+ Sunday, August 27th 2006 +

 11th Sunday after Holy Pentecost

Tone: 2                                                             +                                      Eothinion: 11

*******************************************************************************************************

+ In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit +

 

“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, You offered Your life on the Cross to take away the sins of the world. You granted forgiveness to Peter and to the harlot who turned to You with tears. You forgave the debts of the two debtors and also said, “him who comes to me I will not cast out.” Lord, receive me, a sinner and hear my prayer of repentance. I acknowledge my sins and transgressions, both voluntary and involuntary, known and unknown. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your Grace, to turn away from my sins, and to amend my life according to Your teachings. Forgive me and help me to walk in righteousness, that I may praise Your Holy Name forever. Amen”

+ The Epistle +

Verse: “The Lord is my strength and my song, 

The Lord has chastened me sorely”.

The Reading is from the First Letter of St. Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians.

(Chapter 9:2-12)

Brethren, you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. My defense to those who examine me is this: Do we have no right to eat and drink? Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working? Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock? Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it oxen God is concerned about? Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the Gospel of Christ.

 

 

+ The Holy Gospel +

The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew

(Chapter 18:23-35)

 

The Lord spoke this parable: The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”

 

Meditation: From the Writings of St. John Chrysostom

Two things therefore does God here require, both to condemn ourselves for our sins, and to forgive others; and the former for the sake of the latter, that this may become more easy {for he who considers his own sins is more indulgent to his fellow servant}; and not merely to forgive with the lips, but from the heart… Let us not then thrust the sword into ourselves by being revengeful… For if we be willing, no one shall be able to injure us, but even our enemies shall advantage us in the greatest degree… We punish ourselves by hating others, even as on the other hand we benefit ourselves by loving them.       

 

+ Upcoming Services +

“Let my Prayer be set before Thee as Incense, and the lifting up of my Hands

as the Evening Sacrifice” (Psalm 141:2)

 

v     Tuesday August 29, 06 Feast of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist

(A day of strict fast)

 

Ø      Every Saturday at 6:00 p.m. - Great Vespers

 

·        Announcements & Activities *

 

“It is good to be Zealous in a Good Thing Always…” (Galatians 4:18)

 

ü      40th Anniversary Celebration of Metropolitan PHILIP

A letter was mailed out to all our registered parishioners a good while ago concerning the 40th Anniversary of His Eminence Metropolitan PHILIP, and the gift that His Grace Bishop ANTOUN has been planning to present to His Eminence at the Official Celebration in Detroit on the weekend of October 8th 2006. We would like to remind you to send your cheques to the Cathedral ASAP. As his spiritual children, we hope that we might present our beloved Metropolitan a generous token of our love that reflects his bountiful love he has given this Archdiocese for the past 40 years.

 

ü      Fellowship of St. John the Divine

All members of the Fellowship of St. John the Divine are asked to attend the Great Vespers Service every Saturday at 6:00 p.m. Following the Service, a Bible Study/Religious Discussion will take place in the Conference Room, and once in a while there will be an outing for dinner, etc. Please give us your email address if you are not receiving our weekly online newsletter.

 

ü      Teen SOYO

All members of the Teen SOYO are asked to attend the weekly Teen Night Meetings (Tuesdays 7-9 p.m.) no matter what the topic or activities are! We have a mix of activities: Sports, Games, Discussions, Bible Studies, etc. Please come on time, we begin every Teen Night Meeting with the Little Compline Service at 7:00 p.m. sharp.

 

ü      Message from St. Elias Church School

Church School Registration will be on Sunday, September 10, 2006 from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. in the Church School Building. This year we will be starting at a new time: 9:30 a.m. The Divine Liturgy will begin at 10:00 a.m. and this will enable us all to leave Church a little earlier and enjoy extra time with our families! This is a benefit for us all! (Priests, Teachers, and Families). Please try to register early (September 10th) so that we may begin our classes with a full enrollment. Late registering means that your child misses important lessons. We begin our classes on Sunday, September 17th at 9:30 a.m. We look forward to an exciting year of learning about our Holy Orthodox Faith combined with wonderful activities. Make it a top priority to register your children for Church School! Yours in Christ,

Joann Nicholson, Superintendent.

 

ü      15th Anniversary of St. Mary Church - Montreal

The Archpriest Michel Fawaz, Pastor

The Parish Council and the Committees of St. Mary’s Antiochian Orthodox Church – Montreal, are very pleased to inform you that from September 8th to 10th of September 2006, His Eminence Metropolitan PHILIP, Primate of our Archdiocese, will be with us for the celebrations of the 15th Anniversary of our Parish, in the presence of his Grace Bishop Alexander Moufarrej.

 

You are cordially invited to participate in the Church

 

-         Saturday, September 9, 2006: 5.45 P.M removal of the Veil from Stone Mark commemorating the Church acquisition.

-          Saturday, September 9, 2006: 6.00 P.M Vespers.

-          Saturday, September 9, 2006: 8.00P.M  Banquet at the Sheraton – Laval, 2440 Autoroute Des laurentides.(tickets 100$)

-          Sunday, September 10, 2006: 10.00 A.M Matins, Divine Liturgy.

-          Sunday, September 10, 2006: 1.00 P.M Lunch at St Mary’s Church hall.(tickets 25$ for adults, 10$ for children under 12 years).

 

Please confirm your presence as soon as possible @ (514) 858-7004

 

 

 

+ St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral +

(2975 Riverside Drive – Ottawa)

Cathedral Office: 700 Ridgewood Ave

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1V 6N1

Telephone: (613) 738-2222, Fax: (613) 737-4392

Email: info@steliascathedral.com, Website: www.steliascathedral.com

The Rt. Rev. Bishop ALEXANDER

Bishop of Ottawa, East Canada and Upstate New York

 

The Very Rev. Father Ghattas Hajal – Dean

Rev. Father Mark Arsenios Wyatt – Assistant Priest

The Very Rev. Father Daniel Matheson – Emeritus