July 2021 Our Lord's Still Small Voice
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SEPTEMBER 2021 VoiceSAINT GEORGE GREEKof ORTHODOXSt. CHURCH George OF THE DESERT 74-109 LARREA ST., PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA GOD SPEAKS FROM THE CROSS On Tuesday, September for they know not what they inside is what comes out. Inside this issue 14th we will commemo- do.’” When we are squeezed, when rate the Exaltation of the we are knocked hard by the God Speaks from Bishop Sheen’s observa- Precious and Holy Cross. vicissitudes of life, whatever the Cross………..pg. 1 tion that this is the first is inside is what spills out. If Indiction Feast...pg. 2 Fr. Anthony Coniaris time in history that any it’s anger, if it’s hatred, if it’s wrote a fabulous book, god offered a prayer for bitterness, if it’s love, if it’s Spiritual entitled, God Speaks from forgiveness of one’s ene- compassion, if it’s for- Thoughts………..pg. 3 the Cross. In it, he referred mies gives testimony to giveness —when we’re un- New Ecclesiastical to Bishop Fulton Sheen the fact that Jesus Christ is der pressure — that’s what who, in his book, The Sev- indeed the only True God will come out. When Jesus Year, Golf Tourny, en Last Words,” noted that, of all. He is the only God was squeezed so hard on the Bible Study, from the Cross, our Savior Who loves us unto death, Cross, what spilled out was Sunday School...pg. 4 uttered the sweet, soft and Who promises us what was in Him, the forgiv- Church & Wellness, prayer of forgiveness: Eternal Life with Him. Or- ing love of God: ‘Father, for- Philoptochos “Father, forgive them; for thodox Christians confess give them; for they know not News...…………pg. 5 they know not what they this truth in no uncertain what they do.’ In this one do.” (St. Luke 23:34). terms as they pray: prayer we have the whole AHEPA News.. .pg. 6 “Having beheld the Resur- Gospel of God’s love for us. Fr. Coniaris quoted these Parish rection of Christ, let us wor- In this one prayer is packed words from Bishop Fulton Calendar……….pg. 7 ship the Holy Lord Jesus, the all the love of God the Father, Sheen: only sinless One. We vener- the Son, and the Holy Spir- “’At that very moment ate Your Cross, O Christ, it.” (pgs. 11-12). and Your Holy Resurrection when the tree turns against To venerate the Holy [Jesus] and becomes a cross; we praise and glorify; for Cross of our Savior when iron turns against You are our God, we know properly, we need to ac- Him and becomes nails; no other; it is Your Name we quire all of His virtues Mailing Address when roses turn against invoke.” St. George Church that add up to divine love P.O. Box 4755 Him and become thorns; From this, Fr. Coniaris and express this love in Palm Desert, CA 92261 when men turn against Him Tel: (760) 568-9901 continues his thought, in word and in deed. Asking FAX: (760) 568-9492 and become executioners, He writing the following: Email: pdsaintgeorge@gmail lets fall from His lips for the forgiveness and granting forgiveness is at the heart Website:www.go-stgeorge.org first time in the history of “What comes out when -Fr. Theodore Pantels, Pastor-- of being able to express the world a prayer for ene- you squeeze a lemon? The -Dcn. Euthym Kontaxis, M.D. mies; ‘Father, forgive them; answer is that whatever is God’s love. Page 2 Such virtues as faith in our God; humility before act should be to pray for the created world, ask- God; patience, peacefulness, chastity, charity, ing our Lord to give us the strength and resolve to truthfulness, self-control, and gratitude allow us work together to solve our ecological crisis. I to express Christ-like love. would also encourage each of our parishes to of- fer the Vespers for the Day of Protection of the Let us all commit ourselves to acquiring these vir- Environment, and in the coming days to offer tues, through prayer and the Grace of the Holy programs to educate ourselves about the ecologi- Spirit, as we begin our Ecclesiastical New Year. cal crisis, and our Orthodox understanding about +FR. THEODORE creation. Our parishes should initiate projects to clean and restore areas in their communities and REFLECTION FROM HIS EMINENCE, to include ecologically friendly practices like recy- METROPOLITAN GERASIMOS FOR THE cling, solar power, and using biodegradable prod- FEAST OF INDICTION 2021 ucts. Brothers and Sisters in the Lord, This new ecclesiastical year begins when all of us On September 1, when the Church begins the new are discerning the rhythms of our lives at home, ecclesiastical year, we commemorate the day as at work, at school, and at church in light of this the Day of the Protection of the Environment. His recent surge in the pandemic. Policies and practic- All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew es seem to be changing daily. Finding the balance has championed this issue of ecological aware- of appropriate church activity and safety against ness and environmental healing for the entirety of the coronavirus is our main priority. Each parish his thirty-year ministry as our Ecumenical Patri- is responding to local situations and our Metropo- arch. He has called us to repent and change our lis guidelines to the best of its ability. relationship to the created world to one that heals The new ecclesiastical year always offers hope to the damage already done and allows for it to be us because a page is being turned where we can sustained and renewed for future generations. He deepen our commitment to Christ and His has asked us to pray for the environment when Church. As Orthodox Christians, each day is a we chant, “Corruption comes into being through new opportunity to draw closer to Christ. But we thoughtlessness; therefore, take pity on Your creation and grant prudence, also granting to all reconciliation, are not meant to live as Christians apart from a salvation, and divine mercy. (Aposticha, Vespers for community. There is an ancient saying, “You can- the Day of the Protection of the Environment). not be a Christian alone.” Through our fellow- ship, prayer, mutual support, and life together as Over this summer, we have seen the effects of hu- Christians we grow closer to Christ as we grow man disregard and thoughtlessness for the natu- closer to one another. ral world. Whether it has been the water shortag- es, the terrible heat waves, the fires here in the My beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord, let us western United States and elsewhere in the world, take up the call of a new ecclesiastical year, to our world is loudly calling out to us to become heed the call of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholo- agents of restoration. What kind of natural world mew to care for the environment. Let us strive will our children inherit if this year is just a pro- with each day of this new year, as we pray at eve- logue of the years ahead? How many more fires ry Divine Service, to commend ourselves and one or droughts must we experience before we come another, and our whole life to Christ our God. to our senses? May God bless you! Our Ecumenical Patriarch has been challenging us +METROPOLITAN GERASIMOS, to take action to work to restore the balance to the Holy Metropolis of San Francisco natural world – our only home. Thus, as we begin this new ecclesiastical year, our first individual Page 3 SPIRITUAL THOUGHTS meal as they set aside the Lamb for by Deacon Euthym Christ...eventually after the consecration of the gifts, this becomes the very body of our Lord. “Just as people do not enter a war in order to en- This "setting aside" is continued this day, not as a joy war, but in order to be saved from war, so we do not enter this world in order to enjoy this place at the table, but on the paten when the world, but in order to be saved from it. People go priest prepares the gifts for consecration at the to war for the sake of something greater than proskomide. Embossed is the seal in a triangular war. So we also enter this temporal life for the shape representing the Virgin Mary with 12 small sake of something greater: for eternal life. And as indentations representing the 12 apostles. We ask soldiers think with joy about returning home, so for their intercessions for all of the living and de- also Christians constantly remember the end of parted which we commemorate during the pros- their lives and their return to their heavenly fa- komide. The early church practice is still very therland.” ...St. Nicholas of Serbia much alive in today's service. 2,000 years of inter- cession by the Theotokos on our behalf for those What a beautiful analogy! To love war is self- we commemorate, living and departed this life. serving and mercenary. To enter into war in or- The church has been in "koinonia" (communion) der to be saved from war is the highest calling, with the saints for over 2,000 years, this commun- because one who does that risks their life for the ion takes place in the Eucharist. This is why Lit- sake of others. We can enter this life in a self serv- urgy is important, this is where we "connect" ing manner, or live for a higher calling, eternal spiritually with all those we care about and those life in communion with the living God, Christ who we are in conflict with, living and dead.