LUKE 18:18-27
Do I rule my wealth, or does my wealth rule me?
The year is ending and income tax time is soon approaching. We will sit down to calculate our income and expenses, wealth and liabilities. We will fill in the tax forms with our name at the top and signature at the bottom. We’ll calculate the car payments, mortgage payments, and other expenses and long for the day when the payments stop and we can say, “It’s mine!” Continue reading
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∼ Words from the Church Fathers ∼
“Human beings have accumulated in their coffers gold and silver, clothes more sumptuous than useful, diamonds and other objects that are evidence of war and tyranny; then a foolish arrogance hardens their hearts; for their brothers in distress, no pity.
What utter blindness! . . . Attend not to the law of the strong but to the law of the Creator. Help nature to the best of your ability, honour the freedom of creation, protect your species from dishonour, come to its aids in sickness, rescue it from poverty …. Seek to distinguish yourself from others only in your generosity.
Be like gods to the poor, imitating God’s mercy. Humanity has nothing so much in common with God as the ability to do good.”
– St. Gregory of Nazianzus, On Love of the Poor
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SUNDAY 20 NOVEMBER
† 9th Sunday of Luke | Luke 12: 16 – 21
• 7.30 – 11.00am Orthros and Divine Liturgy
• 10.30 – 11.00am Sunday School for ages ranging 5 to 17 yrs.
Lessons take place in the building behind the church and begin at the time of Holy Communion until Church dismissal. Lessons are taught in a relaxed, friendly environment. Please bring your children along to learn of their rich Orthodox faith and come close to God and His Love.
• 11.00am – 12.00pm After Church each Sunday, join us in our Coffee Room.
This week’s readings:
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Luke 12:16-21
Have you ever thought about the similarities and differences between barns and temples? Usually when we think of barns, we think simply of places to house farm animals or to store crops. We normally do not think of them as having much spiritual significance. The rich man in today’s gospel lesson thought of his barns only in terms of his business, which was so successful that he looked forward simply to relaxing, eating, drinking, and enjoying himself. Unfortunately, he did so to the point of making his possessions an idol. He was rich in things of the world, but poor towards God. He was ultimately a fool, for he based his life on what was temporary and lost his own soul. His barn became a temple only to himself. Continue reading
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∼ Words from the Church Fathers ∼
All that you lose in the name of God, you keep. All that you keep for your own sake, you lose.
All that you give in the name of God, you will receive with interest.
All that you give for the sake of your own glory and pride, you throw into the water.
All that you receive from people as from God will bring you joy.
All that you receive from people as from people will bring you worries.
– St. Nicholas of Serbia, Thoughts on Good and Evil
……………….
Do you think that the man-loving God has given you much so that you could use it only for your own benefit? No, but so that your abundance might supply the lack of others.
– St. John Chrysostom, Conversations on the Book of Genesis, 20
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SUNDAY 13 NOVEMBER
† 8th Sunday of Luke | Luke 10: 25-37
† St John Chrysostom
• 7.30 – 11.00am Orthros and Divine Liturgy
• 10.30 – 11.00am Sunday School for ages ranging 5 to 17 yrs.
Lessons take place in the building behind the church and begin at the time of Holy Communion until Church dismissal. Lessons are taught in a relaxed, friendly environment. Please bring your children along to learn of their rich Orthodox faith and come close to God and His Love.
• 11.00am – 12.00pm After Church each Sunday, join us in our Coffee Room.
This week’s readings:
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∼ Words from the Church Fathers ∼
‘You received divine grace from Heaven,
and by your own lips taught all to worship the One God in Trinity.
All-blessed, venerable John Chrysostom, deservedly, we praise you for you are a teacher clearly revealing things divine.’
Since it is likely that, being men, they would sin every day, St. Paul consoles his hearers by saying ‘renew yourselves’ from day to day.
This is what we do with houses: we keep constantly repairing them as they wear old. You should do the same thing to yourself. Have you sinned today? Have you made your soul old? Do not despair, do not despond, but renew your soul by repentance, and tears, and Confession, and by doing good things. And never cease doing this.
– St John Chrysostom
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Luke 10:25-37
I have a warning for you: Christmas is now only forty-four days away. And for most of us that means shopping, planning, travel, decorating, parties, and the busiest and most stressful time of the year. Unfortunately, most of our activities over the next six weeks will have little to do with the true meaning of Christmas: that the Son of God became a human being in order to bring us into the eternal life and joy of His kingdom. So it is a blessing that we have the period of Advent, of the Nativity Fast, to prepare to celebrate this unbelievably good and joyful news. For unless we prepare for Him through prayer, fasting, almsgiving, reconciliation, and repentance, we will not be ready to glorify Him at His birth. Continue reading
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SUNDAY 6 NOVEMBER
† 7th Sunday of Luke | Luke 8: 41-56
• 7.30 – 11.00am Orthros and Divine Liturgy
• 10.30 – 11.00am Sunday School for ages ranging 5 to 17 yrs.
Lessons take place in the building behind the church and begin at the time of Holy Communion until Church dismissal. Lessons are taught in a relaxed, friendly environment. Please bring your children along to learn of their rich Orthodox faith and come close to God and His Love.
• 11.00am – 12.00pm After Church each Sunday, join us in our Coffee Room.
This week’s readings:
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Luke 8:41-56
Sometimes we think that everyone has to approach God in exactly the same way. After all, we are Orthodox Christians. The Divine Liturgy and other services are set; they don’t change and are celebrated in by the Orthodox around the world. Our beliefs were defined through ancient councils. Our spiritual practices have been passed down over the centuries by countless generations. The Holy Spirit has preserved our church in a unity that is unique among Christians. But that unity doesn’t mean complete uniformity in the sense that we all must or should do exactly the same thing. We are all distinct, free persons; and it’s as such that we will find God’s blessing and salvation in our lives. Continue reading
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God is greater! Greater than your illness whatever it may be. Greater than your deepest disappointment. Greater than your greatest worry. Greater than your worst enemy. Greater than your most difficult problem. Greater than life. Greater than death. God is greater! Believe it! Live by it! Affirm it! Claim it by faith and use it as a pillow to rest your weary soul. God is greater! If your God is not greater, then the God you believe in is too small. He is not the God the Church believes in. ~ St Isaac the Syrian
Bring your children along to learn of their rich Orthodox faith and to come close to God and His Love.
Join us every Tuesday for the Orthodox Youth Group of Brunswick & Coburg.
St Vasilios Greek Orthodox Church 