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 to God. 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? 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 this 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, to humble himself and learn from God, prostrating himself before Him. May we go and do likewise! Christ God’s love and blessing, Fr. Robert+
THIS WEEK AT HOLY ARCHANGELS (all services at our new church home—47 Spa Rd):
- Today: Pre-school aged children on up are invited to come to Sunday School during Trapeza
- , Dec. 6, 7-8 p.m., Akathist of St. Nicholas, USNA St. Nicholas Orthodox Chapel in the Bancroft Hall Rotunda. Bring i.d. and enter through Gate 1.
- , Dec 7, (weekly), 6:30 p.m., “The Book of ACTS through the Eyes of the Early Christians.” This week: Chapter 27: St. Paul sails for Rome!
- , Dec. 10, 6 p.m., Great Vespers, Confession following
- Dec. 11, 9:30 a.m. Hours, 10 a.m., Divine Liturgy, Trapeza following
Looking Ahead: Mark your Calendars!
- Saturday, Dec. 24, 10 p.m., Great Feast of the Holy Nativity (‘the Winter Pascha’) service. Please order your Memorial Poinsettias by Sunday, Dec. 11 (see signup sheet) and also sign up for what you plan to bring for our Nativity meal following the service.
- Friday, Jan. 6, 10 a.m., Great Feast of the Holy Theophany followed by annual Great Blessing of the Waters at the City Dock.
Go Fund Me Campaign: Please share this opportunity with family, friends to keep Holy Archangels going and growing. Sharing the emails and links through email and social media makes a big difference.
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.
Prayer Requests:
- That God may grow our Mission “in spirit and in numbers…”
- For God’s financial provision for our Mission & ACM (Annapolis College Ministry);
- Forgiveness of sins, memory eternal for the servant of God, Martin, 10th anniversary of the Falling Asleep of Fr. Gheorghe Calciu
- Metropolitan Isaiah of Georgia, Archpriest George, Rdr. John, Gov. Hogan, Benedict, Daniel, Mat. Janet, Eric, Daniel, Noah, Norm, Svetlana, Alex, Gary, Timothy, Gabriela and the child she bears, Cecilia and the child she bears, 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, a peaceful resolution in Syria.
Troparion (Resurrection) Tone 7
By Thy Cross Thou didst destroy death. // To the thief Thou didst open Paradise.
For the Myrrhbearers Thou didst change weeping into joy,
and Thou didst command Thy disciples, O Christ God,
to proclaim that Thou art risen,// granting the world great mercy.
Troparion (Great Martyr Barbara) Tone 8
Let us honor the holy Martyr Barbara, // for, as a bird, she escaped the snares of the Enemy,//
and destroyed them through the help and defense of the Cross!
Troparion (Venerable John of Damascus) Tone 8
Champion of Orthodoxy, teacher of purity and of true worship,
the enlightener of the universe and the adornment of hierarchs;
all wise Father John, thy teachings have gleamed with light upon all things.//
Intercede before Christ God to save our souls!
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 (Resurrection) Tone 7
The dominion of death can no longer hold men captive,
for Christ descended, shattering and destroying its powers.
Hell is bound, while the Prophets rejoice and cry:
“The Savior has come to those in faith;// enter, you faithful, into the Resurrection!”
Kontakion (Great Martyr Barbara) Tone 4
Singing the praises of the Trinity, // thou didst follow God by enduring suffering;
thou didst renounce the multitude of idols, // O holy martyr Barbara.
In thy struggles, thou wast not frightened by the threats of thy torturers,
but cried out in a loud voice:// “I worship the Trinity in one Godhead.”
Kontakion (Venerable John of Damascus) Tone 4
Let us sing praises to John, worthy of great honor,
the composer of hymns, the star and teacher of the Church, // the defender of her doctrines:
through the might of the Lord’s Cross he overcame heretical error,//
and as a fervent intercessor before God he entreats that forgiveness of sins may be granted to all!
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.
