Blessing of Vehicles–
It is a well-established custom to bless vehicles on the Feast of the Holy Prophet Elijah, July 20. This practice is based upon Elijah’s association with modes of transportation, most specifically the chariot—(read 2 Kings 2 and the story of Elijah being taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire.) This year, Prophet Elijah’s feast falls on a Sunday. Vehicles will be blessed immediately after the Divine Liturgy.
Congratulations--
Congratulations to Lydia Osolinsky, daughter of Bill and Rosemarie, and to her fiancé, Michael Davis, who will be crowned in Holy Matrimony in Holy Trinity Cathedral, San Francisco, on Sunday, July 20. We offer our congratulations to the new couple as well their parents. May the Lord God crown the newly-married couple with glory and honor and grant them many happy years together!
Semi-Annual Parish Meeting–
Our semi-annual parish meeting will take place on Sunday, July 20, after coffee hour. Reports on parish life and activities will be presented, a review of the budget will take place, and an update will be given on Phase II of the parking lot project.
Adult Education Classes–
A four-week series of adult education classes will be held on Wednesday evenings in July, beginning July 9 and concluding July 31. The topic of discussion will be “The Jesus Prayer,” the practice of personal and family prayer, and prayer within the Orthodox Tradition. Classes will begin at 7:00 p.m. and conclude by 8:30 p.m. For more information, please speak with Father David.
Archpriest
David Brum, Rector
Protodeacon
Alexis Washington
Regular Services
Saturday:
5:00 PM Great Vespers
Sunday:
9:00 AM Divine Liturgy
© 2008 - Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church 602-253-9515 All rights reserved.
|
Three Types of Thought |
Announcements for July
". . .In as much as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren,
you have done it unto me" (Matthew 25:40)
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
These brief verses from the Gospel of Saint Matthew show us the complete and perfect
lifestyle of a Christian. Throughout Holy Scriptures, we find our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ declaring the importance of giving to all who are in need. It is not
enough to show love only toward those who love us but to all of the Father’s children.
Accordingly, we are exhorted to do what w can in ministering to others. We are also
reminded that all that we have are gifts from Him. Our times, talents and treasures,
literally our very lives were all given to us by our Creator.
Before His crucifixion,
Jesus said that we will always have the poor among us. Here in the Valley of the
Sun we see poverty, hunger, a growing social assistance or welfare system, an increase
in homelessness, and a crime rate that has gone wild. Despite all of the programs
at the national, state and local levels to alleviate these problems, we see that
the results have fallen far short of their desired goals.
History shows us that the
Orthodox Church, has had a very illustrious, successful history in the area of ministering
to those in need. You might recall that in the early Church, all things were held
in common, and that the first deacons were appointed to assist the poor. At the time
of Constantine the Great, the Church was finally "legalized" within the Roman Empire.
Christianity became the Empire’s principal and predominant faith. Constantine understood
that the foremost administrators who could be relied upon not only to get the job
done, but also in terms of personal integrity and sincerity were the Christians.
The Empire began to be built around their beliefs.
The poor, the elderly and even the incarcerated were ministered to by the Church.
Institutions such as the schools, hospitals, orphanages, libraries and many others
were administered by the Church, and not merely by the state. The ministries were,
of course, highly successful. The poor, the naked and the hungry were well cared
for, and the institutions were well run.
In reading Matthew 25, vs. 31-46, we see
our Lord and Savior focusing in on the Last Judgment. This passage teaches us to
show our love through good works, such as feeding the hungry, giving shelter to the
stranger, clothing the naked, visiting the imprisoned, and so on—in short to do all
we can for others who are in need. Jesus promises us the reward of eternal life if
we do it "even unto the least" of His brethren. Failing to carry out His commandments
of love "even unto the least" of His brethren when we have the capabilities of doing
so, we can only look to everlasting punishment. These are the promises, (and warning)
of God Himself.
We read in the Epistle of James, Chapter 2, ". . .show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works" and that, ". . .faith without works is dead." He also says, ". . .that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only." We see here that we must always keep our attention focused upon the good works that our Lord Jesus Christ intended for us to do—as individuals and as a parish community—even unto the least of His brothers.
With love in the Lord,
Father David