Today Christ calls His foremost disciples, Peter, James, and John, from the simple life of fishermen to becoming “fishers of men,” a calling to prioritize the life in Christ and the spreading of the Gospel and the Kingdom of God above all else. The Holy Spirit transforms these ‘simple’ fishermen into the great disciples and then Apostles of the Church. But their calling to be “fishers of men” is not just for them: it’s the calling given to each of us by virtue of our baptism into Christ. St. Paul likens us to “ambassadors for Christ.” Christ calls us to “go… and make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28). Our struggling and striving to live out our faith, not in accordance to our or society’s standards, but in accordance to the “faith once delivered by the Saints” (Jude 1:3), is a testimony to the truth of Christ—the same hope of healing and salvation for every age.
Our repentance, cooperate worship, daily prayers, how we act and speak, are all engaging aspects of our witness, of becoming “fishers of men” like them. Our living out of our faith often gives us the opportunity to speak about our faith and testify to the truth that is Christ and the life only in Him, the only hope of mankind. Christ God calls His disciples and all of us to be His evangelists. He teaches us how to witness through love. He reassures us, saying, “Do not be afraid!” May we all attain to the courage of the Apostles to follow Christ’s call, to live out our baptism no matter the cost, and to continue to make our Mission a place of refuge, healing, and salvation for all who seek the fullness of life in Christ. Yours in Christ, Fr. Robert+
THIS WEEK at HOLY ARCHANGELS
- TODAY, 9:30, Hours, 10 a.m., Divine Liturgy, Trapeza followed by Sunday School
- Wed, Sept.27, 6:45-8:15 p.m.; NEW BIBLE STUDY: THE BOOK OF DANIEL
- Thurs, Sept. 28, 5:30-7 p.m., September Catechumen Class
- Sat, Sept.30, 6 p.m., Great Vespers (confession offered after service)
- Sun, Oct. 1, 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 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 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: Fran (Aunt of Marian Soriano), Victims of the hurricanes, flooding, terror 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, a peaceful resolution in Syria.
From the Fathers…
“But who is to work for the spread of the Orthodox Faith for the increase of the children of the Orthodox Church? Pastors and missionaries, you answer. You are right; but are they to be alone? St. Paul wisely compares the Church of Christ to a body, and the life of a body is shared by all the members. So it ought to be in the life of the Church also…The spread of Christ’s faith ought to be near and precious to the heart of every Christian.” (St. Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow, Enlightener of North America)
Troparion (Resurrection) Tone 7
By Thy Cross Thou didst destroy death. To the thief Thou didst open Paradise.
For the Myrrhbearers Thou didst change weeping into joy,
and Thou didst command Thy disciples, O Christ God,
to proclaim that Thou art risen,//granting the world great mercy..
*Troparion (New Martyrs of Alaska) Tone 4
Today Alaska rejoices and America celebrates,
for the New World has been sanctified by martyrdom.
Kodiak echoes with songs of thanksgiving,
Iliamna and Kenai observe the festival of faith.
The apostle and martyr Juvenaly is glorified,
and Peter the Aleut is exalted by his voluntary sacrifice.
In their devotion and love for the Lord
they willingly endured persecution and death for the truth.//
Now in the kingdom of heaven they intercede for our souls.
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 7
The dominion of death can no longer hold men 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 (New Martyrs of Alaska) Tone 4
Today Valaam joins Alaska in celebrating this joyous feast,
as her spiritual son Juvenaly embraces the New-Martyr Peter with love.
Together they suffered for the Lord in America
and united the Old World with the New by their voluntary sacrifice.//
Now forever they stand before the King of glory and intercede 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.
