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PARISH NEWSLETTER
| Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church Newsletter for July and August, 2008 The Rev. Fr. James S. ThayerPh: 307-682-2328; Email: frjamesthayer@bresnan.net Taking Stock Each one of us must, from time to time, take stock of our lives. New Year’s resolutions reflect the direction that we want to go in throughout the coming year. As April 15 approaches, we often seriously consider our finances and how we should alter them in the coming year. The end of a school year, a job evaluation, moving house--these are all occasions in which we can “take stock”, consider and ponder what we are, what we have or need, and where we are going. Summertime is an excellent time to take stock. Our routines are broken, we can go on vacations, we have family reunions, we often travel extensively. And, because it is a “laid back” time, it is an excellent opportunity to reflect on our spiritual life. The Church provides us other times for such reflection--Christmas Lent and Great Lent--but this summertime reflection can be done in a different context. The primary question we should ask ourselves is: Do we abide in Christ and does He abide in us? Do we bind ourselves to Him by prayer, by worthy reception of Holy Communion, by confession of our sins? Do we obey Him in all things, striving for deeds of righteousness? Does our obedience reflect our love for Him? If the Church is the Body of Christ, the pillar and foundation of truth, we might ask ourselves if we have always tried to build her, protect her, increase her. Do we regularly attend church and invite others to do so, so that they, too, might come to the saving knowledge of God? We have been offered a great gift--the salvation of our souls--of which we are not worthy. Have we lived up to this promise? Have we lived as redeemed children of God, holy in all things, or have we compromised with the world, lusting after riches and material possessions, making our lives no different from the non-believers that surround us? I pray that we might use this summertime break as a chance to “take stock,” to re-evaluate our Christian life, so that when we return we might be renewed and resolved to abide in Him, to love Him with our whole being, to love our neighbor as ourselves, to obey Him in all things, to rely on Him for everything, to know indeed that without Him we can do nothing. Schedule of Services for July and August, 2008 July 5, 6 Saturday, July 5 No Vesper service Sunday, July 6 Orthros, 9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy, 10:00 a.m. July 12, 13 Saturday, July 12 Vespers, 5:00 p.m. Sunday, July 13 Orthros, 8:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy, 9:00 a.m. Bishop BASIL’s visit July19, 20 Saturday, July 19 No Vesper service Sunday, July 20 Typika service, 10:00 a.m. July 26, 27 Saturday, July 26 Vespers, 5:00 p.m. Sunday, July 27 Orthros, 9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy, 10:00 a.m. August 2,3 Saturday, August 2 Vespers, 5:00 p.m. Sunday, August 3 Orthros, 9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy, 10:00 a.m. August 5 Tuesday, August 5 Divine Liturgy, 6:00 p.m. Transfiguration of the Lord August 9, 10 Saturday, August 9 Vespers, 5:00 p.m. Sunday, August 10 Orthros, 9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy, 10:00 a.m. August 14 Thursday, August 14 Divine Liturgy, 6:00 p.m. Dormition of the Virgin August 16, 17 Saturday, August 16 Vespers, 5:00 p.m. Sunday, August 17 Orthros, 9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy, 10:00 a.m. August 23, 24 Saturday, August 23 Vespers, 5:00 p.m. Sunday, August 24 Orthros, 9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy, 10:00 a.m. August 28 Thursday, August 28 Divine Liturgy, 6:00 p.m. Beheading of St. John the Baptist August 30, 31 Saturday, August 30 Vespers, 5:00 p.m. Sunday, August 31 Orthros, 9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy, 10:00 a.m. Please note the weekend of July 12 & 13, when His Grace, Bishop BASIL, will be visiting the parish. Because he must take an evening flight from Denver back to Wichita, services that Sunday will be an hour earlier than usual. Please note that Father James will be away for the weekend of July 19-20. There will be a Typika service on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. August 1-15 comprises the Dormition Fast, when we should abstain from meat, dairy products and eggs every day and, on Wednesdays and Fridays, from fish and alcohol as well. Pray for those with birthdays or anniversaries during July: Birthdays for Jack Anthony Bouzis (July 5) and for Rebekah Weiss (July 11). And in August: Birthdays for Jayson Weiss (August 4) , for Jennifer Weiss (August 15), Wanda Luth (August 22), Sarah Ridenour (August 29), Sean Luth (August 30), and Jordan Isaack (August 31). May God grant them many years! Pray also for Jonathan, Jordan, Margo, Katrina and child, and for all those traveling this summer. |
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