Dedication of the Temple of the Holy Great Martyr George in Lydda
The consecration of the Church of Saint George in Lydda of Palestine took place during the reign of Saint Constantine the Great. See also April 23.
Orthros/Matins: Sunday, 9:00 AM
Divine Liturgy: Sunday, 10:00 AM
Collection for the Ecumenical Patriarchate
Philoptochos Meeting
Coffee Hour/Brunch is hosted by Martha Roldan & Pres Pavlina Sakellariou
9:00AM Matins Service (Orthros)
10:00AM Divine Liturgy
6:00PM Bible Study & Discussion
11:30AM Pan Orthodox Clergy Meeting
9:00AM Orthros
10:00AM Divine Liturgy: Saints Nektarios, Metropolitan of Pentapolis, the Wonder-worker
11:30AM Pastoral Meeting
7:05PM Muskegon Lumberjack Hockey Game
Sunday's Coffee Hour will be Hosted by the Ladas Family @ Muskegon Country Club
9:00AM Matins Service (Orthros)
10:00AM Divine Liturgy
The consecration of the Church of Saint George in Lydda of Palestine took place during the reign of Saint Constantine the Great. See also April 23.
Saint Joannicius was born in Bithynia about the year 740. His father was named Myritrikes and his mother Anastaso When he had reached maturity, he excelled in soldiery and was counted worthy of royal honours for his bravery. He had been brought up an iconoclast, but while yet a soldier, he was converted to Orthodoxy by a certain holy elder. He later forsook all things and departed for Mount Olympus, where he spent the remainder of his life in asceticism. Becoming great in virtue, he reposed in the Lord in the year 834, having lived some ninety-four years. To this Saint is ascribed the brief prayer, "My hope is the Father . . . ."
Saint Galaktion was from Emesa, the son of Cleitophon and Leucippe, pagans who had been instructed in piety by a certain Christian named Onuphrius and received holy Baptism. Saint Episteme, born of unbelieving parents, was baptized before she was wedded to Galaktion. After their marriage they remained in virginity and lived in separate monastic houses. Betrayed as Christians, they suffered martyrdom during the reign of Decius, about the year 250.
Saint Paul was from Thessalonica. He became the secretary of Alexander, Patriarch of Constantinople (see Aug. 30), a deacon, and then the successor of Saint Alexander in about 337. Because of his virtue, his eloquence in teaching, and his zeal for Orthodoxy, the Arians hated and feared him. When the Arian Emperor Constantius, who was in Antioch, learned of Paul's election, he exiled Paul and proclaimed the Arian Eusebius Patriarch. Saint Paul went to Rome, where he found Saint Athanasius the Great also in exile. Provided with letters by Pope Julius, Paul returned to Constantinople, and after the death of Eusebius in 342, ascended again his rightful throne; the Arians meanwhile elected Macedonius, because he rejected the Son's con-substantiality with the Father (and the divinity of the Holy Spirit besides). When Constantius, yet at Antioch, learned of Paul's return, he sent troops to Constantinople to drive Paul out. The Saint returned to Rome, where Saint Athanasius also was again in exile. Constans, Emperor of the West, Constantius' brother, but Orthodox, wrote to Constantius that if Athanasius and Paul were not allowed to return to their sees, he would come with troops to restore them him-self. So Paul again returned to his throne. After the death of Constans, however, Constantius had Paul deposed. Because of the love of the people for Saint Paul, Philip the Prefect, who was sent for him, was compelled to arrest him secretly to avoid a sedition. Paul was banished to Cucusus, on the borders of Cilicia and Armenia; a town through which his most illustrious successor, Saint John Chrysostom would also pass on his way to Comana in his last exile. In Cucusus, about the year 350, as Saint Paul was celebrating the Divine Liturgy in the little house where he was a prisoner, the Arians strangled him with his own omophorion, so much did they fear him even in exile. His holy relics were brought back to Constantinople with honour by the Emperor Theodosius the Great.
These holy Martyrs confessed during the reign of Diocletian and Maximian in the year 290. Of them, Saint Hieron was from Tyana in Cappadocia, a husbandman, of great bodily strength and high nobility of soul. As he was at work digging in his field, certain soldiers came to impress him into military service. He, however, not wishing to keep company with the impious, refused, and with his wooden tool alone drove away the armed soldiers, who fled in fear because of his strength. Later, however, he went of his own free will, and confessed Christ before the governor. His right hand was cut off, and he was imprisoned with thirty-two others, whom he strengthened in the Faith of Christ. Together they were all beheaded outside the city of Melitene in Armenia.
All the Angels, according to the Apostle Paul, are ministering spirits, - sent forth to minister to them who shall be heirs of salvation - (Heb. 1:14). God set them as overseers of every nation and people, and guides to that which is profitable (Deut. 32:8); and while one Angel is appointed to oversee each nation as a whole, one is also appointed to protect each Christian individually. He commands them to guard them that hope on Him, that nothing should harm them, neither should any evil draw nigh to their dwelling (Ps. 90:10-12). In the Heavens they always behold the face of God, sending up to Him the thrice-holy hymn and interceding with Him in our behalf, seeing they rejoice over one sinner that repents (Esaias 6:2-3; Matt. 18:10; Luke 15:7). In a word, they have served God in so many ways for our benefit, that the pages of Holy Scripture are filled with the histories thereof. It is for these reasons that the Orthodox Catholic Church, wisely honouring these divine ministers, our protectors and guardians, celebrates today the present Synaxis that is, our coming together in assembly for their common feast to chant their praises, especially for the Archangels Michael and Gabriel, who are mentioned in the Scriptures by name. The name Michael means "Who is like God?" and Gabriel means "God is mighty." The number of Angels is not defined in the divine Scriptures, where Daniel says that thousands of thousands ministered before Him, and ten thousands of ten thousands attended upon Him -(Dan. 7:10). But all of them are divided into nine orders which are called Thrones, Cherubim, Seraphim, Dominions, Powers, Authorities, Principalities, Archangels, and Angels.
During the persecution of Diocletian and Maximian, about the year 290, Saints Onesiphorus and Porphyrius were betrayed as Christians to the persecutors. After many torments through which they stood fast in confessing their faith, they were bound by the feet to wild horses and dragged to death.
Prokeimenon. Third Mode. Psalm 46.6,1.
Sing praises to our God, sing praises.
Verse: Clap your hands, all you nations.
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 1:11-19.
Brethren, I would have you know that the gospel which was preached by me is not man's gospel. For I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it; and I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and had called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother.
5th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 16:19-31
The Lord said, "There was a rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazaros, full of sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table; moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried; and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes, and saw Abraham far off and Lazaros in his bosom. And he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Lazaros to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.' But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazaros in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.' And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.' But Abraham said, 'They have Moses, and the prophets; let them hear them.' And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if some one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' He said to them, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if some one should rise from the dead.'"
This Sunday's coffee hour brunch will be hosted by Martha Roldan and Pres Pavlina Sakellariou. They both have graciously offered to make for the parish a new altar table covering and altar boy robes by hand. All donations collected during the coffee hour will go towards the purchase of materials for our Church.
As 2019 comes to an end, The Parish Council would like to thank each and every one of you for sharing your time, talents, and treasures with our church community. Your continuous support contributes to the long-standing success of our congregation. Please plan to honor your stewardship commitments as 2019 comes to a close. For your convenience, stewardship donations can also be given online. The PayPal system easily and safely allows for one time or reoccurring gifts to be given to the church.
2020 Commitment Cards are available at the candle stand.
9:00 AM Orthros | 10:00 AM Divine Liturgy
Thank you to all the parishioners who attended last week's Bible Study. We will meet again this Wednesday, November 6th @ 6:00 PM and will cover the following chapters from the Gospel of John: 8-11.
Please join the Ken/Nick and Maria Ladas Hoopes, the Georgiana and Chris Grant families on SUNDAY, November 10th from 12:00-2:00 at the Muskegon Country Club 2801 Lakeshore Drive. Muskegon, MI 49441 for a brunch buffet celebrating Pat and Paul Ladas’s 80th and 85th birthdays! EVERYONE in the church is invited!! NO GIFTS ALLOWED! If you are unable to attend, please text or call 231-670-1041. If you don’t receive a hard copy invite, you are still invited! Thank you so much!! The Hoopes and Grants.
This celebration will take the place of Sunday's coffee hour.
Through a generous donation, our parish has been gifted a number of tickets. Please contact Fr. John if you would like to attend any of the following games:
The Iconography Committee would like to thank all parishioners who donated to the beautification of our Church! As the project comes close to completion, there are still a few locations inside the Church available if anyone wishes to donate an icon to honor a family or loved one. Please contact Nick Davros (231-343-7361) for more information. The iconographer has agreed with the Committee to discounted pricing for all final icons.
Thank you to all the parishioners who are planning to attend the Monastery for the start of the Nativity Fast on Friday, November 15th. More information to follow and please contact Fr John if you have any questions or would like to attend for the day.
Friday, November 15th
Saturday, November 16th
These specially made Christmas plates and baskets are perfect holiday gifts for friends and families which offer a taste of traditional Greek pastries. Orders can be placed online or through Kristi Karis by December 6th and orders will be available for pickup on Saturday, December 14th from 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM.
The deadline to submit names for the Christmas Card will be by Sunday, December 1st. The donation for the Christmas Card is $20 and names can also be submitted online through the parish website by clicking here.
On Christmas Eve of 2000, our Parish celebrated our first service in our new Church. Come celebrate our 20th Anniversary on Sunday, January 12th, 2020, after Divine Liturgy.