities often exercise on us. This day, we remember God’s gifts to us and we see our own need to return to God the glory and worship that is our thanksgiving, which is our spiritual service to God for all His bounty and blessings to us. This worship extends to our striving to bring our faith to bear on our everyday lives, our prayers, our fasting, our worship, our service, how we treat each other in the Church and the extent to which we exercise our faith in obedience and humility in our daily lives. If we seek Christ first, all other things find their place. So, we’re called to examine and recommit ourselves to prioritizing our life in Christ above all things. God is at work in us and through us to continue to make us into the men and women of God that He’s called us to be, if we are willing to cooperate. May we cultivate the faith to move whatever ‘mountains’, whatever impediments, may stand between us and the fullness of the life in Him. In Christ’s love, Fr. Robert+
THIS WEEK at HOLY ARCHANGELS (all services are at 47 Spa Rd)
- TODAY, 9:30, Hours, 10 a.m., Divine Liturgy, Trapeza followed by Sunday School
- Tues, Aug. 15, 9:15 a.m., Hours, 9:45 a.m. Lamentations followed by Divine Liturgy, Great Feast of the Holy Dormition of our Most-Holy Lady Theotokos (trapeza served after the service)
- Wed, Aug. 16, 6:45-8:15, Bible Study Series & Outreach Opportunity: The Epistle of St. James, Chapter 5… Final Bible Study on the Epistle of St. James!
- Sat, Aug. 19, 6 p.m., Great Vespers (confession offered after the service)
- Sun, Aug. 20, 9:30 Hours 10 a.m., Divine Liturgy, Trapeza
Confession and Reception: In keeping with OCA Guidelines, it is the discipline at Holy Archangels to practice monthly confession. If you wish to receive Communion and a month has passed and you have not made confession for good reason, or, are visiting, please talk with Fr. Robert prior to the service and before approaching the Chalice to ask for a blessing to receive.
Monthly Giving—Expanding the Mission: Our Mission has taken a big step of faith to move into our new church home, to expand our bookstore and outreach efforts, and make more room for new families and individuals. We need your help to afford our new space. Monthly pledges and giving are key to our sustainability and our growth. Please place your pledge (or increased pledge) in the offering box today!
TRAPEZA: The lunch and fellowship we serve after Divine Liturgy is an important part of our Mission’s life together. We cannot draw closer to God if we are not also drawing closer to each other. If we wish to grow “in spirit and in numbers,” such fellowship needs to be part of our life together in Christ. Please sign up to help provide for this important ministry.
Prayer Requests: That God may grow our Mission “in spirit and in numbers…”
- For God’s financial provision for our Mission & college ministry, ACM (Annapolis Pan-Orthodox College Ministry);
- Forgiveness, memory eternal: Charlie
- Metropolitan Isaiah of Georgia, Archpriest George, Rdr. John, Gov. Hogan, Benedict, Daniel, Eric, Daniel, Noah, Norm, Alex, Gary, Timothy, Sophia, Marlena and her baby, Beatrice, George, the Church in Georgia & Romania as they address the relativism of the West, speaking the truth in love, our persecuted brethren in the Middle East, esp. Egypt and Syria, a peaceful resolution in Syria.
From the Fathers…
The Lord does not show Himself to a proud soul. The proud soul, no matter how many books it reads, will never know God, since by its pride it does not give place for the grace of the Holy Spirit, while God is known only by the humble soul… Pride does not allow the soul to set out on the path of faith. Here is my advice to the unbeliever: let him say, “Lord, if you exist, then illumine me, and I will serve you with all my heart and soul.” And for this humble thought and readiness to serve God, the Lord will immediately illumine him… And then your soul will sense the Lord; she will sense that the Lord has forgiven her, and loves her, and you will know this from experience, and the grace of the Holy Spirit will be a witness in your soul of your salvation, and you will want to cry out to the whole world: “The Lord loves us so much!” (St. Silouan the Athonite, Writings, III.11)
Troparion (Resurrection) Tone 1
When the stone had been sealed by the Jews,
while the soldiers were guarding Thy most pure body,
Thou didst rise on the third day, O Savior,
granting life to the world.
The powers of heaven therefore cried to Thee, O Giver of Life:
“Glory to Thy Resurrection, O Christ!
Glory to Thy Kingdom!//
Glory to Thy dispensation, O thou who lovest of mankind!”
Troparion (Transfiguration) Tone 7
Thou wast transfigured on the mountain, O Christ God,
revealing Thy glory to Thy Disciples as far as they could bear it.
Let Thine everlasting Light also shine upon us sinners,
through the prayers of the Theotokos!//
O Giver of Light, glory to Thee!
Troparion (Angels) Tone 4
O 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 on high
Kontakion (Resurrection) Tone 1
As God, Thou didst rise from the tomb in glory,
raising the world with Thyself.
Human nature praises Thee as God, for death has vanished.
Adam exults, O Master!
Eve rejoices, for she is freed from bondage and cries to Thee://
“Thou art the Giver of Resurrection to all, O Christ!”
Kontakion (Transfiguration) Tone 7
On the mountain Thou wast transfigured, O Christ God,
and Thy Disciples beheld Thy glory as far as they could see it;
so that when they should 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.
Kontakion (Angels) 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,//
O Supreme Commanders of the Bodiless Hosts.
