Thoughts on Today’s Gospel
“…God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” How do we become ‘rich’ toward God? Christ God is meant to be everything to us: He the Creator of all life and in Him “we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). In Him is the present and future of us all, or, without Him, there is no future. The rich man in today’s parable is focused only on himself. He hordes up treasure for himself thinking that this buys him security. How often do we see in our culture today those who put all their treasure into their material well-being, glorifying their temporal bodies, only to neglect their immortal souls? Christ God calls such people, “fools,” not because He does not love them, but because they’re ignorant of their spiritual needs, the transitory nature of this temporal life; they put their trust in what will one day become nothing more than sand. The Nativity Fast we’ve now begun is an opportunity through increased prayer, fasting, and giving, to put Christ and His Church first in our priorities. In order to be generous toward God we learn to love Him and His Church more. We offer ourselves to Him and His service and that of each other. May we be rich toward God this Advent, that in our generosity toward God, we may build up much treasure in heaven. The Lord bless you!Fr. Robert+
2019 Pledges/Commitments. We give back a ”first fruits” pledge to Christ from what He’s so mercifully given and entrusted to us. Everything we have is a gracious gift from God. Let us be as those servants who used their talentswisely and to God’s glory (Matt. 25:23). If you have not done so yet, please offer your pledge of talents today. To grow in faith and sustain and grow our Mission “in spirit and in numbers,” please give generously and faithfully. “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, 9:30Hours, 10 a.m., Divine Liturgy,Trapeza, Sunday School
- Wed, Nov. 21,9:30 Hours, 10 a.m., Divine Liturgy, Great Feast, Presentation of the Theotokos in the Temple,Parastas(Memorial) for Fr. George the Confessor (12thyear).
- Wed, Nov. 21,No Vespers, Patristics Study this Week
- Sat, Nov. 17,6:00 p.m., Great VespersConfession following
- Sun, Nov. 18,9:30 a.m., Hours, 10 a.m., Divine Liturgy,trapeza, Sunday School.
Looking Ahead…Mark your Calendars!
- Wed, Nov. 28,6:15, Daily Vespers, 6:45, PATRISTICS STUDY: Early Apostolic Fathers. St. Ignatius, Letter to the Romans. Books available.
- Sat, Dec. 5,6:15 p.m., Great Vespers, St. Nicholas Eve, Holy Myrrh anointing from Wonder-working St. Nicholas icon
- Thurs, Dec. 13,5:30 p.m., Annual Colinde(Romanian Caroling, Orthodox and Western favorites)
- Mon, Dec. 24,10 p.m., Great Feast of the Holy Nativity of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ(‘the Winter Pascha’):Compline, Nocturns, Divine Liturgy.
Confession and Reception:In keeping with OCA Guidelines, it is the discipline at Holy Archangels to practice at least monthlyconfession. 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 serviceand 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!
Prayer Requests: Our Mission’s Growth “in spirit & in numbers”
- For God’s financial provisionfor our Mission & college ministry, ACM (Annapolis Pan-Orthodox College Ministry);
- Departed founders of our church: archpriest George, the Confessor, Gabriel, Rafael, Serafim, Basil, Rdr. Michael
- Isaiah of Georgia, Archbishops Yohanna Ibrahim and Boulos Yazigi of Syria, Archpriest George, Sbn. John, Gov. Hogan, Benedict, Benjamin, Daniel, Noah, Alex, Gary, Timothy, Sophia, Vivian, Beatrice, George, Helen, Helen, Geneva, Phoenix, Sydney, Young, Liam, Eleni, Valerie, Charlotte, Anastasia, Valentina, Linda, Susan, Jessica (sister of Kelly Vernet), Michael, Elizabeth, Noah, the Church in Georgia, Romania as they address the relativism of the West, speaking the truth in love, our persecuted brethren everywhere, peace in Syria.
Troparion (Resurrection) Tone 8
Thou didst descendfrom on high, O Merciful One!
Thou didst acceptthe threeday burial
to free us fromoursufferings!//
O Lord, our Lifeand Resurrection, glory to Thee!
Troparion (Martyrs Plato and Romanus)Tone 4Thy holy martyrs Plato and Romanus, O Lord,
through their sufferings have received incorruptible crowns from
Thee, our God.
For having Thy strength, they laid low their adversaries,
and shattered the powerless boldness of demons.//
Through their intercessions saveour souls!
Troparion (Angels) Tone 4
O Commanders of the heavenly hosts,// we who are unworthy beseechyou:// by your prayers encompass us beneath the wings of your immaterial glory,// and faithfully preserve us who fall down and cryto you://Deliver us from all harm, for you are the Commanders of the Powers on high!
Kontakion (Resurrection) Tone 8
By rising fromthe tomb, Thou didst raise the dead and resurrected Adam.
Eve exults inThy Resurrection,
and the world celebrates Thy rising from the dead, O greatly Merciful One!
Kontakion (Martyr Plato) Tone 3
Thy holymemory delights the universe, O Plato,
bringing us together to honor theein our joy.
With hymns we praisethy greatdeeds,
crying out to theewith faith:
“Save our land from its enemies, O holy one!”
Kontakion (Angels) Tone 2
Commanders of God’s armiesand ministers of the divine glory,//princes of the bodiless Angelsandguidesof mankind
//askfor what is good for us, and for great mercy,//O Supreme Commanders of the Bodiless Hosts.
