Today’s Gospel is another reminder of the importance of giving thanks to God for His work in our lives: healing us, growing us, saving us. Of the ten lepers that were healed, only ONE came back to prostrate himself before God and offer his humble thanks. We can easily take God’s work in our lives for granted. All of us are, in a sense, like these ten lepers: we’ve all received and are receiving healing, grace, love, forgiveness from God. The question is, are we like the other nine who received healing but did not come back to God in thanksgiving, or, are we like the one who returned, prostrated himself, and gave thanks to God who made him whole? Giving thanks is key to our spiritual health. Do we give thanks to God for His work in us? Do we give thanks to God for His work among us? Do we give thanks to God for this Mission and His work in our lives through His Church? What, if anything, may you be taking for granted? As we work out our salvation and glorify God, we want to be like the one leper who returned to give thanks, prostrating himself before Him. May we go and do likewise! Yours in Christ’s love, Fr.Robert+
Important: Commitment Sunday was Sunday, November 4!
If you have not yet offered your commitment for 2018, PLEASE place it in the offering box today. As of now we have $2000 total in monthly commitments. We need $3,500. To all for whom this Mission is dear, please give generously so we can continue to pay our rent and other necessary expenses to provide for our church and her growth. “Let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver” (II Cor. 9:7). Thank you and thanks be to God! The Mission Council
THIS WEEK at HOLY ARCHANGELS
- TODAY, 9:30 Hours, 10, Divine Liturgy, Trapeza, Sunday School
- Wed, Dec. 13, 6:45 p.m., Daniel Bible Study: chapters 10-11, A Vision of the Messiah, the Kingdoms of Man.
- Thursday, 14 Dec., 6:30 p.m., Annual Colinde (Caroling) in historic Annapolis—join us in bringing joy and witnessing to Christ’s Incarnation as we sing traditional carols downtown (meet at St. John’s College gym lot (park on King George St.).
- Sat, Dec. 16, 6 p.m., Great Vespers (confession offered after service)
- Sun, Dec. 17, 9:30 Hours, 10 a.m., Divine Liturgy, Trapeza, Sunday School, choir practice for Nativity service.
Looking Ahead: Mark your Calendars
- Sunday, Dec. 24, 10 p.m., Great Feast of the Holy Nativity of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ (‘the Winter Pascha’): Compline, Nocturns, Divine Liturgy. Please sign up to bring a quiche (only) for the festive meal after service. Georgian wine also served.
- Friday, Dec. 29, Annual Colinde sing-along and fellowship at the Rectory. 5 p.m., 1353 Tydings Rd. Ask what you can bring.
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.
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.
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 our Mission grows “in spirit and in numbers”
- For God’s financial provision for our Mission & college ministry, ACM (Annapolis Pan-Orthodox College Ministry);
- Forgiveness, memory eternal: Chung (friend of Frank Greenwell), Linda (aunt of Fr. Robert), Phillis (friend of the Miclean family)
- Isaiah of Georgia, Archpriest George, Priest John, Rdr. John, Gov. Hogan, Frederica, Benedict, Daniel, Eric, Daniel, Noah, Norm, Alex, Gary, Timothy, Sophia, Vivian, Marlena and baby, Beatrice, George, Helen, Helen, Geneva, Phoenix, Sydney, Young, Jason, Cynthia, the Church in Georgia & Romania as they address the relativism of the West and speak the truth in love, our persecuted brethren in the Middle East, peace in Syria.
From the Fathers…
“Wouldest thou learn words of thanksgiving? Hearken unto the Three Children, saying, ‘We have sinned, we have transgressed. Thou art righteous, O Lord, in all that thou hast done unto us, because thou hast brought all things upon us by a true judgment’ (Prayer of Azariah; Book of Daniel LXX). For to confess one’s own sins, this is to give thanks with confessions unto God: a kind of thing which implies one to be guilty of numberless offenses, yet not to have the due penalty exacted. This man most of all is the giver of thanks.”—St. John Chrysostom, Homily 3, Homilies on the Gospel of St. Matthew
Troparion (Resurrection) Tone 2
When Thou didst descend to death, O Life immortal,
Thou didst slay hell with the splendor of Thy Godhead.
And when from the depths Thou didst raise the dead,
all the powers of heaven cried out://
“O Giver of life, Christ our God, glory to Thee!”
Troparion (Martyrs) Tone 8
Having slain the fiery ragings and fierce movements of the passions through their ascetic labors,
the Martyrs of Christ, Menas, Hermogenes, and Eugraphus,
received grace to dispel the afflictions of the infirm and to work wonders both while alive and after death.
It is a truly great wonder that naked bones pour forth healing.//
Glory to our only God and Creator!
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 of the Powers on high!
Kontakion (Resurrection) Tone 2
Hell became afraid, O almighty Savior,
seeing the miracle of Thy Resurrection from the tomb!
The dead arose! Creation, with Adam, beheld this and rejoiced with Thee,//and the world, my Savior, praises Thee forever.
Kontakion (Martyrs) Tone 4
The Lord snatched thee from the temporal army,
making thee a fellow inheritor of the eternal, O Menas;
together with Hermogenes and Eugraphus
with whom thou didst suffer,//thou art granted an incorruptible crown.
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.
Kontakion (Prefeast of the Nativity of Christ) ~Byzantine Chant, Tone 3
The Virgin cometh today// to the cave to give birth,// ineffably to bring forth//the Word eternal. Therefore, rejoice, O earth, //at the message; //with the angels and shepherds give glory to Him Who shall appear by His own will// as a young child, //
He who is from eternity God.
Glory to God for All Things!
