The three weeks before the start of Great Lent (the Triodion) has begun with the Parable of the Publican and Pharisee. Christ thrusts before us a stark contrast between the prideful, judgmental, self-righteous Pharisee and the humble, self-effacing, repentant Publican. Like the Pharisee, we too can easily find ourselves following all the ‘rules’ of Lent—fasting, services, alms-giving, without allowing these tools to penetrate our hearts, to produce in us the kind of humility the Publican exemplifies and which is so pleasing to our Lord. The righteous acts of the Pharisee are good, but only if they serve to further His love of God and neighbor, only if done for love of God, only if they produce in him the humility needed for repentance and communion with God. The sins of the Publican don’t condemn him because he confesses them in humility before the Lord who alone loves mankind and restores our souls. While not abandoning those suffering from the ravages of sin-sickness or confronting sin when needed for the sake of their souls, we don’t judge; that is, we don’t condemn our brother. There is one judge—God—and He alone sees into the hearts and souls of us all. May Christ God continue to form in us a spirit of humility and contrition for our sins and offenses, that as we approach the ‘spiritual hospital’ of Lent, we may make fruitful progress on our journey with Christ and in His Heavenly Kingdom. In Christ’s love, Fr. Robert+
THIS WEEK AT HOLY ARCHANGELS (all services at our church home—47 Spa Rd):
- Today: Pre-school aged children on up are invited to come to Sunday School during Trapeza
- Wed, Feb. 8 (weekly), 6:45 p.m., New Bible Study Continues: “St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians as the Early Christians Saw it.” This Week: Chapter 3-4 continued: The Law our Tutor; Sons, not Slaves. Share the opportunity to learn & grow in faith with your friends!
- Sat, Feb. 11, 6 p.m., Great Vespers, Sunday of the Prodigal Son, Confession following
- Sun, Feb. 12, 9:30a.m. Hours, 10 a.m., Divine Liturgy, Sunday of the Prodigal Son, Trapeza follows
Looking Ahead: Mark your Calendars!
- Sun, Feb. 26, Cheesefare, Sunday of the Last Judgment, Cheesefare Trapeza (please sign up), followed by Forgiveness Vespers and the Rite of Forgiveness (liturgical beginning of Lent)!
- Mon, Feb. 27, Clean Monday, strict fast, beginning of fast for Great and Holy Lent.
- Wed, Feb. 29, 6:30 p.m., First Presanctified Liturgy and new Bible study
Go Fund Me Campaign: Please share this opportunity with family, friends to keep Holy Archangels going and growing and possibly to move into larger space in our building. All EXTRA gifts will help make that move possible. Sharing via email and through social media makes a big difference.
House Blessings: The season of house blessings ends with Lent. Faithful Orthodox Christians invite Christ into their homes to have them blessed and manifesting Christ’s light, peace, truth, and love, harbors in the midst of the storm of the world, places of refuge for our souls. Please contact Fr. Robert with two suggested days and times for a house blessing as soon as possible. He will do his best to accommodate you (n.b., Mondays, his day off, he is generally not available).
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, memory eternal: Marie (Paul’s Aunt), victims of St. Mark Cathedral terrorist attack
- Metropolitan Isaiah of Georgia, Archpriest George, Rdr. John, Gov. Hogan, Benedict, Daniel, Mat. Janet, Eric, Daniel, Noah, Norm, Svetlana, Alex, Gary, Timothy, 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 8
Thou didst descend from on high, O Merciful One! // Thou didst accept the three day burial
to free us from our sufferings!// O Lord, our Life and Resurrection, glory to Thee!
Troparion (Meeting of our Lord) Tone 1
Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, Full of Grace!
From thee shone the Sun of Righteousness, ^Christ our God,
enlightening those who sat in darkness. // Rejoice and be glad, O righteous Elder,
thou didst accept in thine arms the ^Redeemer of our souls, // Who grants us the Resurrection!
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 (from the Lenten Triodion) Tone 4
Let us flee from the pride of the Pharisee! // Let us learn humility from the Publican’s tears!
Let us cry to our Savior: // “Have mercy on us,// O only merciful One!”
Kontakion (Meeting of our Lord) Tone 1
By Thy Nativity Thou didst sanctify the Virgin’s womb
and didst bless Simeon’s hands, ^O Christ God. // Now Thou hast come and saved us through love.
Grant peace to all Orthodox Christians, // O only Lover of Man!
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.
