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
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 Resurrection (Tone
1)
After the stone was sealed by the Jews, and while
the soldiers were watching your spotless body,
You rose, O Savior, on the third day, bestowing
life to the world. Therefore, the
heavenly powers cried out to You,
O Giver of Life:
“Glory to your Resurrection, O Christ, glory to your Kingdom, glory to
your Economy,
O You who alone are the Lover of Mankind.”
7
June 2015—Second Sunday after Pentecost.
Holy Hieromartyr Theodotos of Ancyra.
(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 for the health and salvation of Dougal
Graham (90th birthday), Fares Eid, Georgette & Family (Georgette Haeck), 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, 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 Maximos, Dn. Robert Spencer, Dn. Daniel
Klockowski; in memory of Edward
Calille (14-year Memorial by Siham Calille), Nickolas Nakfoor (David & Loretta
Kresge), Louis Zarka (Madeleine
Saab & Family), Anis & Rosie
Bulos and Ernest Ferrar (Jenevieve
Ferrar), Sandy Oade
(Robert Nakfoor), Fr Sylvester McDermott
and Michael Harmuth (Fr James).
13 June 2015—No Great Vespers.
14 June
2015—Third Sunday after Pentecost. Holy Prophet
Elisha; Holy Father Methodios, Archbishop of Constantinople. (Tone 2)
Readings Apostolos: Romans 5:1-10 Gospel: Matthew 6:22-33
10:30
am Orthros (Morning Prayer)
11
am Divine Liturgy of St John
Chrysostom in memory of Nickolas
Nakfoor (Mike & Marie Nakfoor),
and Louis Zarka (Madeleine Saab
& Family).
Music
for Today
- Troparion of the Resurrection in Tone 1, Liturgikon, page 181.
- Troparion of the Divine Body, in Tone 1.
- Troparion of St Joseph, in Tone 4, page 30A.
- Kontakion of the Theotokos, in Tone 2, page 31.
Major Teaching Points of Bishop’s Pastoral Letter on
Christian Death and Funerals
Bishop Nicholas has prepared a Pastoral Letter on Christian Death and
Funerals. It will be published in the
Summer issue of SOPHIA magazine. He has asked all pastors to introduce the
ideas in the letter to the people before it is published, citing 16 main
points. Most of what Bishop Nicholas
recommends is already what we do at St Joseph’s. If you have questions about these points or
wish to discuss them, please ask Fr James.
Here are the Bishop’s main teaching points:
- Cultural development and social customs sometimes veer away from Christian teaching. Funerals are not about memories and reminiscences of the departed, but rather focus on the reality of their present life in Christ and prayers for their “good defense before the awesome Judgement Seat of Christ.”
- Encourage the faithful to notify clergy of someone’s illness so that prayers for the sick may be offered. The mystery of Holy Unction is not just for one who is dying, but a healing remedy for the living.
- Funeral Services: Trisagion at the funeral home, Funeral in church, Graveside Prayers.
- Respect at the funeral home for the departed and the family. Offering condolences should not turn into a “free-for-all” visit or socializing with friends and acquaintances. Instead encourage the reading of the Psalms or Gospels throughout the viewing.
- If viewing is in the church: no pictures or slide shows of the departed are permitted. An atmosphere of prayer is to be maintained in the church. The church is not a place for social gatherings but a house of prayer. Psalms and/or Gospels must be read during the entire duration of the viewing. No piped-in music, please!
- It is possible and sometimes preferable to schedule evening Funerals and morning Trisagion at the church or directly at the grave without the procession of cars.
- No eulogies by laity or clergy are permitted. The homily should focus on the “end” of earthly life and the beginning of the new life to which we are all called, being restored through the resurrection of Christ.
- If family members wish to speak, the ideal time is at the mercy meal, not at the Funeral Service or Trisagion.
- No music other than funeral chants is permitted; nor are any services by fraternal organizations permitted in church.
- Mercy meals should be simple, not extravagant dinners.
- Kolyva (sweetened boiled wheat) or sweetened bread should be prepared for blessing at Memorial services.
- Bereavement Ministry by lay people should be encouraged to assist with services and even mercy meals.
- People are encouraged to purchase simple caskets—there is no need for outrageous costs, which can be a sign of vanity. These are of no use to the deceased.
- Cremation: the Church upholds the ideal of burial as the traditional, preferred practice. If cremation is chosen and is not motivated by reasons opposed to Christian faith, we still recommend that it is done after the funeral. Cremated ashes may never be scattered or taken home; they must be buried or entombed in a mausoleum or columbarium.
- Donations to the church or to charities can be recommended. If flowers are given, they can be used in front of the ikons after the funeral.
- The Funeral Service with open coffin is our traditional rite, so that the body may be anointed with oil and sprinkled with ashes; and the custom of the last kiss may be observed at the conclusion of the service.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 80 people attended the
Liturgy. Our offering totalled $1629 in
the ordinary collection, $70 for stole offerings, $50 for the new roof, and $16.25
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.
Last Day of Church
School Today; Recognition of Graduates
Church school classes will
met today, Sunday, 7 June, for the last time until the Fall. All students who have participated in the
classes will receive certificates in a short ceremony at the end of the Divine
Liturgy. At the coffee hour, all those
graduating from college, high school, and lower grades will be honored with a
cake. We congratulate Sari Eid, Piere
Khouri, and Vivian Nash, who are graduating from high school, and Elias Eid,
promoted from 8th grade to high school.
Parish Pastoral
Council Will Meet on Monday 8 June
The Parish Pastoral Council
will meet tomorrow, Monday 8 June at 6:30 pm in the parish hall. Discussion will include nominations for
elections at the end of summer, progress on a new cross for the outside of the
church, and landscape maintenance at the church and the rectory.
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. The page went up on
Friday evening and in its first week has been liked by almost 350 people. Find it and like it at https://www.facebook.com/GREATLAKESMELKITES. We hope
that it will help develop closer relationships among our parishes and people in
this large area.
No comments:
Post a Comment