The Parable of the Sower…Our Lord presents us with an opportunity in today’s Gospel to consider how we’re responding to His gracious and loving invitation to life with Him. The distractions and temptations we face in the world are great: they can smother the seed of faith planted in us; we can find ourselves on the ‘rocky soil’ or choked by the ‘weeds’ of worldly concerns. Tending our soul is a lot like tending a garden: If we want to see the ‘garden’ of our souls flourish, we make use of the ‘tools’ Christ has entrusted to us through His Church. A good gardener removes the rocks, the weeds, provides good soil, water, and all that his garden needs. So it is with our souls: we make use of the ‘tools’ He has entrusted to us. We make Confession so that we can invite the Master Gardener into our souls to tend it, remove from it the passions that would otherwise prevent our growth, healing, and salvation. We pray daily and participate in the divine worship of His Church. We read the Scriptures and the lives of the Saints. The life in Christ demands of us much patience, perseverance, humility and obedience. So, we examine our lives today and pray that God would help us to return to Him from our ‘first fruits,’ that we may grow to be as the good seed, yielding a crop a hundredfold. In Christ’s love, 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 grow our Mission “in spirit and in numbers,” please give generously and faithfully. (II Cor. 9:7).
THIS WEEK at HOLY ARCHANGELS:All Services held at our new church home at 73 Franklin St. (CLT Building), historic Annapolis
- TODAY 9:30 a.m., Hours, 10 a.m., Divine Liturgy, Trapeza
- All are invited to pray the short Akathist of St. Parascheva before her icon/relic after Trapeza (Feast day is Monday)
- Tues., Oct. 8,4:30-5:30 p.m., St. John’s OCF Patristics Study, Cohen study room, library (all are welcome)
- Wed., Oct. 9, 6 p.m.,Daily Vespers(confession offered)
- Thurs., Oct. 10, 1-1:20 p.m., Sixth Hour Prayers, St. Nicholas Orthodox Chapel, USNA
- Sat., Oct. 12, 6 p.m., Great Vespers (Confession offered)
- Sun., Oct. 13, 9:30 a.m., Hours, 10, Divine Liturgy, Trapeza
Looking Ahead: Mark your Calendars!
- Thurs., Nov. 7, 6:30 p.m.,Vesperal Divine Liturgy, PatronalFeast of the Holy Archangels and All the Bodiless Powers of Heaven (more information TBA)
Confession & Reception:In keeping with OCA Guidelines, it’s the discipline at Holy Archangels to practice monthlyconfession. If a month has passed and you’ve not made confession for good reason, or, are visiting, please talk with Fr. Robert to ask a blessing to receive 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 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: Archpriest George the Confessor, Gabriel, Rafael, Serafim, Basil, Rdr. Michael, Archbishop Nikon, Archpriest John (Moses), Archpriest John (Matusiak)
- Met. Isaiah of Georgia, Archbishops Yohanna Ibrahim, Boulos Yazigi of Syria, Sbn. John, Benedict, Benjamin, Daniel, Noah, Alex, Gary, Timothy, Vivian, Beatrice, George, Helen, Helen, Sydney, Young, Valerie, Anastasia, Valentina, Linda, Susan, Michael, Elizabeth, Noah, Tommy, Thomas, Mat. Alexandra, Judith, Maggie, Frank, Karley, Christina, Mark, Eric, Erin, the Church in Georgia, Romania as they address the relativism of the West, speaking the truth in love, our persecuted brethren around the world, those suffering from Hurricane Dorian, peace in Syria.
Troparion (Resurrection) Tone 7
By Thy CrossThou didst destroy death.
To the thief Thou didst open Paradise.
For the Myrrhbearers Thou didst change weeping into joy,
and Thou didst command Thy disciples, O ChristGod,
to proclaimthat Thou art risen,//
granting the worldgreat mercy.
Troparion (St Innocent) Tone 4
O Holy Father Innocent, // in obedience to the willof God,
thou didst accept dangers and tribulations, // bringing many peoples to the knowledge of truth. // Thou didst showus the way; // now by thy prayers help leadus//
into the Kingdom of Heaven!
Troparion (for St Innocent) Tone 2 (another)
Thou didst evangelize the Northern people of America and Asia,
proclaiming the Gospel of Christ to the natives in their owntongues, // O Holy Hierarch, Father Innocent,
Enlightener of Alaska and All America, whose ways were ordered by the Lord.// Pray to Him for the salvation of our souls in His Heavenly Kingdom!
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 7
The dominion of death can no longer hold men captive,
for Christ descended, shattering and destroying its powers.
Hell is bound, while the Prophets rejoiceand cry:
“The Savior has come to thosein faith;//
enter, you faithful, into the Resurrection!”
Kontakion (for St Innocent) Tone 2
Thy life, O holy Father Innocent, apostle to our land,
proclaims the dispensation and graceof God!
For, laboring in dangers and hardships for the Gospel of Christ,
thou wast kept unharmed and exalted in humility.//
Pray that He may guide our stepsin the waywe should go!
Kontakion (Angels) Tone 2
Commanders of God’s armiesand ministers of the divine glory//princes of the bodiless Angelsand guidesof mankind// askfor what is good for us, and for great mercy,//O Supreme Commanders of the Bodiless Hosts.
Glory to God for All Things!
