Prokeimenon. Grave Mode. Psalm 28.11,1.
The Lord will give strength to his people.
Verse: Bring to the Lord, O sons of God, bring to the Lord honor and glory.
The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 6:1-10.
Brethren, working together with him, we entreat you not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he says, "At the acceptable time I have listened to you, and helped you on the day of salvation." Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We put no obstacle in any one's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, tumults, labors, watching, hunger; by purity, knowledge, forbearance, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
1st Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 5:1-11
At that time, as Jesus was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, he saw two boats by the lake; but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had ceased speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." And when they had done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish; and as their nets were breaking, they beckoned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." For he was astonished, and all who were with him, at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men." And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.
These Martyrs contested for the Faith during the reign of Diocletian, in the year 288. Saint Callistratus was arrested as a Christian, and after being tormented, was enclosed in a sack and cast into the sea. The sack burst, and the Saint came to dry land safe and sound. Forty-nine soldiers, seeing this, also confessed Christ, and with him were cast into prison, then beheaded.
Our Assumption Church Family wishes God's Grace and Blessings to Father Nikolas, Presbytera Meghan and to Thomas, Kalliope and Lucia as they begin their new journey Ministering to the Parish of the Holy Trinity Cathedral in New York with the Blessings of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidoforos.
For our Parish it is a time of reflection as we give thanks and express our gratitude to Father Nikolas for the years of humble service, love and dedicated ministry offered to our Church Family.
We know that our Lord has Blessed Father Nikolas with many gifts and talents that will continue to serve him well in his Ministry as he has to our Faithful Parishioners in the greater Danbury area. Father Nikolas begins serving the Cathedral on October 1st.
Pease join us on Sunday after Divine Liturgy, in the north parking lot, to offer your best wishes and greetings to Father Nikolas. We plan to have a modified Fellowship Gathering, weather permitting outside, or in the Fellowship Hall.
Also, our Parish Council and Ladies Philoptochos is planning a Special Brunch on Sunday (Fr Nikolas likes brunch very much), at the Amber Room outside under a Tent. THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT! This outdoor event can accommodate only the 100 pre-paid reservations. No walk-ins allowed.
All are welcome to join in the celebration after Divine Liturgy in the North parking lot.
Job Posting:
Title: AGOC Office Administrator
The Office Administrator is responsible for assisting the Priest and Parish Council in all facets of the Church’s work including special projects and clerical support.
The Assumption Greek Orthodox church is seeking an Office Administrator, a key role that is recommended and consistent with other churches throughout the Archdiocese. The position is a part time position (15 hours per week, $20 per hour); a function that will ensure the continuing smooth running of our AGOC parish. The Office Administrator will be overseen by the Proistamenos, undertaking a variety of assignments that will help serve the Parish Council and Parishioners of the Church, including, but not limited to the following areas:
The selected candidate will ideally be experienced in the workplace and have a college degree.
Interested candidates should send their current resume to treasurer@agoc.us
Deadline for accepting resumes will be Monday October 5th, 2020.
Links for Livestreaming Services
Pray with us by subscribing to the Assumption YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9tD5mB_u3GgO1J8ikwIW0g
Or by visiting our Assumption page on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pg/assumptiongreekorthodoxchurch/videos/?ref=page_internal
Live events will be streamed on both these services on programmed service hours.
Weekday Divine Services
As a worshipping community, we will schedule and pray a variety of weekday services, including an occasional evening Vespers or other service, and as always, morning Orthros & Divine Liturgies for various saints and major feasts. Please keep an eye on our Google Calendar (https://agoc.us/services-calendar/) for the most up-to-date details and services which will also be announced via our Listserv whenever possible. We encourage attendance at these weekday services for our seniors and others who would like to avoid the larger gatherings on Sundays. We continue to livestream on YouTube and FaceBook Live.
Sights & Sounds Ministry
If these services have been a blessing to you, we’d love to hear from you! We have invested approximately $10,000 in upgrades to our Live-streaming infrastructure in order to enhance the quality and reliability of our audio-visual (A/V) ministry that will last well beyond the Coronavirus pandemic. This has and will continue to be an essential ministry to enable our seniors and homebound parishioners, those journeying toward or new to Orthodoxy and anyone to pray with us from anywhere in the world!
We are grateful to our supporters who have contributed more than $2,000 toward our $10,000 goal
Might you consider joining our supporters with a monetary gift (small or large) toward the AGOC Sights & Sounds Ministry? Please contact a member of the Parish Council to join in this effort. With your prayers and support, we can improve the quality and bring the beauty of our Orthodox Liturgical Life and the Good News of Christ Risen into the homes of so many others!
In this time of social distancing we'd like to remind our parishioners of the Church's new ability to accept online donations by CLICKING HERE You will be taken to Assumption Church's secure payment portal through Vanco, a reputable and leading provider of electronic payment and donation processing solutions (https://www.vancopayments.com). More than 40,000 churches, faith-based groups, nonprofits, schools and educational organizations trust Vanco to simplify administrative processes, organize events and securely complete transactions every day.
Through the "Mask On" campaign we have homemade face masks available for families in the parish. If you are in need of masks, they are on the candle stands in the narthex or email Eleni Manolakes at eleni.manolakes@yahoo.com. Small donations are welcomed for masks. May God bless us all and keep us safe.
Philoptochos Stewardship/Donations:
Link to National Ladies Philoptochos Society September Newsletter:
Philanthropy Witness- September 2020
Highlights of the National Virtual Biennial Convention are included in this issue.
Link to Philoptochos promo video:
Be the Bee #151
“My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:8) Whether it's a mean comment or act of violence, why is it so easy to hurt people? And why should we care? We're all afraid of being weak, and will often hurt others to feel strong. Yet Jesus showed us that true strength often involves being weak: this is the way of love and the cross.
The Amazing Strength of Jesus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uv74IUDwVi4
Downloadable Workbook
Your Assumption Church Community wants to celebrate with you! Please let us know of any upcoming events in your life, birthdays, name days, anniversaries so we can (virtually) share the joy! Your submissions will be announced in future weekly bulletins. Email details to: creationcare@agoc.us
“I want creation to penetrate you with so much admiration that wherever you go, the least plant may bring you clear remembrance of the Creator. A single plant, a blade of grass, or one speck of dust is sufficient to occupy all your intelligence in beholding the art with which it has been made.”
- St. Basil the Great, (329-379)
First Sunday of Luke
8:45AM Orthros
10:00AM Divine Liturgy
11:30AM Special Fellowship Gathering
1:00PM Special Brunch at the Amber Room in Celebration of Fr. Nikolas
2nd Sunday of Luke
8:45AM Orthros
10:00AM Divine Liturgy
Sunday of the 7th Ecumenical Council
8:45AM Orthros
10:00AM Divine Liturgy
6:00PM Paraklisis - Prayers to the Theotokos for Health
7:30PM Parish Council
Luke the Evangelist
8:45AM Orthros
10:00AM Divine Liturgy
6th Sunday of Luke
8:45AM Orthros
10:00AM Divine Liturgy
12:00PM General Assembly
The Holy Great Martyr Demetrius the Myrrh-streamer