Pastor: Fr John Vazquez | (518) 462-0579 |
fatherjohnvazquez@gmail.com
Beloved,
By Whom all things were made
This week in our look at the creed we come to this line about Jesus that declares that He made all things. Now, you may be wondering—didn’t we say that about the Father already—that He is maker of heaven and earth? Well, yes the creed does say that just a few lines before. So how does this work—that the Father and the Son (and the Holy Spirit)—are all creator? As always, let us begin with the Holy Scriptures.
If we look in the book of Genesis we see that the opening lines are—in the beginning God made heaven and earth (Gen 1.1). We also see that God creates through speaking—then God said…let their be light…let the dry land appear…let the earth bring forth living creatures (Gen 1) and then we see that God says—let US make man in our image (Gen 1.26). These lines from Scripture demonstrate two very important things—that God is Creator and that God is unity in Trinity and Trinity in unity—then God SAID and let US make…
Someone might ask, how can we gather from these lines that God is Trinity? I have suggested before—in following some of the fathers of the Church—that we consider our make-up as human beings to help us try to conceptualize the Trinity. Each person consists of body, mind and spirit. I am not a person if I don’t have my breath—my spirit—and I am not a person if I don’t have my rational word—my mind. Both my spirit and my mind—my breath and my rationality—help make me who and what I am. In a similar manner, God is Father and He has a Rational Principle that perfectly expresses who He is as well as His invigorating and life-giving Spirit. So when God created through speaking—both a word (the Word) and breath (the Spirit) came out of His mouth. We can say then, that it is truly Father Who creates, truly Son who creates and truly Spirit who creates.
The historical considerations surrounding this statement that Jesus is the one by whom all things were made is important to point out. The heretical arians taught that Jesus, as God’s highest creature, was creator and this lines up to some extent with one of the philosophical ideas of the time, namely—that it is beneath God to create, that it would soil His perfection in some way. For us as Orthodox Christians though, God is Creator and this does not soil God but rather demonstrates His power, condescension and love. To make the statement then that Jesus—as the Son and Word of God—is Creator is to say that Jesus is God AND that He is our Savior. How does this follow?
We know that it is through His only-begotten Son that God the Father chooses to reveal Himself to us. Part of this revelation includes revealing Himself to us as Creator and Redeemer. If we, as His creation, have been damaged in our descent into death then it is the Creator—He who made all things—that has the power to fashion us anew through our union to Him in His holy Church. This refashioning is our eternal salvation. Glory to our Lord Jesus Christ!
With love in the risen Lord,
Fr John
Services and Events
Friday, August 9th—6pm—Paraklesis of the Theotokos
Saturday, August 10th—5pm—Great Vespers
Sunday, August 11th—9am—Orthros and Divine Liturgy w/40 DAY memorial for CAMILE REZEK to follow. Memorial meal and bread of oblation offered by the Rezek Family.
Monday, August 12th—6pm—Paraklesis of the Theotokos
Wednesday, August 14th—6pm—Great Vespers w/Litia and Artoklasia for the GREAT FEAST OF THE DORMITION
Thursday, August 15th—8am—Orthros and Divine Liturgy for the GREAT FEAST OF THE DORMITION
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. THIS WEEK HE TALKS ABOUT THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN PRIEST 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.
*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 Andrew, Fr Pat, Fr Joseph, Fr Chrysostom, Fr Matthew, Fr Emmanuel, Dn Jorge, Dn Horia, The Rezek Family, Callie, Leila, Mo, Rosie, Helen, Marsha, Mary, 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), Camile (7.2) Anastasia (7.25), Anne (7.30), 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 11, 2024 Tone 6 / Eothinon 7; Seventh Sunday after Pentecost & Seventh Sunday of Matthew
After-feast of the Transfiguration of Christ
Martyr and Archdeacon Euplos of Catania in Sicily; Niphon, patriarch of Constantinople; New-martyrs Anastasios and Demetrios of Lesbos
THE FIRST ANTIPHON
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, in the city of our God, in His holy mountain. Who settest fast the mountains by Thy strength, Who art girded about with power.
Refrain: Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us.
Who coverest Thyself with light as with a garment. The mountains shall rejoice at the presence of the Lord, for He cometh; yea, He is come to judge the earth. (Refrain)
Glory… Both now… (Refrain)
THE SECOND ANTIPHON
His foundations are in the holy mountains. The Lord loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
Refrain: Save us, O Son of God, Who wast transfigured on Mount Tabor, who sing to Thee. Alleluia.
Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. (Refrain)
A man will say: Mother Sion; and: That man was born in her; and: The Most High Himself hath founded her. (Refrain)
Glory… Both now… O, only begotten Son and Word of God…
THE THIRD ANTIPHON
Of Thy mercies, O Lord, will I sing forever. The heavens shall confess Thy wonders, O Lord, and Thy truth in the congregation of saints. Blessed is the people that knoweth jubilation. O Lord, in the light of Thy countenance shall they walk, and in Thy Name shall they rejoice all the day long.
During the Little Entrance, after the verses of the Third Antiphon, chant the apolytikion of the Transfiguration. 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, chant these hymns in the following order:
RESURRECTIONAL APOLYTIKION IN TONE SIX
When Mary stood at Thy grave, looking for Thy sacred body, angelic powers shone above Thy revered tomb. And the soldiers who were to keep guard became as dead men. Thou led Hades captive and wast not tempted thereby. Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst give life to the world, O Thou, Who art risen from the dead, O Lord, glory to Thee.
APOLYTIKION OF THE TRANSFIGURATION IN TONE SEVEN
When, O Christ our God, Thou wast transfigured on the mountain, Thou didst reveal Thy glory to Thy Disciples in proportion as they could bear it. Let Thine everlasting light also enlighten us sinners, through the intercessions of the Theotokos. O Thou Bestower of light, glory to Thee.
Now sing the apolytikion of the patron saint or feast of the temple.
KONTAKION OF THE TRANSFIGURATION IN TONE SEVEN
Thou wast transfigured on the mount, and Thy Disciples, in so far as they were able, beheld Thy glory, O Christ our God; so that, when they should see Thee crucified, they would remember that all Thy suffering was voluntary, and could declare to all the world that Thou art truly the effulgent Splendor of the Father.
THE EPISTLE
(For the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost)
O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance. Unto Thee, O Lord, will I cry, O my God!
The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans. (15:1-7)
Brethren, we who are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good for his edification. For Christ also did not please Himself; but, as it is written: “The reproaches of those who reproached Thee fell on Me.” For whatever was written beforehand was written for our learning, that we might have hope, through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures. Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be of the same mind with one another, according to Christ Jesus, that with one accord and one mouth you may glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, receive one another, even as Christ has also received you, to the glory of God.
THE GOSPEL
(For the Seventh Sunday of Matthew)
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (9:27-35)
At that time, as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud: “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” When He entered the house, the blind men came to Him; and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.” And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly charged them, “See that no one knows it.” But they went away and spread His fame through all that district. As they were going away, behold, a dumb demoniac was brought to Him. And when the demon had been cast out, the dumb man spoke; and the crowds marveled, saying, “Never was anything like this seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the prince of demons.” And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity.
THE DISMISSAL
Priest: May He Who was transfigured in glory before His holy disciples and apostles on Mount Tabor, and 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; 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 $120,000 for the Year
Sunday Giving for week of August 4th—$—931.25
Online Giving for week of August 4th—$60
Total Giving for fiscal year to date (October 23–September 24)—$76532.55
Families who have contributed for fiscal year to date (October 23–September 24)—86
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?
