Community News

Weekday Services...

Every Sunday we have Orthros beginning at 8:50 a.m. and Divine Liturgy beginning at 10:00 a.m. Saturday evenings we have Great Vespers at 6:00 p.m., unless otherwise noted. Weekday services are listed below and begin at 9:00 a.m. with Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy. Unless otherwise stated service will be at St. George.

(Note: For the weekday feast - all services are at 9:00 a.m. and at St. George unless otherwise noted)

September

8th, Thursday - Nativity of the Theotokos (Orthros/Liturgy 9 a.m.)

14th, Wednesday - Exultation of the Precious & Lifegiving Cross (Orthros/Liturgy 9 a.m.)

Community Connections

Festival Baking Schedule (so far…)

Koulouria – Saturday 9/10, 9:00 a.m. – Rich Coombe & Maddie Mugg

Kourambiedes – Wed. 9/21, 9:00 a.m. – Litsa Angelidis

Pasta Flora - Fri. 9/23, 10:00 a.m. - Stacie Rougas

Baklava – Fri. 9/23, 5:00 p.m. – Stacie Rougas

OPA Dancers

OPA Dancers will start practice Sunday, August 21^st after Church. OPA Dancers are K – 5^th grade, younger children are welcome – they will dance the last 2 dances of a set.

If there are any question please call Christine Chiconas (405) 229-0500.

Sunday School

Sunday School is in full swing. Registration forms are available on the Church website and at Church.

Worship is an expression of our love for God.

St. Nektarios of Aegina

Worship is a direct consequence of our love for God. Love and worship have such a relationship with each other that is akin to the cause and effect relationship. Worship is an expression of love; one who loves God demonstrates his emotion through worship of God. One who worships, worships because he loves. It is not possible, therefore, for one who loves God not to worship Him. And, conversely, one who does not worship God, neither does he really love Him, and would be a great liar if he were to claim that he loves God when he does not also worship Him. Worship therefore is not an invention of religious leaders, but rather a powerful dictation rising up from the depths of the human heart. The example of the blessed Theotokos offers to us the complete meaning of this beautiful reality.

Yes, my beloved fellow Christians, when we practice the worship of God, we are rendered into heavenly beings; our material nature is exalted and we become an immaterial person, associated with and similar to the Angels, because the function of worship is the constant act of the Angels and of the Saints.

The nature of worship that is pleasing to God was revealed to us through the Lord Jesus Christ, who taught us both the character and the reason of such a God-pleasing worship. For he said: God is spirit, and those who express adoration to Him must express adoration in spirit and truth. (John 4:24)

It is in spirit and truth that we must necessarily worship God. But when and how do we worship God in spirit and truth? Our question is answered by St. Paul the Apostle in his Letter to the Hebrews. Here St. Paul teaches us about the work of our redemption being fulfilled by our Lord Jesus Christ. He writes: Therefore, through Him, (Jesus), let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, the fruit of our lips which confessed His Name. But do not forget to do what is good and to share because God is well pleased with such sacrifices. (Hebrews 13:15-16)

We therefore worship God in spirit when we, through our Lord Jesus Christ, offer to God the Father throughout our life the fruit of our lips in the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving of the Holy Eucharist. We offer our worship in truth when we do not forget to do good works and to share our possessions with our neighbors, because God is well pleased with such sacrifices.

And who, then, is the one who loves the Lord? The nature of the one who loves the Lord Jesus Christ is defined by the Lord Himself: Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, that person is the one who loves Me. (John 14:21

Are you, O Christian, already desirous of pleasing God? Then, examine on a daily basis your relationship with God and with your neighbor. Test all of your actions over against the will of God. If you should find them to be worthy, rejoice, as with an acceptable and well-pleasing sacrifice to God (Philippians 4:18), for this offering will ascend to the throne of God and to His divine sacrificial altar to become acceptable as a fragrant myrrh, an aromatic incense, for which abundant grace will be provided for you from the throne of His holiness, from where flows every good gift and every perfect gift (James 1:17)

Every act pleasing to the Lord God is a prayer, a petition, a manner of worship, a sacrifice. This truth was formulated and expressed with unfaltering words by St. Paul the Apostle: But do not forget to do what is good and to share because God is well pleased with such sacrifices (Hebrews 13:16)

Let us be eager and honorable in offering simple acts of kindness that we may enjoy the love of Christ, who desires to make us sons and daughters and heirs of His heavenly kingdom

Let us also take care from now on to be connected with strong bonds of fervent love and spiritual worship with the Lord, so that we may always be with Him both in this present time and the eternal future. Amen.

Community News

Sunday, September 18th - A luncheon will be held in honor of Sophia Dantes’ nameday.

Sunday, September 25^th – 40 Day Memorial for Chris Stamatis. May his memory be eternal. A luncheon will be held in his memory.

Sunday, October 16th - 1 Year Memorial for Nick Pagonis. May his memory be eternal. A breakfast will be held in Nick's memory.

Sunday, November 6th - 1 Year Memorial for Maria Papasarantou. May her memory be eternal. A breakfast will be held in her honor.

Sunday, November 13th - 10 Year Memorial for George Skiniotes. May his memory be eternal.

Bible Study

Our Bible Study usually takes place on the 1^st & 3^rd Tuesdays of each month. For the month of September we will ONLY have Bible Sunday on the 20^th at 7 p.m. We are studying the Wisdom of Sirach.

Philoptochos Corner

Philotochos’ book club will meet on Monday, September 19^th. The book we will cover is “The Screwtape Letters,” by C.S. Lewis. Please read this short book prior to the meeting.

We look forward to seeing all ladies that can make it! Check out our Facebook page for more information. Ask any current board member if you have any questions!

Prosfora Schedule

September

18th, Sunday Sunday after the Cross Jennifer Economopoulos

25th, Sunday 1st Sunday of St. Luke Elaine Bappert

October

2^nd, Sunday 2^nd Sunday of St. Luke Catherine Chrysant

9^th, Sunday 3^rd Sunday of St. Luke Fofo Bargeliotes

16^th, Sunday 7^th Ecumenical Council Elaine Bappert

23^rd, Sunday 6^th Sunday of St. Luke Patrick Ingle

26^th, Wednesday St. Demetrios the Great Martyr Catherine Chrysant

30^th, Sunday 5^th Sunday of St. Luke Catherine Chrysant

St. Paul writes, "The Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, 'This is my body which is for you. Do this in rememberance of me.'" (1 Cor. 11:24).

We are in need of Prosfora bakers. Our ladies and gentlemen have diminished over the years. The greatest part of this is everyone qualifies! Anyone young and old can make Prosfora. We would only ask a few times per year to prepare bread for a Divine Liturgy. What better way for a family to give of themselves and their love for the Church.

Prosfora can be kneaded in a bread machine, with a mixer that has dough hooks, or by hand. It can easily bge an individual's or an offering made by the whole family. Children love to knead bread or be able to put the seal on and for the children it is a learning experience. It is a great offering of life and love to God.

Please call the Church office if you would like to offer this gift.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Third Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Mark 16:9-20

When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons. She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. But when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.

After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them. After this He appeared to the eleven themselves as they sat at table and He upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw Him after He had risen. And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover."

So then the Lord Jesus, after He had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that attended it. Amen.

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal First Mode. Psalm 11.7,1.
You, O Lord, shall keep us and preserve us.
Verse: Save me, O Lord, for the godly man has failed.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 2:16-20.

Brethren, knowing that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we ourselves were found to be sinners, is Christ then an agent of sin? Certainly not! But if I build up again those things which I tore down, then I prove myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Gospel Reading

Sunday after Holy Cross
The Reading is from Mark 8:34-38; 9:1

The Lord said: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."

Wisdom of the Fathers

The key to knowledge is the humility of Christ. The door of the Kingdom of Heaven is open, not to those who only know in their learned minds the mysteries of faith and the commandments of their Creator, but to those who have progressed far enough to live by them.

St. Bede the Venerable

Unknown, 8th century

To deny oneself means to give up one's bad habits; to root out of the heart all that ties us to the world; not to cherish bad thoughts and desires; to suppress every evil thought; to avoid occasions of sin; not to desire or to do anything out of self-love, but to do everything out of love for God. To deny oneself, according to St. Paul means "to be dead to sin. . . but alive to God."

St. Innocent of Alaska

The Lenten Spring, SVS Press, p. 147, 19th Century

A Christian's . . . duty is to "take up his cross." The word cross means sufferings, sorrows and adversities. To take up one's cross means to bear without grumblings everything unpleasant, painful, sad, difficult and oppressive that ay happen to us in life. . .without expecting any earthly reward in return, but bear it all with love, with joy and with courageous strength.

St. Innocent of Alaska

The Lenten Spring, SVS Press, p. 147, 19th Century

If you would be victorious, taste the suffering of Christ in your person, that you may be chosen to taste His glory. For if we suffer with Him, we shall also be glorified with Him. Blessed are you if you suffer for righteousness' sake. Behold, for years and generations the way of God has been made smooth through the Cross and by death. The way of God is a daily Cross. The Cross is the gate of mysteries.

St. Isaac the Syrian

The Orthodox Way: Revised Edition, SVS Press, p. 129

When, on this day, we look at the precious Cross of Christ, in faith let us adore it, let us rejoice, and embrace it ardently, beseeching our Lord, who of His own choice gave Himself to be crucified on it, to make us worthy of adoring His most precious Cross so that, free from all defilement, we may attain the day of Resurrection.

Orthros for the Adoration of the Holy Cross

Nay, the nature of the thing is alone sufficient to attract you." ... For thou oughtest not, O Peter, because thou hast confessed me Son of God, therefore only to expect crowns, and to suppose this enough for thy salvation, and for the future to enjoy security, as having done all. ..."

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 55 on Matthew 16, 1. B#54, p.339., 4th Century

And see how He also makes His discourse unexceptionable: not saying at all, "whether you will, or no, you must suffer this," but how? "If any man will come after me."

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 55 on Matthew 16, 1. B#54, p.339., 4th Century

Nothing comes without effort. The help of God is always ready and always near, but is given only to those who seek and work, and only to those seekers who, after putting all their powers to the test, then cry out with their whole heart: "Lord, help us."

St. Theophan the Recluse

19th Century

"I force not, I compel not, but each one I make lord of his own choice; wherefore also I say, 'If any man will.' For to good things do I call you, not to things evil, or burdensome; not to punishment and vengeance, that I should have to compel.

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 55 on Matthew 16, 1. B#54, p.339., 4th Century

"... For although it be in my power, as Son of God, to hinder thee from having any trial at all of those hardships; yet such is not my will, for thy sake, that thou mayest thyself too contribute something, and be more approved."

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 55 on Matthew 16, 1. B#54, p.339., 4th Century

Interior crosses can found at all times, and more easily than exterior ones. You have only to direct your attention to yourself and examine yourself with a sense of repentance, and a thousand interior crosses will at once present themselves to you. . . Interior crosses are sometimes so burdensome that the sufferer can find no consolation whatever in anything. All this can happen to you too! But in whatever position you may be, and whatever sufferings of the soul you may feel, do not despair and do not think that the Lord has abandoned you. NO! God will always be with you and will invisibly strengthen you even when it seems to you that you are on the very brink of perdition.

St. Innocent of Alaska

The Lenten Spring, SVS Press, p. 148, 19th Century

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal First Mode

Let us worship the Word, O ye faithful, praising Him that with the Father and the Spirit is co-beginningless God, Who was born of a pure Virgin that we all be saved; for He was pleased to mount the Cross in the flesh that He assumed, accepting thus to endure death. And by His glorious rising, He also willed to resurrect the dead.

Apolytikion for Afterfeast of the Holy Cross in the First Mode

Save, O Lord, Thy people and bless Thine inheritance; grant Thou unto the faithful victory over adversaries. And by the power of Thy Cross do Thou preserve Thy commonwealth.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Mode

Lifted up on the Cross by Your free will, Christ God, grant mercies to the new commonwealth that bears Your name. Gladden our faithful rulers by Your power, giving them victories over their adversaries. May Your alliance be for them a weapon for peace, an invincible standard.

Saints and Feasts

September 18

Sunday after Holy Cross

September 18

Eumenius the Wonderworker, Bishop of Gortynia

This Saint took up the monastic life from his youth, and later became Bishop of Gortynia in Crete. He travelled to Rome, and to Thebes in Upper Egypt, where through his prayers he ended a drought; there also, after working many miracles, he reposed in deep old age. His holy relics were returned to Gortynia and buried at the place called Raxos.

September 19

Trophimos, Sabbatios, & Dorymedon the Martyrs

In 278, during the reign of Probus, Saints Trophimus and Sabbatius came to Antioch, and seeing the city celebrating the festival of Apollo at Daphne lamented the blindness of the people, and presented themselves as Christians to Atticus the Governor. Saint Trophimus was stripped of his clothing, and was stretched out and beaten until the earth was red with his blood. Then he was hung up, scraped on his sides, and imprisoned in torments. Saint Sabbatius was tortured so savagely that he gave up his spirit in his sufferings. Trophimus was sent to Synnada, wearing iron shoes fitted with sharp iron nails within; he was further tormented without mercy, then cast into prison. Dorymedon, a counsellor, and a pagan, came to the prison and cared for Trophimus. When a certain feast came, Dorymedon was asked why he did not sacrifice to the idols; he proclaimed himself a Christian, for which he was imprisoned, pierced with heated spits, frightfully punished, and finally beheaded with Saint Trophimus.

September 20

Eustathios the Great Martyr, his wife and two children

The holy Martyr Eustathius before his baptism was an illustrious Roman general named Placidas in the days of the Emperor Trajan. While hunting in the country one day, he was converted to the Faith of Christ through the apparition of an uncommonly majestic stag, between whose antlers he saw the Cross of Christ, and through which the Lord spoke to him with a human voice. Upon returning home, he learned that his wife Tatiana had also had a vision in which she was instructed to become a Christian. They sought out the Bishop of the Christians and were baptized, Placidas receiving the name Eustathius, and Tatiana the name Theopiste; their two sons were baptized Agapius and Theopistus. The family was then subjected to such trials as Job endured. Their servants died, all their goods were stolen, and on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem they were scattered abroad, each not even knowing if the others were still alive. By the providence of God, they were united again after many years, and returned to Rome in glory. Nevertheless, when they refused to sacrifice to the idols-a public sacrifice from which no Roman general could be absent-the Emperor Hadrian, who had succeeded Trajan, had them put into a large bronze device in the shape of a bull, which was heated with fire until they died. When their holy bodies were removed, they were found to be without harm. They suffered martyrdom about the year 126.

September 21

Quadratus the Apostle

Saint Quadratus was a disciple of the Apostles, and became Bishop of Athens. According to the Synaxaristes, he contested for the Faith in the year 117, in the reign of Hadrian (117-138), but according to others, in the reign of Marcus Aurelius (161-180).

September 21

Jonah the Prophet

The Prophet Jonah, the son of Amathi, of the town of Geth-hopher (IV Kings 14:25), was of the tribe of Zabulon; he prophesied during the years 838-810 before Christ. God commanded him to go to Nineveh, the great city of the Assyrians, and to proclaim that its destruction was nigh at hand because of the sins of its people. But he, as a Prophet who knew the great compassion of God, feared that at his preaching the Ninevites would repent; that God, accepting their repentance in His love for man, would not fulfill Jonah' threats; and that he would be branded a false prophet. So he disobeyed the divine command, and boarded a ship and departed elsewhere. Yet, the sudden and fearful sea-storm and the revelation of Jonah' disbedience caused the sailors to cast him into the sea. A great sea-monster appeared straightway by divine providence, and swallowed him up. For three days and nights he was found in its belly and he prayed, saying the words, "I cried aloud in my affliction unto the Lord my God..." (Jonah 2:3, the Sixth ode of the Holy Psalter). The sea-monster then vomited him up on dry land and he again heard God's command. Wherefore, he went and preached, saying, "In three days, Nineveh shall be destroyed." The people became terrified and all repented. The great, the small, babes at the breast, and even the irrational beasts themselves fasted, and thus, having found mercy from God, they were spared His wrath. Jonah' book of prophecy is divided into four chapters, and is placed fifth in order among the twelve minor Prophets. His three-day sojourn in the sea-monster's belly is an image of our Saviour's three-day burial and His life-bringing Resurrection (Matt. 12:39-40). His name means "dove."

September 22

Phocas the Martyr, Bishop of Sinope

This saint was known for the many miracles he worked and for his apostolic zeal in shepherding the flock of Sinope. He contested for the Faith during the reign of the Emperor Trajan, in the year 102, when he was burned to death in a bath-house. A homily in his honour was composed by Saint John Chrysostom. The translation of his holy relics is celebrated on July 23.

September 23

The Conception of St. John the Baptist

This came to pass fifteen months before the birth of Christ, after the vision of the Angel that Zacharias, the father of the Forerunner, saw in the Temple while he executed the priest's office in the order of his course during the feast of the Tabernacles, as tradition bears witness. In this vision, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias and said to him, "Thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John" (Luke 1:13). Knowing that Elizabeth was barren, and that both he and she were elderly, Zacharias did not believe what the Angel told him, although he had before him the example of Abraham and Sarah, of Hannah, mother of the Prophet Samuel, and of other barren women in Israel who gave birth by the power of God. Hence, he was condemned by the Archangel to remain speechless until the fulfilment of these words in their season, which also came to pass (Luke 1:7-24).

September 24

Thekla the Protomartyr & Equal-to-the-Apostles

This saint was from the city of Iconium. When she was eighteen years of age, she was instructed in the Faith of Christ and the hope of the resurrection by the Apostle Paul, whom also she followed, forsaking her betrothed and espousing a life of virginity for the sake of the Heavenly Bridegroom. Having preached Christ in various cities and suffered many things, she reposed in Seleucia of Cilicia at the age of 90.

September 24

General Information

Contact Information

Services Schedule

Past Bulletins

Community News

Festival Baking Schedule (so far…)

Worship is an expression of our love for God.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Epistle Reading

Gospel Reading

Wisdom of the Fathers

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal First Mode

Apolytikion for Afterfeast of the Holy Cross in the First Mode

Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Mode

Saints and Feasts

Sunday after Holy Cross

Eumenius the Wonderworker, Bishop of Gortynia

Trophimos, Sabbatios, & Dorymedon the Martyrs

Eustathios the Great Martyr, his wife and two children

Quadratus the Apostle

Jonah the Prophet

Phocas the Martyr, Bishop of Sinope

The Conception of St. John the Baptist

Thekla the Protomartyr & Equal-to-the-Apostles

Silouan of Athos