“He who sows sparingly, will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully”—so begins today’s Epistle, challenging us to consider how ‘rich’ we are toward God in returning a portion to Him from that which He’s so graciously given and entrusted to us. While the standard of giving in the Church has always been the tithe (10 percent of our ‘treasures’ or income), we’re not meant to give under compulsion, but, through prayer, to give what God puts on our heart. We remember the “widow’s mite:” her gift of all she had was ‘more’ than the greater sum the wealthy gave. We give sacrificially so as to build up the church and its ministries; it’s a spiritual investment in our own future, both individually and corporately. We give out of a spirit of thanksgiving for all God’s bounty to us: His grace, forgiveness, love, healing, and salvation from sin, the passions, and death. We give not only for ourselves, but also to enable others to come to healing and salvation in Christ through His Church and its growing ministries. As we grow our church “in spirit and in numbers” (as we pray in the Augmented Litany), we make this evangelistic desire a reality even as we’re equipped by the Church’s ministry to us. We’re called to not only focus on our gifts of financial support for the Church, but also the gift of our time and our talents. These along with our ‘treasure’ are all things you and I have been blessed and entrusted with—they are ultimately gifts from God, which He desires to use for His glory. Beginning today and over the next month we prayerfully considering what we will each offer to the Lord, giving a portion of His bounties back to Him in faith, and knowing that He will receive our offerings of ourselves, our time, our treasure, and return them to us and His Church with blessings and growth. “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Our Lord Jesus Christ bless you! Fr. Robert+
THIS WEEK AT HOLY ARCHANGELS:
- Wed, Oct. 15, 7 p.m., St. John’s Boathouse (parking in Gym lot or on King George St.): Applied Orthodox Theology Discussion: A discussion on the “how” of living out the Orthodox Christian Faith in our daily lives. Have a suggested question/topic for us? Email Fr. Robert. This week: Church as Hospital. All invited!
- Sat, Oct.18, 6:30 p.m., Great Vespers, Confession following
- Sun, Oct. 19, 9:30 a.m., Hours, 10 am Divine Liturgy, Trapeza following
Mark Your Calendars!
- Saturday, Oct. 25, 11-3 p.m., Centreville Day on the Eastern Shore. HELP needed! Come and share the Orthodox Faith in Christ and Holy Archangels Church. Details TBA.
- Fri-Sat., Nov. 7-8, HOLY ARCHANGELS PATRONAL FEAST. Details TBA.
September Financial Report: Holy Archangels received a total of $2018 in offerings in September ($1986 in August). $2500 was pledged. $18,538 was received in offerings from January thru September 2014. The budgeted amount based on pledges is $22,500. This leaves us a gap of over $4000 (a new high) 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 ensures that our Mission can continue and grow! The Holy Archangels Mission Council
NEW 2015 Commitment Cards at the Entrance Table. Please take one and prayerfully consider what commitments of “Time, Talent, and Treasure” Christ God is calling YOU to commit to in 2015. We will offer our commitments to Christ together on Sunday, November 16 as we begin the Nativity Fast .
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);
- For our Mission that we may find a Choir Director;
- Departed handmaidens of God Mary and Maria (Great Aunts of Fr. Robert)
- 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.
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 (Fathers) Tone 8
Thou art most glorious, O Christ our God!
Thou hast established the Holy Fathers as lights on the earth.
Through them Thou hast guided us to the true Faith.//O greatly compassionate One, glory to Thee!
Kontakion (Resurrection) Tone 1
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 (Fathers) Tone 6
The Son who shone forth from the Father // was ineffably born, twofold in nature, of a woman.
Having beheld Him, we do not deny the image of His form,
but depict it piously and revere it faithfully.
Thus, keeping the True Faith,// the Church venerates the icon of Christ Incarnate.
