Second Sunday after Pentecost -
Sunday of All Saints of North America

Saints Peter and Paul, Patron Saints of the Patriarchate of Antioch - Tone One

 

Hymn of the Resurrection - Tone 1   See Page 91 of the Divine Liturgy Hymnal

Hymn for Saints Peter and Paul - Tone 4 -  O Foremost in the ranks of Apostles, and teachers of the world, intercede with the Master of all to grant safety to the world and to our souls the Great Mercy.

Hymn for All Saints of North America -   The first fruits of sanctity sown in this new land, we offer to Thee, our Father in heaven.  The blessed ascetic Herman of Alaska, and holy hierarch Innocent, Apostle to America, together with the martyrs, the priest Juvenaly and the Aleut Peter, and the holy men and women who did witness to Thy name in America.  Fill Thy church with heavenly joy, grant peace to our land, and sanctify all those who worship Thee, through the prayers of the Theotokos and of all Thy saints, O most merciful one!

Hymn of the Theotokos - Tone 4: 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 give unto us, who are crying in faith to you!  Hasten to intercede!  And speed now to supplicate!  A Protection for all time, Theotokos to those who honor Thee!

 

 THE EPISTLE:  2 Corinthians 11:21-33; 12:6-9 (Saints Peter and Paul)

 

            BRETHREN, whatever anyone dares to boast of-I am speaking as a fool-I also dare to boast of that. Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one-I am talking like a madman-with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I have received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I have been beaten with rods; once I was stoned. Three times I have been shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger at sea, danger from false brethren; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure upon me of my anxiety for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant? If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed for ever, knows that I do not lie. At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas guarded the city of Damascus in order to sieze me, but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped his hands.

 

            I must boast; there is nothing to be gained by it, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven-whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into Paradise-whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows-and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. Though if I wish to boast, I shall not be a fool, for I shall be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I besought the Lord about this, that it should leave me; but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.: I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

 

THE GOSPEL:  Matthew 16:13-19 (Saints Peter and Paul)

 

            At that time, when Jesus came into the district of Caesare'a Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do men say that I, the Son of man, am?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Eli'jah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." Jesus said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

 

COMMUNION HYMN:  Their  proclamation has gone out into all the Earth, and their words to the ends of the universe.  Alleluia.  See page 112 of the Divine Liturgy Hymnal.

 

Upcoming Services: The July calendar is at the candle table & on our website

            Sat. 6/28 - 5:00 p.m. Great Vespers with Litya and Artoklasia

Today, Sunday,  June 29 - PATRONAL FEASTDAY - ALL SAINTS OF NORTH AMERICA - 8:15 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy; Coffee Hour

            Tues. 7/1 - 4:00 p.m. Daily Vespers; 7:30 pm Orthodox Studies Class with Fr. Daniel Morton at Assumption church

            Wed. 7/2 –  6:30 p.m. - Daily Vespers

            Sat. 7/5 - 5:00 p.m. Great Vespers

Sun. July 6, 2008 - 8:15 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy; Coffee Hour

                   

News – Events:

·         WELCOME, GUESTS!  Please join us for coffee or tea and a snack after the Divine Liturgy.  Browse our bookstore as well - there are a number of complimentary booklets and pamphlets - please help yourself!

·         VENERATING THE ICONOSTASIS:  In the interest of good liturgical order and practice: You are permitted to approach the iconostasis to light and place a candle in the candle holders in front of the icons of Christ and the Theotokos.  You may venerate the icons on the iconostasis anytime before or after the divine services.  You may not venerate the icons on the iconostasis at anytime during the divine services. 

·         DORMITION MONASTERY (Rives Junction, MI) and the ANTIOCHIAN ARCHDIOCESE CLERGY RETIREMENT FUND are this month's charitable donations.

·         FOOD BANK RECEPTACLE is available year round to accept your donations.  Hunger never takes a holiday.

·         PROJECT MEXICO UPDATE  - Our Team meets up in  San Diego on July 3rd and heads to Rosarita, Mexico to build a house for a needy family.  They return to San Diego on July 9th; please remember them in your prayers

·         VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for the Decorating committee as we anticipate our new space.  See Lillian Milich.

·         FR. PETER GILLQUIST is scheduled to visit the weekend of July 31^st – August 3^rd in the hopes of establishing a mission in Cape Girardeau, MO.  He will be with us Sunday, August 3^rd for the Divine Liturgy.

·         SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS and CO-TEACHERS NEEDED for the 2008-9 Church school year.  Please see Fr. Steven or a parish council member if you are interested in this vital ministry of our parish.

·         FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE collection (from Lent 2008) netted $322.00.  Thanks to all who contributed. 

 

Parish Council Update: by William Kallaos ( June 25^th)

·       The Council met last Saturday evening and discussed many important subjects.

·       We are requesting that any parishioner who can assist us in the renovation of the new space please contact Lillian.  The jobs needed most are persons who can paint, help us move icons and religious materials and general clean up and set up.  A willingness to help in this massive effort would really help.  This project will commence in August once the construction is completed.

·         The logo that was approved by the Council is the one with the Eastern Orthodox Cross with a circle in the middle with the image of Christ.  It will be featured in our new yellow pages ad, signage in front of the building and letterhead, envelopes and business cards.  Your input was critical in the selection of this particular logo.

·       It is likely that our new space will include new kitchen cabinets, counter-tops and sink.  A parishioner has offered to donate them.  A second person has offered a new micro-wave and full oven. More details later.

·         Safe travels to all of our parishioners during this summer vacation period.

·         If you would like to be included in our list of Parishioners who are separately supporting our building plan with a financial gift, please see Sheri Walsh.  All donations large and small are appreciated.

 

Remember this week in your prayers:   

·         Our Bishop MARK for his health, safety, and his ministry.

·         Catechumens Mark, Stephen, Ana, Sophia, and Catalina.

·         The Project Mexico Team and all those working at Project Mexico and the family whose home they are building

·         The newly illumined Hackney family:  Anna, Daniel, Carol, John, Daniel and Owen

·         Fr. George Longos, Helena,  Aaron, Caprina, Kaleb, Lois, Will, Jenny, Andy, Mary, Jesse, Nancy, Roberta, Ann, Cleo, Katherine, Gus, Lee.

·         Fr. Steven, Fr. Daniel, Leonard Cook, Jim Mackoul, and all who are laboring to plant a mission in Cape Girardeau, MO

·         Michael, Kh. Joanne,  Rob and John who have fallen asleep in the Lord.

·         All those involved in preparing our new space and for the City of Maryland Heights as they consider our plans

·         Nathan as he moves to Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Morgan, as she moves to Columbia, Mo.

·         All those who are traveling, especially Fr. Daniel, Pres. Laura, Jesse, Howard, Rhonda, Gregg, Peter and David

·         All those who contact All Saints of North America inquiring into the Orthodox Christian faith