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. John Climacus
Repentance is the renewal of baptism. Repentance is a contract with God for a second life. A penitent is a buyer of humility. Repentance is constant distrust of bodily comfort. Repentance is self-condemning reflection, and carefree self-care. Repentance is the daughter of hope and the renunciation of despair. A penitent is an undisgraced convict. Repentance is reconciliation with the Lord by the practice of good deeds contrary to the sins. Repentance is purification of conscience. Repentance is the voluntary endurance of all afflictions. A penitent is the inflicter of his own punishments. Repentance is a mighty persecution of the stomach, and a striking of the soul into vigorous awareness.
St. Seraphim of Sarov
When despondency seizes us, let us not give in to it. Rather ,fortified and protected by the light of faith, let us with great courage say to the spirit of evil: “What are you to us, you who are cut off from God, a fugitive for Heaven, and a slave of evil? You dare not do anything to us: Christ, the Son of God, has dominion over us and over all. Leave us, you thing of bane. We are made steadfast by the uprightness of His Cross. Serpent, we trample on your head.”
St Evagrius of Pontus
Moses was prevented from approaching the burning bush until he had taken off his shoes. You are aspiring to stand in the presence of the One who is greater than every thought and every passion. How then can you refuse to strip yourself of every passionate thought? Praying means rejecting pleasures and banishing anger. Do not open your heart to fleshly longings. They stir up emotions that trouble the eye of the mind and therefore destroy prayer. Your prayer ought to be steadfast and fervent. So dispel all distractions and wandering thoughts the moment they present themselves. They disturb you and worry you so that your fervor is weakened. During your prayer, try to keep your mind deaf and dumb. Only so will you be able to pray. Do not be content with external attitudes of prayer. Turn your mind to the prayer of the spirit, with awe and fearfulness.
Announcements
- Last Sunday, 43 souls came to pray at St. Philip’s, our tithes to the Lord were $, donations $, candles $, bake sale $. 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. Basil, 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, Alex, Stefan.
- Hospitality signup sheet: Dec 9 – Agayoff family, Dec 16 – Prescott family, Dec 23 – Baker family, Dec 30 – open, Jan 6 – potluck. Please sign up for hospitality for the upcoming Sundays; the signup sheet is in the parish hall. Thank you to Amy Seyfried (and the one who stocked our cupboard) for providing hospitality for us last Sunday.
- The Retired Religious collection is taken today. If you would like to contribute you may do so until next Sunday, please mark your donation “Retired Religious.” May God richly bless you for your generosity.
- Ask about our baked goods. We still have some baked goods in the freezer: nut rolls, zucchini bread, etc. You’ll get a good deal! All goods must go! Thank you for supporting our young bakers.
- To our parishioners, if you wish to learn liturgical singing, all Metropolitan Cantor Institute (MCI) online classes are enabled for guest access for free. If you want to do the coursework and receive personalized feedback and assistance with your singing, you can register for the classes and they are inexpensive. The link is http://mci.archpitt.org/classes. You are also invited to approach one of our serving cantors and ask to sing with them.
- Upcoming: St. Philip’s Fast is from November 15 to December 24
- December 24 (Monday) – Christmas Vigil – day of strict fast and abstinence.
Liturgical Schedule
Mon Dec 10 – 6:30 AM Divine Liturgy
Wed Dec 12 – Our Lady of Guadalupe
5:30 PM – Akathist to the Holy Mother of God
Sun Dec 16 – Sunday of the Forefathers (30th After Pentecost) – Tone 5
Cantor: Tim Del Castillo; Reader: Gene Ford
8:30 AM Confessions
9:10 Office of the Third Hour
9:30 AM Divine Liturgy
For Confession, please come half an hour before the scheduled services, or schedule an appointment. We are in the season of St. Philip’s Fast, the minimum fasting discipline is abstinence from meat foods on Fridays. Let us remember one another as we offer our prayers and sacrifices to the Lord.
Liturgical schedule
Christ foreknew his mystery, even before the foundations of the world. It was in the last ages of the world that he arose for the inhabitants of earth. Having borne the sin of the world, he abolished both it and death, which is its consequence and was brought upon us by its means. He plainly said, “I am the resurrection and the life,” and “he that believes on me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death unto life.” We will see this fulfilled in facts. The ruler of the synagogue of the Jews came near and, embracing the Savior’s knees, begged him to deliver his daughter from the bonds of death. Look, she already was brought down to this and was in extreme danger! The Savior consented and set out with him. He was even hurrying on to the house of the one who invited him and was aware that what was being done would profit many of those who followed him and would also be for his own glory.
