Bulletin for Sunday 28 June 2015--Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

SAINT 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

Website:  www.MelkiteChurch.org            Facebook:  www.facebook.com/MelkiteChurchLansing

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.

Troparion of the Apostles Peter and Paul (Tone 4)

O Peter and Paul, higher in rank than any other apostle, teachers of the world,

intercede with the Master of All that He may give peace to the world and great mercy to us all.

28 June 2015—Fifth Sunday after Pentecost.  Transfer of the Remains of the Holy Unmercenary Physicians Cyrus and John.  (Tone 4)

Readings    Apostolos:  Romans 10:1-10                                                                                       Gospel:  Matthew 8:28-9:1

10:30 am    Orthros (Morning Prayer)

11 am          Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom for the health and salvation of Theresa Ramsey, George El-Hage, Cameron Maldonado, Nadia Badawi, Fares Eid, Maroun Daher, Dennis Flint, Eleanora Lindo, Max, Angel, Simone, Mikayla Slocum, Samira El-Chaer, Awatef Chahine, Raymond Rashid, Bonita Saba, Griffin Barna, Jim Covello, David Georges, Elias Atallah, Ralph Farhat, Robert Kuri, Pam Nakfoor, Isaac Salim, Iva Butler, Alessandra, BJ & Liz, Cam, Janice, Jeanne, Wayne, Lucy Palmer, Kelsey, Kathleen Edwards, Edgar & Katherine Fickenscher, Kamal & Eugenie Neimat, Clay Thomas, Michael Maslowski, Elaine & Eva-Genevieve Scarborough, Antonio Carvalho, Elias Haggar, Marie Dahdouh, Dn. Joe & Marge Daratony, Fr Joseph Haggar, Fr Damon Geiger, Fr James Babcock, Fr Basil Samra, Fr Maximos, Dn. Robert Spencer, Dn. Daniel Klockowski; in memory of Nickolas Nakfoor (Adel & Nadia Badawi), and Louis Zarka (Louise Shaheen).

4 July 2015—Great Vespers, 6 pm.

5 July 2015—Sixth Sunday after Pentecost.  Holy Father Athanasios of Athos, Holy Wonderworker Lampados, and Holy Woman Martha, Mother of Simeon the Hermit.  (Tone 5)

Readings    Apostolos:  Romans 12:6-14                                                                                              Gospel:  Matthew 9:1-8

10:30 am    Orthros (Morning Prayer)

11 am          Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom in memory of Nickolas Nakfoor (Linda & George Snyder), Louis Zarka (Nick & Vera Saade), Rose Hakim, and Carl Naluai.

Music for Today

1. Troparion of the Resurrection in Tone 4, Liturgikon, page 187.
2. Troparion of the Martyrs Cyrus & John, in Tone 5.
3. Troparion of St Joseph, in Tone 4, page 30A.
4. Kontakion of the Theotokos, in Tone 2, page 31.
    
   Read the Bulletin and Homily on our Website
   The bulletin and the homily for each Sunday are posted on our parish website, www.MelkiteChurch.org, every week, for reference and (we hope) inspiration.  Remind those who don’t come to church to check the website.
   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, about 85 people attended the Liturgy.  Our offering totalled $1106 in the ordinary collection, $20 for a liturgy intention, and $15.50 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.
   NAMY Conference Begins Today
   The annual conference of our diocese-wide National Association of Melkite Youth begins this afternoon at the Colombiere Retreat in Clarkston, MI, and end on Thursday 2 July.  Eight teens from our parish will attend, with Dalida Raad and Fr James as adult advisors.  They have been working hard on their skit about the conference theme, which is Jesus’ question to His disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” from the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 16, verse 15.  We have special NAMY t-shirts designed by Elias Eid and Piere Khouri, which the conference-goers will wear for a group photo today.  We will leave after the Divine Liturgy and social hour to drive to the conference.
   Parish Pastoral Council Will Meet on Monday 6 July
   This month’s meeting of the Parish Pastoral Council will be held in the parish hall at 6:30 pm on Monday 6 July.  Nominations for new members of the Council will be discussed along with other parish business.
   Our Lady’s Society Dinner Set for 14 July
   Our Lady’s Society of St Joseph Church will not hold a regular business meeting in July.  Instead, all members and guests are invited to a dinner in honor of the new officers on Tuesday 14 July at 6 pm at Champp’s restaurant in the Eastwood Towne mall on Lake Lansing Road.  All those attending will purchase their own meals, choosing from the restaurant’s large menu.  Our group will have a semi-private room.  If you plan to attend the dinner, you must sign up by Friday 10 July.  Reservations cannot be accepted after that date.  There will be a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in the parish hall.
   Parish Clean-Up Day Will be Re-scheduled
   The church cleanup day set for yesterday was rained out.  It will be re-scheduled soon.  We hope that everyone will participate according to their ability.
   New Signs Show Where to Park So Vehicles Will not be Blocked
   Many parishioners have complained that sometimes very large vehicles are parked in such a way that other cars cannot make their way through the parking lot.  The Parish Pastoral Council has approved a parking plan developed by the Property Council to solve this problem if everyone cooperates.  Signs have been posted in the parking lot to indicate what types of vehicles should park in what areas.  Large vehicles—SUVs, vans, and pickup trucks should be parked on the south side of the parking lot, on the right as you enter from Rundle St.  This is the long side of the church building.  On the short side of the church building, the east side of the property, please park only cars, not SUVs, vans, or trucks, both along the church and along the planting strip that marks the edge of the parish property.  Also, please pull your vehicle forward as far as you can, so that it does not stick out into the lane where vehicles drive between the rows of parked cars, and make sure that you park between the lines in only one parking space.  A poster showing the designated areas of the parking lot has been posted on the bulletin board in the church hall.  Your cooperation will make our parking lot safer and more convenient for everyone.
   Tomorrow is the Feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul
   On 29 June the Church celebrates Saints Peter and Paul, called the “Princes of the Apostles” for their pre-eminent roles in the founding and expanding of the Church.  We remember all 12 Apostles on 30 June.
   New Facebook Page Connects Great Lakes Melkites
   At the recent Clergy Retreat, it was decided to establish a Facebook page for news of all ten parishes in the Great Lakes Region.  Find it and like it by searching on Facebook for Great Lakes Melkites.  We hope that it will help develop closer relationships among our parishes and people in this large area.

 

Important Saints’ Days in July

On 1 July we commemorate the Holy Wonderworkers Cosmas and Damian.  They also have a feast day on 1 November.  They are part of a group of saints known as the Holy Unmercenary Healers because they had gifts of healing, often being trained as physicians, but refused to accept payment for their services because they were doing God’s work.  On 13 July, if it is a Sunday, or on the next Sunday, we celebrate the Holy Fathers of the First Six Ecumenical Councils, honoring their diligent labor and prayer to establish the true Christian faith. 

Several notable saints’ feasts fall in the last ten days of July.  First is the Holy Prophet Elias, on 20 July.  On 22 July, the Church remembers and honors St Mary Magdalene, called “Equal to the Apostles” for her important part in believing in Jesus, supporting His ministry on earth, and witnessing to the Gospel.  She came from Magdala on the shore of the Sea of Galilee and followed Jesus to the foot of the Cross, brought spices to anoint His body, and was the first to witness and announce His Resurrection.  St Christina, daughter of a Roman army officer, martyred in Tyre of Phoenicia in the year 220, is remembered on 24 July. 

On 25 July we celebrate the Dormition (“Falling Asleep” or death) of the Holy and Wise Anne, the Mother of the Mother of God.  Many Melkite parishes in the US are named for her, because their founding priests studied at St Anne’s Seminary in Jerusalem.  St Paraskeve, martyred in Rome in 140, is remembered on 26 July.  Her intercession is often invoked for diseases of the eyes.  Also on the 26^th, we honor the holy martyred Bishop Hermolaus, killed in Nicomedia in 312; he was a renowned teacher and healer.  His student, the Holy Great-Martyr Panteleimon, also from Nicomedia, is remembered on the 27^th.  His head was cut off in 305 because he practiced the Christian faith while healing the sick.  Many miracles of healing have been performed through his intercession.