Zacchaeus Sunday has arrived and we’re reminded of Christ’s words put to action in the person of Zacchaeus: “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (6:33). Zacchaeus is a sinner, but he becomes for us an icon of repentance and confession. He is done with defrauding others and is instead bent on this one desire: seeing Jesus, the long-awaited Savior of the human race, God incarnate—the only One who can save us by giving us the possibility of a new life, a transformed life. Zacchaeus lays all his earthly cares aside to seek and see Christ. Of all the people who came out to see Jesus that day, Zacchaeus may have had the most to overcome. But he doesn’t let his short stature or his past sins and broken patterns stand in his way of getting himself to Christ and being transformed by this encounter. Our Lord rewards his repentant spirit by receiving him, dining with him, and giving him a share in His Kingdom. What are your handicaps to ‘seeing’ Christ, to finding healing from sin-sickness, brokenness, lack of faith, doubts, whatever sin? Are you willing to give them up for an opportunity to see Christ, to have Him dine with you? Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Christ will add to you all the rest we need. In His love, Fr. Robert+
House Blessings
During the season of house blessings, we invite Christ into our homes to set them aside for blessing and protection, and to make them places manifesting Christ’s light, peace, truth, and love. Contact Fr. Robert by Sunday, Jan. 25 with two suggested days and times for a house blessing. He will do his best to accommodate you (n.b., Mondays and Thursdays Fr. Robert is generally not available).
THIS WEEK AT HOLY ARCHANGELS:
- Wednesday, Jan. 28, 7 p.m., Applied Orthodox Discussion, John’s Boathouse
- Sat, Jan. 31, 6:00 p.m. Great Vespers Confession offered following the service.
- Sun, Feb. 1, 9:30 a.m. Baptismal Divine Liturgy, Sunday of Pharisee & Publican, baptism and chrismation of Rdr. Zenon and Nino’s baby, Ioane.
Looking Ahead: Mark your Calendars!
- Mon, Feb. 2, 10 a.m. Divine Liturgy, Great Feast of the Meeting of Christ in the Temple
- Sun, Feb. 22, Cheesefare/Forgiveness Sunday: Rite of Forgiveness
- Mon, Feb., 23, GREAT LENT begins
- Wed, Feb. 25, 6:30 p.m., First PRESANCTIFIED LITURGY, St. John’s Boathouse
- Sat-Sun., March 28-29, Lenten Retreat with His Beatitude, Metropolitan TIKHON
December Financial Report: Holy Archangels received a total of $3,681 in offerings in December. $2500 was pledged. $29193 was received in offerings from Jan. – Dec. 2014. The annual budgeted amount based on pledges was $30,000. The new year of pledging has started: Please stay current with your pledges/offerings. Thank God for His provision and your faithful support, which insures that our Mission can continue and grow! The Holy Archangels Mission Council
Prayer Requests:
- That God may grow our Mission “in spirit and in numbers…”
- For God’s financial provision for our Mission and ACM (Annapolis College Ministry);
- Newly-departed Robert
- Metropolitan Isaiah of Georgia, Archpriest George, Priest John, Dcn. Basil, Rdr. John, Benedict, James, Daniel, Seraphim, Ed, Bede, Wanda, George, Daniel, the Church in Georgia and Romania as they address the relativism of the West, speaking the truth in love, our persecuted Orthodox brethren in Iraq and Syria, a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine., for those suffering from the Ebola epidemic and a speedy end to the disease.
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 (St Gregory the Theologian)Tone 1
The sweet-sounding shepherd’s pipe of thy theology // overpowered the trumpeting of the orators;
for eloquence was also bestowed on thee // as on one searching the depths of the Spirit.
Pray to Christ our God, O Father Gregory, // that our souls may be saved!
Troparion (New Martyrs of Russia) Tone 4
Today the Church of Russia forms a chorus in joy, // praising her new martyrs and confessors;
hierarchs and priests, royal passion-bearers, right-believing princes and princesses,
venerable men and women, and all Orthodox Christians.
Having laid down their life for faith in Christ during the days of godless persecution,
they preserved the truth by the shedding of blood.//
By their protection, O long-suffering Lord, preserve our land in Orthodoxy till the end of the age.
Kontakion (Resurrection) Tone 8
By rising from the tomb, Thou hast raised the dead and resurrected Adam.
Eve exults in Thy Resurrection,
and the world celebrates Thy rising from the dead, O greatly Merciful One!
Kontakion (St Gregory the Theologian) Tone 3
By words of theology thou didst unravel the complex webs of the orators, // O glorious Gregory,
and didst adorn the Church with the robe of Orthodoxy woven from on high.
Wearing it, she cries out with us, her children: // “Rejoice, O Father, supreme mind of theology!”
Kontakion (New Martyrs of Russia) Tone 3
Today the new martyrs of Rus’ stand in white robes before the Lamb of God,
and with the angels they sing to God the hymn of victory:
“Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and praise, and honor,
and power, and strength be to our God // unto the ages of ages. Amen.”
