Christ is among us! He is and shall be!
SERVICES FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 3, 2014
EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
Our Venerable Holy Fathers Isaac, Dalmatus, and Faustus
SUN. AUGUST 3
9:45 AM THE THIRD HOUR
10:00 AM For the People
11:15 AM PARISH LUNCHEON
MON. AUGUST 4 The Holy Seven Children of Ephesus. The Holy Venerable Martyr Eudoxia.
NO SERVICES ~FATHER’S DAY OFF
TUE. AUGUST 5 Pre-Festive Day of the Transfiguration. The Holy Martyr Eusignus.
9 AM Health of Ryan Fulton
7 PM FESTAL EVENING PRAYER and Blessing of First Fruits
WED. AUGUST 6 THE TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD, GOD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. [SOLEMN HOLY DAY].
9 AM Health and Salvation of Andrew Basil Dietz and Blessing of First Fruits
THU. AUGUST 7 Post-Festive Day of the Transfiguration. The Holy Venerable Martyr Dometius.
9 AM Healing of Sherry Elkins by Olga Vaughn
7 PM PARAKLIS
FRI. AUGUST 8 Post-Festive Day of the Transfiguration. The Holy Confessor Emilian, Bishop of Cyzice.
9 AM PARAKLIS
SAT. AUGUST 9 Post-Festive Day of the Transfiguration. The Holy Apostle Mathias.
NO DIVINE SERVICES
SUN. AUGUST 10 NINTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
Post-Festive Day of the Transfiguration. The Holy Martyr and Archdeacon Lawrence of Rome.
9:45 AM THE THIRD HOUR
10:00 AM FOR THE PEOPLE
11:30 AM PARISH LUNCHEON
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Transfiguration of Our Lord is commemorated on August 6th (Wednesday of this week). This is a solemn holy day and we will have a vigil Festal Evening Prayer Liturgy on Tuesday too. The Feast of the Holy Transfiguration is linked to the harvest of the first-fruits of the season. It is customary to bring grapes and other soft-fruits to church to have them blessed to express gratitude to God for all things. (You’re encouraged to bring garden vegetables too.) Why grapes? Grapes represent 1) transformation, 2) new life and 3) Holy Gifts:
- Grapes transform from buds to flowers into fruit, fruit into juice, and juice into wine. In the Divine Liturgy wine transforms mystically into the Blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
- Grapes represent new life on old vines.
- Grapes also symbolize a good harvest as a gift from God. St. John Chrysostom wrote, “The farmer receives fruit from the earth not so much because of his labor and diligence, but because of goodness of God, Who grows this fruit, because neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase (1 Cor. 3:7).”