September 4, 2005 | Antiochian.org Orthodox Church

ST.
ANTHONY
ANTIOCHIAN
ORTHODOX
CHURCH

385 Ivy Lane, Bergenfield, NJ
07621

September 4, 2005

PARISH

PHONE: (201) 568-8840 V. Rev. Joseph Allen, Pastor

FAX: (201) 568-6933 Dn. Peter Boulukos, Assistant

St. Anthony’s web page: http://www.stanthonysorthodox.org

Antiochian Archdiocese web page: http://www.antiochian.org

ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

Epistle: l Corinthians 9:2-12 Priest-Monk Babylas of
Antioch

Gospel: Matthew 18:23-35

Tone: Two

THE EPISTLE

Prokeimenon: The Lord is my strength and my song.

The Lord has chastened me sorely.

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

BRETHREN, you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. This is my defense to those who would examine me. Do we not have the right to our food and drink? Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a wife, as the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Who tends a flock without getting some of the milk? Do I say this on human authority? Does not the law say the same? For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain." Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of a share in the crop. If we have sown spiritual good among you, is it too much if we reap your material benefits? If others share this rightful claim upon you, do not we still more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.

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 Murtechaly Family.

PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. Today we welcome Father Peter Jacobsen who will lead us in today’s Liturgy. Father Peter celebrates BOTH the Western Rite Liturgy and the Eastern Byzantine Liturgy. Father Peter will be leaving within the next few months for the Southeast Diocese where he will serve as a substitute priest for that Diocese. Thank you Father Peter and may God be with you! Father Joseph will be serving Liturgy next Sunday, September 11^th.

2. Father Joseph is currently directing the Residency Program of the Antiochian House of Studies. Every year the Residency Program is offered at the Heritage and
Learning
Center in
Ligonier, PA. The program began on Monday, August 29^th, and ends September 9^th. The students from the various programs within the House of Studies (St. Stephen’s Diploma program, the Masters Degree program, and the Doctor of Ministry program) gather to further their work, education, and ministry. Also present are all Antiochian Seminarians (studying at St. Vladimir’s, Holy Cross, and St. Tikhon) and the Ukrainian Orthodox Seminarians of St. Sophia Seminary. Students are comprised of all Orthodox jurisdictions, e.g. Romanian, Serbian, Russian, etc., as well as non-Orthodox who are interested in the Eastern Christian Tradition, e.g. Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopalian, etc. The “mix” is truly enlightening, not to speak of “surprising!”

3. Next Sunday, September 11^th, we will celebrate the Procession of the Life-Giving Cross. The Cross will be carried in procession throughout the Church, commemorating the discovery of the Cross by Sts. Constantine and Helen. The actual Feast day will be celebrated at the Evening Divine Liturgy, Tuesday Evening, September 13^th at 7:30 PM.

4. All Parish Council Members should be present at the meeting scheduled after the Vesperal Liturgy on the 13^th. This is the first meeting of the new liturgical year! Of course, all parishioners present should prepare to receive the Holy Eucharist on that evening.

5. Also next Sunday, September 11^th, we will officially open our
Church
School for the academic year (2005-2006). We are blessed with a dedicated staff, being led by Director Nike Bach, teachers, and parents. PARENTS ARE CRITICAL TO A HEALTHY AND VIBRANT CHRISTIAN EDUCATION PROGRAM! It is important that they bring their children AND COME TO THE LITURGY WITH THEM! If it is not important to you, it will not be important to them.

6.
CHURCH
SCHOOL

A. There will be a Faculty and Staff Meeting on Tuesday, September 6^th in the
Church
School, beginning at 8:00 PM.

B. On Sunday, September 11^th, STUDENTS REPORT TO THE CHURCH SCHOOL AT 10:00 AM, while parents go immediately to the Church Hall where we will begin this procession into the Church.

7. SUMMER AND FALL SCHEDULE

A. SEPTEMBER 11^th: Regular Liturgy, Opening of
Church
School and Procession of Life-Giving Cross. Divine Liturgy will be followed by a One Year Memorial for +SELMA HAJJAR.

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

C. SEPTEMBER 14^th: BAKERY BOOTH meeting for Festival ’05 with Father Joseph in the Multi-Purpose Room, 7:30 PM

D. 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.

E. SEPTEMBER 25^th: Regular Liturgy; Tryouts for Christmas Show, A Christmas Carol; 10 AM in the Church Hall; Teens and grades 4-7 only.

F. OCTOBER 2^nd: Regular Liturgy

G. OCTOBER 9^th: Liturgy followed by AWARDS SUNDAY, Memorial Service for +EFFIE AVAKIAN (One Year) and +AGNES SAAD (7 Years). Liturgy will also be followed by the Baptism of KEVIN SPIRO NASSERI.

H. OCTOBER 16^th: Regular Liturgy, followed by the Baptism of MARINA KOULIKOURDIS WONG.

I. OCTOBER 23^rd: The 30^th Anniversary Celebration of Father Elias Bitar, pastor of our sister parish, St. George of Little Falls, and Vicar General of our Archdiocese.

8. AT THE
ANTIOCHIAN
VILLAGE

A. September 2-5:
Mission and Evangelism Conference

B. September 30-October 2:
St. Thekla Pilgrimage

C. November 3-6, 2005; Orthodox Institute for Christian Education. See Nike Bach for information.

D. November 9 – 13: Women Graduates of Orthodox Theology

9. St. Anthony’s GOLDEN JUBILEE: September 2006 to June 2007! “Jubilee Weekend” is scheduled for June 2-4, 2007. RESERSE THAT WEEKEND and please do not plan any events on that weekend. More on the year’s plans will follow soon. We will be 50 years old! We expect full participation from our parishioners and all our groups!

10. Teen SOYO Party at the Gakos’ House on Saturday, September 10^th, at 2 PM. The first Teen SOYO Meeting of the year will be September 11^th after Divine Liturgy. All teens (Grades 7-12) should plan to attend both of these events.