Bulletin for August 26, 2018

O Holy Apostle Philip,
Intercede with the merciful God
That he may grant our souls forgiveness of sins.

*************

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory to Him forever! + Slava Isusu Christu! Slava i vo viki!

From the Fathers of the Church …

St. Augustine of Hippo

All believers are familiar with the story of the wedding of the king’s son and the banquet that followed it, and of how the Lord’s table was thrown open to all comers. When everyone was seated the master of the house came in to see his guests, and among them he noticed one without a wedding garment. So he said to him, “My friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?” Now what precisely does this mean? Let us try to find out what it is that some believers have, but which the wicked lack, for that will be what the wedding garment is.

Can it be one of the sacraments? Hardly, for these, as we know, are common to good and bad alike. Take baptism for example. It is true that no one comes to God except through baptism, but not every baptized person comes to him. We cannot take this sacrament as the wedding garment, then, for it is a robe worn not only by good people but also by wicked people. Perhaps, then, it is our altar that is meant, or at least what we receive from it. But we know that many who approach the altar eat and drink to their own damnation. Well, then, maybe it is fasting? The wicked can fast too. What about going to church? Some bad people also go to church.

Whatever can this wedding garment be, then? For an answer we must go to the Apostle, who says: The purpose of our command is to arouse the love that springs from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a genuine faith. There is your wedding garment. It is not love of just any kind. Many people of bad conscience appear to love one another, but you will not find in them the love that springs from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a genuine faith. Only that kind of love is the wedding garment.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, says the Apostle, but have no love, l am nothing but a booming gong or a clashing cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, if I have all knowledge and understand all mysteries, if I have faith strong enough to move mountains, but have no love, lam nothing. In other words, even with all these gifts I am nothing without Christ. Does that mean that prophecy has no value and that knowledge of mysteries is worthless? No, they are not worthless but I am, if I possess them but have no love. But can the lack of one good thing rob so many others of their value? Yes, without love my confession of the name of Christ even by shedding my blood or offering my body to be burnt will avail me nothing, for I may do this out of a desire for glory. That such things can be endured for the sake of empty show without any real love for God the Apostle also declares. Listen to him: If I give away all 1 have to the poor, if I hand over my body to be burnt, but have no love, it will avail me nothing. So this is what the wedding garment is. Examine yourselves to see whether you possess it. If you do, your place at the Lord’s table is secure. (Sermon 90, 1. 5-6: PL 38, 559. 561-563)

Announcements
Last Sunday, 60+ souls came to pray at St. Philip’s, our tithes to the Lord were $, donations $, candles $, gift shop $. Thank you for supporting our church, may God bless you abundantly for your generosity. Please consider making St. Philip’s parish a part of your estate planning.

Prayer requests. Fr. Marcus, Fr. Chris, Fr. Jozef, Fr. Randall, Fr. Brendan, Fr. Ted & Barbara, Sr. Patricia, Gary and Ingrid, Margaret and Don, Walter, Adam, Margaret, Oceana, Becky, Alexis, Marion, Curtis, Ronald, Taylor, Lorrie, Rosa, Frances, Maros, Alex, Ted, Juraj, Joan, Stefan.

Hospitality signup sheet: Sep 2 – Baker family, Sep 9 – DiGirolamo family, Sep 16 – open. Please sign up for hospitality for the upcoming Sundays; the signup sheet is in the parish hall. Thank you to all who providing hospitality for us last Sunday.

Parish Visitation. Fr. Stephen Washko, our Syncellus, will visit St. Philip’s September 13-17. Father will celebrate liturgies with us on the feast of the Exaltation (9/14), and Sunday 9/17. He will be available to meet with you during his time here, you can contact him at the Annunciation parish to arrange (714-533-6292).

The 84th Annual Pilgrimage in honor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help will be held September 1 & 2 at Mount St. Macrina, Uniontown, PA. “During this 84th Annual Pilgrimage, we honor our most holy Mother under the title of ‘Hope of All Generations.’ Young or old we can always come to Mary and know that she is there to help us and intercede for us before her beloved Son, Jesus. There is never a time when she is not ready to listen (Sr. Ruth Plante, OSBM).” Brochures are available at the entrance to the church.

THE DIVINE LITURGY RECORDED DURING THE CENTRALIA CALL TO PRAYER MARIAN PILGRIMAGE WILL BE BROADCAST ON EWTN TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2018 AT 3:30 PM ET (12:30 p.m. Pacific):  On Tuesday, August 28 at 3:30 PM ET (12:30 p.m. Pacific), EWTN will telecast the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy celebrated by Bishop Andriy Rabiy, Bishop John Bura, Bishop Ronald Gainer and Bishop Kurt Burnette, which was recorded during the Call to Prayer Marian Pilgrimage in Centralia, Pa. Responses will be sung by the choir of Ukrainian National Shrine of the Holy Family, Washington, D.C. Watch on your EWTN TV Channel or at the following website: http://www.ewtn.com/multimedia/live_player.asp?sat=dome

Liturgical schedule

Mon
Aug 27th
6:30 AM Divine Liturgy

Wed
Aug 29th
5:30 PM Divine Liturgy
Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist.

Sun
Sep 2nd
8:30 AM Confessions.
9:30 AM Divine Liturgy.
15th Sunday after Pentecost. Tone 6. Cantor: Tim Del Castillo. Reader: Steve Prescott.

For Confession, please come half an hour before the scheduled services, or schedule an appointment. Wednesday is a day of strict fasting and abstinence, in commemoration of the Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist. Fridays in general are days of penance and fasting. Let us remember one another as we offer our prayers and sacrifices to the Lord.