In the Orthodox Faith, when someone departs this life in the hope of the resurrection, we pray “Memory Eternal” for that person, i.e., that God would remember them and bring them into His Eternal Kingdom. To be remembered, or known, by God who is Life means that they too shall live. The Fathers of the Church assure us that our prayers avail much, that the Communion in Christ of the living and the departed is ongoing. In today’s Gospel, Lazarus, who in this life suffered greatly and begged daily at the rich man’s gate, longing to eat the crumbs off the rich man’s table, is taken up to heaven (“the bosom of Abraham”). There, he is welcomed into God’s near presence and is remembered by name before God for all eternity. The rich man, on the other hand, lived for himself and fed his passions, thinking nothing of the needs of others. He, in contrast to Lazarus, is not even remembered before God. We aren’t even given his name. Our Lord shares this parable with us that we may examine how we live now— how ‘rich’ we are toward God and our fellow man. If our ‘god’ is this world, our work, our ‘belly’, ourselves, we cannot become inheritors of the Kingdom of God and find memory eternal before Him who is Life itself. Christ is the life of the world. Either He is the priority or the world is. Our Lord presents us with this parable that we may continually re-orientate ourselves toward the riches of the Kingdom of God, to His life, that is the true life of all. The Lord bless you, Fr. Robert+
THIS WEEK AT HOLY ARCHANGELS:
- Wed, Oct. 28, 6:30p.m., Applied Orthodox Theology Discussion. This Week: The Seventh Ecumenical Council, St. John’s Boathouse, ALL are welcome!
- Saturday, Oct. 31, 6 p.m., Great Vespers (confession offered following the service)
- Sunday, Nov. 1, 9:30am Hours; 10 a.m. Divine Liturgy, followed by Trapeza
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, testimony by Mrs. Teresa Duro. Please take a flyer 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 handmaiden of God, Margaret Ann
- Metropolitan Isaiah of Georgia, Archpriest George, Dcn. Basil, Rdr. John, Governor Hogan, Benedict, James, Daniel, Seraphim, Bede, Wanda, Eric, George, Daniel, John, Eleni, Svetlana, Noah, Daphyne, 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 4
When the women disciples of the Lord
learned from the angel the joyous message of thy Resurrection,
they cast away the ancestral curse // and elatedly told the apostles:
“Death is overthrown! // Christ God is risen,// granting the world great mercy!”
Troparion (Martyrs Marcian and Martyrius) Tone 3
In holy zeal ye dispelled the error of Arius // and proclaimed the Trinity, one in essence.
Holy martyrs Marcian and Martyrius, // unshaken bulwarks of Orthodoxy,
entreat Christ our God to grant us His great mercy!
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 4
My Savior and Redeemer as God rose from the tomb and delivered the earth-born from their chains.
He has shattered the gates of hell, // and as Master,// He has risen on the third day!
Kontakion (Martyrs Marcian and Martyrius) Tone 4
From your youth ye were good athletes, wise Marian and Martyrius,//vanquishing the Arian heretics;
ye kept the faith perfect by following in the footsteps of your bishop and teacher Paul,
therefore, ye are worthy to be with him in eternal life, //
as respected defenders of the Holy Trinity.
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.
