Church Bulletin - October 28, 2001

7th Sunday of Luke - October 28, 2001
[ Click here for the Bible readings: Heb 9:1-7; Lk 10:38-42; Lk 11:27-28]
[ Click here for the Bible readings in Greek ]

JESUS CHRIST WANTS US!

For decades, the United States Armed Forces have effectively used the following slogan for recruiting purposes: "Uncle Sam Wants You!" Surely, we have all seen the poster of the old, bearded gentleman, attired in his patriotic suit of red, white and blue. With a piercing gaze, he points to us and appeals to our civic pride. Our country needs us! There is work for us to do for America! We are important to our government! Enlist now!

We should note, however, that the Church has placed a similar message before us for centuries: JESUS CHRIST WANTS US! Yes, we are all important to the Lord. Every Orthodox Christian is expected to contribute to the growth of Christ's Church. Christ wants us to be modern-day "apostles," defending His teachings and living according to His precepts. He wants us to use the gifts and talents He has given us for the sake of the Gospel. To paraphrase the words of the Apostle Paul in his Letter to the Romans, we must be teachers, preachers, leaders and ministers — there is something we all can be doing for our Savior. Indeed, "... we, being many, are one body in Christ." (Romans 13:5)

Our Orthodox Christian responsibility to Christ and His Church is great. The Church has prevailed for nearly 2,000 years largely because Christ's dedicated followers of every generation have recognized the role that they have been called upon to fulfill. Our Lord needs us to be true to our baptismal vows and serve Him with love to the best of our ability. The future of the Church now rests in our hands.

ANASTASIMON APOLUTIKION

Tov faidrovn th`~ ajnastavsew~ khvrugma, ejk tou` jAggevlou maqou`sai, aiJ tou` Kurivou maqhvtriai, kaiv thvn progonikhvn ajpovfasin ajporjrJivyasai, toi`~ jApostovloi~ kaucwvmenai e[legon: jEskuvleutai oJ qavnato~, hjgevrqh Cristov~ oJ Qeov~, dwrouvmeno~ tw`/ kovsmw/ tov mevga e[leo~.

RESURRECTION APOLYTIKION

From the angel, the women disciples of the Lord heard the joyful news of the Resurrection and the repeal of the sentence imposed upon our forefathers. With pride, they said to the Apostles, "Death is vanquished. Christ our God is risen, bestowing upon the world His great mercy."

APOLUTIKIA THS AGIAS SKEPHS

Th`~ skevph~ sou Parqevne, ajnumnou`men tav~ cavrita~, h{n wJ~ fwtofovron nefevlhn, ejfaploi`~ uJpevr e[nnoian, kaiv skevpei~ tovn laovn sou noerw`~, ejk pavsh~ tw`n ejcqrw`n ejpiboulh`~. Sev gavr skevphn kaiv prostavtin kaiv bohqovn, kekthvmeqa bow`nte~ soi. Dovxa toi`~ megaleivoi~ sou JAgnhv, dovxa th`/ qeiva/ Skevph/ sou, dovxa th`/ prov~ hJma`~ sou, promhqeiva/ [Acrante.

Qeotovke jAeipavrqene, thvn aJgivan sou Skevphn, di j h|~ periskevpei~, touv~ eij~ sev ejlpivzonta~, krataiavn tw`/ [Eqnei sou katafughvn ejdwrhvsw: o{ti wJ~ pavlai kaiv nu`n qaumastw`~ hJma`~ e[swsa~, wJ~ nohthv nefevlh, tovn sovn laovn peribalou`sa. Diov duswpou`mevn se, eijrhvnhn th`/ politeiva sou dwvrhsai, kaiv tai`~ yucai`~ hJmw`n tov mevga e[leo~.

APOLYTIKIA OF THE HOLY PROTECTION OF THE THEOTOKOS

We praise the gifts of your Protection, O Virgin, which you incomprehensibly spread as a luminous cloud, spiritually sheltering your people from every plot of enemies. You are our shelter, guardian, and aid, we cry out to you, "Glory to your magnificence, O pure One, glory to your divine Protection, glory to your consideration of us, O undefiled One."

O ever-virgin Theotokos, your holy Protection was granted your Nation as a mighty refuge by which you protect those who hope in you. Encompassing your people like a spiritual cloud, you miraculously saved us now, as in the past. Wherefore, we beseech you, grant peace to your commonwealth and great mercy to our souls.

APOLUTIKION TOU AGIOU NIKOLAOU

Kanovna pivstew~ , kaiv eijkovna praovthto~, ejgkrateiva~ Didavskalon, ajnevdeixev se th`/ poivmnh/ sou, hJ tw`n pragmavtwn ajlhvqeia: diav tou`to ejkthvsw th`/ tapeinwvsei tav uJyhlav, th`/ ptwceiva/ tav plouvsia, Pavter iJeravrca Nikovlae: prevsbeue Cristw`/ tw`/ Qew`/, swqh`nai tav~ yucav~ hJmw`n.

APOLYTIKION OF ST. NICHOLAS

An example of the Faith and a life of humility, as a teacher of abstinence you did inspire and lead your flock and through your truthfulness of your deeds were exalted by greatness through your humility uplifting all and by poverty gaining wealth. Father and hierarch Nicholas intercede with Christ our God that our souls be saved.

KONTAKION

{Wsper nefevlh ajglaw`~ ejpiskiavzousa, th`~ jEkklhsiva~ ta vplhrwvmata Panavcrante, ejn th`/ povlei pavlai w[fqh~ th`/ Basilivdi. JAll j wJ~ skevph tou` laou` sou kaiv uJpevrmaco~, periskevpason hJma`~ ejk pavsh~ qlivyew~, touv~ kraugavzonta~: Cai`re Skevph oJlovfwte.

KONTAKION

O most pure One, like a cloud brightly covering the complement of the Church, you were again beheld in the Queen City as protector and champion of your people. Protect us from every sorrow, who cry out, "Hail, most bright Protection."

APOSTOLOS
(Galavta~ b j 16<20)

jAdelfoiv, eijdovte~ o{ti ouj dikaiou`tai a[nqrwpo~ ejx e[rgwn novmou ejavn mhv diav pivstew~ jIhsou` Cristou`, kaiv hJmei`~ eij~ Cristovn jIhsou`n ejpisteuvsamen, i{na dikaiwqw`men ejk pivstew~ Cristou` kaiv oujk ejx e[rgwn novmou, diovti ouj dikaiwqhvsetai ejx e[rgwn novmou pa`sa savrx. Eij dev zhtou`nte~ dikaiwqh`nai ejn Cristw`/ euJrevqhmen kaiv aujtoiv aJmartwloiv, a[ra Cristov~ aJmartiva~ diavkono~; Mhv gevnoito. Eij gavr a{ katevlusa pavlin oijkodomw`, parabavthn ejmautovn sunivsthmi. JEgwv gavr diav novmou novmw/ ajpevqanon, i{na Qew`/ zhvsw. Cristw`/ sunestauvrwmai: zw` dev oujkevti ejgwv, zh`/ dev ejn ejmoiv Cristov~: o{ dev nu`n zw` ejn sarkiv, ejn pivstei zw` th`/ tou` uiJou` tou` Qeou` tou` ajgaphvsantov~ me kaiv paradovnto~ eJautovn uJpevr ejmou`.

EPISTLE
(Galatians 2: 16-20)

Brethren, you know that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we ourselves were found sinners, is Christ then an agent of sin? Certainly not! But if I built up again those things which I tore down, then I prove myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

EUAGGELION
JEk tou` katav Louka`n.
(Kef. h j (8), 41<56)

Tw`/ kairw`/ ejkeivnw/, a[nqrwpov~ ti~ prosh`lqe tw`/ jIhsou`, w|/ o[noma jIaveiro~, kaiv aujtov~ a[rcwn th`~ Sunagwgh`~ uJph`rce: Kaiv peswvn parav touv~ povda~ tou` jIhsou`, parekavlei aujtovn eijselqei`n eij~ tovn oi\kon aujtou`: o{ti qugavthr monogenhv~ h\n aujtw`/ , wJ~ ejtw`n dwvdeka, kaiv au{th ajpevqnhsken. JEn dev tw`/ uJpavgein aujtovn, oi{ o[cloi sunevpnigon aujtovn. Kaiv gunhv ou\sa ejn rJuvsei ai{mato~ ajpov ejtw`n dwvdeka, h{ti~, ijatroi`~ prosanalwvsasa o{lon tovn bivon, oujk I[scusen uJp j oujdenov~ qerapeuqh`nai, proselqou`sa o[pisqen, h{yato tou` kraspevdou tou` iJmativou aujtou`, kaiv paracrh`ma e[sth hJ rJuvsi~ tou` ai{mato~ aujth``~. Kaiv ei\pen oJ jIhsou`~: Tiv~ oJ aJyavmenov~ mou; jArnoumevnwn dev pavntwn, ei\pen oJ Pevtro~ kaiv oiJ suvn aujtw`/: jEpistavta, oiJ o[cloi sunevcousiv se kaiv ajpoqlivbousi, kaiv levgei~, Tiv~ oJ aJyavmenov~ mou; JO dev jIhsou`~ ei\pen: {Hyatov mouv ti~: ejgwv gavr e[gnwn duvnamin ejxelqou`san ajp j ejmou`. JIdou`sa dev hJ gunhv o{ti oujk e[laqe, trevmousa h\lqe, kaiv prospesou`sa aujtw`/, di j h{n aijtivan h{yato aujtou`, ajphvggeilen aujtw`/, ejnwvpion pantov~ tou` laou`, kaiv wJ~ ijavqh paracrh`ma. JO dev ei\pen aujth`/: Qavrsei, qugavthr, hJ pivsti~ sou sevswkev se: poreuvou eij~ eijrhvnhn. [Eti aujtou` lalou`nto~, e[rcetaiv ti~ parav tou` ajrcisunagwvgou, levgwn aujtw`/. {Oti tevqnhken hJ qugavthr sou: mhv skuvlle tovn Didavskalon. JO dev jIhsou`~ ajkouvsa~ ajpekrivqh aujtw`/, levgwn: Mhv fobou`: movnon pivsteue, kaiv swqhvsetai. Eijselqwvn dev eij~ thvn oijkivan, oujk ajfh`ken eijselqei`n oujdevna, eij mhv Pevtron kaiv jIavkwbon kaiv jIwavnnhn, kaiv tovn patevra th`~ paidov~ kaiv thvn mhtevra. [Eklaion dev pavnte~ kaiv ejkovptonto aujthvn. JO dev ei\pe: Mhv klaivete: oujk ajpevqanen, ajllav kaqeuvdei. Kaiv kategevloun aujtou`, eijdovte~ o{ti ajpevqanen. Aujtov~ dev ejkbalwvn e[xw pavnta~, kaiv krathvsa~ th`~ ceirov~ aujth`~, ejfwvnhse, levgwn: JH pai`~, ejgeivrou. Kaiv ejpevstreye tov pneu`ma aujth`~, kaiv ajnevsth paracrh`ma, kaiv dievtaxen aujth`/ doqh`nai fagei`n. Kaiv ejxevsthsan oiJ gonei``~ aujth`~. JO dev parhvggeilen aujtoi`~, mhdeniv eijpei`n tov gegonov~.

GOSPEL
From the Gospel according to St. Luke
(Chapter 8: 41-56)

At that time, there came to Jesus a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue; and falling at Jesus’ feet he besought him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying.

As he went, the people pressed round him. And a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years and had spent all her living upon physicians and could not be healed by anyone, came up behind him, and touched the fringe of his garment; and immediately her flow of blood ceased. And Jesus said, "Who was it that touched me?" When all denied it, Peter and those who were with him said, "Master, the multitudes surround you and press upon you!" But Jesus said, "Someone touched me; for I perceive that power has gone forth from me." And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace."

While he was still speaking, a man from the ruler’s house came and said, "Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more." But Jesus on hearing this answered him, "Do not fear; only believe, and she shall be well." And when he came to the house, he permitted no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. And all were weeping and bewailing her; but he said, "Do not weep; for she is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand he called, saying, "Child arise." And her spirit returned, and she got up at once; and he directed that something should be given her to eat. And her parents were amazed; but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
1260 Davis Street, San Jose, California 95126