Weekly Update and Bulletin From Fr. Robert Miclean – June 26, 2016

Today we remember all those faithful Saints who have come before us: “forefathers, fathers, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, preachers, evangelists, martyrs, confessors, ascetics and every righteous spirit made perfect in faith” (Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom). They come from every race, class, region, and time. What they share in common is that through their repentance and cooperation with the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives, they’ve been deified and come to participate in the life of the Holy Trinity. Their life in Christ has made them holy, humble, courageous in living out and witnessing to His truth in this world. It’s tempting to think of the Saints as some relic of the past; they are not: there are modern Saints in our own generation—St. John the Wonderworker of Shanghai and San Francisco, Parintele Gheorghe Calciu of blessed memory, St. Tikhon, St. Raphael of Brooklyn, St. Elizabeth the New—just to name a few from this and the last century. At the same time, we realize that God doesn’t just call a few to be Saints, but all of us. That realization humbles us, reminds us of God’s great and unsurpassed calling and love for us, which helps us persevere in our struggles for healing from our passions and worldly attitudes that would otherwise stand in our way of deeper and continued growth in communion with God. The Lord honors our struggles; through them, we learn to entrust ourselves to Him, to repent and pray more fervently, to participate more in the sacramental life in Christ. We take up our cross, denying ourselves so we can learn obedience and humility, without which, we cannot enter God’s near presence. The “great cloud of witnesses” has finished the race of faith before us; their witness spurs us on to likewise live for the glory of God. Holy Saints of God, pray for us sinners!                                                 Christ is in our midst!   Fr. Robert+

THIS WEEK AT HOLY ARCHANGELS (all services at our new church home—47 Spa Rd):           

[Parking weekdays, Saturdays in the neighborhood off Amos Garrett Blvd. (first right heading East/downtown). On Sundays, free parking is usually offered in the Amos Garrett Parking Garage on the same street.

  • Tues, June 28, 6:30 p.m., Vigil, Feast of Ss Peter and Paul
  • Weds, June 29 (weekly), 6:30-7:45, Bible Study Series & Outreach Opportunity: The Book of ACTS through the Eyes of the Early Christians.” This Week: The Aftermath of Pentecost, Life in the Early Church. Invite your friends for this amazing journey of faith and discovery!
  • Sat, July 2, 6 p.m., Great Vespers., Confession following
  • Sun, July 3, 9:30 Hours, 10, Divine Liturgy, Sunday of All Saints of North America, We will possibly have several plebes with us from the Naval Academy. Please be generous with hospitality/contribute to trapeza!

Holy Archangels Rent: NEW! We need to raise an additional $300 per month to be able to continue to afford this new church home. We have taken a step of faith together. Please open up your hearts to help us meet this challenge so we can grow “in spirit and in numbers.” Who is willing to step forward in generosity? May God reward you for your faithfulness in providing for this Mission!

Confession and Reception: In keeping with OCA Guidelines, it’s 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);
  • Metropolitan Isaiah of Georgia, Archpriest George, Dcn. Basil, Rdr. John, Governor Hogan, Benedict, James, Daniel, Bede, Wanda, Eric, George, Daniel, John, Noah, Norm, Jean Claude, Sophie, Valentina, Svetlana, Gabriela and the child she bears, Renee 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             (from the Pentecostarion) Tone 4

As with fine porphyry and royal purple,

Thy Church has been adorned with Thy martyrs’ blood shed throughout all the world.

She cries to Thee, O Christ God: // “Send down Thy bounties on Thy people,//

grant peace to Thy habitation and great mercy to our souls!” // O Lover of Man, 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 on high

Kontakion            (from the Pentecostarion) Tone 8            

The universe offers Thee the God-bearing Martyrsa

as the first fruits of creation, O Lord and Creator.

By their prayers keep Thy Church, Thy habitation, in abiding peace//

through the Theotokos, O most Merciful One!

Kontakion            (Holy Archangels) 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,// Supreme Commanders of the Bodiless Hosts