Today’s Readings:

Epistle: 2 Corinthians 1:6-10

Gospel: Luke 5:1-11

 

Schedule of Services: 

Saturday, September 30th, Parish Picnic. Vespers at the Cordasco home.

Sunday, October 1st, Baptismal Divine Liturgy at 9:30am. Hours begin at 9:40am.

 

Announcements:

-Many years to John Gall, who celebrates his 7th birthday tomorrow. 

-Many thanks to Caroline and Vinni for hosting coffee hour today.

-Please text Robert Fisher at (609) 306-4714 if you would like to visit or are able to bring him to church. He is now residing at 47 Lincoln Ave., Lambertville, NJ.

-Please consider donating to the Building Preservation/Rectory Fund. Sign up is located on the bulletin board. All donations are appreciated.

-Don’t forget the needy. Shop Rite gift cards or non-perishable foods are greatly appreciated.

-The annual church picnic will be held at the home of the Cordasco’s on next Saturday, September 30th, at 2 pm with Vespers to follow. We will also pray memorial prayers for the departed at the picnic.

-The Lopes Family will be received into the Orthodox Church on Sunday, October 1st, next Sunday, the Feast of the Protection of the Theotokos.

-Next Sunday, we will begin the Baptismal Liturgy at 9:30am. 

 

Prayers for: 

Departed:

Living: Nicholas, Nicholas, Karen, Steven, Paul, Archpriest Paul, Melissa, Stephen, Michele, Janet, Teresa, Irina, Victor; Vinni, Caroline, Tyler, and Aubrey, Metropolitan Onuphry and the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church; the suffering people and innocent victims of the Ukrainian/Russian war and those being persecuted; the suffering people of Yemen, Syria and Turkey, and Palestine. 

 

Words for the Day:

Sin makes man a coward; but a life in the Truth of Christ makes Him bold.
(St. John Chrysostom, On the Statues, VIII.2)

 

Whoever has become a servant of the Lord fears only his Master. But whoever is without the fear of God is often afraid of his own shadow. Fearfulness is the daughter of unbelief. A proud soul is the slave of fear; hoping in itself, in comes to such a state that it is startled by a small noise, and is afraid of the dark.
(St. John of the Ladder, The Ladder, 21.11,1,4)

 

Whoever fears God stands above all manner of fear. He has become a stranger to all the fear of this world and placed it far from himself, and no manner of trembling comes near him.
(St. Ephraim the Syrian, On the Fear of God and the Last Judgement)

Next Week’s Readings:

Epistle: Hebrews 9:1-7, 2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1. Brethren, Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness. For a tent was prepared, the first section, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence. It is called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place, having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron's staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant. Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. These preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, 7 but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” Therefore,“Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

 

Gospel: Luke 10:38-42; 11:27-28, Luke 6:31-36.  Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.