St. Nicholas Orthodox Church,

McKinney, Texas

Electronic Newsletter

August 8/21

10th Sunday after Pentecost

Afterfeast of Transfiguration

 

Thou wast transfigured on the mountain, O Christ our God,

showing to Thy disciples Thy glory as each one could endure.

Shine forth on us, who are sinners all, Thy light ever un-ending,

through the prayers of the Theotokos.

O Light-giver, glory to Thee!

 

Announcements
Prayer Requests
Schedule of Divine Services in the Coming week
Fasting in the Coming week

Links related to Transfiguration, Dormition

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Announcements

We began our Church School program for 2011-2012 on Sunday, August 14th. We will be running three regular classes this year, in addition to the year-round preschool class during the Sunday homily. All three classes will take place at approximately 12:45 on Sunday afternoons, after we have had some time to get something to eat.

1. The Elementary School class, for children in grades 1-4 or so, will meet on the 1st, 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month. Matushka Marina will teach this class.
2. The Middle School class, for children in grades 5-8 or so, will meet on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month. Dn. Nicholas will teach.
3. The class for adults and teens will meet on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month. It will focus on the fundamentals of the faith — the Creed and the Lord's Prayer — and their meaning for our daily lives as Orthodox Christians. Dn. Nicholas and Fr. Seraphim will teach.

 

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We are getting together at 10AM on Saturday to dig holes for tree stakes and clear tree debris. This is a fairly urgent task — we need to save our trees! — and your help is valued.

There are several other tasks that need to be done as well. Let us know if you can help.

We have a list of things our parish needs. If you or somebody you know wish to supply one of these items, please contact us.
 

 

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Prayer Requests

For the Health and Salvation.

• Natalia and Nicholas (traveling in Ukraine until mid August)
• David
• Elizabeth
• Priests Jean and Grégoire & all the faithful and suffering of Haiti.
• The suffering people of East Japan.
• The suffering people of Minot, ND

For a more complete listing, please see our parish prayer list. Anyone can make requests.

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Schedule of Divine Services in the Coming week

PLEASE NOTE that we will serve Paraklesis (supplicatary service, moleben) in honor of the Theotokos during all days of the Dormition fast that we do not otherwise have an evening service.

This fast is short (2 weeks) and intense, and is a good time to increase our prayer.

At all services, all parishioners, and also many others who are friends of the parish, etc, will be commemorated by name several times.

We will sing either the small of great supplicatory canon to the Theotokos, in the beautiful Byzantine melody that many of us know.

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Saturday 8/20

• 10AM Landscaping workday – digging tree stakes and clearing debris
• 3PM Church Council Meeting
• 4PM Confession
• 5PM Vigil

Sunday 8/21

• 10AM  Divine Liturgy
• 12:45PM Sunday School, Sisterhood Meeting
  
• 6PM Paraklesis

Monday 8/22

• 7:30PM Paraklesis
  

Wednesday 8/24

• 7PM Vespers

Thursday 8/25

• 9AM Liturgy
• 7PM Paraklesis

Friday 8/26

• 7PM Paraklesis

Saturday 8/27

• 4PM Confession
• 5PM Vigil

Sunday 8/28. Dormition of the Theotokos.

• 10AM  Divine Liturgy
• 12:45PM Sunday School
  

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Fasting in the Coming weeks

The Dormition fast begins on Sunday 8/14 and continues until Sunday 8/28, the Feast of Dormition. Wine and Oil are allowed on weekends. Fish is allowed on Friday, 8/19, the feast of the Transfiguration. There is no fasting on the feast of Dormition, Sunday 8/28.

 

Links: Transfiguration, Dormition

Transfiguration Human nature in the Midst of the Divine Luke 9:28-36.

We say today, brothers and sisters, that humanity can meet Divinity; Humanity can see Divinity; Humanity can be part of Divinity.

In the Old Testament Moses, saw the back parts of God; he was hidden in the cleft of a rock; he didn’t see that much [1]. But now, face to face, man is with God. Jesus Christ showing He is fully God, shining as the light.

Did you notice something in this historic and prophetic event? Moses and Elias, were conversing with Him, speaking of His decease: That was for the disciples to remember so that they would overwhelmed by the upcoming passion of our Lord….

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Questions and answers about the Scripture read on the Transfiguration.

All ten questions are at http://www.orthodox.net/questions/transfiguration-scripture_1.html

This Scripture is very important to understand well.

Here are questions 1-3, all about the important verse: "And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray." (LUKE 9:28)

https://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2010/08/05/scripture-read-on-transfiguration-10-questions-1-3/

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Questions 4-7 are here:

https://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2010/08/05/scripture-read-on-transfiguration-10-questions-4-7/

They cover the verses:

" And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. " (Luke 9:29)

"And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: {31} Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. " (Luke 9:20-31)

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Questions 8-10 are here: https://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2010/08/06/scripture-read-on-transfiguration-10-questions-8-10/

They discuss:

How did Jesus' Transfiguration prepare the apostles for His subsequent crucifixion?

"But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: " (vs. 32)

"And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen. " (Luke 9:36)

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Here are lots more Questions and Answers about the Feast of the Transfiguration.

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Here is a short talk about the Dormition of the Theotokos.

• Dormition means falling asleep
• The Story.
• A balanced view.
• The intercession of the Theotokos.
• Heresies about the Theotokos:
  • The heresy of the Theotokos as "co-mediatrix"
  • The heresies of The "Immaculate Conception" and "Original Sin" are discussed at length. VERY IMPORTANT!
• The ever-virginity of the Theotokos explained.

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If the "LISTEN NOW" link does not work, copy this URL into your browser: http://www.orthodox.net/catechism/feasts-of-the-theotokos_2010-08-28+dormition+after-liturgy-short-talk.m3u

If this file does not work for you, try the direct link to the actual mp3 file:http://www.orthodox.net/catechism/feasts-of-the-theotokos_2010-08-28+dormition+after-liturgy-short-talk.mp3

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• Explanation Of The Dormition Troparion

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Dormition Troparion, Kontakion & Exapostilarion, sung at St Nicholas.

LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtFHdVdHotE

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Explanation of the Dormition troparion

In giving birth thou didst preserve thy virginity, /
in thy dormition thou didst not forsake the world, O Theotokos. /
Thou wast translated unto life, /
thou who art the Mother of Life. //
And by thine intercessions dost thou redeem our souls from death

 

 

Text Homily.

We can learn almost everything that we need to know from listening and praying in the services.

The Dormition troparion, "In giving birth Thou did preserve Thy virginity," proclaims our belief, that the  Theotokos was a virgin before birth, during birth and after birth. And if you want to have this explained, then you do not understand. It is a mystery that we cannot understand, but the Church has been unanimous about this for well over a millennium, almost two millennia. …

The entire troparion is explained.

Also in audio: LISTEN NOW

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If the "LISTEN NOW" link does not work, copy this URL into your browser: http://www.orthodox.net/sermons/feasts-of-the-theotokos_2009-08-28+dormition+explanation-of-the-dormition-troparion.m3u

If this file does not work for you, try the direct link to the actual mp3 file:http://www.orthodox.net/sermons/feasts-of-the-theotokos_2009-08-28+dormition+explanation-of-the-dormition-troparion.mp3

 

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