Holy Trinity Orthodox Church Willimantic, Connecticut 06226 Parish Priest: V. Rev. Marc Vranes (860) 983.2012 / Mobile Web Site: orthodoxct.org; Web Master: [email protected] 2020 Soup Kitchen Service Date: March 21, June 12, September 13, December 19 Vision 2020: Mission . Mercy . Ministry ______

SUNDAY, July 26, 2020

7th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST — Tone 6. Repose of St. Jacob (Netsvetov), Enlightener of the Peoples of (1864). Martyr Parasceva of Rome (2nd c.).

† Jacob (Netsvetov), Enlightener of the Peoples of Alaska (+1864). Saint Jacob was born in 1802, to a Russian father and an Aleut mother. Traveling to Russia, he attended the seminary in Irkutsk, and returned to Alaska after being ordained to the priesthood. For the next thirty-six years he served as missionary and pastor to the Alaskan people, undergoing tremendous hardships to do so. He first traveled among the peoples of the , using native kayaks to paddle between the islands. From 1845 to 1863 he worked among the native people of the Yukon valley, traveling from village to village by dog-sled. He was the first Orthodox priest to serve the area since the Hieromartyr Juvenaly, companion of Saint Herman. He carried with him a tent which served as a traveling church, in which he served the Divine Liturgy wherever he went — though sometimes the services could not be held because the bread and wine had frozen. Toward the end of his life, worn out by his labors, he settled for a brief time in Sitka, where he reposed in peace in 1864.

ENTRANCE HYMNS (Sung after ‘Little Entrance’ with the Gospel)

Tone 6 (Resurrection) The Angelic Powers were at Thy tomb; the guards became as dead men. Mary stood by Thy grave, seeking Thy most pure body. Thou didst capture hell not being tempted by it. Thou didst come to the Virgin, granting life. O Lord, Who didst rise from the dead,// glory to Thee.

Tone 4 Troparion (Saint Jacob of Alaska) O righteous Father Jacob, adornment of Atka and the Yukon Delta; thou didst offer thyself as a living sacrifice to bring light to a searching people. Offspring of , flower of brotherly unity, healer of sickness and terror of demons: O Holy Father Jacob,// pray to Christ God that our souls may be saved.

Tone 6 (Resurrection) When Christ God the Giver of Life, raised all of the dead from the valleys of misery with His mighty hand, He bestowed resurrection on the human race.// He is the Savior of all, the Resurrection, the Life, and the God of all.

Epistle Reading Romans 15:1-7; The Strong Bear the Weak. (Reader: TBD)

PROKEIMENON VERSES – Tone 6 a) O Lord, save Thy people / and bless Thine inheritance. b) To Thee, O Lord, will I call. O my God, be not silent to me.

5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be Brethren: 1 We then who are strong ought to bear with the like-minded toward one another, according to Christ , scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 6 that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. edification. 7 Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received 3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, us, to the glory of God. “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.” 4 For whatever things were written before were written for Memory Eternal: +Helen Adrzejewski (age 91); our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of Mother of Dr Chet, (7/30/2018). the Scriptures might have hope.

ALLELUIA VERSES – Tone 6 a) He who dwelleth in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the heavenly God. b) He will say to the Lord: “My Protector and my Refuge; my God, in Whom I trust.”

Gospel Reading Saint Matthew 9:27-35; Jesus Gives Sight to Two Blind Men.

Let Us Attend: 27 When Jesus departed from there, two 32 As they went out, behold, they brought to Him a man, blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of mute and demon-possessed. David, have mercy on us!” 33 And when the demon was cast out, the mute spoke. And 28 And when He had come into the house, the blind men the multitudes marveled, saying, “It was never seen like this came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I in Israel!” am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” 34 But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the ruler 29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your of the demons.” faith let it be to you.” 35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, 30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel them, saying, “See that no one knows it.” of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and 31 But when they had departed, they spread the news about every disease among the people. Him in all that country. .

†Episcopal Nomination Process Revealed: In an email sent Friday evening, July 24, by His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, nominations to elect a new for the Diocese of New England, will be accepted through August 31. Any parishioner in good standing is able to submit a name for consideration. There are criteria that should be considered.

The Reflection of a Teacher & Mother The following thoughts were offered by Mrs Susan Dolan Spiritual Readings in an email shared on Wednesday, July 22. It is being shared with Sue’s permission. Susan is a Math Teacher at The Corporate Nature of Salvation Windsor Locks High School and is scheduled to teach Algebra II when schools re-open. There is a certain emptiness in trying to live the Christian life outside the life of the Church. This These are certainly difficult times. I hope that all are is because it is impossible to truly live as a doing well and staying healthy. I miss seeing you all. Christian without the Church. The reading of the This is definitely a different summer than most. As scriptures, and our commitment to prayer, are most educators I'm sure, I have worked more this important foundations in the life of a Christian, summer than any other. I am constantly attending but they are incomplete without the mystical and online meetings and working to rewrite curriculum for the different return to school scenarios that may play sacramental life that is found within the Church. out. There is a great deal of uncertainty in the whole If we hope to grow spiritually, we will take going back to school plan. I was on a Google meeting advantage of the Mysteries that are found only with my administration yesterday and she admitted within the Church. that they don't have answers for most of our questions, but our first unit curriculum needs to be rewritten and Without the Mystery of Penance, and the submitted by August 1st, we were reminded. absolution of the Church, we have no hope of transformation and holiness, for without the I feel for those of you with young children. The corporate life of the Church, our sins keep us internal struggle of deciding what to do must be so captive. Without the Mystery of Christ’s Body and difficult. Kids need socialization, as much if not more, Blood, received during the celebration of the than academics when they are young. My son Andrew Church’s Divine Liturgy, the healing of the soul asked me yesterday if I would have made him go to remains undone, and salvation is next to school in the fall and I really couldn't answer. There is impossible. - Abbot Tryphon. From the July 24, 2020, still just so much we don't know. I have decided that I edition of The Morning Offering. Abbot Tryphon is will plan as best I can, but know that these plans will from the All-Merciful Savior Orthodox Monastery, continuously change. Vashon Island, WA.