Bulletin for March 29, 2020 – St Mary of Egypt

O Holy Apostle Philip,

Intercede with the merciful God

That he may grant our souls forgiveness of sins.

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

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory for ever! + Slava Isusu Christu! Slava i vo viki!  

From the Desert Fathers …

St. Ignatius of Antioch

For as many as are of God and of Jesus Christ are also with the bishop. And as many as shall, in the exercise of penance, return into the unity of the Church, these, too, shall belong to God, that they may live according to Jesus Christ….For where there is division and wrath, God does not dwell. To all them that repent, the Lord grants forgiveness, if they turn in penitence to the unity of God, and to communion with the bishop.

St. John Chrysostom

Priests have received a power which God has given neither to angels nor to archangels. It was said to them: “Whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose, shall be loosed.” Temporal rulers have indeed the power of binding: but they can only bind the body. Priests, in contrast, can bind with a bond which pertains to the soul itself and transcends the very heavens. Did [God] not give them all the powers of heaven? “Whose sins you shall forgive,” he says, “they are forgiven them; whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.” The Father has given all judgment to the Son. And now I see the Son placing all this power in the hands of men. They are raised to this dignity as if they were already gathered up to heaven.

Announcements

• Dear Parishioners and Friends, the situation with corona pandemic continues, we are not able to pray together at St. Philip’s. I will remember all of you and your intentions when I pray Divine Liturgy. If you have any need or are available to help others in some, please let Fr. Francis know. Stay safe and healthy, wash your hands, go on walks. Pray that we meet at St. Philip’s for Pascha.
• Last week, St. Philip’s Parish received donations: tithes $, Easter collection $, building fund donations $. Thank you for your generosity, may God bless you always.
• Live streaming of liturgical services. You can find multiple churches streaming at various times of day at http://liveliturgy.com/ Put on your Sunday clothes, silence your phone, set up your computer in your prayer corner, light a candle, open your prayer book, and join the praying church. Pray a prayer of spiritual communion. May the Lord visit you with many graces.
• Palm Sunday is next Sunday. If you would like to have blessed willows and palms at your home, please let Fr. Francis know.
• Prayer requests. Fr. Michael, Fr. Mel, Fr. Marcus, Fr. Chris, Fr. Randall, Fr. Michal, Sr. Patricia, Br. Gideon, Gary and Ingrid, Margaret and Don, Margaret, Slawomir and Oceana, Becky, Alexis, Marion, Curtis, Ronald, Jeannine, Taylor, Lorrie, Frances, Alex, Leroy, Michael, Adam, Thomas, Ellen, Ernestina, Carol, Nash, Michael, Jennifer, John, Jeffrey.
• Eparchial Appeal 2020 is upon us. The goal of the Appeal is for every household to contribute. Our Parish goal is $, to this day, 2 households participated, giving total of $. You can pick up the envelope with information and pledge form at the narthex of the church. Please send you pledge cards and donations directly to the Eparchy of Phoenix. Please support our Eparchy, support our Church.
• Liturgical schedule Until further notice, all public services at St. Philip’s are cancelled. All faithful of Our Eparchy are dispensed from attending liturgical services.

Sat	April 4th	Readings: Hebrews 12:28-13:8 John 11:1-45	Lazarus’ Saturday.
Sun	April 5th	Readings: Philippians 4:4-9 John 12:1-18	Palm Sunday. Tone 2.

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

During the Great Fast, we observe at minimum abstinence from meat foods on Wednesdays and Fridays. Let us remember one another as we offer our prayers and sacrifices to God.

Bulletin for March 22, 2020 – St John of the Ladder

O Holy Apostle Philip,

Intercede with the merciful God

That he may grant our souls forgiveness of sins.

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

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory for ever! + Slava Isusu Christu! Slava i vo viki!  

From the Desert Fathers …

St. Anthony the Great

The truly intelligent man pursues one sole objective: to obey and conform to the God of all. With this single aim in view, he disciplines his soul, and whatever he may encounter in the course of his life, he gives thanks to God for the compass and depth of His providential ordering of all things.

For it is absurd to be grateful to doctors who give us bitter and unpleasant medicines to cure our bodies, and yet to be ungrateful to God for what appears to us to be harsh, not grasping that all we encounter is for our benefit and in accordance with His providence. For knowledge of God and faith in Him is the salvation and perfection of the soul.

St. Macarius

The soul is greater than the body: the body becomes sick, and with that it is finished. But a spiritual sickness extends into eternity. Deliver us, O lord, from such illness, and grant us healing.

Announcements

• Dear Parishioners and Friends, we will not pray at our church today. This Great Fast we all encounter a surprising and a sad new meaning of the word “fast” – we won’t be able to worship God at church. Please know you are in my prayers, and I ask for yours. I forwarded some prayer resources to you, for this time, if you would like to borrow a pew book or need a printed copy of Typika, Spiritual Communion prayer, Akathistos or any other I may have, let me know. Whether you choose to pray the Typika (Office for times when Divine Liturgy is not celebrated), or follow one of the live streaming internet sites, or choose another way to sanctify the Lord’s Day, let us call on the Lord’s mercy with one voice. I will remember all of you and your intentions when I pray Divine Liturgy. If you need any additional assistance for this time, do not hesitate to ask. When in need of Confession or Holy Anointing, call for an appointment. Stay safe and healthy, wash your hands, go on walks. Pray that we meet at St. Philip’s for Pascha.
• Live streaming of liturgical services. You can find multiple churches streaming at various times of day at http://liveliturgy.com/ Put on your Sunday clothes, silence your phone, set up your computer in your prayer corner, light a candle, open your prayer book, and join the praying church. Pray a prayer of spiritual communion. May the Lord visit you with many graces.
• Prayer requests. Fr. Stephen, Fr. Michael, Fr. Mel, Fr. Marcus, Fr. Chris, Fr. Randall, Fr. Michal, Sr. Patricia, Br. Gideon, Gary and Ingrid, Margaret and Don, Margaret, Slawomir and Oceana, Becky, Alexis, Marion, Curtis, Ronald, Jeannine, Taylor, Lorrie, Frances, Alex, Leroy, Michael, Adam, Thomas, Ellen, Ernestina, Carol, Nash, Michael, Jennifer, John, Jeffrey.
• Sixth Annual Fish Fry and Pirohy Dinner is cancelled this year.
• Eparchial Appeal 2020 is upon us. The goal of the Appeal is for every household to contribute. Our Parish goal is $5888, to this day, 2 households participated, giving total of $600. You can pick up the envelope with information and pledge form at the narthex of the church. Please send your pledge cards and donations directly to the Eparchy of Phoenix. Please support our Eparchy, support our Church.
• Liturgical schedule:  Until further notice, all public services at St. Philip’s are cancelled. All faithful of Our Eparchy are dispensed from attending liturgical services.

Sun	March 22nd	Readings: Hebrews 6: 13-20 Mark 9: 17-31	4th Sunday of the Great Fast – St. John of the Ladder. Tone 8.
Wed	March 25th	Readings: Hebrews 2: 11-18 Luke 1: 24-38	Annunciation to the Theotokos. Solemn Feast.
Sat	March 28th	Readings: Hebrews 9: 24-28 Mark 8: 27-31	Akathistos Saturday.
Sun	March 29th	Readings: Hebrews 9: 11-14 Mk 10: 32-45	5th Sunday of Great Fast – Mary of Egypt. Tone 1.

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

During the Great Fast, we observe at minimum abstinence from meat foods on Wednesdays and Fridays. Let us remember one another as we offer of prayers and sacrifices to God.

Bulletin for 15 Mar 2020

O Holy Apostle Philip,

Intercede with the merciful God

That he may grant our souls forgiveness of sins.

************* 

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory for ever! + Slava Isusu Christu! Slava i vo viki!  

From the Fathers of the Church …

St. John Chrysostom

But we are able to see Christ’s inexpressible love for man not only from the cross itself but also from the words which He spoke whilst upon the cross. At the very time when He was nailed and they were mocking Him, deriding Him and spitting upon Him, He said: “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34)… At the same time that they were saying, “If You are the Son of God save Yourself,” He was accomplishing everything necessary to save these same ones who were reproaching Him. … He did forgive them, if they wished to repent, because if He had not forgiven them this sin, Paul would not have become an apostle;’ if He had not forgiven them this sin, the three thousand and the five thousand, and the many other thousands, would not have immediately believed.

From the Great Vespers

Shine, Cross of the Lord, shine with the light of thy grace upon the hearts of those that honor thee. With love inspired by God, we embrace thee, O desire of all the world. Through thee our tears of sorrow have been wiped away: we have been delivered from the snares of death and have passed over to unending joy. Show us the glory of thy beauty and grant to us thy servants the reward of our abstinence, for we entreat with faith thy rich protection and great mercy. Hail! life-giving Cross, the fair Paradise of the Church, Tree of incorruption that brings us the enjoyment of eternal glory: through thee the hosts of demons have been driven back; and the hierarchies of angels rejoice with one accord, as the congregations of the faithful keep the feast. Thou art an invincible weapon, an unbroken stronghold; thou art the victory of kings and the glory of priests. Grant us now to draw near to the Passion of Christ and to His Resurrection. Hail! life-giving Cross, unconquerable trophy of the true faith, door to Paradise, succor of the faithful, rampart set about the Church. Through thee the curse is utterly destroyed, the power of death is swallowed up, and we are raised from earth to heaven: invincible weapon, adversary of demons, glory of martyrs, true ornament of holy monks, haven of salvation bestowing on the world great mercy. Come, Adam and Eve, our first father and mother, who fell from the choir on high through the envy of the murderer of man, when of old with bitter pleasure ye tasted from the tree in Paradise. See, the Tree of the Cross, revered by all, draws near! Run with haste and embrace it joyfully, and cry to it with faith: O precious Cross, thou art our succor; partaking of thy fruit, we have gained incorruption; we are restored once more to Eden, and we have received great mercy. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages, Amen.

Announcements

• Last Sunday, 36 souls came to pray at St. Philip’s, our tithes to the Lord were $, Donations $, Building fund $, candles $, Servers’ Vestments donation $. 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. Stephen, Fr. Michael, Fr. Mel, Fr. Marcus, Fr. Chris, Fr. Randall, Fr. Michal, Sr. Patricia, Br. Gideon, Gary and Ingrid, Margaret and Don, Margaret, Slawomir and Oceana, Becky, Alexis, Marion, Curtis, Ronald, Jeannine, Taylor, Lorrie, Frances, Alex, Leroy, Michael, Adam, Thomas, Ellen, Ernestina, Carol, Nash, Michael, Jennifer, John, Jeffrey.
• Hospitality signup sheet: Mar 15 – Murin family, Mar 22 – Prescott family, Mar 29 – Darlene and Theresa. Please sign up for hospitality for the upcoming Sundays; the signup sheet is in the parish hall. Thank you to Amy Seyfried who provided hospitality for us last Sunday.
• Helpers for our Fish Fry Pirohy Dinner still needed. If you mentioned specific way you can help, stay alert. We may still need helpers for the day of the event, and for food preparation (pirohy making). Please let Father know if you are available to help.
• Sixth Annual Fish Fry and Pirohy Dinner. God willing, Come on April 4, Lazarus Saturday. 4-7 PM, bring friends. Tickets at the door, $12 Adult, $6 Child, $35 Family. We’ll serve Fish, Fries, Pirohy, Salad and Desert.
• Our Gift Shop has some new titles with themes for Great Fast and Holy Week, and more. Come and see.
• Eparchial Appeal 2020 is upon us. The goal of the Appeal is for every household to contribute. Our Parish goal is $, to this day, 2 households participated, giving total of $. You can pick up the envelope with information and pledge form at the narthex of the church. Please send your pledge cards and donations directly to the Eparchy of Phoenix. Please support our Eparchy, support our Church.
• All Souls Saturdays are days dedicated to praying for our departed brothers and sisters. Please remember to submit the list of your family members (last name of your family, and first names of those you wish remembered) to the parish office. Next All Souls is on March 21.  
• Liturgical schedule

Wed	Mar 18th	5:30 PM Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts.
Sat	Mar 21st	8 AM Divine Liturgy and Panychida.	Fourth All Souls Saturday.
Sun	Mar 22nd	8:30 AM Confessions. 9:30 AM Divine Liturgy of St. Basil.	4th Sunday of Great Fast – St. John of the Ladder. Tone 8.Cantor: Tim Del Castillo. Reader: Steve Prescott.

For Confession, please come half an hour before the scheduled services, or schedule an appointment.During the Great Fast, we observe at minimum abstinence from meat foods on Wednesdays and Fridays. Let us remember one another as we offer our prayers and sacrifices to God.

Bulletin for March 8, 2020

O Holy Apostle Philip,

Intercede with the merciful God

That He may grant our souls forgiveness of sins.

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

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory for ever! + Slava Isusu Christu! Slava i vo viki!  

From the Fathers of the Church …

St. John Chrysostom

Fasting is a medicine. But medicine, as beneficial as it is, becomes useless because of the inexperience of the user. He has to know the appropriate time that the medicine should be taken and the right amount of medicine and the condition of the body, which is to take it, the weather conditions and the season of the year and the appropriate diet of the sick and many other things. If any of these things are overlooked, the medicine will do more harm than good. …The value of fasting consists not only in avoiding certain foods, but in giving up of sinful practices. The person who limits his fast only to abstaining from meat is the one who especially lowers the value of it. …Do you fast? Prove it by doing good works. If you see someone in need, take pity on them. If you see a friend being honored, don’t get jealous of him. For a true fast, you cannot fast only with your mouth. You must fast with your eye, your ear, your feet, your hands, and all parts of your body. …Besides fasting with your mouth by not eating certain foods, your mouth should also fast from foul language or telling lies about others. For what good is it if you don’t eat meat or poultry, and yet you bite and devour your fellow man?

Announcements

• Last Sunday, 46 souls came to pray at St. Philip’s, our tithes to the Lord were $, Donations $, Building fund $, candles $, Religious Education fund $. 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. Stephen, Fr. Michael, Fr. Mel, Fr. Marcus, Fr. Chris, Fr. Randall, Fr. Michal, Sr. Patricia, Br. Gideon, Gary and Ingrid, Margaret and Don, Margaret, Slawomir and Oceana, Becky, Alexis, Marion, Curtis, Ronald, Jeannine, Taylor, Lorrie, Frances, Alex, Leroy, Michael, Adam, Thomas, Ellen, Ernestina, Carol, Nash, Michael, Jennifer, John, Jeffrey.
• Hospitality signup sheet: Mar 8 – Molly and Amy, Mar 15 – Murin family, Mar 22 – Prescott family, Mar 29 – Darlene and Theresa. Please sign up for hospitality for the upcoming Sundays; the signup sheet is in the parish hall. Thank you to Agayoff family (two weeks ago) and Steven who provided hospitality for us last Sunday.
• Helpers for our Fish Fry Pirohy Dinner still needed. If you mentioned specific way you can help, stay alert. We still need helpers for the day of the event, and for food preparation (pirohy making). Please let Father know if you are available to help.
• Sixth Annual Fish Fry and Pirohy Dinner. Come on April 4, Lazarus Saturday. 4-7 PM, bring friends. Tickets at the door, $12 Adult, $6 Child, $35 Family. We’ll serve Fish, Fries, Pirohy, Salad and Desert.
• Our Gift Shop has some new titles with themes for Great Fast and Holy Week, and more. Come and see.
• Eparchial Appeal 2020 is upon us. The goal of the Appeal is for every household to contribute. Our Parish goal is $, to this day, 2 households participated, giving total of $. You can pick up the envelope with information and pledge form at the narthex of the church. Please send you pledge cards and donations directly to the Eparchy of Phoenix. Please support our Eparchy, support our Church.
• All Souls Saturdays are days dedicated to praying for our departed brothers and sisters. Please remember to submit the list of your family members (last name of your family, and first names of those you wish remembered) to the parish office. Next All Souls is on March 14. Liturgical schedule

Wed	Mar 11th	5:30 PM Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts.
Sat	Mar 14th	8 AM Divine Liturgy and Panychida.	Second All Souls Saturday.
Sun	Mar 15th	8:30 AM Confessions. 9:30 AM Divine Liturgy of St. Basil.	3rd Sunday of Great Fast – Veneration of the Holy Cross. Tone 6. Cantor: Amy Seyfried. Reader: Tim Del Castillo.

For Confession, please come half an hour before the scheduled services, or schedule an appointment.During the Great Fast, we observe at minimum abstinence from meat foods on Wednesdays and Fridays. Let us remember one another as we offer our prayers and sacrifices to God.

Bulletin for March 1, 2020

O Holy Apostle Philip,

Intercede with the merciful God

That he may grant our souls forgiveness of sins.

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

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory for ever! + Slava Isusu Christu! Slava i vo viki!  

From the Desert Fathers …

When the holy Abba Anthony lived in the desert he was … attacked by many sinful thoughts. He said to God, “Lord, I want to be saved but these thoughts do not leave me alone; what shall I do in my affliction?” … A short while afterwards, when he got up to go out, Anthony saw a man like himself sitting at his work, getting up from his work to pray, then sitting down and plaiting a rope, then getting up again to pray. It was an angel of the Lord sent to correct and reassure him. He heard the angel saying to him, “Do this and you will be saved.” At these words, Anthony was filled with joy and courage.

The brethren also asked Abba Agathon, “Amongst all good works, which is the virtue which requires the greatest effort?” He answered, “Forgive me, but I think there is no labor greater than that of prayer to God. For every time a man wants to pray, his enemies, the demons, want to prevent him, for they know that it is only by turning him from prayer that they can hinder his journey. Whatever good work a man undertakes, if he perseveres in it, he will attain rest. But prayer is warfare to the last breath.”

As he was dying, Abba Benjamin said to his sons, “If you observe the following, you can be saved, ‘Be joyful at all times, pray without ceasing and give thanks for all things.”‘

The blessed Epiphanius, Bishop of Cyprus, was told this by the abbot of a monastery which he had in Palestine, “By your prayers we do not neglect our appointed round of psalmody, but we are very careful to recite Terce, Sext and None.” Then Epiphanius corrected them with the following comment, “It is clear that you do not trouble about the other hours of the day, if you cease from prayer. The true monk should have prayer and psalmody continually in his heart.”

Abba Zeno said, “If a man wants God to hear his prayer quickly, then before he prays for anything else, even his own soul, when he stands and stretches out his hands towards God, he must pray with all his heart for his enemies. Through this action God will hear everything that he asks.”

Announcements

• Last Sunday, 41 souls came to pray at St. Philip’s, our tithes to the Lord were $, Donations $, Building fund $, candles $. 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. Stephen, Fr. Michael, Fr. Mel, Fr. Marcus, Fr. Chris, Fr. Randall, Fr. Michal, Sr. Patricia, Br. Gideon, Gary and Ingrid, Margaret and Don, Margaret, Slawomir and Oceana, Becky, Alexis, Marion, Curtis, Ronald, Jeannine, Taylor, Lorrie, Frances, Alex, Leroy, Michael, Adam, Thomas, Ellen, Ernestina, Carol, Nash, Michael, Jennifer, John, Jeffrey.
• Hospitality signup sheet: , Feb 23 – Agayoff family, Mar 1 – Steven, Mar 8 – Molly, Mar 15 – open. Please sign up for hospitality for the upcoming Sundays; the signup sheet is in the parish hall. Thank you to Agayoff family who provided hospitality for us last Sunday.
• Eparchial Appeal 2020 is upon us. Formerly called Bishop’s Appeal, this annual special collection stretches from January to May 31, and is intended to support our Eparchial Chancery and institutions that serve the whole Eparchy. The goal of the Appeal is for every household to contribute. Each parish has a calculated amount to raise (based on number of households) as a target goal, in order to receive a rebate. By now, you should have received a mailing from the Eparchy with a pledge card and detailed information about this year’s distribution of the Appeal funds. Please send you pledge cards and donations directly to the Eparchy of Phoenix. Please support our Eparchy, support our Church.
• All Souls Saturdays are days dedicated to praying for our departed brothers and sisters. Please remember to submit the list of your family members (last name of your family, and first names of those you wish remembered) to the parish office. Next All Souls is on March 7. Liturgical schedule

Wed	Mar 4th	5:30 PM Liturgy of the Presantified Gifts.
Sat	Mar 7th	8 AM Divine Liturgy and Panychida.	Second All Souls Saturday.
Sun	Mar 8th	8:30 AM Confessions. 9:30 AM Divine Liturgy of St. Basil.	2nd Sunday of Great Fast. Tone 6. Cantor: Tim Del Castillo. Reader: Tim Belke.

For Confession, please come half an hour before the scheduled services, or schedule an appointment.During the Great Fast, we observe at minimum abstinence from meat foods on Wednesdays and Fridays. Let us remember one another as we offer our prayers and sacrifices to God.

Bulletin for Feb. 16, 2020

O Holy Apostle Philip,

Intercede with the merciful God

That he may grant our souls forgiveness of sins.

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

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory for ever! + Slava Isusu Christu! Slava i vo viki!  

From the Liturgy (Matins of Meat Fare Sunday)…

I think upon that day and hour when we shall all stand naked, like men condemned, before the Judge who accepts no man’s person. Then shall the trumpet sound aloud and the foundations of the earth shall quake, the dead shall rise from the tombs and all shall be gathered together from every generation. Then each man’s secrets will be manifest before thee: and those that have never repented shall weep and lament, departing to the outer fire; but with gladness and rejoicing the company of the righteous shall enter into the heavenly bridal chamber.

How shall it be in that hour and fearful day, when the Judge shall sit on his dread throne! The books shall be opened and men’s actions shall be examined, and the secrets of darkness shall be made public. Angels shall hasten to and fro, gathering all the nations. Come ye and hearken, kings and princes, slaves and free, sinners and righteous, rich and poor: for the Judge comes to pass sentence on the whole inhabited earth. And who shall bear to stand before his face in the presence of the angels, as they call us to account for our actions and our thoughts, whether by night or by day? How shall it be then in that hour! But before the end is here, make haste, my soul, and cry: O God who only art compassionate, turn me back and save me.

Daniel the prophet, a man greatly beloved, when he saw the power of God, cried out: “The court sat for judgment, and the books were opened.” Consider well, my soul: dost thou fast? Then despise not thy neighbor. Dost thou abstain from food? Condemn not thy brother, lest thou be sent away into the fire, there to burn as wax. But may Christ lead thee without stumbling into his kingdom.

Let us cleanse ourselves, brethren, with the queen of the virtues: for behold, she is come, bringing us a wealth of blessings. She quells the uprising of the passions, and reconciled sinners to the Master. Therefore let us welcome her with gladness, and cry aloud to Christ our God: O risen from the dead, who alone art free from sin, guard us uncondemned as we give thee glory.

Announcements

• Last Sunday, 41 souls came to pray at St. Philip’s, our tithes to the Lord were $, Donations $, Building fund $, candles $. 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. Stephen, Fr. Michael, Fr. Mel, Fr. Marcus, Fr. Chris, Fr. Randall, Fr. Michal, Sr. Patricia, Br. Gideon, Gary and Ingrid, Margaret and Don, Margaret, Slawomir and Oceana, Becky, Alexis, Marion, Curtis, Ronald, Jeannine, Taylor, Lorrie, Frances, Alex, Leroy, Michael, Adam, Thomas, Ellen, Ernestina, Carol, Nash, Michael, Jennifer, John, Jeffrey.
• Hospitality signup sheet: Feb 16 – Murin family, Feb 23 – open, Mar 1 – open. Please sign up for hospitality for the upcoming Sundays; the signup sheet is in the parish hall. Thank you to Nola and Oliver Bardin who provided hospitality for us last Sunday.
• Eparchial Appeal 2020 is upon us. Formerly called Bishop’s Appeal, this annual special collection stretches from January to May 31, and is intended to support our Eparchial Chancery and institutions that serve the whole Eparchy. The goal of the Appeal is for every household to contribute. Each parish has a calculated amount to raise (based on number of households) as a target goal, in order to receive a rebate. By now, you should have received a mailing from the Eparchy with a pledge card and detailed information about this year’s distribution of the Appeal funds. Please send you pledge cards and donations directly to the Eparchy of Phoenix. Please support our Eparchy, support our Church.
• All Souls Saturdays are days dedicated to praying for our departed brothers and sisters. Please remember to submit the list of your family members (last name of your family, and first names of those you wish remembered) to the parish office. Next All Souls is on March 7. Liturgical schedule

Tue	Feb 18th	6:30 AM Divine Liturgy.
Thu	Feb 20th	5:30 PM Vespers.
Sun	Feb 23rd	8:30 AM Confessions. 9:30 AM Divine Liturgy.	Sunday of Cheese Fare. Tone 4.Cantor: Tim Del Castillo. Reader: Steve Prescott.

For Confession, please come half an hour before the scheduled services, or schedule an appointment.Fridays in general are fasting days, we observe abstinence from meat foods. Let us remember one another as we offer our prayers and sacrifices to God.

Bulletin for Feb, 9, 2020 – Sunday of the Prodigal Son

O Holy Apostle Philip,

Intercede with the merciful God

That he may grant our souls forgiveness of sins.

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

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory for ever! + Slava Isusu Christu! Slava i vo viki!  

Wisdom of the Desert Fathers

A certain brother fell into temptation, and through tribulation relinquished the garb of monkhood; and he wished to begin to renew his ascetic life, but he saw the great difficulty of the matter, and he drew back, and said, “When shall I ever find myself in the same condition as I was formerly?” And through fear he did not begin his work, and he went and made the matter known to an old man, and the old man said, “The matter is thus: There was a certain man who possessed an estate, and he held it to be of no account and did not cultivate it, and it became full of tangled undergrowth and thorns. Now one day he remembered it, and he sent his son, and said unto him, ‘Go, clean the estate.’ And when he had gone and seen the abundance of the undergrowth he was afraid, and said to himself, ‘When shall I be able to clean away all this undergrowth?’ And he threw himself upon a bed, and lay down, and went to sleep, and thus he did every day. The his father went forth and found that he was asleep, and that he had done nothing; and he said unto him, ‘How is it, my son, that no work whatsoever hath been done by thee?’ And he said to his father, ‘When I came to work and saw the abundance of the undergrowth, I was afraid and said, “When shall I be able to clean all this away?”’ And his father said unto him, ‘My son, work according to the measure of thy sleep each day, and it shall be sufficient for thee’; and when he heard this the young man plucked up courage, and did thus, and in a short time he cleansed the estate. Thus also thou shalt not be afraid but begin the work of thy rules, and God, by His Grace, will establish thee among those in the first rank.” Now when the brother had done thus he was helped.

A soldier asked Abba Mius if God accepted repentance. After the old man had taught him many things he said, “Tell me, my dear, if your cloak is torn, do you throw it away?” He replied, “No, I mend it and use it again.” The old man said to him, “If you are so careful about your cloak, will not God be equally careful about his creature? ”

St. Ambrose of Milan

But nothing causes such exceeding grief as when anyone, lying under the captivity of sin, calls to mind from where he has fallen, because he turned aside to carnal and earthly things, instead of directing his mind in the beautiful ways of the knowledge of God. So you find Adam concealing himself, when he knew that God was present and wishing to be hidden when called by God with that voice which wounded the soul of him who was hiding: “Adam, where art thou?” That is to say, Why do you hide yourself? Why are you concealed? Why do you avoid Him Whom you once longed to see? A guilty conscience is so burdensome that it punishes itself without a judge, and wishes for covering, and yet is bare before God.

St. Ephrem the Syrian

Do all in your power not to fall, for the strong athlete should not fall. But if you do fall, get up again at once and continue the contest. Even if you fall a thousand times because of the withdrawal of God’s grace, rise up again each time, and keep on doing this until the day of your death. For it is written, ‘If a righteous man falls down seven times’ – that is, repeatedly throughout his life – ‘seven times shall he rise again’ [Prov. 24:16].

Announcements

• Last Sunday, 21 souls came to pray at St. Philip’s, our tithes to the Lord were $, Donations $, Building fund $, gift shop $, candles $. 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. Stephen, Fr. Michael, Fr. Mel, Fr. Marcus, Fr. Chris, Fr. Randall, Fr. Michal, Sr. Patricia, Br. Gideon, Gary and Ingrid, Margaret and Don, Margaret, Slawomir and Oceana, Becky, Alexis, Marion, Curtis, Ronald, Jeannine, Taylor, Lorrie, Frances, Alex, Leroy, Michael, Adam, Thomas, Ellen, Ernestina, Carol, Nash, Michael, Jennifer, John.
• Hospitality signup sheet: Feb 9 – open, Feb 16 – Murin family, Feb 23 – open, Mar 1 – open. Please sign up for hospitality for the upcoming Sundays; the signup sheet is in the parish hall. Thank you to Victor and Teresa Pacheco who provided hospitality for us last Sunday.
• All Souls Saturdays are days dedicated to praying for our departed brothers and sisters. Please remember to submit the list of your family members (last name of your family, and first names of those you wish remembered) to the parish office. The first All Souls is on February 15.

  Liturgical schedule

Tue	Feb 11th	6:30 AM Divine Liturgy.
Thu	Feb 13th	5:30 PM Vespers.
Sat	Feb 15th	8 AM Divine Liturgy and Panychida.	First All Souls Saturday.
Sun	Feb 16th	8:30 AM Confessions. 9:30 AM Divine Liturgy.	Sunday of Meat Fare. Tone 3.Cantor: Amy Seyfried. Reader: Tim Del Castillo.

For Confession, please come half an hour before the scheduled services, or schedule an appointment.Fridays in general are fasting days, we observe abstinence from meat foods. Let us remember one another as we offer our prayers and sacrifices to God.