Saturday 26 August / 13 August
12th Sunday after Pentecost
6:00 PM Vigil
Sunday 27 August / 14 August
10:00 AM Divine Liturgy
7:00 PM Vigil
Monday 28 August / 15 August
Dormition of the Theotokos
7:30 AM Divine Liturgy
Saturday 2 September / 20 August
13th Sunday after Pentecost
6:00 PM Vigil
Sunday 3 September / 21 August
10:00 AM Divine Liturgy
Please confirm the schedule on our website for short term changes
Eleventh Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 21:14-25
At that time, Jesus revealed himself to his disciples after he was raised from the dead, and he said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." A second time he said to him, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go." (This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after this he said to him, "Follow me."
Peter turned and saw following them the disciple whom Jesus loved, who had lain close to his breast at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?" When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about this man?" Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!" So, the word went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die; but Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?" This is the disciple who is bearing witness to these things, and who has written these things; and we know that his testimony is true. But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.
Prokeimenon. 2nd Tone. Psalm 117.14,18.
The Lord is my strength and my song.
Verse: The Lord has chastened me sorely.
The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 9:2-12.
Brethren, you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. This is my defense to those who would examine me. Do we not have the right to our food and drink? Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a sister as wife, as the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Who tends a flock without getting some of the milk? Do I say this on human authority? Does not the law say the same? For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain." Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of a share in the crop. If we have sown spiritual good among you, is it too much if we reap your material benefits? If others share this rightful claim upon you, do not we still more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.
11th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 18:23-35
The Lord said this parable: "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents; and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, 'Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said, 'Pay what you owe.' So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' He refused and went and put him in prison till he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me; and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?' And in anger his lord delivered him to the torturers, till he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."
New books arrived in our bookstore - as always our bookstore is an honor system. Please put the money for your purchase in the first drawer and mark on the sheet what you bought. If you want to pay book purchases with your credit card please see Fr. Anthony
Bookstore
Our bookstore moved! We moved the bookstore in a more spacious space. It is now located at the entrance vestibule of the house (side entrance of the house). Please check it out. Many items that were sorta hidden before are now on display. For your extra time at the beach bring a good spiritual book to read!
Deacon
God willing we will have one of our own to be ordained to the holy diaconate at our feast day in September. To prepare for that we had to purchase deacon vestments for him. Church vestments as other items in church are not only beautifying the services for the Glory of God, they are are necessity. The cost for 5 sets in the different liturgical colors runs around $2,250. We ordered them from a convent in Belarus which actuallly reduced the cost significantly. For the amount we spent you most of the time only get one or two vestment sets if you order from suppliers in this country. Please help us to raise some funds to be able to pay for those new vestments.
Blessing of fruit on Transfiguration
Because Fr. Alexander will be out of town at the feast itself, we will bless fruit (apples and grapes) after the Divine Liturgy on Sunday.
July 2017
Income: $1,791
Expenses: $1,103
Difference: $688
YearToDate Difference: -$3,808
We are raising funds for our biggest projects in the near future:
To easily contribute to these fundraisers please go to our website ss-sergius-herman-valaam.org
In your charity please remember us to your ability and help this small community.
As you can see we are all over the year still in the red. Reason for this are the two points mentioned under announcement: the new deacon vestments and the unexpected high repair cost for the a/c. We need your help to recover those cost, mainly by your regular tithing to the church and secondly through extra contributions if you are able to. Tithing is a Christian duty and gives back to God what is righly His. It is a scriptual and with that a truely Orthodox principle. In short tithing means that we are giving the 10th of our income back to God., which is actually considered the minimum. It is absolutley fair, because if we have a little income we will give less, if we have more we will give more. God bless everyone who already follows this command, and helps us to keep this church functioning.
If you want to read more about tithing in the Orthodox Church please follow here: http://fatherjohn.blogspot.com/2017/01/stump-priest-tithing.html
Sick:
Hieromonk Timothy, Priest Joseph, Alexander, Valery, Philip, Eric, Suzanna, Matushka Anna and her newborn child Irene, Luoba, Katherine, Kevin, Demetra, Judy (non-orthodox), Pat (non-orthodox), Heather (non-orthodox), Catherine, Mary, Hannah (non-orthodox), Irene (non-orthodox), Krista, George, Vera, Juliana, Seraphim, Novice Moses, Matushka Joanna
In time of distress:
Hieromonk Alexander (Frizzell), Silouan, Amy, Pani Ami
New Reposed:
Maximus
If you have prayer requests you would like announced, please e-mail rector@ss-sergius-herman-valaam.org
8/17 Subdeacon Procopius's birthday
On Monday August, 14, we began on the two weeks Dormition Fast:
A word why we fast for Dormition:
St. Symeon of Thessaloniki, “The fast in August was established in honor of the Mother of God the Word; who, foreknowing her repose, ascetically labored and fasted for us as always, although she was holy and immaculate, and had no need for fasting. Thus, she especially prayed for us in preparation for being transported from this life to the future life, when her blessed soul would be united through the Divine Spirit with her Son. Therefore, we also should fast and praise her, emulating her life, urging her thereby to pray for us. Some, by the way, say that this fast was instituted on the occasion of two feasts — the Transfiguration and the Dormition. I also consider it necessary to remember these two feasts — one which gives us light, and the other which is merciful to us and intercedes for us.”
Saturday (8/19) is a fish, wine and oil day.
Sunday (8/20) is a wine and oil day.
Monday, Tuesday, Saturday (8/26), and Sunday (8/27) wine and oil are allowed.
All other days are normal fast days.