Our Lord presents us with an opportunity today 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 that’s been 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: Vigilance and patience is demanded of us. If we want to see our ‘garden’ flourish and bring forth a fruitful harvest, 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.’ 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. We read the Scriptures and the lives of the Saints. The life in Christ demands of us patience, perseverance, humility and obedience. So, we examine our lives today to see what is lacking: have we lost our fervor for the faith? We pray for renewal. Have we allowed the cares of the world to preoccupy us? We ask God to help us prioritize once again the life only in Him. Have we withheld our gifts, talents, and treasure from Him? We pray that God would help us to return to Him from our ‘first fruits.’ Have we been indifferent to the needs of others or not spoken the truth of Christ? We ask God to give us opportunities to do so and a heart to love as He loves, growing to be as the good seed, yielding a crop a hundredfold. Our Lord Jesus Christ bless you! Fr. Robert+
THIS WEEK AT HOLY ARCHANGELS:
- Wed, Oct. 21, 6:30p.m., Applied Orthodox Theology Discussion. This Week: The Fifth and Sixth Ecumenical Councils, St. John’s Boathouse, ALL are welcome!
- Saturday, Oct. 24, 6 p.m., Great Vespers (confession offered following the service)
- Sunday, Oct. 25, 9:30am Hours; 10 a.m. Divine Liturgy, followed by Trapeza
- Sunday, Oct. 25, 4 p.m., Wine-Tasting Fundraiser at the Rectory*: See Rdr. Zenon if able to help.
Looking Ahead:
- Saturday, Nov. 7, 12:00 p.m. Retreat & Patronal Feast of the Holy Archangels,“Raising our Children in Christ in an Age of Disbelief,” Robert, Fr. Justin Patterson, Fr. Gregory Matthewes-Green. Please take a flyer from the Entrance Table and Post it around town.
Confession and Reception: In keeping with OCA Guidelines, it’s the discipline at Holy Archangels to practice monthly confession. If you wish to receive Communion and a month has passed and you have not made it to confession for good reason, or are visiting, please talk with Fr. Robert prior to the service and before approaching the holy Chalice.
SEPT. Financial Report: We received $3,171 in offerings in September. YTD $25,883 has been received. We are running a deficit of -$3,415. Your faithful contributions provide for this church and her ministries. Thank God for His provision and your faithfulness, which means that our Mission can continue and grow! Holy Archangels Mission Council.
2016 Pledge Cards: We ask all the faithful to take a Time, Talent, and Treasure Pledge Card (on Back Table) and prayerfully consider what step of faith God would have you make for 2016. January 2016 we lose our $1333 Mission Planting Grant from the OCA. Your step of faith and increased pledge over last year will help us sustain this Mission as we pray to grow “in spirit and in numbers.” Please place your Time, Talent, and Treasure Pledge Card in the Offering Box by Sunday Nov. 8, our Patronal Feast.
Please Note: At Holy Archangels we do not pass an offering plate. Instead, we encourage the faithful to place an offering in the offering box on the Entrance (back) Table in support of this Mission and its Ministries. Thank you and may Christ God repay you with His spiritual blessings… “for God loves a cheerful giver” (II Cor. 9:7).
Prayer Requests:
- That God may grow our Mission “in spirit and in numbers…”
- For God’s financial provision for our Mission & ACM (Annapolis College Ministry);
- Newly-departed handmaidens of God, Alice and Margaret Ann
- Metropolitan Isaiah of Georgia, Archpriest George, Priest John, Dcn. Basil, Rdr. John, Governor Hogan, Benedict, James, Daniel, Seraphim, Bede, Wanda, Eric, George, Daniel, John, Eleni, Svetlana, Noah, the Church in Georgia & Romania as they address the relativism of the West, speaking the truth in love, our persecuted brethren in Iraq & Syria, the Syrian and Ukrainian refugees, a peaceful resolution in Ukraine.
Troparion (Resurrection) Tone 3
Let the heavens rejoice! // Let the earth be glad! For the Lord has shown strength with His arm.
He has trampled down death by death. // He has become the firstborn of the dead.
He has delivered us from the depths of hell, // and has granted to the world// great mercy.
Troparion (Apostle Luke) Tone 5
Let us praise with sacred songs the holy Apostle Luke,
the recorder of the joyous Gospel of Christ // and the scribe of the Acts of the Apostles;
for his writings are a testimony of the Church of Christ.
He is the physician of human weaknesses and infirmities.
He heals the wounds of our souls,// and constantly intercedes for our salvation.
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 (Resurrection) Tone 3
On this day Thou didst rise from the tomb, O Merciful One,
leading us from the gates of death. // On this day Adam exults as Eve rejoices;
with the Prophets and Patriarchs// they unceasingly praise the divine majesty of Thy power.
Kontakion (Apostle Luke) Tone 2
Let us praise the godly Luke; // he is the true preacher of piety,
the orator of ineffable mysteries // and the star of the Church,
for the Word, Who alone knows the hearts of men,//
chose him, with the wise Paul, to be a teacher of the Gentiles!
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.
