Sunday, June 15, 2014

Bulletin for Sunday of All Saints--15 June 2014





ST JOSEPH THE BETROTHED


Melkite-Greek Catholic CHURCH


725 W. Mt. Hope Ave, Lansing, MI 48910                             517-575-6264


FMailing Address:  921 Westover Circle, Lansing, MI 48917E




Rev. Father James K. Graham, Pastor                           frjamie@earthlink.net


Rev. Protodeacon Joseph Daratony                                                   248-719-5169


Phone or email Fr James with items for the bulletin by Thursday night.


 


Kontakion of All Saints (Tone 8)


As the first fruits of creation the world offers the God-bearing martyrs to You,


O Creator and Lord.  Through their prayers and through the intercession


of the Theotokos, preserve your Church and your world in perfect peace,


O You who alone are most merciful!


 


15 June 2014—1st Sunday after Pentecost:  All Saints.  Holy Prophet Amos, Holy Father Jerome, Hermit of Bethlehem.  (Tone 8)


Readings    Apostolos:  Heb. 11:33-12:2        Gospel:  Matt. 10:32-38, 19:27-30


10:30 am  Orthros (Morning Prayer)


11 am         Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom for the health & salvation of Michel Skouri (Awatef Fawaz), George El-Hage (Happy Birthday!), Griffin Barna, Jim Covello, David Georges, Elias Atallah, Ralph Farhat, Robert Kuri, Nick Nakfoor, Pam Nakfoor, Isaac Salim, Iva Butler, Kelsey Andrews, Elaine & Eva-Genevieve Scarborough, Michael Maslowski, Clay Thomas, Michael Harmuth, Elias Haggar, Dn. Joe Daratony, Fr John Leonard, Fr James Babcock; in memory of Rizk Eid Haddad (40-Day Memorial by Nohad Eid & Family), Rashid Haddad (Nohad Eid), Louis Zarka (Nimer & Lamia Haddad), John Rashid (Jenavieve Ferrar), Abraham Saba (Simone Ayoub), and Richard Wright.


21 June 2014—Great Vespers for the 2nd Sunday after Pentecost, 5 pm


22 June 2014—Second Sunday after Pentecost.  Holy Hiero-Martyr Eusebios of Samosata.  (Tone 1)


Readings    Apostolos:  Romans 2:10-16                       Gospel:  Matthew 4:18-23


10:30 am  Orthros (Morning Prayer)


11 am         Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom in memory of Abraham Saba (Naemi Badawi), John Rashid (Rosette Kalouche), and Louis Zarka (Elias & Minerva Haidamous).


 


Troparia and Kontakion for Today


  1. Troparion of the Resurrection in Tone 8, page 195.
  2. Troparion of All Saints, in Tone 8, page 219.
  3. Troparion of St Joseph, in Tone 4, page 30A.
  4. Kontakion of All Saints, in Tone 8, page 220.


Our Offerings to the Lord


The collection taken in the Liturgy is part of our worship.  We offer the Lord our lives, our prayers, our gifts of bread and wine, and our financial gifts.  Last Sunday, more than 80 people attended the Liturgy.  Our offering totalled $2063 in the ordinary collection, $50 for liturgies and memorials, $10 for books, and $40.50 for candles.  Not everyone can make an equal gift, but everyone can make an equal sacrifice.  Please make a generous sacrifice to support your church in proportion to the many blessings God has given you.


 


Apostles’ Fast Begins Tomorrow


Traditionally, our Church observes a fast from the Monday after All Saints Sunday (tomorrow) until the Feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul (29 June).  Try to keep the fast and pray for peace and justice in the Middle East.


 


Today is Last Day to Sign Up for Michigan Princess Cruise


The Ladies Society is planning a Grand River cruise for women on the Mich­igan Princess on Sun. 27 July.  Please register with President Lamia Had­dad or Treasurer Dalida Raad today.  No reservations can be made after today.


 


Vision Committee, Parish Council Meet This Week


The Vision Committee will meet Monday at 7 pm in the parish hall.


The Parish Pastoral Council will meet Wednesday at 7 pm in the parish hall.


 


Father’s Day


By Nimer Haddad, Chair of St Joseph Parish Evangelization Committee


     Though the Bible does not mention a Father’s Day, we see that God recog­nizes the importance of fathers throughout history.  In the Old Testament God tells Abraham, “I have made you a father of many nations” (Genesis 17:5).


     Many passages speak of Jesus Christ, the Son, honoring His Father and honoring the will of His Father (John 17:1 and 17:5).


     The Apostle Paul taught that to honor one’s earthly father is not only a commandment, but the first commandment, that, when obeyed, carries a promise of things going well and living long on the earth (Ephesians 6:2-3).


     Fathers are often viewed as the go-to parent for discipline, advice, and partnership at playtime, while mothers are the go-to parent for nurturing, sympathy, and comfort from stressful situations.


     Fathers who are involved in their children’s life provide a valuable foundation for their growing needs that complete what mothers provide.


     Research shows that the importance of a child’s having an engaged father in his or her life must not be underestimated.  The same research has shown also that children with involved fathers do better in school, have a greater motivation to succeed, have higher self-esteem, and are less likely to abuse drugs and alcohol.


     Children with a loving and committed father are usually better off than those with no father.  Fathers show their daughters that their feelings and ideas count from a male perspective and praise them to help develop confidence.  When fathers give their sons a good example, boys develop a healthy identity and learn how to be responsible fathers themselves.


 


Call Fr James to Come and Bless Your Home or Business


Although the traditional time for blessing homes is right after Theophany (6 January), the winter weather made that very difficult.  Fr James would like to visit with people and bless their houses and businesses.  Please contact him to make an appointment to have your home and/or business blessed.


 


Orthodox-Catholic Consultation Issues Statement


The North American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation, meeting at Saint Methodios Faith and Heritage Center, Contoocook, New Hampshire, issued the following statement on June 4, 2014:


“The year 2014 marks the eighty-fifth anniversary of the promulgation of the decree Cum data fuerit.  In 1929, the Sacred Congregation for the Oriental [Eastern Catholic] Churches issued this document, which stated that ‘priests of the Greek-Ruthenian Rite who wish to go to the United States of North America [sic] and stay there must be celibates’ (Article 12).  This statement led to a general prohibition of the ordination of married Eastern Catholics to the priesthood in North America.  This resulted in divisions in Eastern Catholic communities and even in families.


“The Second Vatican Council spoke of the importance of preserving the legitimate traditions of the Eastern Churches.  In the decree Orientalium ecclesiarum the Council emphasized the need to preserve the ‘legitimate liturgical rite and . . . established way of life’ of Eastern Catholics. The Council continued, stating that Eastern Catholics ‘should attain to an even greater knowledge and a more exact use of [this rite and way of life] and if in their regard they have fallen short owing to contingencies of times and persons, they should take steps to return to their ancestral traditions’ (par. 6).  Furthermore, the decree Presbyterorum ordinis states, ‘This holy synod, while it commends ecclesiastical celibacy, in no way intends to alter that different discipline which legitimately flourishes in the Eastern Churches.  It permanently exhorts all those who have received the priesthood and marriage to persevere in their holy vocation’ (sec. 16).  Nevertheless, until recently, very few married Eastern Catholic men have been allowed to be ordained to the priesthood in North America.


“With these things in mind, the North American Orthodox-Catholic Theo­logical Consultation encourages the lifting of the restrictions regarding the ordination of married men to the priesthood in the Eastern Catholic Churches of North America.  This action would affirm the ancient and legitimate Eastern Christian tradition, and would assure the Orthodox that, in the event of the restoration of full communion between the two Churches, the traditions of the Orthodox Church would not be questioned.  We are convinced that this action would enhance the spiritual lives of Eastern Catholics and would encourage the restoration of unity between Catholic and Orthodox Christians.”


 

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