SS.

kosmas & damianos Orthodox Church (goa)

703 W. Center Street, Rochester, MN (507) 282-1529 http://www.rochesterorthodoxchurch.org

frmark@rochesterorthodoxchurch.org Rev. Fr. Mark Muoz, Proistamenos

/APOLYTIKIA FOR TODAY

, , , , , , , , . Let the Heavens rejoice; let earthly things be glad; for the Lord has wrought might with His arm, He has trampled upon death by death. The first-born of the dead has He become. From the depths of Hades has He delivered us, and has granted great mercy to the world. ' , ' , , . O God of our Fathers, ever dealing with us according to Thy gentleness: take not Thy mercy from us, but by their entreaties guide our life in peace.
/KONTAKION FOR TODAY

, , , , , , . , , , , . O Protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the Creator most constant: despise not the suppliant voices of those who have sinned; but be quick, O good one, to come unto our aid who in faith cry unto you: Hasten to intercede, and speed to make supplication, you who ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor you.

4th Sunday of St. Matthew

St. Symeon the Fool for Christ July 21st, 2013

Todays scripture readings

Epistle reading

St. Paul's Letter to the Romans 6:18-23 Prokeimenon. Mode 3. Psalm 46.6,1 Sing praises to our God, sing praises. Verse: Clap your hands, all you nations. BRETHREN, having been set free from sin, you have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once yielded your members to impurity and to greater and greater iniquity, so now yield your members to righteousness for sanctification. When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But then what return did you get from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the return you get is sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Gospel pericope

Matthew 8:5-13 At that time, as Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, beseeching him and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, in terrible distress." And he said to him, "I will come and heal him." But the centurion answered him, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard him, he marveled, and said to those who followed him, "Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth." And to the centurion Jesus said, "Go; be it done for you as you have believed." And the servant was healed at that very moment.

Announcements
Liturgical/Program Schedule:
Mon. July 22nd: NO AC/DC Religious Ed Tues. July 23rd- Wed. July 31st: Fr. Mark and GOYANS away on Mission Trip to Mexico Wed. July 24th: Philoxenia Meeting, 6pm Sat. July 27th: Festival Baking, 9:30am

Greek Fest 13:

is quickly approaching! Our festival has grown over the years which translates into more work and more workers needed. Subcommittee leads will be contacting parishioners to solicit their assistance. Please consider your availability for working shifts on the weekend of Aug. 23rd-25th, theres a signup sheet in the Narthex. Thank you to all who are anticipating lending a hand this year! Festival Baking: please join us this Saturday, July 27th at 9:30am for our next baking event! Everyone is encouraged to participate.
HOW TO RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNIONOnly Orthodox Christians (i.e. the Orthodox Church
does not observe open communion) in good standing are encouraged to receive Holy Communion frequently, provided they have prepared themselves spiritually, mentally and physically. They must be on time for the Divine Liturgy, and be in a Christ-like, humble state of mind. They should be in a confession relationship with their priest or spiritual father, have observed the fasts of the Church, and they should have self-examined their conscience. On the day of receiving Holy Communion, it is not proper to eat or drink anything before coming to church. When you approach to receive Holy Communion, state your Christian (baptismal) name clearly, and hold the red communion cloth to your chin. After receiving, wipe your lips on the cloth, step back carefully, hand the cloth to the next person and make the sign of the Cross as you step away. Please do not be in a rush while communing! Please take special care not to bump the Holy Chalice.

Pearls from the desert

The thief was on the cross and he was justified by a single word; and Judas who was counted in the number of the apostles lost all his labor in one single night and descended from heaven to hell. Therefore, let no-one boast of his good works, for all those who trust in themselves fall. Xanthias If a king wishes to subdue a city belonging to enemies, he first of all keeps them without bread and water, and the enemy harassed by hunger, surrenders; so it is in respect of the hostile passions, for if a man endures fasting and hunger , his enemies become stricken with weakness in the soul. John

Todays liturgical commemorations

St. Symeon the Fool for Christ: These Saints were from the city of Edessa in Mesopotamia and flourished during the reign of Justin the Younger (565 -578). After a pilgrimage to Jerusalem they were moved with a desire to forsake the world; they were tonsured monks by the Abbot Nicon, and soon after left the monastery to struggle together in the wilderness near the Dead Sea. When they had passed a little more than thirty years together in silence and prayer, Symeon, having reached the heights of dispassion, departed for Emesa in Syria, where he passed the rest of his life playing the fool, saving many souls from sin while hiding his sanctity with seemingly senseless behavior. He reposed in 570; by the providence of God, John, who had remained in the wilderness, departed soon after. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Now you are the body of Christ, and individually members of it.

STEWARDSHIP CORNER

1 Corinthians 12:27 To be a member of the Church is not the same as being a member of a club or civic group. The Church is the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12. Therefore, to be a member of the Church is to be a part of the living body of Christ. Just as every member has a different function in the human body, so do we each have a specific function or calling in His Church. God did not create each of us to do the same thing. If a member of the human body is missing or not functioning, the entire body does not reach its full potential. In the same way, without all the members of the Church participating and working together, our ministries do not reach their full potential. The Church needs not only to maintain its current ministries, but also to grow its ministries and add new ministries as needs or opportunities arise. Often new ministries come about because one member has an idea and the gifts, talent, training, abilities, education and skills to make it a reality. Each of us is called to offer our gifts as we have been blessed and serve according to the task that God has placed before us in service to His Church. WHAT CAN WE DO? Holy Scripture provides guiding principles for us as members of the Church for building up the body of Christ: Promote Truth and Unity In Ephesians 4:25 we read, "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body." Use Our God-given Abilities to Serve In I Corinthians chapter 12 we read of the importance of using our gifts to serve the Church. Your gift is unique and important. The proper functioning of the body requires that you use your gifts in service to God. Regular and Cheerful Giving In I Corinthians 16:2 we read On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his/her income. In this way, we offer back to Gods Church the first fruits of our labor, realizing that all we possess comes from Him. In II Corinthians 9:7 we read Each person should give what he/she has decided in his/her heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Keep in mind that the expenses of the Church increase every year. In order to grow our ministries, your stewardship contributions must also increase each year. Let your life be an example to others In chapter 5 of the Gospel of Matthew Jesus tells us that we "are the light of the world. He calls on us to let our light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.