Dearest to Christ,
The month of July is for us (beginning as it does on July 14 of the civil calendar) an interlude between the Apostles Fast and the Dormition Fast, yet like all relative “quiet times” in the Orthodox Church a time for deeper prayer and reflection and dedication to our faith and missionary work here in our country parish in Northern Appalachian America.
The beginning of the Church calendar in July includes the feast of the Holy Royal Martyrs of Russia on July 4/17, appropriately reminding us on our ancient calendar of “the Fourth” as a time for dedication to freedom in the deepest spiritual sense, of life in our Lord Jesus Christ, in this 250th year of our country. Indeed our Fourth and the Feast of the Royal Martyrs coincide also with the feast of St. Andrew of Crete, the renowned author of our best known penitential canon, spanning as it does all Scripture. We will celebrate a special Akathist and Supplicatory Canon for the Holy Royal Martyrs on the eve of the feast, July 3/16 (details below).
Other special highlights for our parish this month will include the baptism of Baby Richard Sunday July 20/Aug. 2, and the planned installation finally of the “Onion Dome” Cupola and Cross on the roof of our temple, work for which is scheduled July 19/Aug. 1 and July 21/Aug. 3. The blessing of cars will also occur on that Sunday of the Holy Prophet Elias (July 20/August 2).
In addition, during this summer month we will hold the first free showing in our new Central Susquehanna Valley Orthodox Christian Film Series, on July 4/17 outdoors on the Church property, of “American Orthodox,” a 50-minute documentary on St. Peter the Aleut, the early Native Alaskan martyr. Four more film showings through November are planned in the community.
Of course the real highlight of all worship and activities in the Church is the Holy Eucharist. Details on services, regular programming, ministries (including our prison, university, and shut-in ministries), and other activities follow below.
Please remember that in accord with our Lord’s “Great Commission” to His Church, and with the urgency of the need of the evangelization of America, to invite neighbors, family members, friends, co-workers, and inquirers to services and events. Heartfelt thanks to all who contribute prayer, time, energy and resources to our Church in so many ways, including just with your presence at worship and at outreach activities.
Also, please keep Innocent in your prayers this Friday (July 4/17) as he has surgery, and also the friend of our mission Archpriest Mark of Holy Protection Monastery, who has surgery the same day. Also please keep Helen (Brook) in your prayers as she is scheduled for surgery on July 17/July 30.
May the Holy Royal Martyrs, the Holy Martyr Peter the Aleut, and our patron St. John and all the saints pray to God for our mission work and that of the Orthodox mission to America at large.
Glory to God for all things!
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Regular Services and Programs
Saturday Vigil, 4:30; Sunday Divine Liturgy 10 a.m. (Hours 9:30)
Weekly Akathist of Holy Protection 7 p.m. Wednesday
Orthodoxy Online Class, 10 to 11 a.m. Saturdays (contact Fr Paul for link)
Special Scheduling Notes
There will be no weekly Akathist on Wednesday July 29 due to vacation.
Vigil on Saturday Aug. 1 will be at another location, to be announced, due to work on the dome installation.
Calendar (dates are listed on the Church calendar/Civil calendar)
July 2/15 Akathist of Holy Protection, 7 p.m. (on the Feast of the Placing of the Robe of the Theotokos)
July 3/16 Akathist and Canon of Supplication for the Holy Royal Martyrs of Russia, 6 p.m.
July 4/17 Film showing, “American Orthodox,” 9 p.m. outdoors at St. John’s.
July 6/19 Seventh Sunday after Pentecost, Feast of St. Sisoes
Other services as usual (check Church wall calendar and online calendar, and notes at the start above).
July 20/August 2 Baptism of Baby Richard Lenig
Brotherhood of St. Alfred the Great. The Brotherhood will be planning, God willing, some more presence for our mission at downtown street fairs as we move into the fall, and hopefully a monastery field trip.
Sisterhood of St. Olga of Alaska. The Sisterhood will be planning, God willing, some gardening/beautification at the front of the Church once the Dome is installed, and perhaps a field trip to the woman’s monastery in White Haven.
Prison Ministry. To volunteer, please contact Fr. Paul. We have regular visits to inmates at Muncy SCI Women’s Prison.
Ministry for the Sick and those in Nursing Home. To volunteer, please contact Fr. Paul. We have regular visits to members who are in nursing home or mainly confined to their homes for medical reasons. They always appreciate visitors and they pray for us as we should for them.
University Ministry. We have students from Bucknell and Susquehanna visiting our services during the academic year, and plan events and contacts with them on campus. Please contact Fr. Paul to get involved.
Beautification projects. As we hopefully wrap up the Dome and Cross installation finally, we will turn next God willing to plans for the new Iconostasis, as well as gardening around the front of the Church. Please keep our efforts in prayer. Many thanks also to Longinus for his landscaping work, and also to John for his help!
Please Pray for our Brothers and Sisters in Nursing Homes or Shut-In for Medical Reasons: Mary, Innocent, Nicholas
Please Pray for our Brothers and Sisters in Prison, including Tanya, Catechumen Rachel, Connie
Please Pray for Catechumens Laura, Charles, Corey, James, Ty, Wyatt, Aaron
Please Pray for our Parish University Students including Eleni, Maia, Kevin, Lizzie. For a more complete list, contact Fr Paul.
Reminders
—Five Things to Keep in Mind in Preparing for Communion. In the Orthodox Church, Communion is a joyous culmination of our faith, partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ. Proper preparation is part of the “joyful sorrow” of our struggle with God’s grace, as Christians to “take up the Cross” as our Lord calls us to do, in the spirit also of His Resurrection. Proper preparation also helps to ensure that we receive the most benefit spiritually from Communion, and that it is not to our detriment because of lack of proper respect, love, and preparation. Items to remember:
1. Please remember to read the preparation prayers linked to the services page of our website or from the blue Jordanville booklet (the section with the Canon for Preparation followed by Preparation for Communion) or Jordanville Prayer Book.
2. Please attend Vigil the night before, or read or listen to a Vesper service at home (a Reader Vespers text is available at https://www.saintjonah.org/services/vespers.htm). If unable to attend Vigil, plan to come a little early to Liturgy to receive a blessing from Father Paul to receive.
3. Please if planning to receive, prepare also by fasting the evening before from all food and drink from midnight onward (unless you have a medical need, in which case please contact Fr. Paul), and from marital intimacy that day before.
4. Follow regular fasting rules (check Church calendar) during the week.
5. Have a recent confession or schedule a confession with Fr Paul, either by appointment, or during Vigil, or early before Communion. By tradition, confession should be made at least once in each of the four major fasting seasons during the year (Great Lent, Apostles Fast, Dormition Fast, Nativity Fast), but also more as needed, especially if any sin or concern would be an obstruction to communing in good spiritual health. Please consult with Fr Paul if you have any questions. Confession is one of the mysteries of the Church and a joyous spiritual “reset.”
—Appropriate Attire and Respectful Presence
Men should wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts or jackets. Women should wear long dresses or skirts with shoulders covered, and head coverings especially when coming up for Communion.
Please keep cell phones turned off inside the Church and do not text or check phones during worship and prayers.
Please do not talk during Post-Communion Prayers, especially if you have received, or during services, apart from responses or any necessary short low-voiced communication.
If you are a member at St. John’s and visiting another parish and plan to receive Communion there, please email or talk with Fr. Paul for a blessing, so you can communicate to the Priest at the parish you are visiting that you have a blessing from your home Priest and that you are prepared. Please also remember to emai or call the Priest at the parish where you are visiting in advance about receiving, or talk with him the evening before at Vigil.
Please keep in prayer for our parish community and our mission work, and remember when you can to donate prayers, time, help, and resources as possible.
Glory to God for all things!
(Thank you to Reader Nicholas for our newsletter “banner”!)