THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR FAITH FOR OUR SALVATION

 A Centurion humbly asked Jesus to heal his servant, his slave, who lay paralyzed in bed in great pain. Jesus offered to go to his house to heal his servant. But the Centurion considered himself not worthy to have Jesus come to his house. He only asked Jesus to pronounce the healing word and his servant will be healed. The Centurion shared with Jesus his own example, how his soldiers obey his commands.

 Jesus admired and commented the Centurion’s great faith. For He did not find such living, trusting faith in Israel. For this reason, Jesus granted the Centurion’s request, and his servant was healed instantly. And Jesus added, non-Jews from the East and the West will come and enter the Kingdom of God because of their great faith; but the unbelieving sons and daughters will be cast out from the Kingdom of God.

This saying of Jesus is a warning to both Jews and Christians who consider themselves privileged and think that, because of their privileged position, they will inherit the Kingdom of God automatically. Jesus tells us today; it is not so. Our baptism and Chrismation, which are very important for our salvation, will not secure for us God’s Kingdom if we don’t have an abiding faith and a Christian way of life. 

I recently read a story about a conversation of a privileged rich lady and her minister. When the minister came to visit her, she arrogantly asked him, “Are they in Paradise two classes of apartments or one? Because if there is only one, I do not want to live together with the illiterate, poor and low-class people.” The minister responded to her, “You don’t have to worry, madam; if you continue to look down on people with this arrogant spirit, without love for them, you will not make it to paradise. God can make sons and daughters of Abraham out of the stones.”

One day I was cut to heart when a faithful, pious parishioner told me, “Father, I see the converts and their children coming to Church faithfully. But where are the other parishioners and their children?” Jesus warned us that people from the East and the West, who are full of faith and Christian life, will enter the Kingdom of God and the sons and daughters of the Kingdom will be left out because of their unbelief and sinful way of life. This is a great warning for all of us.

The Centurion of today’s gospel lesson received the answer to his humble request from Christ. His servant was healed. Let us also come to Christ with humility, faith and love and He would grant our requests that are for our salvation.

With love,

Fr. John P. Angelis 

ST. NECTARIOS GREEK ORTHODOX MISSION CHURCH
Diocese of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco.
This Tri-Cities Christian Orthodox Community has a church located at 627 West Bonneville St., Pasco, WA 99301. All are invited to attend. A light lunch fellowship time normally follows the In-Church Liturgy and Typica Services.
Prayers:  Please send us (or call us) with names of those you would like to be included in our prayers for healing.  Frist names may be entered in the St Nectarios - Pasco Group. 
INFORMATION SOURCES
For information on services and activities, you may:
1) access our "Saint Nectarios - Pasco" Facebook Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/334558973222227/
2) access the church website:
 (copy/paste this url) https://www.stnectariostricities.org/ for Welcome to Our Parish Website | St. Nectarios Greek Orthodox Mission (stnectariostricities.org) 
3)  The online  (copy/paste this url) ../../../../../stnectariospasco/ for Saint Nectarios Bulletin  is the best source of up to date) information on church Services and activities. ( http://bulletinbuilder.org/stnectariospasco/  )
NOTIFICATIONS 
To receive the weekly Services Reminder  by email, please send an email request.
For those not connected to the internet,  please call Jim (on 5O9 366 8745) to request either
    a) by a phone call on the 'week of the in-church Service'
       or
    b) by a weekly smart-phone Service reminder text message.
CHURCH SERVICES
Greek Orthodox Divine Liturgy.  Each month, we try to have at least one Divine Liturgy  (with a visiting Priest).  That Service is normally on a Saturday (or a Special Service/Feast weekday) and is scheduled when a Priest is available.  In addition to communion during the Service, private meetings with the Priest are available by appointment (for personal matters, planning future events, and Confession).
Special Invitation - Saint Nectarios Church welcomes all: During Divine Liturgy, which is mostly in English, the Lord's Prayer is said by parishioners in their native languages.  Currently the prayer is normally said in English, Arabic, Russian, Spanish, and Greek.  If you wish to participate (and perhaps add a language), just let us know.
On most weeks, we remotely celebrate Saturday Vespers  and Sunday Online Divine Liturgy  with Father John in the Seattle area.  During the remote Divine Liturgy, Communion is served to Father's attending family and friends - but is unavailable to those participating online.
Online Greek Orthodox Vespers and Other Special Services are normally celebrated online with Father John in Seattle.  The link for joining Zoom to actively participate in on-line Services is
https://goarch.zoom.us/j/98009355049?pwd=UmttUUN2aG4raUc4WS9Zelo1REYxdz09
On the last Sunday of each month, there normally is a Typica Reader Service  with a Parish Fellowship Time.  This in-Church Service is held as an opportunity to bring the local community together - and hopefully eventually returning St. Nectarios to having a full time Priest.
All are welcome to join in the celebration these Christian Orthodox Services.

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Coptic Church Services

Tri-Cities Coptic Church Services
Saint Mary and Saint Abanoub Coptic Orthodox Church.    This Coptic Church is currently holding services at the St. Nectarios Church.  A Saturday or Sunday Holy Liturgy with a visiting Priest is normally held once per month either in the Tricities or in Spokane.  All are invited to attend. A fellowship time and Christian Study Class for older students normally follows the Services.  For more information, please contact Nader Samaan ([email protected]) or access the website: 
 (copy/paste this url) https://www.stmary-stabanoub-tricities.org/ for https://www.stmary-stabanoub-tricities.org/

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St. Nectarios Greek Orthodox Mission Church  
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Contact us
Have Bulletin input? Have Suggestions/Questions?  Want Help or Information?
Call Jim/Tammy Droppo, 5O9 366-8745.