Zacchaeus Sunday has arrived and we’re given an important truth on our journey with Christ toward salvation. Zacchaeus is a sinner, but he becomes for us an icon of repentance and confession. Zacchaeus lays all his earthly cares aside to seek and to 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 ‘handicaps’, his short stature or his past sins, stand in his way of getting himself to Christ and being transformed by this encounter. He is done with defrauding others and is instead bent on this one desire: to see Jesus, the long-awaited Savior of the human race, God incarnate—the only One who can save us by giving us the possibility of new life, a transformed life in the Life that He alone is. Our Lord rewards his repentant spirit by receiving him, dining with him, and giving him a share in His Kingdom, entering his home. 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? Renew your zeal for God. Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Christ will add to you all the rest you need. 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. 1 (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
- 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).Works of the Law. Share the opportunity to learn & grow in faith with your friends!
- Sat, Feb. 4, 6 p.m., Great Vespers, Confession following
- Sun Feb. 5, 9:30a.m. Hours, 10 a.m., Divine Liturgy, Trapeza follows
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 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 (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.
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 (New Martyrs of Russia) (Today the Virgin) 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.”
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.
