7TH Sunday after Pentecost/ (Holy Myrrhbearer and Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene/ Hieromartyr Phocas)
Welcome to Holy Archangels Orthodox Church (OCA)! We’re glad to have you worshipping the Holy Trinity with us! If you are new or are worshiping with us for the first time, please introduce yourself to our priest, Fr. Robert Miclean, after the service.
President John F. Kennedy’s famous line, “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country” applies even better to the Church. As Orthodox, we don’t separate out our relationship with Christ from our relationship with the Church, for the Church is Christ’s Body; He is our head. The Church is not so much an organization, but an organic organism. How easy it is to think only of what the church does for us as individuals, while forgetting, what it means to be a living part of the Body of Christ. The irony is, that in coming outside ourselves to serve, to give of our gifts, talents and treasure to build up our local church and its ministries, participating more and more in the Sacramental life, we also allow Christ to bless, grow, and continue His upbuilding work of salvation in our own lives; we become more like Christ, growing in our communion with Him and with one aanother. When we are self-focused, asking only what’s in church for me, we fail to grow in the likeness of Christ. “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another” (Rom. 12:5). As we look at our own growth and healing in Christ, we do so not only thinking of ourselves, but of the person next to us, and those yet to come to us. Building up our local body of Christ’s holy Church means that we create a spiritual hospital not only for us to benefit from, but for others as well. In this way, we all grow together into the fullness of Christ.
In His love and wishing you every blessing, Fr. Robert+
This week at Holy Archangels:
- Wednesday, July 25, 7 p.m., Continuing Bible Study on the Gospel of St. John, Location: St. John’s Boathouse. Please join us!
- Saturday, July 28, 6 p.m., Great Vespers with the Matins Gospel. Confession following.
- Sunday, July 29, 9:30 Hours and Divine Liturgy followed by Trapeza.
- Wednesday, Aug 1, Dormition Fast Begins
Prayer Requests:
- Please pray for Azariah (Brian) as he looks for a teaching position.
- Pray for healing for David, Seraphima, Carol
- Please pray for our Mission that we may find a full-time Choir Director.
- Please pray for Fr. Robert and family as they sell their house and move.
Troparion (Resurrection) Tone 6
The angelic powers were at Your tomb;
the guards became as dead men.
Mary stood by Your grave,
seeking Your most pure body.
You took captive hell,//
not being tempted by it.
You came to the Virgin, granting life.//
O Lord, Who rose from the dead, glory to You.
Troparion (Mary Magdalene) Tone 1
By keeping His commandments and laws, holy Mary Magdalene,
you followed Christ, Who for our sake was born of the Virgin,
and in celebrating your most holy memory today,//
we receive forgiveness of sins by your prayers.
Troparion (Hieromartyr Phocas) Tone 4
By sharing in the ways of the Apostles,
you became a successor to their throne.
Through the practice of virtue, you found the way to divine
contemplation, O inspired one of God;
by teaching the word of Truth without error, you defended the Faith, even
to the shedding of your blood.//
Hieromartyr Phocas, entreat Christ God to save our souls!
Troparion (Holy Archangels) Tone 4
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 of the powers 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 (Mary Magdalene) Tone 3*
Standing before the Cross of the Savior,
suffering with the Mother of the Lord,
the most glorious Mary Magdalene
offered praise with tears.
She cried out: “What is this strange wonder?
He Who holds the whole creation in His hand chooses to suffer.//
Glory to Your power, O Lord!”
Kontakion (Holy Archangels) 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,
supreme commanders of the Bodiless Hosts.
