October 04
St. Nicholas Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2020-10-04
Bulletin Contents
St. Nicholas Orthodox Church
General Information
- Phone:
- 434-973-2500
- Web:
- 33-ad.org
- Street Address:
- 7581 Rockfish Gap Turnpike
- Charlottesville, VA 22906
- Mailing Address:
- PO Box 6981
- Charlottesville, VA 22906
Past Bulletins
- Publish Date:
- 2020-10-11
- Publish Date:
- 2020-09-27
- Publish Date:
- 2020-09-20
- Publish Date:
- 2020-09-13
- Publish Date:
- 2020-09-06
- Publish Date:
- 2020-08-30
Weekly Update
GLORY TO JESUS CHRIST! GLORY FOREVER!
Parish Meeting: Monday October 26 at 7:30pm
The Board has decided to hold a Parish Meeting on Monday evening, October 26th, at 7:30. The meeting will be held virtually via Zoom. Approximately two weeks before the meeting the items which need to be voted on will be emailed, these include the amended 2020 Budget, the proposed 2021 Budget, election of a new Board Chair and Vice Chair, approval of the minutes of the most recent Parish meeting. Voting will be conducted via Survey Monkey and the time for voting extending until midnight on Wednesday October 28th, this will allow people to vote after the meeting giving them an opportunity to ask questions and hear any discussion before casting their vote. It is necessary to have a quorum vote for any action to be validly passed therefore we urge everyone to attend and vote.
Parish Picnic on Sunday October 11th!
St. Nicholas parish is scheduling our annual picnic for Sunday October 11th, following the Divine Liturgy (rain date will be Sunday October 18th). Come enjoy some relaxation and fellowship with your parish family! The picnic will be on church grounds this year and is BYOE (bring your own everything). Please bring their own chairs, blankets, food and drink (no communal dishes this year) and we would encourage proper social distancing even outdoors. The grassy area behind the church and portions of the parking lot will be reserved for the picnic. We look forward to seeing you all there!
Reminder: Authorization Request and Survey
Please see Monday's special Parish Update email regarding the A/V upgrade for the church. The Parish Board appreciates your participation in this survey so that we can move forward with this project and complete the installation in a timely manner. Please direct any questions to your Member-at-Large, Sbdn. David Murphy, by emailing him directly at bdavidmurphy@gmail.com. This survey will remain open for your responses until Monday, October 5, at 10:00pm. Thank you for your participation, as well as your ongoing prayerful support of our parish.
Reminder: Safety Procedures in the Church
A reminder to all the faithful that in accordance with state law and public health directives, we have adjusted certain practices and procedures for your safety and the safety of your sisters and brothers in Christ. Everyone must wear a mask while in the church. Please remember to maintain at least 6 feet of social distance between you and others who do not live in your household. Masks and hand sanitizer are available in the Narthex, and Greeters will assist in helping you find a place to stand or sit. We will refrain from exchanging the kiss of peace, and we will venerate icons, the cross, the Gospel book and the priest's hand by bowing rather than kissing. The social hall and narthex have been reorganized to facilitate social distancing and safe ingress and egress -- please refrain from congregating in the narthex following Divine Liturgy. The Liturgy will continue to be live-streamed for those unable to attend in person. And as always, anyone who has a fever or is otherwise unwell should stay home, for the safety of others.
Signup Links
St. Nicholas Live Streaming Services
-
A reminder that the Divine Liturgy is livestreamed each Sunday here on the St. Nicholas Greenwood YouTube channel -- don't forget to subscribe to the channel to receive updates
Opportunities to Serve Your Neighbor
As we celebrate the Lord's Resurrection each Sunday, we must continue to remember the critical importance of loving our neighbor (Mt 22:34-40), as the Lord commanded us to do ( "my neighbor is my salvation"). Love is demonstrated both in prayer and deed. Please remember your neighbors in this time of acute need. Here are some specific ways to help:
-
Virginia hospitals across the state are experiencing a severe shortage of blood, and the UVA Medical Center is encouraging healthy and eligible individuals to contact the American Red Cross to make an appointment to donate. Our Archbishop Daniel and our seminarians have already done so!
- Cultivate Charlottesville, Blue Ridge Area Food Bank and its network, Cville Community Cares, and Albemarle County’s Equity and Inclusion Office have worked together in various combinations to create the food availability schedules and a beautiful new online Food Map showing some of the food resources on our City and County. (Source: Charlottesville Community Cares' Newsletter June 23)
-
Grace Grocery, our neighborhood food pantry at Crozet United Methodist Church, has several volunteer opportunities including set up, client help and clean up for food distributions, unloading food from truck, computer assistant, which are listed on the website. They provide training for first time volunteers. You can ask to be placed on their volunteer email list. Email: foodpantry@crozetunitedmethodist.org Phone: 434-823-4420
-
Please also keep an eye on Support Charlottesville, which is a hub for opportunities to give (and receive) material support. This is a very good way to stay informed, get involved and help your neighbors in need.
Stewardship Reminder
Despite the current (temporary) modification to the parish's schedule of services, meetings, and events, all parishioners are reminded of the pledges they have made as part of their stewardship commitment of time, talent and treasure. Some parishioners may encounter financial hardship during this time of crisis, and we can only give as we are able. That said, the parish must continue to meet its budgetary obligations and operating expenses. Please continue sending your contributions by to the church via US Mail:
St. Nicholas Orthodox Church
PO Box 6981
Charlottesville, VA 22906
Special Intentions, Needs and Requests
A reminder to contact Father directly (fr.charles@mailbox.org | 443-204-4542) with any special prayer requests, intentions or concerns/needs, and he will make sure these are addressed.
Recent Prayer Requests
+All who have reposed in the Lord this week due to the pandemic
+John (father of Vladimir G., 3 years)
Hoda and Ramsis (parents of +Sameh, friend of Darya L., abundant solace)
Jennifer (neighbor to Darya L., healing)
Lydia (Mother of Elaine B., healing)
Doina (Godmother to Florin M., healing)
Stephanie and the child she bears
Infant John David (healing)
Toby and family
Gabriel (catechumen)
Tatiana (illness)
Liubov (mother of Anya B., healing)
Karen B. (healing)
Dorian (health and protection)
Chaplain Robby (serving those in prison)
Chaplain Joseph (serving those in prison)
Bill (mission work)
Elaine (mission work)
Fr. Robert and Pani Dobrodyka Christine (retirement)
All those working in defense of human dignity, justice and equality during this time of unrest
The hungry and the homeless, and all those struggling with mental illness and infirmity
All children born and unborn and for their parents
All those struggling financially during the pandemic, and for those whose basic necessities are out of reach
All medical personnel, first responders and others ministering to the sick, and those rendering vital services to their neighbors
All those in high-risk populations during this pandemic
Schedule of Upcoming Services
Sunday 4 October
9am: 3rd & 6th Hours
9:30am: Divine Liturgy
Sunday 11 October
9am: 3rd & 6th Hours
9:30am: Divine Liturgy
Hymns of the Day
Resurrectional Apolytikion in the 8th Tone
You descended from on high, O Merciful One! You accepted the three day burial to free us from our sufferings! O Lord, our Life and Resurrection, glory to You!
Troparion for Hieromartyr Hierotheus in the 1st Tone
We the faithful all praise Hierótheus, the disciple of Paul, Hierarch of Athens, the world’s teacher and a preacher of the Faith, who revealed to us Christ’s Mysteries and poured forth streams of godly doctrine. His life was well-pleasing to God, Who is greatly merciful.
Resurrectional Kontakion in the 8th Tone
By rising from the tomb, You raised the dead and resurrected Adam. Eve exults in Your Resurrection, and the world celebrates Your rising from the dead, O greatly Merciful One!
Kontakion for Hieromartyr Hierotheus in the 8th Tone
Hierarch of Athens, we praise you for you have instructed us in awesome and ineffable things, and you were revealed to be a divinely-inspired writer of hymns.
Pray that we be delivered from every kind of sin, so that we may cry to you: Rejoice, divinely-wise Father Hierotheus!
Seasonal Kontakion in the 2nd Tone
O Protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the creator most constant: O despise not the voices of those who have sinned; but be quick, O good one, to come unto our aid, who in faith cry unto thee: Hasten to intercession and speed thou to make supplication, O thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee.
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Matins Gospel Reading
Sixth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Luke 24:36-53
At that time, Jesus, having risen from the dead, stood in the midst of his disciples and said to them, "Peace to you." But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit. And he said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts? See my hands and feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have." And when he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them.
Then he said to them, "These are my words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled. Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high."
Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and they returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.
Epistle Reading
Prokeimenon. 8th Tone. Psalm 75.11,1.
Make your vows to the Lord our God and perform them.
Verse: God is known in Judah; his name is great in Israel.
The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 6:16-18; 7:1.
Brethren, you are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will live in them and move among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch nothing unclean; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."
Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, and make holiness perfect in the fear of God.
Gospel Reading
2nd Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 6:31-36
The Lord said, "As you wish that men would do to you, do so to them. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful."
Wisdom of the Fathers
Every work which does not have love as its beginning and root is nothing.
Unknown, 4th century
Christians should strive in all things and ought not to pass judgment of any kind on anyone, not on the prostitute nor on sinners nor on disorderly persons. But they should look upon all persons with a single mind and a pure eye so that it may be for such a person almost a natural and fixed attitude never to despise or judge or abhor anyone or to divide people and put them into boxes for this is purity of heart, that, when you see the sinner and the weak, you have compassion and show mercy to them.
Homilies 5.8, 4th century
Why do we judge our neighbors? Because we shun knowing ourselves. Someone busy trying to understand himself has no time to notice the shortcomings of others. Judge yourself ... and you will stop judging others. Judge a poor deed, but do not judge the doer. It is necessary to consider yourself the most sinful of all, and to forgive your neighbor every poor deed.
Unknown, 19th century
'But I say to you,' the Lord says, 'love your enemies; do good to those who hate you, pray for those who persecute you.' Why did he command these things? So that he might free you from hatred, sadness, anger and grudges, and might grant you the greatest possession of all, perfect love, which is impossible to possess except by the one you loves all equally in imitation of God.
Unknown, 7th century
Saints and Feasts
October 04
Hierotheus, Bishop of Athens
According to some, Hierotheus, like Saint Dionysius, was a member of the court of Mars Hill. Having first been instructed in the Faith of Christ by Paul, he became Bishop of Athens. He, in turn, initiated the divine Dionysius more perfectly into the mysteries of Christ; the latter, on his part, elaborated more clearly and distinctly Hierotheus' concise and summary teachings concerning the Faith. He too was brought miraculously by the power of the Holy Spirit to be present at the Dormition of the Theotokos, when, together with the sacred Apostles, he became a leader of the divine hymnody. "He was wholly transported, wholly outside himself and was so deeply absorbed in communion with the sacred things he celebrated in hymnology, that to all who heard him and saw him and knew him, and yet knew him not, he seemed to be inspired of God, a divine hymnographer," as Dionysius says (On the Divine Names, 3:2). Having lived in a manner pleasing to God, he reposed in the Lord.