Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Third Mode. Psalm 46.6,1.
Sing praises to our God, sing praises.
Verse: Clap your hands, all you nations.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Romans 6:18-23.

Brethren, having been set free from sin, you have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once yielded your members to impurity and to greater and greater iniquity, so now yield your members to righteousness for sanctification.

When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But then what return did you get from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the return you get is sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Gospel Reading

4th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 8:5-13

At that time, as Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, beseeching him and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, in terrible distress." And he said to him, "I will come and heal him." But the centurion answered him, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard him, he marveled, and said to those who followed him, "Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth." And to the centurion Jesus said, "Go; be it done for you as you have believed." And the servant was healed at that very moment.

Saints and Feasts

July 06

Sisoes the Great

This Saint, great and renowned among the ascetics of Egypt, lived in the fourth century in Scete of Nitria. After the death of Saint Anthony the Great, he left Scete to live in Saint Anthony's cave; he said of this, "Thus in the cave of a lion, a fox makes his dwelling." When Sisoës was at the end of his long life of labours, as the Fathers were gathered about him, his face began to shine, and he said, "Behold, Abba Anthony is come"; then, "Behold, the choir of the Prophets is come"; his face shone yet more bright, and he said, "Behold, the choir of the Apostles is come." The light of his countenance increased, and he seemed to be talking with someone. The Fathers asked him of this; in his humility, he said he was asking the Angels for time to repent. Finally his face became as bright as the sun, so that the Fathers were filled with fear. He said, "Behold, the Lord is come, and He says, 'Bring Me the vessel of the desert,'" and as he gave up his soul into the hands of God, there was as it were a flash of lightning, and the whole dwelling was filled with a sweet fragrance.

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Third Mode

Ευραινέσθω τά ουράνια, αγαλλιάσθω τά επίγεια, ότι εποίησε κράτος εν βραχίονι αυτού ο Κύριος· επάτησε τώ θανάτω τόν θάνατον· πρωτότοκος τών νεκρών εγένετο, εκ κοιλίας Άδου ερρύσατο ημάς, καί παρέσχε τώ κόσμω τό μέγα έλεος.

Εfrenestho ta ourania, agaliasto ta epigia, oti epiise kratos, en vrahioni aftou o Kirios, epatise to thanato ton thanaton, prototokos ton nekron egeneto, ek kilias adou erisato imas, ke paresche to kosmo to mega eleos.

Let the heavens rejoice; let the earth be glad, for the Lord has shown the mighty power of His arm. He trampled down death by death and became the firstborn of the dead. From the depths of Hades, He delivered us and granted to the world great mercy.

Hymn of Church in the First Mode

Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Mode

Welcome

This week’s Announcements

Welcome to all our guests. We are glad you are here worshiping with us today!

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Mission Statement | St. Paul Greek Orthodox Church is a community that worships the Holy Trinity and lives out the gospel of Christ as Orthodox Christians. We seek to do God’s will, while sharing the Faith and serving others as we pursue salvation in Christ.
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Holy Communion in the Orthodox Church is only offered to Orthodox Christians who have prepared themselves through the disciplines of our faith. Speak to Fr. Costas for further detail.

Today ~ Parish Council & Ushers ~ Team 1 | Altar Boys ~ All Teams | Greeters ~ Team 1
Today ~ MNYMOSINO : 1 year for Theodoros Markadakis [for Ioannis, Anasis, Nicos, Ioannis, Katerina, Frosos]
Today ~ 40 Day Churching daughter of Paul & Christine Alex.
Wednesday ~ 7:00 PM Parish Council monthly meeting.
Thursday ~ 11:30 AM Agape Ovens meal pickup for those with special circumstances. Please contact Tessie Lekas or Mary Bozikis Olenik for more information.
Festival Volunteers ~ Please consider working a shift or two at our annual Grecian Festival. Visit: https://tinyurl.com/VolunteerGreekFEST, choose the area you want to work at to be connected to the signup genius for that area, then select your time. Thal Makroglou and Elaine Nackowiz will be available during coffee social to assist. Let’s make this the best Festival together!!!
Prayer Chain ~ If you have a prayer request, send email to: [email protected].
St Paul Part-Time Office Assistant ~ View job description. If interested, please submit your resume and cover letter to [email protected].

Upcoming Events Next Week and Beyond

Next Sunday ~ Parish Council & Ushers ~ Team 2 | Altar Boys ~ All Teams | Greeters ~ Team 2
Next Sunday ~ Orthros John 20:19-23 | Epistle Reading Acts of the Apostles 2:1-11| Gospel John 7:37-52; 8:12
Next Sunday ~ Festival set up immediately after church. Bring a change of clothes to help us prepare for our guests to visit during the Festival!
July 17 - 20 ~ St Paul Grecian Festival! Help us offset the risging costs of food and materials by making a donation: https://secure.myvanco.com/L-ZWRD/home. We look forward to another successful year! Come, bring your family and friends to support the biggest fundraiser of our parish.
July 22 ~ feast of St Magdaline the Myrrhbearer and St. Markella of Chios | 8:30 AM Orthros; 9:30 AM Liturgy.
July 26 ~ feast of St Paraskevi | 8:30 AM Orthros; 9:30 AM Liturgy.
July 28 ~ 6:30 PM Young Women’s Book Club with Presvytera Angelique.
August 1 ~ 7:00 PM Small Paraklesis.
August 2 ~ 7:00 PM Great Vespers.
August 4 ~ 7:00 PM Small Paraklesis.
August 4 – 8 ~ 9:00 AM - Noon Vacation Church School “The Cross” for students in K-6th grade. Register at https://tinyurl.com/stpgocVCS Only $30/student!
August 5 ~ 7:00 PM Great Vespers for Holy Transfiguration.
August 6 ~ Holy Transfiguration | 8:30 AM Orthros; 9:30 AM Liturgy.
August 7 ~ 7:00 PM Metropolis Regional Youth Paraklesis hosted by St Paul GOYA.
August 8 ~ 7:00 PM Great Paraklesis.
August 9 ~ 7:00 PM Great Vespers.
August 10 ~ Backpack Blessing Bring your backpack to church to receive a blessing for the start of the school year.
August 11 ~ 7:00 PM Small Paraklesis.