Today we reflect on Christ’s miraculous healing of the blind man, who repeatedly and undauntedly calls after Christ God for His mercy, using the messianic title, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Undeterred by those who would silence him, the man catches Christ’s attention who rewards him for his faith in the living God, who alone is able to heal our bodies and our souls. We ask ourselves this day the question, where is my ‘spiritual blindness’? Where it is discovered through repentance and Confession, we have the opportunity to beseech God in like manner as did the blind man, to call after Christ God with all that we have in our being, even from the depth of our souls. This desire is the beginning of faith through which God can work His salvation in our lives and give us the spiritual sight we need to progress in His Kingdom, conquering vices and gaining in the virtues reflective of those who will inherit eternal life in Christ’s holy and near presence. Christ’s love and blessing, Fr. Robert+
House Blessings: Saturday began the season of house blessings: The faithful invite Christ into their homes to set them aside, have them blessed, and pray God to make them places 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, times for a house blessing as soon as possible. He will do his best to accommodate (n.b., Mondays he is generally not available).
Important: 2018 Pledges and Commitments: If you have not yet offered your commitment for 2018, PLEASE place it in the offering box today. As of now we have $2500 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 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 & thanks be to God! The Mission Council
THIS WEEK at HOLY ARCHANGELS
- TODAY, 9:30 Hours, 10, Divine Liturgy, Trapeza, Sunday School
- Wed, Jan. 17, 6:45 p.m., NEW STUDY: On the Incarnation, St. Athanasius (4th century). Please join us and invite a friend!
- Fri, Jan. 19, 10 a.m., Annual March for Life with His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon. The defense of life is one of the most fundamental Orthodox beliefs. Meet at church at 10 a.m. to depart for New Carrolton metro and the National Mall to join hundreds of other Orthodox Christians as we pray for a culture of life.
- Sat, Jan. 20, 6 p.m., Great Vespers (confession offered after service)
- Sun, Jan. 21, 9:30 a.m., Hours, 10 a.m., Divine Liturgy, Trapeza. Annual Great Blessing of the Waters at City Dock.
Looking Ahead: Mark your Calendars
- Friday, Feb. 2, 9:45 a.m., Divine Liturgy, GREAT FEAST, Presentation of Christ in the Temple, Trapeza
- Sunday, Feb. 18, Cheesefare, Expulsion from Paradise, Vespers of Forgiveness with Rite of Forgiveness following Trapeza
- Monday, Feb. 19—Beginning of Great Lent, 6:30 p.m. Canon of St. Andrew (M, T, Th,)
- Wed, Feb. 21, 6:30 p.m., Presanctified Liturgy, Soup Supper
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: His Majesty Regele (king) Mihai I of Romania (last Orthodox king who reigned), 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, Valerie, 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… Calling to Mind God’s Blessings
“You should continually and unceasingly call to mind all the blessings which God in His love has bestowed on you in the past, and still bestows for the salvation of your soul. You must not let forgetfulness of evil or laziness make you grow unmindful of these many and great blessings, and so pass the rest of your life uselessly and ungratefully. For this kind of continual recollection, pricking the heart like a spur, moves it constantly to confession and humility, to thanksgiving with a contrite soul, and to all forms of sincere effort, repaying God through its virtue and holiness. In this way the heart meditates constantly and conscientiously on the words from the Psalms: ‘What shall I give to the Lord in return for all His benefits towards me?’ (Ps. 116:12).” St. Mark the Ascetic, Letter to Nicolas the Solitary, Philokalia Vol. 1
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 of the Feast Tone 1
When Thou, O Lord, wast baptized in the Jordan,
the worship of the Trinity was made manifest.
For the voice of the Father bore witness to Thee,
and called Thee His beloved Son; //and the Spirit in the form of a dove
confirmed the truthfulness of His word.// O Christ our God, Who hast revealed Thyself//and hast enlightened the world, 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 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 of the Feast Tone 4
Today Thou hast shone forth to the world, O Lord,
and the light of Thy countenance has been marked on us.
Knowing Thee, we sing Thy praises:
“Thou hast come and revealed Thyself,//O unapproachable Light.”
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.
