HOLY RESURRECTION ORTHODOX CHURCH
10201 DEMOCRACY BOULEVARD
POTOMAC, MARYLAND 20854
Very Reverend Father Miles Paul Zdinak - (301) 299-5120, Hall & Fax - (301) 983-0847
December 17, 2006 "Gregorian" | December 04, 2006 "Julian"
27th Sunday After Pentecost: Galatians 3:23-29 | Mark 5:24-34
Services: December 18 - 23, Sundays: 10:00 a.m., Daily Liturgy:(as scheduled) 9 a.m., Eve of Feasts: 7 p.m.
There are no service scheduled this week.
Confessions can be heard on Sunday after the Divine Liturgy or prior to the Liturgy by appointment.
Saint Nicholas Day Luncheon
The annual parish Saint Nicholas Day Luncheon was held last Sunday. I would like to thank the Sunday School Teachers and students for helping to organize the event. I would also like to thank everyone who prepared dishes for the luncheon. Also thank you to Sheila for leading the sing-a-long for the day. Plus many thanks to Saint Nicholas for his timely visit and gifts to the children.
Holy Night Supper
The traditional Holy Night Supper will be held on Saturday, January 6, at 6:00 p.m. prior to the evening service. The traditional customs of the meal will be observed. There is a sign-up sheet posted in the hall for those who would like to attend. All foods are to be Strict Fast. (no meat or dairy)
Trim The Christmas Tree
I would like to thank the Jr. ACRY and the adult helpers for trimming the Christmas tree on December 10, following the Saint Nicholas Day Luncheon. God Bless!
Prayer List
Please keep in your prayers all those who are in
need from our parish especially:
Les Miller: Improved Health
Steve Sheftic: Healing
Rudy Kormanik: Healing & Recovery
Jason Janowick: Improved Health
Lois Erhard: Improved Health
Mary Ann Muchesko: Healing & Recovery
Ivan Pop: Improved Health
Pa–i Yvonne Lysack: Healing
Anna Hrapchak: Healing & Recovery
Carol Miller: Healing
John Kloss: Healing & Recovery
Mary Kesselak: Improved Health
Alexandra Delare: Health & Healing
Daniel Kormanik: Healing & Recovery
C & D List
The new 2007 list for the C&D is now posted in the hall. Please take the time and sign up for one or two Sundays during the coming year. We would like to have each and every Sunday filled for the coming year. Thank you.
Altar Flowers
The new 2007 Altar Flower list is now posted in the hall. Please sign up if you would like to reserve the Altar Flowers of any particular Sunday. Please let Father know of the intention you would like for that particular Sunday. Thank you.
Christmas Flowers
Flowers will be needed to adorn the Church for the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord. If you would like to make a donation towards the flowers for Christmas, please see Faith Breno. Thank you & God Bless.
Thank You
I would like to thank Fr. Joseph for being here today, as well as next Sunday, to celebrate the Divine Liturgy in my absence. Many Years! & God Bless!
Out of Town
Father will be away until Saturday, December 30. Please contact, for an emergency, Fr. Nectarios at: 703.629.0447, or Fr. Joseph at 703.532.8017. A Fr. Joseph Woodill will be here today and again on Sunday, December 24.
Special Olympics
The Bay Plunge benefits Special Olympics. We have one Bay Plunger in our parish who will be take the plunge on January 27. Donny Boyd is raising awareness and funds for Special Olympics. If you would like to help while staying warm and dry you can visit the Special Olympics site www.somd.org/plunge click on "Donors" then click on "Sponsor a participant" then enter Donny Boyd's name. There are several ways in which you can make a donation.
Iraq Talk
Daniel Timko will give a presentation about life in Iraq on Sunday, January 14. Daniel has spent time in Iraq serving in the U.S. Military. The Talk will begin at 9:00 a.m. and run until 9:50. The talk is being sponsored by the Sr. ACRY.
ACRY Calendars
There are still some ACRY Lot-O-Luck Calendars available. Please see Sheila Hrapchak or any Sr. ACRY member to receive one of these calendars. The proceeds go to the Diocesan Mission Fund.
Christian Unity Service
The annual Christian Unity Service will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church located at 11200 Old Georgetown Rd in Bethesda. The service will be held on Sunday, January 21, beginning at 3:00 p.m. All are invited to attend. (More information will follow.)
St. John the Merciful, Patriarch of Alexandria
Saint John the Merciful, Patriarch of Alexandria, was born on Cyprus in the seventh century into the family of the illustrious dignitary Epiphanius. At the wish of his parents he entered into marriage and had children. When the wife and the children of the saint died, he became a monk. He was zealous in fasting and prayer, and had great love for those around him.
His spiritual exploits won him honor among men, and even the emperor revered him. When the Patriarchal throne of Alexandria fell vacant, the emperor Heraclius and all the clergy besieged St. John to occupy the Patriarchal throne.
The saint worthily assumed his archpastoral service, concerning himself with the moral and dogmatic welfare of his flock. As patriarch he denounced every soul-destroying heresy, and drove out from Alexandria the Monophysite Phyllonos of Antioch.
He considered his chief task to be charitable and to give help all those in need. At the beginning of his patriarchal service he ordered his stewards to compile a list of all the poor and downtrodden in Alexandria, which turned out to be over seven thousand men. The saint ordered that all of these unfortunates be provided for each day out of the church's treasury.
Twice during the week, on Wednesdays and Fridays, he emerged from the doors of the patriarchal cathedral, and sitting on the church portico, he received everyone in need. He settled quarrels, helped the wronged, and distributed alms. Three times a week he visited the sick-houses, and rendered assistance to the suffering. It was during this period that the emperor Heraclius led a tremendous army against the Persian emperor Chosroes II. The Persians ravaged and burned Jerusalem, taking a multitude of captives. The holy Patriarch John gave a large portion of the church treasury for their ransom.
The saint never refused suppliants. One day, when the saint was visiting the sick, he met a beggar and commanded that he be given six silver coins. The beggar changed his clothes, ran on ahead of the Patriarch, and again asked for alms. St. John gave him six more silver coins. When, however, the beggar sought charity a third time, and the servants began to chase the fellow away, the Patriarch ordered that he be given twelve pieces of silver, saying, "Perhaps he is Christ putting me to the test." Twice the saint gave money to a merchant that had suffered shipwreck, and a third time gave him a ship belonging to the Patriarchate and filled with grain, with which the merchant had a successful journey and repaid his obligations.
St. John the Merciful was known for his gentle attitude towards people. Once, the saint was compelled to excommunicate two clergymen for a certain time because of some offense. One of them repented, but the other fellow became angry with the Patriarch and fell into greater sins. The saint wanted to summon him and calm him with kind words, but it slipped his mind. When he was celebrating the Divine Liturgy, the saint was suddenly reminded by the words of the Gospel: if you bring your gift to the altar and remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift before the altar ... first, be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift (Mt 5:23-24). The saint came out of the altar, called the offending clergyman to him, and falling down on his knees before him in front of all the people he asked forgiveness. The cleric, filled with remorse, repented of his sin, corrected himself, and afterwards was found worthy to be ordained to the priesthood.
There was a time when a certain citizen insulted George, the Patriarch's nephew. George asked the saint to avenge the wrong. The saint promised to deal with the offender so that all of Alexandria would marvel at what he had done. This calmed George, and St. John began to instruct him, speaking of the necessity for meekness and humility. Then he summoned the man who insulted George. When St. John learned that the man lived in a house owned by the church, he declared that he would excuse him from paying rent for an entire year. Alexandria indeed was amazed by such a "revenge," and George learned from his uncle how to forgive offenses and to bear insults for God's sake.
St. John, a strict ascetic and man of prayer, was always mindful of his soul, and of death. He ordered a coffin for himself, but told the craftsmen not to finish it. Instead, he would have them come each feastday and ask if it was time to finish the work.
St. John was persuaded to accompany the governor Nicetas on a visit to the emperor in Constantinople. While on his way to visit the earthly king, he dreamed of a resplendent man who said to him, "The King of Kings summons you." He sailed to his native island of Cyprus, and died at Amanthos, the saint peacefully fell asleep in the Lord (616-620).
