SEVENTH SUNDAY OF MATTHEW AUGUST 11TH, 2013

Transcript

1 SEVENTH SUNDAY OF MATTHEW AUGUST 11TH, 2013 Sts. Raphael, Nicholas and Irene Greek Orthodox Church Rev. Fr. Barnabas Powell, Proistamenos Jimmy Smith, Psaltis 3074 Bethelview Road Cumming GA (770) cell (770) We are an intentional Orthodox Christian Community for North Georgia!

2 WORSHIP Seventh Eothinon/Tone Plagal Second We are so very glad you have joined us today, and we pray you will be inspired and encouraged by your time with us. The Orthodox worship service is an ancient and timeless expression of how people have loved, served and worshipped God for many centuries, but it may be a bit of a different experience for you. Please feel free to use a service book or not and simply allow the words of the service to wash over you. The central act of our worship culminates in people receiving communion. This is a very special time for us all and we have some specific beliefs about our communion together. This is why we never impose this service on those who are not prepared or are not baptized Orthodox. This service may raise questions in your mind. Please feel free to ask Fr. Barnabas or Fr. Paul anything you wish after the service. At the end of the service EVERYONE is invited to come forward and receive a portion of the blessed bread from Fr. Barnabas. No one should leave church hungry! Know you are welcome and we are glad you are here. May God bless you and your family. Apolytikion in honor of Sts. Raphael, Nicholas & Irene Having contended on Lesvos for the sake of Christ God, you have sanctified the island since the discovery of your sacred relics, O blessed ones; wherefore we honor you, O Godbearing Raphael, together with Nicholas and virgin Irene, as our divine protectors and intercessors with the Lord. Philoptochos will be passing a tray today to help support their philanthropic activities. Please be a generous as you are able. Schedule for the Week August 14th, Wednesday - Forefeast of the Dormition - 6:30 p.m. Great Vespers August 15th, Thursday - Dormition of the Theotokos 8:30 a.m. Orthros/9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy August 17th, Saturday - 5 p.m. Great Vespers SAVE THE DATE Sunday, Sept. 8th - Back to Church Sunday

3 TODAY WE REMEMBER SEVENTH SUNDAY OF MATTHEW Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal of the Second Tone Angelic powers were above Thy tomb, and they that guarded Thee became as dead. And Mary stood by the grave seeking Thine immaculate Body. Thou hast despoiled Hades and wast not tried thereby. Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst grant us life. O Thou Who didst arise from the dead, Lord, glory be to Thee. Seasonal Kontakion in the Grave Tone You were transfigured upon the mount, O Christ our God, and Your disciples, in so far as they could bear, beheld Your glory. Thus, when they see You crucified, they may understand Your voluntary passion, and proclaim to the world that You are truly the effulgence of the Father. We Also Remember Euplus the Holy Martyr & Archdeacon of Cantania Our Holy Father Niponus, Patriarch of Constantinople Commemoration of St. Spyridon s Miracle in Corfu against the Turkish invation of 1716 Afterfeast of the Transfiguration of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ Please pray for those faithful who are currently in need of our most fervent intercessions: Andrew, Angie, Bill, Bill, Carrie, Demetra, Diane, Dina, Donna, Elaine, Elizabeth, Christina, George, Gus, Heidi, Igli, James, Jerry, Joe, Maria, Michael, Oni, Patsy, Paul, Peter, Staikoula, Taki, Tara, Violeta, John & Sheila Consos, Archie & Florence Lytle, Katherine & Sam Yalanzon Parish Council On Duty Today - Bill Manos, John Patrick, Marie Chapman Ushering Ministry - GOYA Welcoming Ministry - Trissie Farr Fellowship Ministry - Book Club ACOLYTES Zachery Bethune, James Blane, Nicholas Pryles, Mike Trainor, Thomas Miller and Christos Zourzoukis SENIOR ACOLYTES Dean Pryles, Mike Manos

4 EPISTLE Reading The Reading is from St. Paul s Letter to the Romans 15:1-7 Prokeimenon. Mode Plagal 2. Psalm 27.9,1 O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance. Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God. BRETHREN, we who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves; let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to edify him. For Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached thee fell on me." For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of your Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. ΑΩ Ἀδελφοί, ὀφείλομεν δὲ ἡμεῖς οἱ δυνατοὶ τὰ ἀσθενήματα τῶν ἀδυνάτων βαστάζειν, καὶ μὴ ἑαυτοῖς ἀρέσκειν. Ἕκαστος ἡμῶν τῷ πλησίον ἀρεσκέτω εἰς τὸ ἀγαθὸν πρὸς οἰκοδομήν. Καὶ γὰρ ὁ Χριστὸς οὐχ ἑαυτῷ ἤρεσεν, ἀλλά, καθὼς γέγραπται, Οἱ ὀνειδισμοὶ τῶν ὀνειδιζόντων σε ἐπέπεσον ἐπʼ ἐμέ. Ὅσα γὰρ προεγράφη, εἰς τὴν ἡμετέραν διδασκαλίαν προεγράφη, ἵνα διὰ τῆς ὑπομονῆς καὶ διὰ τῆς παρακλήσεως τῶν γραφῶν τὴν ἐλπίδα ἔχωμεν. Ὁ δὲ θεὸς τῆς ὑπομονῆς καὶ τῆς παρακλήσεως δῴη ὑμῖν τὸ αὐτὸ φρονεῖν ἐν ἀλλήλοις κατὰ Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν ἵνα ὁμοθυμαδὸν ἐν ἑνὶ στόματι δοξάζητε τὸν θεὸν καὶ πατέρα τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. Διὸ προσλαμβάνεσθε ἀλλήλους, καθὼς καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς προσελάβετο ὑμᾶς, εἰς δόξαν θεοῦ.

5 GOSPEL READING The Reading is from Matthew 9:27-35 At that time, as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, "Have mercy on us, Son of David." When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to him, "Yes, Lord." Then he touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith be it done to you." And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly charged them, "See that no one knows it." But they went away and spread his fame through all that district. As they were going away, behold, a dumb demoniac was brought to him. And when the demon had been cast out, the dumb man spoke; and the crowds marveled, saying, "Never was anything like this seen in Israel." But the Pharisees said, "He casts out demons by the prince of demons." And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people. Α Ω Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, παράγοντι ἐκεῖθεν τῷ Ιησοῦ ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ δύο τυφλοὶ κράζοντες καὶ λέγοντες ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς, υἱὲ Δαυΐδ. ἐλθόντι δὲ εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν προσῆλθον αὐτῷ οἱ τυφλοί, καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ Ιησοῦς πιστεύετε ὅτι δύναμαι τοῦτο ποιῆσαι; λέγουσιν αὐτῷ ναί, Κύριε. τότε ἥψατο τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτῶν λέγων κατὰ τὴν πίστιν ὑμῶν γενηθήτω ὑμῖν. καὶ ἀνεῴχθησαν αὐτῶν οἱ ὀφθαλμοί καὶ ἐνεβριμήσατο αὐτοῖς ὁ Ιησοῦς λέγων ὁρᾶτε μηδεὶς γινωσκέτω. οἱ δὲ ἐξελθόντες διεφήμισαν αὐτὸν ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ γῇ ἐκείνῃ. Αὐτῶν δὲ ἐξερχομένων ἰδοὺ προσήνεγκαν αὐτῷ ἄνθρωπον κωφὸν δαιμονιζόμενον καὶ ἐκβληθέντος τοῦ δαιμονίου ἐλάλησεν ὁ κωφός, καὶ ἐθαύμασαν οἱ ὄχλοι λέγοντες ὅτι οὐδέποτε ἐφάνη οὕτως ἐν τῷ Ισραήλ. οἱ δὲ Φαρισαῖοι ἔλεγον ἐν τῷ ἄρχοντι τῶν δαιμονίων ἐκβάλλει τὰ δαιμόνια. Καὶ περιῆγεν ὁ Ιησοῦς τὰς πόλεις πάσας καὶ τὰς κώμας διδάσκων ἐν ταῖς συναγωγαῖς αὐτῶν καὶ κηρύσσων τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τῆς βασιλείας καὶ θεραπεύων πᾶσαν νόσον καὶ πᾶσαν μαλακίαν ἐν τῷ λαῷ.

6 ANNOUNCEMENTS Father Barnabas is available to hear confession every Wednesday either before or after Vespers and by appointment. Please call or the church office to request a time to meet with Father and avail yourself to this healing divine mystery of the Church. Please call the Church office for more information (770) Prosforo Baking Prosforo will be made on Tuesday, August 20th, at the Blue House beginning at 9 a.m. All who would like to come and help are welcome. Contact Stamatia Hagen at mamma2maria@gmail.com GOYA RAP SESSION - WELCOME BACK Sunday, August 18th - 5 to 6 p.m. Home of Laramie Smith 3335 Plantation Trace, Alpharetta RSVP to or missmagnoliasmoxie@gmail.com New teens welcome to join. GOYA is for 6th to 12th graders. (Greek Orthodox Youth of America)

7 ANNOUNCEMENTS HOPE & JOY Sts. RNI is beginning a HOPE & JOY Youth Group for our young children. For more information, or to volunteer to help, please contact Jennie Johnson jenniepsi@yahoo.com or , OR Athena Miller athenavlahos@yahoo.com or SUMMER EVENTS August 14, 21 & 28, Wednesday evenings 7-8 p.m. - ORTHODOXY 101 BOOT CAMP. questions to officeadmin@stsrni.org. August 22 nd, Thursday evening Movie Night and Discussion on The Way Talk 3 Being Human: Fully Alive If you are interested in coming to the Bible Studies or being placed on the list, please contact Donna missmagnoliasmoxie@gmail.com. SATURDAY NIGHT BOOK CLUB During our Summer fellowship, we will be reading Scent of Holiness. August 17 August 31 Discussion of Knot Seventeen Knot Twenty-Four Discussion of Knot Twenty-Five Knot Thirty-Three Weekly Saturday Night Covered Dish & Book Club will resume Sat., Sep. 7th. If you are interested in coming to the Book Club or being placed on the list, please contact Donna missmagnoliasmoxie@gmail.com.

8 ANNOUNCEMENTS Sunday School Calendar August 11th Youth Choir Practice August 18th Dormition Play & Youth Choir Practice We ll learn about the Theotokos falling asleep and then go sing. August 25th Youth Choir Practice August 29th John the Baptist is beheaded What happened to his head?? Find out at a special presentation on September 1st. September 8th Sunday School Begins! Youth Choir Practice - Are you a youth?? Then join Maria Hagen after receiving the Eucharist in the Youth Room. Youth Sunday September 29th Beginning in September, we will have Youth Sunday on the last Sunday of each month which means our Youth Choir will help us sing, pray and one special young person (who jumps at the chance and signs up first) will read the Epistle! The Epistle reading will be given to that special someone well in advance for practice. In order to avoid riots, arm wrestling or contests in fabulous feats of human endurance, be sure to sign up quickly!!!teachers NEEDED!! The Church Year begins in September. Sts. RNI s class offerings, as well as attendance, have increased substantially. We are in need of additional teachers for Sunday School, Youth, and Adult Education. We are planning teacher training prior to the Church year to help anyone who is interested joining in this ministry. So, if you interested in helping in any capacity, please contact: Donna Smith at missmagnoliasmoxie@gmail.com. Sts. RNI Bookstore News Your purchases through Amazon helps us raise money! We have a new e-store on Amazon for the Sts. RNI Bookstore. This is an Amazon webstore that we put items into categories like books, cds, jewelry, food, etc. and we get paid 10% on all sales through our store. If someone from the church wants to buy something on Amazon, they need to click through our link for us to get credit. Also, if anyone wants a book, cd, etc., not on our list, they need to let us know & we can add it to the site. Use the link: For more information or to add items, contact Aftan Romanczak at aromanczak@hotmail.com

9 ANNOUNCEMENTS New Study Series Dear Parishioners of Sts RNI, Christ is in our midst! He is and ever shall be! We will continue the series of discussions on the church calendar and the feasts of the church. The sessions will begin immediately after Divine Liturgy and will last about 45 minutes. I realize that many of us require some coffee, sometimes referred to as the elixir of life. So everyone should grab some java and snacks and head to the youth room. There is no problem if you miss a session as handouts will be available by or on the following Sunday. Handouts will include an icon of the feast, scripture readings from Vespers, Orthros and Liturgy, as well as some reflections from the fathers. A very brief outline is included below. I will be available after Liturgy on Sunday to answer any questions you might have. I hope to see you there. Church Calendar and Major Feasts 1. Calendars a. Old vs. New controversy b. Church year and the Indiction c. Lectionary year and Pentecost d. Paschalion 2. Church feasts a. Nativity of Theotokos b. Exaltation of Holy Cross c. Entrance of Theotokos d. Nativity of our Lord e. Circumcision of our Lord f. Theophany g. Presentation of our Lord h. Annunciation i. Great Lent & Pascha and j. Ascension k. Ss. Peter & Paul l. Pentecost m. Transfiguration n. Dormition of Theotokos o. Beheading of Baptist Your humble servant, Fr. Paul Feed your faith and thereby starve your doubts.

10 ANNOUNCEMENTS PHILOPTOCHOS 2013 Membership Drive is underway. ALL are welcome to join. Philoptochos is not just a ladies organization anymore! GENERAL MEETING - Tuesday, August 20th, 6:30 p.m. At the home of Helen McCart Woodvine Way, Alpharetta RSVP to Helen at or filiatra3@comcast.net The Sts. RNI Philoptochos is assembling a Greek Recipe Cookbook that it plans to publish & sell as a fund raiser. We would appreciate if you would share with us your favorite Greek recipes - regular or nistisimo (fasting). Please submit your recipes by September 1st to: Ginny Kostulakos (officeadmin@stsrni.org) or to Helen McCart (filiatra3@comcast.net). If you have any background for the recipe such as who originated it (your mom, yiayia, papou, best friend); special details as to how you prepare it (special pan size, measuring technique, etc.), what part of Greece it comes from or is popular in, please share that with us as well. We want ours to come out as good as yours! Handwritten/typed recipes are also welcome. Don t forget to put your name with the recipe (& a contact number for the committee if we have questions) so you get credit for your contribution. GREEK SCHOOL Contact Smara Wolff for information on Greek School registration for Fall smara.wolff@gmail.com or Sts. RNI Choir Practice Immediately following Divine Liturgy in the Chapel Contact Marie Chapman for more information or mommystargater@comcast.net Thank you to Holy Transfiguration Church, Marietta, for the donation of choir robes for our Sts. RNI choir and to Plutarch Vamvakias for facilitating the donation.

11 ANNOUNCEMENTS IOCC ATLANTA 13th Annual Run/Walk 5K (3.1 miles) Saturday, August 24, 2013 Piedmont Park (Behind Park Tavern Monroe Drive & 10th Street) Registration begins at 8:45 a.m. Race starts at 9:45 a.m. $30 per person (includes t-shirt and snacks after the race) $5 discount per ticket for online registration To register or donate online go to For more information: Matushka Angela Allesandroni at or Mira Brockett at or Visitors Welcome Dina Sarandis resides at The Oaks on Post Road and welcomes visits from fellow parishioners. John & Sheila Consos are now residing in Dunwoody 4355 Georgetown Sq., Unit 442 and would enjoy phone calls (770/ ) &/or visits. If you know of someone who would like a visit, please contact Helen McCart at or the Church Office. Sts. Raphael, Nicholas, and Irene Inaugural Toga Trot 5K Grab your Toga and your running shoes and come out to a great morning. October 19, 2013 at 9:00am Register now for $25 and you are guaranteed a long-sleeved shirt in your size. Race day registration will be $30. Packet pickup will be available the morning of the race and Friday night at the Greek Festival. Scan the QR code above to register! For more information:

12 To date the 97 families below have returned Stewardship Commitment Cards for Nicholas & Varvara Alexiou Jim & Angie Andropoulos Sarante & Julie Athenson Richard & Sophia Bethune Anthony & Mary Birozes Renee Birozes Katherine Blanos James & Jennifer Bochis Joseph & Barbara Bonelli-Selwa Jordan & Lisa Boston Helen Bouboulis Kosta & Carolyn Bozzuto Sean & Maria Carney David & Marie Chapman Grace Chihlas Julie Chokos John & Sheila Consos Giles & Emily Christie Dan & Alyssa Douglas John & Beth Doulgerakis Quay & Trissie Farr Chris & Liz Foxhall Valerie Galanis Robert & Carey Gilbert Robert & Jennifer Guano Harald & Stamatia Hagen Christine Hatcher Harriet Howell Alan & Julia Jenkins Mark & Jennie Johnson Eleni Jordan Panagiotis & Elizabeth Jordanopoulos Vasilios & Mary Kaloudis James Kanellos Maria Kardomateas Theodoros & Aphrodite Kazazakis- Levendakis Dennis & Ginny Kostulakos Alex & Melpo Levantis Earnest & Elizabeth Livaditis Leon & Francis Lopez Archie & Florence Lytle Connie Machoudy Harry & Tina Maheras Bill & Margaret Manos Emanuel Manos Bill & Audrey Marianes John Martin George Matthews Al & Helen McCart John & Becky Melts Bill & Mary Milam Matt & Athena Miller Nikolaos Moissiadis Patricia Morris Peter & Jamie Nunn Nicolas & Teddie Panos Constantinos & Evelyn Pantazopoulos Lazaros & Christina Papadopoulos Gregory Pappas Gus Pappas John & Evon Patrick Sts. RNI Philoptochos Gus Plakiotis Ioanna Plakiotis Mihai & Heidi Popa Father & Presvytera Powell Pam Powers Katherine Prattes Vic & Suzi Pryles Paul & Gigi Ray Marina Raymond David & Mary Roberts Athan & Cheri Romanczak Jimmy & Pat Roney Andrew & Lorez Roussey Dina Sarandis Taka & Kathy Shoji Eric & Donna Smith Eugenia Smith Estelle Sofikitis George & Anna Sofikitis Dennis & Laura Sparks James Stockdill Koko & Carol Tadros Steven & Thalia Thompson Ed & Anne Trainor Brian & Jennifer Tubbs Sharon Tyre Greg Tzevelekos George Tzortzinakis Plutarch & Tina Vamvakias Rusty & Christine Waldron Tim & Diane Walters Steve & Smara Wolff Sam & Katherine Yalanzon George & Thalia Zazanis-Bruno John & Mildred Zourzoukis