Divine Liturgy, Sunday, August 25, 2024

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost: Martyrs Photius and Anicetas &

Afterfeast of the Transfiguration (Tone 8)

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Sunday, August 25, 2024

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost: Martyrs Photius and Anicetas &

Afterfeast of the Transfiguration (Tone 8)

Fast: Wine and oil allowed

Priest Micah J. Chisholm, Rector          Phone: (989) 324-8773

[www.stsebastianorthodoxchurch.org]

Entrance Hymn:  Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, Who rose from the dead O Son of God, save us who sing to Thee: Alleluia!

Resurrectional Troparion – Tone 8: Thou didst descend from on high, O Merciful One!  Thou didst accept the three day burial to free us from our sufferings!  O Lord, our Life and Resurrection, glory to Thee!

Troparion – Transfiguration – Tone 7: Thou wast transfigured on the mount, O Christ God, revealing Thy glory to Thy Disciples as far as they could bear it.  Let Thine everlasting Light shine upon us sinners, through the prayers of the Theotokos O Giver of Light, glory to Thee!

Troparion – St. Sebastian – Tone 8:  The image of God was preserved in thee, O father, for thou didst take up thy cross and follow Christ.  Thou didst teach by thine own example that the flesh is to be spurned as transient, while the soul needs great care as it is immortal.  Wherefore, O venerable Sebastian, thou dost rejoice with the Angels.

Troparion – Martyrs Anicetus and Photius – Tone 4:  Thy holy martyrs Anicetus and Photius, O Lord, through their sufferings have received incorruptible crowns from Thee, our God.  For having Thy strength, they laid low their adversaries, and shattered the powerless boldness of demons.  Throught their intercessions, save our souls!

Resurrectional Kontakion – Tone 8: By rising from the tomb, Thou didst raise the dead and resurrected Adam.  Eve exults in Thy Resurrection.  And the world celebrates Thy rising from the dead, O greatly Merciful One!

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit!

Kontakion – St. Sebastian – Tone 2: O father Sebastian, armed with purity of soul and grasping unceasing prayer as firmly as a spear. Thou didst pierce the demons’ armies.  Unceasingly pray for us all.

Both now and ever and unto the ages of ages.  Amen.

Kontakion - Transfiguration – Tone 7: On the mountain wast Thou transfigured, O Christ God, and Thy Disciples beheld Thy glory as far as they could see it; so that when they would behold Thee crucified, they would understand that Thy suffering was voluntary, and would proclaim to the world, that Thou art truly the Radiance of the Father!

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The Prokeimenon (in the 8th Tone): Pray and make your vows before the Lord our God!        Verse: In Judea is God known, His name is great in Israel.

Epistle Reading (I Cor. 3:9-17 (§128))

Brethren, we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.  For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is.  If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.  If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.  Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?  If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. 

Gospel (St. Matt. 14:22-34 (§59))

At that time, Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.  And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.  But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.  Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.  And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid." And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."  So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.  But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!"  And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"  And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God."  When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret.

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Hymn to the Theotokos

Magnify, O my soul, the Lord who was transfigured on Mount Tabor.  Thy childbearing was without corruption; God came forth from thy body clothed in flesh, and appeared on earth and dwelt among men.  Therefore we all magnify thee, O Theotokos.

Communion Hymn

Praise the Lord in the heavens, praise Him in the highest. O Lord, in the light of Thy face shall we walk, and in Thy name shall we rejoice forever.  Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Pre-Communion Prayer

     I believe, O Lord, and I confess that Thou art truly the Christ, the Son of the living God, Who didst come into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.  Moreover, I believe that this is truly Thy most Pure Body, and that this is truly Thine Own Precious Blood.  Wherefore, I pray Thee: Have mercy on me and forgive me my transgressions, voluntary and involuntary, in word and in deed, in knowledge and in ignorance.  And vouchsafe me to partake without condemnation of Thy most pure Mysteries unto the remission of my sins and life everlasting.  Amen.

     Of Thy Mystical Supper, O Son of God, receive me today as a communicant; for I will not speak of the Mystery to Thine enemies, nor will I give Thee a kiss as did Judas, but like the Thief do I confess Thee:  Remember me, O Lord, in Thy Kingdom.

     Let not the communion of Thy Holy Mysteries be unto me for judgment, or condemnation, O Lord, but for thehealing of soul and body.  Amen.

Polychronion (The Many Years)

Our Great Lord and Father, His Holiness Kyrill, Patriarch of Moscow and All the Rus, Our Lord the Very Most Reverend Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, Our Lord the Most Reverend Peter, Archbishop of Chicago and Mid-America, and their God-protected flock, this land, its civil authorities and armed forces, the God-preserved Lands of Rus, The Rector of this Holy Parish and all Orthodox Christians: Preserve, O Lord, for many years!

We welcome everyone to Saint Sebastian Orthodox Church. Please join us for a time of fellowship following the Divine Liturgy.

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Note: The Parish Council has decided to regularly publish our latest “Operational” financial health status for general awareness.   The information will be freshened each month.  Here is the 2024 status as of 07/31/24:

 

                                                                                                                  July only                                Yr to Date

                     Total Operating Income to Date:                                     $   7,664                                   $  41,672

                     Total Operating Expenses to Date:                                 $   4,946  *                                $  35,837 *

                     Current Building Fund Balance                                                               $ 114,539

* Includes Diocesan Assessment increment

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Please pray for our Catechumens:

Nathan, Claire, Vanessa, Seth, Courtney, John, & Jessica

And also for Ma. Stephanie, and Donald Clewley & Family

If you are interested in learning more about the Orthodox faith, 

or are interested in learning how you can become a part of Saint Sebastian Orthodox Christian Church, 

please speak to Father Micah.

We welcome everyone to Saint Sebastian Orthodox Church.  
Please stay and join us for fellowship and refreshments after the service today.