Sunday Bulletin 10/10/21

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

Sunday, Oct. 10 – 20th Sunday after Pentecost        

8:30 AM          Matins

9:30 AM          Divine Liturgy

Monday, Oct. 11 – Phillip, Deacon-Apostle        

8:30 AM          Morning Prayer

4:00 PM          Evening Prayer

Tuesday, Oct. 12 – Probus and Others, Martyrs         

8:30 AM          Morning Prayer

4:00 PM          Evening Prayer

Wednesday, Oct. 13 – Carpus and Others, Martyrs    

8:30 AM          Morning Prayer

6:30 PM          Divine Liturgy            +FDNY from Rick White

7:30 PM          Fire-pit Social

Thursday, Oct. 14 – Paraskevia, Venerable         

8:30 AM          Morning Prayer

4:00 PM          Evening Prayer

Friday, Oct. 15 – Euthymius, Venerable              

8:30 AM          Morning Prayer

4:00 PM          Compline

Saturday, Oct. 16 – Longius, Martyr          

5:00 PM          Ventura County Divine Liturgy

6:30 PM          Vespers

Sunday, Oct. 17 – Sunday of the Fathers of the 7th Ecumenical Council          

8:30 AM          Matins

9:30 AM          Divine Liturgy

PRAYER REQUESTS

Please remember the following people in your prayers: Estella Biedenbender,  Ken Bosak, ,Fletes Family: Alicia, Frankie, Layla, Lupita & Veronica, Victoria Flores, Larry Goodwin, Holly Garlow,  Michelle Grana, Virginia Harrington, Jeanne Hart, Michael Hefferon, Nicole Hefferon, Rob Hooper, Chris Johnson, Patricia Kurczak,  Irene Lehman, Elizabeth & John Mallas, Dylan Mancia, Toni Martin, Marg Mauro, Juan Gabriel Martinez, Pedro Medina, Mina family: Mila, Diana, Rev. John & Mike,  Shannon O’Neill, Tanya Petach, Casandra Porch, Nicholas, Rodriguez Diane Romano, Paul Saucedo, Kathleen Savko, Robert Stamer, Leanne Steuer, Mary Washko, Dina & Matthew Wiggins,  Carmen Zambrano, Lana Zimmerman, Patrick Zimmerman, Fr. Chris Zugger and all those who serve in the Armed Forces

WEEKLY DEPOSIT

Collection: $4,236.00; Candles: $61.01; Online: $605.00; VC Outreach: $60.00; Improvements: $100.00; Prayer for Generosity: $1,000

Total: $6,062.01 / Attendance PSM: 103 VCO: 38

 

God Can be Found in Everything

From our Book Club reading, Everywhere Present, Chapter 6, we read,

“The shape of the universe in the classical Christian understanding encompasses a world in which everything is capable of referring beyond itself and outside of itself. Everything becomes a doorway and a window, a means in the participation in the depths of reality…St. Anthony the Great was once asked by a philosopher where his books were. He replied, ‘My book, O philosopher, is the world.’”

When we look around us and within us, with the eyes of faith and the illumination of the Holy Spirit, we can see that all of the created order reveals the imprint of its Maker. God created all things and He calls them “good” or “very good,” in our case. Of course, “no one is Good, but the Father,” according to Jesus. Thus, all relative goods find their meaning in the Absolute Good, who is God, the Creator. What this means for us is that when we look at creation, all of it, the goodness of God is present. In this way, the world around us and within us reveals God because God can be found in everything.

How to make this tangible in your life: 1. Pray always and God will be found everywhere you are. 2. Meditate on the goodness and even the evil in the world and in yourself. This will show us God and where God is not (evil). He uses evil for our good to teach us what to avoid. Evil is not a thing (so no contradiction); it is the absence or corruption of a thing.  This is why God is not found in it. It is not a creation, but a disfiguration. 3. Ask, what such and such a thing reveals about God. I was once sitting in prayer, ducks flew by quacking, and I recalled the angels are singing the glories of God in heaven. Every once and a while our greater reality just kicks in and tells us the deeper meaning of the universe.

Fr. Nathan Symeon 

“God has visited his people!” When Jesus shows his compassion by raising the dead, the people around him experience the presence of God in their midst. As the Body of Christ, we can all do so when we show love, compassion and holiness in our lives. God is seeking to build his Church with men and women who serve him as priests, deacons, monks and nuns to continue to visit His people. If he may be calling you, contact the Vocations Office at 206-329-9219 or email: vocations@ephx.org

Sunday Bulletin 10/03/21

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

Sunday, Oct. 3 – 19th Sunday after Pentecost            

8:30 AM          Matins

9:30 AM          Divine Liturgy

11:30 AM          Family Day celebration

Monday, Oct. 4 – Hierotheus, Bishop Martyr; Francis of Assisi       

8:30 AM          Morning Prayer

4:00 PM          Evening Prayer

Tuesday, Oct. 5 – Charitina, Martyr           

8:30 AM          Morning Prayer

4:00 PM          Evening Prayer

Wednesday, Oct. 6 – Thomas, Apostle     

4:00 PM          Evening Prayer

6:30 PM          Divine Liturgy       intentions of Fr. Nathan

7:30 PM          Fire-pit Social

Thursday, Oct. 7 – Sergius and Bacchus, Martyrs         

8:30 AM          Morning Prayer

4:00 PM          Evening Prayer

Friday, Oct. 8 – Pelagia, Venerable             

8:30 AM          Morning Prayer

4:00 PM          Evening Prayer

Saturday, Oct. 9 – James Alpheus, Apostle        

5:00 PM          Ventura County Divine Liturgy

6:30 PM          Vespers

Sunday, Oct. 10 – 20th Sunday after Pentecost          

8:30 AM          Matins

9:30 AM          Divine Liturgy

PRAYER REQUESTS

Please remember the following people in your prayers: Estella Biedenbender,  Ken Bosak, ,Fletes Family: Alicia, Frankie, Layla, Lupita & Veronica, Victoria Flores, Larry Goodwin, Holly Garlow,  Michelle Grana, Virginia Harrington, Jeanne Hart, Michael Hefferon, Nicole Hefferon, Rob Hooper, Chris Johnson, Patricia Kurczak,  Irene Lehman, Elizabeth & John Mallas, Dylan Mancia, Toni Martin, Marg Mauro, Juan Gabriel Martinez, Pedro Medina, Mina family: Mila, Diana, Rev. John & Mike,  Shannon O’Neill, Tanya Petach, Casandra Porch, Nicholas, Rodriguez Diane Romano, Paul Saucedo, Kathleen Savko, Robert Stamer, Leanne Steuer, Mary Washko, Dina & Matthew Wiggins,  Carmen Zambrano, Lana Zimmerman, Patrick Zimmerman, Fr. Chris Zugger and all those who serve in the Armed Forces

WEEKLY DEPOSIT

Collection: $1,088.00; Candles: $74.67; Online: $330.00; VC Outreach: $680.00

Total: $2,192.67 / Attendance VC: 54 PSM: 51

 

The Story of Pokrov for kids

On Sunday October 1, in the year 911, the Christian people of Constantinople were afraid. Pagan terrorists from a faraway nation had threatened to invade and destroy the Christian city. Feeling that almost all hope was lost, Christians gathered in Blachernae Church of the Mother of God, where relics of clothing once worn by the Theotokos such as her robe, her veil, and part of her belt were kept for veneration. They had planned an all-night vigil to beg God to protect them.

There was a man there known as St. Andrew, the Blessed Fool for Christ, due to his tendency to go to extremes in his devotion to Our Lord… At about 4 o’clock in the morning, Andrew looked up to see the dome of the church seemingly disappear and a shining figure of the Theotokos, surrounded by angels and saints such as John the Baptist, John the Theologian and Nicholas of Myra, descend from heaven toward the altar where she knelt in prayer. She appeared to beg God tearfully on behalf of the citizens of Constantinople, asking her Divine Son to hear the prayers of all those who prayed for protection and begged her intercession.

When she finished her prayers, Andrew saw her remove her veil, and spread it over all the people in the church as a protection. He turned to his friend, a disciple of his named Epiphanius who later became a saint, and asked him if he saw the wondrous sight. St. Epiphanius replied that he saw Our Lady indeed, and was amazed. As long as Our Lady remained in the church, many were able to see her and the veil she extended over them. When she left their presence, a peaceful calm remained and when morning came, it was clear that the enemy had retreated and they would be safe.

Every October 1st, to this very day, we commemorate this great miracle by celebrating the feast of Pokrov, otherwise known as the Protection or Patronage of the Theotokos. The word Pokrov in Church Slavonic means veil, covering, or cloak, but interestingly, it also means Protection!

from byzimom.com

 

 “Therefore be merciful, even as your Father is also merciful.” Our Lord teaches us how to love one another in today’s Gospel, taking us beyond our human understanding of only being good to those who do good to us. A life in ordained ministry and monasticism is one way to give one’s life to all people. Is this something that God may have in store for your life? Contact the Vocations Office at 206-329-9219 or email: vocations@ephx.org

Sunday Bulletin 9/26/21

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

Sunday, Sept. 26 – 18th Sunday after Pentecost         

8:30 AM          Matins

9:30 AM          Divine Liturgy

Monday, Sept. 27 – Callistratus and Others, Martyrs

Tuesday, Sept. 28 – Chariton, Venerable-Confessor

Wednesday, Sept. 29 – Cyriacus, Venerable

Thursday, Sept. 30 – Gregory Illuminator, Bishop-Martyr      

6:30 PM          Vigil Liturgy: The Protection of the Theotokos +Cheri Herndon from Marie O’Loughlin

7:30 PM          Firepit Social

Friday, Oct. 01 – Protection of the Theotokos             

7:30 AM          Morning Prayer

4:00 PM          Evening Prayer

Saturday, Oct. 02 – Cyprian, Bishop Martyr       

5:00 PM          Ventura County Divine Liturgy

6:30 PM          Vespers

Sunday, Oct. 03 –  19th Sunday after Pentecost         

8:30 AM          Matins

9:30 AM          Divine Liturgy

11:30 AM        Family Day Celebration

PRAYER REQUESTS

Please remember the following people in your prayers: Estella Biedenbender,  Ken Bosak, Fletes Family: Alicia, Frankie, Layla, Lupita & Veronica, Victoria Flores, Larry Goodwin, Holly Garlow,  Michelle Grana, Virginia Harrington, Jeanne Hart, Michael Hefferon, Nicole Hefferon, Rob Hooper, Chris Johnson, Patricia Kurczak,  Irene Lehman, Elizabeth & John Mallas, Dylan Mancia, Toni Martin, Marg Mauro, Juan Gabriel Martinez, Pedro Medina, Mina family: Mila, Diana, Rev. John & Mike,  Shannon O’Neill, Tanya Petach, Casandra Porch, Nicholas, Rodriguez Diane Romano, Paul Saucedo, Kathleen Savko, Robert Stamer, Leanne Steuer, Mary Washko, Dina & Matthew Wiggins,  Carmen Zambrano, Lana Zimmerman, Patrick Zimmerman, Fr. Chris Zugger and all those who serve in the Armed Forces

WEEKLY DEPOSIT

Collection: $1,452.00; Candles: $58.10; Online: $925.00; VC Outreach: $110.00

Total: $2,545.10 / Attendance PSM: 88

Father John Kovach

In blessed repose, grant, O Lord, eternal rest to your departed servant, the priest John, and remember his name forever.

Fr. John Kovach passed away this Wednesday Sept, 15. His funeral will be in Cleveland on Sept. 28. Fr. Michael will be in attendance. More information will be provided as it becomes available.

Parish Family Day Potluck

In celebration of our parish’s patron, we will once again have our annual Family Day potluck next Sunday, October 3rd, in the small hall and on the patio. There will be a bounce-house for children and plenty of food and drink for adults. Sign-up sheets are in the small hall.

Filling our Lives

From our book club text, Everywhere Present and Filling all Things, Chapter 5, we read, “’Practical  Atheism,” meaning by it that, although a person may espouse a belief in God, it is quite possible for that belief to be so far removed from everyday life that God’s nonexistence would make little difference.”

Have you thought about this? If you stopped going to church, where else in your everyday life would you find a significant difference? After the shutdowns, due to the Corona Virus, some people never came back to church. For the most part, they found that for them, God really did not make a difference in their life, so “why bother even coming back?” On the other hand, many of us can look at every day, every hour, every moment, and we know God makes all the difference in a meaningful life. On the more narrow scale of balancing God’s importance, we may need to more heavenly weigh God’s significance in certain parts of our lives’. Where God is not permitted to make a difference because we do not want him too? God is life. If we want to benefit from all He has to offer, we must allow Him into all sectors of our lives; otherwise, certain parts or even all of our lives’ will be dead. 

 

“When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.” Have you seen the Lord work in your life in such a powerful way that you would consider leaving everything to follow him? This is the response of the apostles in today’s gospel reading. The Church is fortified by men and women who follow him as priests, deacons, monks and nuns. If you may be hearing this call, Contact the Vocations Office at 206-329-9219 or email: vocations@ephx.org

THE BYZANTINE CATHOLIC EPARCHY OF PHOENIX subscribes to the
Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People

adopted by the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops.  The Eparchy, within all its parishes, institutions and programs, is committed to assuring a safe environment in ministry for its children and young people that conforms to the Charter requirements. 

For information regarding the Eparchial Safe Environment Program, please contact:
Dcn. Michael Hanafin: Safe Environment Program Coordinator

Cell: (480) 387-5182 – Email: dcnhanafin@ephx.org
Sbdcn. Paul F. Kilroy: Asst. Safe Environment Program Coordinator
Office: (602) 861-9778 – Cell: (702) 498-5972 – Email: sbdcnkilroy@ephx.org
Dr. Caroline Bonham: Victim Assistance Coordinator 

Cell: (505) 314-3943 – Email: victimassistanceofphoenix@gmail.com

Filling our Lives

From our book club text, Everywhere Present and Filling all Things, Chapter 5, we read, “’Practical  Atheism,” meaning by it that, although a person may espouse a belief in God, it is quite possible for that belief to be so far removed from everyday life that God’s nonexistence would make little difference.”

Have you thought about this? If you stopped going to church, where else in your everyday life would you find a significant difference? After the shutdowns, due to the CoronaVirus, some people never came back to church. For the most part, they found that for them, God really did not make a difference in their life, so “why bother even coming back?” On the other hand, many of us can look at every day, every hour, every moment, and we know God makes all the difference in a meaningful life. On the more narrow scale of balancing God’s importance, we may need to more heavenly weigh God’s significance in certain parts of our lives’. Where God is not permitted to make a difference because we do not want him too? God is life. If we want to benefit from all He has to offer, we must allow Him into all sectors of our lives; otherwise, certain parts or even all of our lives’ will be dead. 

Sunday Bulletin 9/19/21

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

Sunday, Sept. 19 – Sunday after the Exaltation of the Holy Cross         

8:30 AM          Matins

9:30 AM          Divine Liturgy

Monday, Sept. 20 – Eustace and Others, Martyrs

8:30 AM          Morning Prayer

4:00 PM          Evening Prayer          

Tuesday, Sept. 21 – Codratus, Apostle       

8:30 AM          Morning Prayer

4:00 PM          Evening Prayer

Wednesday, Sept. 22 – Phocas, Bishop-Martyr  

8:30 AM          Morning Prayer

6:30 PM          Divine Liturgy            Sue Brooks by Carolina Chirdon

7:30 PM          Fire Pit Social

Thursday, Sept. 23 – Conception of John the Baptist      

8:30 AM          Morning Prayer

9:30 AM          Photina Walk

4:00 PM          Evening Prayer

Friday, Sept. 24 – Thecla, Proto-Martyr           

7:30 AM          Morning Prayer

4:00 PM          Compline

Saturday, Sept. 25 – Euphrosyna, Venerable     

5:00 PM          Ventura County Divine Liturgy

6:30 PM          Vespers

Sunday, Sept. 26 – 18th Sunday after Pentecost        

8:30 AM          Matins

9:30 AM          Divine Liturgy

PRAYER REQUESTS

Please remember the following people in your prayers: Estella Biedenbender,  Ken Bosak, , Fletes Family: Alicia, Frankie, Layla, Lupita & Veronica, Victoria Flores, Larry Goodwin, Holly Garlow,  Michelle Grana, Virginia Harrington, Jeanne Hart, Michael Hefferon, Nicole Hefferon, Rob Hooper, Chris Johnson, Patricia Kurczak,  Irene Lehman, Elizabeth & John Mallas, Dylan Mancia, Toni Martin, Marg Mauro, Juan Gabriel Martinez, Pedro Medina, Mina family: Mila, Diana, Rev. John & Mike,  Shannon O’Neill, Tanya Petach, Casandra Porch, Nicholas, Rodriguez Diane Romano, Paul Saucedo, Kathleen Savko, Robert Stamer, Leanne Steuer, Mary Washko, Dina & Matthew Wiggins,  Carmen Zambrano, Lana Zimmerman, Patrick Zimmerman, Fr. Chris Zugger and all those who serve in the Armed Forces

WEEKLY DEPOSIT

Collection: $1,547.00; Candles: $50.95; Online: $305.00; Church Improvements: $80.00; Holydays: $160.00; VC Outreach: $1,307.05

Total: $3,471.50 / Attendance PSM: 80 VC: 47

Parish Family Day Potluck

In celebration of our parish’s patron, we will once again have our annual Family Day potluck on Sunday October 3. Sign-up sheets are in the small hall.

Father John Kovach

In blessed repose, grant, O Lord, eternal rest to your departed servant, the priest John, and remember his name forever.

Fr. John Kovach passed away this past Wednesday morning at 4:30am. His funeral will be in Cleveland on Sept. 28. More information will be provided as it becomes available.

Conception of John the Forerunner- Sept. 23

On September 23, we commemorate the conception of the honorable, glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John. On that day the mercy, miracles and wisdom of God are celebrated: His mercy toward the devout and righteous parents of St. John, the aged Zacharias and Elizabeth, who all their lives had wished for and begged a child from God; His miracle, that of John’s conception in the aged womb of Elizabeth; and His wisdom, in the dispensation of man’s salvation. God had an especially great intention for John: namely, that he be the Prophet and Forerunner of Christ the Lord, the Savior of the world. Through His angels, God announced the births of Isaac to the childless Sarah, Samson to the childless wife of Manoah, and John the Forerunner to the childless Zacharias and Elizabeth. All of these were those for whom He had special intentions, and He foretold their birth through His angels.               

from: http://ww1.antiochian.org/conceptionstjohnthebaptist

 for more on the Conception of John the Baptist: https://orthochristian.com/49079.html

 

“Whoever will lose his life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will save it.” Our Lord teaches us that following him and his Gospel is both a loss and a gain at the same time. Devoting one’s life to the Church as a monastic, religious, or member of the clergy is a cross and is also an immense blessing. Are you being called to be this blessing to the Church? Contact the Vocations Office at 206-329-9219 or email: vocations@ephx.org

 

THE BYZANTINE CATHOLIC EPARCHY OF PHOENIX subscribes to the
Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People

adopted by the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops.  The Eparchy, within all its parishes, institutions and programs, is committed to assuring a safe environment in ministry for its children and young people that conforms to the Charter requirements. 

For information regarding the Eparchial Safe Environment Program, please contact:
Dcn. Michael Hanafin: Safe Environment Program Coordinator

Cell: (480) 387-5182 – Email: dcnhanafin@ephx.org
Sbdcn. Paul F. Kilroy: Asst. Safe Environment Program Coordinator
Office: (602) 861-9778 – Cell: (702) 498-5972 – Email: sbdcnkilroy@ephx.org
Dr. Caroline Bonham: Victim Assistance Coordinator 

Cell: (505) 314-3943 – Email: victimassistanceofphoenix@gmail.com

Knowing God

From our Book Club, Everywhere Present, Chapter 4, “The God Who is Not There”, we read, “We do not know or experience anything in general –only in particular.” God is everywhere present and filling all things, but this is not how we experience him. We experience him in the present and filling only one place at a time. I recall a conversation in seminary. One of the students laughed out, “God does not feel…” This other person was dismissing my reality, my experience of God, based on his philosophical notion of God. In other words, he never experienced God as emotional, but he was more than willing to dismiss my experience of God based on his abstraction that God cannot feel if he is to be immutable. Here is the problem, every time God meets somebody it is in a particular moment and place. Think of how many times Scripture reveals God as mad, or pleasured, or jealous, or even forgetful. God wrestles with Jacob, speaks to Moses on the Mountain, walks with Adam and Eve in the Garden, etc. Even if this is not philosophically the best way to think about God, it is experientially the best because we can only know God, I mean personally know God, from our very human way of encountering God, in particular, in our reality. To put it another way, this is the primary way God wants us to know him. We can never personally know God in his mode of being because we are not-infinite beings. In short, knowing about God is one thing (reading books or listening to podcasts), knowing God (experiencing him particularly) is quite another.

In Christ,

Fr. Nathan Symeon

Sunday Bulletin 9/12/21

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

Sunday, Sept. 12 – Sunday before Exaltation of the Cross         

8:30 AM          Matins

9:30 AM          Divine Liturgy

Monday, Sept. 13 – Dedication of the Church of the Resurrection       

8:30 AM          Morning Prayer

5:30 PM          Vespers

6:30 PM          Vigil Divine Liturgy Exaltation of the Cross

7:30 PM          Firepit Social

Tuesday, Sept. 14 – Exaltation of the Holy Cross  

8:30 AM          Morning Prayer

4:00 PM          Evening Prayer

Wednesday, Sept. 15 – Nicetas, Great-Martyr 

8:30 AM          Morning Prayer

9:30 AM          Photina Walk

4:00 PM          Evening Prayer

6:30 PM          Divine Liturgy            +Olga Bodnar

7:30 PM          Fire Pit Social

Thursday, Sept. 16 – Euphemia, Great-Martyr     

7:30 AM          Morning Prayer

4:00 PM          Evening Prayer

Friday, Sept. 17 – Sophia and Others, Martyrs           

7:30 AM          Morning Prayer

4:00 PM          Compline

Saturday, Sept. 18 – Saturday after the Exaltation of the Cross      

5:00 PM          Ventura County Divine Liturgy

6:30 PM          Vespers

Sunday, Sept. 19 – Sunday after the Exaltation of the Cross        

8:30 AM          Matins

9:30 AM          Divine Liturgy 

PRAYER REQUESTS

Please remember the following people in your prayers: Estella Biedenbender,  Ken Bosak, , Fletes Family: Alicia, Frankie, Layla, Lupita & Veronica, Victoria Flores, Larry Goodwin, Holly Garlow,  Michelle Grana, Virginia Harrington, Jeanne Hart, Michael Hefferon, Nicole Hefferon, Rob Hooper, Chris Johnson, Patricia Kurczak,  Irene Lehman, Elizabeth & John Mallas, Dylan Mancia, Toni Martin, Marg Mauro, Juan Gabriel Martinez, Pedro Medina, Mina family: Mila, Diana, Rev. John & Mike,  Shannon O’Neill, Tanya Petach, Casandra Porch, Nicholas, Rodriguez Diane Romano, Paul Saucedo, Kathleen Savko, Robert Stamer, Leanne Steuer, Mary Washko, Dina & Matthew Wiggins,  Carmen Zambrano, Lana Zimmerman, Patrick Zimmerman, Fr. Chris Zugger and all those who serve in the Armed Forces

WEEKLY DEPOSIT

Collection: $3,436.00; Candles: $59.96; Online: $665.00; Church Improvements: $195.00

Total: $4,355.96 / Attendance PSM: 82

Parish Family Day Potluck

In celebration of our parish’s patron, we will once again have our annual Family Day potluck on Sunday October 3. Sign-up sheets are in the small hall.

Knowing God

From our Book Club, Everywhere Present, Chapter 4, “The God Who is Not There”, we read, “We do not know or experience anything in general –only in particular.” God is everywhere present and filling all things, but this is not how we experience him. We experience him in the present and filling only one place at a time. I recall a conversation in seminary. One of the students laughed out, “God does not feel…” This other person was dismissing my reality, my experience of God, based on his philosophical notion of God. In other words, he never experienced God as emotional, but he was more than willing to dismiss my experience of God based on his abstraction that God cannot feel if he is to be immutable. Here is the problem, every time God meets somebody it is in a particular moment and place. Think of how many times Scripture reveals God as mad, or pleasured, or jealous, or even forgetful. God wrestles with Jacob, speaks to Moses on the Mountain, walks with Adam and Eve in the Garden, etc. Even if this is not philosophically the best way to think about God, it is experientially the best because we can only know God, I mean personally know God, from our very human way of encountering God, in particular, in our reality. To put it another way, this is the primary way God wants us to know him. We can never personally know God in his mode of being because we are not-infinite beings. In short, knowing about God is one thing (reading books or listening to podcasts), knowing God (experiencing him particularly) is quite another.

In Christ,

Fr. Nathan Symeon

 

“Certainly, God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world should be saved through him.” Christ is truly the salvation of the world. As Christians, we are little Christs. Each of us can bring salvation to the world by living the life of Christ. Is God calling you to show his salvation to the world by a life of prayer and repentance as a priest, deacon, monk or nun? Contact the Vocations Office at 206-329-9219 or email: vocations@ephx.org

THE BYZANTINE CATHOLIC EPARCHY OF PHOENIX subscribes to the
Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People

adopted by the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops.  The Eparchy, within all its parishes, institutions and programs, is committed to assuring a safe environment in ministry for its children and young people that conforms to the Charter requirements. 

For information regarding the Eparchial Safe Environment Program, please contact:
Dcn. Michael Hanafin: Safe Environment Program Coordinator

Cell: (480) 387-5182 – Email: dcnhanafin@ephx.org
Sbdcn. Paul F. Kilroy: Asst. Safe Environment Program Coordinator
Office: (602) 861-9778 – Cell: (702) 498-5972 – Email: sbdcnkilroy@ephx.org
Dr. Caroline Bonham: Victim Assistance Coordinator 

Cell: (505) 314-3943 – Email: victimassistanceofphoenix@gmail.com

Sunday Bulletin 09/05/21

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

Sunday, Sept. 5 – 15th Sunday after Pentecost           

8:30 AM          Matins

9:30 AM          Divine Liturgy

Monday, Sept. 6 – Miracle of the Archangel Michael           

8:30 AM          Morning Prayer          

Tuesday, Sept. 7 – Sozon, Martyr         

8:30 AM          Morning Prayer

4:00 PM          Evening Prayer

Wednesday, Sept. 8 – Birth of the Theotokos    

8:30 AM          Morning Prayer

9:30 AM          Photina Walk

6:30 PM          Divine Liturgy Birth of the Theotokos  Ashley Gallagher

7:30 PM          Fire Pit Social

Thursday, Sept. 9 – Synaxis of Joachim and Anna        

7:30 AM          Morning Prayer

4:00 PM          Evening Prayer

Friday, Sept. 10 – Mendora and Others, Martyrs           

7:30 AM          Morning Prayer

4:00 PM          Compline

Saturday, Sept. 11 – Saturday before the Exaltation of the Cross       

5:00 PM          Ventura County Divine Liturgy

6:30 PM          Vespers

Sunday, Sept. 12 – Sunday before the Exaltation of the Cross    

8:30 AM          Matins

9:30 AM          Divine Liturgy 

PRAYER REQUESTS

Please remember the following people in your prayers: Estella Biedenbender,  Ken Bosak, , Fletes Family: Alicia, Frankie, Layla, Lupita & Veronica, Victoria Flores, Larry Goodwin, Holly Garlow,  Michelle Grana, Virginia Harrington, Jeanne Hart, Michael Hefferon, Nicole Hefferon, Rob Hooper, Chris Johnson, Patricia Kurczak,  Irene Lehman, Elizabeth & John Mallas, Dylan Mancia, Toni Martin, Marg Mauro, Juan Gabriel Martinez, Pedro Medina, Mina family: Mila, Diana, Rev. John & Mike,  Shannon O’Neill, Tanya Petach, Casandra Porch, Nicholas, Rodriguez Diane Romano, Paul Saucedo, Kathleen Savko, Robert Stamer, Leanne Steuer, Mary Washko, Dina & Matthew Wiggins,  Carmen Zambrano, Lana Zimmerman, Patrick Zimmerman, Fr. Chris Zugger and all those who serve in the Armed Forces

WEEKLY DEPOSIT

Collection: $1,209; Candles: $63.20; Online: $305.00; Gift Shop: 55.00; CD Sales: $30.00; VC Outreach: $392.00

Total: $2,097.20 / Attendance PSM: 70 VC: 41

 

Parish Family Day Potluck

In celebration of our parish’s patron, we will once again have our annual Family Day potluck on Sunday October 3. Sign-up sheets are in the small hall.

 

Birth of the Mother of God- September 8

(Excerpt from the Protoevangelium of James, the 2nd Century document that chronicles this and other extra-biblical feasts we celebrate)

…And his wife’s pregnancy came to term. After nine months, Anna gave birth and she said to the midwife, “What is it?” The midwife said, “A girl.” Anna said, “My soul exalts this day.” And she put her baby to bed. After her days were completed, Anna cleansed her menstrual flow and gave her breast to the child and gave her the name Mary.

Day by day, the child grew stronger. When she was six months old, her mother set her on the ground to test whether she could stand. And after walking seven steps, she came to her mother’s breast. And her mother picked her up, saying, “As the Lord my God lives, you will not walk on this earth again until I take you to the temple of the Lord.” And she made a sanctuary in her bedroom and would not permit anything common or impure to pass through it. And she called the pure daughters of the Hebrews and they played with her.

When the child’s first birthday came, Joachim held a great celebration…

 

(Find the whole document at: http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/infancyjames-hock.html)

 

“The entire law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.” To love our God and our neighbor, this is the calling from God that is for each one of us. It manifests differently because each of us have a special vocation to make our lives the greatest gift of ourselves possible. May God be asking you to follow these commandments through a vocation to the priesthood, diaconate, religious or monastic life?  Contact the Vocations Office at 206-329-9219 or email: vocations@ephx.org

 

THE BYZANTINE CATHOLIC EPARCHY OF PHOENIX subscribes to the
Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People

adopted by the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops.  The Eparchy, within all its parishes, institutions and programs, is committed to assuring a safe environment in ministry for its children and young people that conforms to the Charter requirements. 

For information regarding the Eparchial Safe Environment Program, please contact:
Dcn. Michael Hanafin: Safe Environment Program Coordinator

Cell: (480) 387-5182 – Email: dcnhanafin@ephx.org
Sbdcn. Paul F. Kilroy: Asst. Safe Environment Program Coordinator
Office: (602) 861-9778 – Cell: (702) 498-5972 – Email: sbdcnkilroy@ephx.org
Dr. Caroline Bonham: Victim Assistance Coordinator 

Cell: (505) 314-3943 – Email: victimassistanceofphoenix@gmail.com

Everywhere Present

From our Book Club text, Everywhere Present, chapter two, “we live in an altar,” we read, “On the one hand, we say that ‘God dwells in heaven.’ But the church also says that He is ‘everywhere present and filling all things.” Metropolitan Kalistos Ware goes so far as to say Christianity is panentheistic. This is the belief that God is in all things. Certainly, the apostle Paul agrees that he “upholds all things by the word of his power.” The point is, the clear line between the sacred and the profane is the result of the fall. All of creation will eventually be renewed according to the Book of Revelation. This is what we see in the garment Christ wore which healed a woman, or when his saliva is mixed with dirt unto the healing of the blind man. We see when Peter’s shadow heals a man. We see this in the sacraments, in icons, in the blessings of holy water, in relics, and in all holy objects, not least sanctified in mankind. The theologian Alfaev points out that creation always had the potential of corruption because it was other than God, but it also has the potential of restoration with God’s presence. The new heavens and the new earth will one day be one. The job of the Christian is to realize this in our own lives. Let us make our families and ourselves holy. Let us make our property holy. Let us make our houses holy. Invite God into all of your life and all of your life will be made holy.

Fr. Nathan Symeon