The feast of the Exaltation of the Cross (which is the finding of the cross – come to the services to find out why we call it Exaltation rather than Finding), one of the 12 Great Feasts of the Church, is September 14/27 each year. This is a fast day no matter on which day of the week the feast falls, this year on a Thursday. Vigil will be held on Wednesday, September 26 at 6:00 p.m. with the brining forth of the Cross. Divine Liturgy will take place on September 27 at 8:00 a.m. Please join us as your personal schedule allows!

MORE INFORMATION

Want to know how to set up a recurring donation to the parish? Have a question about parish expenses? Want to talk about how to establish a tithe for your family? Like to arrange for a cemetery plot for you and your family? Have any other questions about finances and our spiritual responsibility in this regard? Every Sunday we have a table set up at the parish meal with one of our Parish Council finance team members manning it. You’ll be able to ask questions and get help in this regard. We may not know the answer to every question you ask, but if we don’t we’ll find out and get back to you. Please plan to visit the finance team table at lunch every Sunday!

“This expression, however, ‘the Word was made flesh’ [John 1:14], can mean nothing else but that he partook of flesh and blood like to us; he made our body his own, and came forth man from a woman, not casting off his existence as God, or his generation of God the Father, but even in taking to himself flesh remaining what he was. This the declaration of the correct faith proclaims everywhere. This was the sentiment of the holy Fathers; therefore they ventured to call the holy Virgin, the Mother of God, not as if the nature of the Word or his divinity had its beginning from the holy Virgin, but because of her was born that holy body with a rational soul, to which the Word, being personally united, is said to be born according to the flesh.”

+ St. Cyril of Alexandria

"This is the cause of all evils: the ignorance of the Scriptures. We go into battle without arms, and how ought we to come off safe?" -St. John Chrysostom, Homily IX on Colossians.

In order to help increase the general knowledge of scripture in our parish family we present here for your edification the scripture readings for the coming week. At least one Gospel Reading and one Epistle reading are assigned for each day of the year (although during Great Lent the readings are from the Old Testament). Hearing or reading only those readings appointed for Sunday merely scratches the surface of the great spiritual wealth that the scriptures provide us. Some of the readings are easily understandable – others are less so. As Orthodox Christians we do not make private interpretation of scripture, but rather consult the fathers of the Church for their explanations to aid us in our understanding. Those wishing to have access to such explanations are asked to contact Fr. Gregory or inquire in the kiosk for further reading in this regard. Bibles may also be acquired in the kiosk.

Monday: Ephesians 4:25-32 & Mark 10:46-52
Tuesday: Ephesians 5:20-26 & Mark 11:11-23
Wednesday: Ephesians 5:25-33 & Mark 11:22-26
Thursday: Ephesians 5:33-6:9 & Mark 11:27-33
Friday: Ephesians 6:18-24 & Mark 12:1-12
Saturday: I Corinthians 1:26-29 & John 8:21-30

Please find below several very nice articles on how to read the scripture from an Orthodox point of view.

By St. Justin (Popovich):

http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/phronema/bible_how.aspx

By Bishop Kalistos (Ware):

http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/phronema/ware_howto.aspx

This short article explains to us not just HOW to read the scriptures, but also what our goal should be in reading the scriptures. A short read and well worth it:

http://www.chrysostompress.org/reading_scripture.html

As noted in the article above we need God's help and blessing to read and understand the scriptures correctly. What better way to entreat God's help in this regard than through prayer? Please find the prayer before reading the scriptures here:

http://www.chrysostompress.org/prayer_b ... pture.html

Our weekly bulletin, "Sunday Reading", has been posted at the following link:

http://www.stvladimiraami.org/SundayRea ... eading.pdf

Please join us for a live broadcast of today's Divine Liturgy beginning at 10:00 a.m. at the following link:

http://www.stvladimiraami.org:8000/liturgy.mp3

Please remember - the stream only broadcasts live services. If you would like to listen to previously recorded and edited services please visit our sound blog:

http://soundoftheparish.blogspot.com/

Please find this week's issue of "The Good News" at the link below. This bulletin/handout contains the Troparia and Kontakia that will be sung by the choir at today's Divine Liturgy as well as the readings from the Epistle and Gospel readings of the day - all in both English and Russian. This little bulletin is distributed to visitors and others who may find it useful by our parish Greeters on duty today at St. Vladimir's. We cordially invite you to join us at St. Vladimir's for Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m. - or any Sunday soon. You are always welcome at St. Vladimir's!

This Sunday's "The Good News":

http://stvladimiraami.org/pamphlets/goodnews.pdf

Please keep our parishioners, friends, and those who have asked us in our unworthiness to pray for them in your prayers this coming week. Our parish prayer list can be found here:

http://www.stvladimiraami.org/SundayRea ... erlist.pdf

PLEASE NOTE! We have removed those from the list that we believe no longer should be present there. If you requested that someone be included in this list please review it carefully to make sure we have not removed someone erroneously. If we have, please contact Fr. Gregory to have your loved one again added to the list.

Please join us for a live broadcast of today's Vigil beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the following link:

http://www.stvladimiraami.org:8000/liturgy.mp3

Please remember - the stream only broadcasts live services. If you would like to listen to previously recorded and edited services please visit our sound blog:

http://soundoftheparish.blogspot.com/

It is important that we make an effort – a real effort – to refrain from speaking in church. We have gotten a bit lax about this lately and the timing is not good. Archbishop Peter will be visiting soon and he will most certainly correct this inappropriate behavior if we do not correct it ourselves. And we will like it a lot less if he feels the need to do this than if we learn to do this on our own. If one absolutely must have a conversation during the time of the Divine Services this should be done either:

1. In the kiosk area IN VERY HUSHED TONES. The glass doors are by no means sound proof. We are failing quite terribly here. The Parish Council will discuss this at the next meeting and measures will be taken to cut down on the cacophony coming from behind the glass doors during the Divine Liturgy.

2. Outside

3. Most appropriately, unless the conversation involves a life or death situation: at the meal after the Divine Liturgy

4. We ask parents that if they bring toys for their children that these be soft toys that to do not make noise when dropped on the floor or on the benches.

Please contact Fr. Gregory with questions or concerns.