Weekly Update and Bulletin From Fr. Robert Miclean – August 4, 2013

Christ stuns us in today’s Gospel with the unexpected: those who arduously and sacrificially brought their friend, the paralytic, to be healed by Christ, at first find that there is more in Christ that even they with their great eyes of faith had seen (no one would go to such effort if he did not believe in the healing that Christ could alone give).  Upon first encounter, instead of healing the paralytic of his paralysis, heals him of the paralysis of his soul by forgiving his sins.  The unbelieving Scribes instantly say in their hearts that Christ is blaspheming, for who can forgive sins but God alone?  Christ demonstrates that this is true: only God can forgive sins AND He is God!  First, He reveals the secret thoughts of the Scribes and only then, that they may know His power, the power of the Creator, He heals the man of his paralysis, saying, “Arise, take up your bed and go to your home.”  Nothing is too great for God, but we also must remember that His grace is sufficient for you and me.  Not everyone receives miraculous healing of body, but all of us not only can but are called upon to receive miraculous healing for our souls from the deadly passions and sinful habits that would otherwise paralyze our souls and continue to lead us further away from the Life of the World, our Lord God and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Our faith is to present ourselves through repentance to the Sacrament of Reconciliation, to the divine worship of the Church, that we may allow Christ God to heal us, grow us further in the victorious life in the Kingdom that He has created us for.  Every time we pray, every time we repent, every time we worship, every time we confess, we are freeing ourselves from our own spiritual paralysis and working out our salvation, cooperating with the outpouring of God’s love and mercy on our lives.

In Christ’s love,   Fr. Robert+

This week at Holy Archangels:

  • Sunday, Aug. 4, Planning Meeting for Romania Pilgrimage 2014, Following Trapeza
  • Tuesday, Aug. 6, 11:30 a.m., Holy Transfiguration of our Lord, at the USNA, ALL FAITHS CHAPEL.  RSVP to Fr. Robert by Aug. 1 by email so we can arrange transport to and from the USNA.  You won’t be able to drive onto the Yard.  Bring i.d. MEET AT St. John’s Gym Lot by tennis courts for a ride at 11:15 sharp. 
  • Thursday, August 8, 7 p.m., Plebe Summer Ministry (incoming class) at the USNA
  • Saturday, August 10, 6 p.m. Great Vespers with Matins Gospel. Confession following.
  • Sunday, August 11, 9:30 a.m. Hours, 10 am Divine Liturgy,

Looking Ahead

  • Thursday, Aug. 15, 11:30 a.m., Holy Dormition of Mary the Most-Holy Theotokos, ST. ANDREW’S CHAPEL (beneath main chapel), USNA.  RSVP to Fr. Robert by Aug. 11 by email so we can arrange transport to and from the USNA—OR—Enter by foot via Gate 3 on Maryland Ave.  You won’t be able to drive onto the Yard!  Bring i.d.
  • MEET AT St. John’s Gym Lot by tennis courts for a ride at 11:15 sharp. 
  • Sunday, Aug. 11,  Plebe Summer Parent’s Weekend.  This weekend we welcome the incoming plebes and their families to our Mission.  Please bring something “fasting friendly” but diverse for the Trapeza to follow Divine Liturgy.  Rides needed to and fro the Academy.  Please contact Fr. Robert by email if you can help.

Prayer Requests:

  • That God may grow our Mission in spirit and in numbers as a living witness of God’s love, healing, power, and glory;”
  • For God’s ongoing financial provision for our Mission and ACM;
  • For our Mission that we may find a Choir Director;
  • Healing for Archpriest George, Priest John, Rdr. Michael, Rdr. John, Rdr. Andrew, Alethia, Benedict, Marina, Colette, Mary, Carol, Katherine, James, Charlene, Daniel, Michael Anthony, Sarah, the Church in Georgia and Romania as they address the relativism of the West, speaking the truth in love, for our suffering Orthodox brethren in Syria and Egypt.
  • For the faithfully departed: Archimandrite Iustin, Matushka Tatiana, Kh. Jackie

Troparion              (Resurrection) Tone 5           
Let us, the faithful, praise and worship the Word, // co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit,
born for our salvation from the Virgin; for He willed to be lifted up on the Cross in the flesh,
to endure death, // and to raise the dead// by His glorious Resurrection.
Troparion            (Holy Seven Youths of Ephesus) Tone 4           
Your seven holy martyrs, O Lord,
through their sufferings have received incorruptible crowns from You, our God.
For having Your strength they laid low their adversaries,
and shattered the powerless boldness of demons.//
Through their intercessions, 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 5           
You descended into hell, O my Savior, // shattering its gates as Almighty,
resurrecting the dead as Creator, // and destroying the sting of death.
You have delivered Adam from the curse, O Lover of Man,//
and we cry to You: “O Lord, save us!”
Kontakion            (Holy Seven Youths of Ephesus) Tone 4           
The Seven Holy Youths renounced the perishing comforts of this world,
preferring the eternal things of Heaven. // They were incorrupt after death and rose from the dead
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.