Bulletin for Sunday 13 September 2015--Celebrating the Elevation of the Holy Cross

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.

Apostichon of the Holy Cross (Tone 5)

Joy to you, precious Cross of the Lord, guide to the blind, physician to the sick, and resurrection to all the dead.

You lifted us out of corruption and removed the curse; through you we have been made godly,

and the power of hell has been destroyed completely.

Wherefore, seeing you today lifted up by our priests, we lift up Christ who was lifted up on you,

and we bow deeply before you, seeking forgiveness and great mercy.

13 September 2015—Celebration of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.  Commemoration of the Dedication of the Church of the Resurrection; Holy Martyr Cornelius the Centurion. (Tone 7)

Readings    Apostolos:  1 Corinthians 1:18-2:4                                                                                          Gospel:  John 19:6-35

10:30 am    Orthros (Morning Prayer)

11 am          Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom for the health and salvation of Ruth Zarka (Elaine Rashid), Jeoffrey deSpelder (on his Birthday by his Family), Chris, Simone, Elias Atallah, Leila Abdallah, Awatef Chahine, Cameron Maldonado, Nawal, Zaina, Gary, Paul Keriotis, Charlotte Senno, Fares Eid, Maroun Daher, Dennis Flint, Eleanora Lindo, Max, Angel, Mikayla Slocum, Raymond Rashid, Theresa Ramsey, 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; in memory of Nickolas Nakfoor (Nimer Bulos), Louis Zarka (Mike & Somaya Siminski), Margaret Powell and Patricia Graham (Fr James).

19 September 2015—Great Vespers, 6 pm.

20 September 2015—Sunday after the Holy Cross.  Great-Martyr Eustathios, his wife Theopista, and their children Agapios and Theopista.  (Tone 8)

Readings    Apostolos:  Galatians 2:16-21                                                                                                  Gospel:  Mark 8:34-9:1

10:30 am    Orthros (Morning Prayer)

11 am          Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom in memory of Nickolas Nakfoor (Madeleine Saab & Family) and Louis Zarka (Mike & Somaya Siminski).

Music for Today

1. Troparion of the Resurrection in Tone 7, Liturgikon, page 193.
2. Troparion of the Holy Cross, in Tone 1, page 222.
3. Troparion of St Joseph, in Tone 4, page 30A.
4. Kontakion of the Holy Cross, in Tone 2, page 223.
   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 $1456 in the ordinary collection, $26 for candles, $20 for liturgies, $150 for new roof pledges, and $110 for t-shirts.  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.
   We Celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross Today
   The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross occurs on 14 September every year.  This year we are celebrating one day early.  St Helen, mother of the Emperor, St Constantine, was devoted to excavating the holy sites in and around Jerusalem.  Early in the 4^th Century, she uncovered three crosses on the hill of Calvary.  Each cross was touched to a sick person.  The cross that restored a dying woman to life was declared to be the Holy Cross.  It was preserved and venerated in the Church of the Resurrection, built by St Constantine over the burial place of Christ, until 614, when it was captured by the army of the Persian Empire.  In 628 Emperor Heraclius defeated the Persians and brought the Holy Cross back to Jerusalem.  The Emperor dressed in his most splendid robes to carry the Cross back into the church, but he found that he could not enter the door.  Zachary, Bishop of Jerusalem, told him that his pride, shown by his magnificent garments, was incompatible with the poverty and humility of Christ, preventing him from going into the church.  So the Emperor stripped off his glorious robes and wore a simple cloak to carry the Cross into the Holy Place.  All the people prostrated themselves and sang, “We bow in worship before Your Cross, O Christ, and we praise and glorify your Holy Resurrection.”  This is the song that we still sing when we venerate the Holy Cross.  On this feast, we bless the four directions of the world with the Holy Cross.  We decorate the Holy Cross with fresh basil, the herb whose name means “King.”
   Church School Classes Begin Today; Parents Invited to Class Next Sunday
   Church School classes resumed today for the coming year.  Once again, Mrs El-Hage has the elementary class, Mrs Butler has the intermediate class, and Mr deSpelder is teaching the high school class.  There will be a blessing for the students after the reading of the Gospel today.  Next Sunday, 20 September, parents are invited to come to class with their children, to learn about the lessons for this year.
   NAMY Will Meet Tonight at 6 PM
   St Joseph’s NAMY group will meet in the church hall from 6 to 8 o’clock tonight.  Among the items on the agenda are baking for the Fall Food Fest next Saturday and working at the Food Fest on 24 September.
   NAMY Works (For You)
   The members of our NAMY group are available to work for you!  Yard work, house work, garage cleaning, window washing—whatever projects you need help with.  Even a private violin concert.  This is a fundraising project; all proceeds will go into the NAMY bank account, not to the individuals doing the work.  The minimum rate is $15 per hour.  NAMY members will have a sign-up sheet available today after the liturgy, or contact any youth group member to schedule the work you want to be done.
   Prayer for Peace and Persecuted Christians at St Joseph’s Tomorrow Night
   Be sure to come to our ecumenical service of prayer for persecuted Christians and peace in the Middle East tomorrow at 7 pm.  We have invited many different churches to pray with us and to learn from our speakers about what is really happening to Christians in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine.  Our Lady’s Society will offer coffee and cookies after the prayer, and we hope that our guests will stay to continue talking about the situation.  Be sure to invite everyone you know to this community prayer service.
   Liturgy on Saturday 26 Sept. at 6 PM; No Liturgy on Sunday 27 Sept.
   Fr James will concelebrate at Deacon Joe’s 40^th Ordination Anniversary at Our Lady of Redemption, Sunday morning 27 Sept.  The only Liturgy that weekend at St Joseph’s will be Saturday 26 Sept. at 6 pm.
   Today is the Last Day to Order Parish T-Shirts
   Today is your last chance to order a t-shirt with a Cross and our parish name on the front.  Each shirt costs $15.  Our Lady’s Society members should order shirts to wear at the Fall Food Fest.  To order shirts, write your name, contact information, shirt size, and number of shirts you want on the order sheet in the parish hall.
   Solemn Prayer Assembly at State Capitol on Saturday Afternoon
   A Solemn Prayer Assembly for the unborn, marriage, and the persecuted church will take place this Saturday, 19 Sept., from 2 to 4 pm at the Capitol steps.  Many Michigan churches and speakers will be present.  Khalil Rahme will chant Melkite prayers for the dead.  Please come if you can.  See Su Butler for more information.
   Fall Food Fest Set for Thursday 24 September
   Be sure to invite your friends, neighbors, and co-workers to the Fall Food Fest sponsored by Our Lady’s Society on Thursday 24 September from 11 am to 7:30 pm.  The limited menu will feature a kafta plate and a mujaddara plate.  The dessert table will be a joint project of NAMY and Our Lady’s Society.
   Deacon Joe Daratony Will Celebrate 40^th Anniversary of his Ordination
   Protodeacon Joseph Daratony invites all parishioners to celebrate his 40^th ordination anniversary at the 11 am Liturgy on Sunday 27 Sept. at Our Lady of Redemption Church in Warren.  The Liturgy at St Joseph’s will be celebrated at 6 pm on Saturday 26 Sept.  We will also celebrate at St Joseph’s on Sunday 18 October with Liturgy and a lunch.  Deacon Joe requests donations for the relief of the suffering people of Syria.
   Fr James Will Attend Annual Clergy Conference
   Fr James will join other priests and deacons of the Diocese of Newton at the annual Clergy Conference in Phoenix, 28 Sept. to 2 Oct.  He will return to Lansing on 9 Oct. after a brief visit to his sister in Southern California.  On Sunday 4 October, Deacon Joe will preside at the service of the Typika with Holy Communion.