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

Beloved,

This Sunday we will say the prayer for the making of a catechumen for the Hicks family. This prayer is a public and affirmative statement declaring the intention of the person(s) to enter into union with the Orthodox Church—which happens after a period of instruction (known at catechesis) in the Fatih—through baptism and or chrismation. We can liken this prayer to the betrothal of a man and a woman who are preparing to be married because our entrance into the Church through baptism is our entrance into marriage with Christ. We meet our bridegroom at a place of water—think of Isaac and Rebekah (Gen 24), Jacob and Rachel (Gen 29), Christ and the Samaritan Woman (Jn 4), us and our Lord (Eph 5.26 and Rev 21)—where we are washed and cleansed for the regeneration and salvation of our souls (Titus 3.5). 

So what we are doing this Sunday is witnessing a family make a formal commitment of their intention to be united to Christ and His Church. Let us rejoice then as our Lord’s call to all men (1 Tim 2.4) has fallen on ears that are willing to hear (Lk 14.35) and let us pray for them as Christ’s body (Col 1.18) that they may be perfected through the fearful mysteries of Christ…conduct their lives according to the commandments, preserve the seal unbroken and attain the blessedness of the elect in the kingdom, as the prayer declares. And let this moment be a time where we can renew our own commitment to our Lord with fervor and intention. 

To witness people commit to the Church is a blessing given us from God as it has the power to fuel the flame of our faith in our sweetest Lord Jesus. It is important to have this flame stoked and reinvigorated because our Lord spues out of His mouth those who are lukewarm in their faith (Rev 3.16). Rejoice then at this gift from God—both for the five who are making this commitment and for the multitude of us who are the Body and strive—and let it fuel the flame of our faith so that it may burn brightly and draw to the Church all those who are in search of a torch to enlighten their way in the darkened world.

With love in the risen Lord,

Fr John

Services and Events 

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

Sunday, October 6th—6-8pm—OPEN HOUSE at Fr John and Khouriye Hannah's new home. Stop by if you are able, we would love for you to see our home. 

Monday, October 7th—8:15am—Coffee with the Fathers—join us at Alias Coffee on N. Pearl St in downtown Albany as we study Hymns on Paradise by Ephrem the Syrian 

Wednesday, October 9th—8am—Divine Liturgy 

Wednesday, October 9th—6pm—Paraklesis of St George

Friday, October 11th—8am—Orthros 

Saturday, October 12th—5pm—Great Vespers followed by Bible Study. Join us as we continue to work through the Gospel of Matthew. 

Sunday, October 13th—9am—Orthros and Divine Liturgy—join us for apple picking after Liturgy (Philip Orchards 270 Rt 9H Hudson, NY 12534) 

ALSO

Wednesday, October 16th—7pm—PARISH COUNCIL MEETING 

Sunday, October 27th—FESTIVAL OF NATIONS @ THE EMPIRE STATE PLAZA 

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—EASTERN REMNANTS PART II 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).

*Ancient Faith Kids launched a new podcast, "A Joyful Noise: Exploring Byzantine Chant." Children are taught in an age-appropriate manner about the eight modes used in Orthodox Christian Byzantine chant, learn about the parallagi scale, and sing hymns along with the host. Tune in!
 
*The Diocesan Fall Retreat is coming up October 25–27. This is a great opportunity to enjoy fellowship and grow in your spiritual life. It will take place in Ottawa and the speaker will be Fr Silviu Bunta—a wonderful teacher. You can visit his website HERE. Set aside some time to join us for some spiritual refreshment. 

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.

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, Linda 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.

Why do we pray for the dead?

Divine Liturgy Variables on Sunday, October 06, 2024

Tone 6 / Eothinon 4; Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost  & Third Sunday of Luke

The Holy and Glorious Apostle Thomas; Innocent, Apostle to the Americas; Venerable Kendeas of Cyprus

 

 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 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 ST. THOMAS IN TONE THREE

O holy Apostle Thomas, 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.

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

(For the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost)

O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance. Unto Thee will I cry, O my God.

The Reading from the Second Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians. (4:6-15)

Brethren, seeing that it is the God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, the same also shone in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of power is from God, and not from us. We are pressed on every way, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; smitten down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our mortal flesh. So, then, death is working in us, but life in you. But having in us the same spirit of faith, according to that which is written, “I believed, and therefore I spoke,” we also believe, and therefore we also speak, knowing that the One who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up through Jesus, and will make us stand together with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the grace, which is multiplied through the thanksgiving of many, may abound to the glory of God.

THE GOSPEL

(For the Third Sunday of Luke)

The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (7:11-16)

At that time, Jesus went to a city called Nain, and many of His disciples and a great crowd went with Him.  As He drew near to the gate of the city, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a large crowd from the city was with her.  And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.”  And He came and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And Jesus said, “Young man, I say to you: arise.”  And the dead man sat up, and began to speak.  And Jesus gave him to his mother.  Fear seized them all; and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited His people!”

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 the Apostle Thomas, called “The Twin,” 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 29th—$1267

Online Giving for week of September 29th—$0

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)—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 

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 Cyril of Alexandria

"And it came to pass the day after, He was going to a city called Nain, and His disciples were going with Him" (Luke 7:11).

Disbelieve not therefore the resurrection of the dead; for long ago Christ wrought it among us with a Godlike majesty. And let no man say, that He Who raised two, for instance, or three, and effected thus much, is not thoroughly sufficient for the life also of us all. Such words, foul with utter ignorance, are simply ridiculous. Right rather is it for us to understand, that He is the Life, and the Life-giver by nature. And how can the Life be insufficient for making all alive? It would be the same thing as to say in one's excessive folly, that the Light also is sufficient indeed for little things, but not for the Universe.

 
Why should I care about the church fathers?