Words from the Saints -- May 27, 2021

"The highest form of prayer is to stand silently in awe before God." --St. Isaac the Syrian

"A man went into the forest to choose a tree from which to make roof beams. And he saw two trees, one beside the other. One was smooth and tall, but had rotted away inside, and the other was rough on the outside and ugly, but its core was healthy. The man sighed, and said to himself: “What use is this smooth, tall tree to me if it is rotten inside and useless for beams? The other one, even if it is rough and ugly, is at least healthy on the inside and so, if I put a bit more effort into it, I can use it for roof beams for my house.” And without thinking any more about it, he chose that tree. So will God choose between two men for His house, and will choose not the one who appears outwardly righteous, but the one whose heart is filled with God’s healthy righteousness." --St. Nikolai of Zhicha

"Learn something from the Scriptures by heart, and keep your mind focused on it. These things impede the demons from making assaults against us." --St. Nil of Sora

"Perfume is not to be found in mud, nor the fragrance of love in the soul of a rancorous man." --St. Thalassios the Libyan

"A mole burrowing in the earth is blind and cannot see the stars; and he who does not trust God in temporal things will not trust Him in eternal things." --St. Mark the Ascetic

"He alone loves the Creator perfectly who manifests a pure love for his neighbor." --St. Bede the Venerable

Prayer List for the Week of May 23, 2021

For healing: Archbishop Daniel, Fr. Daniel, Fr. Nikolaos, Fr. Serhii, Fr. Victor, Matushka Myra, Matushka Katherine, Monk Meletios, Ross, Justin, Steven, Marian, Roger, Nancy, Claire, Patricia, Mark, Nikolai, Anastasia, William, Annabelle, Alice, Kathleen, Jay, Denise, Denise, Heather, Alexander, John, Karen, Pamela, Robert, Eric, Michael, Melissa, Marianne, Ryan, Joanne, Rose Mary, Marianne, Timothy, Jon, Emily, Charles, Carlos, Hank, Nicholas, Katrina, Valentine, Mary Jane, Nicholas, Alicia, Kathleen, Thomas, Mary Jo, Margaret, John, Jennifer, Clara, Joan, Sarah, Alex, Nicholas, Barbara, Margaret, Patricia, Alyssa, Danielle, Nicholas, Eliakim, Christopher, Tricia, Susan, Christopher, Joshua, Susan, Kathleen, Walter, Patty

For God’s protection: all captives; all persecuted Christians throughout the world

For God’s protection: all those in the military

For God’s mercy and peace: those who are in hospice care

For God’s mercy, direction and protection: those who are unemployed, poor, hungry and/or homeless

*** We pray for: those who love us; those who hate us; those who have no one to pray for them; those who have asked us to pray for them, even though we are unworthy. ***

Departed: Fr. Peter, Nancy, Violet, Doina, Aurel

Readings for the Week of May 23, 2021

5/23: Acts 9:32-42; John 5:1-15

5/24: Acts 10:1-16; John 6:56-69

5/25: Acts 10:21-33; John 7:1-13

5/26: Acts 14:6-18; John 7:14-30

5/27: Acts 10:34-43; John 8:12-20

5/28: Acts 10:44-11:10; John 8:21-30

5/29: Acts 12:1-11; John 8:31-42

Readings for the Week of May 16, 2021

5/16: Acts 6:1-7; Mark 15:43-16:8

5/17: Acts 6:8-7:5, 47-60; John 4:46-54

5/18: Acts 8:5-17; John 6:27-33

5/19: Acts 8:18-25; John 6:35-39

5/20: Acts 8:26-39; John 6:40-44

5/21: Acts 8:40-9:19; 26:1-5,12-20; John 6:48-54; 10:1-9

5/22: Acts 9:19-31; John 15:17-16:2

Words from the Saints -- May 13, 2021

"This is the Great Work of a man: always to take the blame for his own sins before God and to expect temptation to his last breath." --St. Anthony of Egypt

"We were created for eternal life by our Creator, we are called to it by the word of God, and we are renewed by holy Baptism. And Christ the Son of God came into the world for this, that He should call us and take us there, and He is the one thing needful. For this reason your very first endeavor and care should be to receive it. Without it everything is as nothing, though you have the whole world under you." --St Tikhon of Zadonsk

"It is called 'Gospel' because it announces to us things that are good, namely, remission of sins, being counted as righteous, ascent into the heavens, and adoption as sons by God. It also announces that we can receive these things easily. For we ourselves have not labored to obtain these good things, nor have we received them as a result of our own accomplishments, but by God’s grace and love for man we have been deemed worthy of such good things." --Blessed Theophylact

"When you delight in hearing evil talk, be angry with your-self and not with the speaker. For listening in a sinful way makes the messenger seem sinful." --St. Mark the Ascetic

"As the branch separated from the roots soon loses all life and verdure, so it is with good works which are not united with charity." --St. Gregory the Great, Pope of Rome

Prayer List for the Week of May 9, 2021

For healing: Archbishop Daniel, Fr. Daniel, Fr. Nikolaos, Fr. Serhii, Fr. Victor, Matushka Myra, Matushka Katherine, Monk Meletios, Ross, Justin, Steven, Marian, Roger, Nancy, Claire, Patricia, Mark, Nikolai, Anastasia, William, Annabelle, Alice, Kathleen, Jay, Denise, Denise, Heather, Alexander, John, Karen, Pamela, Robert, Eric, Michael, Melissa, Marianne, Ryan, Joanne, Rose Mary, Marianne, Timothy, Jon, Emily, Charles, Carlos, Hank, Nicholas, Katrina, Valentine, Mary Jane, Nicholas, Alicia, Kathleen, Thomas, Mary Jo, Margaret, John, Jennifer, Clara, Joan, Sarah, Alex, Nicholas, Barbara, Margaret, Patricia, Alyssa, Danielle, Nicholas, Eliakim, Christopher, Tricia, Susan, Christopher, Joshua, Susan, Kathleen, Walter, Patty

For God’s protection: all captives; all persecuted Christians throughout the world

For God’s protection: all those in the military

For God’s mercy and peace: those who are in hospice care

For God’s mercy, direction and protection: those who are unemployed, poor, hungry and/or homeless

*** We pray for: those who love us; those who hate us; those who have no one to pray for them; those who have asked us to pray for them, even though we are unworthy. ***

Departed: Fr. Peter, Arlene, Mary, Mary, Nancy, Violet, Doina, Julia, John, Helen, George

Readings for the Week of May 9, 2021

5/9: Acts 5:12-20; John 20:19-31

5/10: Acts 3:19-26; John 2:1-11

5/11: Acts 4:1-10; 1 Corinthians 15:39-57; John 3:16-21

5/12: Acts 4:13-22; John 5:17-24

5/13: Acts 4:23-31; John 5:24-30

5/14: Acts 5:1-11; John 5:30-6:2

5/15: Acts 5:21-33; John 6:14-27

Words from the Saints -- May 6, 2021

"It is right, therefore, that we not just be called Christians, but that we actually be Christians." --St. Ignatius of Antioch

"The tongue of a back-biting soul is three-pronged: it injures the speaker, the listener and sometimes the person being maligned." --St. Thalassios the Libyan

Prayer List for the Week of May 2, 2021

For healing: Fr. Daniel, Fr. Nikolaos, Fr. Serhii, Fr. Victor, Matushka Myra, Matushka Katherine, Monk Meletios, Ross, Justin, Steven, Marian, Roger, Nancy, Claire, Patricia, Mark, Nikolai, Anastasia, William, Annabelle, Alice, Kathleen, Jay, Denise, Denise, Heather, Alexander, John, Karen, Pamela, Robert, Eric, Michael, Melissa, Marianne, Ryan, Joanne, Rose Mary, Marianne, Timothy, Jon, Emily, Charles, Carlos, Hank, Nicholas, Katrina, Valentine, Mary Jane, Nicholas, Alicia, Kathleen, Thomas, Mary Jo, Margaret, John, Jennifer, Clara, Joan, Sarah, Alex, Nicholas, Barbara, Margaret, Patricia, Alyssa, Danielle, Nicholas, Eliakim, Christopher, Tricia, Susan, Christopher, Joshua, Susan, Kathleen, Walter, Patty

For God’s protection: all captives; all persecuted Christians throughout the world

For God’s protection: all those in the military

For God’s mercy and peace: those who are in hospice care

For God’s mercy, direction and protection: those who are unemployed, poor, hungry and/or homeless

*** We pray for: those who love us; those who hate us; those who have no one to pray for them; those who have asked us to pray for them, even though we are unworthy. ***

Departed: Fr. Peter, Arlene, Mary, Mary, Nancy, Julia, John, Gerald, Marcella, David, Kathleen, Sean

Readings for the Week of May 2, 2021 (Bright Week)

5/2: Acts 1:1-8; John 1:1-17; John 20:19-25

5/3: Acts 1:12-17, 21-26; John 1:18-28

5/4: Acts 2:14-21; Luke 24:12-35

5/5: Acts 2:22-36; John 1:35-51

5/6: Acts 2:38-43; John 3:1-15

5/7: Acts 3:1-8; Philippians 2:5-11; John 2:12-22; Luke 10:38-42; 11:27-28

5/8: Acts 3:11-16; John 3:22-33

Words from the Saints -- April 29, 2021

"The rule of piety admits nothing new. All things are to be delivered to those who come after us with the same fidelity with which they were received by us. It is our duty to follow religion, not make religion follow us." --St. Vincent of Lerins

"We do not know God from His essence. We know Him rather from the grandeur of His creation and from His providential care for all creatures. For through these, as though they were mirrors, we may attain insight into His infinite goodness, wisdom and power." --St. Maximos the Confessor

Prayer List for the Week of April 25, 2021

For healing: Fr. Daniel, Fr. Nikolaos, Fr. Serhii, Fr. Victor, Matushka Myra, Matushka Katherine, Monk Meletios, Ross, Justin, Steven, Marian, Roger, Nancy, Claire, Patricia, Mark, Nikolai, Anastasia, William, Annabelle, Alice, Kathleen, Jay, Denise, Denise, Heather, Alexander, John, Karen, Pamela, Robert, Eric, Michael, Melissa, Marianne, Ryan, Joanne, Rose Mary, Marianne, Timothy, Jon, Emily, Charles, Carlos, Hank, Nicholas, Katrina, Valentine, Mary Jane, Nicholas, Alicia, Kathleen, Thomas, Mary Jo, Margaret, John, Jennifer, Clara, Joan, Sarah, Alex, Nicholas, Barbara, Margaret, Patricia, Alyssa, Danielle, Nicholas, Eliakim, Christopher, Tricia, Susan, Christopher, Joshua, Susan, Kathleen, Walter, Patty

For God’s protection: all captives; all persecuted Christians throughout the world

For God’s protection: all those in the military

For God’s mercy and peace: those who are in hospice care

For God’s mercy, direction and protection: those who are unemployed, poor, hungry and/or homeless

*** We pray for: those who love us; those who hate us; those who have no one to pray for them; those who have asked us to pray for them, even though we are unworthy. ***

Departed: Fr. Peter, Helen, Mary Ann, Arlene, Mary, Mary

Readings for the Week of April 25, 2021 (Holy Week)

PALM SUNDAY (4/25): Philippians 4:4-9; John 12:1-18

HOLY MONDAY (4/26): Matthew 21:18-43; Ezekiel 1:1-20; Exodus 1:1-20; Job 1:1-12; Matthew 24:3-35

HOLY TUESDAY (4/27): Matthew 22:15-23:39; Ezekiel 1:21-2:1; Exodus 2:5-10; Job 1:13-22; Matthew 24:36-26:2

HOLY WEDNESDAY (4/28): John 12:17-50; Ezekiel 2:3-3:3; Exodus 2:11-22; Job 2:1-10; Matthew 26:6-16

HOLY THURSDAY (4/29): Luke 22:1-39; Jeremiah 11:18-12:5, 9-11, 14-15; Exodus 19:10-19; Job 38:1-23; 42:1-5; Isaiah 50:4-11; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32; Matthew 26:1-20; John 13:3-17; Matthew 26:21-39; Luke 22:43-45; Matthew 26:40-27:2

HOLY FRIDAY (4/30): John 13:31-17:26; John 18:1-27; Matthew 26:57-75; John 18:28-19:16; Matthew 27:3-32; Mark 15:16-32; Matthew 27:33-54; Luke 23:32-49; John 19:25-37; Mark 15:43-47; John 19:38-42; Matthew 27:62-66; Zechariah 11:10-13; Galatians 6:14-18; Isaiah 50:4-11; Romans 5:6-11; Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Hebrews 2:11-18; Jeremiah 11:18-23; 12:1-5, 9-11, 14-15; Hebrews 10:19-31; Exodus 33:11-23; Job 42:12-16; Isaiah 52:13-53:12

HOLY SATURDAY (5/1): Ezekiel 37:1-14; 1 Corinthians 5:6-8; Galatians 3:13-14; Matthew 27:62-66; Genesis 1:1-13; Isaiah 60:1-16; Exodus 12:1-11; Jonah 1:1-4:11; Joshua 5:10-15; Exodus 13:20-15:19; Zephaniah 3:8-15; 1 Kings 17:8-24; Isaiah 61:1-62:5; Genesis 22:1-18; 2 Kings 4:8-37; Isaiah 63:11-64:5; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Daniel 3:1-23; Daniel 3:24-90; Romans 6:3-11; Matthew 28:1-20

Words from the Saints -- April 22, 2021

"To whatever thing a man's heart is tied, and where his desire draws him, that is his god." --St. Macarius the Great

"Just as some snakes live in glens and others in houses, so there are some passions which take shape in our thoughts while others express themselves in action. It is possible, however, for them to change from one type to the other." --St. Mark the Ascetic

"Scattering and dispersing the dark and gloomy tempest of sin, Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, shone forth, gleaming not in the hearts and souls of the Apostles only, but in those of all who draw near to Him with faith seeking salvation. 'Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed,' Christ proclaimed; 'Blessed are those who have perceived Me not with bodily eyes, but with the eyes of the heart.'" --St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco

"He who walks along a precipice, although he may not fall over, yet he trembles and often falls through that very fear. Even so, he who flies not far from sin, but keeps near to it, lives in continual fear, and often falls." --St. John Chrysostom

"You will lose nothing of what you have renounced for the Lord's sake. For in its own time it will return to you greatly multiplied." --St. Mark the Ascetic

Prayer List for the Week of April 18, 2021

For healing: Fr. Daniel, Fr. Nikolaos, Fr. Serhii, Fr. Victor, Matushka Myra, Matushka Katherine, Monk Meletios, Ross, Justin, Steven, Marian, Roger, Nancy, Claire, Patricia, Mark, Nikolai, Anastasia, William, Annabelle, Alice, Kathleen, Jay, Denise, Denise, Heather, Alexander, John, Karen, Pamela, Robert, Eric, Michael, Melissa, Marianne, Ryan, Joanne, Rose Mary, Marianne, Timothy, Jon, Emily, Charles, Carlos, Hank, Nicholas, Katrina, Valentine, Mary Jane, Nicholas, Alicia, Kathleen, Thomas, Mary Jo, Margaret, John, Jennifer, Clara, Joan, Sarah, Alex, Nicholas, Barbara, Margaret, Patricia, Alyssa, Danielle, Nicholas, Eliakim, Christopher, Tricia, Susan, Christopher, Joshua, Susan, Kathleen, Walter, Patty

For God’s protection: all captives; all persecuted Christians throughout the world

For God’s protection: all those in the military

For God’s mercy and peace: those who are in hospice care

For God’s mercy, direction and protection: those who are unemployed, poor, hungry and/or homeless

*** We pray for: those who love us; those who hate us; those who have no one to pray for them; those who have asked us to pray for them, even though we are unworthy. ***

Departed: Helen, Mary Ann, Arlene, Mary, Mary, Ardelle, Emily, Paul

Readings for the Week of April 18, 2021

4/18: Galatians 3:23-29; Hebrews 9:11-14; Mark 10:32-45; Luke 7:36-50

4/19: Isaiah 48:17-49:4; Genesis 27:1-41; Proverbs 19:16-25

4/20: Isaiah 49:6-10; Genesis 31:3-16; Proverbs 21:3-21

4/21: Isaiah 58:1-11; Genesis 43:26-31; 45:1-16; Proverbs 21:23-22:4

4/22: Isaiah 65:8-16; Genesis 46:1-7; Proverbs 23:15-24:5

4/23: Isaiah 66:10-24; Genesis 49:33-50:26; Proverbs 31:8-31

4/24: Hebrews 12:28-13:8; John 11:1-45

Words from the Saints -- April 15, 2021

"The humble soul is blessed. The Lord loves her. The Mother of God is higher than all in humility, and therefore all races bless her on earth, while the heavenly powers serve her. And the Lord has given us this blessed Mother of His as a defender and helper." --St. Silouan of Mt. Athos

"If you forgive few things, He forgives you few! If you forgive many things, He forgives you many!" --St. John Chrysostom

"The roots of evil thoughts are the obvious vices, which we keep trying to justify in our words and actions." --St. Mark the Ascetic

"Let us not procrastinate till tomorrow. For we ‘know not what the next day may bring forth,’ nor let us say, ‘we shall conquer this habit little by little,’ since this little and little will never come to an end." --St. John Chrysostom

"Let us fast an acceptable and very pleasing fast to the Lord. True fast is the estrangement from evil, temperance of tongue, abstinence from anger, separation from desires, slander, falsehood, and lying. Abstaining from these is true fasting." --St. Basil the Great

Prayer List for the Week of April 11, 2021

For healing: Fr. Daniel, Fr. Nikolaos, Fr. Serhii, Fr. Victor, Matushka Myra, Matushka Katherine, Monk Meletios, Ross, Justin, Steven, Marian, Roger, Nancy, Claire, Patricia, Mark, Nikolai, Anastasia, William, Annabelle, Alice, Kathleen, Jay, Denise, Denise, Heather, Alexander, John, Karen, Pamela, Robert, Eric, Michael, Melissa, Marianne, Ryan, Joanne, Rose Mary, Marianne, Timothy, Jon, Emily, Charles, Carlos, Hank, Nicholas, Katrina, Valentine, Mary Jane, Nicholas, Alicia, Kathleen, Thomas, Mary Jo, Margaret, John, Jennifer, Clara, Joan, Sarah, Alex, Nicholas, Barbara, Margaret, Patricia, Alyssa, Danielle, Nicholas, Eliakim, Christopher, Tricia, Susan, Christopher, Joshua, Susan, Kathleen, Walter, Patty

For God’s protection: all captives; all persecuted Christians throughout the world

For God’s protection: all those in the military

For God’s mercy and peace: those who are in hospice care

For God’s mercy, direction and protection: those who are unemployed, poor, hungry and/or homeless

*** We pray for: those who love us; those who hate us; those who have no one to pray for them; those who have asked us to pray for them, even though we are unworthy. ***

Departed: Helen, Mary Ann, Arlene, Mary, Mary

Readings for the Week of April 11, 2021

4/11: Ephesians 5:9-19; Hebrews 6:13-20; Mark 9:17-31

4/12: Isaiah 37:33-38:6; Genesis 13:12-18; Proverbs 14:27-15:4

4/13: Isaiah 40:18-31; Genesis 15:1-15; Proverbs 15:7-19

4/14: Isaiah 41:4-14; Genesis 17:1-9; Proverbs 15:20-16:9

4/15: Isaiah 42:5-16; Genesis 18:20-33; Proverbs 16:17-17:17

4/16: Isaiah 45:11-17; Genesis 22:1-18; Proverbs 17:17-18:5

4/17: Hebrews 9:1-7, 24-28; Mark 8:27-31; Luke 10:38-42; 11:27-28

Words from the Saints – April 8, 2021

"It is better not to allow anger, however just and reasonable, to enter at all, than to admit it in ever so slight a degree; once admitted, it will not be easily expelled, for, though at first but a small plant, it will immediately grow into a large tree." --St. Augustine of Hippo

"Our heart is like the darkened earth; the Gospel is like the sun, enlightening and giving life to our hearts. May the true sun of Thy righteousness shine in our hearts, O Lord!" --St. John of Kronstadt

"It is not the self-critical who reveals his humility (for does not everyone have somehow to put up with himself?). Rather it is the man who continues to love the person who has criticized him." --St. John Climacus

"To yield and give way to our passions is the lowest slavery, even as to rule over them is the only liberty." --St. Justin Martyr