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14th Sunday after Pentecost
Sunday after the Elevation of the Cross
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Христос Међу Нама! Christ is in our midst! Cristo esta' entra nosotros! | |
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The Sunday after the Holy Cross
By Fr. Christopher Rocknage
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…
Glory to Jesus Christ!
What a Sunday! Here we have this wonderful combination of the afterfeast of the Cross of our Lord, and God and Savior, Jesus Christ, the weapon of peace present before us, as it says in the Kontakion of the Cross, with the parable of the wedding feast in which a man enters without a wedding garment.
We have that which is the instrument of God’s Mercy; and I say again – the instrument of the Mercy of God. We heard in the Matins service this morning about the instrument of the Cross. The first six Psalms (the hexapsalmos) of the service, the fifth Psalm is 103. In the midst of this psalm, we hear, “for as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is the steadfast love (in Hebrew this word is also the same used for mercy) of the Lord for those who fear Him; and as far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us.” As high as the heavens above the earth, as far as the east is from the west – definitive “Cross” pattern… we have the image of the Cross, there is psalm 103 talking about how it brings mercy to those who fear the Lord.
And yet we have in this parable of the wedding feast in the Kingdom of Heaven, this man who enters without a wedding garment. God sees this man, and immediately says, “Friend, how did you enter without a wedding garment?” What is this wedding garment? The wedding garment is the fear of the Lord, which encourages us and engages us and forces us, in our desire to be with God, to be baptized into Christ Jesus. If we want to be saved, we must be baptized. There is no other way. “Salvation belongs to the Lord, His blessing be upon His people.” He gives salvation. I am not the judge, if it was up to me, everyone would go up to the heavens. Who am I? I do not know. But, God, Who is the judge is also the one Who gives mercy freely to those who believe. He gives it freely to those who fear him.
Does that mean that God wants everyone to cower? Certainly not! God does not want us to be like little ants cowering in the fear of being crushed every day of our lives. That is not the point of what it means to be a part of the living God. He wants us to be His sons and daughters—children of the Most High. And so, what happens when we as children do something against the rules of our parents, do we not disappoint them? I know I have disappointed my parents. I do not even need to qualify whether I was old or young—I know there are times I have disappointed them. It happens. There have been times when I have failed as a son. That doesn't mean that I do not want to try harder though. That doesn't mean that I do not want to strive to not only appease my parents, but make them proud of me. To have their look upon me be one love and reflection rather than of dissatisfaction.
Thus, the fear of the Lord which is the beginning of wisdom is truly that very same fear we have of disappointing our parents. This is what it means to try and connect with God in everything we do in our lives. Live so we do not disappoint God. Live so that we do not disappoint the One Who gives us so freely mercy, steadfast love, healing. All of these things are a part of what it means to exist in God’s mercy. So great is His love for those who fear Him, that He removes even our sins from us. That is what this feast is all about!
We come to the Cross, through which Joy comes into all the world, and ever bless the Lord. We praise His Resurrection, for by enduring the Cross for us, He has destroyed death by His death. And lest you think that these are my words, they hail from the hymnography of every single Resurrection Matins service—be it on a Sunday or on the Feast of Feasts, the Lord’s Pascha. We behold the Resurrection of our Lord every Sunday. We behold the Resurrection of our Lord every time we bear witness to baptism. We behold the Resurrection of the Lord every time that we deny ourselves, deny our own ego, deny our own will, and do things instead to bear witness to God. That is the acknowledgement, the worship, the veneration of the Resurrection. It means nothing if we are baptized and chrismated and receive Holy Communion and then go out into the world and act like we do not know Christ. It has no purpose. It is empty. It is just like a clanging symbol or a banging gong. It has no meaning because we have rejected it by our actions. But if our lives become imbued with the desire to bear God’s Will alive in us; if we deny ourselves and take up our Cross daily like Christ says in the Gospel of Mark read this morning; walk each and every day in the fear of the Lord, being afraid to disappoint God… this is what brings meaning to our life.
What is it to disappoint God? It means we have no love. No love for those He brings into our lives, no love for those Whom He has given to us in our family, no love for those in the Church, no love for Him. Because if we cannot love those other people, we have no love for God. This does not mean that we give into everyone’s whim either. As parents, you know that if you give your children everything that they want, they will end up being the worst human beings in the world. Instead, you give structure and rules, so that they can grow into what it means to be a self, a person. Without that structure, without those rules, all that happens is seeking one pleasure after the other, after the other, until they fall into sin and death. My children, Marijana, Marko, Makrina, I do not want you to fall into sin and death. I want you to live. All of you, my spiritual children, I do not want you to fall into sin and death. I want you to live! And so I will not say, “Oh, do whatever you want” because I want what’s best for you—for eternal life. I will say, that if I make a mistake, “I am wrong, forgive me,” do this instead. I am not perfect, yet I still want what’s best for you.
Society tells us, “Do whatever makes you happy.” If you seek happiness constantly, you know what happens? You are miserable. All you need to do is behold the countless comedians, actors, entertainers, musicians in today's world over and again are committing suicide because they are living for the pleasures of this world, yet they have nothing. All they do is confront the emptiness of their self each and every day. My heart breaks for them…but I do not know them personally. I know you personally. Again and again, seek God in everything that you do, seek God and do His will, and you will find joy—not just happiness – something that pervades the heart, so that even when you are in pain, even when you are sick, even when you are sad and grieving, that joy never abandons you. That is what it means to take up your cross daily and follow Christ.
So today, my brothers and sisters, as we strive to do God’s Will, fear God, and have your transgressions removed as far as the east is from the west. Fear God and know His Love present in your life every single moment of every single day. Fear God and come to Life eternal, dying to yourselves each day, so that you might truly live. As St. Paul says, “it is no longer I who live, but Christ, Who lives in me,” so that you might glorify Him, together with His Father Who is without beginning, and His Holy and Life Creating Spirit, always now and forever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
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Commemorating the Afterfeast of the Elevation of the Cross, Great Martyr Euphemia the All-praised, Repose of St Cyprian Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia, Saint Sebastiana the Martyr disciple of St Paul the Apostle at Heraclea, Martyr Melitine of Marcianoplolis, Martyrs Victor and Sosthenes at Chalcedon, Venerable Dorotheus the Hermit of Egypt, Martyr Ludmilla the grandmother of St Wenceslaus Prince of the Czechs, New Martyrs Isaac and Joseph of Georgia, New Hieromartyr Gregory of Tver, Saint Procopius
RESURRECTIONAL TROPARION—TONE 5
Let us, the faithful, praise and worship the Word, co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit, born for our salvation from the Virgin; for He willed to be lifted up on the Cross in the flesh, to endure death, and to raise the dead by His glorious Resurrection.
ELEVATION OF THE CROSS TROPARION—TONE 1
O Lord, save Your people and bless Your inheritance! Grant victories to the Orthodox Christians over their adversaries; and by virtue of Your Cross, preserve Your habitation!
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.
RESURRECTIONAL KONTAKION—TONE 5
You descended into hell, O my Savior, shattering its gates as Almighty, resurrecting the dead as Creator, and destroying the sting of death. You have delivered Adam from the curse, O Lover of Man, and we cry to You: “O Lord, save us!”
ELEVATION OF THE CROSS KONTAKION—TONE 4
As You were voluntarily raised upon the cross for our sake, grant mercy to those who are called by Your Name, O Christ God; make all Orthodox Christians glad by Your power, granting them victories over their adversaries, by bestowing on them the Invincible trophy, Your weapon of Peace.
Instead of “It is truly meet…”
Magnify, O my soul, the Most Precious Cross of the Lord.
You are a mystical paradise, O Theotokos, in which Christ blossomed, through you, the life-bearing wood of the Cross was planted on earth. Now, at its elevation, as we bow before it, we magnify you.
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~Scripture Readings of the Day~ | |
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READERS:
This Week: Matins: Milan Radanovic Epistle: Genevieve Bare
Next Week: Matins: Lenny Tepsic Epistle: Grant Govelovich
EPISTLE: Galatians 2: 16 - 20 (Sunday after Elevation), 2 Corinthians 1: 21-2:4
DEACON: Let us pay attention.
PRIEST: Peace be unto all!
READER: And with your spirit!
DEACON: Wisdom.
READER: The Prokeimenon in the Seventh Tone: Extol the Lord our God: worship at His footstool for He is holy!
CHOIR: Extol the Lord our God: worship at His footstool for He is holy!
READER: v: The Lord reigns, let the people tremble!
CHOIR: Extol the Lord our God: worship at His footstool for He is holy!
READER: Extol the Lord our God...
CHOIR: ...worship at His footstool for He is holy!
DEACON: Wisdom!
READER: The Reading is from the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Galatians
DEACON: Let us attend!
READER: Brethren, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Brethren, now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. Moreover I call God as witness against my soul, that to spare you I came no more to Corinth. Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand. But I determined this within myself, that I would not come again to you in sorrow. For if I make you sorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me? And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, having confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all. For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.
PRIEST: Peace be unto you, reader!
READER: And with your spirit! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
READER: Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old!
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
READER: God is our King before the ages; He has worked salvation in the midst of the earth.
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
АПОСТОЛ: Галаћанима 2: 16 - 20, 2 Коринћанима 1: 21-2:4
Ђакон: Пазимо
Свештеник: Мир свима!
Читач: I Духу Твоме!
Ђакон: Премудрост
Читач : ПРОКИМЕН- глас 7 Прославите Господа, Бога нашега: клањајте се подножју Његовом, јер је свет!
Хор: Прославите Господа, Бога нашега: клањајте се подножју Његовом, јер је свет!
Читач: Господ влада, нека дрхти!
Хор: Прославите Господа, Бога нашега: клањајте се подножју Његовом, јер је свет!
Читач: Прославите Господа, Бога нашега:
Хор: клањајте се подножју Његовом, јер је свет!
Ђакон: Премудрост
Читач: читање прве посланице коринћанима светога апостола Галаћанима
Ђакон: Пазимо
Читач: Браћо, знајући да се човјек не оправдава дјелима закона него вјером Исуса Христа, и ми повјеровасмо у Христа Исуса, да се оправдамо вјером Христовом а не дјелима закона, јер се дјелима закона ниједно тијело неће оправдати. Ако ли се ми, који тражимо да се оправдамо у Христу, нађосмо и сами грјешници, је ли онда Христос слуга гријеху? Боже сачувај! Јер ако опет зидам оно што развалих, показујем се да сам преступник. Јер ја законом закону умријех, да Богу живим. Са Христом се разапех; А живим – не више ја, него живи у мени Христос; а што сад живим у тијелу, живим вјером Сина Божијега, који ме заволи и предаде себе за мене.
Браћо, Бог је онај који нас утврђује с вама у Христу, и који нас помаза, Који нас и запечати, и даде залог Духа у срца наша. А ја призивам Бога за свједока на своју душу, да штедећи вас не дођох више у Коринт. Не као да господаримо над вјером вашом, него смо помагачи ваше радости; јер у вјери стојите чврсто. А ово одлучих у себи да вам опет не дођем у жалости. Јер, ако вас ја жалостим, ко је тај који мене весели, ако не онај кога ја жалостим? И ово вам баш написах, да када дођем не будем ожалошћен од оних од којих би требало да се радујем, уздајући се у све вас, да је радост моја радост свију вас. Јер од многе жалости и с болом срца написах вам са многим сузама, не да се ожалостите него да познате преобилну љубав коју имам према вама.
Свештеник: Мир свима Читачу!
Читач: I Духом Твоме! Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Читач: Опомени се сабора својега, којег си стекао од старине.
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Читач: Бог је Цар наш прије вјекова, који твори спасење посред земље.
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
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LITURGY GOSPEL:
Mark 8:34-9:1 (Elevation), Matthew 22: 2-14
When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” And He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.”
At that time, Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.”’ But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’ So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests. “But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ “For many are called, but few are chosen.”
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ЈЕВАНЂЕЉЕ:
Марко 8:34-9:1, Матеј 22: 2-14
И дозвавши народ са ученицима својим рече им: Ко хоће за мном да иде нека се одрекне себе и узме крст свој, и за мном иде. Јер ко хоће живот свој да сачува, изгубиће га, а ко изгуби живот свој мене ради и јеванђеља онај ће га сачувати. Јер каква је корист човјеку ако задобије сав свијет а души својој науди? Или какав ће откуп дати човјек за душу своју? Јер ко се постиди мене и мојих ријечи у роду овоме прељуботворном и грјешном, и Син ће се Човјечији постидјети њега кад дође у слави Оца својега са светим анђелима. И рече им: Заиста вам кажем: има неки међу овима што стоје овдје који неће окусити смрти док не виде Царство Божије да је дошло у сили.
Каза Господ причу ову: Царство небеско је као човјек цар који начини свадбу сину своме. И посла слуге своје да зову званице на свадбу; и не хтједоше доћи. Опет посла друге слуге говорећи: Кажите званицама: Ево сам објед свој уготовио, јунци моји и храњеници поклани су, и све је готово: дођите на свадбу. А они не маривши отидоше, овај у поље своје, а онај у трговину своју; А остали ухватише слуге његове, изружише их, и побише. И када то чу цар онај, разгњеви се и пославши војску своју, погуби крвнике оне, и град њихов запали. Тада рече слугама својим: Свадба је готова, а званице не бјеху достојне. Идите, дакле, на раскршћа и кога год нађете, позовите на свадбу. И изишавши слуге оне на путеве, сабраше све које нађоше, и зле и добре; и напуни се свадбена дворана гостију. А ушавши цар да види госте, угледа ондје човјека необучена у свадбено рухо. И рече му: Пријатељу, како си ушао амо без свадбеног руха? А он оћута. Тада рече цар слугама: Свежите му руке и ноге, па га узмите и баците у таму најкрајњу; ондје ће бити плач и шкргут зуба. Јер су многи звани, али је мало изабраних.
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~ The Week Ahead: Scriptures and Services ~ | |
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~Prayers for the Faithful~
In Our Prayers
The newly illumined Divna and Danica, their parents and sponsors, Metropolitan Paul, Archbishop Youhanna, Protinica Ljubica Jockovic, Protopresbyter Rodney Torbic, Popadija Sara Golic, Matushka Barbara Ealy, the child Katie Elizabeth and her parents Mileva and Michael Repasky, the child Metodija and his parents Fr. Dn. Milan and Mira Damljanovic, the child Louise Bare and her parents Zachary & Elizabeth, Shayle York and the newborn Šeren Lily, Kaitlyn Hook and the newborn Bowen William, Catherine Lewis and the newborn Caleb Ereno, Mara Bebeau and the child newly born of her, Lousi, Tony & infant of God Zayne, Michelle Adams, Addy Andy, Lori Bare, Christina Berchock, Dori & Doug Bert, Jonathan Bertsch, Carole Blitva, Stephan and Barbara Blitva, Walter “Bud” Brown, Guiliana & Aleksandar Carricato, Maria Chigrintseva, Susan & Jim Cibort, Leann Cox, Victoria Cox, Art Dils, Tommy & Kara (Blitva) Dorsey, Edward Dry, JoAnn Filepas, Anaya Garvin, Eric Garvin, Christian & Melanie Geib, Michael Geppert III, Nevenka Gojkovic, Dr Andrea Govelovich, Nick & Terry Govelovich, Kata Gruich, George Gutshall, Dan Hazlett, Travis Heilman, Adam Herigan, Edith Herigan, Kay Himes, Nicole Stefan Imschweiler, Susan Jacobs, Slobodan Jovicic, Tony Kepp, Myong Sook Kim, Dorothy Krnjaich, Dragica Kuzmanovic, Henry Laichak, Peter Lalic, Dragan Lalovic, Stella Wren Lappas, Jovan Lemajic, Dick Livingston, Maggie Livingston, Boro Lojpur, John Luksic, Stephen Lundingrin, Penny MacDonald, Dianne & Jim Martin, Rowan Martin, Daria Milletics, Jack McFall, George Milakovic, Marija Miljkovic, Peter Mrgich, George Myers, Patty Navarro, Bosiljka Ninkovic, Jenny Moore Oliver, Lila Packer, Daniel Paddock, Vid & Marica Pejcic, Hope Pesner, Kobe Petrovich, Sue Petrovich, Tracy Petrovich, Christopher Radanovic, Linda Rodgers, Logan Roszkowski, Chloe Ruff, Greg Selman, Michael Schaffner, Maryann Seiders, Donald Semic, Steven Semic, Benjamin Shaffer, Tessa Shaffer, John Sheaffer, Branko Smitran, Zorka Starcevich, Tim Stefan, Michael Stepanovich, Stevan and Mary Stojic, Patricia & Joseph Sypniewski, Leonard Tepsich, Leroy Tepsich Jr, Savka Trivun, Edie & Michael “Bo” Venesevich, Michael Vishnesky, Rita Vorkapich, Kristina Vukalo, Steve Vulich, Paula Werner, Draga Worman, Beverly Yanich, Tosh Yanich, Dewey Yetter, Mila “Millie” Yezdimir, Marija Zabrodnaya, Jason Zeigler, Ashley Ziobrowski, Eleni Ziogas, 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 Who Are Currently Deployed
Christopher Baker
Those to be Baptized
Bowen William Hook, Caleb Ereno Lewis, Barrett Scott, Nora & Maeve Van Huysen, Sloane & Šeren York
Our College Students
Sophia Adams, Cameron Barber, Kyle Barber, Michael Geppert, Anastasija Gligorevic, Natalija Gligorevic, Cayden Healy, Matthew Hoover, Kalei Howard, Faith Kingsbury, Sophia Mummert, Kobe Petrovich, Christina Radanovic, Ioanna Radanovic, Luis Antonio Radanovic, Madison Vorkapich, Anastasija Vukalo
Our Seminary Students
Elizabeth Bare
Our Dearly Departed Loved Ones
Edward Hojnicki, Meilka “Sandy” Marijan, Bogoljub Blagojevic, Jovanka Foltz, Bozidar 'Bobby' Bulatovich, Demetrios Ziogas
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~Vigils Offered~
BETHANY & EMILIA PETERSON Offered in joyous celebration of our precious Emilia’s fifth birthday (Sept 27) and her mommy Bethany (Oct 3). May God bless you with good health, happiness and joy for many years! Mnogaja Ljeta! Ziveli! We love you very much, your Babi and the whole family.
JOHN & CINDY SEMIC Offered as we wish a Happy 48th wedding anniversary (Sept 26) to Kum John & Kuma Cindy. We remember your special day with love and pray our Lord continues to bless you with boundless love and enduring memories. Offered by your Yanich, Wenner, Hook, Wolf & Matich Kumovi. Mnogaja Ljeta! Many Years!
BILL & BOBBI WENNER Offered as we celebrate the 36th Wedding Anniversary (October 1) of The Honorable William & Mrs Bobbi Wenner with great joy and pray God grants them Many More Blessings for Many More Years! Offered with love by Brandon, Katie, Tim, grandsons Baylor & Bowen and the rest of the family and Kumovi. Mnogaja Ljeta! Many Years!
SONORA VIOLA MAE CRUZ Offered for her 14th birthday (Oct 2) with prayers that our Lord continues to bless her with a life of joy, wisdom and achievement. She is our blessing! Given with love by Mommy, Curran, Ashtyn, Endora, GaGa, Aamaw, Kum Danilo, Kuma Emily, cousin Baylor & Bowen and the rest of the family and Kumovi. Mnogaja Ljeta! Many Years!
CHRISTOPHER BAKER Offered by Chris & Jevi Radanovic during his deployment. Praying for all of our Christ loving soldiers, families and their service to our country.
MICHAEL & BEVERLY FLYNN Offered prayerfully that our Lord watches over them, comforts and heals them. Love and prayers from Pete & Arlene.
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.
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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, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Iraq, Iran, Egypt, the Sudan, China, North Korea, for all of our brothers and sisters in Christ suffering throughout the world, especially in Ukraine, that they might be comforted with the Joy of our Lord, and for all of those suffering from the pandemic, for those who minister, and for those who are unjustly persecuted that they may be strengthened by the love of Christ which knows no race.
LET US PRAY TO THE LORD!
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Stewardship Offering Information
Date 9/22/2024
Collection:
Date 9/15/2024
Collection: $2,000.00
Date 9/8/2024
Collection: $4,657.00
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October Birthdays
Caroline Donato (Oct 2), Dave Milletics (Oct 2), Sonora Viola Mae Cruz (Oct 2), Adeline & Peter Meadow (Oct 3), Marcia Breinich (Oct 4), Kate Nation (Oct 4), Madison Vorkapich (Oct 5), Lenny Tepsich (Oct 6), Craig Heilman (Oct 6), Alex Filepas (Oct 6), Owen Kingsbury (Oct 8), Dejan Raic (Oct 11), Arlene Barber (Oct 12), Dennis Ruff (Oct 12), Milan Yovic (Oct 15), Yovanka Hoover (Oct 17), Andrea Govelovich (Oct 17), Nicole Petrovich (Oct 18), Anastasija Gligorevic (Oct 18), Nina Gilroy (Oct 19), Mira Lukic (Oct 26), John Nicholas Hernjak (Oct 27), Carole Radosinovich (Oct 29), Jimi Werner (Oct 29), Marijana Rocknage (Oct 30)
October Anniversaries
Bobbi & William Wenner (Oct 1), Katya Kotchnyeva & Eric Garvin (Oct 10), Jean & Paul Martin (Oct 11), Angie & Jim Bagley (Oct 12), Daria & Dave Milletics (Oct 16), Josh & Emma Howell (Oct 16), Mackenzie & Stefan Lazarevic (Oct 21), Janis & Greg Meadow (Oct 29)
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THE SAINTS OF OUR FRESCOES (TODAY)
This year, we will be offering multiple opportunities to learn more about the saints that are depicted on the icons in the Church. Mrs. Martha Rakowski, M.Div., will be teaching the lives of these wondrous saints—many of whom we call our patrons! This adult education class begins TODAY, Sunday, September 29th after Church with our parish patron, St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia.
SERBIAN-AMERICAN CLUB MEETING (TODAY)
The Serbian-American Club will hold its next meeting on TODAY, September 29 at 12:01 pm. This is rescheduled and in lieu of our Monday meeting. Meeting will be held in the club.
ANNUAL KSS PULLED PORK & PALACINKE SALE
The Kolo Srpskih Sestara/Circle of the Serbian Sisters will hold their annual fundraiser on Sunday, October 13. All sales are PRE-ORDER by Oct 6. The menu will include pulled pork sandwiches for $6, cheese, strawberry or applebutter palacinkes for $2 each. Pick up will be from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm on October 13. Forms are available on the tutors stand, or call Paula Werner at 717-433-4158 or Daria Milletics at 717-939-3872
COMBINED MOTHERS CLUB AND KSS MEETING
Our next meeting for both the Mothers Club and Circle of Serbian Sisters (KSS) will be Sunday, October 6, 2024 in the Church Library after Divine Liturgy. All members are urged to attend this very important meeting.
ST NICHOLAS SENIORS MEETING
Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, October 8, at noon. Bring a friend and enjoy lunch, laughs and fellowship.
FIRST-EVER WOMEN’S RETREAT AT SHADELAND!
The retreat is sponsored by the Eastern Region Federation of Circle of Serbian Sisters from Friday, Oct 11 thru Sunday, Oct 13. The weekend will offer prayer, fellowship, featured speakers, Kolach decorating class, book study, DIY wreath craft, etc.. If you are interested, let Daria know and she will forward you the links to sign up.
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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.
PANTRY BOX IN THE LOBBY
The Pantry Box helps to supply much needed goods to the Bethesda Women’s Shelter. Please remember to drop off items like: ibuprofen, toothpaste, toothbrush, powdered laundry detergent, feminine hygiene products, lotion, razors, bar soap or body wash, deodorant.
MOTHER’S CLUB KIOSK
New items have arrived. Stop by and check out the new Eye Glass Cases, Cards and Prayer Bracelets.
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September Charity
St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary
575 Scarsdale Road, Yonkers, NY 10707
(914) 961-8313
http://www.svots.edu/
The mission of St. Vladimir’s Seminary is to “serve Christ, His Church, and the world through Orthodox Christian theological education, research, and scholarship, and the promotion of inter-Orthodox cooperation”.
The Seminary offers educational programs for clergy, those preparing for clerical ministries, lay leaders and religious scholars so they “may build up Orthodox communities, foster Church growth through mission and evangelism, teach the Orthodox faith, and care for those in need”. The Seminary has a diverse student body and a strong faculty committed to teaching, learning, and serving the Church to the glory of God. Academic programs include Master level degrees in divinity, theology, and religious studies for lay leaders. A stimulating array of special academic programs is also available. We encourage you to visit the St. Vladimir’s Seminary website listed above to learn more about the exciting and challenging learning opportunities, programs and resources.
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The Elevation of the Precious and Life-Creating Cross of our Lord
From the Prologue of Ochrid
By St. Nikolaj
On this day are commemorated two events connected with the Precious Cross of Christ: the first, the finding of the Cross on Golgotha and the second the returning of the Cross to Jerusalem from Persia.
Staying in the Holy Land, the holy Empress Helena decided to took for the Precious Cross of the Lord. An old Jew called Judah was the only person who knew the whereabouts of the Cross, and, under pressure from the Empress, he revealed that the Cross was buried under the Temple of Venus that the Emperor Hadrian had built on Golgotha. The Empress ordered that this idolatrous temple be pulled down, and then, digging deep below it, she found three crosses. While the Empress was in uncertainty about how to recognize which cross was the Lord's, a funeral procession passed by. Then Patriarch Macarius told them to place the crosses one by one on the dead man. When they placed the first and second on him, the dead man remained unchanged, but when they placed the third on him, he was restored to life. By this, they knew that this was the Precious and life-giving Cross of Christ. After that, they placed it on a sick woman, and she recovered. Then the Patriarch raised the Cross aloft for all to see, and the people sang with tears: 'Lord, have mercy!' The Empress Helena had a silver casing made, and placed the precious Cross in it.
Later, King Chozroes conquered Jerusalem, took the people into slavery and carried the Lord's Cross off to Persia, where it remained for fourteen years. In 628, the Greek Emperor Heraclius was victorious over Chozroes and brought the Cross back to Jerusalem with great ceremony. Entering the city, Heraclius was carrying the Cross on his back, but suddenly the aged Emperor was unable to take another step. Patriarch Zacharias saw an angel directing the Emperor to take off his imperial robes and walk beneath the Cross along the way that Christ had walked, barefoot and humiliated as He had been. He passed this vision on to the Emperor, who stripped himself of his raiment and, in poor clothing and barefoot, took up the Cross, carried it to Golgotha and placed it in the Church of the Resurrection, to the joy and consolation of the whole Christian world.
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