Holy Martyr Peter the Aleut Orthodox Church

Bulletin For September 9, 2018

Holy and Righteous Ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna

15th Sunday After Pentecost Tone 6

Today we commemorate the Holy and Righteous Ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna, Martyr Severian of Sebaste (320), Ven. , of Volótsk (1515), Ven. Theophanes the Confessor and Faster, of Mt. Diabenos (ca. 300). Martyrs Chariton and Straton. Bl. Nicetas the Hidden, of (12th c.), Commemoration of the Third Ecumenical Council (431).

Holy Martyr Peter the Aleut Orthodox Church 1802 33 Ave SW Calgary, AB T2T 1Y9 Archpriest Phillip Eriksson, Rector – (403) 686-4270 [email protected] Priest Sebastian Scratch – (587) 974-7312 [email protected] Church Office – (403) 242-6754 Church Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons www.saintpeter.ca • www.archdiocese.ca • www.oca.org

This Week at a Glance:

Sunday, September 9, 2018 – Tone 6 • 9:10 am – Hours • 9:30 am – Divine Liturgy • 12:00 pm – Coffee Hour (Lunch Team 1) Greeter – Mina Cloth Holders – Pavle, Judith, Alex Reader – Steven Bishop Counters – Albert,

Friday, September 15, 2018 – Exaltation of the Holy Cross • 9:10 am – Hours • 9:30 am – Divine Liturgy • Women’s Retreat Begins • 6:30 pm – Great Vespers

Reader – Jonathan Goossen

Saturday, September 15, 2018 • 9:00 am – Lord’s Lunch • 6:30 pm – Great Vespers

Reader – Macpherson

Sunday, September 16, 2018 – Tone 7 • 9:10 am – Hours • 9:30 am – Divine Liturgy • 12:00 pm – Coffee Hour (Lunch Team 2) • Women’s Retreat Ends Greeter – Susan D. Cloth Holders – Deron, Ksenia, Robert Reader – Jonathan, Madeleine Counters – , Stephen

Deadline for bulletin submissions: Thursdays 2:00 PM Contact Cindy Goossen: [email protected] (403) 242-6754

Parking in the West Parking Lot is Reserved for those with mobility issues. A Word to Our Guests: Welcome to our community! We have been blessed to have you join us for worship this morning. Orthodox Christians who have prepared themselves through prayer, fasting and regular confession may receive the Eucharist. We invite our other friends in Christ to approach the chalice and receive a blessing and the bread of fellowship. During worship, we generally stand in reverence and love before the face of God, but there are no prescriptions concerning sitting or standing. Please sit whenever you need to. The Psalmist says, “Let my prayer arise in Your sight like incense”. Our worship takes this statement literally! If the incense is causing you discomfort, please feel free to step outside for a moment at any time.

Announcements:

Sunday School Registration and Volunteer Request - Like many other initiatives, the Sunday School is run on a volunteer basis. They need your fresh ideas, enthusiasm and love for God and kids. If you are interested, in helping with teaching this year, please contact Kira Melnicenco or Andrea Barkman. There will be registration for Sunday School this Sunday during Coffee Hour. Sunday School will begin on September 30, after Coffee Hour.

Coffee Hour Returns! – Weekly Coffee Hours will be resuming on Sunday, September 9 following the Liturgy with Lunch Team 1. Please feel free to join us downstairs, after the Liturgy, for a light lunch.

Giant Swing Youth Event – On Saturday, September 29 there will be a youth event for any youth from grades 7 to 11. It will be a "Giant Swing" party held at Camp Horizon (south of Bragg Creek), followed by a teaching time and BBQ supper. The youth should meet at St. Peter's at 12:30pm and will carpool to Camp Horizon. They should be returning to the church around 9:00pm for parents / billets to pick up the youth. Please bring $20 each (covers gas, food, and Camp Horizon).

Saints Joachim and Anna

Saint Joachim, the son of Barpathir, was of the tribe of Judah, and was a descendant of King David, to whom God had revealed that the Savior of the world would be born from his seed. Anna was the daughter of Matthan the priest, who was of the tribe of Levi. Saint Anna’s family came from Bethlehem. The couple lived at Nazareth in Galilee. They were childless into their old age and all their life they grieved over this. They had to endure derision and scorn, since at that time childlessness was considered a disgrace. They never grumbled, but fervently prayed to God, humbly trusting in Him. Once, during a great feast, the gifts which Joachim took to Jerusalem as an offering to God were not accepted by the priest Reuben, who considered that a childless man was not worthy to offer sacrifice to God. This pained the old man very much, and he, regarding himself the most sinful of people, decided not to return home, but to settle in solitude in a desolate place. When Saint Anna learned what humiliation her husband had endured, she sorrowfully entreated God with prayer and fasting to grant her a child. In his desolate solitude the righteous Joachim also asked God for this. The prayer of the saintly couple was heard. An angel told them that a daughter would be born to them, Who would be blessed above all other women. He also told them that She would remain a , would be dedicated to the Lord and live in the Temple, and would give birth to the Savior. Obeying the instructions of the heavenly messenger, Joachim and Anna met at the Golden Gate in Jerusalem. Then, as God promised, a daughter was born to them and they named her Mary. Saint Joachim died a few years later at the age of 80, after his daughter went to live in the Temple. Saint Anna died at the age of 70, two years after her husband. Saints Joachim and Anna are often invoked by couples trying to have children.