Sunday, October 21, 2018 Christ is in our midst! He is and always will be! ا ! آ و ن! ا ، 21 ا ول 2018
Sixth Sunday after Holy Cross
Saint of the Day
Commemoration of our Venerable Father HILARION THE GREAT Saint Hilarion the Great was born in the year 291 in the Palestinian village of Tabatha. He was sent to Alexandria to study. There he became acquainted with Christianity and was baptized. After hearing an account of the angelic life of Saint Anthony the Great (January 17), Hilarion went to meet him, desiring to study with him and learn what is pleasing to God. Hilarion soon re- turned to his native land to find that his parents had died. After distributing his family’s inheri- tance to the poor, Hilarion set out into the desert surrounding the city of Maium. In the desert the monk struggled intensely with impure thoughts, vexations of the mind and the burning passions of the flesh, but he defeated them with heavy labor, fasting and fervent prayer. The devil sought to frighten the saint with phantoms and apparitions. During prayer Saint Hilarion heard children crying, women wailing, the roaring of lions and other wild beasts. The monk perceived that it was the demons causing these terrors in order to drive him away from the wilderness. He overcame his fear with the help of fervent prayer. Once, robbers fell upon Saint Hilarion, and he persuaded them to forsake their life of crime through the power of his words. Soon all of Palestine learned about the holy ascetic. The Lord granted to Saint Hilarion the power to cast out unclean spirits. With this gift of grace he loosed the bonds of many of the (Continued on page 2)
(Continued from page 1) afflicted. The sick came for healing, and the monk cured them free of charge, saying that the grace of God is not for sale (MT 10:8). Such was the grace that he received from God that he could tell by the smell of someone’s body or clothing which passion afflicted his soul. They came to Saint Hilarion wanting to save their soul under his guidance. With the blessing of Saint Hilarion, monasteries began to spring up throughout Palestine. Going from one monastery to another, he instituted a strict ascetic manner of life. About seven years before his death (+ 371-372) Saint Hilarion moved back to Cyprus, where the ascetic lived in a solitary place until the Lord summoned him to Himself. 1
Remember in your prayers: Those who have fallen asleep before us in the hope of resur- rection, especially the recently departed +Warda Maayaa. All who are sick, suffering or re- covering from illness, especially Habib Metri, Jamal Habib, Sesel Safo, Micheline Haggar, Elie Haggar and the father of Rabia Arram. Know someone in need of a prayer? Please notify Fr. Rezkallah by Wednesday to ensure they are included in the following Sunday’s special intentions. Reach Fr. Rezkallah online by visiting www.stjacobmelkite.org/prayer-request or by telephone at 858-987-2864.
Good Stewards: All who volunteered their time and talent to make our 28th Anniversary Party a success. The donors of the raffle prizes for last night’s celebration. May God bestow abundant blessings on all His faithful stewards.
LIT Bible Study: This Wednesday at 7pm in the social hall.
Holy Mysteries Mysteries of Christian Initiation: 1 month advance notice. Parents and Sponsors must be practicing Catholics and properly registered in a parish. Mystery of Holy Crowning: 6 months advance notice. Required: One meeting with Fr. Rez- kallah and participation in a marriage preparation program approved by the Catholic Church. Mystery of Reconciliation: Before or after any service or by appointment Mystery of Holy Anointing: Available for those who are ill or anticipating an operation.
BEING MELKITE - DID YOU KNOW? The proper and more ancient manner to receive communion in the Byzantine and Melkite Churches is to approach with your arms crossed. This is a personal recognition of the Holy Species we are receiving and a sign of submission to the King of all. 2 - 2 -
O LORD GOD, BLESS THE SACRIFICIAL WORSHIP & STEWARDSHIP OF YOUR FAITHFUL SERVANTS Summary of offerings made on Sunday, October 14
Tithes and Sacrificial Offerings : Member envelopes returned: 16, Attendance : 58 Visitor envelopes used: 1, Basket offerings: $621, Automated 3 members gave $100 giving: $125, Social Hour: $35, Total tithes and sacrificial offer- 1 member gave $50 ings: $781 2 members gave $40 Average weekly expenses : $1,200 1 member gave $30 Average offerings made : Members: $13.74, Visitors: $16.67 2 members gave $25 4 members gave $20 Are you a member or a visitor ? Members have offering 2 members gave $15 envelopes. If you consider yourself a member and don’t have 1 member gave $10 offering envelopes, please see Rami Maria. 1 member gave $6 Tithe : Represents 10% of our gross income returned to God. 2 members gave $5 Sacrificial offering is a gift that is a true sacrifice for us to make. Visitors gave $100
Forgot your envelope? Not to worry. Visitor offering envelopes are available in the narthex. Youth / Young Adults: Please see Dani Maria if you are interested in joining Living In Truth.
Parish Advisory Council: Rami Maria (Chairman), Max Samaan (Co-Vice Chairman), Eihab Shahtout (Co-Vice Chairman), Rana Metri, Dani Maria, Anthony Porrello and Sam Abraham.
Volunteers wanted! Please sign up online at www.stjacobmelkite.org/volunteer or with Fr. Rezkallah or Rami Maria for the unassigned tasks on the following page. For social hour preparation and clean-up, please see Hala Shahtout. Epistle Reading: Sign up to read the Epistle in the church narthex or online. Volunteer Schedule Please sign up at stjacobmelkite.org/volunteer if you would like to help! Date Task Responsible Member(s) Epistle Reading EN: Elijah White AR:
Sunday Welcoming Visitors Rami Maria 10/21/2018 Gospel Bearing EN: AR: Social Hour Majeda Maria Epistle Reading EN: AR:
Sunday Welcoming Visitors Sam Abraham 10/28/2018 Gospel Bearing EN: AR: Social Hour Noha Bagdasar - 3 -
Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom
Troparion of Resurrection (Tone 5) Let us, O faithful, praise and worship the word, coeternal with the Father and the Spirit, born of the Virgin for our Salvation, for He was pleased to be lifted in the flesh upon the cross, and to endure death, and to raise the dead by His glorious resurrection.