Weekly Update and Bulletin From Fr. Robert Miclean – March 31, 2013

Time flies!  We can easily become distracted by so many things.  In the midst of our rapid pace of life, we can also ‘lose track’ of where we are headed and the priority we should place on the immortality of our souls and our accompanying need to focus on “the one thing needful,” our life with God, Him who is Eternal Life.  In the end, what will all our hurrying here and there and the busyness with which we fill our days and weeks matter?  For us as Christians we know that death is not the end, but that we will all come before the Judgment Seat of Christ to answer for how we have lived.  For this reason, we strive to live with eternity before us, even as we keep ourselves focused on our source of Life, the Life of the world, and our Eternal Life, Jesus Christ.  In our Epistle today we’re reminded of this truth: “You, LORD, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands.  They will perish, but You remain…”  Lent gives us the opportunity to re-focus on that “One thing needful,” our life with God and working out our salvation with Him.  For this reason, during Lent we increase our prayers as we fast, we prioritize the divine services of the Church that are so helpful in teaching us and continuing to grow us in the “faith once received” even as they unite us further in communion with God.  We work on growing in humility and love, as we repent of all that’s not in keeping with our life with holy God.  St. Paul asks us today, “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation”?  If we prioritize Christ and His Church this holy season we’ll make great gains in our deification, we’ll arrive at Pascha refreshed and energized, having taken several steps further up and in the Kingdom of our LORD.

With much love in Christ,                                               

Fr. Robert+

This week at Holy Archangels:

  • Wednesday, April 3, 6:30, Presanctified Liturgy Lenten Potluck Dinner following and Fr. Robert’s teaching on the LORD’S PRAYER, St. John’s Boathouse.
  • Saturday, April 6, Soul Saturday Liturgy, 10 a.m. St. Martin’s.  If you plan to attend, please email your commemorations to Fr. Robert by Friday, April 5.
  • Saturday, April 6, 6 p.m.,Great Vespers with Matins Gospel. Confession following.
  • Sunday, April 7, 9:30 a.m. Hours 10 am Divine Liturgy followed by Trapeza

 

 

Looking Ahead: Save the Dates!

Please refer to the posted schedule for the Holy Week!!

Prayer Requests:

  • Pray for God’s ongoing financial provision for our Mission.
  • Please pray for our Mission that we may find a Choir Director and that we may continue to grow in spirit and in numbers as a living witness of God’s love, healing, power, and glory.
  • Healing for Archpriest George, Priest John, Benedict, Marina, Colette, Mary, Carol, Katherine, Katherine, Carey, Hannah, Luke, Caroline, Elizabeth, baby Carrie, Fr. Robert’s parents, James and Charlene, Daniel.
  • For the newly illumined servant of God, Emiliane, and for Adele, Ivan.

Troparion              (Resurrection) Tone 2           
When You descended to death, O Life Immortal,
You destroyed hell with the splendor of Your Godhead.
And when from the depths You raised the dead,
all the powers of heaven cried out://
“O Giver of life, Christ our God, glory to You!”
Troparion (for St Innocent) Tone 4           
O Holy Father Innocent,
in obedience to the will of God,
you accepted dangers and tribulations,
bringing many peoples to the knowledge of truth.
You showed us the way;
now by your prayers help lead us
into the Kingdom of Heaven.
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            (for St Innocent) Tone 2           
Your life, holy Father Innocent, Apostle to our land,
proclaims the dispensation and grace of God!
For, laboring in dangers and hardships for the Gospel of Christ,
you were kept unharmed and exalted in humility.//
Pray that He may guide our steps in the way we should go!
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.