Next Sunday, September 15th, the coffee hour will be kindly sponsored by the Stefanou family
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WEEKDAY SERVICES
Saturday, September 14th—EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS—
Orthros at 8 a.m. and Div. Liturgy at 9 a.m.
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ATTENTION—This Sunday, September 8th, and every second Sunday of the month, instead of a Sermon Fr. Anthony will have “Questions and Answers”. Any questions relating to the scriptural reading and personal spiritual life.
SUNDAY & GREEK SCHOOL’S START
Our Sunday School will be starting on Sunday, September 15th at 10 a.m. Please do not forget to register your children. If you would like to help with Sunday School, please call the Church office or contact Eleni Raschi at eleniraschi@gmail.com.
Our Greek School is ready again for Agiasmos on Wednesday, September 18th at 4:30 p.m. Please do not forget to register your children for an exciting new school year. Call the office at 617-625-2222.
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THE DORMITION FAMILY TABLE
Our Dormition Family Table will take place every 1st Wednesday of the month. The next one will be served on Wednesday, September 11, 2019 from 4 p.m.—6 p.m. We are looking for volunteers to help cook and serve. Cooking starts at 2:00 p.m.
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FESTIVAL
Once again our festival arrived,now is the time to think how are we going to help our church.
We can help in many ways! We all know the drill by now. We can either help during the week of the festival by skewering kabobs, cutting vegetables or by putting the final touches together that will help this year's festival be another success.
Most help will be needed during the 3 day weekend in various areas!
We can also help by donating items from the festival item list or by putting an ad in our festival ad book, as soon as possible. Anything you decide to do will be greatly appreciated and beneficial. Please let us know by calling the church office, so we can mark you down. As always, thank you in advance. If you have any questions, please ask Diane Karavitis or call her at 1-508-574-9862.
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On Sunday, September 15th in honor of the Feast of the Holy Cross there we will be an icon and donor family blessing.
DONATIONS NEEDED FOR THE ALTAR FUND
Video Camera—Fr. Anthony is looking for a donor to a video camera for recording and broadcasting Church Services and Annual Church events. The video camera cost is $3000.00.
* Thank you to Mr. Stefanos Boulas for the first partial donation towards the Video Camera.
According to the ancient tradition of the Church, the Theotokos was born of barren and aged parents, Joachim and Anna, about the year 16 or 17 before the birth of Christ. Joachim was descended from the royal line of David, of the tribe of Judah. Anna was of the priestly tribe of Levi, a daughter of the priest Matthan and Mary, his wife.
Saint Helen, the mother of Saint Constantine the Great, when she was already advanced in years, undertook, in her great piety, the hardships of a journey to Jerusalem in search of the cross, about the year 325. A temple to Aphrodite had been raised up by the Emperor Hadrian upon Golgotha, to defile and cover with oblivion the place where the saving Passion had been suffered. The venerable Helen had the statue of Aphrodite destroyed, and the earth removed, revealing the Tomb of our Lord, and three crosses. Of these, it was believed that one must be that of our Lord, the other two of the thieves crucified with Him; but Saint Helen was at a loss which one might be the Wood of our salvation. At the inspiration of Saint Macarius, Archbishop of Jerusalem, a lady of Jerusalem, who was already at the point of death from a certain disease, was brought to touch the crosses, and as soon as she came near to the Cross of our Lord, she was made perfectly whole. Consequently, the precious Cross was lifted on high by Archbishop Macarius of Jerusalem; as he stood on the ambo, and when the people beheld it, they cried out, "Lord have mercy." It should be noted that after its discovery, a portion of the venerable Cross was taken to Constantinople as a blessing. The rest was left in Jerusalem in the magnificent church built by Saint Helen, until the year 614. At that time, the Persians plundered Palestine and took the Cross to their own country (see Jan. 22, Saint Anastasius the Persian). Late, in the year 628, Emperor Heraclius set out on a military campaign, retrieved the Cross, and after bringing it to Constantinople, himself escorted it back to Jerusalem, where he restored it to its place.
Rest from labour. A Fast is observed today, whatever day of the week it may be.
Saint Severian, a senator from Sebastia, was both an illustrious man of wealth and a fearless Christian. Because he encouraged the holy Forty Martyrs of Sebastia to stand fast in their confession, he was given over to terrible torments, and received his own crown during the reign of Licinius and Lysius the Duke, about the year 315.
Prokeimenon. Plagal Second Mode. Psalm 27.9,1.
O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God.
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 6:11-18.
Brethren, see with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that would compel you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who receive circumcision do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh. But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God. Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.
Sunday before Holy Cross
Πρὸς Γαλάτας 6:11-18
Ἀδελφοί, ἴδετε πηλίκοις ὑμῖν γράμμασιν ἔγραψα τῇ ἐμῇ χειρί. Ὅσοι θέλουσιν εὐπροσωπῆσαι ἐν σαρκί, οὗτοι ἀναγκάζουσιν ὑμᾶς περιτέμνεσθαι, μόνον ἵνα μὴ τῷ σταυρῷ τοῦ Χριστοῦ διώκωνται. Οὐδὲ γὰρ οἱ περιτετμημένοι αὐτοὶ νόμον φυλάσσουσιν, ἀλλὰ θέλουσιν ὑμᾶς περιτέμνεσθαι, ἵνα ἐν τῇ ὑμετέρᾳ σαρκὶ καυχήσωνται. Ἐμοὶ δὲ μὴ γένοιτο καυχᾶσθαι εἰ μὴ ἐν τῷ σταυρῷ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ· διʼ οὗ ἐμοὶ κόσμος ἐσταύρωται, κἀγὼ τῷ κόσμῳ. Ἐν γὰρ Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ οὔτε περιτομή τι ἰσχύει, οὔτε ἀκροβυστία, ἀλλὰ καινὴ κτίσις. Καὶ ὅσοι τῷ κανόνι τούτῳ στοιχήσουσιν, εἰρήνη ἐπʼ αὐτούς, καὶ ἔλεος, καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν Ἰσραὴλ τοῦ θεοῦ. Τοῦ λοιποῦ, κόπους μοι μηδεὶς παρεχέτω· ἐγὼ γὰρ τὰ στίγματα τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ ἐν τῷ σώματί μου βαστάζω. Ἡ χάρις τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ μετὰ τοῦ πνεύματος ὑμῶν, ἀδελφοί. Ἀμήν.
Sunday before Holy Cross
The Reading is from John 3:13-17
The Lord said, "No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him."
Sunday before Holy Cross
Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 3:13-17
Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος· καὶ οὐδεὶς ἀναβέβηκεν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν εἰ μὴ ὁ ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καταβάς, ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ὁ ὤν ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ. καὶ καθὼς Μωϋσῆς ὕψωσε τὸν ὄφιν ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, οὕτως ὑψωθῆναι δεῖ τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, ἵνα πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτὸν μὴ ἀπόληται ἀλλ' ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον. Οὕτω γὰρ ἠγάπησεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν κόσμον, ὥστε τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ τὸν μονογενῆ ἔδωκεν, ἵνα πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτὸν μὴ ἀπόληται ἀλλ' ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον. οὐ γὰρ ἀπέστειλεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸν κόσμον ἵνα κρίνῃ τὸν κόσμον, ἀλλ' ἵνα σωθῇ ὁ κόσμος δι' αὐτοῦ.
THIS WEEK’S SERMON
No one has gone to heaven
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ
Today’s Gospel is talking about the heaven and our salvation. Every time we have to say goodbye to a friend or a relative when they depart from this life we either say that this is their end or we believe that they will continue in to eternity.
Everything that people say about the eternal life is a speculation from this side and Christ says clearly that no one has ascended to heaven but he who descended from heaven.
Christ opened to us the gates of the heaven. He is the Tree of Life, he gave us the fruits of eternal life.
Sometimes we imagine the heaven as if we will continue to live our lives in heaven the way we live here. We imagine eternal life being the extension of the earthly life.
Christ however is telling us that in heaven we will be like angels. Angels are the creatures that constantly glorify God. Becoming like an angel does not mean we also will be without a body like a spirit but it means only that we will be in constant communion with God.
In other words heavenly life is like a Liturgy that begins and never ends. Imagine if the liturgy never ended. Whatever your reaction is to that you also will have the same feeling in heaven.
So dear brothers and sisters, the heaven begins here on earth. We say Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit when we start the liturgy. By saying that we proclaim that the heaven is on this earth because the Son of God has descended from heaven as a Heavenly King and has brought the kingdom with him.
We stop at one point and go home but the kingdom does not stop it follows us into the world.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ at the end of the Liturgy in the Church we begin the Liturgy after Liturgy. The Kingdom is within us the kingdom is amongst us because he who descended from heaven is the King and the Kingdom is where the King is. Keep him in your hearts as you go home in peace.
Amen
ΚΗΡΥΓΜΑ ΤΗΣ ΕΒΔΟΜΑΔΑΣ
Κανείς δεν έχει πάει στον Ουρανό
Αγαπητοί αδελφοί και αδελφές εν Χριστώ
Το σημερινό Ευαγγέλιο μιλάει για τον ουρανό και τη σωτηρία μας. Κάθε φορά που πρέπει να αποχαιρετήσουμε έναν φίλο ή έναν συγγενή όταν αποχωρούν από αυτή τη ζωή, είτε λέμε ότι αυτό είναι το τέλος τους είτε πιστεύουμε ότι θα συνεχίσουν στην αιωνιότητα.
Ό,τι λένε οι άνθρωποι για την αιώνια ζωή είναι μια εικασία από αυτή την πλευρά και ο Χριστός λέει σαφώς ότι κανείς δεν ανέβηκε στον ουρανό αλλά είναι αυτός που κατέβηκε από τον ουρανό.
Ο Χριστός μας άνοιξε τις πύλες του ουρανού. Είναι το Δέντρο της Ζωής, μας έδωσε τους καρπούς της αιώνιας ζωής.
Μερικές φορές φανταζόμαστε τον ουρανό σαν να συνεχίζουμε να ζούμε τη ζωή μας στον ουρανό με τον τρόπο που ζούμε εδώ. Φανταζόμαστε ότι η αιώνια ζωή είναι η επέκταση της γήινης ζωής.
Ο Χριστός, όμως, μας λέει ότι στον ουρανό θα είμαστε σαν άγγελοι. Οι άγγελοι είναι τα πλάσματα που συνεχώς δοξάζουν τον Θεό. Το να είμαστε σαν άγγελοι δεν σημαίνει ότι θα είμαστε χωρίς σώμα, σαν πνεύμα, αλλά σημαίνει μόνο ότι θα είμαστε σε συνεχή κοινωνία με τον Θεό.
Με άλλα λόγια η ουράνια ζωή είναι σαν μια Λειτουργία που αρχίζει και δεν τελειώνει ποτέ. Φανταστείτε αν η λειτουργία δεν τελείωνε ποτέ. Όποια και αν ήταν η αντίδρασή σας, θα είχατε το ίδιο συναίσθημα και στον ουρανό.
Αγαπητοί αδελφοί και αδελφές, ο ουρανός αρχίζει εδώ στη γη. Ευλογημένη η Βασιλεία του Πατρός και του Υιού και το Αγίου Πνεύματος, όπως λέμε όταν ξεκινάμε τη λειτουργία. Λέγοντας αυτό δηλώνουμε ότι ο ουρανός είναι πάνω στη γη επειδή ο Υιός του Θεού έχει κατέβει από τον ουρανό ως Ουράνιος Βασιλιάς και έχει φέρει μαζί του τη βασιλεία.
Σταματάμε σε ένα σημείο και πηγαίνουμε στο σπίτι, αλλά το βασίλειο δεν σταματά. Μας ακολουθεί στον κόσμο.
Αγαπητοί αδελφοί και αδελφές εν Χριστώ, στο τέλος της Λειτουργίας στην Εκκλησία αρχίζουμε τη Λειτουργία μετά τη Λειτουργία. Η Βασιλεία είναι μέσα μας, επειδή αυτός που κατέβηκε από τον ουρανό είναι ο Βασιλιάς και η Βασιλεία είναι εκεί όπου βρίσκεται ο Βασιλιάς. Κρατήστε τον στην καρδιά σας καθώς πηγαίνετε στο σπίτι ειρηνικά.
Αμήν