Newsletter August 1, 2024

Service of Entering the Newborn into the Church after Forty Days

In today’s world, thanks to advancements in medicine and healthcare, women often give birth in hospitals and are discharged within a day or two. They can quickly resume their normal activities. However, this modern reality prompts questions: Should a woman refrain from attending church until forty days have passed since her delivery? Should the newborn child not be taken to church before the forty-day mark?

The answers to these questions vary based on cultural norms and local customs. Nevertheless, the general pastoral approach emphasizes the importance of preserving the forty-day tradition. As mentioned earlier, the number 40 carries significant spiritual meaning. Disregarding this tradition might gradually diminish its significance and lead to the adoption of concepts that deviate from biblical teachings.

Read the entire article: https://www.antiochian.org/regulararticle/2126

Our next seasonal fast: the Dormition Fast in preparation for the feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos: August 1-14. May it be blessed!

Here is an articel from the Archdiocesan website: https://www.antiochian.org/regulararticle/112

Please remember that our full calendar continues to be available at our parish web site. Here is a link:
https://stjfc.org/Pages/Calendar/calendar.php

Full schedule: https://stjfc.org/Pages/Ministries/Prosphora/Docs/prosphora sched 2024 web.pdf

Full schedule: https://stjfc.org/Pages/Ministries/Altar/Docs/epistle readers for 2024.pdf

Epistle: ST. PAUL’S LETTER TO THE ROMANS 12:6-14

Brethren, having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; he who teaches, in his teaching; he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who contributes, in liberality; he who gives aid, with zeal; he who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.

Gospel: MATTHEW 9:1-8

At that time, getting into a boat Jesus crossed over and came to his own city. And behold, they brought to him a paralytic, lying on his bed; and when Jesus saw their faith he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say ‘Your sins are forgiven, ‘ or to say ‘Rise and walk?’ But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins” he then said to the paralytic — “Rise, take up your bed and go home.” And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

The Difficult Task of True Theology

Fr. Stephen Freeman

Nothing is as difficult as true theology. Simply saying something correct is beside the point. Correctness does not rise to the level of theology. Theology, rightly done, is a path towards union with God. It is absolutely more than an academic exercise. Theology is not the recitation of correct facts, it is the apprehension and statement of Beauty.

…

The truth that is love is the content of another word: good. Thus when St. Paul says that “all things work together for good,” he is describing the apokatastasis (Acts 3:21), God’s unfolding salvation of the whole of creation. That unfolding is a movement towards truth in love. All created things are becoming more fully what they are meant to be in relationship with God and all things around them. This movement is “good.”

Theology, at its most profound level, participates in this same movement. It reveals, through the shared word, the good work of God. In doing this, it invites the one who understands to participate, through self-offering and acceptance, in the life and work of the good God. And that is true beauty.

Read the entire article: https://glory2godforallthings.com/2024/07/12/the-difficult-task-of-true-theology-2/