THE EPISTLE

Prokeimenon: The Lord is my strength and my song.

The Lord has chastened me sorely.

The reading is from
Saint Paul's Letter to the Romans.

BRETHREN, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us. While we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Why, one will hardly die for a righteous man—though perhaps for a good man one will dare even to die. But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we are now justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. Not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received our reconciliation.

THE EUCHARISTIC OFFERINGS

The Holy Oblations are offered at the Offertory of the Great Entrance today for the health and welfare of those living members, and for those departed this life in Christ, of the Assile, Tirakis, Shaleesh, and Nader Families.

The Coffee and Reception Hour in the Church Hall is offered today by the Marcopul, Andrews and Kidder Families. NOTE: Please do not wait to sign up for offering the Coffee Reception held every Sunday after Liturgy. The chart is posted in the hall, as well as the list of responsibilities and items needed.

PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. There will be a Memorial Service today for the late Servants of God +INES and DANTE FOLLANDRI, parents of our parishioner Judy Tirakis, also co-chair of our Ladies’ Guild. Memory Eternal!

2. Today we are honored to welcome Helen Saady, with her niece Bernadette Nader, from
Florida. Helen and her sister Margaret Shaleesh, as well as Astory Shaleesh, were early – and dedicated – workers in our parish for many years before they moved to
Florida. Helen and Bernadette are offering the Holy Oblations today for many members of their family, and are also welcoming those parishioners present this morning to the Church Hall for a special luncheon reception. Thank you Helen and Bernadette, and “welcome home!”

3. PARISH LIFE CONFERENCE! In case you were not present last Sunday, we announced that St. Anthony’s made a strong presence at the Parish Life Conference, sponsored by our sister parish of St. George of Little Falls. In fact we had more entries into the various Festivals (Contests) than any other parish in the Eastern Region. We also won many awards in the Art, Writing, Photography, and Poetry Contests, as well as two scholarships, won by Andreas Kavountzis and Christina Fernandez. Congratulations to all our entries and winners. Thank you Church School Director Nike Bach and our staff; thank you Cathy Giffen and Will Gakos, our Youth Ministry Directors. MANY YEARS!

4. We are sorry to learn of the Falling Asleep in Christ of Mr. George Hatab, one of the founding members of St. Anthony’s. He was buried from here on Tuesday. MEMORY ETERNAL!

5. This year the Biennial ARCHDIOCESE CONVENTION will gather in
Detroit, Michigan, July 25-31^st. All the works, reports, committees, etc. are held every other year (odd numbered years) at this Convention. Votes are allowed for each clergyman, and one vote per 100 persons in each parish. This will be the first Archdiocese Convention which we will hold since we have been granted “Self-Rule.” Also this will be the first Convention at which our newly consecrated Hierarchs will be present, representing their various Dioceses. If you are interested in attending this Convention, please do not wait to make your reservations.

6. NEW CELEBRATION and REMEMBRANCE PROGRAM. Please remember you can use the new “Sanctuary Candles” to celebrate birthdays, wedding anniversaries, namesdays, etc. (Red Candles), as well as remembering our departed loved ones (Blue Candles). Please see any steward in the Narthex of the Church to offer one of these week-long “prayer offerings.”

7. BUT DO NOT FORGET THAT OUR GOLDEN JUBILEE WILL SOON BE UPON US – 2006. Although it seems far away, it is NOT! We will begin our GOLDEN JUBILEE in September of 2006 and culminate at “Jubilee Weekend,” June 2-4, 2007. Please RESERVE THAT WEEKEND AND DO NOT PLAN ANYTHING ELSE! PLEASE!

8. In anticipation of our Fifty Years, St. Anthony is also in the process of refurbishing, “re-golding’ and refinishing all our Altar and Liturgical items – which honestly have not be replated for many, many years. This program will be integrated into our Golden Jubilee Celebration.

9. SUMMER AND FALL SCHEDULE

A. JULY 10^th: Regular Liturgy followed by Memorial Service for the parents of Judy Tirakis (Ines and Dante), and the Removal of the Crowns for Brian and Christeen Scarpa.

B. JULY 17^th: Regular Liturgy followed by Forty Day Memorial for the late Servant of God +Shakeeb Haggar.

C. JULY 24^th -31`st: Archdiocese Convention in
Dearborn, Michigan. Regular Liturgies will be celebrated on both the 24^th and the 31^st.

D. AUGUST 7^th: Regular Liturgy at St. Anthony’s with Hymns for the Transfiguration of the Lord.

E. AUGUST 14^th: Regular Liturgy, with Commemoration of the Dormition of Our Lady, the Theotokos (Kimisis Tis Theotokou). August 15^th is the Names’ Day of those Orthodox Christians who are named “Mary” or “Maria.” It is also the Names’ Day for those named “Panayiotis” or “Panayiota” (which means “All Holy”) and “Dhespina” (which means “Our Lady”). Those who were baptized with these names should be present and receive the Holy Eucharist on this day.

F. AUGUST 21^st: Regular Liturgy followed by Memorial Service for the late Servant of God +George Marge.

G. AUGUST 28^th and SEPTEMBER 4^th: Regular Divine Liturgies.

H. SEPTEMBER 11^th: Regular Liturgy, Opening of
Church
School and Procession of Life-Giving Cross.

I. SEPTEMBER 13^th: Vesperal Liturgy for the Feast Day of the Cross, followed by the Parish Council Meeting for September.

J. SEPTEMBER 18^th: Regular Liturgy followed by One Year Memorial Service for the late Servant of God +Julia Eliopoulos, mother of our parishioner Chris Eliopoulos.

K. SEPTEMBER 25^th: Regular Liturgy

10. We are pleased to announce the birth of twins, KYRIAKI and AARON MITTENDORF, children of Jennifer (Triant) and Jeff. The family currently resides in the
Phoenix area.

11. Today we will celebrate the Removal of the Crowns for Brian and Christeen Scarpa, who were married at St. Anthony’s on May 22^nd. Many Years to Brian and Christeen!

12. The deadline for the September/October issue of The Desert News is August 1, 2005. Anyone with information they'd like to include should contact Arlene Assile, Carol Giffen, or Alice Ziemba.

July 10, 2005

THE EPISTLE