Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Grave Mode. Psalm 63.11,1.
The righteous shall rejoice in the Lord.
Verse: Oh God, hear my cry.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 4:22-27.

Brethren, Abraham had two sons, one by a slave and one by a free woman. But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, the son of the free woman through promise. Now this is an allegory: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written, "Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and shout, you who are not in travail; for the children of the desolate one are many more than the children of her that is married."

Gospel Reading

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.

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal Fourth Mode

Εξ ύψους κατήλθες ο Εύσπλαχνος, ταφήν κατεδέξω τριήμερον, ίνα ημάς ελευθερώσης τών παθών, η ζωή καί η ανάστασις ημών, Κύριε, δόξα Σοι.

Εx ipsous katilthes o Evsplahnos, tafin katedexo triimeron, ina imas, eleftherosis ton pathon, I zoi ke I anastasis imon, Kyrie, doxa si.

From on high did You descend, O merciful Lord, for us did You endure, three days in the tomb that we may be, released from passions in this world, You who are our resurrection and our life Glory unto You O Lord.

Apolytikion for Conception of the Forerunner in the Fourth Mode

Sing now, O barren one who did not bear before, / for you have indeed conceived the burning lamp of the Sun; / and he will illuminate / all the world afflicted / with spiritual blindness. / Dance, O Zacharias, and now openly cry out: / “The one who is to be born is a Prophet of the Most High God.”

Hymn of Church in the First Mode

Ethnon se kirika ke fostira trismegiston, / Athineon didaskalon ekoumenis aglaisma, / efrosinos gereromen / tous agonas timomen ke tas vasanous thia Christon, / to septon sou martirion, / Agie Pavle Apostole, / presveve Christo to Theo, / sothine tas psichas imon.

O preacher to the gentiles and thrice grandest shining star, / the Athenians’ teacher and the universe’s ornament, / we joyously honor you. / We pay homage to the struggles that you had/for the sake of Christ, / and your dignified martyrdom, / Holy and glorious Apostle Paul, / intercede with Christ our God, / entreating Him to save our souls.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Mode

A protection of Christians unshameable, / intercessor to our Holy Maker, unwavering, / reject not / the prayerful cries of those who are in sin. / Instead, / come to us for you are good; / Your loving help bring unto us / who are crying in faith to you: / Hasten to intercede/ and speed now to supplicate, / as a protection for all time, / Theotokos, for those who honor you.

Saints and Feasts

September 23

1st Sunday of Luke

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).

Welcome

This Weeks Announcements

We extend greetings and a warm welcome to all visitors worshipping with us today. Please fill out a“visitor information card” located in the narthex and hand to one of the greeters. Following the Liturgy, please join us in our social hall for the coffee social.
Holy Communion in our Church is offered only to Orthodox Christians who have prepared themselves through the disciplines of our faith. Speak to Fr. Costas for further details.

We kindly ask everyone to Please silence cell phones and pagers while in Church

Today ~ TRISAGIA: 1 year for Phillip N Pyros; for Anastasios Packis; for Anastasia Lekas; for George, Virginia, James, and Angela Revelos; for Alex, Anthea, and Perry Katsanis; for William and Margaret Fritz; 3 months for Alice Lamakos; 15 years for Nikolaos Xenikos.
Today ~ Coffee Social in honor of Father Costas and Presvyera Nicole who are celebrating their 10^th anniversary at our parish.
Today ~ Adult Catechism with Elaine Poulos and Coffee & Conversation with Jonathan and Kristina Tartara following Holy Communion.
Today ~ First Dance Practice for ALL dancers (4 year old preschool through 12^th grade) following Sunday School. Meeting for Beginner and Junior parents will be held during practice.
Monday ~ 5:30 p.m. Greek School.
Tuesday ~ 10:00 a.m. Women’s Study Group with Elaine Poulos.
Thursday ~ 2:00 p.m. Senior Fellowship Kafenio. Flu shots will be available – please bring your Medicare / insurance card with you.
Thursday ~ 7:00 p.m. Bible Study with Frank Chirakos and Fr. Costas. All are welcome.
Saturday ~ Choir Family Picnic in Hinckley. See Vaso Boukis for complete details.

Upcoming Events in Our Parish – Respond Early

Next Sunday ~ Epistle Reading, II Corinthians 9:6-11; Gospel, Luke 6:31-36.
Next Sunday ~ MNYMOSINA: 6 months for Pete Alex; 4 years for Teddy Alex; 6 months for Nick Katsaros.
Next Sunday ~ Coffee Social hosted by the Alex family.
Next Sunday ~ 40-day churching for the daughter of Milan and Erin (Dadas) Kubat.
October 2 ~ 6:30 p.m. Philoptochos Board meeting.
October 2 ~ 7:00 p.m. Home Committee meeting.
October 7 ~ 12:00 p.m. Greek Corner meets in Teen Room.
October 8 ~ 5:30 p.m. Philoptochos Cooking Class making Dolmathes. Register during coffee social or through our website - $25 participant.
October 9 ~ 6:30 p.m. Philoptochos general meeting.
October 10 ~ 7:00 p.m. Parish Council monthly meeting.
October 13 ~ our parish hosts the National Sisterhood Presvyteras meeting in Teen Room.
November 30 ~ 7:00 p.m. St Paul Night at the Cleveland Monsters Hockey game featuring intermission performance by our Junior dancers. Tickets $12 each can be purchased on our website, from Eleni Johnson, or any of the Junior instructors by October 21^st.
May 4 – 15, 2019 ~ Father Costas leads Pilgrimage to Italy. Contact him for more information.

Events in the Greater Cleveland Area and Beyond…

Saturday ~ 9:00 a.m. Metropolis one day Clergy-Laity hosted by Holy Cross in Pittsburgh PA.
Next Sunday ~ 2:00 p.m. The Dr. John and Helen Collis Lecture series at the Cleveland Museum of Art presents the Cleveland Saint Luke: The Byzantine Artist as Creator, Bureaucrat, or Copyist by Dr. Antony Eastmond. FREE; reservations required – call 216.421.7350 or engage.clevelandart.org.
October 7 ~ 2:00 p.m. Orthodox Christian Women Welcome and Fellowship Tea at St Thomas Eastern Orthodox Church in Fairlawn. Dr. John Bober will share his experiences from his trip to Mount Athos. RSVP to Nikki Bober 330.409.3552 or Sandy Graham 330.775.2963.
October 19 – 21 ~ Fall Choir Workshop at Annunciation Akron – free for all MEFGOX members. RSVP to Georgia Stathopoulos by October 1^st 330.864.8258 georgiastathopoulos@yahoo.com.
October 20 ~ 8:00 p.m. Ikarian Glendi at Annunciation Akron featuring Stigma with violi by Peter Karnavas. Tickets $20, children 10 and under free. Appetizer buffet included, cash bar available.
October 25 ~ 6:00 p.m. Eastern Orthodox Women’s Guild Annual Gala Affair at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Parma. See Evangeline Bozikis (216.447.9824) for tickets $15 adults / $7.50 children 6-12 / children under 6 free.
October 25 ~ 7:00 p.m. Great Vespers at St. Demetrios Rocky River.
October 26 ~ feast of St. Demetrios held at St. Demetrios Rocky River; 8:30 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. Liturgy followed by luncheon.
October 27 ~ 9:30 a.m. BeeTreat led by Steve Christoforou and the Beetreat team for students in 6^th – 12^th grade, parents, and youth workers at Annunciation Akron. Register at y2am.org/beetreats. Orthodoxy on Tap will follow at 7:00 p.m. for young adults 18 – 35.