Weekly Update and Bulletin From Fr. Robert Miclean – November 26, 2017

Thoughts on Today’s Gospel

Having just celebrated Thanksgiving, we’re reminded of the importance of giving thanks to God for His work in our lives: healing us, growing us, saving us. Giving thanks is not something we can afford to do just once a year, of course: thanking God, remembering God as the Giver of all that is good, is an important sign of how strong our relationship and communion with God is. We can take God’s work in our lives for granted. We’ve all received and ARE receiving blessings from God. Giving thanks is key to our spiritual health. It’s another indication of our coming outside ourselves to love, to serve, and to grow. As Orthodox, we believe that we’re saved not just individually, but also, corporately. We are our brother’s keeper. Your salvation is also connected to the salvation of your brother and sister next to you. Do we give thanks to God for His work in us? Do we give thanks to God for His work amongst us? Do we give thanks to God for this Mission?   Do we dare even thank God for the trials and challenges He allows in our lives that force us to depend more, trust more, in Him? Let us give thanks with a grateful heart and consider what we can render to the Lord for all His bounty to us!     The Lord Jesus Christ bless you, Fr. Robert+

 

Important: Commitment Sunday was Sunday, November 4!

If you have not yet offered your commitment for 2018, PLEASE place it in the offering box today. As of now we have $1325 in pledge cards from last Sunday and $1900 total in monthly commitments. We need $3,500. To all for whom this Mission is dear, please give generously so we can continue to pay our rent and other necessary expenses to provide for our church and her growth. “Let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver” (II Cor. 9:7). Thank you and thanks be to God!       The Mission Council

 

THIS WEEK at HOLY ARCHANGELS

  • TODAY, 9:30 Hours, 10, Divine Liturgy, Trapeza, Sunday School
  • Tues, Nov. 28, 6 p.m., Inquirers Meeting with Fr. Robert, 6:30 p.m., Catechumen Meeting
  • Wed, Nov. 29, Bible Study Resumes: Daniel 8—The Archangel Gabriel interprets Daniel’s second vision
  • Sat, Dec. 2, 6 p.m., Great Vespers (confession offered after service)
  • Sun, Dec. 3, 9:30 Hours, Divine Liturgy, Trapeza, Sunday School

Looking Ahead: Mark your Calendars

  • Wed, 6 Dec., 6:45 p.m., Akathist to St. Nicholas and Colinde practice, St. Nicholas Day (volunteers needed to bring fast-friendly, festive refreshments): learn to sing Old World and English Carols.
  • Thursday, 14 Dec., 6:30 p.m., Annual Colinde (Caroling) in historic Annapolis—join us in bringing joy and witnessing to Christ’s Incarnation as we sing traditional carols downtown
  • Sunday, Dec. 24, 10 p.m., Great Feast of the Holy Nativity of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ (‘the Winter Pascha’): Compline, Nocturns, Divine Liturgy. Please sign up to bring a quiche (only) for the festive meal after service. Georgian wine also served.
  • Friday, Dec. 29, Colinde sing-along and fellowship at the Rectory. Save the date. Details TBA.

 

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.

 

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 and giving are key to our sustainability and our growth.

   

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 our Mission grows “in spirit and in numbers”

  • For God’s financial provision for our Mission & college ministry, ACM (Annapolis Pan-Orthodox College Ministry);
  • Forgiveness, memory eternal: Chung (friend of Frank Greenwell), Linda (aunt of Fr. Robert), Victims of recent shootings
  • Isaiah of Georgia, Archpriest George, Priest John, Rdr. John, Gov. Hogan, Frederica, Benedict, Daniel, Eric, Daniel, Noah, Norm, Alex, Gary, Timothy, Sophia, Vivian, Marlena and baby, Beatrice, George, Helen, Helen, Geneva, Phoenix, Sydney, Young, the Church in Georgia & Romania as they address the relativism of the West and speak the truth in love, our persecuted brethren in the Middle East, peace in Syria.

 

From the Fathers… “We preach not one coming of Christ, but a second as well, far more glorious than the first. The first gave us a spectacle of His patience; the second will bring with it the crown of the Kingdom of God. In general all things are twofold in our Lord Jesus Christ. His birth is twofold, one of God before the ages, and one of a virgin in the consummation of the ages. His descent is twofold, one lowly, ‘like the rain upon the fleece,’ and a second, His manifest coming, which is yet to be…” St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures

 

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             (for Hierarch Innocent)            Tone 3

Thou didst illumine the earth by thy deeds, O radiant light of the Church.

Thou didst heal those who drew near to thee in faith and so glorified God.

Therefore, O holy Father Innocent, we beseech thee:

“Encompass this land with thy prayers,//

and protect us from all harm and misdeed!”

Intercede that all that be granted forgiveness, Great-martyr Barlaam!

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            (Resurrection)            Tone 8            

By rising from the tomb, Thou didst raise the dead and resurrected Adam. // Eve exults in Thy Resurrection, // and the world celebrates Thy rising from the dead, O greatly Merciful One!

Kontakion            (for Hierarch Innocent)            Tone 4

O faithful, let us all praise with love

the pastor whose very name means innocence,

the preacher of the faith in Mongolia,

the glory and adornment of the flock of Irkutsk,//

for he is the protector of this land and an intercessor for our souls!

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.

Glory to God for All Things!