Weekly Bulletin
Oct 10th -Oct 17th
Oct 17th: 17th Sunday After Pentecost
Martyr Susanna, Queen of Georgia
Saint Shushanik (Susanna) was the wife of the Georgian prince Varsken. Having been raised in a pious Christian family, she was deeply penetrated with love and the fear of God.
When Prince Varsken denied the true Faith and converted to the worship of fire, he promised the Persian king that his wife and children would also convert. Shushanik, having learned of her husband’s betrayal, fell to the ground and wept over him with bitter tears. Then she took her four children, deserted the palace, and sought refuge in a nearby church. That evening she was visited by her spiritual father, the elder Jacob, who predicted, “Varsken’s cruelty and mercilessness are unmistakable. Know that terrible trials await you. Will you be firm and unbending in your position?” “I would rather die than unite with him and destroy my soul!” she answered.
The prince tried to persuade his wife to convert, but Saint Shushanik firmly answered, “As you have renounced your Creator, so I am renouncing you. I will no longer take part in your affairs, no matter what suffering I must endure!” The next time, Varsken sent his younger brother Jojik and Bishop Apots to convince Shushanik to return to the palace. Shushanik refused for some time, but in the end she yielded to their persuasion. She set off for the palace with the Holy Gospel and the Lives of the holy martyrs, and when she arrived she locked herself in a squalid cell. Two days later Varsken returned to the palace and invited Shushanik, his brother Jojik, and his sister-in-law for supper. The queen, however, could not bring herself to share a meal with one who had betrayed Christ: she pushed away the cup that Jojik’s wife had offered her, thus further angering her husband. The furious Varsken beat his wife mercilessly, fettered her in irons, locked her in prison, and forbade the guards to let anyone in to see her.
Saint Shushanik spent six years in captivity. While she was serving her sentence, she helped the poor that came to her. Through her prayers the sick were healed and children were born to the childless. Before her death, Holy Martyr Shushanik blessed those around her and requested that she be buried at the place from which her unbelieving husband had dragged her out of the palace. This happened in the year 475. Her holy relics were buried in accordance with her will. In 578, with the blessing of Catholicos Kirion I, Saint Shushanik’s holy relics were translated to Tbilisi, where they remain today, in the Metekhi Church of the Most Holy Theotokos.
Weekly Services:
Saturday, Oct 16th @5pm- Great Vespers
Sunday, Oct 17th @10am- Divine Liturgy
Announcements:
1.) Book Club: I would like to resume book club on Sunday, October 17, at 6:00 pm. Fr. David will send out the link for Zoom and what chapters from Genesis will be covered in the first session. Please keep suggestions for new books coming!
2.) Church School: The 2021-2022 church school has started a new academic year. Please see Cindy or Vicki for more information.
3.) Guest Speakers: Fr. David has reached out to several priests so we can continue our discussions of evangelization and community outreach. We will most likely have our discussion on Zoom and more announcements about it will be coming soon.
Volunteering:
1.) The Food Cupboard: We are still collecting personal hygiene items for this organization, to include: toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, mouthwash, shampoo, etc. Please bring any items you can donate to church and place in the bin in the foyer.
2.) Open Door Mission: This organization is looking for donations of men's socks. If you are able to donate, there will be a bin in the foyer.
Prayer Requests:
Diane D. Charlsie B. Bonita H. Petr C.
Birthdays:
Sonya T. (October 16) and Sophronia H. (October 16), Helen Weldesiassie (10/21), Wenenna Beyene (10/17), and Madeline Guszcza (10/22)
Anniversaries: None.
Grant, O Lord, a prosperous and peaceful life, health, salvation, and furtherance in all good things, unto Thy servants Sonya, Sophie, Helen, Wenenna and Madeline who are celebrating their birthdays, and preserve them for many years!
Epistle Reading: 2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1
16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” 17 Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” 18 And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”[ 7 Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
Gospel Reading: Luke 8:5-15
5 “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. 6 Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” 9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, “‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’ 11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
