Always a Spiritual Focus, First

7th SUNDAY OF MATTHEW

July 23rd, 2023

Dearest Parish Family Members,

From time to time, someone mentions to me that they didn’t feel the need to come to church on any regular basis. And that they believe in God and Jesus Christ, anyway. And I always tend to smile. Because such a person forgets some helpful points.

Jesus said specifically that “where two or more are gathered, there am I also.” This is what corporate prayer means: “of the body.” People together. Jesus Christ is with us when we gather in strength. We are stronger together.

And, for this Sunday’s Epistle, Saint Paul himself gives us two very good insights and help, when he says, “We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves; let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to edify him.” And later, when Saint Paul also says, “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.”

So, it’s not about being “true” to ourselves; it’s about thinking of others. And when we stay at home, how do we get any benefit from any Scriptural readings? We don’t. We miss it. When we lack the “encouragement of the Scriptures,” we have no way to interact with insight and growth. The purpose of Church is to give us that encouragement and hope.

We don’t let our children tell us, “Oh, I believe in school, so I don’t have to go anymore.” All I’m saying is that our faith and our Church give us the structure in which we may grow and bond with Christ. All we have to do is increase our showing up to participate. Our presence helps ourselves and, even if we don’t realise it, it helps others, too.

Faithfully, Father Samaras

Seventh Morning Gospel

On July 23rd, we commemorate the holy Hieromartyr Phocas; the holy Prophet Ezekiel; the holy Hieromartyrs Apollinaris and Vitalis, Bishops of Ravenna; and Apollonios of Rome; and the seven Martyrs in Carthage; the Christians who were executed in Bulgaria during the reign of Emperor Nicephoros; the devout Anne of Levcadios; and our devout Mother Pelagia of Tinos.

Συναξάριον Τοῦ Μηναίου. Τῇ ΚΓʹ τοῦ αὐτοῦ μηνός, Μνήμη τοῦ Ἁγίου Ἱερομάρτυρος Φωκᾶ. Τῇ αὐτῇ ἡμέρᾳ, μνήμη τοῦ Ἁγίου Προφήτου, Ἰεζεκιήλ. Τῇ αὐτῇ ἡμέρᾳ, μνήμη τῶν Ἁγίων Ἱερομαρτύρων Ἀπολιναρίου καὶ Βιταλίου, Ἐπισκόπων Ῥαβέννης· καὶ Ἀπολλωνίου Ῥώμης· καὶ τῶν ἐν Καρχηδόνι ἑπτὰ Μαρτύρων· καὶ Ἀνάμνησις τῶν ἐν Βουλγαρίᾳ τελειωθέντων χριστιανῶν, ἐπὶ Νικηφόρου τοῦ βασιλέως. Μνήμη τῆς Ὁσίας Ἄννης, τῆς ἐν τῷ Λευκατίῳ (ἢ ἐν τῷ Λευκάτῃ). Τῇ αὐτῇ ἡμέρᾳ, μνήμη τῆς Ὁσίας Μητρὸς ἡμῶν Πελαγίας τῆς ἐν Τήνῳ.

THE HONOR OF GIVING

During a service in May, the Father asked if anyone in attendance had the skills and the desire to repair the cloth covering of the communion chalice. Nicole Postolos, a visitor from Houston immediately offered.

We just received the repaired items along with the following note:

"Just want you to know something very special. When you see the Aer and Kalimma they may look a little soiled on the lining side. When we removed the old torn lining, we were very overcome with the fragrance of course having been in the church and in the altar, and we put that in a bag. For you.

We bought the new fabric and tried to match it as well as possible. We placed a new fabric lining on the velvet pieces and sewed them on and when we finished one the new lining started looking very slightly damp or like some oil had dropped on it.

We put another new lining and the same thing occurred. We obviously were not going to dry clean the pieces. I guess the fragrance and blessings of the holy cloths will just continue to permeate through. Thank you again for honoring me with this blessing."