Pastor: Fr John Vazquez | (518) 462-0579 |
fatherjohnvazquez@gmail.com
Beloved,
As I sit in our new home full of boxes and toys scattered on the floor that have been in storage for some time, with the residue of interest rates, amortization schedules and closing costs still filling my thoughts and I write this reflection, I think about the importance of a home. While a home costs a good amount of money, the benefits are worth the investment. A home is a place where we feel safe and comfortable; a place where we can connect with God and with others; and a place that (most of the time) provides a good return on investment. In the last 4 years my family and I have moved 4 times and while I can’s say that I have enjoyed all of that moving, I can say that all of this moving has helped me to realize more and more where our true home is—in the Church, connected to the true Vine—our life-giving Lord.
Yesterday, we celebrated the falling asleep of our all-holy lady the Mother of God. The icon of this feast day shows our Savior with the soul of His mother in His arms—a place that each of us desires to be—a home that each of desires to dwell. How do we attain to that goal? Is there a real estate agent that can help us? Is there a lawyer that helps us to cross our t’s and dot our i’s? While a home in the bosom of our Lord is not for sale in that way there is currency that is accepted by our Lord. That currency is ourselves—our whole selves and nothing less. How do we give our whole selves to Christ? That process begins with prayer and extends to keeping the commandments of our Lord.
In prayer we give thanks, ask for strength, pray for others and seek guidance from our Lord and in keeping the commandments we do the things that our Lord asks us to do—go and sin no more (Jn 8.11), go and make disciples of all nations (Mt 28.19), rise and walk (Lk 5.23), hearken unto me and understand (Mk 7.14) etc, etc, etc (as an exercise, go through the gospels and highlight all the imperative commands of our Lord). If we do these two things—leaven our lives with prayer and follow the commandments of our Lord—we are on our way finding a home in the bosom of our Lord. The cost is great but the reward is better than can be imagined—this home is eternal life with our Lord.
With love in the risen Lord,
Fr John
PS—Thank you so much to each of you who have offered prayers, offered an in-between time space to live, offered storage space, brought food, and helped with moving. What a blessing to my family and me! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Services and Events
Saturday, August 17th—5pm—Great Vespers
Sunday, August 18th—9am—Orthros and Divine Liturgy
FR JOHN OUT OF TOWN the afternoon of AUGUST 18TH—AUGUST 24TH to serve as camp priest at our Diocesan Camp—Camp Transfiguration—in Ottawa. Contact Fr Gregory Potter in case of emergency (508) 468-5758
Saturday, August 24th—5pm—NO VESPERS
Sunday, August 25th—9am—Orthros and Divine Liturgy
Thursday, August 29th—8am—Orthros and Divine Liturgy for the BEHEADING OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST
Friday, August 30th—9am—Paraklesis of St George
Saturday, August 31st—5pm—Great Vespers
Sunday, September 1st—9am—Orthros and Divine Liturgy CHURCH NEW YEAR
Friday, September 6th—8am—Orthros and Divine Liturgy
Saturday, September 7th—5pm—Great Vespers w/Bible Study to follow. Join us as we continue to study the Gospel of Mattew
Sunday, September 8th—9am—Orthros and Divine Liturgy—BAPTISM OF MASON GRADY TO FOLLOW LITURGY—all are welcome
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—YOUR GRACE TRANSFORMS THE UNIVERSE PART I HERE
Get some caffeine for the soul with Coffee with the Fathers. WE WILL START BACK UP MONDAY SEPTEMBER 9TH at ALIAS COFFEE on Pearl St in Albany 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 WILL START BACK UP SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 7TH 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.
Did You Know...that Christ is Risen!...and...
*That our Antiochian Archdiocese celebrated the Translations of the Relics of St Raphael of Brooklyn in July. I was blessed to venerate the skull of St Raphael when I was at the Clergy Symposium. WATCH THIS VIDEO
*We are looking for those who might be interested in learning to or participating a dabke group as we consider having a group participate in the Festival of Nations held in Albany every year. Please contact Father if you are interested. You can learn more about the Festival of Nations HERE.
*Coming soon! The Archdiocese’s new “Antiochian Orthodox Ecclesiastical Online Music School.” With the enthusiastic blessing of Sayidna Saba, the school will offer virtual classes for Byzantine chant and choral singing for church musicians, new or experienced, starting the week of September 9. The school will also offer a course on the Typicon and how to arrange the divine services. Registration begins August 18!
*Our sister parish—St George in Schenectady—is offering online Greek School. You can register HERE
*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, Marsha, Mary, Stephanie, Hassib, Alex, Raymond, .
All those suffering from illness, violence and want in this country and throughout the world and especially those in Ukraine, Russia, Gaza and the middle east
Departed:
Fr Gregory DesMarais, Fr Alvian, Anastasia (7.25), Anne (7.30), Agnes (8.14) 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.
Divine Liturgy Variables on Sunday, August 18, 2024
Tone 7 / Eothinon 8; Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
& Eighth Sunday of Matthew
After-feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos, Martyrs Floros and Lauros of Illyria; Venerable Sophronios of St. Anne Skete on Athos
THE FIRST ANTIPHON
Shout with joy to God, all the earth, give thanks unto the Lord and call upon His Name. Declare His works among the nations.
Refrain: Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us.
In the city of our God, in His holy mountain, His place hath been made in peace, and His dwelling in Zion. (Refrain)
Glory… Both now… (Refrain)
THE SECOND ANTIPHON
The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God.
Refrain: Save us, O Son of God, Who art risen from the dead; who sing to Thee. Alleluia.
God hath laid her foundation unto eternity. We have thought, O God, of Thy mercy in the midst of Thy people. (Refrain)
The most-high hath hallowed His tabernacle. (Refrain)
Glory… Both now… O, only begotten Son and Word of God…
THE THIRD ANTIPHON
Ready is my heart, O God, ready is my heart; I will sing and chant in my glory. What shall I render to the Lord for all that He hath given me? I will receive the cup of salvation, and call upon the Name of the Lord.
During the Little Entrance, after the verses of the Third Antiphon, chant the Apolytikion of the Dormition. The Eisodikon (Entrance Hymn) is “O come, let us worship… save us, O Son of God, Who art risen from the dead…” as on ordinary Sundays. After the Little Entrance, sing 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 DORMITION IN TONE ONE
In thy birth-giving, O Theotokos, thou didst keep and preserve virginity; and in thy falling-asleep thou hast not forsaken the world; for thou wast translated into life, being the Mother of Life. Wherefore, by thine intercessions, deliver our souls from death.
Now sing the apolytikion of the patron saint or feast of the temple.
KONTAKION OF THE DORMITION IN TONE TWO
Verily, the Theotokos, who is ever watchful in intercessions, and whose prayers are never rejected, neither tomb nor death could control. But since she is the Mother of Life, He Who dwelt in her ever-virgin womb did translate her to life.
THE EPISTLE
(For the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost)
The Lord will give strength to His people. Ascribe to the Lord, O sons of God, ascribe to the Lord honor and glory.
The Reading from the First Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians. (1:10-17)
Brethren, I appeal to you, by the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no dissension among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brethren. What I mean is that each one of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispos and Gaius; lest anyone should say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the Gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
THE GOSPEL
(For the Eighth Sunday of Matthew)
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (14:14-22)
At that time, when Jesus went ashore he saw a great throng; and he had compassion on them, and healed their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to Him and said, “This is a lonely place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They said to Him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” And He said, “Bring them here to Me.” Then He ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass; and taking the five loaves and the two fish He looked up to Heaven, and blessed, and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. Then Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds.
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—whose Dormition and translation into the heavens we now celebrate—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; 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: have mercy on us and save us, forasmuch as He is good and loveth mankind.
Parish Giving Summary—Fiscal Year 2023/24
Help us Meet our Goal of $120,000 for the Year
Sunday Giving for week of August 11th—$—2983
Online Giving for week of August 11th—$0
Total Giving for fiscal year to date (October 23–September 24)—$79515.55
Families who have contributed for fiscal year to date (October 23–September 24)—87
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)—21
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
By St. Theophan the Recluse
Why should I care about the church fathers?
