Saint Mary’s Orthodox Church September 13th, 2020

The Herald Quick reminder that

Pani and Father will be out of town next

weekend for a wedding. Should you need anything, Father is always reachable. Should a spiritual emergency take place, please contact Fr. Jim Dutko: (607) 725 - 3672.

An Urgent Intervention Please be aware of the following: someone has reached out to

two people recently claiming to be Father Nathaniel and requesting financial assistance in the form of a gift card. First and foremost, you will never be solicited by Father or Pani for money. Secondly, the number is a ‘607’ area code. If you look at the top of the bulletin, Father has a ‘330’ area code. If you are contacted, please let Father Nathaniel know IMMEDIATELY. Thank you!

Zoe! For Life Meeting!W hat special talents and skills do you have to offer as we

plan to help expectant parents make healthy decisions about pregnancy. Find out what you can do by joining the Zoe for Life!(R) Southern Tier group as we forge our course for the future. The pandemic has slowed us down a bit, but we're meeting virtually on Saturday, September 19th at 2 p.m. via Zoom. Here are the meeting details: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/9269731290?pwd=M2k1b0J4TEt0SHFaN2srRTdITlhiZz09 

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Scripture Readings

Epistle: 2 Corinthians 1:21-2:4

Gospel: Matthew 22: 1 - 14

Music

14th Sunday after Pentecost

Tone of the week: Tone 5 - Pages

Upcoming Services:

9/13: Divine Liturgy 10 AM; Panachida for Vasil Komar requested by his brothers & sisters & Joseph & Joann Loposky requested by John & Patricia Loposky.

9/14: Divine Liturgy 9 AM - Liturgical New Year

9/16: Moleben to the Theotokos 6 PM; Spiritual Education to follow

9/20: Divine Liturgy 10 AM served by Fr. Michael Kleban; Panachida for Norma Komar requested by Ciufo Family.

9/21: Divine Liturgy 9 AM - Theotokos Nativity

The Bells of St. Mary’sotecnathaniel@gmail.com | Father Nathaniel Choma | 1(330) 402-0352

Saint Mary’s Orthodox Church September 13th, 2020Meeting ID: 926 973 1290 Passcode: 5rwHwM 

For more information, contact Matushka Marge Kappanadze at mkappanadze@gmail.com

Hierarchical Updates Many of you will see attached to the email bulletin the

updates from His Eminence, Metropolitan Gregory. If you are only receiving a print bulletin on Sundays, please be sure to see Father Nathaniel for copies of the newest protocols!

Saints of the Day The Placing of the Sash of the Most Holy Theotokos (395-408? 886- 912?)

A t the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, her sash came into the possession of the Apostle Thomas and after

various transfers came to Cappadocia. It was later taken from there to Constantinople, where it was kept in a sealed casket in the Church of the Theotokos at Blachernae, at the time of the Emperor Arcadius (395-408). The casket was not opened until the reign of the Emperor Leo the Wise (886-912), when the Empress Zoe, who was ill, had a vision in which she was told to have the sash placed upon her. The Emperor obtained the blessing of the Patriarch, the sash was placed upon the Empress, and she was immediately healed. Some accounts say that today's feast celebrates the bringing of the sash to Constantinople; others that it commemorates the miraculous healing of the Empress.

Hieromartyr Cyprian, bishop of Carthage (258)

He was born around 190 to pagan parents in North Africa. Before baptism he was distinguished in Carthage as a

teacher of philosophy and rhetoric. He came to faith in Christ and was baptized at a young age; as soon as he became a Christian he abandoned his prestigious teacher's position, sold his many possessions and gave all his wealth to the poor. He was ordained presbyter in 247, Bishop of Carthage in 248. He was known for his gentleness and paternal care for his flock, combined with firm opposition to heretics. His extensive writings still guide the Church today. For his confession of Christ, he was beheaded under the Emperor Valerian on September 14; since that is the

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Many Blessings!

Best wishes are extended to Marilyn Magur, Stacey Eggleston, Michael Calvasina, & Joe Halecky for their birthdays this week!

And Happy Anniversary to Alexandra & Curtis Meier, Bob & Barb Beehm, Michael & Ann Wesko, and Curtis & Debbi Klees as they celebrate this week!

May God grant them all many blessed years! Mnohija L’ita!

Hearts of Love

The Hearts are both dedicated by John & Patricia Loposky in loving memory of Joseph & Joann Loposky. Vičnaja Pamjat!

Incense Voting!

Another week, another scent!

Incense Ballot - Sept 13th

1 - Disliked the incense

2 - Somewhat disliked

3 - Neither liked or disliked

4 - Somewhat liked

5 - Liked the incense

Saint Mary’s Orthodox Church September 13th, 2020date of the Exaltation of the Cross, his feast is kept today. At the time of his execution he left twenty-five gold pieces (a huge sum) for the executioner who beheaded him.

St Gennadius, Patriarch of Constantinople (471)

He was known for his gentleness and his ascetical way of life. He would not ordain any man who did not know the Psalter by heart. He presided at a local council in which simony in the Church was

anathematized. In his own lifetime he worked miracles, and he was told the time of his death in a vision. The famous monastery of Studion was built in his time, with his blessing. He reposed in peace.

Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne (651)

A round AD 635, Saint Oswald (5 August), King of Northumbria, appealed to the monks of the Monastery of Iona to send missionaries to his mostly-pagan kingdom. (An earlier mission had ended

with the death of St Edwin in 633.) The fathers of the monastery chose St Aidan and consecrated him bishop. He founded a monastery (and his episcopal seat) on the island of Lindisfarne, and undertook missionary journeys, always on foot, throughout the kingdom, with King Oswald often accompanying him and serving as his interpreter. He lived in great poverty, using all the gifts he received as alms for the poor or to buy back captives and slaves. He was the spiritual father of St Hilda (17 Nov.), and founded the first women’s monasteries in Northumbria. He reposed in peace in 651, and was buried at Lindisfarne. Note: Northumbria was an Anglo-Saxon kingdom in what is now northeastern England and southern Scotland.

Authority ISN’T about power! By: Fr. Barnabas Powell

“Don’t let anybody push you around!” I had just gotten into my very first fist fight, and I lost! It was humiliating. So, after this guy punched me in the nose I went to the principal’s office to complain about this bully. The principal was very understanding and helped me, but then he gave me the advice I quoted about, and now, after living over 6 decades on earth, I’m convinced he’s wrong!

Ok, maybe not completely wrong, but, at the very least, I’ve learned that “fighting back” doesn’t have to mean violence. Sometimes, the best way to “fight back” is to be “weak” in the eyes of your attacker.

I’m convinced our societal struggle with concepts of power and “justice” flow from our terribly confused ideas about authority. We almost always equate Authority with Power, and we are almost always wrong about that.

Look at our lesson today [ Note: this article was from Sept.3rd ] in 2 Corinthians 10:7-18:

Brethren, if any one is confident that he is Christ’s, let him remind himself that as he is Christ’s, so are we. For even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I shall not be put to shame. I would not seem to be frightening you with letters. For they say,”His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.” Let such people understand that what we say by letter when absent, we do when present. Not that we venture to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another, and compare

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Saint Mary’s Orthodox Church September 13th, 2020themselves with one another, they are without understanding. But we will not boast beyond limit, but will keep to the limits God has apportioned us, to reach even to you. For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach you; we were the first to come all the way to you with the gospel of Christ. We do not boast beyond limit, in other men’s labors; but our hope is that you may be greatly enlarged, so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in another’s field. “Let him who boasts, boast of the Lord.” For it is not the man who commends himself that is accepted, but the man whom the Lord commends.

A little background: This is likely St. Paul’s second or even third time writing the Church in Corinth about the chaos that seems to have become the norm in this Church community. There were even folks in the Corinth Church that were making fun of St. Paul by saying “He’s all bold and pushy in his letters, but when he’s here in person, he’s meek and mild.” It was their way of hurting Paul’s credibility as the bishop of the community.

So St. Paul sets the record straight to this troubled parish.

He tells them that Authority isn’t the same as Power. And he does this by explaining the WHY behind Authority in the first place – Service! Paul tells them and us that God gave him Authority “for building you up and not for destroying you.” The whole purpose of leadership Authority in the Body of Christ is to serve to strengthen, not destroy. That’s how we should always gauge the exercise of Authority in the Church. Does it build up or does it destroy? In fact, we can discern all exercise of Authority by that measure. Anytime you see the exercise of Authority creating destruction and chaos, start looking for the spot it changed into the mere exercise of power.

He goes on to tell them and us that true Authority motivated by service doesn’t boast about having power over you, but focuses you on being like Jesus Christ, because that’s how He exercised Authority before His crucifixion. Jesus constantly reminded everyone that He wasn’t saying anything on His own, but everything the Father wanted Him to say. True exercise of Authority makes us more aware and attentive to Jesus Christ rather than focus on the one who is in Authority. If all you see is “the boss” then chances are it isn’t healthy Authority.

So, today, are you confusing someone who has Power with someone who has Authority? It’s time to stop this gross misunderstanding of authentic Authority and start living out the radical message of Orthodox Christianity that power isn’t the point. Service makes the Authority Orthodox on Purpose.

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