Pastor: Fr John Vazquez | (518) 462-0579 |
fatherjohnvazquez@gmail.com
Beloved,
...and the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures
This line from the creed might be the most comforting and joyful news that we can hear as human beings. The fact that Jesus rose from the dead—not by the power of anyone else—meaning that death could not hold Him, is the foundation on which the good news of our restored union with God is predicated. Additionally, the fact that this happened according to the Holy Scriptures means that this greatest event in human history happened how God said it would happen in His revelation to his chosen holy ones in the law, the psalms and the prophets. The examples of the prophecies of this most marvelous event are too numerous to enumerate from the scriptures. Our Lord explains to His disciples that all of the Holy Scriptures point to Him (Lk 24.27) but here are three examples of the prophetic shadow of our Lords resurrection:
Genesis chapters 39–50 where Joseph is imprisoned in Egypt only to rise to save his family from starvation.
The Book of Jonah where the prophet goes into the belly of the great sea monster but then rises up from the depths of the sea to preach repentance to the city of Nineveh.
Psalm 77/78 where the salvation history of God’s people is enumerated and we hear near the end of this beautiful psalm then the Lord awoke as from sleep, like a strong man drunk from wine; and he struck his enemies from behind (verses 65-66).
The fact that our Lord rose from the dead is why we desire to join ourselves to Him in becoming members of the Church through Holy Baptism. St Paul explains that if are united to the Lord in his death in baptism then we will rise with Him in His resurrection (Rom 6.5). If we do not join ourselves to the one who is Life itself we cannot have life everlasting with Him and reign with Him as sons (Gal 4.6, Php 2.15, 1 Jn 3.1). This understanding—that Jesus defeated death and trampled it down in victory—is why we say there is no salvation apart from Jesus. If anyone is saved—no matter if they are a Christian or not—it is through Jesus Christ because it is only He who has defeated death. Jesus’ victory is for the whole world.
People often ask—what if someone has not heard about Jesus? The Church’s answer to that is—that is between them and God and God does not hold people responsible for what they do not know—but for us that question is irrelevant because we DO know about Jesus and what He has done. Often, I think what is behind that question is something along the lines of—why do I have to live as a Christian if other people don’t have to…it’s not fair…I want to follow my passions because that is pleasurable and enjoyable. It may be pleasurable in the short term but do you really want to exchange eternal union with God for a few fleeting moments of pleasure? Ultimately our whole life is but a moment when compared to eternity.
Life here on earth is suffering because we have chosen this kind of life through our own choice. God desires so much for us to be united to Himself that He condescends to our choice and says—I will be with you in that suffering. Is this not one who deserves our praise, our thanks, our worship and our Love?
With love in the risen Lord,
Fr John
Services and Events
Friday, September 27th—8am—Orthros
Saturday, September 28th—5pm—Great Vespers followed by Bible Study. Join us as we continue to work through the Gospel of Matthew.
Sunday, September 29th—9am—Orthros and Divine Liturgy—Memorial for Bassir Rezek to follow Liturgy
Monday, September 30th—8:15am—Coffee with the Fathers at Alias Coffee Shop on N. Pearl St in Albany
Wednesday, October 2nd—8am— Divine Liturgy
Wednesday, October 2nd—6pm—Paraklesis of St George
Friday, October 4th—8am—Orthros
Saturday, October 5th—5pm—Great Vespers followed by Bible Study. Join us as we continue to work through the Gospel of Matthew.
Sunday, October 6th—9am—Orthros and 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—EASTERN REMNANTS PART I 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...
*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, The Rezek Family, Leila, Helen, Marsha, Mary, Anastasia, 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, Lebanon and the middle east
Departed:
Fr Gregory DesMarais, Fr Alvian, Agnes (8.14), Bassir 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, September 29, 2024
Tone 5 / Eothinon 3; Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost & Second Sunday of Luke
Venerable Kyriakos the hermit of Palestine; Martyr Petronia and those with her in Palestine; Mother Mary the hermit of Palestine
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 FIVE
Let us believers praise and worship the Word; coeternal with the Father and the Spirit, born of the Virgin for our salvation. For, He took pleasure in ascending the Cross in the flesh to suffer death; and to raise the dead by His glorious Resurrection.
APOLYTIKION FOR ST. KYRIAKOS OF PALESTINE IN TONE ONE
Thou didst prove to be a citizen of the desert, an angel in the flesh, and a wonderworker, O Kyriakos, our God-bearing Father. By fasting, vigil, and prayer thou didst obtain heavenly gifts, and thou healest the sick and the souls of them that have recourse to thee with faith. Glory to Him that hath given thee strength; glory to Him that hath crowned thee; glory to Him that worketh healings for all through thee.
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
Thou, O Lord, wilt keep and preserve us. Save me, O Lord, for the godly man has failed.
The Reading from the Second Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians. (1:21-2:4)
Brethren, it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has commissioned us; He has put his seal upon us and given us His Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. But I call God to witness against me—it was to spare you that I refrained from coming to Corinth. Not that we lord it over your faith; we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith. For I made up my mind not to make you another painful visit. For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. For I wrote you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.
THE GOSPEL
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (6:31-36)
The Lord said: “As you wish that men would do to you, do so to them. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”
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; of Saint N., the patron and protector of this holy community; of the holy and righteous ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna; of our righteous father Kyriakos the hermit of Palestine, 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
Help us Meet our Goal of $120,000 for the Year
Sunday Giving for week of September 22nd—$1179
Online Giving for week of September 22nd—$0
Total Giving for fiscal year to date (October 23–September 24)—$84436.05
Families who have contributed for fiscal year to date (October 23–September 24)—89
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)—23
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 Gregory Palamas
Luke 6.31-36
....in this short pronouncement He included every virtue, every commandment, and virtually every good deed and thought. That is why, according to the evangelist Matthew, when the Lord had said these words, He added, “for this is the law and the prophets” (Matt. 7:12). Elsewhere, summing up His teaching, He said that all the law and the prophets hung on the two commandments to love God and love our neighbor (Matt. 22:37-40). Now, however, He has gathered everything into one and included not only the righteousness found in the law and the prophets, but absolutely every type of good deed dome among men, since He is not making laws now for just one race, but for the whole world, or rather, for all those who come to Him through faith from every nation under heaven.
