Having just celebrated Thanksgiving, we’re reminded of the importance of giving thanks to God for His work in our lives: healing us, growing us, saving us. Giving thanks is not something we can afford to do just once a year, of course, for thanking God, remembering God as the Giver of all that is good, is an important sign of how strong is our relationship and communion with God. We can take God’s work in our lives for granted. We’ve all received and ARE receiving healing and blessings from God. Giving thanks is key to our spiritual health. It’s another indication of our coming outside ourselves to love, to serve, and to grow. As Orthodox, we believe that we are saved not just individually, but also, in part, corporately. We are our brother’s keeper. Your salvation is also connected to the salvation of your brother and sister next to you. Do we give thanks to God for His work in us? Do we give thanks to God for His work amongst us, in our brothers and sisters in Christ? Do we give thanks to God for this Mission? Do we dare even thank God for the trials and challenges He allows in our lives that force us to depend more, trust more, in Him? Let us give thanks with a grateful heart and consider what we can render to the Lord for all His bounty to us!
Christ God’s love and blessing,
Fr. Robert+
THIS WEEK AT HOLY ARCHANGELS:
- THURSDAY, Dec. 4, 4:30 pm. Colinde (Caroling). Meet at the St. John’s Boathouse to practice before heading out to the historic district to carol.
- THURSDAY, Dec. 4, 7 p.m., Akathist of St. Nicholas, USNA. All are welcome and encouraged to come! Meet at the St. John’s Gym lot at 6:30 (after caroling) to get a ride onto the Yard to the service location (bring i.d.).
- Sat, Dec. 6, 6:00 p.m. Great Vespers Confession following
- Sun, Dec. 7, 9:30 a.m., Hours 10am Divine Liturgy, Practice for those participating in Colinde and Trapeza (fish, wine, oil allowed)
Looking Ahead: Mark your Calendars!
- WEDNESDAY, Dec. 24, 10 p.m. LUMINOUS FEAST of the NATIVITY. Bring a quiche and desert to share!
October Financial Report: Holy Archangels received a total of $2448 in offerings in October ($2018 in September). $2500 was pledged. $20,986 was received in offerings from January thru October 2014. The budgeted amount based on pledges is $25,000. This leaves us a gap of $4000 to make up between now and Dec. to meet our expenses! Please stay current with your pledges/offerings, and consider increasing your offering and/or making a special one-time gift to help meet this deficit. Thank God for His provision and thank you for your faithful support, which insures that our Mission can continue and grow! The Holy Archangels Mission Council
2015 Pledge Update: $2330 has been pledged monthly for 2015. The average pledge is $220 per family. To meet our financial needs, we need $2500 in monthly pledges. If you’re willing to increase your pledge (or make a pledge) to help meet this need and provide for our Mission’s needs and growth, please contact Fr. Robert right away. We ask everyone to be as generous as possible, giving thanks with a grateful heart for God’s work in our lives through this church.
Prayer Requests:
- That God may grow our Mission “in spirit and in numbers…”
- For God’s financial provision for our Mission and ACM (Annapolis College Ministry);
- Newly-departed handmaiden of God, Genica.
- Metropolitan Isaiah of Georgia, Archpriest George, Priest John, Dcn. Basil, Rdr. John, Benedict, James, Daniel, Seraphim, Ed, Bede, Wanda, Peter, the Church in Georgia and Romania as they address the relativism of the West, speaking the truth in love, our suffering, persecuted Orthodox brethren in Iraq and Syria, a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine., for all those suffering from the Ebola epidemic and for a speedy end to the disease.
Troparion (Resurrection)Tone 8
You descended from on high, O Merciful One!
You accepted the three day burial to free us from our sufferings!//
O Lord, our Life and Resurrection, glory to You!
Troparion Tone 4 (Apostle Andrew)
Andrew, first-called of the Apostles,
and brother of the foremost disciple,
entreat the Master of all
to grant peace to the world,//
and to our souls great mercy!
Kontakion (Resurrection)Tone 8
By rising from the tomb, You raised the dead and resurrected Adam.
Eve exults in Your Resurrection,
and the world celebrates Your rising from the dead, O greatly Merciful One!
Kontakion (Apostle Andrew) Tone 2
Let us praise Andrew, the herald of God,
the namesake of courage,
the first-called of the Savior’s disciples
and the brother of Peter!
As he once called to his brother,
he now cries out to us://
“Come, for we have found the One Whom the world desires!”
