Pastor: Fr John Vazquez | (518) 462-0579 |
fatherjohnvazquez@gmail.com

Beloved,

This week in our look at the creed we come to the following words:

And in one Lord Jesus Christ

The “and” that our phrase from the creed that we are looking at today begins with is a continuation of the first two words of the creed that we spoke about—I believe. So the meaning, or the sense, is “and I believe in…”

The word Lord—kyrios in Greek—is used all throughout the Holy Scriptures. This word—Lord—is what is used in place of the name of God—Yahweh (which means “the existing one”)— in the Old Testament because that name was considered too holy to say aloud. In the creed then, we are identifying Jesus Christ as this Lord—as this existing one—along with Thomas who makes the astonishing declaration in the Gospel of John (Jn 20.28) that Jesus is Lord and God. It is not only Thomas who makes this declaration but the Great Apostle Paul who says that Jesus Christ is our Lord (just open almost anywhere in any epistle of Paul and you will find this phrase); the psalmist who says in Psalm 117.27, God is the Lord who has revealed himself to us (how has God been revealed?…Through His incarnation in the person of Jesus Christ); and the prophets the word of the Lord came to Isaiah (Is 38.4) etc. There are countless other references in the Scriptures of God being referred to as Lord as well as the identification of Jesus as this Lord God. 

Now, it is true too that in the new testament times this word Lord, could be translated as Sir or Master and there are perhaps even times when people are using the word in this sense in the Gospels. However, the deeper meaning or level of understanding is that Jesus Christ is the Lord God of Israel. One simply needs to read the new testament only half paying attention and a person will understand this fact. A few places that Paul declares that Jesus is Lord and God are: Philippians 2:9-11, Romans 1:1-4 and Ephesians 1:20-22. In each of these three passages respectively, Paul declares that Jesus is God by affirming: worship is due to Jesus (Philippians passage), that Jesus is the Son of God (Romans passage) and that “all things have been put under His feet” (Eph 1.22), a clear reference to Moses’ vision of God in Exodus 24:10.

This last implicit reference to Exodus and all things being put under the feet of Christ is an important affirmation by Paul. This reference (his others too, but this one in particular) make a connection to the experiences of God in the Old Testament (Gen 3, 18 and 32, Ex 3, Ex 19 and 24, Jdg 13, Is 6, Ezk 1 and 10, Daniel 3 and 7 etc.) being understood as the Second person of the Trinity—the Word of God who became incarnate for us. In other words, these events in the Old Testament are God revealing Himself in the person of His “pre-incarnate Son. 

So this identification of Jesus as the LORD—the second person of the Trinity—is the declaration that we make in the creed and it is the same declaration that the Church has made from the beginning following Christ Himself (Jn 8 and Lk 24), then exemplified in the apostles St Thomas and St Paul and preserved and handed to us through the Fathers of the Church. 

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God have mercy on us!

With love in the risen Lord,

Fr John

Services and Events

Friday, June 28th—6pm—Orthros and Divine Liturgy for the feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul

Saturday, June 29th—5pm—Great Vespers 

Sunday, June 30th—9am—Orthros and Divine Liturgymemorial for Rezek family is POSTPONED

Wednesday, July 3rd—8am—Orthros and Divine Liturgy

THURSDAY JULY 4TH–MONDAY JULY 7TH FR JOHN OUT OF TOWN FOR PARISH LIFE CONFERENCE IN MONTREAL—IN CASE OF EMERGENCY CONTACT FR PAUL FEDOROFF WHO IS AN OCA PRIEST IN THE AREA—‭(518) 573-7987

Sunday, July 7th—9am—Orthros and Divine Liturgy (Fr Paul Fedoroff serving) 

Wednesday, July 10th—8am—Orthros and Divine Liturgy

 

Church Calendar

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 on the a culture of prayer HERE

Get some caffeine for the soul with Coffee with the Fathers. WE ARE ON A HIATUS UNTIL SEPTEMBER when we plan to begin studying Hymns on Paradise by St Ephraim the Syrian. 

Study the Scriptures with us—Bible Study Saturday evenings at 6pm after vespers. WE ARE ON A HIATUS UNTIL SEPTEMBER when we plan to continue studying the Gospel of Matthew.

Click HERE for some resources for learning about our Faith

Click HERE for a great article on advice for mothers. 

Internships for young adults, June and/or July: Men ages 18-35 can apply now to live and work at The Monastery of Our Lady and St. Laurence in Colorado, even if they're not considering a monastic vocation. Starting this Friday, young men and women can apply for internships that will teach servant leadership in Alaska, Puerto Rico and Texas for the 2024-25 school year.

Orthodox Young Professionals Conference, July 25-28: In Anaheim, Calif., attendees will have opportunities for spiritual growth, and build future friendships and lasting memories. Be one of the first fifty people to register and earn a discount! (Please also share the attached flier.)

 

Did You Know...that Christ is Risen!...and...

* Festival for our sister parish of St George South Glens Falls is July 11–13th. 

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 Andrew, Fr Pat, Fr Joseph, Fr Chrysostom, Fr Peter and Matushka Sophia,  Dn Jorge, Dn Horia, Lamia, The Shahin Family, The Ruff Family, Diane, Callie, Leila, Helen, Lucy, Camile, Marsha, Mary, Georgette, Presbytera Marina, Hassib, Alex, Raymond.

All those suffering from illness, violence and want in this country and throughout the world and especially those in Ukraine Gaza and the middle east

Departed:

Fr Gregory DesMarais, Fr Alvian, Archpriest Basil (6.17), Archpriest James (6.17), William (6.9.24), Abrahim (6.9.24), those who have lost their lives and who have no one to pray for them, those who have passed in the conflict in Ukraine and the middle east.

Why do we pray for the dead?

Divine Liturgy Variables on the Sunday of All Saints

The First Sunday after Pentecost—Tone 8/Eothinon 1

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 EIGHT

From the heights Thou didst descend, O compassionate One, and Thou didst submit to the three-day burial, that Thou might deliver us from passion; Thou art our life and our Resurrection, O Lord, glory to Thee.

APOLYTIKION OF ALL SAINTS IN TONE FOUR

Thy Church, O Christ God, hath regaled herself in the blood of Thy Martyrs throughout the entire world, as in porphyry and purple. Through them she lifteth her voice crying: Turn with Thy compassion toward Thy people, and grant peace to Thy city, and to our souls the Great Mercy.

APOLYTIKION FOR THE SYNAXIS OF THE APOSTLES IN TONE THREE

O Holy Apostles, intercede with our merciful God, to grant our souls forgiveness of sins.

Now sing the apolytikion of the patron saint or feast of the temple.

KONTAKION OF ALL SAINTS IN TONE EIGHT

(**The original melody**)

As first-fruits of our nature to the Planter of created things, * the world presenteth the God-bearing martyred Saints in off’ring unto Thee, O Lord. * Through their earnest entreaties, * keep Thy Church in deep peace and divine tranquility, * through the pure Theotokos, O Thou Who art greatly merciful.

THE EPISTLE

God is wonderful among His saints. Bless God in the congregations.

The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews. (11:33-12:2)

Brethren, all the saints through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated—of whom the world was not worthy—wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfection of our faith.

THE GOSPEL

The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (9:36-10:8)

At that time, when Jesus saw the crowds, He had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His Disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” And He called to Him His twelve Disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity. The names of the twelve Apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him. These twelve Jesus sent out, charging them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And preach as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying, give without pay.”

KOINONIKON (COMMUNION HYMN) OF ALL SAINTS IN TONE EIGHT

Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous; praise is meet for the upright. Alleluia.

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—especially “The Twelve” whose Synaxis we now celebrate—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; of Saint N., the patron and protector of this holy community; of the holy and righteous ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna—and of all the saints of all ages who are well-pleasing to God, whose memory we celebrate today—have mercy on us and save us, forasmuch as He is good and loveth mankind.

Priest: Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy upon us and save us.

Choir: Amen.

Parish Giving Summary—Fiscal Year 2023/24

Help us Meet our Goal of $120,000 for the Year

Sunday Giving for week of June 23rd—$—257

Online Giving for week of June 23rd—$0

Total Giving for fiscal year to date (October 23–September 24)—$69363.7

Families who have contributed for fiscal year to date (October 23–September 24)—72

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)—20

Check out our parish financial report by clicking HERE.

*You can set up a recurring monthly donation to the Church by clicking HERE 

Give to St. George

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 Gregory the Wonderworker—Discourse on all the Saints

And if any one believes not that death is abolished, that Hades is trodden under foot, that the chains thereof are broken, that the tyrant is bound, let him look on the martyrs disporting themselves in the presence of death, and taking up the jubilant strain of the victory of Christ. O the marvel! Since the hour when Christ despoiled Hades, men have danced in triumph over death. "O death, where is your sting! O grave, where is your victory?" (1 Corinthians 15:55). Hades and the devil have been despoiled, and stripped of their ancient armour, and cast out of their peculiar power. And even as Goliath had his head cut off with his own sword, so also is the devil, who has been the father of death, put to rout through death; and he finds that the selfsame thing which he was wont to use as the ready weapon of his deceit, has become the mighty instrument of his own destruction. Yea, if we may so speak, casting his hook at the Godhead, and seizing the wonted enjoyment of the baited pleasure, he is himself manifestly caught while he deems himself the captor, and discovers that in place of the man he has touched the God. https://www.mystagogyresourcecenter.com/2023/06/oration-on-all-saints-st-gregory.html

Why should I care about the church fathers?