St. Luke Church
Publish Date: 2025-08-31
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St. Luke Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (413) 525-4551
  • Fax:
  • (413) 525-4552
  • Street Address:

  • 400 Prospect Street

  • East Longmeadow, MA 01028
  • Mailing Address:

  • 400 Prospect Street

  • East Longmeadow, MA 01028


Past Bulletins


Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Third Mode

Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad, for the Lord by His Might, has created a Dominion. He has conquered death by death, and become the first-born of the dead. He has delivered us from the depths of Hades, and has granted the world great mercy.

Apolytikion for Venerable Sash of the Theotokos in the Plagal Fourth Mode

O Ever-Virgin Theotokos, shelter of mankind, thou hast bestowed upon thy people a mighty investure, even thine immaculate body's raiment and sash, which by thy seedless childbirth have remained incorrupt; for in thee nature and time are made new. Wherefore, we implore thee to grant peace to the world, and great mercy to our souls.

Dismissal Hymns for Saint Luke and Saint Nicholas in the First Mode

Third Tone

O Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke, intercede with our merciful God, that He may grant our souls forgiveness of sins.

Fourth Tone

A model of faith and the image of gentleness, the example of your life has shown you forth to your sheep-fold to be a master of temperance. You obtained thus through being lowly, gifts from on high, and riches through poverty. Nicholas, our father and priest of priests, intercede with Christ our God that He may save our souls.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Mode

Thy precious sash, O Theotokos, which encompassed thy God-receiving womb, is an invincible force for thy flock, and an unfailing treasury of every good, O only Ever-virgin Mother.
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

First Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Matthew 28:16-20

At that time, the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw Him they worshiped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age. Amen."


Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Third Mode. Luke 1: 46-48.
My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
Verse: For he has regarded the humility of his servant.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 9:1-7.

BRETHREN, the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary. For a tent was prepared, the outer one, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence; it is called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain stood a tent called the Holy of Holies, having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, which contained a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. These preparations having thus been made, the priests go continually into the outer tent, performing their ritual duties; but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood which he offers for himself and for the errors of the people.


Gospel Reading

12th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 19:16-26

At that time, a young man came up to Jesus, kneeling and saying, "Good Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?" And he said to him, "Why do you call me good? One there is who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments." He said to him, "Which?" And Jesus said, "You shall not kill, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and You shall love your neighbor as yourself." The young man said to him, "All these I have observed; what do I still lack?" Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions.

And Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly, I say to you, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." When the disciples heard this they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?" But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."


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Memorial and Trisagion Prayers

Memorial and Trisagion Prayers

08/31/2025

Today we are having a 21-Year Trisagion for Stephen Sgueglia, husband of Elaine and father of Christina, grandfather of Wesley.

May his memory be eternal

 

 


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Parish News

Parish News

08/31/2025

1.  Upcoming Services

September 8 -- Nativity of the Theotokos; Orthros @ 830 am and Divine Liturgy @ 9: 30 am

2.  Taste of Greece Workshops

September 3 and 4 -- Breads @ 10 am

September 10 & 11 -- Baklava @ 10 am

Please sign up for the POINT system as soon as you can, as there will no longer be paper sign ups for Taste of Greece slots.  You can go to https://pointapp.org/orgs/6737  to Register.  Thank you!

3.  Please speak to Father if you would like to teach Sunday School.

4.  **LOST** - A yellow gold filigree cross with lobster claw clasp in the vicinity of St. Luke’s parking lot around the 1st week in July. Please turn it into church office if found. Thank you.

5.  We have about twenty-four people as of this weekend interested in Greek language classes.  An email will be sent this week with more information. 

6.  Philoptochos News

Philoptochos has a number of meaningful events planned over the coming months, and we anticipate that additional opportunities will be added as the new Ecclesiastical Calendar Year begins. These gatherings allow us to come together in fellowship, celebrate important occasions in our faith, and support the work of our ministry. We will also be looking for volunteers to help with many of these events, as your support and participation are vital to our success.

Philoptochos Events:

  • Sunday, September 7, 2025 – Welcome Back Sunday (ministry table)

  • Monday, September 8, 2025 – Father’s 18th Anniversary of Ordination to the Holy Priesthood

  • Sunday, September 14, 2025 – Affirmation of Office with a second basket for the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

  • Wednesday, September 17, 2025 – Philoptochos Meeting at the Church, 6:30 PM

  • Thursday, September 25, 2025 – Philoptochos Meet & Greet Wine Event at Worthington Winery in Somers, 5–8 PM

  • Saturday, October 18, 2025 – Artoclasia for St. Luke Nameday and Taste of Greece Philoptochos Kefaneio

  • Sunday, October 26, 2025 – Pumpkins and Pizza Event

  • Sunday, November 2, 2025 – National Philoptochos Sunday with Artoclasia

  • Sunday, November 9, 2025 – Veterans Day Soup Cook-Off

  • Saturday, December 6, 2025 – Artoclasia for St. Nicholas Nameday


On Welcome Back Sunday, we invite you to stop by the Philoptochos table to learn more about our upcoming events and to sign up for opportunities to participate.

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Words from the Saints and our Fathers

Words from the Saints

08/10/2025

The man who follows Christ in solitary mourning is greater than he who praises Christ amid the congregation of men – Saint Isaac the Syrian


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Saints and Feasts

August 31

12th Sunday of Matthew


August 31

The Placing of the Honorable Sash of the Most Holy Theotokos

Although the historical accounts differ somewhat, the Deposition that is celebrated today took place most likely during the reign of Emperor Arcadius (395-408), when the precious Cincture of the Mother of God was brought from Zela of Cappadocia to Constantinople, and placed in the Church of the Theotokos in the section of Chalcopratia.


August 31

Cyprian the Hieromartyr & Bishop of Carthage

Saint Cyprian was born of pagan parents in Carthage of Roman Africa about the year 190. An eloquent teacher of rhetoric, he was converted and baptized late in life, and his conversion from a proud man of learning to a humble servant of Christ was complete; he sold his great possessions and gave them to the poor, and because of his zeal and virtue, was ordained presbyter in 247, then Bishop of Carthage in 248. He was especially steadfast in defending the sanctity and uniqueness of the Baptism of the Church of Christ against the confusion of those who would allow some validity to the ministrations of heretics; his writings continue to guide the Church even in our own day. Having survived the persecution of Decius about the year 250, he was beheaded in confession of the Faith during the persecution of Valerian in 258, on September 14; that day being the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, his feast is kept today.


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Wisdom of the Fathers

Rise from love of the world and love of pleasure. Put care aside, strip your mind, refuse your body. Prayer, after all, is a turning away from the world, visible and invisible. What have I in heaven? Nothing except simply to cling always to You in undistracted prayer. Wealth pleases some, glory others, possessions others, but what I want is to cling to God and to put the hopes of my dispassion in Him (cf. Ps. 72:25, 28).
St. John Climacus
Ladder of Divine Ascent, Step 28: On Prayer; Paulist Press pg. 277, 6th century

Spiritual delight is not enjoyment found in things that exists outside the soul.
St. Isaac of Syria
Unknown, 7th century

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