Holy anargyroi Greek Orthodox Church

703 W. Center Street, Rochester, MN (507) 282-1529 http://www.holyanargyroi.org church@holyanargyroi.org Rev. Fr. Mark Muoz, Proistamenos
/APOLYTIKIA FOR TODAY

, , , . You descended from on high, O merciful Lord, and endured the three day burial to free us from our passions. O Lord, our life and our resurrection, glory to you. , , . O Holy Apostle James, intercede with the merciful God that He grant unto our souls forgiveness of offences.
/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. 3rd Sunday of St luke
St. James the Apostle, son of Alphaeus October 9th, 2011

Todays scripture readings

Epistle reading

St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 6:16-18; 7:1 BRETHREN, you are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will live in them and move among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch nothing unclean; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, and make holiness perfect in the fear of God.

Gospel periscope

Luke 7:11-16 At that time, Jesus went to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. As he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a large crowd from the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep." And he came and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, arise." And the dead man sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all; and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!" and "God has visited his people!"

COMMUNION PRAYERS
I believe and confess, Lord, that You are truly the Christ, the Son of the living God, Who came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the first. I also believe that this is truly Your pure Body and that this is truly Your precious Blood. Therefore, I pray to You. Have mercy upon me, and forgive my transgressions, voluntary and involuntary, in word and deed, known and unknown. And make me worthy without condemnation to partake of Your pure Mysteries for the forgiveness of sins and life eternal. Amen. Behold, my Maker, I approach Holy Communion. Burn me not as I partake, for You are fire which burns the unworthy, but cleanse me from every stain. Receive me today, Son of God, as a partaker of Your mystical Supper. I will not reveal Your mystery to Your enemies, nor will I give You a kiss as did Judas. But as the thief I confess to You: Lord, remember me in Your kingdom. Seeing the Divine Blood, have fear, O man, for it is coal that burns the unworthy. It is Gods Body that deifies and nourishes me; it deifies the spirit and nourishes the mind mystically. You have smitten me with yearning, O Christ, and with Your divine love You have changed me. Burn away my sins with spiritual fire and make me worthy to be filled with Your joy, that rejoicing in Your goodness, I may magnify Your two Comings. How shall I, who am unworthy, enter into the splendor of Your saints? If I dare to enter the bridal chamber, my clothing will accuse me, since it is not a wedding garment; and being bound up, I shall be cast out by the angels. In Your love, Lord, cleanse the vileness of my soul and save me. Loving Master, Lord Jesus Christ, my God, let not these holy Gifts be to my condemnation because of my unworthiness, but for the cleansing and sanctification of soul and body and the pledge of the future life and kingdom. It is good for me to cling to God and to place in Him the hope of my salvation. Receive me today, Son of God, as a partaker of Your mystical Supper. I will not reveal Your mystery to Your enemies. Nor will I give You a kiss as did Judas. But as the thief I confess to You: Lord remember me in Your kingdom.

Announcements
Liturgical/Program Schedule:
TODAY: GOYA Bike Riding outing after Liturgy. Mon. Oct. 10th: AC/DC, 6pm at Salah & Catherine Sedarous home (see announcement below) Mon. Oct. 10th: JOY Faith Night, 6pm in church hall. Mon. Oct. 10th: Building Committee, 7pm @ church. Wed. Oct. 12th: GOYA Faith Night, 7pm @ church. Sat. Oct. 15th: Great Vespers, 6pm
GOYA Faith Night: for many years our parish has enjoyed an active and vibrant GOYA chapter due to the support of many GOYA leaders, parents, and clergy. Many of the activities have focused on social outreach ministries and social outings to bolster Orthodox friendships. Were poised to take it one step forward and begin a permanent addition to our GOYA: one evening, at least once a month, dedicated exclusively to exploring an aspect of our Orthodox Faith and Tradition led by Fr. Mark. Philoptochos Enrollment Sunday: on Oct 2nd was a wonderful success. Thank you to Father Mark for encouraging the Philoptochos Society to host the event. Congratulations to the following parishioners who joined the Philoptochos (in the order they joined): Gina Kolas, Cindy Forrer, Kathy Lytle, Jennifer Sakellariou, Celia Alexopoulou, Martha Voytovich, Erin Klam, Marilyn Fibison, Halina Woroncow, Nick Kolas, Erlene Holman, Kris Brekke, Jacob Petersen, Donald Jenkins, Elaine Jenkins, Sukiela Alihassan, Tim Kelly and Rebeca Chery. The Philoptochos door is always open to new members. If you are interested in joining please see Calli Kelly or Penny Kolas. In addition to the 18 new members; we also have over 100 dollars in donations from last Sunday. A special thank you goes to 7 year old Nina Munoz for collecting those donations for the Philoptochos. Thank you to the Holy Anargyroi Parish for your prayers and support for the Philoptochos Society. Sunday Coffee Hour: There is one Sunday still open this year for a volunteer to host our Fellowship Coffee Hour. That is November 20, which is a fasting Sunday. Please sign up on the sheet posted on the Bulletin Board outside the Church office or see Jackie Barbes, Denise Mangouras or Maria Thomas. St. Marys Family Camp: the annual Orthodox Family Camp will take the weekend of Oct. 14th. Please log onto www.stmaryscamp.com for all pertinent information.

HOW TO RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNIONOnly Orthodox Christians 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.

Todays liturgical commemorations

1. The Holy Apostle James
James, the son of Alphaeus, was one of the Twelve Apostles. He was the blood-brother of the Apostle and Evangelist Matthew. He was a witness of the true words and miracles of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and a witness of His suffering, Resurrection and Ascension. After the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the lot fell to James to preach the Gospel of Christ in Eleutheropolis and the surrounding areas, and then in Egypt, where he suffered for his Savior. With great power in word and in deed, James disseminated the saving news of the incarnate Word of God, destroying idolatry, driving demons out of men, and healing every infirmity and disease in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. His labor and zeal were crowned with great success. Many pagans came to believe in Christ, churches were built and organized, and priests and bishops were ordained. James suffered in the Egyptian town of Ostracina, being crucified by the pagans. Thus, this great and wonderful apostle of Christ took up his abode in the Heavenly Kingdom, to reign eternally with the King of Glory.

2. The Venerable Andronicus and his wife Athanasia Andronicus was a citizen of Antioch during the reign of Theodosius the Great. Andronicus was a goldsmith by trade. He and his wife were very devout, continually striving to follow the way of the Lord. He gave a third of his income to the poor, another third to the church, and supported his family with the last third. After two children were born to them, they agreed to live as brother and sister. However, according to God's unfathomable providence, both of their children died on the same day, and they were in great sorrow. Then the holy martyr Julian appeared to Athanasia at the children's grave, and comforted her with the tidings that her children were in the Kingdom of God, and were better off there than with their parents on earth. Andronicus and Athanasia left everything and went to Egypt and received the monastic tonsureSt. Andronicus with the elder Daniel at Scetis; and Athanasia in the convent in Tabennisi. Pleasing God by their long years of asceticism, they at last went to the Eternal Kingdom of Christ. St. Athanasia reposed first, and eight days later, St. Andronicus.

Pearls from the Desert

You mustn't wage your Christian struggle with sermons and arguments, but with true secret love. When we argue, others react. When we love people, they are moved and we win them over. When we love, we think that we offer something to others, but in reality we are the first to benefit. -Elder Porphyrios, + 1991
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St. Philothei Project Reminder:

A sign-up sheet has been placed in the narthex for this months Philothei Project, which will take place Thursday, Oct. 20th @ 6pm. We are soliciting volunteers to cook that evening, donate groceries, or monetary funds to help off-set costs. If you have any questions please see Laura Hamlen, the new Philothei Project coordinator. Thank you for helping these special women in need! +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

SAVE THE DATE: GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Sunday, oct. 30th following liturgy
*reminder, only stewards in good financial and ecclesiastical standing can make
motions and vote according to archdiocesan uprs

Introducing a new

Adult Ministry
at holy anargyroi

Adult Catechism Developing Communion

Join us this Monday, oct. 10th 6:00pm @ salah @ Catherine sedarous home For fellowship and study As we begin a new class:

the epistle of st james

2205 67st nw Rochester 55901

Whats up with Infant Baptism?

Part II
If the baptism of infants was not acceptable during New Testament times, then when does Scripture mention the alternative-the baptism of the children of Christian parents once they have matured out of infancy? The Bible never gives one example of the baptism of a Christian child as an adult. It is important that Scripture also does not speak of an "age of accountability or reason" (which many pinpoint at 13 years) when a child's capacity to believe the Gospel is developed enough so that he can receive baptism. Neither does the Bible state that every child is in a "suspended state of salvation" until they have reached this age, which one would have to believe if he held to the "age of accountability" theory. Although an opponent of infant baptism, Dr. Jewett, in his book Infant Baptism and the Covenant of Grace, makes a very logical conclusion about baptism if it is understood to be a release of supernatural power: "...one believes that baptism washes away the guilt of eternal sin, so that any o ne departing this life without it is in danger of eternal damnation, he will have good reason to conclude that infants should be baptized. In fact, the question of infant baptism can hardly be raised without such a sacramental theology, since an affirmative answer is a foregone conclusion." Certainly if there were a taint of sin upon each who is born in this world, there would be a need for every person to be cleansed from this impurity before leaving the temporal life. The Bible's "sacramental theology" states that there is such a need since "...through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men." (Romans 5:12) For this reason, "...there are none righteous, not even one" (i.e. not infants). (Romans 3:10) How are t hese young ones saved from the sin they have received from Adam's race? They are saved through the regenerative power of baptism and the faith of the Church (i.e. the Christian faithful): "He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration (baptism) and renewing by the Holy Spirit." (Titus 3:5) Baptism is not just a symbolic testimony of what God has done in the heart of an adult believer, but is in itself a dynamic means o f actually effecting the power of the Gospel (the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ) in a life (Romans 6:4). Christian baptism is the means whereby we encounter and identify with Jesus Christ Himself. This is one of the reasons why Paul explains baptism as the manner in which we genuinely "put on" or "clothe" ourselves with Christ (Galatians 3:27). This is not just a metaphor; the Lord actually t ransforms a person through his baptism. The Old Testament Symbols of Salvation and Baptism Include Infants: 1.Circumcision, the sign of God's covenant between the people of Abraham and Himself, was performed on every male child who was eight days old (Genesis 17:12). Many see a direct parallel between circumcision and Christian baptism in Scriptural passages such as Colossians 2:11, 12: "And in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism..." If baptism is the "New Testament circumcision," there can definitely be no objection to "sealing" the infant of a consecrated Christian family in Christ's New Covenant.