Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost & Third Sunday of Luke
Adjusted Sunday Service Schedule (10/6):
Preparation Prayers 9:00AM
Divine Liturgy 9:30AM
Thomas the Apostle Called “The Twin”
Innocent, Apostle to the Americas; Venerable Kendeas of Cyprus; Venerable-Martyr Makarios of St Anne Skete on Athos
October 6, 2019
“Thou didst shatter death by Thy Cross, Thou didst open paradise to the thief; Thou didst turn the sadness of the ointment-bearing women into joy. And didst bid Thine Apostles proclaim a warning, that Thou hast risen O Christ, granting to the world the Great Mercy.”+ Resurrectional Apolytikion in Tone Seven
Synaxarion (?)
On October 6 in the Holy Orthodox Church we commemorate the holy Apostle Thomas.
Thomas was also called “The Twin”, one of the original Twelve Apostles. Through his doubt in the Resurrection of Christ the Lord, a new proof was given of that wonderful and saving event. The Lord said to Thomas: Reach hither thy finger, and behold My hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas replied: My Lord and my God (John 20:27-28). After the descent of the Holy Spirit, when the apostles cast lots to see where they would each go to preach, the lot fell to Thomas to go to India. Thomas converted many to the Christian Faith, and established the Church there, appointing priests and bishops. Before his martyric death, he and the other apostles were miraculously brought to Jerusalem for the burial of the Most-holy Theotokos. Arriving too late, he wept bitterly, and the tomb of the Holy Most-pure One was opened at his request. The Theotokos’ body was not found in the tomb: the Lord had taken His Mother to His heavenly habitation. Thus, in his tardiness Thomas revealed to us the wondrous glorification of the Mother of God, just as he had once confirmed faith in the Resurrection of the Lord by his unbelief.
On this day, we also commemorate our father among the saints Innocent, Apostle to the Americas; Venerable Kendeas of Cyprus; and Venerable-martyr Makarios of St. Anne Skete on Athos.
By their intercessions, O Christ God, have mercy upon us. Amen.
Epistle
The Reading from the Second Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians. (6:1-10)
Brethren, working together with Him, then, we entreat you not to accept the grace of God in vain. For He says, “At the acceptable time I have listened to you, and helped you on the day of salvation.” Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, tumults, labors, watching, hunger; by purity, knowledge, forbearance, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
Gospel
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (7:11-16)
At that time, Jesus went to a city called Nain, and many of His disciples and a great crowd went with Him. As He drew near to the gate of the city, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a large crowd from the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” And He came and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And Jesus said, “Young man, I say to you: arise.” And the dead man sat up, and began to speak. And Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all; and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited His people!”
Source: antiochian.org
Weekly Community Bible Study
Thursday’s 6:00PM-7:00PM
Discussion Series: Virtues & Passions
Over the course of the next several months, we will explore:
Humanities place in Creation
The Fall of mankind
The Purpose of our existence
Method of Healing
Cultivation of Virtues
Freedom from the oppressive “Passions”
This series is closely related to the online course Fr. Paul is leading through the St. Athanasius Academy of Orthodox Theology (www.saaot.edu).
[Fr. Paul is teaching two online classes – middle and high school – on the “Virtues and Passions” (Course Description)].
All are welcome – adults and youth!
Weekly Great Vespers
Every Saturday 6:00-6:45PM
Why is Great Vespers important?
The service leads to the meditation of God’s word and the glorification of his love for men. It instructs and allows us to praise God for the particular events or persons whose memory is celebrated and made present to us in the Church. It prepares us for the sleep of the night and the dawn of the new day to come. On the eves of the Divine Liturgy, it begins the movement into the most perfect communion with God in the sacramental mysteries.
Learn more here
St. Paul Church Iconography Phase II Complete
We are so grateful for God’s blessing hand in this magnificent work, which boldly proclaims the Holy Gospel – true life – revealed to the Universe by He Who is Life and Creator of all things.
Our loyal and faithful Master Iconographer John Filippakis completed phase II of the Iconography effort just this week. The scaffolding was removed today – all is ready for our prayers.
Prayerfully enter this sacred space and gaze upon the sobering and beautiful faces of our most holy saints, the Theotokos and Jesus Christ Pantokrator (“ruler of all“).
Quietly drink-in the grace that exudes from the Cretan-style Byzantine iconography.
Thank you to our Stewards, who generously and faithfully, offered whatever treasures God has bestowed upon them (big and small) in life back to the Lord Himself. This was a true “co-laboring” with God, which is the Christian life. Stay humble and faithful to His commandments so your Stewardship is not in vain, my dear ones. May the Lord remember you in His Heavenly Kingdom.
John is approaching 70 years old and still demanded by a multitude of communities (domestic and international) seeking God’s work through his hands. We have been so blessed to have him as long as we did.
He continues to be committed to making St. Paul in Naples an absolute “master piece” – his words!
As such, stay tuned for opportunities to participate in the remaining effort to complete the North and South arches. We will continue in so long as God blesses it.
+Not a single penny was used from our Operating Budget – pure anonymous donations+
+Glory to God+
Make sure to visit our parish Facebook Page for photos – share the beauty with your family and friends.
Epistle Intonation Training
Saturday, October 12 at 5:00PM
Dn. Nicholas Reid will hold an “Epistle Intonation Training” session for any Orthodox Christians 14 years or older, in good canonical standing (i.e. leading an active Orthodox Christian life in the Church).
We are blessed to have at least one Reader at St. Paul, who carries the sacred responsibility of delivering the Epistle message to the faithful.
At the same time, there will be opportunities for a lay person, who has been trained and developed their skills, to step-in and read the Epistle at the Divine Liturgy.
The holy order of the Reader upholds the spiritual responsibility for the care of the spoken words or Holy Scripture…In societies where literacy has flooded the human heart and mind with disharmony, noise, and confusion, the sacred responsibilities of the Reader are even more critical, since by the prayerful and holy exercise of his ministerial responsibilities, the Reader offers the Holy Scriptures as a correcting balm, and a healing of the spiritual hearts of the faithful.
This is a critical and sacred responsibility, which cannot be undertaken lightly without being an offense to Christ. Undertaken with humility, care, and love, the order of the Reader is a great blessing to the faithful of the Church, and to the salvation of the soul of the Reader himself.
From A Guide for Readers in the Orthodox Church
“Parish Council Corner”
Life at St. Paul continues with ever-increasing activity even during the summer months. It is hard to imagine that we are already in October.
Periodically, you will find various updates here in the “Parish Council Corner” – see below concerning property maintenance:
Two roof leaks were successfully repaired, through the grace of God, and thanks to the generous help of our brother in Christ Nick Stefanis of Gulf Western Roofing.
Due to the heavy rain season year-after-year, a ground-level leak into the kitchen formed from the back exterior wall. This was quickly resolved by our landscapers Bello Paradise.
Back in July, we announced a great need for more efficient and reliable parking lot lights.
Thank you for “answering the call” and stepping forward to ensure your parish could install new LED lights to increase our safety and security.
Stay tuned for more updates in the coming weeks.
Join us immediately after the Divine Worship each Sunday for Fellowship Coffee Hour.
There is great joy in serving, offering hospitality, and “breaking bread” together, which are essential elements of the Christian life.
In order to avoid allowing this “labor of love” to fall upon the same few people week-after-week, please sign-up to sponsor the Fellowship Coffee Hour on any available Sunday.
“Great – what exactly am I signing up for?”
Simply bring 1 1/2 – 2 dozen Bagels sliced in half (or specialty breads, breakfast cake, etc.) to the kitchen, upon arrival to service Sunday morning. After service, set the food out and then clean up at the end – there is help so you’re not alone! We already have the toppers (peanut butter, jam, etc.), paper goods, and coffee at the parish!
“Can I support Fellowship Coffee Hour in a different way?”
No problem – make an offering that would donate towards the bagels and we will handle the rest!
Either way, keep it simple and give it a shot!
Don’t wait – send a note back to this email (info@stpaulnaples.org) or reach out to our Antiochain Women (AW) Chair, Anna Castley (anna@icsamerica.com), to learn which Sunday is available.
Metropolitan JOSEPH in Lebanon for Holy Synod Meeting, Important Presentations
In the next two weeks, His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph, primate of the Antiochian Archdiocese, will deliver two presentations and participate in the meeting of the Holy Synod of the Church of Antioch in Lebanon.
On Saturday, September 28, Sayidna Joseph will speak about the life of his predecessor, His Eminence Metropolitan Philip of thrice-blessed memory, on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of his repose in our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ. This address will be given at the Dhour Shweir Central Hotel.
From October 3-5, under the presidency of His Beatitude, Patriarch John X of Antioch, Sayidna Joseph will participate with the other metropolitans of the Antiochian communion in the regular meeting of the Holy Synod at Balamand Seminary and Monastery.
After that, Metropolitan Joseph will take part in the Antiochian Conference on Family Life, also at Balamand. His Eminence, along with Their Graces Bishop Thomas, Bishop John and Bishop Anthony of the Antiochian Archdiocese will all give addresses on topics pertaining to the theme.
Please keep all of our Antiochian hierarchs in your prayers in hopes that the Holy Spirit will guide their work.
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