Pastor: Fr John Vazquez | (518) 462-0579 |
fatherjohnvazquez@gmail.com
Beloved,
And ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father…
One of my favorite Christmas Carols is “Good King Wenceslaus.” In that carol we hear about how the good king saw a poor man—found out where he lived and brought him a feast during the Christmas season. The king asked his young page to help him and trudged out in the deep winter snow to the poor man's house. The page—a young boy who otherwise would not have been able to make the trek in the deep snow—is able to follow the king by taking his steps in the same place where the king had stepped. This image is what I think of when I hear about my Lord and King ascending into heaven—He makes a way for me into paradise—to sit at the right hand of the Father. This path is passable or manageable for me by myself but if I stick to the tracks of my King I will find the way.
We hear in the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles (also by St Luke) that Jesus was taken up into heaven (Lk 24.51, Acts 1.9) and again in the book of Acts that Jesus is at the right hand of the Father (Acts 7.55).
The Ascension of Jesus—celebrated as one of the 12 major feasts of the Church year 40 days after Pascha—is a manifestation of the good pleasure of God. That the flesh and blood of man should be seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven is an astounding truth revealed through this great feast of Ascension. Why is this astounding?
This reality is astounding because it means that when we join ourselves to this human being—who is also fully God—we too are given this great honor of being at the right hand of the Father, as sons of the Father (Php 2.15, Gal 4.5). To be at the right hand of the Father means that we have favor with Him (3 Kings 2.19, Ps 17.35), that we reign with Him (2 Tim 2.12) and that all that He has is ours (Lk 15.31, Jn 15.15)…can you believe that?!
The Creed, as the foundational statement of our Faith, declares that the Incarnation, the Resurrection and the Ascension are all part of the mystery hidden even from the angels (Rom 16.25)—God has made a way to be united to man again.
So follow the footsteps of our King—they lead to the heavenly banquet in paradise.
With love in the risen Lord,
Fr John
Services and Events
Friday, October 11th—8am—Orthros
Saturday, October 12th—5pm—NO VESPERS OR BIBLE STUDY
Sunday, October 13th—9am—Orthros and Divine Liturgy—join us for apple picking after Liturgy (Philip Orchards 270 Rt 9H Hudson, NY 12534)
Monday, October 14th—8:15am—Coffee with the Fathers at Alias Coffee on North Pearl St in Albany.
Wednesday, October 16th—8am—Divine Liturgy
Wednesday, October 16th—6pm—Paraklesis of St George PARISH COUNCIL MEETING TO FOLLOW AT 7PM
Friday, October 18th—8am—Orthros
Saturday, October 19th—PREP FOOD FOR FESTIVAL OF NATIONS
Saturday, October 19th—Great Vespers with Bible Study to follow
Sunday, October 20th—9am—Orthros and Divine Liturgy—JOIN US FOR A PARISH BREAKFAST AFTER LITURGY
Coming Up
Sunday, October 27th—FESTIVAL OF NATIONS AT EMPIRE STATE PLAZA (PURCHASE DISCOUNTED TICKETS FROM THE CHRUCH)
Sunday, November 3rd—ALL PARISH MEETING AFTER DIVINE LITURGY
Education
But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ 2 Pet 3.18
READ METROPOLITAN SABA'S WEEKLY TEACHING—THE MOTHER OF ALL VICES HERE
Get some caffeine for the soul with Coffee with the Fathers. Join us at ALIAS COFFEE on N. Pearl St in Albany as we study Hymns on Paradise by St Ephraim the Syrian.
Study the Scriptures with us—Bible Study Saturday evenings at 6pm after vespers as we continue to study the Gospel of Matthew.
Sunday Education—learn with us about a topic for the week after the dismissal. Talk with me if you are interested in teaching a lesson.
Click HERE for some resources for learning about our Faith
Click HERE for a great article on advice for mothers.
Did You Know...that Christ is Risen!...and...
*DURING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER WE WILL BE COLLECTING SOCKS AGAIN FOR THOSE IN NEED. PLEASE HELP US AS WE ENTER INTO ANOTHER SOCTOBER.
*We are participating in the festival of nations this year. It is Sunday October 27th at the Empire State Plaza. We are selling tickets for the event. Talk to Fr John or Ranya Palmer if you are interested in helping out.
*Our church is need of some smaller items:
1. Paper towels
2. Olive Oil
3. Screen door to office (approx $200)
...and we would eventually like to take care of some larger items:
1. Windows in the Church (approx $15,000)
2. Kitchen Renovation (approx $10,000—15,000)
3. Chanters stand with stasidia chairs (approx $4000)
4. Royal doors. These are the doors to the Sanctuary and Altar. (approx $4000)
5. Prothesis table in altar. This is the place where the priest prepares the bread and wine that will be consecrated during the Divine Liturgy (approx $2,000).
If you are interested in helping contribute, please let me know. Also, please know that we are not in dire need of any of these larger items. The Church can and will still function without them, so short-term, hold over or bargain solutions are not what is needed here. These larger items will help to beautify the Church, enable us to save some money (windows) or make money (functioning kitchen).
Parish Prayer List
"Remember Me O Lord When You Come Into Your Kingdom." Lk 23.42
Please include in your daily prayers the following. Contact me to have someone added to the list. These are the names that will be remembered during the Divine Liturgy.
Living:
Bishop Alexander, Fr Gregory Potter, Fr Joseph, Dn Jorge, Dn Horia, Leila, Helen, Lew, Marsha, Mary, Anastasia, Hassib, Nefnafe, Georgette, Jess.
All those suffering from illness, violence and want in this country and throughout the world and especially those in Ukraine, Russia, Gaza, Lebanon and the middle east
Departed:
Fr Gregory DesMarais, Fr Alvian, Selena, those who have lost their lives and who have no one to pray for them, those who have passed in the conflicts in Ukraine and the middle east.
Divine Liturgy Variables on Sunday, October 13, 2024; Tone 7 / Eothinon 5
Sunday of Holy Fathers of Seventh Ecumenical Council & Fourth Sunday of Luke
Hieromartyr Jacob of Hamatoura
Martyrs Karpos, Papylos, Agathodoros & Agathonika at Pergamos
During the Little Entrance, chant the Resurrectional Apolytikion. The Eisodikon (Entrance Hymn) is “O come, let us worship… save us, O Son of God, Who art risen from the dead…” After the Little Entrance, chant these hymns in the following order:
RESURRECTIONAL APOLYTIKION IN TONE SEVEN
Thou didst shatter death by Thy Cross, Thou didst open paradise to the thief; Thou didst turn the sadness of the ointment-bearing women into joy. And didst bid Thine Apostles proclaim a warning, that Thou hast risen O Christ, granting to the world the Great Mercy.
APOLYTIKION OF THE HOLY FATHERS IN TONE EIGHT
Thou, O Christ, art our God of exceeding praise Who didst establish our Holy Fathers as luminous stars upon earth, and through them didst guide us unto the true Faith, O most merciful One, glory to Thee.
APOLYTIKION OF ST. JACOB OF HAMATOURA IN TONE THREE
Thou didst flourish like Lebanon’s cedar, * with no fear thou didst suffer martyrdom, * thou becamest, O saint Jacob, a true victor. * For thou didst conquer death with thy mortal flesh, * when thou didst tame all the passions by humility. * And while burning like incense as a true sacrifice, * thou intercedest with Christ to grant us all the Great Mercy.
Now sing the apolytikion of the patron saint or feast of the temple.
ORDINARY KONTAKION IN TONE TWO
O protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the Creator most constant, O despise not the suppliant voices of those who have sinned; but be thou quick, O good one, to come unto our aid, who in faith cry unto thee: Hasten to intercession, and speed thou to make supplication, thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee.
THE EPISTLE
Blessed are Thou, O Lord, the God of our Fathers. For Thou art just in all that Thou hast done to us.
The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to St. Titus. (3:8-15)
Titus, my son, faithful is the saying, and concerning these things I desire you to affirm confidently, that those who have believed in God may be thoughtful of how to preside in honorable occupations. These things are good and profitable to men. But avoid foolish disputes, and genealogies, and contentions, and controversies about the Law; for they are unprofitable and vain. A man who is a heretic after the first and second admonition reject, knowing that such a one is subverted, and sins, being self-condemned. When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicós, give diligence to come to me to Nicopolis; for I have determined to winter there. Set forward Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that they may be lacking in nothing. And let our people also learn how to preside in honorable occupations, so as to help in cases of urgent need, that they should not be unfruitful. All who are with me salute you. Salute those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.
THE GOSPEL
(For the Fourth Sunday of Luke)
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (8:5-15)
The Lord spoke this parable: “A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell along the path, and was trodden under foot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew, and yielded a hundredfold.” And when His Disciples asked Him what this parable meant, Jesus said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but for others they are in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy; but these have no root, they believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way, they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. And as for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience.” As Jesus said this, He called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom continues as usual.
THE DISMISSAL
Priest: May He Who rose from the dead, Christ our true God, through the intercessions of His all-immaculate and all-blameless holy Mother; by the might of the Precious and Life-giving Cross; by the protection of the honorable Bodiless Powers of Heaven; at the supplication of the honorable, glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John; of the holy, glorious and all-laudable apostles; of our father among the saints, John Chrysostom, archbishop of Constantinople, whose Divine Liturgy we have now celebrated; of the holy, glorious and right-victorious Martyrs; of our venerable and God-bearing Fathers, especially the 367 Holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council; of Saint N., the patron and protector of this holy community; of the holy and righteous ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna; of the holy and righteous ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna; of the Hieromartyr Jacob of Hamatoura, whose memory we celebrate today, and of all the saints: have mercy on us and save us, forasmuch as He is good and loveth mankind.
Parish Giving Summary—Fiscal Year 2023/24
*BELOW IS OUR GIVING SUMMARY FO THE FISCAL YEAR OF 23 AND 24. WE DID A GREAT JOB AS A COMMUNITY IN INCREASING OUR GIVING AND ALTHOUGH WE DID NOT REACH OUR GOAL OF 120,000, WE BROUGHT IN MORE THAN DOUBLE WHAT WE BROUGHT IN LAST YEAR!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF ST GEORGE!
Total Giving for fiscal year to date (October 23–September 24)—$85679.05
Families who have contributed for fiscal year to date (October 23–September 24)—88
Families who have contributed over $5,000 for fiscal year to date (October 23–September 24)—3
Families who have contributed over $1,000 for fiscal year to date (October 23–September 24)—24
Check out our parish financial report by clicking HERE.
*You can set up a recurring monthly donation to the Church by clicking HERE
A Note to our Visitors
WELCOME!
We are blessed by your presence! Join us for fellowship after. Please note, in the Orthodox Church only baptized and chrismated Orthodox Christians who have properly prepared can partake of the Holy Eucharist. All others may come forward for a blessing with the chalice held over their head and receive a piece of blessed bread from the altar servers.
From a Father of the Church
St John of Kronstadt
On the Parable of the Sower
Christian! Cast aside your perilous dissipation, your unbelief, negligence, and sloth, your laziness for salvation; do not trample upon the wondrous gifts of grace; earnestly read or listen to the word of God, which opens unto you the path to salvation; accomplish it with the utmost understanding and strength; conquer your hard-heartedness and obdurateness; soften your heart like wax with the flame of the grace of the Holy Spirit and with tears of repentance; cast from your heart the thorns of sin, even though this be grievous and painful, for they have become second nature to you. You cannot, you say; but God’s grace is omnipotent: it will help you easily accomplish the whole work of your salvation.
