Bulletin for 16 August 2015--Celebration of the Dormition of the Theotokos

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 Dormition of the Theotokos(Tone 1)

In giving birth you have preserved your virginity, and in falling asleep you did not forsake the world, O Theotokos.

You have passed to life, being the Mother of Life.

Through your intercession, save our souls from death.

 

16 August 2015—Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost.  Celebration of the Dormition of the Theotokos.  Holy Martyr Diomedes. (Tone 3)

Readings    Apostolos:  1 Corinthians 15:1-11                                                                               Gospel:  Matthew 16:16-26

10:30 am    Orthros (Morning Prayer)

11 am          Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom for the health and salvation of Theresa Ramsey, Elias Atallah, Leila Abdallah, Cameron Maldonado, Nawal, Zaina, Gary, Paul Keriotis, Charlotte Senno, Fares   Eid, Maroun Daher, Dennis Flint, Eleanora Lindo, Max, Angel, Simone, Mikayla Slocum, 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 Bashar Jameel, Samira Khouri Jadah, Nickolas Nakfoor (Joseph & Maha Mondalek), Louis Zarka (Dr & Mrs Michael Raad), Alberta Yerga, and Vicki Bailey.

22 August 2015—Great Vespers, 6 pm.

23 August 2015—13th Sunday after Pentecost.  Leave-taking of the Dormition.  Holy Martyr Luppus, Holy Hieromartyr Irenaios of Lyons.  (Tone 4)

Readings    Apostolos:  1 Corinthians 16:13-24                                                                             Gospel:  Matthew 21:33-42

10:30 am    Orthros (Morning Prayer)

11 am          Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom in memory of Samira Khouri Jadah, Bashar Jameel, Nickolas Nakfoor (Michael Skouri), Louis Zarka (Dr & Mrs Michael Raad), Vicki Bailey, and Protodeacon Paul Lawler.

Music for Today

1. Troparion of the Resurrection in Tone 3, Liturgikon, page 185.
2. Troparion of the Dormition, in Tone 1, p. 243.
3. Troparion of St Joseph, in Tone 4, page 30A.
4. Kontakion of the Dormition, in Tone 2, page 243.
    
   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 90 people attended the Liturgy.  Our offering totalled $1309 in the ordinary collection, $34 for candles, and $50 in new roof pledges.  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.
   Collection to Support Church School Today
   Please give generously to support our church school in the special collection this Sunday, 16 August.  You will find a yellow envelope for this purpose in your box of offering envelopes.  The collection will help pay for school supplies such as pens, paper, books, and craft materials, as well as treats for special occasions.
   We Celebrate the Dormition of the Theotokos Today
   The Great Feast of the Dormition of Our Lady the Theotokos falls on 15 August every year, commemorating the miraculous reception of her body and soul into heaven at the time of her death (her “falling asleep,” which is dormition in Latin and coemesis in Greek).  Because the actual feast day fell on Saturday this year, we have transferred our celebration of the Dormition of the Theotokos to Sunday 16 August.
   NAMY Meeting and Cookout at Fr James’ House Tomorrow, 6 PM
   All members of St Joseph’s NAMY are invited to the rectory (Fr James’ house) tomorrow, Monday 17 August, at 6 pm for a cookout.  We will also have our regular monthly business meeting to finalize our calendar of events for the year, choose officers for the year, and plan for a regional NAMY retreat in October.  And we will look at the parish Vision Statement and discuss what it means for the young people of St Joseph’s.  We also invite recent “graduates” of NAMY and others 18-25 to consider starting MAYA (Melkite Association of Young Adults) in our parish.  Please contact Fr James to let him know if you will be coming to the cookout.
   Did You Like the NAMY T-Shirt?  You Can Order One
   A number of people have asked if we have any more of the t-shirts printed for the NAMY Conference, showing a Cross and the name of our parish on the front of the shirt.  We do still have a very few NAMY shirts, and we are accepting orders for more t-shirts (which will not have the NAMY Conference printing on the back).  The cost for each shirt will be $15.  To order shirts, give your name, contact information, shirt size, and number of shirts you want to Fr James or to Elison Daher, the secretary of NAMY.  We will accept orders through next Sunday, 23 August.
   Prayer for Peace and Persecuted Christians Planned for 14 September
   St Joseph Church will invite Christians from many different churches in Lansing to a service of prayer for peace and the protection of persecuted Christians in the Middle East on Monday 14 September at 7 pm.  Speakers will inform people about what is really happening to Christians in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine.  More details will be announced soon.  Be sure to invite everyone you know to this community prayer service.
   “Come and See” Retreat Will Be Held at Byzantine Catholic Seminary

The Byzantine Catholic Seminary of SS Cyril and Methodius in Pittsburgh, PA, will host a free retreat weekend for men, ages 18 to 35, single or married, who may be considering a vocation to the priesthood in the Byzantine Catholic Church.  The seminarians for our Melkite Eparchy of Newton study at this seminary.  The retreat will include liturgical services and meals with the Seminary community, an introduction to the formation program, a tour of the Seminary, conversations with seminarians, and guided reflections on how to listen to God’s plans for your future and your happiness.  The retreat will run from Friday evening 16 October through Sunday afternoon 18 October.  Find more information and register on-line at www.bcs.edu.

Memorial Panel in the Narthex Will Be Brought up to Date

The Memorial Panel in the narthex of the church has not been brought up to date in several years.  The Parish Pastoral Council has approved a plan for engraving additional plaques for memorial gifts.  The names of parishioners who have died since the panel was last updated will be added and other memorials may also be requested.  A form will soon be available for providing the information for each plaque.  There is an absolute limit of 26 characters per line on each plaque for names and messages.  The deadline for submitting information will be 1 October.  At that time, all the requested plaques will be removed, engraved, and replaced.  Please contact Fr James to find out what church items are available for sponsorship.

The Meaning of the Feast of the Dormition

Father Anthony Hernandez, of St Basil the Great Byzantine Catholic Church in Los Gatos, CA, writes this about the Feast of the Dormition:  “The Mother of God (the holy Theotokos) was raised up by the power of her Son and the Giver of Life, Jesus Christ.  In the glory of heaven, she intercedes for us before God.  Because the ever-Virgin Mary was not left to bodily corruption, but was raised up soon after her death, we speak of her death as a ‘dormition’ (that is, a sleep).  Her Dormition is a sign to us of our future resurrection on the Last Day when we will share, in soul and body, in the glory of the heavenly Kingdom.  The feast of the Dormition (known in the West as the Assumption) is the oldest feast of the Mother of God.  God wills to save us in the totality of our being, soul and body.  The feast of the Dormition reminds us of the great destiny of the souls and bodies of Christ’s faithful ones.  Exalted body and soul, the Mother of God becomes a sign of God’s will that mankind experience redemption, salvation, and glorification in body and soul.  Let us glorify God in our activities of soul and body – to Him be glory and praise, now and forever. Amen.”