Bulletin for 24 January 2021 – Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee

O Holy Apostle Philip,  

Intercede with the merciful God  

That He may grant our souls forgiveness of sins.  

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

From the Fathers of the Church …  

St. Cyril of Alexandria  

What profit is there in fasting twice in the week if it serves only as a pretext for ignorance and vanity and makes you proud, haughty and selfish? You tithe your possessions and boast about it. In another way, you provoke God’s anger by condemning and accusing other people because of this. You are puffed up, although not crowned by the divine decree for righteousness. On the contrary, you heap praises on yourself. He says, “I am not as the rest of humankind.” Moderate yourself, O Pharisee. Put a door and lock on your tongue. You speak to God who knows all things. Wait for the decree of the judge. No one who is skilled in wrestling ever crowns himself. No one also receives the crown from himself but waits for the summons of the referee…. Lower your pride, because arrogance is accursed and hated by God. It is foreign to the mind that fears God. Christ even said, “Do not judge, and you shall not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned,” One of his disciples also said: There is one lawgiver and judge. Why then do you judge your neighbor?” No one who is in good health ridicules one who is sick for being laid up and bedridden. He is rather afraid, for perhaps he may become the victim of similar sufferings. A person in battle, because another has fallen, does not praise himself for having escaped from misfortune. The weakness of others is not a suitable subject for praise for those who are in health.

St. Basil the Great  

The stern Pharisee, who in his over-weening pride not only boasted of himself but also discredited the tax collector in the presence of God, made his justice void by being guilty of pride. Instead of the Pharisee, the tax collector went down justified, because he had given glory to God, the holy One. He did not dare lift his eyes but sought only to plead for mercy. He accused himself by his posture, by striking his breast, and by entertaining no other motive except propitiation. Be on your guard, therefore, and bear in mind this example of severe loss sustained through arrogance. The one guilty of insolent behavior suffered the loss of his justice and forfeited his reward by his bold self-reliance. He was judged inferior to a humble man and a sinner because in his self-exaltation he did not await the judgment of God but pronounced it himself. Never place yourself above anyone, not even great sinners. Humility often saves a sinner who has committed many terrible transgressions.

Announcements  

• Dear Parishioners and Friends, during our gatherings, please follow all health and safety precautions issued by civil authorities. Use the space to allow distance between households, follow proper way of receiving Holy Communion. Per parish guidelines, consider your and others’ safety when coming to church, if you feel sick, you can choose to follow Sunday liturgy online, or pray the Typika. When in doubt, consult your decision with your pastor/confessor. Dispensation from Sunday attendance given by Bishop John for the faithful of our Eparchy is in effect at this time. Please know that you and your intentions are remembered on the altar at St. Philip’s. For confession and other needs, please contact Fr. Francis directly and make an appointment.
• We reviewed our health precautions with the Eparchy. Based on the conversation, I encourage you to practice strictly social distancing (leave an empty pew between households) wear face covering (mask/shield) when indoors, keep good airflow in the rooms (open windows), limit indoor interactions after church, and at all times practice good hand hygiene (wash hands with soap and water for 30 seconds, when not possible, use hand sanitizer).
• Tithes and Donations. Last Sunday. Last Sunday (since January 1), we received in tithes $; candles $; bake sale $; donations $; Building Fund $. Thank you for your generosity, may God bless you always.
• Prayer requests. Fr. Michael, Fr. Marcus, Fr. Chris, Fr. Randall, Fr. Michal, Sr. Patricia, Margaret, Gary and Ingrid, Margaret, Slawomir and Oceana, Becky, Alexis, Marion, Curtis, Ronald, Jeannine, Taylor, Lorrie, Frances, Alex, Leroy, Michael, Thomas, Carol, Michael, Jennifer, John, Elizabeth, Judy, Ruth, Dimitri, Christie, Viktoria.
• First All Souls Saturday is on February 6. If you would like your beloved family members remembered at the altar of St. Philip’s, please submit their names to the parish office. Please include your family name and first names of your family’s departed members you wish remembered. You can send an email or drop a note in the collection basket.
• Christmas rolls “to go” – we still have some left, we need to eat them before we need to fast again! The table set up in the hall downstairs, for service call on Amy or Darlene. Be sure and keep 6 feet apart from others and wear a mask when you pick up. Cash or check preferred.
• Partakers of the Divine Nature. A Patristic Study of Deification LIVE WEBINAR Wednesdays, January 27 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm California time. Register at www.easterncatholic.org Presented by Rev. Nathan Adams. God has called his people to become partakers of His Divine Nature (2 Peter 1:4). Join us as we explore this process of participating in the Sacramental and moral life of Christ by which each individual and all of the Church are transformed into the mystical body of Christ. GOD WITH US ONLINE is an outreach project of the Eparchial Directors of Religious Education (ECED) and the Eastern Catholic Associates (ECA) and is dedicated to the catechetical renewal of Eastern Catholics in the United States in accord with the Church’s call for a new evangelization. All programs are offered free of charge.

  Liturgical schedule  

  Until further notice, social distancing and health safety provisions issued by local government are in place. When at St. Philip’s follow the guidelines issued on May 31.  

Mon	Jan 25th	4 PM Vespers.
Sat	Jan 30th	8 AM Divine Liturgy.	Three Holy Hierarchs
Sun	Jan 31st	8:30 AM Confessions. 9:30 AM Divine Liturgy.	Sunday of the Prodigal Son. Tone 2.

For Confession, please call Fr. Francis for an appointment.

This week is a fast-free week!  Let us remember one another as we offer our prayers and sacrifices to the Lord.