Weekly Update and Bulletin From Fr. Robert Miclean – May 14, 2017

Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12). The woman at the well in today’s Gospel comes from a very dark place: She’s living in sin, in confusion, she’s a follower of a man-made religion that cannot fulfill, but she thirsts for more. Christ shows her Himself—the Light of the world, the Living Water—so that coming to the knowledge and love of Him, she may be illuminated, transfigured. When we speak of someone journeying to the Orthodox Faith, we speak of them “coming to holy illumination.” This is what has happened to the Samaritan Woman: Because of her encounter with Christ, the Living Water, she is changed; her adulterous love is transformed into pure agape love for God and for others. This love of God, love from God, motivates her in her love of others. She cannot help but share her joy at finding Jesus Christ, the Living Water, with others. The Apostles give her the name, Photini, “the enlightened one”. She becomes one of the great evangelists of the early Church—the enlightener of the Samaritan people. St. Photini did not let her past, her old ‘patterns’ of dysfunction, sin, confusion and darkness, get in the way of her new life—her illumined life—with God; she became who she truly is, whom God created her to be. When we allow ourselves to continue to be enlightened by God’s love and truth, we desire more than anything else that that those around us may likewise come to the knowledge and love of God, to knowledge of the truth, holy illumination. Christ says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). This is the supreme service for love of God and our fellow man: we desire not only the enlightenment of ourselves, but of those we love as well.    Christ is risen! Fr. Robert+                                                                                                                                                  

 

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

  • Wednesday, May 17, 6:30 p.m., Daily Paschal Vespers
  • Sat, May 20, 6 p.m., Great Vespers
  • Sun, May 21, 9:40 Hours 10 a.m., Divine Liturgy, Trapeza following
  • May 10-27, Robert leading a pilgrimage in Romania; Rev. Fr. Ignatius Green will be serving in Father’s stead. Please welcome him. For pastoral emergencies only, please call: (724) 316-8878

Looking Ahead:

  • Saturday, June 3, Annual Pentecost Cookout and Great Vespers at the Rectory, 2:30 p.m.
  • Sunday, June 4, Pentecost Sunday

 

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.

 

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 are key to our sustainability. Please place your pledge (or increased pledge) in the offering box.

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 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: John, cousin of Paula Eisengrein and John, friend of Marian.
  • Metropolitan Isaiah of Georgia, Archpriest George, Rdr. John, Gov. Hogan, Benedict, Daniel, Mat. Janet, Eric, Daniel, Noah, Norm, Svetlana, Alex, Gary, Timothy, Sophia, 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, esp. Egypt and Syria, a peaceful resolution in Syria.

Troparion             (Resurrection) Tone 4

When the women Disciples of the Lord

learned from the Angel the joyous message of the Resurrection,

they cast away the ancestral curse//and elatedly told the Apostles:

Death is overthrown!//Christ God is risen,//granting the world great mercy!”

Troparion             (Midfeast) Tone 8

In the middle of the feast, O Savior,//fill my thirsting soul with the waters of piety,

as Thou didst cry to all: “If anyone thirst, let him come to

Me and drink!”// O Christ God, Fountain of our life, 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 (Pentecostarion) Tone 8           

The Samaritan Woman came to the well in faith;

she saw Thee, the Water of wisdom and drank abundantly.//

She inherited the Kingdom on high, and is ever glorified!

Kontakion     (Midfeast) Tone 4           

Christ God, the Creator and Master of all,//cried to all in the midst of the feast of the Law:

“Come and draw the water of immortality!//We fall before Thee and faithfully cry://

Grant us Thy mercies, for Thou art the Fountain of our life!

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.