Weekly Update and Bulletin From Fr. Robert Miclean – October 15, 2017

TIME, TALENT, TREASURE: First Fruits Pledge 2018. As Christians we know that everything is ultimately a gift from God. Throughout time, the people of God have been called on to give back to God at least a tenth, that is, a Tithe, of all that they had. While as Christians we recognize that everything belongs to God, the tithe (or some percentage) is a good place to start to open our hearts to God, to learn to love God more, and to build up His Church. God is always more faithful than we and gives to us sacramentally in return: He provides for us in every way. We offer a portion to Him in thanksgiving from that which He’s entrusted to us of our time, our talents, and our treasures. Please take a “Time, Talent, Treasure” pledge form today, pray about what God would have you give of yourself in 2017, take a step of faith, knowing that God will give you so much more in return. Please place your completed pledge form in the offering box no later than Sunday, Nov. 4 (Sunday before our patronal feast). He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. (II Cor. 9:6) 

The Parable of the Sower…

Our Lord presents us with an opportunity today to consider how we’re responding to His gracious and loving invitation to life with Him. The distractions and temptations we face in the world are great: they can smother the seed of faith that’s been planted in us; we can find ourselves on the ‘rocky soil’ or choked by the ‘weeds’ of worldly concerns. Tending our soul is a lot like tending a garden: Vigilance and patience is demanded of us. If we want to see the ‘garden’ of our souls flourish and bring forth a fruitful harvest, we make use of the ‘tools’ Christ has entrusted to us through His Church. A good gardener removes the rocks, the weeds, provides good soil, water, and all that his garden needs. So it is with our souls: we make use of the ‘tools.’ We make Confession so that we can invite the Master Gardener into our souls to tend it, remove from it the passions that would otherwise prevent our growth, healing, and salvation. We pray daily and participate in the divine worship. We read the Scriptures and the lives of the Saints. The life in Christ demands of us much patience, perseverance, humility and obedience. So, we examine our lives today to see what is lacking. We pray that God would help us to return to Him from our ‘first fruits.’ We ask God to give us opportunities to keep the faith, to grow in faith, to witness and to serve, as the good seed yielding a crop a hundredfold.                      The Lord bless you! Fr. Robert+

 

THIS WEEK at HOLY ARCHANGELS

  • TODAY, 9:30 Hours, 10, Divine Liturgy, Trapeza, Sunday School
  • Wed, Oct. 18, 6:45-8:15 p.m.; BIBLE STUDY: THE BOOK OF DANIEL, chapter 3: The Song of the Three Holy Youths…
  • Sat, Oct. 21, 4:30 p.m., October Catechumen Class, Meeting
  • Sat, Oct. 21, 6 p.m., Great Vespers (confession offered after service)
  • Sun, Oct. 22, 9:30 Hours, Divine Liturgy, Trapeza, Sunday School

Looking Ahead: Mark your Calendars

  • Sat, Oct. 28, 4:30 p.m., All Saints Party for the Children—dress as your favorite Saint, bobbing for apples, games, etc. Volunteers needed to help make this a special day for the children.
  • Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 4-5, Patronal Feast Retreat with His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon. Fr. Chad Hatfield, President of St. Vladimir’s Seminary, will speak on, “Three Ways to Know the Body of Christ: Incarnation, Mission, Sacrament.” Registration now open!!

 

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. Please place your 2018 pledge (or increased pledge) in the offering box today!  

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: Frances (Aunt of Marian Soriano), Dante, Victims of the shooting in Las Vegas, fires in CA
  • 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, Linda, victims of the shooting in Las Vegas, fire victims in CA and its end, 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, peace in Syria.

 

From the Fathers…

No sacred or divine word will be able to enter those who have minds that are hard and unyielding, for it is by the aid of such words that the joyful fruit of virtue can grow. Men of this kind are highways that are trodden by unclean spirits, and by Satan himself, and they shall never be producers of holy fruit, because their hearts are sterile and unfaithful. (St. Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on the Gospel of St. Luke, Homily 41)

 

Troparion             (Resurrection)            Tone 2

When Thou didst descend to death, O Life immortal,

Thou didst slay hell with the splendor of Thy Godhead.

And when from the depths Thou didst raise the dead,

all the powers of heaven cried out://

“O Giver of life, Christ our God, glory to Thee!”

Troparion             (Fathers)            Tone 8

Thou art most glorious, O Christ our God!

Thou hast established the Holy Fathers as lights on the earth.

Through them Thou hast guided us to the true Faith.//

O greatly compassionate One, 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             (Resurrection)            Tone 2

Hell became afraid, O almighty Savior,

seeing the miracle of Thy Resurrection from the tomb!

The dead arose! Creation with Adam beheld this and rejoiced with Thee

and the world, my Savior, praises Thee forever.

Kontakion            (Fathers)            Tone 6

The Son who shone forth from the Father

was ineffably born, two-fold in nature, of a woman.

Having beheld Him, we do not deny the image of His form,

but depict it piously and revere it faithfully.

Thus, keeping the True Faith,//

the Church venerates the icon of Christ Incarnate.

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.