Weekly Update and Bulletin From Fr. Robert Miclean – September 22, 2013

Today Christ calls His foremost disciples, Peter, James, and John, from the simple life of fishermen to being “fishers of men,” putting their lives on the line for the sake of the Gospel and the Kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit transforms these ‘simple’ fishermen into the great disciples and then Apostles of the Church.  But their calling to be “fishers of men” is not unique: it’s the calling given to each of us by virtue of our baptism into Christ.  We too are called, as Christ says, to be “the salt of the earth,” “the light of the world.”  St. Paul likens us to “ambassadors for Christ.”  Our struggling and striving to live out our faith, not in accordance to our or society’s standards, but in accordance to the “faith once delivered by the Saints” (Jude 1:3), is a testimony to the truth of Christ which is the same for every age.  Our repentance, worship, daily prayers, how we act and speak, are all engaging aspects of our witness            and of becoming “fishers of men.”  Our living out of our faith often gives us the opportunity to speak about our faith and testify to the truth that is Christ, that is His healing from our sin-sickness and our inheritance in the Saints.  What we must strive against is our tendency to fear witnessing our faith, to being seen as a Christian, to be seen crossing ourselves or standing apart from the crowd.  We remember St John’s words: “greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (I Jn. 4:4).  And Christ God as He calls His disciples Peter, James, and John, and all of us Himself teaches us how to witness, saying, “fear not, from now on you will be fishers of men.”  May we too follow Christ’s call, live out our baptism, and continue to make our Mission a place of refuge, healing, and salvation, for all those who are seeking the fullness of life in Christ.

Our Lord Jesus Christ bless you!

Fr. Robert+

This week at Holy Archangels:

  • Sunday, Sept. 22, During Special Trapeza, Iacob’s 1st Birthday Party.
  • Sunday, Sept. 29, Following Trapeza, Sunday School planning meeting.
  • Wednesday, Sept. 25, 12:50-13:20, 6th Hour, USNA
  • Thursday, Sept. 26,  19.00-20.00, Evening Prayers and Discussion
  • Saturday, Sept. 28, 6 p.m. Great Vespers with Matins Gospel. Confession following,
  • Sunday, Sept. 29, 9:30 a.m. Hours, 10 am Divine Liturgy,

 

Looking Ahead: Important Dates!

  • Wed., Oct. 2, 6:30 p.m., St. John Boathouse, 1st Applied Orthodox Theology Discussion
  • Saturday, Oct. 5, First Saturday Great Vespers & Potluck Dinner with Students and Mids.
  • Sunday, Oct. 6, SUNDAY SCHOOL begins
  • Sunday, Oct. 27, Pledge and Commitment Sunday for 2014—bring your completed pledge and commitment cards to offer them to God during the Divine Liturgy.

Prayer Requests:

  • That God may grow our Mission “in spirit and in numbers as a living witness of God’s love, healing, power, and glory;”
  • For God’s financial provision for our Mission and ACM (Annapolis College Ministry);
  • For our Mission that we may find a Choir Director;
  • Pray for the departed soul of Marie, grandmother of Metropolitan TIKHON
  • Healing for Archpriest George, Priest John, Rdr. Michael, Rdr. John, Benedict, Marina, Colette, Mary, Carol, Katherine, James, Charlene, Daniel, Michael Anthony, Sarah, the Church in Georgia and Romania as they address the relativism of the West, speaking the truth in love, for our suffering Orthodox brethren in Syria and Egypt.

Troparion              (Resurrection) Tone 4           
When the women Disciples of the Lord
learned from the Angel the joyous message of the 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              (Holy Apostle Quadratus) Tone 3           
Holy Apostle Quadratus, // ..entreat the merciful God,//
to grant our souls forgiveness of transgressions!
Troparion              (Hieromartyr Phocas) Tone 4           
By sharing in the ways of the Apostles, // you became a successor to their throne.
Through the practice of virtue, you found the way to divine
contemplation, O inspired one of God; By teaching the word of truth without error, you defended the Faith, even to the shedding of your blood.//
Hieromartyr Phocas, entreat Christ God to save our souls!
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            (Holy Apostle Quadratus) Tone 8           
The universe offers You, O Lord, the Apostle Quadratus
as a most honored hierarch and athlete of great strength;
with hymns it honors his all-venerable memory,
And asks that through him You grant forgiveness of transgressions to those who sing his praise.
Kontakion            (Hieromartyr Phocas) Tone 2           
The Master established you as a brilliant sun
shining on all the faithful, glorious hieromartyr Phocas.
He has accepted your life, faith and contest as myrrh, // for He is rich in mercy.