We’re reminded today in our Epistle that the Apostles and their successors, and indeed all faithful Orthodox Christians, will suffer as they live out their faith in the world. The life of a faithful Christian, by necessity, involves our self-denial and our coming outside ourselves to love and to serve. This is part of our ‘cross.’ We give of ourselves in a desire to love and grow in the love of Christ, to become more and more like Him through deification, our participation in the life of the Church. Our Gospel today prompts us to see that prayer, faith, and fasting go hand in hand to enable us to become fellow partakers with Christ and victors over the world and its priorities exercise on us. This day, we also remember God’s mercy on us and we see our own need to return to God the glory and worship that is our thanksgiving, our spiritual service to Him, for all His bounties and blessings to us. This worship extends to our striving to bring our faith to bear on our everyday lives, our prayers, our fasting, our worship, our service, how we treat each other in the Church and the extent to which we exercise our faith in obedience and humility in our daily lives. If we seek Christ first, all other things find their place. So, we’re called to examine and recommit ourselves to prioritizing our life in Christ above all things. May we cultivate the faith to move whatever ‘mountains’, whatever impediments, stand between us and life in Him. In Christ’s love, Fr. Robert+
Important: 2018 Pledges/Commitments: We have reached our minimum need of $3,500 per month. Glory to God for His provision! To grow the Mission further, we need everyone to honor their monthly pledges and to give generously and faithfully so we can continue to provide for our church and ready ourselves for the next step. “Let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver” (II Cor. 9:7).
THIS WEEK at HOLY ARCHANGELS
- TODAY, 9:30 Hours, 10 a.m., Divine Liturgy Trapeza, Sunday School. If you have not made Confession in the past month, you are invited to receive the blessed antidoron and wine.
- Mon, Aug. 6, 9:30 Hours, 10 a.m., Divine Liturgy, Great Feast of the Transfiguration, Trapeza (fish, wine, oil).
- Wed, Aug. 8, 6:30 p.m., Great Vespers, Feast of St. Herman of Alaska, confession offered
- Sat, Aug. 10, 6:00 p.m., Great Vespers confession following
- Sun, Aug. 11, 9:30 a.m., Hours, 10 a.m., Divine Liturgy, trapeza following with Sunday School
Looking Ahead…Mark your Calendars!
- Tues, Aug. 14, 6:30 p.m., Great Vespers, Lamentations, Holy Dormition of our Most-Blessed Lady Theotokos
- Weds, Aug. 15, 9:30 Hours, 10 a.m., Divine Liturgy, Dormition, Trapeza served (fish, wine, oil)
- -Sunday, Aug. 25-26, Holy Archangels Books & Icons open house. This is a church-wide outreach event. Please volunteer for one of the time slots at the Entrance Table and invite your friends and neighbors. St. Tikhon’s coffee, Orthodox music both days.
Confession and Reception: In keeping with OCA Guidelines, it is the discipline at Holy Archangels to practice at least monthly confession. If 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.
TRAPEZA: The lunch and fellowship served after Divine Liturgy is an important part of our Mission’s family life together. We cannot draw closer to God if we’re not also drawing closer to each other. To grow “in spirit and in numbers,” such fellowship is so important. Please sign up to help provide for this important ministry!
Miclean Baby Registry. For those who’ve asked: From the Holy Archangels website, click the Amazon link. On the Amazon homepage click the “Registry,” tab, then “baby”, then type Kristina Miclean, Annapolis.
Prayer Requests: Our Mission’s Growth “in spirit and in umbers”
- For God’s financial provision for our Mission & college ministry, ACM (Annapolis Pan-Orthodox College Ministry);
- Isaiah of Georgia, Archbishops Yohanna Ibrahim and Boulos Yazigi of Syria, Archpriest George, Sbn. John, Gov. Hogan, Benedict, Daniel, Benjamin, Daniel, Noah, Alex, Gary, Timothy, Sophia, Vivian, Beatrice, George, Helen, Helen, Geneva, Phoenix, Sydney, Young, Liam, Cynthia Eleni, Valerie, Charlotte, Anastasia, Valentina, Norm, 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.
Troparion (Resurrection) Tone 1
When the stone had been sealed by the Jews,
while the soldiers were guarding Thy most pure body,
Thou didst rise on the third day, O Savior, // granting life to the world. // The powers of heaven therefore cried to Thee, O Giver of Life: // “Glory to Thy Resurrection, O Christ! //Glory to Thy ^Kingdom!//
Glory to Thy dispensation, O Thou who lovest of mankind!”
Troparion (Forefeast of Transfiguration) Tone 4
Come, ye faithful, let us welcome the Transfiguration of Christ,
and let us joyfully cry as we celebrate the prefeast: // “The day of holy gladness has come; // the Lord has ascended Mount Tabor// to radiate the beauty of His Divinity.”
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 of the Powers on high!
Tone 1 Kontakion (Resurrection)
As God, Thou didst rise from the tomb in glory, //raising the world with Thyself. // Human nature praises Thee as God, for death has vanished. // Adam exults, O Master!
Eve rejoices, for she is freed from bondage and cries to Thee://
“Thou art the Giver of Resurrection to all, O Christ!”
Kontakion (Forefeast of Transfiguration) Tone 4
Today all mortal nature shines with the divine Transfiguration
and cries with exultation://
“Christ the Savior is transfigured to save us all!”
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.
