Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal Fourth Mode. 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 First Letter to the Corinthians 3:9-17.

Brethren, we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and another man is building upon it. Let each man take care how he builds upon it. For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw - each man's work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If any one destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and that temple you are.

Gospel Reading

9th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 14:22-34

At that time, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. But immediately he spoke to them, saying "Take heart, it is I; have no fear."

And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "O man of little faith, why did you doubt?" And when they entered the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.

Saints and Feasts

August 14

The Holy Prophet Michaias (Micah)

This Prophet (whose name means "who is like God?"), was a Morasthite from the land of Judah. He prophesied more than fifty years in the days of Joatham, Ahaz, and Hezekias, Kings of Judah. These kings reigned in the eighth century before Christ. From this it is clear that this Michaias is not the one who was the son of Iembla (or Imlah-III Kings 22:8), who censured Ahab and was murdered by Ahab's son Joram, as the Synaxaristes says; for this Joram reigned the ninth century before Christ. Yet Michaias was still prophesying, as mentioned above, in the days of Hezekias, who was a contemporary of Hosea and Esaias, and of Hoshea, the last King of the ten tribes of Israel, when that kingdom was destroyed by Salmanasar (Shalmaneser), King of the Assyrians (IV Kings 17: 1 - 16; 18: 1). This Michaias is sixth in rank among the minor Prophets. His book of prophecy is divided into seven chapters; he prophesied that the Christ would be born in Bethlehem (Michaias 5: 2). In the reign of Saint Theodosius the Great, the holy relics of the Prophets Michaias and Abbacum were found through a divine revelation to Zebennus, Bishop of Eleutheropolis (Sozomen, Eccl. Hist., Book VII, 29).

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 You descended, Most Merciful; for us You condescended to a three-day burial to set us free from the passions. O Lord, our Resurrection and our Life, glory to You!

Apolytikion for Forefeast of the Dormition in the Fourth Mode

Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Mode

In the Immaterial Spirit, the whole world hath been mystically adorned upon the glorious memory; and it doth cry to thee joyously: Rejoice, O Virgin, thou boast of the Christian race.

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.
We offer Holy Communion in the Orthodox Church only to Orthodox Christians who have prepared themselves through the disciplines of our faith. Speak to Fr. Costas for further details.

Today ~ Backpack Blessing following Liturgy for all students, and a special blessing to all teachers.
Today ~ 7:00 PM Great Vespers for the Dormition of the Theotokos at Annunciation Cleveland.
Monday ~ Dormition of the Theotokos | 8:30 AM Orthros, 9:30 AM Liturgy followed by Philoptochos sponsored luncheon in our Hellenic Center.
Tuesday ~ 7:00 PM Home Committee meeting.
Wednesday ~ 7:00 PM Parish Council monthly meeting.
Thursday ~ 6:00 PM Festival Volunteer Appreciation Dinner. RSVP today by calling the church office, click on this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdnKaNcQtYJLUz8uPnqJ-R_xbZ21wcQmgPf-EEteoGoMi1C-A/viewform or email festival@stpaulgoc.org.
Thursday – Sunday ~ Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Festival.
“Raise the Heat Campaign” ~ through this effort we are fundraising to replace the boiler system in our church. We invite all our parishioners to participate in whatever way they can. See mailing that was sent to your home. Please be generous in your response.
St Paul Prayer Chain ~ If you have a prayer request, email it to: prayerchain@stpaulgoc.org.

Upcoming Events in Our Parish and Beyond

Next Sunday ~ Orthros John 21:1-14 | Epistle Reading 1 Corinthians 4:9-16 | Gospel Matthew 17:14-23.
August 30 ~ 7:00 PM Family Ministry meeting.
12. September 2 – 5 ~ Kamm’s Corner Greek Festival at the George Varough Cretan Club.
September 5 ~ Labor Day | Office closed.
September 10 ~ 10:00 AM Pet Blessing by the soccer field.
September 10 ~ 11:00 AM Altar Boy Retreat followed by bowling.
September 11 ~ Parish Fair following Liturgy. Visit the many ministries our parish offers to one and all and see what they have planned for the new ecclesiastical year!
September 11 ~ Philoptochos seeks your assistance to STUFF the BUS with school supplies to benefit the children of John Muir elementary school in Parma.
September 11 ~ Greek School Ayiasmo for all students and teachers following the Parish Fair in the Teen Room.
September 11 ~ 3:00 PM GOYA kickoff at the Popadiuk home. RSVP to goya@stpaulgoc.org.
September 16 – 18 ~ Metropolis Family Camp Weekend in Mercer PA. “One Another” featuring keynote speaker, Mr Alex Krokos, Marriage and Family Therapist, MA, LMFT. Visit https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07ej8fi0z0d2746535&oseq=&c=&ch= for more information or to register.
September 25 ~ 2:00 PM Collis Lecture “Reimaging Early Greek Art at the Museum of Fine Arts” at the Cleveland Museum of Art. FREE tickets available: https://engage.clevelandart.org/8312/8313.
October 23 ~ Senior Fellowship honors couples celebrating their 50^th anniversary or more who have not previously been honored. Contact Maria Regan.