Bulletin for Sunday 12 July 2015--7th 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 Martyrs (Tone 4)

Your martyrs, O Lord, received the crown of immortality from you, O our God, on account of their struggle.

Armed with your strength, they have vanquished their persecutors and crushed the powerless arrogance of demons.

Through their supplications, O Christ God, save our souls.

 

12 July 2015—Seventh Sunday after Pentecost.  Holy Martyrs Proclos and Hilarion.  (Tone 6)

Readings    Apostolos:  Romans 15:1-7                                                                                                Gospel:  Matthew 9:27-35

10:30 am    Orthros (Morning Prayer)

11 am          Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom for the health and salvation of Theresa Ramsey, Elias Atallah, George El-Hage, Cameron Maldonado, Nadia Badawi, Zaina, Gary, Charlotte Senno, 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, 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 (Ramiz Hourani), Louis Zarka (Nick & Vera Saade), Rose Hakim & Carl Naluai.

18 July 2015—Great Vespers, 6 pm.

19 July 2015—Fifth Sunday after Pentecost.  Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the First Six Ecumenical Councils. Venerable Mother Macrina, Sister of St Basil the Great; Holy Father Dios. (Tone 7)

Readings    Apostolos:  Titus 3:8-15                                                                                                      Gospel:  Matthew 5:14-19

10:30 am    Orthros (Morning Prayer)

11 am          Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom in memory of John and Nassib Badawy (Nemri Badawy & Family), Nickolas Nakfoor (Joe & Tammy Daley), Louis Zarka (John & Saideh Bulos), Mary Walker, and Diakonissa Mary Lawler.

Blessing of Cars following the Divine Liturgy

Music for Today

1. Troparion of the Resurrection in Tone 6, Liturgikon, page 191.
2. Troparion of the Martyrs Cyrus & John, in Tone 4.
3. Troparion of St Joseph, in Tone 4, page 30A.
4. Kontakion of the Theotokos, in Tone 2, page 31.
    
   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 $1300 in the ordinary collection, $20 for a liturgy intention, and $64 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.
   Welcome to Our Newest Christian
   Boutros Ihsan Chahine, son of Ihsan Chahine and Hana El-Chaer, received the Holy Mysteries of Christian Initiation (Baptism, Chrismation, Holy Eucharist) in St Joseph Church on 11 July.  His godparents are Osama Chahine and Genevieve El-Chaer.  Congratulations to our newest Christian and to his parents and god-parents.  God grant him many years in good health and strong faith!
   The Holy Cross Has Been Placed on St Joseph Church
   The Holy Cross was placed above the front doors of St Joseph Church on Friday 10 July.  At night it will be lit by solar power from the panel on the roof.  Thanks to the generosity of many people who gave to the church in memory of Nickolas Nakfoor, and the work of Beshara Geadaa, who designed the cross and oversaw the project.
   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.  Reservations must have been made by Friday 10 July.
   Symposium Next Weekend on Christianity in the Middle East
   A symposium on “Christianity in the Middle East:  Ancient, Yet Ever New” will take place next weekend, Friday-Sunday, 17-19 July in the Detroit area.  It is presented by CAMECT (Christian Arab and Middle Eastern Churches Together), Noursat, and IDC (In Defence of Christians).  The opening prayer, “St Sharbel Ramsho,” will be held on Friday at 6 pm in St Rafka Maronite Church, Livonia.  A $75-per-plate benefit dinner for HelpIraq.org and Noursat will be held at 8 pm at Farmington Hills Manor, 23666 Orchard Lake Rd, Farmington Hills.  For tickets, email st.rafkachurch@gmail.com .  On Saturday, the symposium at the Hilton Garden Inn, 26000 American Drive, Southfield—all sessions free of charge—will begin at 9 am with Divine Liturgy celebrated by Maronite Bishop Abdallah Zaidan of Los Angeles.  The morning sessions on “The Current Situation of Christians in the Middle East” will feature a live or video presentation by Chaldean Patriarch Louis Raphael Sako and remarks by Nina Shea of the Center for Religious Freedom, Dr Gregory Stanton, president of Genocide Watch, and Basil Bacall of Adopt-A-Refugee Family.  In the afternoon the topic will be “How Can We Help?” with presentations by Prof. Robert Destro of The Catholic University of America, Dr Edmund Ghareeb of American University, Maronite Bishop Gregory Mansour, Chaldean Bishop Francis Kalabat, Jacques Kallasi of Noursat, and Kirsten Evans of IDC.  The day will end with Vespers at 6:30 pm in St Mary Antiochian Orthodox Basilica in Livonia.  On Sunday, after the presentation of the sponsoring organizations, final remarks, and a press release at 10 am, the symposium will conclude with Liturgy at the Chaldean Cathedral of the Mother of God, celebrated by Bishop Francis Kalabat.
   Blessing of Cars After the Liturgy Next Sunday
   It is customary to bless cars on the feastday of St Elias the Prophet, 20 July, because he was taken up to heaven in a fiery chariot, and automobiles are modern “fiery chariots.”  Father James will bless cars after the Liturgy next Sunday, 19 July, the day before the feast of St Elias.  Invite friends to have their cars blessed, too.
   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.
   Come to our Parish Picnic on Saturday 1 August
   The Parish Pastoral Council invites everyone to St Joseph’s annual Parish Picnic on Saturday 1 August.  It will be held on the lawn under the trees at the home of Chuck and Dalida Raad, 3061 Sandhill Road, Mason, starting at 12 noon.  Hamburgers and hotdogs will be provided.  Please bring a dish to share and drinks of your choice.  Enjoy games for children, teens, and adults.  For directions, call Dalida at home, 517-337-9110, or on her mobile phone, 517-331-6113
   Christian Lebanese Foundation/Project Roots Visits St Joseph’s Today

Today we welcome Charlie Kadado of the Christian Lebanese Foundation in the World (CLFW) and Project Roots.  These organizations help all Americans of Lebanese descent register their births and marriages in the official registry of the Lebanese administration, free of charge.  The purpose is to preserve the demographic balance among the different religious communities in Lebanon, and to protect Lebanon’s role, as Pope John Paul II said, as “an island of democratic ideals, a message of freedom, a living example of coexistence and conviviality, and a symbol of pluralism for both the East and the West.”  Families who wish to register in Lebanon should bring the following documents:  Family Ikhraj Kayd (Family Civil Registry in Lebanon), Birth Certificate(s), and Marriage Certificate(s).  Charlie will meet with interested people in the hall after Liturgy.

The Deck at the Rectory Needs to be Refinished; Can You Help?

The deck at the back of the rectory needs to be sanded and repainted.  Beshara Geadaa, Chair of the Property Council, is seeking volunteers to help, especially with stripping the old paint, sanding the wood, and making any repairs that might be needed.  Please contact Beshara if you can help with this project.