Prayers for the Sick

Our sister, Elisabeth Chisholm, continues her recovery.  She was recently able to stand and put weight on her right leg.  We remember that for a time, until she received the Mystery of Holy Unction, she was in danger of losing the leg.  Please keep her in your prayers.  She and Don live at Riderwood Village.  Betty is currently staying in the Renaissance Gardens nursing home of Riderwood.  She would like to have visitors.  You can call her at 301-572-6797.

Continue to remember in prayer Andrew, father of Elizabeth and father-in-law of Edmund Sweet.  His recovery from his heart operation is positively progressing.  Also, continue to remember in prayer Dyonisia Ryan who has been battling cancer.  We received a note from her that her latest reports have been very good.  Father George heard her confession, administered Holy Unction and gave her Holy Communion before she started chemotherapy.  A Missionary Visitor – Archbishop Hilarion of Australia and New Zealand recently accepted under his mantle Indonesian converts to Orthodoxy.  Archimandrite Father Daniel Byantoro, who can be viewed as an apostle to Indonesia, continues to be with us to lead us in a study of St. Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians and inspire us in our own mission work at Holy Apostles.  We look forward to continuing to help him as we can.   When we gather for his talks, let us respond to his great missionary work with generosity.  If anyone knows of a church that would like to host Fr. Daniel to speak, please let him or Fr. George know.
 Parish Groups and Activities – Holy Apostles welcomes participants in a number of groups and activities.  Please see the leader or coordinator listed for more information.  Choir – Christopher Johnson, Director Sunday School and other catechesis – Father George Wednesday evening class – Father George St. Joseph the All-Comely Young Adults – Christopher Johnson – see below

Fasting – Wednesdays and Fridays are to be observed as fast days by Orthodox Christians in commemoration of our Lord’s suffering and death.  A wall calendar with fasting indications can be gotten at the back of the church for $3.  Here is a brief indication of the meaning of the colors and symbols in the calendar.

Days shaded in pink with no other symbol indicate a vegan diet (no animal products permitted except shell fish) and no use of wine (any alcohol) as a beverage or in cooking, and no use of olive oil in cooking or as dressing.

Days shaded in pink with a grape cluster are the same as above regarding animal products, but the use of wine and olive oil is permitted.

Days shaded in pink with a fish are as above, except consumption of vertebrate fish is permitted, along with wine and olive oil.

This month, one of the four extended fasting periods is kept, that is, the two weeks prior to the feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God, starting on 8/14 with the commemoration of the Precious Cross and the Holy Maccabees.
 Confession – It is right and good that we should want to receive Holy Communion and prepare for it through repentance and confession.  The best time for this is on Saturday evening, not only because there is plenty of time, but because attendance at Saturday evening Vigil is a traditional part of preparation.  If, however, because of distance or other considerations (pre-arranged with Father George), it is necessary to confess on Sunday morning before the Liturgy, we should arrive at church for this purpose no later than 9:15.  Also, it is necessary if one is unable to attend vigil, that Saturday evening be spent quietly and prayerfully, preparing for confession and reading the pre-Communion prayers.  We should do our best to preserve the traditions of our Church and to be considerate of others by not causing a delay in the beginning of Divine Liturgy.  Purchase of Candles, Prosphora and Other Items – Please remember when buying anything from the church to record the item, quantity, and $ amount on the columned paper at the candle stand.  Also indicate on the check memo line, or on a slip of paper with your name attached to cash, what a donation is for.  By so doing, you will be helping our Treasurer immensely in his accounting.  Volunteer needed to run the Candlestand.  See above….  Please speak to Fr. George if you would like to help out with the candlestand.

Cleaning the church – We are trying a new method of asking folks to help clean every Sunday after the Liturgy.  Please volunteer to help out with cleaning the church.

Flower volunteer needed – would you like to help with beautifying the church with flowers?  Please let Fr. George know if you are interested.

St. Joseph the All-Comely Young Adults Group – Please contact Christopher Johnson if you would like to find out more about this group which was founded for young adult Orthodox Christians, approximately ages 18-35.  The group meets during the agape meal on the last Sunday of each month, and plans other scheduled activities periodically.   Recently they sponsored Fr. Daniel Byantoro’s talk, The Great Mandate of Evangelism, and the Holy Trinity.