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11th Sunday after Pentecost
Afterfeast of the Transfiguration
| | Христос међу нама! Christ is in our midst! Cristo esta entra nosotros! | | |
Homily on the
11th Sunday after Pentecost
Fr. Philip LeMasters
The Lord often taught in parables. A parable is a very short story that makes a particular point. Parables can spark our imagination and challenge us to see ourselves in a new light. Christ’s parables call us into question and get to the heart of the matter of where we stand before God. They help us to see the truth about ourselves more clearly.
The first servant in today’s parable begged for more time to pay an unbelievably large debt and his master responded with shocking mercy, for he forgave the debt completely. The servant then owed nothing at all. But instead of sharing the mercy that he had received with a fellow servant who owed him much less, the man refused to show any patience at all. He had the second servant put into prison until he could pay the debt. When word of his actions reached the master, he had the first servant put in jail until he could repay the entirety of the massive amount he had owed. Christ concludes the parable with these challenging words, “So also My heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
This parable shows that whether we forgive others reveals the health of our souls. The Lord’s mercy is transformative and participatory. If we have opened our hearts to receive His forgiveness, then His gracious divine energies must permeate our lives. He said, “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” To become radiant with mercy to the point we do not limit our love only to our friends is necessary in order to “be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matt. 5: 44-48)
If we call upon God’s forgiveness for our sins, we put ourselves in a false position whenever we refuse to forgive other people. He is infinitely holy and death is “the wages of sin” for us all. We are each the chief of sinners against the Father Who sent His Son for the salvation of the world. (Jn. 3:17) As those who dare to call for mercy beyond what we could possibly deserve, how may we refuse to forgive someone else? The God-Man enables us to become like Him in holiness, not to insist on our rights for satisfaction in relation to our neighbors. How we treat them, including those who have offended us, is how we treat our Lord. As St. John wrote, If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ but hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen (1 Jn 4:20). When we refuse to forgive others, we demonstrate not only a lack of love for them, but for Christ.
As we all know, forgiveness often does not come quickly or easily. It is not simply a matter of what we say or how we act, but concerns our hearts. The Savior said that anger is at the root of murder and lust is at the root of adultery. He calls us to a purity of heart that frees us from bondage to such corrupt desires as we come to share more fully in His fulfillment of the human person in the divine image and likeness. In order to do so, we must turn our hearts away from indulging in holding grudges or obsessing about the wrongs of others, and instead learn to find our joy in the Lord. That is possible only as we open ourselves more fully to the healing power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. St. Paul wrote, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Gal. 5:22-23) As St. Siluoan the Athonite taught, “One can only love one’s enemies through the grace of the Holy Spirit.” And “He who does not love his enemies, does not have God’s grace.”
How we respond to those who have wronged us reveals the true state of our souls in a way that goes beyond simplistic distortions of the Christian faith. In our world of corruption, the primal relationship between Adam and Eve remains broken and gives rise to resentment, domestic violence, and untold misery across the generations. Cain murdered his brother Abel, and people still kill family members, neighbors, and strangers for no reason other than jealousy and spite. We easily become blind to the image of God in every human person, especially those with whom we disagree or whom we think we should fear or hate for some reason. People build themselves up by putting others down, both individually and collectively, in ways too numerous to count. Our Lord was rejected as a blasphemer because the religious leaders of the time viewed Him as a threat to their power. The Romans crucified Him as an example of what would happen to anyone who dared to threaten their rule. Apart from the healing power of the Holy Spirit, there is no escape from slavery to an endless cycle of resentment and retribution that leads only to the grave.
The Savior endured the full consequences of such depravity in His crucifixion and death in order to provide a path that leads from the grave to the glory of the heavenly kingdom through His Resurrection on the third day. He abides in our hearts through the Holy Spirit through Whom we are able to cry out to God “Abba, Father,” for we are not slaves, but children of God, heirs to all the promises to Abraham through Christ. (Gal. 4:6) We will find the strength to offer the desires of our hearts to the Lord for healing by opening ourselves as fully as possible to the healing power of the Holy Spirit. He is “everywhere present and fills all things” and we have received the fullness of His presence in the holy mystery of Chrismation. In order to acquire the fruits of the Spirit, we must actively cooperate with God’s grace by growing in humility, which fundamentally requires learning to see ourselves as we truly are before God. That is what the first servant in today’s parable lacked, for he did not seem himself as simply a forgiven debtor who had received mercy he could never have deserved. If we will learn to see ourselves as truly the chief of sinners, as those whose entire existence and hope for fulfillment is dependent upon the mercy of the Lord, then we will no longer take joy in condemning others for their wrongs against us and in refusing to forgive others as we have been forgiven.
Growing in humility is the only way for us to find healing for our passions, for our disordered desires ultimately root in the pride of not accepting the truth about who we are before God. One powerful step for acquiring humility is to ask the forgiveness of those we have wronged, for doing so manifests the truth about who we are as people in need of mercy for the harm that we have we have done to our neighbors, who all bear the image of God. Serving others by putting their needs before our own is another path for becoming humble as we follow in the way of Christ, Who “did not come to be served, but to serve…” (Matt. 20:28) and Who washed the feet of His disciples. Fasting also provides an opportunity to deny ourselves in small ways and to support generosity to the needy with the resources saved by eating a humble diet. The fact that we are usually so bad at fasting can also destroy our illusions of righteousness pretty quickly.
As in all things, we must be mindful, keeping a close watch on our thoughts and desires as we refuse to welcome into our hearts anything that would hinder us from becoming living icons of the merciful healing of Christ. The challenge to forgive others as we have been forgiven is not a matter of religious legalism, but of finding the healing of our souls by the power of the Holy Spirit. If we acquire the humility to see ourselves as we truly are before the Lord, then we will not become like the first servant in today’s parable, but will instead become radiant with the gracious divine energies as we convey to others the same mercy that we have received through our Lord. That is the only way that we will ever be able to forgive others from the depths of our hearts.
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Commemorating the Afterfeast of the Transfiguration of our Lord, St Niphon Patriarch of Constantinople, Martyr and Archdeacon Euplus of Catania, Martyrs Basil and Theodore of the Kiev Caves, Saint Theodosius of the Kiev Caves, Virgin Martyr Susanna and those with her at Rome, Saint Passarion, Saint Mary Syncletica
RESURRECTIONAL TROPARION—TONE 2
When You descended to death, O Life Immortal, You destroyed hell with the splendor of Your Godhead. And when from the depths You raised the dead, all the powers of heaven cried out: “O Giver of life, Christ our God, glory to You!”
TRANSFIGURATION TROPARION—TONE 7
You were transfigured on the mountain, O Christ God, revealing Your glory to Your Disciples as far as they could bear it. Let Your everlasting Light also shine upon us sinners, through the prayers of the Theotokos! O Giver of Light, glory to You!
HOLY FATHER NICHOLAS TROPARION—TONE 4
Truly you were revealed to your flock as a rule of faith, an image of humility and a teacher of abstinence; your humility exalted you; your poverty enriched you. Hierarch Father Nicholas, entreat Christ our God that our souls may be saved.
HOLY MARTYR & ARCHDEACON EUPLUS TROPARION—TONE 4
Your holy martyr Euplus, O Lord, through his sufferings has received an incorruptible crown from You, our God. For having Your strength, he laid low the adversary, and shattered the powerless boldness of demons. Through his intercessions, save our souls.
RESURRECTION KONTAKION—TONE 2
Hell became afraid, O almighty Savior, seeing the miracle of Your Resurrection from the tomb! The dead arose! Creation, with Adam, beheld this and rejoiced with You, and the world, my Savior, praises You forever.
TRANSFIGURATION KONTAKION—TONE 7
On the mountain You were transfigured, O Christ God, and Your Disciples beheld Your glory as far as they could see it; so that when they would behold You crucified, they would understand that Your suffering was voluntary, and would proclaim to the world that You are truly the Radiance of the Father.
INSTEAD OF "IT IS TRULY MEET...":
Magnify, O my soul, the Lord who was transfigured on Mount Tabor! Your childbearing was without corruption; God came forth from your body clothed in flesh, and appeared on earth and dwelt among men. Therefore, we all magnify you, O Theotokos!
| | ~Scripture Readings of the Day~ | | |
READERS:
This Week: Matins: Nick Ressetar Epistle: Vaciona Petrovich
Next Week: Matins: Milan Radanovic Epistle: Marijana Rocknage
EPISTLE: 1 Corinthians 9: 2-12
DEACON: Let us pay attention.
PRIEST: Peace be unto all!
READER: And with your spirit!
DEACON: Wisdom.
READER: The Prokeimenon in the Second Tone: The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation.
CHOIR: The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation.
READER: v: The Lord has chastened me sorely, but He has not given me over to death.
CHOIR: The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation.
READER: The Lord is my strength and my song.
CHOIR: He has become my salvation.
DEACON: Wisdom!
READER: The Reading is from the first Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Corinthians.
DEACON: Let us attend!
READER: Brothers and Sisters, if I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. My defense to those who examine me is this: Do we have no right to eat and drink? Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working? Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock? Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it oxen God is concerned about? Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ.
PRIEST: Peace be unto you, reader!
READER: And with your spirit! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
READER: May the Lord hear you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
READER: Save the King, O Lord, and hear us on the day we call!
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
АПОСТОЛ: 1 Коринћанима 9: 2-12
Ђакон: Пазимо
Свештеник: Мир свима!
Читач: I Духу Твоме!
Ђакон: Премудрост
Читач : ПРОКИМЕН- глас 2 Господ је снага моја и пјесма; Он ми постаде спасење.
Хор: Господ је снага моја и пјесма; Он ми постаде спасење.
Читач: Карајући покара ме Господ, али ме смрти не предаде.
Хор: Господ је снага моја и пјесма; Он ми постаде спасење.
Читач: Господ је снага моја и пјесма;
Хор: Он ми постаде спасење.
Ђакон: Премудрост
Читач: Читање је од Прве посланице Светог апостола Павла до Коринћана
Ђакон: Пазимо
Читач: Браћо, ако другима нисам апостол. али вама јесам, јер сте ви печат мојега апостолства у Господу. То је моја одбрана пред онима који ме осуђују. Зар немамо право јести и пити? Зар немамо право сестру жену са собом водити, као и остали апостоли, и браћа Господња и Кифа? Или само ја и Варнава немамо право ово чинити? Ко икад војује о своме трошку? Ко сади виноград и не једе од рода његова? Или ко чува стадо и од млијека стада не једе? Зар ово говорим по људском? Или не говори ово и Закон? Јер је у Мојсејеву закону написано: Не завезуј уста волу који врше. Брине ли се то Бог за волове? Или говори управо ради нас? Јер се ради нас написа: да који оре, треба у нади да оре, и који врше у нади да ће примити по својему надању. Ако ми вама посијасмо оно што је духовно, зар је много ако ми од вас пожњемо оно што је тјелесно? Ако се други користе вашим правом, како ли не би ми? Али се ми не користисмо овим правом, него све подносимо да не учинимо какве сметње јеванђељу Христову.
Свештеник: Мир свима Читачу!
Читач: I Духом Твоме! Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Читач: Нека те услиши Господ у дан жалосни, нека те заштити име Бога Јаковљевога.
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Читач: Господе, помози цару и услиши нас кад Те зовемо.
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
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LITURGY GOSPEL: Matthew 18:23-35
At that time, the Lord told this parable, the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”
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ЈЕВАНЂЕЉЕ: Матеј 18:23-35
Каза Господ причу ову: Царство небеско слично човјеку цару, који хтједе да се прорачуна са слугама својим. И кад се поче рачунати, доведоше му једнога дужника од десет хиљада таланата. И будући да он немаше чиме вратити, заповиједи господар његов да продаду њега и жену његову и дјецу и све што имаше, и да се наплати, но слуга тај паде и клањаше му се говорећи: Господару, причекај ме, и све ћу ти вратити. А господар се сажали на онога слугу, и пусти га и дуг му опрости. А кад изиђе слуга тај, нађе једнога од својих другара који му бијаше дужан сто динара, и ухвати га и стаде давити говорећи: Дај ми што си дужан! Паде другар његов пред ноге његове и мољаше га говорећи: Причекај ме, и све ћу ти вратити. А он не хтједе, него га одведе и баци у тамницу док не врати дуг. Видјевши пак другари његови тај догађај, ожалостише се веома, и отишавши, објаснише господару својему све што се догодило. Тада га позва господар његов, и рече му: Зли слуго, сав дуг онај опростио сам ти, јер си ме молио. Није ли требало да се и ти смилујеш на свога другара, као и ја на те што се смиловах? И разгњеви се господар његов, и предаде га мучитељима док не врати све што му је дуговао. Тако ће и Отац мој небески учинити вама, ако не опростите сваки брату својему од срца својих сагрјешења њихова.
| | ~ The Week Ahead: Scriptures and Services ~ | | |
~Prayers for the Faithful~
In Our Prayers
Metropolitan Paul, Archbishop Youhanna, Protinica Ljubica Jockovic, Protopresbyter Rodney Torbic, Protostavrofor Ilija Balach, Protostavrofor Joseph Fester, Archpriest Gabriel Rochelle, Protinica Ana Stepanov, Matushka Barbara Ealy, Sister Anastasija, the child Katie Elizabeth and her parents Mileva and Michael Repasky, the child Louise Bare and her parents Zachary & Elizabeth, Catherine Lewis and the newborn Caleb Ereno, Jessica Crowe and the newborn Maverick Archer, Bethany Peterson and the newborn Maverick Michael, Mileva Repasky and the newborn Caroline Grace, Jensen Swartz and the newborn Trace Keith, Kyranna Baker and the child to be born of her, Michelle Adams, Addy Andy, Kevin Appleby, Samuel Atzeff, Lori Bare, Elijah Barnett, Christina Berchock, Dori & Doug Bert, Jonathan Bertsch, Carole & Nick Blitva, Stephan and Barbara Blitva, Jason Brill, Voni Brown, Guiliana & Aleksandar Carricato, Maria Chigrintseva, Susan & Jim Cibort, Leann Cox, Victoria Cox, Tommy & Kara (Blitva) Dorsey, Edward Dry, JoAnn Filepas, Anaya Garvin, Eric Garvin, Christian & Melanie Geib, Michael Geppert III, Dr Andrea Govelovich, Rdr. Nicholas & Teresa Govelovich, Kata Gruich, George Gutshall, Dan Hazlett, Travis Heilman, Adam Herigan, Edith Herigan, Kay Himes, Matthew Hoover, Nicole Stefan Imschweiler, Susan Jacobs, Slobodan Jovicic, Tony Kepp, Myong Sook Kim, Caryn Kiraly, Nadine Klipa, Dorothy Krnjaich, Dragica Kuzmanovic, Henry Laichak, Peter Lalic, Dragan Lalovic, Stella Wren Lappas, Susan Leis, Jovan Lemajic, Richard Livingston, Margaret Livingston, Stephen Lundingrin, Penny MacDonald, Dianne & Jim Martin, Jean & Paul Martin, Rowan Martin, Jack McFall, George Milakovic, Slavka Miljevic, Marija Miljkovic, Daria Milletics, Rosanda Mitrovic, Diane & Slobodan Momic, George Myers, Patty Navarro, Bosiljka Ninkovic, Lila Packer, Daniel Paddock, Vid & Marica Pejcic, Hope Pesner, Makaylie Peterson, Kobe Petrovich, Duke & Sue Petrovich, Tracy Petrovich, Milena Pilipovic, Christopher Radanovic, Ioanna Radanovic, Logan Roszkowski, Chloe Ruff, Christine Sakran, Michael Schaffner, Maryann Seiders, Greg Selman, Steven Semic, Benjamin Shaffer, Tessa Shaffer, John Sheaffer, Milan Shumkaroff, Branko Smitran, Zorka Starcevich, Karen Stefan, Timothy Stefan, Michael Stepanovich, Stevan & Mary Stojic, Patricia & Joseph Sypniewski, Linda Szeerba, Leonard Tepsich, Leroy Tepsich Jr, Savka Trivun, Edith & Michael “Bo” Venesevich, Michael Vishnesky, Magdalen Vloutely, Rita Vorkapich, Kristina Vukalo, Traci Weaver, Paula Werner, Nicolette & Nikola Wiel, Draga Worman, Charlotte Wright, Tosh Yanich, Dewey Yetter, Elizabeth Yezdimir, Mila “Millie” Yezdimir, Marija Zabrodnaya, Jason Zeigler, Ashley Ziobrowski, Miriam “Mim” Codan Ziolkowski
Those Who Need Special Care
ECUMENICAL (COUNTRY MEADOWS) Jane Rush, HOMELAND: Draga Donato; MASONIC HOME: Ray Foltz; RS: Cedo Lukic
Those to be Baptized
Caleb Lewis, Barrett Scott, Evelyn Caryn Howell, Maverick Peterson, Maverick Crowe, Caroline Rapasky, Trace Swartz
Our College Students
Sophia Adams, Cameron Barber, Kyle Barber, Dieter Geib, Gunner Geib, Kirsten Geib, Michael Geppert, Anastasija Gligorevic, Natalija Gligorevic, Matthew Hoover, Faith Kingsbury, Natasha Milanovich, Sophia Mummert, Christina Radanovic, Luis Antonio Radanovic, Aleksandra Šaran, Theodore Sukhernik, Madison Vorkapich, Anastasija Vukalo
Our Seminary Students
Elizabeth Bare
Our Dearly Departed Loved Ones
Milan Pejčić, Stephen Vulich, Djordje Gajovic, Vera Ressetar Bortniak
~Vigils Offered~
KATA GRUICH Offered by her family in honor of her being Kumovi for the KSS Slava.
ENDORA WOLF Offered joyfully as we celebrate the third birthday (August 23) of Endora Lucille with thanksgiving to our Lord, Jesus Christ for the gift of this sweet presence in our lives. Given with happiness and love by Mommy, Daddy, sisters Sonora & Ashtyn, cousins Baylor & Bowen, Kum Tim, Kuma Belinda & the whole family. Mnogaja Ljeta! Many Years!
KATA GRUICH Offered prayerfully that God continues to bless you and give you strength for improvement of your health. With love from your family.
TOOTSIE KRNJAICH Offering vigils and prayers for our Kuma Tootsie. May God’s blessings be with her during her rehab period. From her Godchildren, Kat and families.
MICHAEL GEPPERT Offered prayerfully by Mom & Dad for improvement in health and God’s blessings and loving care during his recovery.
†DECEASED KSS/MOTHERS CLUB MEMBERS Offered in loving memory as we recognize our Slava; Dormition, the Falling Asleep of the Blessed Mother of God (Aug 28). Memory Eternal! Vjecnaja Pamjat!
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Please continue to pray for all of those currently being persecuted for Christ's sake in Kosovo, Metohija, Montenegro, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gaza, West Bank, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Egypt, the Sudan, China, North Korea, for all of our brothers and sisters in Christ suffering throughout the world, especially in Ukraine and Russia, that they might be comforted with the Joy of our Lord, and for those who are unjustly persecuted that they may be strengthened by the love of Christ which knows no race. We also pray for the Orthodox clergy in Alaska, that the Lord might grant them more than enough to feed their families.
LET US PRAY TO THE LORD!
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Stewardship Offering Information
Date 8/17/2025
Collection: $3,096.00
Date 8/10/2025
Collection: $3,135.00
Date 8/3/2025
Collection: $3,456.00
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August Birthdays
Ross Spangler (Aug 1), Tim Hook (Aug 1), Father Ilija Balach (Aug 2), Kaitlyn Hook (Aug 2), Jela Nonkovic (Aug 3), Ted Yanich (Aug 4), Mike Healy (Aug 5), Chris Radanovic (Aug 7), Cathy Fagan (Aug 7), Dieter Geib (Aug 7), Igor Pejcic (Aug 7), Heather Heilman (Aug 9), Bo Venesevich (Aug 11), Ioanna Radanovic (Aug 11), Theodore Sukernik (Aug 11), Victoria Fithian (Aug 11), Eva Sutkliffe (Aug 15), Marina Skinder (Aug 20), Stefan Gligorevic (Aug 21), Endora Wolf (Aug 23), Vaciona Petrovich (Aug 25), Ferris Atty (Aug 27), Maryann Seiders (Aug 28), Chuck Miller (Aug 30)
August Anniversaries
Chris & Jevgenija Radanovic (Aug 1), Duke & Sue Petrovich (Aug 9), Chuck & Jean Miller (Aug 9), Mike & Stephanie York (Aug 20), Zach & Elizabeth Bare (Aug 20), Dn. Bojan & Sladjana Gligorevic (Aug 31)
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KSS/MOTHERS CLUB SLAVA (TODAY)
Join the KSS/Mothers Club for their Slava today, to celebrate their Most Holy Patron, the Mother of God, and to honor Kumovi Maryann Seiders, Zorka Starcevich and Kata Gruich. Thank you goes out to Zorka for making the Kolach and Protinica Andreja for making the Koliva. Everyone is invited to the social hall after Liturgy for our Slava fellowship.
AKATHIST TO THE THEOTOKOS
Until the Feast of Dormition, we will continue to pray the Akathist to the Theotokos, Healer of Cancer, each morning at 9 am. Join us for this prayerful way to give thanks to God for His mother.
FEAST OF THE HOLY DORMITION OF THE MOTHER OF GOD
The Feast will begin with the Vigil and Lamentations Wednesday, August 27 at 6:30 pm and continue with Liturgy on Thursday, August 28 at 9:00 am with the blessing of fragrant flowers and herbs.
FLOWERS AND HERBS
We humbly ask that you bring fragrant flowers and herbs for the Eve of the Dormition of the Theotokos to be placed on and around her tomb. This tradition began with her death itself. The Holy Apostle Thomas was late returning to say goodbye to the Theotokos, and when he arrived three days late, he begged the other Apostles to open her tomb so he could venerate her body. When they did, they discovered that the tomb was empty. In place of her body, they found a tomb full of fragrant flowers and herbs. Thus, we bring them to Church to be blessed on this day, in honor of the bodily resurrection of the Theotokos.
SOTAYA ANNUAL MEETING
Our Junior SOTAYA organization will have their annual meeting with election of officers on Sunday, September 7 after Liturgy.
CHURCH SCHOOL REGISTRATION
The registration link for Church School will be emailed this week. Please make sure to register your children so we may ensure we have enough materials for all.
FOOD SURPLUS FOR SHADELAND (PIZZA AVAILABLE NOW)
A generous donor has given us a gift of surplus food. PLEASE visit the table in the Social Hall and take what you or someone you know can use. Donate what you can, help someone in need and save money at the same time! Remember to check the table every time you are at church as supplies will change frequently. ALL proceeds will go to support our St. Sava Shadeland Camp!!!
There are now pizzas available for $8 to $10. See Terry Govelovich
SHADELAND COLLECTION
The operation of our St. Sava Shadeland Camp has been subsidized by the Diocesan Endowment for the Future. This endowment was based upon the royalties we received from natural gas and oil wells and is now depleted. Currently, we no longer have any reliable income from these wells. Camp fees have been kept artificially low due to these royalties. This means that there is a deficit of $150,000 to run the camp each year. Additionally, there are approximately $225,000 in repairs and maintenance that will be necessary in the next 3 years. The Diocese is asking for donations to offset the operating costs. These donations may be given directly to the Diocese, to our local church here at St. Nicholas, by renting Shadeland Camp for your event, or purchasing a hunting license, thus increasing annual revenue. Checks can be made payable to St. Nicholas Church with Shadeland in the memo and given to our Church, or go to easterndiocese.org to donate directly to the Diocese.
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PLEASE HELP - BETHESDA MISSION WOMEN’S SHELTER OUTREACH
On the second Saturday of every month, volunteers from our four Orthodox churches prepare and serve lunch for shelter residents. We also help with various projects and activities that assist with shelter operations. If anyone would like to volunteer or learn more about this important program, please contact Andrea Gunther.
SOTAYA GIFT CARD FUNDRAISER
Thinking of a gift for someone, a special occasion, birthday or a reward for yourself? Gift cards are a good choice! And there is no need to go to the store, SOTAYA is selling Texas Roadhouse and Darden Restaurant Group cards (which includes Olive Garden, Longhorn, Cheddar’s, Yard House, Bahama Breeze and Seasons 52) at a face value of $50. Just see any SOTAYA member or Sladjana for a purchase. Thanks for your support!
BULLETIN DEADLINE
Please send all Bulletin requests to the church office at office@stnicholassteelton.org. You may also call (717) 939-3872. Bulletin Deadline is Wednesday at 11 am.
CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
Office hours are Monday through Friday from 9 am until noon. You may call the office during these hours at (717) 939-3872 or come by the office in person. Office hours will be adjusted when services are occurring during those hours.
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August Charity
Zoe for Life
Many women are fortunate to have the love and support structure to lead them to marriage, children, and a meaningful life. Others, however, are from different circumstances, and may find themselves in crisis because of an unplanned pregnancy. Their situation may have them in turmoil and panic, where healthy decisions are difficult to make. ZOE for Life!® serves as a conduit, guiding women to a wider range of support organizations, providing an attractive set of options and a promising outlook on their situation. There is counseling, housing referral assistance, referral for prenatal care, adoption and other services available for which most women in distress are unaware. It is the goal of ZOE for Life!® to offer more opportunities to women in unplanned pregnancies, and to empower them to make decisions everyone can live with. ZOE for Life!® is a pan-Orthodox outreach of Orthodox Christians. It is funded privately, and has received 501(c)(3) status from the Internal Revenue Service. All gifts are tax-deductible as specified by law.
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