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July 8 2018[1] Saint Rafka Maronite Catholics of the East in the Upstate! 1215 S. Highway 14, Greer, SC 29650 864.469.9119 saintrafka.org [email protected] Saint Rafka Maronite Church is a Catholic Parish of the Antiochene Syriac Maronite Church, Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn, NY, Most Rev. Gregory John Mansour, Bishop, 109 Remsen Street, Brooklyn, NY, 11201, 718.237.9913. July 8, 2018 [email protected] Rev. Bartholomew Leon, Administrator, [email protected] Pastor’s Advisory Council Ramiz Askar, 8th Sunday of Pentecost Marlene Saad Secretary Richard Sleiman, Chairman This Sunday we continue to celebrate Paul Sleiman, Linda Wickett, Pentecost with the season’s eighth Sunday. Eight Jack Yacu weeks and counting until the Feast of the Holy Finance Committee Cross (Sept. 14) is a large amount of time devoted George Azan, Joseph Chebeir, Chairman Tony Sleiman, Paula Howard-Casby to one event. The Holy Trinity is the subject of this time, and specifically the Person of the Holy Spirit, Administration for a thousand weeks would be insufficient to speak of His great mystery that the Church has Richard, Wickett, Financial Secretary been writing about continually for the last 2000 years. Where does one even begin? Joseph Chebeir, Scott Herr, Administrative Assistants to the Pastor It’s difficult to decide where one begins to speak about an infinite being, so as humans it easier to pick the point of our beginning of interaction with the Spirit. Genesis tells us that God “formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being” (Gen. 2:7). In all major Semitic languages, like Hebrew, Aramaic and Continued next page Arabic, a word for spirit (like the Holy Spirit) is the root ruh. But this word also means breath, life or soul. From the very beginning, God animates us from the non-living soil by giving us His life-giving Spirit who enters into us and dwells in us. The same Spirit Who animates Adam animates us, without whom we would not exist, for He is life. The essence of human life comes from the Spirit. But after the Fall of Adam there was a certain rejection of the Spirit. The Spirit did not leave Adam, otherwise he would cease to live, but there was damage to the relationship between humanity and God. This is why Christ gives us the spiritual “womb of baptism” to be born again, not in flesh but in the Spirit. This is what St. Paul refers to in today’s Epistle when he says, “You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you” (Rom. 8:9). We live by the Spirit, not only in our physical life, but by our baptism we cast off all the deadness of sin. Life, since Adam, comes from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Baptism restores the fullness of life to us. To act in accord with God the Spirit we act in agreement with life itself. But when we reject the Spirit, as Adam did by his transgression, we reject life and instead choose death, which is offered by the serpent, Satan. But there is good news – the Syriac Fathers console us again and again with the hope that the Spirit remains with us even if we momentarily pick the death of sin in a moment of weakness. So long as we live, Philoxenus of Mabbug says, the Spirit remains with us to lead us to what is good if we follow God’s commands. The Spirit does not force us to do what is right, for He created us in His image with free will, but guides us and entices us – ultimately, though, we must choose life. In a similar way, Satan entices us to do evil but cannot force us. However, fortunately, Satan is neither all-present or all-powerful like the Spirit, Who resides with us from baptism. We should not fear the death Satan brings for if we trust in the life of the Spirit, “Even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of His Spirit who lives in you” (Rom. 8:10-11). From the beginning the Spirit has given us unfailing life. In baptism we becomes more perfect vessels of the same Spirit. If we choose to live by the same Spirit Whom we have received through baptism we shall live forever, even though our flesh may die. Seminarian Michael Shami © 2018 Saint Rafka Maronite Catholic Church, Greer, SC. All rights reserved. No Wednesday 7 PM Liturgy during the first half of July Due to Independence Day, NAM Convention and vacation, there will be no Wednesday 7 PM Divine Liturgies. Liturgies will resume on Wednesday, July 25. Digital Parish Directory - Update!!!! Up and Running!!! The Online Parish Directory is live! The Directory is online and ready to view and edit!!! As mentioned previously, the published directory is a read only file and any important personal information is always protected and access to change any of this information is limited only to you and the parish staff. With your help, we will have accurate information on each household. Go to the link below to Register with your email and password. The password is up to you. You can then change any information that is not up to date or add/delete your profile picture. To view the entire directory, hit the button the says “Visit Saint Rafka Maronite Church’s Directory”. You will be taken to a new screen and there will you will be asked for the password. At this time, the password for all is Rafka2012. You can then see the information of other parishioners. It is a pretty simple procedure. Any questions? Email or call Joe: [email protected] or 864.469.9119. NEW!!! Saint Rafka Parish Directory Online First time to the site? Register here. Already registered? Click here. NEW!!!! Please follow us at @saintrafkagreenville on Instagram. SCAM ALERT!!! It has come to the attention of the local priests and deacons that people have received emails from us and needing assistance or looking for donations in the form of iTunes cards, etc. This is a SCAM!!!! Please check the email address that these requests come from. Official email from me will only come from [email protected]. I do not want to see anyone taken in. Trust me, if I was in Fiji or some other exotic place, you would hear about it!!! Calendar of Events July 7, 4 PM, Vigil Liturgy, 8 Pentecost 8, 11 AM, Divine Liturgy 4:30 PM, Korean Mass 7:00 PM, Last Chance Divine Liturgy 11, NO 7 PM Divine Liturgy 14, 2 PM, Wedding of Alex Roman and Shea Menge, Aiken, SC 4 PM, Vigil Liturgy, 9th Pentecost 15, 11 AM, Divine Liturgy 4:30 PM, Korean Mass 7:00 PM, Last Chance Divine Liturgy 18, NO 7PM Divine Liturgy 21, 4 PM, Vigil Liturgy, Saint Sharbel 22, 11 AM, Divine Liturgy RamshoRamsho and Blessing and Blessingwith the 5 PM, Byzantine Divine Liturgy relicswith of theSaints relics Rafka, Sharbelof Saints 25, 7 PM, Divine Liturgy, Anointing of the Sick Nimatullah, and the Massabki 28, 4 PM, Vigil Liturgy, 11th Pentecost BrothersRafka, Tuesday Sharbel,evening, 7:00 PM, Saint Rafka Church. Come to 29, 11 AM, Divine Liturgy Nimatullah and the offer the evening sacrifice and ask 1 PM, Baptism God’sMassabki blessing, healing,Brothers mercy will and compassionresume onthrough September these holy 4 August men and women.at 6:30 Bring P.M. a friend! 1, 7 PM, Divine Liturgy, Anointing of the Sick 4, 4 PM, Vigil Liturgy, 12th Pentecost 5, 11 AM, Divine Liturgy 3 PM, Holy Hour 7 PM, Last Chance Divine Liturgy Prayers & Squares Prayers and Squares is a prayer ministry that also involves making prayer quilts and prayer squares for those facing medical, spiritual, emotional difficulties, or anyone in the Parish that is active duty military. Don't know how to quilt? That's ok, we can teach you. Not interested in sewing? That's ok, we will need help with staying organized, record keeping and correspondence. What is needed are willing hearts and hands to do God's work and pray together for those in need, and each other too. A prayer quilt or square, once requested, is made and tied with each knot representing a prayer for that individual and their specific needs. The recipient must be willing to receive the quilt and the prayers. The purpose of the group is not to give away quilts, but to offer a physical representation of God's love and the prayers of the community. A recipient is able to wrap themselves in prayer during a difficult time. The quilt itself has no power, but the prayers offered do. The most up to date Maronite Voice is always available here. Great News from Charly Van Norden Charly, our faithful organist, posted the following on FaceBook adapted for the bulletin). We are so fortunate to have such a talented young man as part of our music ministry at Saint Rafka. Mabruk! Lebron isn't the only one who signed somewhere in the last few days. I'm happy to announce that today I agreed to sign with the music licensing company Mirror Mirror Music as a composer/artist.
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