Holy Ascension Orthodox Church
209 South Lehigh Avenue
Frackville, Pennsylvania 17931
Phone: (570) 874 - 3162 (Rectory)
August 29, 2010
V. Rev. James Jadick, Pastor
Email: rjmj_1@hotmail.com
Call to arrange sacraments, services, instruction, counseling, home visits, sick calls.
14th Sunday after Pentecost
The Beheading of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John.
Troparion (Tone 5) (Resurrection)
Let us, the faithful, praise and worship the Word / co eternal with the Father and the Spirit / born for our salvation from the Virgin / for He willed to be lifted up on the Cross in the flesh / to endure death / and to raise the dead // by His glorious Resurrection.
Troparion (Tone 2) (The Beheading of John the Baptist)
The memory of the just is celebrated with hymns of praise / but the Lord’s testimony is enough for you, O Forerunner / You were shown in truth to be the most honorable of the prophets / for you were deemed worthy to baptize in the streams of the Jordan Him whom they foretold / Therefore having suffered for the truth with joy / You proclaimed to those in hell God who appeared in the flesh // who takes away the sin of the world, and grants us great mercy.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion (Tone 5) (Resurrection)
Thou didst descend into hell, O my Savior / shattering its gates as almighty / resurrecting the dead as Creator / and destroying the sting of death / Thou hast delivered Adam from the curse, O Lover of Man // and we all cry to Thee O Lord, save us.
Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Kontakion ( Tone 5) (The Beheading of John the Baptist )
The glorious beheading of the forerunner / became an act of divine dispensation / For he preached to those in hell the coming of the Savior / Let Herodias lament, for she entreated lawless murder / loving not the law of God, nor eternal life // but that which is false and temporal.
Prokeimenon (Tone 5)
Thou, O Lord shalt protect us and preserve us from this generation forever.
Save me, O Lord, for there is no longer any that is godly.
In the 7th Tone: The righteous shall rejoice in the Lord, and shall hope in Him.
Epistle Reading
2 Corinthians 1:21-2:4
Brethren, He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who has also sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a deposit. Moreover I call God as witness against my soul, that to spare you I came no more unto Corinth. Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers for your joy; for by faith you stand. But I determined this within myself, that I would not come again to you in sorrow. For if I make you sorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me? And I wrote this very thing unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, having confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all. For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.
Brethren, in those days as John was finishing his course, he said, ‘Whom do you think I am? I am not He. But behold, there comes One after me, the shoes of whose feet I am not worthy to loose.’ “Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent. For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him. And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death. And when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. But God raised Him from the dead. He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses unto the people. And we declare unto you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers. God has fulfilled for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. (Acts 13:25-32)
Verses after the Epistle
And to your spirit. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. I will sing of Thy mercies, O Lord, forever; with my mouth I will proclaim Thy truth from generation to generation.
For Thou has said: “Mercy will be established forever, and My truth will be prepared in the heavens.”
The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, and shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
Gospel Reading
Matthew 22:1-14
Let us attend: And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.
Let us attend: And king Herod heard of Him; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him. Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets. But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead. For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her. For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife. Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not: For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee; And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee. And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom. And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist. And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist. And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her. And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison, And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother. And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb. And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught. (Mark 6:14-30)
Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens. Praise Him in the highest. The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. He shall not fear evil tidings. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Welcome to our Visitors! A warm welcome to all our visitors and guests who have joined us in celebrating the Divine Liturgy. Please join us for our Fellowship Hour in the Church Hall. Please note: Only those Orthodox Christians that have properly prepared themselves through prayer, fasting and confession of sins may approach the Chalice and receive Holy Communion.
Altar Candles and Bulletin Sponsors
Altar candles for this week are for the health of John and Cynthia Schaeffer, Kyle Schaeffer and John and Emily Lewis and Autumn and Tyler. May God Grant Them Many Years!
Bulletins for this week are in memory of Grandparents: Harry and Mary Chwastiak and Stephen and Anna Zarutskie by Dr. Richard and Ann Chwastiak. May Their Memory Be Eternal!
Church Services Schedule
Saturday Great Vespers, 4:00 p.m.
Confessions, half hour before and after Great Vespers
Sunday Reading of Hours, 9:10 a.m.
Divine Liturgy, 9:30 a.m.
Fellowship Hour following the Divine Liturgy
Readers’ List for August
Hours Epistle
August 1 Ann Peleschak Vera Timko
August 8 Vera Timko Ann Peleschak
August 15 Larissa Holowaty John Malinchok
August 22 Amanda Buchanan John Malinchok
August 29 Larissa Holowaty Doug Rudenko
Readers’ List for September
Hours Epistle
Sept. 5 Ann Peleschak Rick Chwastiak
Sept. 12 Vera Timko Greg Tatusko
Sept. 19 Greg Tatusko Ann Peleschak
Sept. 26 Obednitza will be held this Sunday
CHURCH BULLETIN BOARD
Church Education Program
Fr. James would like to meet with all parents and teachers, today, after the Fellowship Hour, to discuss our Church Education Program. Please adjust your schedules accordingly to attend this important meeting. Remember the children are the future of the Church!
Theme Basket Raffle
Our Annual Theme Basket Raffle, will be held Tuesday, November 2 (Election Day). We are again asking all parishioners to donate a theme basket, worth at least $25.00. There is a sign up sheet is posted in the Church Hall. (what theme basket you would like to donate). There will also be a list of Theme Basket ideas available. (We would like to have the Theme baskets ready by October 8, so we can display them and start selling tickets, at our Fall Food Festival, October 16). If you have any questions, contact Martha Fletcher or Larissa Holowaty.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
August 29 - Feast of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist
(Strict Fast day)
September 7 - Vesperal Liturgy (Feast of the Nativity of the
Theotokos - September 8) *
September 13 - Vesperal Liturgy (Feast of the Elevation of
Cross - September 14) (Strict Fast Day) *
September 19 - Church Education Classes Begin
September 19 - Parish Council Meeting
September 30 - Vesperal Liturgy (Feast of the Protection of
The Theotokos - October 1)*
October 2 - Pumpkin Fest Pie Sale
October 16 - Annual Fall Food Festival
October 17 - Parish Council Meeting
November 2 - Election Day Ham Dinner Sale / Theme Basket
Raffle
November 15 - Parish Council Meeting
November 15 - Nativity Fast Begins
November 21 - Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos in the
Temple
November 21 - Annual Parish Meeting
December 6 - Feast of St. Nicholas
December 12 - Parish Council Meeting
December 12 - Akathist to St. Herman of Alaska
December 18 - Annual Parish Cookie Exchange
December 19 - Parish Christmas Program / Pot luck lunch
December 24 - Nativity Eve Vigil - Compline and Matins
December 25 - Feast of the Nativity of our Lord
December 31 - Vesperal Liturgy (Circumcision of our Lord;
St. Basil - January 1) *
*Please Note
Vesperal Liturgy will be celebrated on the eve of the Feast day for those Feast days that fall on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday.
Parish Contact Phone Numbers
Parish Council President: John Malinchok (570) 874-2669
Custodian: David Keysock (570) 874-3575
Coffee Hour Coordinator: Mary Diffenderfer (570) 874-0100
Church Hall: (570) 874-3555
Parish E-mail: holyascensionoca@yahoo.com
Parish Web Site: http://haoca.org
FOOD FOR THE SOUL
The Beheading of the Prophet, Forerunner of the Lord, John the Baptist: The Evangelists Matthew and Mark provide accounts about the martyric end of John the Baptist in the year 32 after the Birth of Christ. Following the Baptism of the Lord, St John the Baptist was locked up in prison by Herod Antipas, the Tetrarch and governor of Galilee. The prophet of God John openly denounced Herod for having left his lawful wife, and then instead cohabiting with Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. On his birthday, Herod made a feast for dignitaries, the elders and a thousand chief citizens. Salome, the daughter of Herod, danced before the guests and charmed Herod. In gratitude to the girl, he swore to give her whatever she would ask, up to half his kingdom. The vile girl on the advice of her wicked mother Herodias asked that she be given the head of John the Baptist on a platter. Herod became apprehensive, for he feared the wrath of God for the murder of a prophet, whom earlier he had heeded. He also feared the people, who loved the holy Forerunner. But because of the guests and his careless oath, he gave orders to cut off the head of St John and to give it to Salome. According to Tradition, the mouth of the dead preacher of repentance once more opened and proclaimed: "Herod, you should not have the wife of your brother Philip." Salome took the platter with the head of St John and gave it to her mother. The frenzied Herodias repeatedly stabbed the tongue of the prophet with a needle and buried his holy head in a unclean place. But the pious Joanna, wife of Herod's steward Chuza, buried the head of John the Baptist in an earthen vessel on the Mount of Olives. The holy body of John the Baptist was taken that night by his disciples and buried at Sebastia, where the wicked deed had been done. The judgment of God came upon Herod, Herodias and Salome, even during their earthly life. Salome, crossing the River Sikoris in winter, fell through the ice. The ice gave way in such a way that her body was in the water, but her head was trapped above the ice. It was similar to how she once had danced with her feet upon the ground, but now she flailed helplessly in the icy water. Thus she was trapped until that time when the sharp ice cut through her neck. Her corpse was not found, but they brought the head to Herod and Herodias, as once they had brought them the head of St John the Baptist. The Beheading of St John the Baptist, a Feast day established by the Church, is also a strict fast day because of the grief of Christians at the violent death of the saint. In some Orthodox cultures pious people will not eat food from a flat plate, use a knife, or eat food that is round in shape on this day. (www.oca.org)
Orthodoxy in America
