Sunday before the Elevation of the Cross
St. Nicholas Bulletin - September 26, 2021
|
|
Christ is in our midst! Христос међу нама! Cristo esta entra nosotros! |
|
Homily on the Sunday before
the Elevation of the Cross
from His Emminence, Archbishop ELPIDEPHOROS of the GOA
|
|
|
My Beloved Christians,
I rejoice to be with you today, fresh from a spiritually enriching visit to our Holy Mother Church in Constantinople, and from the observances of 9/11 at our Saint Nicholas Church and National Shrine at the World Trade Center. I cannot help but note that in the aftermath of every September Eleventh commemoration, we arrive very soon at the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
Today, it so happens that we celebrate the Sunday before the Exaltation, and with a very special Reading from the Holy Gospel. The Lord Jesus compares His Cross to a very unusual incident from the life of Moses, as recorded in the Book of Numbers in the Old Testament. He says:
“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” [1]
Let us consider, for a moment, what this “serpent in the wilderness” was, and why the Lord compared Himself to it.
The story concerns the Children of Israel after they were liberated from Egypt, and had passed through the parted waters of the Red Sea. Saint Paul sees in this an image of our own Baptism, for he writes to the Corinthians:
Now, brothers and sisters, I want you to know that our forefathers were all under one cloud, and they all crossed through the sea. And they were all baptized into Moses by the cloud and by the sea. [2]
The miracle of the “cloud and sea” is very much like our Baptism and Chrismation, because we are reborn through water, and infused with the Holy Spirit, who is the “cloud” mentioned in the Scripture.
But even after such a great wonder as the Red Sea parting, the Children of Israel strayed in their hearts from God, as they wandered in the wilderness of the desert of Sinai, on their way to the Promised land. And are we really so different, my friends? Whatever age we receive Baptism and the Grace of the Holy Spirit, we also tend to stray – just like lost sheep.
When the Children of Israel strayed, they were engulfed by snakes and serpents who attacked them, and many died of their wounds. Many more became sick. But the Lord spoke to Moses and said: “Make a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when they look upon it, shall live.” [3] Moses obeyed God, and “made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked at the serpent of brass, he lived.” [4] That was all they had to do. Just look at the Serpent of Brass on the pole, and they would be healed.
My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ:
This is why we raise the Precious Cross on the Feast of its Elevation and at all times with the Cross of Blessing, or even making the sign of the cross on our minds and hearts. Because it is the shining icon of the Cross on which our Lord Jesus Christ gave up His life for the life of the world – for your life, for my life, for every life. Even if our lives are engulfed by evil, the Cross can rescue us. There is no act of hatred, violence, or misery that it cannot overcome. It is the “ὅπλον εἰρήνης, ἀήττητον τρόπαιον – the weapon of peace, the unconquerable trophy.” [5]
The Cross is the ultimate act of love, demonstrating God’s love for every human being, no matter who they are or what they have done. As the Lord Jesus said: “Truly, God so loved the world, that He gave His Only-Begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish, but possess eternal life.”[6]
Did you hear that, my friends? That we might not perish, but possess eternal life. This is the healing that happens in our lives when we look to the Cross of our Lord, and we understand that we also must bear the infirmities of others with the same love and forgiveness that He has shown to us.
That image of the serpent reminds us that all of our imperfections, sins, and shortcomings were taken by Christ and transfigured on the Cross by love. And it means that we can, by His grace and power, do the same. We can transform the negativity around us through love, through mercy, through forgiveness.
Even on this Twelfth Day of September, just one day after our annual commemoration of 9/11, we can transform the hatred, intolerance, and violence that marked that day, through engaging our faith, by renewing our hope, and by expressing our love.
May we always have this awareness and will to exceed ourselves, and go to His Precious Cross for our own healing, and to demonstrate that love can heal the world.
Amen.
[1] John 3:14-15.
[2] I Corinthians 10:1-2.
[3] Numbers 21:8.
[4] Numbers 21:9.
[5] Kontakion of the Feast of the Universal Exaltation.
[6] John 3:16.
|
|
|
Commemoration of the Founding of the Church of the Resurrection (Holy Sepulchre) at Jerusalem, St John of Prislop, St Peter of Atroe, Hieromartyr Cornelius the Centurion, Hieromartyr Julian of Galatia, Greatmartyr Ketevan Queen of Georgia, Martyr Chronides of Alexandria and those with him, Martyrs Macrobius and Gordian at Tomi in Romania and those with them, Venerable Hierotheus the Younger of Iveron Mount Athos
RESURRECTIONAL TROPARION—TONE 5
Let us, the faithful, praise and worship the Word, co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit, born for our salvation from the Virgin; for He willed to be lifted up on the Cross in the flesh, to endure death, and to raise the dead by His glorious Resurrection.
FOUNDING TROPARION—TONE 4
Thou hast revealed the beauty of the holy dwelling place of Thy glory on earth to be like the splendor of the heavenly firmament, O Lord. Through the prayers of the Theotokos, strengthen it for ever and ever and accept our supplication which we ceaselessly offer to Thee therein, the life and resurrection of all!
FOREFEAST TROPARION—TONE 4
We offer in supplication the life-creating Cross of Your goodness, O Lord, which You have granted to us although we are unworthy. Through the Theotokos, save all Orthodox Christians, O only Lover of man!
RESURRECTIONAL KONTAKION—TONE 5
You descended into hell, O my Savior, shattering its gates as Almighty, resurrecting the dead as Creator, and destroying the sting of death. You have delivered Adam from the curse, O Lover of Man, and we cry to You: “O Lord, save us!”
FOUNDING KONTAKION—TONE 4
The Church has been revealed to be a heaven filled with light, which enlightens all the faithful. Standing within it we cry: “Establish this house, O Lord!”
|
|
~Scripture Readings of the Day~ |
|
READERS:
Matins: Lenny Tepsic Epistle: Matthew Hoover
Matins Next Week: Milan Radanovic Epistle Next Week: Wayln John
EPISTLE: Galatians 6:11-18; 2 Corinthians 1: 21 - 2:4
DEACON: Let us pay attention.
PRIEST: Peace be unto all!
READER: And with your spirit!
DEACON: Wisdom.
READER: The Prokeimenon in the Sixth Tone: O Lord, save Your people and bless Your inheritance!
CHOIR: O Lord, save Your people and bless Your inheritance!
READER: v: To You, O Lord, will I call. O my God, be not silent to me!
CHOIR: O Lord, save Your people and bless Your inheritance!
READER: O Lord, save Your people...
CHOIR: ...and bless Your inheritance!
DEACON: Wisdom!
READER: The Reading is from the second Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Corinthians.
DEACON: Let us attend!
READER: Brethren, see with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand! As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised, that they may boast in your flesh. But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. Moreover I call God as witness against my soul, that to spare you I came no more to Corinth. Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand. But I determined this within myself, that I would not come again to you in sorrow. For if I make you sorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me? And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, having confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all. For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.
PRIEST: Peace be unto you, reader!
READER: And with your spirit! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
READER: I have exalted one chosen out of My people.
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
READER: For My hand shall defend him, and My arm shall strengthen him.
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
АПОСТОЛ: Галаћанима 6:11-18; 2 Коринћанима 1: 21 - 2:4
Ђакон: Пазимо
Свештеник: Мир свима!
Читач: I Духу Твоме!
Ђакон: Премудрост
Читач : ПРОКИМЕН- глас 6 Спаси, Господе, народ Свој и благослови наследство Своје.
Хор: Спаси, Господе, народ Свој и благослови наследство Своје.
Читач: Теби, Господе Боже мој, вапим: немој ме оставити без одговора.
Хор: Спаси, Господе, народ Свој и благослови наследство Своје.
Читач: Спаси, Господе, народ Свој
Хор: и благослови наследство Своје.
Ђакон: Премудрост
Читач: Читање је од посланице Светог апостола Павла до Галатима
Ђакон: Пазимо
Читач: Браћо, видите како вам великим словима написах својом руком! Који хоће да се допадну по тијелу, они вас приморавају да се обрезујете, само да не буду гоњени за крст Христов. Јер ни сами обрезани не држе закон, него хоће да се ви обрезујете да би се вашим тијелом хвалили. А ја, Боже сачувај, да се чим другим хвалим осим крстом Господа нашега Исуса Христа, којим се мени разапе свијет и ја свијету. Јер у Христу Исусу нити обрезање што помаже нити необрезање, него нова твар. И који год буду живјели по овоме правилу, мир на њих и милост, и на Израиљ Божији. Убудуће да ми нико не ствара тешкоће, јер ја ране Господа Исуса на тијелу својему носим. Благодат Господа нашега Исуса Христа са духом вашим, браћо. Амин.
Бог је онај који нас утврђује с вама у Христу, и који нас помаза, Који нас и запечати, и даде залог Духа у срца наша. А ја призивам Бога за свједока на своју душу, да штедећи вас не дођох више у Коринт. Не као да господаримо над вјером вашом, него смо помагачи ваше радости; јер у вјери стојите чврсто. А ово одлучих у себи да вам опет не дођем у жалости. Јер, ако вас ја жалостим, ко је тај који мене весели, ако не онај кога ја жалостим? И ово вам баш написах, да када дођем не будем ожалошћен од оних од којих би требало да се радујем, уздајући се у све вас, да је радост моја радост свију вас. Јер од многе жалости и с болом срца написах вам са многим сузама, не да се ожалостите него да познате преобилну љубав коју имам према вама.
Свештеник: Мир свима Читачу!
Читач: I Духом Твоме! Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Читач: Похитај, напредуј и владај, ради истине, кротости и правде.
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Читач: Љубиш правду и мрзиш безакоње.
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
|
|
LITURGY GOSPEL:
John 3: 13-17; Matthew 22: 1-14
Jesus said, "No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."
At that time, Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.”’ But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’ So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests. “But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ “For many are called, but few are chosen.”
|
|
ЈЕВАНЂЕЉЕ:
Јован 3:13-17, Матеј 22:1-14
И нико се није попео на небо осим Онај који сиђе с неба, Син Човјечији који је на небу. И као што Мојсеј подиже змију у пустињи, тако треба да се подигне Син Човјечији, да сваки који вјерује у њега не погине, него да има живот вјечни, јер Бог тако завоље свијет да је Сина својега Једнороднога дао, да сваки који вјерује у њега не погине, него да има живот вјечни. Јер не посла Бог Сина својега на свијет да суди свијету, него да се свијет спасе кроз њега.
Каза Господ причу ову: Царство небеско је као човјек цар који начини свадбу сину своме. И посла слуге своје да зову званице на свадбу; и не хтједоше доћи. Опет посла друге слуге говорећи: Кажите званицама: Ево сам објед свој уготовио, јунци моји и храњеници поклани су, и све је готово: дођите на свадбу. А они не маривши отидоше, овај у поље своје, а онај у трговину своју; А остали ухватише слуге његове, изружише их, и побише. И када то чу цар онај, разгњеви се и пославши војску своју, погуби крвнике оне, и град њихов запали. Тада рече слугама својим: Свадба је готова, а званице не бјеху достојне. Идите, дакле, на раскршћа и кога год нађете, позовите на свадбу. И изишавши слуге оне на путеве, сабраше све које нађоше, и зле и добре; и напуни се свадбена дворана гостију. А ушавши цар да види госте, угледа ондје човјека необучена у свадбено рухо. И рече му: Пријатељу, како си ушао амо без свадбеног руха? А он оћута. Тада рече цар слугама: Свежите му руке и ноге, па га узмите и баците у таму најкрајњу; ондје ће бити плач и шкргут зуба. Јер су многи звани, али је мало изабраних.
|
|
|
~ The Week Ahead: Scriptures and Services ~ |
|
October Birthdays
Caroline Donato (Oct 2), Dave Milletics (Oct 2), Sonora Viola Mae Cruz (Oct 2), Adeline & Peter Meadow (Oct 3), Marcia Breinich (Oct 4), Madison Vorkapich (Oct 5), Lenny Tepsich (Oct 6), Alex Filepas (Oct 6), Owen Kingsbury (Oct 8), Dejan Raic (Oct 11), Arlene Barber (Oct 12), Milan Yovic (Oct 15), Yovanka Hoover (Oct 17), Andrea Govelovich (Oct 17), Nicole Petrovich (Oct 18), Anastasija Gligorevic (Oct 18), Nina Gilroy (Oct 19), Mira Lukic (Oct 26), John Nicholas Hernjak (Oct 27), Carole Radosinovich (Oct 29), Jimi Werner (Oct 29), Marijana Rocknage (Oct 30), Kate Nation, Brad Kingsbury, David Christ, Ognjen Pejanovic
October Anniversaries
Bobbi & William Wenner (Oct 1), Katya Kotchnyeva & Eric Garvin (Oct 10), Jean & Paul Martin (Oct 11), Angie & Jim Bagley (Oct 12), Daria & Dave Milletics (Oct 16), Mackenzie & Stefan Lazarevic (Oct 21), Janis & Greg Meadow (Oct 29)
|
|
|
ST NICHOLAS SENIORS SLAVA (TODAY)
The Seniors are celebrating their Slava today, September 26 and invite all of you to the Church Social Hall after Liturgy for cake and coffee to celebrate our Slava. Hope to see you there!
KSS PULLED PORK & PALACINKE SALE (ORDER DEADLINE TODAY)
The Kolo Srpskih Sestara/Circle of the Serbian Sisters will hold their annual fundraiser on Sunday, October 3, with a Drive Thru format. All sales are PRE-ORDER by TODAY, Sept 26. The menu will include pulled pork sandwiches for $5, cheese palacinke for $2, strawberry and applebutter palacinkes for $1.50. Pick up will be from 12 pm to 1 pm on October 3. Forms are available on the tutors stand, or call Linda Yandric at 717-939-5309
CHURCH SCHOOL RESUMES TODAY
Classes will begin in person TODAY, September 26 after liturgy. Glory to God!
SOTAYA FOLKLORE REHEARSALS
On Sunday, October 10, we will resume folklore rehearsals for Junior Choir, Kolo and Tambura after Liturgy.
ADULT FOLKLORE
First Meeting: Saturday, October 16 from 6:30pm—8pm.
SOTAYA ČEVAPI SALE
Our SOTAYA Group is once again selling frozen packs of cevapi at $12/pack (32 pieces). To order see Dn. Bojan Gligorevic, Matthew Hoover, or call the office at 717.939.3872.
CHOIR SOUP & POGACA SALE
Orders due Sunday, October 24th
Pick Up Sunday, October 31st
Please place orders with Yovanka Hoover (717-623-8588) or give order forms to Daria in the church office (forms are available at the tutors stand)
By the Quart:
Chicken Paprikas: $10 Posno Veggie: $ 8
Beef Stew: $10 Pogaca: $ 4 per loaf
|
|
September Charity
St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary
The mission of St. Vladimir’s Seminary is to “serve Christ, His Church, and the world through Orthodox Christian theological education, research, and scholarship, and the promotion of inter-Orthodox cooperation”.
The Seminary offers educational programs for clergy, those preparing for clerical ministries, lay leaders and religious scholars so they “may build up Orthodox communities, foster Church growth through mission and evangelism, teach the Orthodox faith, and care for those in need”. The Seminary has a diverse student body and a strong faculty committed to teaching, learning, and serving the Church to the glory of God. Academic programs include Master level degrees in divinity, theology, and religious studies for lay leaders. A stimulating array of special academic programs is also available. We encourage you to visit the St. Vladimir’s Seminary website listed above to learn more about the exciting and challenging learning opportunities, programs and resources.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
