Bulletin for Sunday 2 August 2015--10th 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 St Stephen the Protomartyr (Tone 4)

O Protomartyr Stephen, your head was crowned with a kingly crown

on account of all the struggles you endured for Christ our God.

You beheld the vision of your Savior seated at the right hand of God.

Do not cease to intercede with Him for the salvation of our souls.

2 August 2015—Tenth Sunday after Pentecost. th Sunday after Pentecost.  Transfer of the Remains of the Holy Protomartyr the Archdeacon Stephen. (Tone 1)

Readings    Apostolos:  1 Corinthians 4:9-16                                                                                  Gospel:  Matthew 17:14-23

10:30 am    Orthros (Morning Prayer)

11 am          Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom for the health and salvation of Roger Herledan, 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, Awatef Chahine, Raymond Rashid, Bonita Saba, Griffin Barna, Jim Covello, David Georges, Ralph Farhat, Robert Kuri, Pam Nakfoor, Isaac Salim, Iva Butler, Alessandra, Annie, BJ & Liz, Cam, Janice, Jeanne, Wayne, Paul, 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, Nickolas Nakfoor (Elias & Minerva Haidamous), Louis Zarka (Elaine & Edward Rashid), Fr Basil Adcock (17 years), and Helen Serra.

8 August 2015—Great Vespers, 6 pm.

9 August 2015—11th Sunday after Pentecost.  Holy Apostle Matthias.  Fourth Day of Celebration of the Transfiguration.  (Tone 2)

Readings    Apostolos:  2 Corinthians 9:2-12                                                                                  Gospel:  Matthew 18:23-35

10:30 am    Orthros (Morning Prayer)

11 am          Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom in memory of Bashar Jameel, Nickolas Nakfoor (Dani & Claude Fawaz), and Louis Zarka (Elaine & Edward Rashid).

Music for Today

1. Troparion of the Resurrection in Tone 1, Liturgikon, page 181.
2. Troparion of the Protomartyr Stephen, in Tone 4.
3. Troparion of St Joseph, in Tone 4, page 30A.
4. Kontakion of the Transfiguration, in Tone 7, page 242.
    
   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 75 people attended the Liturgy.  Our offering totalled $808 in the ordinary collection, $300 for stole offerings, $23 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.
   Our Lady’s Society Meets This Tuesday
   Our Lady’s Society will meet on Tuesday 4 August at 7 pm in the parish hall.  Fr James apologizes for mistakenly announcing the wrong date last Sunday.
   Come and Celebrate the Transfiguration this Wednesday 5 August at 7 PM
   The Church celebrates the Transfiguration of the Lord on 6 August.  This feast commemorates Jesus’ taking of Peter, James, and John with him to Mt Tabor, where they beheld as much of His divinity as they were able to bear.  The Transfiguration, with the presence of Moses the Giver of the Law and Elias the greatest of the Prophets conversing with Jesus, confirms His identity as the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets, True God and True Man.  It prefigures for us our own transfiguration by union with God after death and at the consummation of all things.  It is customary to bless grapes on this feast day, for they also are transfigured into wine, which can become the Blood of Christ in the Mystery of the Eucharist.  We will celebrate this Great Feast with a combined Vespers-Liturgy at 7 o’clock in the evening of Wednesday 5 August.
   The Parish Pastoral Council Will Meet Next Monday, 10 August
   The Parish Pastoral Council will meet on Monday 10 August at 6:30 pm in the parish hall.
   Yesterday’s Parish Picnic Enjoyed by Many
   St Joseph’s annual Parish Picnic was held yesterday on the lawn under the trees at the home of Chuck and Dalida Raad.  During the course of the day, many people came and went, enjoying the beautiful warm sunshine and gentle breeze, delicious food, good conversation, and lively games.  Many thanks to Chuck and Dalida for their hospitality, to NAMY for helping set things up, and to everyone who brought food to share.
   Our Lady of Redemption Invites You to Their Festival on 15-16 August
   Our Lady of Redemption Melkite Church in Warren, MI, invites everyone to their Feast Day Festival on Saturday and Sunday 15 and 16 August, featuring food, music, dancing, and Middle Eastern cultural activities.  Saturday 3 to 11 pm and Sunday 1 to 9 pm.  29293 Lorraine Ave., Warren, east of Van Dyke Rd., north of 12 Mile Rd.  For more information, call 586-751-6017.  If you would like to go on Saturday, contact Simone Ayoub.
   Collection to Support Church School Will Be Sunday 16 August
   Please give generously to support our church school in the special collection on 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.
   Our Lady’s Fast Begins; Celebrate the Dormition on Sunday 16 August
   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).  From 1 August through 14 August (except on 6 August, the Great Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord), the Church observes a fasting period in honor of the Most Holy Theotokos.  You are strongly encouraged to fast from midnight to noon and to abstain from eating meat during this time.  Because the actual feast day falls on Saturday this year, we will transfer our celebration of the Dormition of the Theotokos to Sunday 16 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.
   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 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.
   Enrich Your Faith on the Internet
   The internet offers many opportunities for faith enrichment.  But it is important to choose wisely; some do not offer authentic Eastern Christian information.  These are recommended:  “Every Home a Monastery” by Jessica Archuleta at www.everyhomeamonastery.com, “Coffee With Sister Vassa” at www.coffeewithsistervassa.com, and the website of our Eparchy of Newton at www.melkite.org .  Sister Vassa is also on YouTube and Facebook, and Jessica Archuleta, who writes from the perspective of an Eastern Catholic mother, also is on Facebook.