Weekly Update and Bulletin From Fr. Robert Miclean – September 17, 2017

The idea of denying oneself anything in today’s “me first” culture is considered ‘abnormal.’ The message of the cross of Christ, on the other hand, stands in such stark contrast: Christ says to us today, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Mk. 8:34). The Lord knows that if we put self, that is, ego, first, we become what we ‘eat,” we are swallowed up by our passions and by the world around us in our desires to please ourselves. By contrast, the Christian is he or she who comes outside himself to love and to serve God and in learning to live for Him and in the light of His truth, witnesses to the world around him—even at personal cost to himself. For this reason, Christ also says to us today, “whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it” (Mk. 8:35). This is the paradox presented to us today: in dying to the worst of fallen human nature, we learn to live to Christ and acquire a deified human nature, capable of life with God. Such is God’s loving desire for us so that with God ALL things are possible, all healing from sin-sickness, redemption and new life, are the salvific work of heaven. With the cross before us, we learn to deny ourselves, and look to and follow Christ, so that we may become fellow victors with Him over sin and death through His invincible trophy and weapon of peace!                                              Yours in Christ, Fr. Robert+

 

THIS WEEK at HOLY ARCHANGELS (all services are at 47 Spa Rd)

  • TODAY, 9:30, Hours, 10 a.m., Divine Liturgy, Trapeza followed by Sunday School
  • Wed, Sept.20, 6:45; NEW BIBLE STUDY: THE BOOK OF DANIEL
  • Sat, Sept. 23, 6 p.m., Great Vespers (confession offered after the service)
  • Sun, Sept. 24, 9:30 Hours 10 a.m., Divine Liturgy, Trapeza, Sunday School

Looking Ahead: Mark your Calendars

  • Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 4-5, Patronal Feast Retreat with His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon and Fr. Chad Hatfield, President of St. Vladimir’s Seminary. 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 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 and giving are key to our sustainability and our growth. Please place your 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 God may grow our Mission “in spirit and in numbers…”

  • For God’s financial provision for our Mission & college ministry, ACM (Annapolis Pan-Orthodox College Ministry);
  • Forgiveness, memory eternal: Victims of the hurricanes, flooding, terrorist attacks
  • Metropolitan Isaiah of Georgia, Archpriest George, Priest John, Rdr. John, Gov. Hogan, Benedict, Daniel, Eric, Daniel, Noah, Norm, Alex, Gary, Timothy, Sophia, Marlena and her baby, Beatrice, George, Linda, 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.

 

From the Fathers…

 

“The power of the cross of Christ, when taken up by us, can transform the world into paradise.”—Fr. Dumitru Staniloae

 

 

Troparion          (Resurrection) Tone 6

The Angelic Powers were at Thy tomb; // the guards became as dead men.

Mary stood by Thy grave, // seeking Thy most pure body.

Thou didst capture hell not being tempted by it.

Thou didst come to the Virgin, granting life.//

O Lord, Who didst rise from the dead, glory to Thee.

Troparion          (Cross)         Tone 1

O Lord, save Thy people // and bless Thine inheritance!

Grant victories to the Orthodox Christians // over their adversaries;

and by virtue of Thy Cross,// preserve Thy habitation!

Troparion          (for the martyrs)         Tone 5

Thou didst blossom in the courts of the Lord

as a fruitful olive tree, // holy martyr Sophia;

in thy contest thou didst offer to Christ the sweet fruit of thy womb,

thy daughters Faith, Hope, and Love.// Together with them intercede for us all!

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 6         

When Christ God the Giver of Life,

raised all of the dead from the valleys of misery with His mighty hand,

He bestowed resurrection on the human race.//

He is the Savior of all, the Resurrection, the Life, and the God of all.

Kontakion    (for the martyrs)         Tone 1

The holy branches of noble Sophia, // Faith, Hope, and ^Love,

confounded Greek sophistry through Grace. // They struggled and won the victory

and have been granted an incorruptible crown by Christ the Master of all.

Kontakion         (Cross)         Tone 4

As Thou wast voluntarily raised upon the Cross for our sake,

grant mercy to those who are called by Thy Name, O Christ God;

make all Orthodox Christians glad by thy pow’r,

granting them victories over their adversaries//

by bestowing on them the invincible trophy, Thy weapon of peace!

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.