Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Third Mode. Psalm 46.6,1.
Sing praises to our God, sing praises.
Verse: Clap your hands, all you nations.

The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 15:1-11.

Brethren, I would remind you in what terms I preached to you the gospel, which you received, in which you stand, by which you are saved, if you hold it fast -- unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God which is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

Gospel Reading

12th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 19:16-26

At that time, a young man came up to Jesus, kneeling and saying, "Good Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?" And he said to him, "Why do you call me good? One there is who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments." He said to him, "Which?" And Jesus said, "You shall not kill, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and You shall love your neighbor as yourself." The young man said to him, "All these I have observed; what do I still lack?" Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions.

And Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly, I say to you, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." When the disciples heard this they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?" But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Saints and Feasts

August 30

Alexander, John, and Paul the New, Patriarchs of Constantinople

Saint Alexander was sent to the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea as the delegate of Saint Metrophanes, Bishop of Constantinople (see June 4), to whose throne he succeeded in the year 325. When Arius had deceitfully professed allegiance to the Council of Nicaea, Saint Alexander, knowing his guile, refused to receive him into communion; Arius' powerful partisans threatened that they would use force to bring Arius into the communion of the Church the following day. Saint Alexander prayed fervently that God might spare the Church; and as Arius was in a privy place relieving nature, his bowels gushed forth with an effusion of blood, and the arch-heresiarch died the death of Judas. Saint Alexander was Bishop from 325 until 337, when he was succeeded by Saint Paul the Confessor, who died a martyr's death at the hands of the Arians (see Nov. 6). The Saint John commemorated here appears to be the one who was Patriarch during the years 562-577, surnamed Scholasticus, who is also commemorated on February 21. He was from Antioch, where he had been a lawyer (scholasticus); he was made presbyter, then was sent to Constantinople as representative (apocrisiarius) of the Patriarch of Antioch, and was appointed Patriarch of Constantinople by the Emperor Justinian. Saint Paul was Bishop of Constantinople during the years 687 - 693, in the reign of Emperor Justinian II, and presided over the Quinisext Council in 692.

August 30

The Synaxis of the Holy Hierarchs of Serbia

The Synaxis of the Holy Hierarchs of Serbia: The Saints commemorated on this day are: Sabbas, First Archbishop and enlightener of Serbia (see Jan. 14); Arsenius, his successor, a great hierarch and wonderworker; Sabbas II, son of Saint Stephen, the first-crowned King of Serbia; Nicodemus, About of Hilandar, later Archbishop of Serbia; Joannicius, Archbishop, later Patriarch from 1346 to 1349; Patriarch Ephraim, an ascetic, who crowned Prince Lazarus, and later left the patriarchate to live in solitude; Spyridon, Ephraim's successor, who reposed in 1388; Macarius, who printed many church books in Serbia and abroad, was very zealous in renovating and adoring churches, and reposed in 1574; Gabriel, Archbishop, who took part in the Church Council of Moscow during the patriarchate of Nicon, for which the Turks accused him of treason and hanged him in Prusa in the year 1656. Also commemorated are Eustathius, James, Daniel, Sabbas III, Gregory, Cyril (Patriarch), John, Maximus, and Nicon. Many of them labored in asceticism on the Holy Mountain, and all were "good and faithful servants, good labourers in the vineyard of the Lord".

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Third Mode

Ευραινέσθω τά ουράνια, αγαλλιάσθω τά επίγεια, ότι εποίησε κράτος εν βραχίονι αυτού ο Κύριος· επάτησε τώ θανάτω τόν θάνατον· πρωτότοκος τών νεκρών εγένετο, εκ κοιλίας Άδου ερρύσατο ημάς, καί παρέσχε τώ κόσμω τό μέγα έλεος.

Εfrenestho ta ourania, agaliasto ta epigia, oti epiise kratos, en vrahioni aftou o Kirios, epatise to thanato ton thanaton, prototokos ton nekron egeneto, ek kilias adou erisato imas, ke paresche to kosmo to mega eleos.

Let all the things above in heaven rejoice and let all things below on earth be glad. With all the might and strength of His arm an eternal deed the Lord did perform. Beneath His feet He has trampled down death by death, and first born of the dead has He become. From the womb of Hades has He delivered us, and to all the world has granted His great redeeming mercy.

Apolytikion for Apodosis of the Forerunner in the Second Mode

The memory of the just is observed with hymns of praise; for you suffices the testimony of the Lord, O Forerunner. You have proved to be truly more ven’rable than the Prophets, since you were granted to baptize in the river the One whom they proclaimed. Therefore, when for the truth you had contested, rejoicing, to those in Hades you preached the Gospel, that God was manifested in the flesh, and takes away the sin of the world, and grants to us the great mercy.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Mode

In your holy birth, Immaculate One, Joachim and Anna were rid of the shame of childlessness; Adam and Eve of the corruption of death. And so your people, free of the guilt of their sins, celebrate crying: “The barren one gives birth to the Theotokos, who nourishes our life.”

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.

PLEASE NOTE: In light of the COVID-19 Virus, and until further notice, the following precautions will be taken:

We are pleased to announce that we have been given permission by Metropolitan Savas to enter into the “GREEN Phase”. Please note, ALL services and Divine Liturgies will continue to take place as scheduled but with the following guidelines:

Those over 65 years of age CAN now attend church services
Everyone must still wear a mask
We must continue to practice social distancing
We will continue to take temperatures
The church cannot be filled to more than 50% capacity
The only entrance that will be open is the glass doors by the elevator ~ all other entrances will be locked
Following services, we kindly ask that you return to your vehicle and enjoy the rest of your day
Those with immunocompromised conditions, no matter their age, should not be in church but rather follow the service online at home
Liturgy begins at 9:30 a.m. so we ask that you arrive promptly so that our ushers may also take part in the service
Once the church reaches its capacity, the doors will be locked
LIVE services can be viewed on our Parish YouTube Page ~ click here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKfvvY35FtK8GWWctrUqENg

All other activities in the parish have been SUSPENDED until further notice

All meetings will be done virtually through Zoom

During these difficult days, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call Fr. Costas on his cell at 440-669-1316.
Today – August 31 ~ Fr. Costas will be away on vacation.
Today ~ MNYMOSINA: 40 days for Ethel Williams; 40 days for Clara Kostantaras; 5 years for Carl and Katherine Valente; 5 years for Karen Valente Radbourne 1 year for Vasili Markos.
September 1 – 30 ~ Virtual Grecian Festival Fundraiser through Facebook. Donations can be made with credit card on Facebook without fees or by check mailed to the church office. You don’t need a Facebook account to donate. Special perks for business donors as well. All donors will be entered in a weekly drawing to win a $25 gift card to next year’s Festival ~ July 15 – 18, 2020.
Stewardship ~Thanks to all who completed and returned their 2020 Stewardship Commitment Card. Please continue to mail your stewardship donation to the church office or submit on our website. If there is anything the committee can do for you, call the office, leave a message, and someone will get back to you! God bless you and be safe.
Light a Candle and Say a Prayer ~ those attending church will have the opportunity to light a candle with the assistance of the ushers. Those at home can still light a candle online, but must place their request by 3:00 PM on Friday for the candles to be lit on Sunday. Visit https://www.stpaulgoc.org/about-us/candles. Questions? Call the church office.
Final Phase of PAVE THE WAY IS COMPLETED You can still donate towards this project if you have not done so yet. Donations can be made on the Stewardship page of our website by clicking on PTW Phase II: https://www.stpaulgoc.org/ministries/stewardship/.
Babysitting ~ with children being at home, and many parents working from home, our St Paul families are in great need to find reliable individuals within our St Paul community to help out. Additionally, many of our St Paul families are looking for babysitters. To submit your name as a babysitter or a parent who is looking for a babysitter, register by following this link and someone will contact you: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfkY-1wnbtkXu--_sxgAUXws5k1rxKblp9MPnaDoXjeHZm1ug/viewform
Philoptochos Membership ~ “Come join us!” Please remember to join your local St. Paul Philoptochos in 2020 and become a “friend of the poor.” Forms and contributions can either be mailed to the church office or paid online at this time.

Upcoming Events in Our Parish – Respond Early

Next Sunday ~ Epistle Reading I Corinthians 16:13-24, Gospel Luke 16:9-20.
September 5 ~ 11:00 a.m. Pet Blessing by soccer field. Please wear mask and maintain social distancing for everyone’s safety.
September 8 ~ Nativity of the Theotokos; 8:30 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. Liturgy.
September 8 ~ 7:00 p.m. Home Committee meeting.
September 13 & 20 ~ Philoptochos Drive Thru Bake Sale.
September 13 ~ 11:30 p.m. Sunday School and Adult Catechism begins via ZOOM. More details to follow.
September 13 ~ 4:00 p.m. GOYA meeting ice cream socail via ZOOM. Look for email invitation to be sent from goya@stpaulgoc.org.
September 14 ~ Exaltation of the Holy Cross; 8:30 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. Liturgy.
September 14 ~ 5:30 p.m. Greek School begins via ZOOM. More details to follow.
September 15 ~ 10:00 a.m. Women’s Study Group with Elaine Poulos begins. More details to follow.
September 16 ~ 7:00 p.m. monthly Parish Council meeting.
September 17 ~ 7:00 p.m. Bible Study with Father Costas begins via ZOOM. More details to follow.
September 25 ~ 6:30 p.m. HOPE / JOY Scavenger Hunt via ZOOM with Father Costas and Presvytera Nicole. More details to follow.
Other Events ~ All other events in our parish have been suspended until further notice.