“…God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” How do we become ‘rich’ toward God? Christ God is meant to be everything to us because He is Life. Not only is He the Creator of all life but it is in Him “we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). In Him is the future of us all or without Him there is no future. The rich man in today’s parable is only focused on himself. He hordes up treasure for himself thinking that this buys him ‘security.’ How often do we see in our culture today those who put all their treasure into their material well-being, glorifying their temporal bodies, only to neglect their immortal souls. Christ God calls such people, “fools,” not because He does not love them, but because they are ignorant of their spiritual needs, the transitory nature of this temporal life. The Nativity Fast we’ve now begun gives us an opportunity to put Christ and His Church first in our priorities, to be generous toward God we have to love Him and His Church. We have to offer ourselves to Him and His service and that of each other. In fasting, we learn to say “No!” to our cravings, we learn to pray and worship more, and we give increased alms and gifts to the Church that is Christ’s Body. May we be rich toward God this Nativity Fast (Advent), saying “Yes!” to life with Him and His Church, and in our generosity toward God, both material and spiritual, may we build up much treasure in heaven
In Christ’s blessing and love, Fr. Robert+
THIS WEEK AT HOLY ARCHANGELS:
- Sat, Nov 29, 6:00 p.m. Great Vespers Confession following
- Sun, Nov. 30, 9:30 a.m., Hours 10am Divine Liturgy, Practice for those participating in Colinde and Trapeza (fish, wine, oil allowed)
Looking Ahead: Mark your Calendars
- TUESDAY, Dec. 2, Colinde practice followed by last Orthodox Theology Discussion of the year: The Incarnation, 6:30-8 p.m., St. John’s Boathouse.
- THURSDAY, Dec. 4, Colinde (Caroling). Details TBA.
- Thursday, Dec. 11, 5pm Colinde (Caroling) in downtown Annapolis. St. John’s Boathouse
- Wed, Dec. 24, 10 p.m. FEAST of the NATIVITY. Bring a quiche and desert to share!
October Financial Report: Holy Archangels received a total of $2448 in offerings in October ($2018 in September). $2500 was pledged. $20,986 was received in offerings from January thru October 2014. The budgeted amount based on pledges is $25,000. This leaves us a gap of $4000 to make up between now and Dec. to meet our expenses! Please stay current with your pledges/offerings, and consider increasing your offering and/or making a special one-time gift to help meet this deficit. Thank God for His provision and thank you for your faithful support, which insures that our Mission can continue and grow! The Holy Archangels Mission Council
2015 Pledge Update: $2210 has been pledged monthly for 2015. The average pledge is $220 per family. To meet our financial needs, we need $2500 in monthly pledges. If you’re willing to increase your pledge (or make a pledge) to help meet this need and provide for our Mission’s needs and growth, please contact Fr. Robert right away. We ask everyone to be as generous as possible, giving thanks with a grateful heart for God’s work in our lives through this church.
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);
- Departed servant of God, Simeon (grandfather of Ho Simeon, handmaiden of God, Genica.
- Metropolitan Isaiah of Georgia, Archpriest George, Priest John, Dcn. Basil, Rdr. John, Benedict, James, Daniel, Seraphim, Ed, Bede, Wanda, Peter, the Church in Georgia and Romania as they address the relativism of the West, speaking the truth in love, our suffering, persecuted Orthodox brethren in Iraq and Syria, a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine., for all those suffering from the Ebola epidemic and for a speedy end to the disease.
Troparion (Resurrection) Tone 7
By Your Cross You destroyed death. // To the thief You opened Paradise.
For the Myrrhbearers You changed weeping into joy.
And You commanded Your disciples, O Christ God,
to proclaim that You are risen,// granting the world great mercy.
Troparion (for the Feast of the Entrance) Tone 4
Today is the prelude of the good will of God, // of the preaching of the salvation of mankind.
The Virgin appears in the Temple of God, // in anticipation proclaiming Christ to all.
Let us rejoice // and sing to her:// “Rejoice, O Fulfillment of the Creator’s dispensation!”
Troparion (for SS Amphilochius and Gregory) Tone 4
O God of our fathers, // always act with kindness towards us;
take not Your mercy from us, // but guide our lives in peace
through the prayers of the hierarchs Gregory and Amphilóchius!
Kontakion (Resurrection) Tone 7
The dominion of death can no longer hold mankind 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 (for St Amphilochius) Tone 2
Holy thunder, spiritual trumpet, // nurse of the faithful and axe striking down heresy,
hierarch Amphilóchius, // great and well-pleasing servant of the Trinity,
as you stand forever with the Angels,// unceasingly pray for us all!
Kontakion (for the Feast of the Entrance) Tone 4
The most pure Temple of the Savior; // the precious Chamber and Virgin;
the sacred Treasure of the glory of God, // is presented today to the house of the Lord.
She brings with her the grace of the Spirit, // therefore, the Angels of God praise her:
“Truly this woman is the abode of Heaven!”
