ST. ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH

15000 N. May, Oklahoma City, OK 73134

Church Office: 755-7804

Church Website: www.stelijahokc.com

Church Email: [email protected]

AUGUST 30, 2020 Issue 32 Number 35 Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost and Leave-Taking of the Commemoration of the Beheading of St. ; Saints of the Day: Alexander, Paul the New, and John, Patriarchs of Constantinople; Venerable Phantinos of Calabria; repose of Venerable Alexander of Svir; translation of the relics of Alexander Nevsky, prince of Novgorod; Cyril and Makarios, Patriarchs of Serbia

DIRECTORY WELCOME

V. Rev. Fr. John Salem We welcome all our visitors. It is an honor to have you Parish 410-9399 worshipping with us. You may find the worship of the Rev. Fr. Elias Khouri Ancient Church very different. We welcome your questions. Assistant Priest 640-3016 Please join us for our Reception held in the Church Hall immediately following the Divine Liturgy. V. Rev. Fr. Constantine Nasr Emeritus We understand Holy Communion to be an act of our unity in

Rev. Dn. Ham faith. While we work toward the unity of all , it Administrator 602-9914 regrettably does not now exist. Therefore, only baptized Orthodox Christians (who have properly prepared) are Rev. Fr. Ambrose Perry permitted to participate in Holy Communion. However, Attached everyone is welcome to partake of the blessed bread that is Anthony Ruggerio 847-721-5192 distributed at the end of the service. We look forward to Youth Director meeting you during the Reception that follows the service.

Mom’s Day Out & Pre-K NEW ORTHROS & LITURGY BOOK Sara Cortez – Director 639-2679 • Orthros: p. 4 Email: [email protected] • The Divine Liturgy p. 35 Facebook: “St Elijah Mom’s Day Out” • Memorial Service p. 103 Twitter: StElijahMDO • Churching Service p. 102 Ancient Faith Radio • Removal of Crowns p. 106 ancientfaith.com

St. Elijah is a parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. His Eminence Metropolitan , Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of all North America His Grace Bishop BASIL, Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America

VARIABLES IN TODAY’S DIVINE LITURGY DIVINE LITURGY OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM

The 1st Antiphon: shown indeed to be the most honorable of the A prophets, for in the waters Thou didst baptize As usual… Him Who had been proclaimed. After suffering Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O with joy in behalf of the truth, thou didst Savior, save us. proclaim even to those in Hades the Who appeared in the flesh, Who takest away the of Glory… Now… the world, and granteth us the Great Mercy. Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Troparion of St. Elijah – Tone 4 Savior, save us.

nd Angelic Body, Pillar of Prophets and their The 2 Antiphon: B Corner Stone, Forerunner of the Second-Coming As usual… of Christ; Thou didst send Grace from on high to , to dispel sickness and to purify lepers, Save us, O Son of God, Who art risen from Glorious Elijah, thou dost overflow with healing the dead; who sing to Thee, Alleluia. to those who honor thee. Glory... Now... Kontakion of the Nativity of the Theotokos – O, only begotten Son and Word of God... Tone 4

Troparion of the Resurrection – Tone 3 By thy holy nativity O pure one, and C Anna were delivered from the reproach of Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be barrenness; and and were delivered glad, for the Lord hath done a mighty act with from the corruption of death; thy people do His own arm. He hath trampled down death by death, and became the first-born from the dead. celebrate it, having been saved from the stain of iniquity, crying unto thee: The barren doth give He hath delivered us from the depths of Hades, birth to the Theotokos, who nourisheth our life. granting the world the Great Mercy. The Thrice Holy Hymn The Entrance Hymn F D O come let us worship… THE READINGS G Troparion of the Resurrection - Tone 3 Epistle for the 12th Sunday after E Pentecost Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad, for the Lord hath done a mighty act with O chant unto our God, chant ye. His own arm. He hath trampled down death by Clap your hands, all ye nations! death, and became the first-born from the dead. The reading is from St. Paul’s 1st Epistle to the He hath delivered us from the depths of hades, Corinthians (Chapter 15:1-11) granting the world the Great Mercy. Brethren, I make known to you the which Troparion of St. John the Baptist – Tone 2 I preached to you, which you also received, in The memory of the righteous is celebrated with which you also stand, by which you are also songs of praise, but the Lord’s testimony is saved, if you hold fast to the world which I sufficient for thee, O Forerunner. Thou wast preached to you, unless you believed in vain.

For I handed over to you first of all that which was also handed over to me: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He Communion Hymn was buried; and that He rose again on the third I day according to the Scriptures; and that He was Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise seen by Cephas; then by the twelve; after that, him in the highest. Alleluia. He was seen by more than five hundred brethren We have seen the true light… at once, of whom the great part remain until J present, but some have fallen asleep; after that, He was seen by James, then by all the apostles; OFFERINGS and last of all, as to one born out of due time, He was also seen by me. For I am the least of the HOLY BREAD is offered by Dr. Tim and apostles; unfit to be called an apostle, because I Alexis Kaiser for their good health and the good persecuted the church of God. But by the grace health of their family. It is especially offered for of God, I am what I am; and His grace, which Tim, Marika, and Cyril on the occasion of their was bestowed on me, was not in vain; but I birthdays. May God grant them many years. labored more abundantly than them all; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me HOLY BREAD is offered by Kathleen Becky, Therefore whether it was I or they, so we preach, and Shirley in memory of their sister Pammy Shadid (44 years). May her memory be eternal. and so you believed. HOLY BREAD is offered by Marie Chumo for Gospel of 12th Sunday after Pentecost her good health. It is especially offered in The reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. memory of her husband Mike (4 years today). Matthew (Chapter 19:16-26) May his memory be eternal. Vjecnaja Pamjat.

At that time, a young man came to , kneeling before him and saying, “Good Teacher, ANNOUNCEMENTS what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?” . And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me NO COFFEE HOUR good? There is no good but One, and that is DIVINE LITURGY FOR THE God. If you would enter life, keep the ECCLESIASTICAL (CHURCH) NEW commandments.” He said to Jesus, “Which?” YEAR will be celebrated this Tuesday morning, And Jesus said, “You shall not kill, You shall not September 1, at 9am in the Sanctuary. commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and BIBLE STUDY. For those who would like to mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as join in on Dn. Ezra’s Thursday morning Bible yourself.” The young man said to Jesus, “All Study on ZOOM, you can e-mail him at these I have observed from my youth; what do I [email protected] and get set up with the proper ID. still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the STEWARDSHIP UPDATE. To date, we have poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and received 129 Intentions to Give, totaling come, follow me.” When the young man heard $621,362. If you have not already done so, this he went away sorrowful; for he had great please take a few moments to prayerfully possessions. consider what you can give to support St. Elijah. We are extremely grateful for what already has The Megalynarion H been given during these challenging times!

It is truly meet… VIGIL CANDLE is lit by Margaret Burgess for her good health and the good health of her Today we remember those who family. It is especially lit in memory of her reposed in the Lord during this week mother Hanne Burgess (17 years). May her in years past: memory be eternal.

Woodrow Farris HAPPY BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK Chumo AUGUST 30-SEPTEMBER 5 Mulu Esheta Nancy Farha Jeff Shadid Steve C. Vetoyanis Janet Jaime Kylan Atkinson Bahia D. Raysee Jackie Radford Nick Farha Angelene Mary Hazer Joanna Wilson Meagan Homsey Bill G. George Timothy Kaiser Jake Phelps Pamela Sue Shadid Trae Rahill Michael Haggai Louise Nayfa Andeel Sally Limber Johnny Jones Fred A. Nayfa Ann Ozan Willis Robert Miller Jerry Jabara Courage Chan Emerson Wyrick George A. Shadid Jude Harroz Robol Younis Esther Massad Samara Nancy Gay Nayfa

UPCOMING SERVICE SCHEDULE

Sunday August 30 8:45 am Orthros 10:00 am Liturgy (Families A-L) Tuesday September 1 9:00 am Divine Liturgy for the Ecclesiastical New Year “Indiction” (No restrictions) Saturday September 5 10:00 am Divine Liturgy (Families A-L) 5:00 pm –Great Vespers (No restrictions) Sunday September 6 8:45 am Orthros 10:00 am – Divine Liturgy (Families M-Z) Tuesday September 8 9:00 am – Divine Liturgy for the Nativity of the Theotokos (No restrictions)

Youth Ministry Updates

In today’s Gospel, we see a man try to challenge Christ in his teachings. “What good deeds must I do to have eternal life?” After having the commandments recited back to him, he presses farther, insinuating that he practiced all of these. Surely this man was not perfect, for Christ even reminded him, “Why do you call me good, for the only one who is Good is God.”

"If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." When the young man heard this, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”

Christ finishes by saying it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven. This analogy has two meanings: first, there was a gate in called the eye of the needle, which required camels to get down on the ground and nearly crawl through. The second meaning is that a camel is the name of a sailor’s knot. Regardless of the meaning, it stresses the obstacles that worldly possessions pose for us when trying to reach heaven.

This scriptural reading is not to condemn anyone of means, but rather to encourage us to use those means to help those in need. When Judas scolded the harlot for wasting the expensive oil on Christ, Christ responded saying, “The poor you will have with you always.” The poor need the rich for help; however, St. John Chrysostom writes that the rich rely on the poor to reach salvation. Ultimately, it’s not about the wealth we have, but do we use our wealth for the glory of God.

Moving forward: Our next SOYO events will be held on Thursday evenings, as to not conflict with our coming Zoom education classes on Wednesday nights. We will gather again on Thursday, September 17th, at 7 p.m. More details to come! [email protected]

Sunday School registration is now available online. A link has been emailed out to both the Youth Ministry email list and the church list. The link can also be found on the St. Elijah Facebook page. Or email me directly for the registration link. You can also access the Registration form in the link below. Our families will be following the same curriculum from home this year. Our teachers will be reaching out to their classes with additional supplement through the month.

We are continuing our 20-40 Book Study. This evening we will continue our discussion on The Way of the Pilgrim and chapter 2 at 7 p.m. Contact me for the Zoom login credentials.

You can call or text me at 847-721-5192 or email at [email protected] or fill out Sunday School registration form at https://forms.gle/qxSN8NdHjcajKSeM6. Worship and Spiritual Life

Sunday – Orthros at 8:45 am – Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am Wednesday – Vespers at 6:00 pm (except during Lent) Saturday – Vespers at 5:00 pm Confessions throughout the week. Call one of the Fathers for an appointment.

Study Sunday – Sunday School: Children’s Classes after Communion. No classes during the summer. Wednesday – Family Night 7-9 pm. Runs in 8-week blocks. Look for announcements of upcoming sessions. A full program of seminars and classes for adults, children and youth, for both Orthodox and Non-Orthodox. Bible Study – Thursdays at 10:30 am; nursery provided

Fellowship & Parish Development Coffee Hour – Sundays following the Divine Liturgy 20/40 Fellowship – events as announced Ladies Aid – Meetings as announced Teen Chats – Wednesday Nights Adult Fellowship – Meetings as announced Antiochian Women – every 4th Tuesday at 6:30 pm Parish Council – every 3rd Tuesday at 7 pm Choir – see Kasey Cohlmia (405-245-1444)

Membership To become a member, you need to pray with us at our worship services, complete the Inquirer’s Classes, and talk with our about your interest in the Orthodox faith. This process normally takes 12 months. We welcome you on your journey of faith and invite you to learn of the ancient and unchanging Holy Orthodox Church.

August 30, 2020 CALENDAR

USHERS: Sunday Aug. 30 Orthros 8:45 am ALTAR SERVERS: Divine Liturgy 10:00 am EPISTLE READER: (Families with last names beginning with A-L) ELDERS: Monday

BOOKSTORE: Aug. 31 Tuesday Sept. 1 Divine Liturgy for the Ecclesiastical DEADLINE FOR THE New Year “Indiction” (No restrictions) BULLETIN IS Wednesday Sept. 2 5:00 PM ON TUESDAY Thursday Sept. 3

Friday

Sept. 4

Saturday

Sept. 5 Divine Liturgy 10:00 am

(Families with last names beginning

with A-L)

Great Vespers 5:00 pm

(No alphabetical restrictions)