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+
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, January 25, (weekly), 6:45 p.m., New Bible Study Continues: “St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians as the Early Christians Saw it.” This Week: The Gospel Defended; Man is not Justified by the Works of the Law. Share the opportunity to learn & grow in faith with your friends!
- Friday, Jan. 27, 10:30 a.m., Annual March for Life with His Beatitude and other Orthodox faithful. Don’t miss this opportunity to stand for and pray for the most vulnerable in our society! Meet at church and caravan to the March together.
- Sat, Jan., 28, 6 p.m., Great Vespers, Confession following
- Sun, Jan. 29, 9:30a.m. Hours, 10 a.m., Divine Liturgy, Trapeza follows
Looking Ahead: Mark your Calendars!
- Thurs, Feb. 2, 9:30 a.m., The Divine Liturgy for the Great Feast of Christ’s Entrance into the Temple. Trapeza served immediately after the Liturgy (please sign up).
Go Fund Me Campaign: Please share this opportunity with family, friends to keep Holy Archangels going and growing. Sharing via email and through social media makes a big difference. We need your help!
House Blessings: Theophany began the season of house blessings. The faithful 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 6
The Angelic Powers were at Thy tomb; // the guards became as dead men.
Mary stood by Thy grave, // seeking Thy most pure body.
Thou didst capture hell not being tempted by it. // Thou didst come to the Virgin, granting life.//
O Lord, Who didst rise from the dead, glory to Thee.
Troparion (for Apostle Timothy) Tone 4
Having learned goodness and maintaining continence in all things,thou wast arrayed with a good conscience as befits a priest.
From the chosen Vessel thou didst draw ineffable mysteries;
thou didst keep the faith and didst finish a course equal to His.//
Bishop-martyr Timothy, entreat Christ God that our souls may be saved!
Troparion (for Martyr Anastasius) Tone 4
Thy holy martyr Anastasius, O Lord,
through his suffering has received an incorruptible crown from Thee, our God.
For having Thy strength, he laid low his adversaries,
and shattered the powerless boldness of demons.// Through his intercessions save our souls!
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 6
When Christ God the Giver of Life,
raised all of the dead from the valleys of misery with His mighty hand,
He bestowed resurrection on the human race.//
He is the Savior of all, the Resurrection, the Life, and the God of all.
Kontakion (for Apostle Timothy and Martyr Anastasius) Tone 1
Let us the faithful praise the Holy Apostle Timothy, // the companion of Paul in his travels;
and, together with, him let us honor the wise Anastasius, // who came as a star from ^Persia//
for the healing of the passions of our souls and the diseases of our bodies.
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.
