St. Innocent Orthodox Church Z Founded in 1967 Z Moscow Patriarchal Parishes Z 23300 W. Chicago _ Redford, MI 48239 _ 313-538-1142 _ Fax: 313-538-8126 Church Website: www.stinnocentchurch.com _ E-Mail: [email protected] St. Innocent Monastic Community: 9452 Hazelton, Redford, MI 48239 _ 313-535-9080 PASTOR: Rt. Rev. Mitered Archpriest ROMAN STAR _ Cell: 313-319-0590 Dean, Central States Deanery, Patriarchal Parishes OCTOBER 2, 2016 ASSISTANT PRIEST: Rev. DANEIL SHIRAK _ 313-295-3073 EPISTLE: 2 Corinthians 4:6– 15 (#176) DEACON: Rev. Dn. Michael Comerford GOSPEL: St. Luke 6:31 – 36 (#26) SUBDEACON: Dr. Joshua Genig TONE: 6 ATTACHED: Sister Ioanna CHOIR DIRECTOR: Elizabeth Star Hatfield Protection of the Theotokos, Feast, 10/1 READERS: Robert Joseph Latsko & George Hanoian
Z 15th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST Z
_ 9:15AM — HOURS, AKATHIST and/or CANON _ _ 10am — DIVINE LITURGY OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM _
COMMEMORATED TODAY: Hieromartyr Cyprian, Virgin Martyr Justina, and Martyr Theoctistus, of Nicomedia (304). Bl. Andrew, Fool-for-Christ, at Constantinople (936). Repose of Rt. Blv. Princess Anna of Kashin (1338). Ven. Cassian of Uglich (1504). Martyrs David and Constantine, Princes of Georgia (740). Righteous Warrior Theodore Ushakóv (1817).
FOR THE REPOSE OF: Estelle & Joseph Star; Anna & John Witkowski; Michael Sr. & Margaret Rusko; Mary, Andrew, Daniel, Michael & Lottie Yakuber; Ross & Margaret Falsetti; Helen, John & Carole Andrayko; Peter & Theresa Harvilla; Betty Martell; Frances & Todd Smoly; Peter Glover; Irene Adams; Ethel Elizabeth & Wayne Joshua deVyver, David Horka; Michael Rusko; Anna Lichagina, Yelena & Zinaïda Korniyevskaya; Joseph Nossal; Michelle Tucker; Todd Comerford, John Manier, Jr. MEMORY Joseph Kopcho, whose anniversary of his repose is Wednesday, 5 October, by Cousin, Fr. Roman & Mat. Rose Marie ETERNAL!
FOR THE HEALTH OF: Archimandrite Seraphim; Priest Daneil, Matushka Debra & Corrina Shirak; Deacon Michael, Matushka Mary Ellen & Julius Comerford; Matushka Mary Donahue; Subdeacon Joshua & Abigail Genig; Reader Robert Latsko, Reader George & Betty Hanoian, Rose Nossal, Mary Glover, Nancy Cupp, Vasiliki Stamoulis, Gerald Martell, Azbehat, Donald Yakuber, Carl deVyver, Jo Anne Nicholas, Joan Rusko, Daria, Joseph Nossal, Ed Manier. ALSO FOR: Holy Cross Monastery, Wayne, WV, that celebrates their 30th Anniversary & Patronal Feast Pilgrimage, Today, 10/2 Pat & John Harbut, who celebrate their Anniversary on Wednesday, 5 October MAY GOD GRANT THEM MANY YEARS!
SCHEDULE FOR THE COMING WEEK (regular Wednesday & Friday fasting) Saturday 10/8 4pm GREAT VESPERS & CONFESSIONS Sunday 10/9 16th Sunday After Pentecost & St. Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow (& Bishop of North America) 9:15am HOURS, AKATHIST &/or CANON; CONFESSIONS 10am DIVINE LITURGY; followed by Coffee Hour Feast days this week: Thursday, Oct. 6th:St. Innocent of Alaska & Metropolitan of Moscow (Patron of St. Innocent Monastic Community)
PROSPHORA FOR TODAY IS OFFERED BY: John Andrayko In Memory Eternal of: Parents: Helen Andrayko (Anniversary 10/24) & John Andrayko, Sr. (Anniversary 1/28); sister, Carole Andrayko (Anniversary 6/5); all departed members of the Andrayko and Mehalacki Families; Joe Nossal; friends & loved ones; and for the Health of: John Andrayko; Father Roman & Matushka Rose Marie; Rose Nossal & all parishioners; & all family & friends.
Z CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! Z HE IS NOW & ALWAYS SHALL BE! Z CANDLES FOR LAST SUNDAY, 25 SEPTEMBER YEARLY CHURCH VIGIL LAMPS: Royal Doors Lamp: In Memory of Husband, Joseph; Son, Kenneth; parents, Michael & Margaret Rusko, & John & Martha Nossal, by Rose Nossal Altar Candelabra: In Memory of Parents, Nicholas and Susan Yakuber, by son, Donald Yakuber Altar Candles (2): In Memory of Irene Adams, by Goddaughter, Rose Ann Everhardt Iconostasis Lamps: In Memory of Parents, Ethel Elizabeth & Wayne Joshua; Robert David H; & Health of brother, Carl, by Sister Ioanna Candles on the Solea: In Memory of Peter & Theresa Harvilla, Norman & Monica Holst, & Ricky Ellis, by Jason & Debra Truskowski Table of Oblation Lamp: In Memory of Parents, Helen & John Andrayko, Sr. & sister, Carole Andrayko, by John Andrayko, Jr. Reliquary-Icon Lamps: Sts. Innocent, Tikhon & Herman: Health of Joseph/Sue; Robert/Diane; Pat/John; Joseph B., Jared, Jay; Rachelle/Aaron, Gabriel; Tricia, Lindsey; & In Memory of sisters, Anna, Margaret, Theresa & Irene; & brothers, John, Edwin & Michael by Rose Nossal Reliquary-Icon Lamps: Sts. Elizabeth & Raphael: Health of the Genig and the Just Families, by Subdeacon Joshua & Abigail Genig Reliquary-Icon Lamps: St. Seraphim & St. Alexis: In Memory of Ross & Margaret Falsetti, by daughters, Rose Ann Everhardt & Margie Martell Reliquary-Icon Lamps: St. Hilarion & Sts. Alexandra & Martha (AVAILABLE) Reliquary-Icon Lamps: St. Nestor & St. Gerontius (AVAILABLE) IN MEMORY OF (MEMORY ETERNAL!) Joseph & Estelle Star, by son Father Roman and family Paul & Alexandra Yupco, Basil & Ellen Starinshak, by grandson, Father Roman and family John & Anna Witkowski, by daughter, Matushka Rose Marie and family Samuel & Mary Kupec, by granddaughter, Matushka Rose Marie and family + + + Lev Chernukhin, by Marianna Wess Parents, Helen & John Andrayko, and sister, Carole Andrayko, by John Andrayko + + + My husband, Michael Rusko, by Joan Rusko My husband, Joe; my sisters, Margaret & Ross Falsetti, Anna & Mike Elaschat, Theresa & Pete Harvilla, Irene, & brothers, Michael, John & Edwin Rusko; niece, Rose Mary & Dean Hough; Joe’s brothers, Raymond & Walter Nossal, & sisters, Theresa, Florence & Helen Nossal, by Rose Nossal ++ + Pete & Theresa Harvilla, by Mary Ann Harvilla & Kay Truskowski + + + Jaimie Truskowski, by daughter Kay T. Parents, Ethel Elizabeth & Wayne Joshua; David H(ann.9/27); Nina I; Marion P; Fr. Photius; Mo. Benedicta; Archm. Roman; Lillian, by Sr Ioanna FOR THE HEALTH OF: (MANY YEARS!) Elizabeth & Lawrence, Caitlin & Zachary, by parents & grandparents, Father Roman & Matushka Rose Marie Gregory & Tamiko Star, by parents, Father Roman & Matushka Rose Marie Children, Grandchildren & Great-grandchildren; Monk Fr. Sdn. Tikhon (Dade); by Rose Nossal Father Roman & Matushka & family; Sister Ioanna; John Andrayko; Nancy; Mary G; Jo Anne N; Grandson Joey (in the Navy Reserves) & all people in the Armed Forces; & all St. Innocent Church parishioners, by Rose Nossal + + + Family & Friends, by Mary Ann Harvilla & Kay Brother, Greg & Donna; nephew, Gregory & Liz; & nephew, Alex, by Mary Ann Harvilla & Kay + + + Ed Manier, by Mary Ann Harvilla & Kay Archimandrites Nafanail, Gregory & Seraphim; Fr. Roman & Mat. Rose Marie; Fr. Lawrence & fam; Fr. Laurence & fam; Fr. Daneil & fam; Dcn. Michael & fam; Mat. Mary D; Carl; Monk-Sdn. Fr. Tikhon; Sdn Andrew; Sdn Joshua, Abigail & children; Rdr Robert; Robert M; David Samuel, Sky & Avi; JoAnne/Nick; Athanasius; John A; Ed/Tiffany; Kim & fam; Vasiliki; Rose; Emil; Billy/Fonda; Donald Y, by Sister Ioanna John Andrayko (May God watch over him), by Rose Nossal + + + Rose Nossal, by John Andrayko + + + Sdn. Joshua Genig, by Genig Family Marianna, Jason, Amilia, Liliana & Andrew Wess + + + Galina Chernukhina, Oleg Chernukhin, by Marianna Wess
ANNOUNCEMENTS 1) OUR ANNUAL FALL BLANKET DRIVE IS HERE. Every year we collect blankets and donate them to the homeless and poor. We now are giving them to the Redford Interfaith Relief (RIR), where Fr. Roman is on the Executive Board. Founded by Redford clergy, the RIR ministers to many hundreds of the needy who live in Redford, with food, clothing, household items, and blankets. We have been donating 150-200 for a number of years and our parish is referred to as the “Blanket parish.” Our goal is 200 blankets. The need is so great, that they are given out almost as fast as we deliver them. Rather than you having to buy the actual blankets and bring them in, we now are collecting the money, and we special- order them at a local Walmart. The price has gone up to $6 each this year. Please donate as much as you can afford. See Mary Ann Harvilla. 2) IF YOU MISSED FR. ROMAN BEING INTERVIEWED ABOUT “ONE REDFORD” LAST SUNDAY, ON THE COCC’S DETROIT’S OWN ORTHODOX RADIO HOUR [DOOR] ON WNZK 690-AM, 4-5pm, YOU CAN LISTEN TO IT in their archives of past programs on your computer or smart-phone, at http://www.doorradio.org. And make a point to listen every week. The programs are superb! 3) UP-COMING SCHEDULE OF SPECIAL EVENTS: Saturday- Sunday, October 1st-2nd, Holy Cross Monastery Annual Patronal Feastday Pilgrimage, Wayne WV Friday-Sunday October 7th-9th, Annual Conference of the national Brotherhood of St. Moses the Black, Indianapolis, IN Sunday, October 14th, Protection (Pokrov) Patronal Feastday, Pokrov ROCOR Cathedral, Des Plaines (Chicago), Hierarchal Divine Liturgy Saturday, October 15th, Visitation of Bishop John to St. Elias, Battle Creek, Hierarchal Divine Liturgy, celebration of 50th Anniversary Sunday, October 16th, Visitation of Bishop John to St. Andrew’s, East Lansing, Hierarchal Divine Liturgy, Bishop’s Visitation Tuesday–Wednesday, October 18th - 19th, Central States Deanery Clergy Meeting, Nativity of Christ, Youngstown, OH Saturday, October 22nd, 10am, Demetrius Soul Saturday Memorial Liturgy for the departed (at St. Innocent) Sunday, October 23rd, 6pm, 6th Annual Benefit Concert by the Orthodox Choir of Detroit, at Annunciation Greek Cathedral, Detroit i Saturday, November 12th, Visitation of Bishop John to St. Innocent, Redford, Hierarchal Divine Liturgyi Sunday, November 13th, Visitation of Bishop John to St. Michael’s, Redford, Hierarchal Divine Liturgy for Patronal Feast Day Saturday, November 26th, Visitation of Bishop John to St. John Chrysostom, Grand Rapids, H.D. Liturgy,celebration, 100th Anniversary 4) WEEKLY “ST. INNOCENT ORTHODOX STUDY GROUP,” most Wednesday Evenings, 6:30-7:30 at St. Innocent Church hall. 5) COMING SOON TO WEBSITE: (a) October Calendar; (b) photos of Andrew Wess’ Baptism; (c) another Meditation by Sdn. Josh LIFE OF ST. INNOCENT OF ALASKA ENLIGHTENER OF AMERICA & SIBERIA & METROPOLITAN OF MOSCOW (1797 - 1879) Z Feast Days: March 31st & October 6th In 1824, 30 years after the establishment of the Russian Orthodox mission on Kodiak Island, a new phase of mission work among the Alaskan people commenced. At that time Fr. John Veniaminov, a 27-year old priest, arrived on the Aleutian Island of Unalaska, Alaska, with his wife and family, thus beginning the 37 years of missionary work in Alaska of St. Innocent, Apostle to America. On Unalaska the young Fr. John built the Holy Ascension Church (photo to the right). Fr. John was born in 1797 in the small village of Anga, near Irkutsk, Siberia, seven years before the glorification of St. Innocent of Irkutsk. After his father reposed, the future saint lived with his uncle, the parish deacon, in the family house in Anga (photo to the left). Then, for eleven years the boy attended the school that St. Innocent had established in Irkutsk. Thus, it was very appropriate when Fr. John later received his monastic name in honor of St. Innocent of Irkutsk, the "Holy Man of Siberia." The brilliant future saint and bishop had numerous gifts in addition to his zeal and love of God. Besides being a scholar, linguist, scientist and writer, he also had many practical and technical skills. In Alaska he worked tirelessly on behalf of the people. He learned the Aleut and other native languages and created written alphabets for them, so he could translate the catechism, liturgical books and Bible for the natives and teach them to read. His famous book, The Indication of the Path to the Kingdom of Heaven has gone through countless editions in many languages (a photo on our website shows an 1899 edition), and is an Orthodox spiritual classic. An original copy of his translation of the Gospel of St. Matthew into the Aleut language (see photo on website), that includes some of his own hand-written notes, is still in Unalaska’s Ascension Cathedral. Throughout his 43-years of missionary work in Alaska and Siberia, the saint traveled extensively, teaching and preaching to the people, who loved him for his gentleness and compassion. As Fr. Herman also had done, Fr. John taught the natives practical skills: construction, carpentry, gardening, animal husbandry, metalworking. He built churches, orphanages and schools, where trades were taught along with religion and traditional studies. While on a trip to Moscow on behalf of his Alaskan mission work, Fr. John’s wife died, and in 1840, he was tonsured a monk, given the name “Innocent,” in honor of the first Bishop of Irkutsk who was glorified in 1804, and consecrated as the first resident Bishop of Alaska. Bishop Innocent traveled throughout his large, new diocese, preaching and serving in the native languages, expanding his prior work. His diocesan center was in Sitka, where he built the St. Michael Cathedral (photo to the right), and established a seminary to train native clergy. (This work is continued today at the St. Herman Seminary on Kodiak Island.) The seminary was located in the Bishop's House (photo to the left) which St. Innocent built, and where he lived. [The Bishop of Alaska continued to live in that house until about 1970, when the State of Alaska bought the historic building, restored it, and converted it into a museum. The second floor has been restored to its appearance when St. Innocent lived there, including the still functioning Chapel and bishop's quarters, and includes one of the clocks and some of the furniture that St. Innocent made.] In 1852 Bishop Innocent’s diocese was enlarged to an archdiocese, to include the northeastern areas of Siberia. When he moved the center of his activity to Yakutsk in Siberia, he appointed an auxiliary bishop for Alaska. In spite of his requests to retire due to ill health, in 1869 (just two years after Russia sold Alaska to the United States), St. Innocent was made Metropolitan of Moscow (the Head of the entire Russian Orthodox Church), from where he continued to watch over his former mission fields. When St. Innocent reposed in 1879, he was buried at the Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra Monastery in Sergiev Posad, about 45 miles north of Moscow. He was glorified as a saint in 1977, and now his relics are in a very prominent place, in front of the left front pillar in the Dormition Cathedral at the Lavra (photo to the right). As a result of the missionary work of St. Herman and St. Innocent, many thousands of native Alaskans came to know the Lord, and Orthodoxy was established in America, of which all Orthodox people in America are heirs today. By: Sister Ioanna, St. Innocent of Alaska Monastic Community, Redford, Michigan (Article slightly abridged to fit on 1 page.) See complete article with additional & larger photos on church website at: http://stinnocentchurch.com/lifeofstinnocentofalaska.html THE CHURCH WORKS IN HARMONY By Fr. Cornel Todeasa Pastor, St. Dimitrie Church, Bridgeport/Easton, CT “Pastoral Ponderings,” in “Daily Thought,” August 8, 2015
I was driving my son to his tuba lesson, and we were listening and discussing a recording of Richard Strauss. He told me that the orchestra for such a work would employ between 80 to 100 performers. I was amazed how so many people, each playing his or her own particular part, could come together and bring to life such a beautiful masterpiece of music. Right away, I thought a b o u t t h e church and its members. The people in the church, especially when they come together to worship God, act very much like a large orchestra. That is the vision of the Church which St. Paul describes when he says: “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, administrators, varieties of tongues...” (1 Corinthians 12:27-28). In the body of Christ, St Paul explains: “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit; there are differences of ministries but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all” (1 Corinthians 12:4-6). St. Paul defines the church as a body “joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share...” for “the growth of the body” and for the “edifying” of each member. The unity of the church is so important that if “one of the members suffers, all the members suffer with it.” I once read a story about a big orchestra in which the piccolo had a very small and insignificant part. At least that what the piccolo player thought. So to prove his point he decided not to play the part at all during a performance. But to his surprise, the director stopped the orchestra and asked what happened to the piccolo player. Why wasn’t his part played? In a performance of an orchestra, there is no insignificant part or player. Each player must play his or her part. It is the same in the Church. There is no insignificant member of the body, just as there is no most important member. “For in fact the body is not one member but many,” continues St. Paul. “If the foot should say, ‘because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear would say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body’, is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where will be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as he pleases. And if they were all one member, where would the body be?” (1 Corinthians 12:14-19). As I was driving my son to his tuba lesson, enjoying one of R. Strauss’ masterpieces, I meditated about the spiritual performance of the church. As in a well-performing orchestra, each member is needed to play his or her own part to fulfill the work of the Body of Christ, the Church. OCMC NEWS — PLANTING MORE SEEDS AMONG THE TURKANA: THE 2016 OCMC EVANGELISM TEAM TO KENYA By Alex Goodwin From www.pravoslavie.ru, April 4, 2016
In the face of 100 degree heat, the shade offered by the large tree we approached was welcoming, but would the 90+ people already gathered beneath the tree be as welcoming? We had traveled by truck for more than four hours, a group of students from Holy Cross Seminary, a priest, a former missionary to Albania, several OCMC (Orthodox Christian Mission Center, St. Augustine, Florida) staff members, and the newly- ordained Bishop of the Kisumu Diocese, His Grace Athanasius, to share the Orthodox Faith with people in three villages that OCMC had never before visited. We’d learned from experience that these first meetings can go many different ways, from joyous celebration to The 2016 OCMC Evangelism team to the Turkana of Northern Kenya suspicious hesitation. shared Orthodox Christianity with nearly 400 people in three villages. Many of them had never heard the Gospel message. Team members shared The people of the first village we visited knew we were their Faith through skits, talks, movies, and fellowship. coming, but we could tell that they had questions about who we were and why we were there. Thankfully we also had three Turkana Orthodox priests with us as well to help with first introductions. We greeted the elder men first, then the women, and then the youth and children, as is customary in Turkana society. We shared about ourselves and where we were from. Common bonds like the fact that we had children and that we were people of faith helped us open up to one another. These bonds, however, were sealed in the most beautifully Turkana way imaginable — through song and dance. That is where it all began!
The Turkana teach through story. We came with the story of Christ — His life, death, and resurrection. We presented what we could from the Gospel in the form of skits. Some of them elicited laughter, others fear, and still others questions. Each skit was followed by a time where the stories could be more fully explained. More questions followed, we enjoyed a meal together, and slowly the idea of Christ as God was shared — an idea further planted by the showing of a movie about Christ’s life translated into the Turkana language.
For three days to the people of three villages, nearly 400 in all, we planted this seed, and we saw our prayers answered. We are Orthodox. We know that coming to the Faith is a journey. We were not expecting to convert these people. We just wanted to invite them to embark on a journey toward Christ. Thankfully, as we prepared to leave, each village asked that we return to continue sharing about this Jesus Christ!
With this invitation, the Turkana Orthodox priests said they would come again. Over time, a year or more, those who want it will be catechized. The richness of the Orthodox Faith and its fulfillment of their own beliefs will be revealed. Then through the sacrament of Holy Baptism, they will join our Orthodox family.
This is how it has happened in more than 15 Turkana villages since 2007, and it has seen more than 1,500 people come into the Faith. The work must continue! Each team, each missionary, each donation, and each prayer plays its part in welcoming people into the Church and transforming lives forever.
Source: Orthodox Christian Mission Center, https://www.ocmc.org/ MANY ATHEISTS BELIEVE IN GOD By Fr. James Guirguis From: www.pravoslavie.ru, September 12, 2016 The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. John 3:13-17 If you have ever watched a football game on television you will notice that there are always a couple of fans who are holding large signs that read “John 3:16.” When I was a child I wondered what that meant, I was not accustomed to memorizing Bible verses as a child so I had no idea. One day I went and looked up the verse John 3:16 which read “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” And John 3:17 continues “For God sent His Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” One of the worst ideas that has ever been circulated about Christianity is this idea that God is full of wrath and that He is actively seeking people to punish and throw into a place called hell. The fear of God’s wrath and of punishment in hell is one of the main drivers of so much of the anti-Christian sentiments that sprung out of European history and now are beginning to take hold here in our own country. In a way we can say that people are repulsed by this kind of a god. So they come up with other options that allow them to avoid having to think too much about these concepts. They either become universalists or Buddhists or they become “spiritual but not religious” (which is a way of saying that you believe in something but you’re not really sure what it is and that no matter what it is, you are still allowed to do whatever you want without any guidance or rules from the outside). Sadly, sometimes people will become agnostic or worst of all…atheists. Once I had the pleasure of meeting someone who had been a militant avowed atheist. He had become a Christian and later had become an Orthodox Christian. One day as we sat and drank coffee together I asked him two questions “Don’t most atheists really believe in God?” and “Aren’t atheists just angry with the idea of God that has been presented to them?” I was surprised when this man responded to me saying “Yes.” In fact, even as an avowed atheist, he had always believed in God and he spent great amounts of time arguing against and focusing on this God whom he had convinced himself did not exist! But he was angry with the God that people tried to get him to believe in. Perhaps he was right since the picture of God offered by most of the West is way off base. Theology matters and poor theology creates rotten fruit. When we use sloppy language about God, or when we stray too far from the truth that has been handed to us by the Holy Fathers, we end up creating a theology that does not bring healing and comfort and peace but instead sows strife, rebelliousness and unbelief in the souls of many. Nowhere in the Christian world does theology ultimately bring lasting peace and comfort outside of the Orthodox Church and the reason is simple… The Orthodox Church clearly and absolutely teaches that God is love. Others teach this but with all sorts of “ifs, ands, and buts.” Bad things happen to our Christianity when we create a theology full of obstacles between God and His love for mankind. Bad things also happen when we convince people that God is constantly on the hunt, seeking to throw them into a terrible place of punishment if we offend His sensibilities. In Orthodox Christianity we learn that God’s love is not determined by our behavior. Whether that behavior is obedience to the commandments or belief in His Son, God does not change! God loves the whole world and desires that all should be saved and come to the knowledge of truth! Our focus on bringing others into a loving relationship with God and with His Church can only happen when we discard our medieval concepts of God’s wrath and need for sacrifice and justice. That is the theology of many Christian groups…but it ultimately fails because it forces God to change His attitude and temperament depending on what we do. God does not change. It is our perception and experience of God that is subject to change, but it is not God Himself that changes. It was not God’s wrath that sent His Son to become a lowly human being. It was God’s mercy and overwhelming love for mankind. God did not send His Son to condemn the world. He sent His only Son Jesus Christ so that if possible the whole world might be saved through His incarnation, His life, His crucifixion, His resurrection, His ascension and the sending of the Holy Spirit. All of these events changed the course of all of human history. All of these events, when properly understood, allow us to approach our fellow man with great care and compassion and not with a sloppy view of an angry God. We are blessed because God loves us without conditions and without limits. Imagine what might happen if we could introduce people to this God who truly loves us? Glory be to God forever. AMEN. Source: Out of Egypt