St. Stephen theFirst Martyr Orthodox Mission
“We must be super-conservative in preserving the Orthodox Faith,
and super-modern in propagating it.” (St. Nicholas of South Canaan)
We Do Not Lose Heart
3560 Shawnee Rd, Lima OH (419) 303-2467 www.orthodoxlima.org
Fr. Mark Hodges 442 S Charles St Lima OH 45805 fr.mark.hodges@juno.com
“O God, draw us closer to You and to each other; form us into a true
worshiping community, unite us into a Body of love
and “preserve this holy house until the end of the world!”
Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost
COMMEMORATING the High Priest Zachariah Father of
St John the Baptist, he was of the tribe of Aaron and held the eighth degree of
service in the Temple in Jerusalem. His wife Elisabeth was sister to St Anna,
the mother of Mary. In the reign of King Herod the child-slayer, Zachariah
was serving one day in the Temple. An angel of God appeared to him in the
altar, and informed him that his wife Elisabeth would bear a son in answer to
their prayers, for Zachariah and Elisabeth were both old. When Zachariah
doubted, the angel told him: 'I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of
God', and Zachariah was made dumb from that moment, and did not speak
until his son was born and he had written on a tablet: 'His name is John.'
Later, when the Lord Jesus was born and Herod began killing the children in
Bethlehem, he sent men to find Zachariah's son and kill him, for he had heard
of all that had happened to Zachariah. Seeing the soldiers, Elisabeth took John
in her arms and fled to a rocky and desert region. She cried out: 'O mountain
of God, receive a mother with her child!', and the rock opened and hid
Elizabeth and John inside. Herod, furious that John had not been killed,
ordered that Zachariah be cut down before the altar. Zachariah's blood spilled
over the marble and became as hard as stone, remaining thus as a witness to
Herod's wickedness. Forty days after Zachariah's death, blessed Elisabeth also
entered into rest. The child John stayed in the wilderness, fed by an angel and
guarded by God's providence, until he appeared by the Jordan. Today we
honor the holy Martyrs Juventius and Maximus, whose suffering St John
Chrysostom praised. They were soldiers in the time of the Emperor Julian the
Apostate. In conversation, they condemned the Emperor for his persecution
of Christians. Someone told the Emperor of this, and he had them thrown into
prison. They were beheaded with the sword under cover of darkness, but their
relics were found and discovered to work miracles. Today we venerate the 70
Martyrs of Nicomedia, who were chosen by the Christians of Constantinople
in the time of Valens' persecution, to go to Nicomedia and beg the Emperor
(an Arian) to spare their lives. The Emperor told them to go back home, but
secretly ordered the sailors to set fire to the ship when they got out to sea, and
save themselves in a small boat. The bodies of these 70 were burned and
drowned, but their souls entered eternal blessedness.
AT GREAT VESPERS: Lord I Call Tone Six (page 21)
7 Tone Six “Stikhera” Hymns (page 29)
Hymns honoring Zachariah (Tone 4, after “From the morning
watch...”): You were anointed with chrism and clothed in the sacred
robe, O glorious Zachariah. Like the Angels, O blessed one, you served
God, mediating between the Creator and His creation. You visibly
received manifestations of the divine Spirit. Therefore we bless you and,
as we divinely celebrate your holy feast,// we glorify the Savior. (2x)
You beheld the Virgin’s Child, Who is co-eternal with the Father,
and you prophesied plainly to your son, O God-inspired Zachariah: “You
will be a prophet to prepare His ways.” With him we bless you and
celebrate today your holy feast,// O God-bearer who are greatly blessed.
You were a living temple of the Divine Spirit, and in the midst of
the Temple, O glorious one, you conversed with God with a pure heart.
You were unjustly slain, completing your course as a martyr, O
wondrous one. Thus, by your own blood you entered into the heavenly
temple,// where you intercede for those who honor you.
GLORY... Hymn honoring Zachariah (Tone 8): You were rightly
clothed with the vestments of the priesthood of the Law, serving
according to the order of Aaron. While standing in the Temple,
all-blessed one, you plainly beheld the form of an Angel. Therefore as we
sing in honor of your translation, O Zachariah, we praise you, for you
fathered the glorious John.// Intercede for us with the merciful God that
we may be saved!
NOW & EVER... Theotokion “Dogmatic” Tone 6 (pg 35)
At The Apostika: Tone Six Apostikha Hymns (page 53)
GLORY... Hymn honoring Zachariah (Tone 2): Arrayed in
priestly vesture, as a chaste priest you entered the Holy of Holies. You
served God without defilement, observing the Law like Aaron and
leading Israel like Moses. You were a revelation of purity, and therefore
you were killed. But your righteous blood is a source of healing for us
And, like fragrant myrrh, reveals to us the sweetness of future eternal
life. O thrice-blessed Zachariah, father of John and husband of
Elizabeth,// pray fervently in behalf of our souls!
NOW & EVER... Tone 2 Apost. Theotokion (pg 49)
Final Troparia: Tone 6 Sunday (Resurrection) Tropar (pg 58, music p95)
GLORY... Troparion honoring Zachariah (Tone 4): Robed in the
vestments of the priesthood, according to the Law of God you offered
whole-burnt offerings in a sacred manner, wise Zachariah. You became
a luminary and a seer of the mysteries, bearing within yourself the signs
of grace, all-wise one. Slain by the sword in the temple of God, O
prophet of Christ, intercede together with the Forerunner// that our
souls may be saved!
NOW & EVER... Tone Four Dismissal Theotokion (pg 61)
AT THE DIVINE LITURGY After the Entrance (usual Antiphons):
Tone Six Sunday (Resurrection) Troparion (page 95)
Troparion honoring Zachariah (see above at Vespers)
Tone Six Sunday (Resurrection) Kontakion (page 101)
GLORY... Kontakion honoring Zachariah (Tone 3): Today the
Prophet Zachariah, priest of the Most High and parent of the
Forerunner, has prepared a banquet to his memory to nourish the
faithful, mixing the drink of righteousness.// Therefore we praise him as
a divine initiate of the grace of God!
NOW AND EVER... Steadfast Protectress of Christians (page 103)
The Liturgy continues on page 104.
Prokeimenon (Tone 6): O Lord, save Your people and bless Your
inheritance! verse: To You, O Lord, will I call. O my God, be not
silent to me!
Epistle: II Corinthians 4:6-18 It is the God who said, "Let light shine out of
darkness," Who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of
the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen
vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us.
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to
despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may
also be manifested in our bodies. For while we live we are always being
given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in
our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. Since we have the
same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, "I believed, and so I spoke," we too
believe, and so we speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will
raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all
for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may
increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. So we do not lose heart. Though
our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed every
day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal
weight of glory beyond all comparison, because we look not to the things that
are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are seen are
transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
Alleluia (Tone Six): 1) He who dwells under the protection of the
Most High shall abide in the shelter of the God of Heaven. 2) He
will say to the Lord: "You are my refuge and my stronghold; He is my
God, and I will hope in Him."
Gospel: Matthew 22:35-46 A lawyer asked Jesus a question, to test him.
"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" And Jesus said to
him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your
soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a
second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two
commandments depend all the law and the prophets." Now while the
Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, saying,
"What do you think of the Christ? Whose son is He?" They said to him, "The
son of David." He said to them, "How is it then that David, inspired by the
Spirit, calls him Lord, saying, 'The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right
hand, till I put your enemies under your feet'? If David thus calls Him Lord,
how is He David’s son?" And no one was able to answer Jesus a word, nor
from that day did any one dare to ask Him any more questions!
WE ARE PRAYING FOR:
Our new brothers and sisters, Lonnie & Robert Beery !
Our new brothers and sisters, Andrew, Tisha, Jayden & Madison Kill !
Newlyweds Mallory and Scott, Shelli’s sister
Newlyweds Elesha and Jonathan
Steve Allen, in intensive care at St Rita’s hospital
Lonnie, recovering from surgery in Columbus
priest Richard Peters, Fr Mark’s confessor, recovering from hip surgery
Billy May, more surgeries
Ron Tupps, intercessor, hernia surgery
Sherri Herring, Cheryl’s boss, very ill
David Wilson, Lois’ friend, brain surgery
LeeAnn, child niece of Cheryl’s friend in Children's with Epstein Barr
Nate Fultz, under treatment in Toledo
His Grace NIKON, surgery near vocal chords; radiation
BIRTH/NAMEDAY: Tisha 29th; Andrew 31st; Joshua 1st (nameday);
Caleb 1st (name); Leilani 12th; Luda and Lada 16th (name); Carrie 17th;
Jayden 18th; Daniel 20th; Xavier 22nd (name Jonah); Jayden 23rd (name
John)
FALLEN ASLEEP: Elwood Hall, intercessor Elizabeth Myers’ father
Gator Spradlin & Anthony Hall, Ada teens in car crash
Giannis, FB brother; Julis, FB father
Addition to our Litany of Fervent Supplication: Again we pray, O merciful
Lord, that You will call forth for us an archpastor of wisdom and
strength, blessing us with a bishop to care for the well-being of this
diocese, to unite us in loving service to all, and to be a witness to the glory
of Your holy Name, we pray, hear us and have mercy!
Communion Hymns: Praise the Lord from the heavens!
September 5th - 11th, the 2010th year of our Lord
Monday 5:45pm Seeker’s Group at Church
Tues. 11am - Shawnee/Cridersville Min. @St Stephen’s
Tuesday 7:45pm - Mission Council meeting
Wednesday 10:30am - FEAST of the Birth of Mary
Saturday - God Bless America Chicken Cookout
Saturday 6:30pm - Great Vespers
Tuesday the 14th - FEAST of the Elevation of the Cross
Saturday, October 2nd 11am - Meet Our Neighbors Day!!!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
THANK YOU to all who made the Allen County Clergy Fellowship luncheon
at St Stephen’s last Wednesday such a wonderful success!!!
THIS SATURDAY we’re putting on a chicken dinner cookout, selling
TICKETS for chicken dinners ahead of time, to be picked up that day. The
dinners can be “to go” (just picked up), or eaten on our grounds. It will be a
great day to invite folks, picnic together, and show newcomers our church!
This Wednesday is a major feastday for all Orthodox Christians around the
world. The Birth of the Theotokos will be celebrated in Mary’s honor at
10:30am. The world considers this just another business day, but Orthodox
Christians change our lives to conform to the life of the Church. We stop
work as much as possible (taking the day or half a day off), to honor the Lord,
hear the festal antiphons (which cannot be sung at a “Vesperal Liturgy”), and
celebrate the Feastday. In centuries past, the whole culture stopped work for
the Christian Feasts; today we do not have such support. Changing our
lifestyle --even “against the grain” of our surrounding society-- is part of what
it means to be a faithful Orthodox Christian in America today.
Saturday, October 2nd is the day we’ll gather at 11am, pray together, and go
out to MEET OUR NEIGHBORS! We’ll come back together for lunch, and
then finish meeting the neighborhood, sharing flyers and neighborly “hellos.”
MISSION COUNCIL SUMMARY 8/15/+2010
Cheryl, Sarah, Carroll, Shelli, Carrie, Donna, Daniel, Elesha, Jonathan,
Anzhelika, Joshua, Lois, Drew, Tisha, Fr. Mark
Father read Lois’ (our expediter’s) notes from our last meeting as to
who needs to do what (Donna – nursing home visitation, Anzhelika – contact
Panera Bread and Kroger about food for chicken dinner, candle making, etc.)
Carroll spoke about Celebration Recovery on Tuesdays. We need 6
people dedicated to this ministry (they need not be St Stephen members).
Carroll and Sarah will lead. We need to purchase a leadership kit for $100.
and some “Step Studies.” Leaders go through it first. Sarah said everyone
can come to see what it is all about. Father asked Sarah and Carroll to send
him an email he can then copy and send to clergy to seek leaders and helpers.
Our “Meet Our Neighbors” house-to-house visitation day is agreed
upon as Saturday, October 2nd. We will meet at the Church at 11:00am, go
out in pairs, then come back for lunch around 12:30pm. After lunch those
who can will go out and finish our neighborhood. Wear casual but nice
looking clothes. Father Mark said he would like to see every member on this
very important day. Sarah passed around a card/flier as an example of what
she would like to design for us to give out when we visit our neighbors. She
will talk to Shenouda's about a good price. Father Mark has done the house
map of our neighborhood. Anzhelika will write down house numbers for us.
Joshua said Tommy Stewart stretched carpet ($200).
Sarah made tickets for the chicken dinner Saturday, Sept 11th. The
dinners cost $7. THESE NEED TO BE SOLD AHEAD OF TIME.
Joshua, Harold, and Donna will work out the details for the chicken dinner.
After hearing Cheryl’s treasurer report, we agreed to pay half of our
owed assessments to the Diocese ($708.), and count on more coming in the
next two Sundays to make up what we need to finish August. Fr. Mark said
the Tupps gave $500., which was put toward what we owe Hume Supply for
our Pantocrator dome. (We still owe them $1000, and we owe $500. to the
iconographer.) He asked Cheryl to send a thank you from the Church.
Our next council meeting will be Sept 7 (Tuesday) at 7:45pm
WHAT IS “THE GOSPEL”???
The word “Gospel” comes from Old English, meaning "Good News." It originally
came from the Greek word for a communique of joy and victory, and early
Christians used it to represent their message to the world. “The Gospel” is the
saving truth God has communicated to lost humanity, and ultimately revealed in
Jesus Christ. All of us are created for love. When God created you, He created you
to experience His joy and life. You were created to know Him. “God created man in
His own (good, holy, loving) image” (Genesis 1:27). This means that you were
created to have eternal life; the life of God Himself. Jesus explained, “This is
eternal life: that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus whom You have
sent” (John 17:3). If we are made in God’s goodness, why do we experience
suffering, meaninglessness, and death? We experience evil because we have sinned,
starting with our first parents, who cut themselves off from God by choosing to
disobey Him. Therefore, we have become separated from God's life and light and
truth and love. “Your iniquities have separated you from God, and your sins hide
His face from you” (Isaiah 59:2). We are now in the state of degeneration and
decay physically, morally, and spiritually. This is called the state of sin, and it
affects every aspect of our lives, including our reasoning. The ancient Israelite
prophet Isaiah wrote, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every
one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on Him (the coming Messiah, Jesus)
the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). We cannot save ourselves. We desperately
needed to be rescued from this hopeless spiritual and physical decay. So God the
Father, in His love for us, sent His Own Son to transform our lives, and heal our
wounded human nature. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting
life” (John 3:16). God sent His Son, Jesus, to destroy the power of death
--physical, moral and spiritual. Jesus did this by becoming human exactly like us,
going through death on the Cross, and rising from the dead. Jesus said, “I am the
resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live”
(John 11:25). John, one of Jesus’ closest disciples, explained, “He who has the Son,
has life. He who does not have the Son of God, does not have life” (I John 5:12).
By becoming one of us and overcoming sin and death, Jesus “paved the way” for us
to do the same. He is alive, risen from the dead, and His light and life and truth
and power are available to us today! No one else but Jesus, the Messiah, God made
man, can save us, for “there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other Name
under heaven by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Jesus said, “I am The Way,
and The Truth, and The Life; no one comes to the Father, but by Me” (John 14:6).
Would you like to overcome death and receive God's life?
To believe, you must accept Jesus as your Lord, turn away from sin, and be united
to Christ through Baptism. Accepting Jesus as your Lord means you admit He is
God’s Son, your Savior. “If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe
in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans
10:9). Turning away from sin includes admitting you have sinned, resolving to
change and orienting your life back toward God. “If we say we have no sin, we
deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, he is
faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness”
(I John 1:8-9). Baptism is the way ours sins are forgiven, and we identify with
Jesus. “In Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith, for as many of you as
were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 5:26-27). This is the
entryway into Christ's community, the Church, and includes receiving His Spirit
inside us. The Apostle Peter answered the question, “What must we do to be
saved?,” by saying, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus
Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy
Spirit” (Acts 2:38). Through the miracle of Baptism, you give your life to Jesus and
His followers, and He in turn cleanses you and makes you a new person. In Jesus'
own words, you become “born again” (John 3:5). St Paul puts it, “We were buried
with Him through baptism, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead, we also
should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). An essential part of being a
Christian is joining the body of believers Jesus formed into His Church. God's power
is released in the mysteries (or, “sacraments”) of the community Jesus established
2000 years ago, the Orthodox Church. “The household of God is the Church, the
pillar and bulwark of the truth” (I Timothy 3:15). Jesus’ last command to His
disciples was to “Make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I
have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20). If you have already been baptized in
the Holy Trinity, you join the Church by being anointed (“chrismated,” or,
“gifted”), with the Holy Spirit. If you are already Orthodox, but are not living as a
Christian, you must to turn back to Christ and His Church. Do it now. Immediately,
without hesitation (while a willingness is still in you!), go to the nearest Orthodox
Church and meet with the priest. Under his guidance, confess your sins (including
neglecting Christ's Body), and rededicate yourself to following Jesus wholeheartedly
in His Church. The Gospel is the Good News of salvation, offered to all through
Jesus Christ. It is a message not only for eternal life, but for changing us here and
now, together. The world is blinded to this Gospel by pride, lust, and evil. But as
Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and
open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me”
(Revelation 3:20). And THAT’S Good News!
a sense of humor...
Please join me in remembering a great icon of the entertainment community.
The Pillsbury Doughboy died yesterday of a yeast infection and trauma
complications from repeated pokes in the belly. He was 71. Doughboy was
buried in a lightly greased coffin. Dozens of celebrities turned out to pay
their respects, including Mrs. Butterworth, Hungry Jack, the California
Raisins, Betty Crocker, the Hostess Twinkies, and Captain Crunch. The grave
site was piled high with flours. Aunt Jemima lovingly described Doughboy as
a man who never realized how much he was kneaded. Doughboy rose quickly in
show business, but his later life was filled with turnovers. He was considered
a very smart cookie, but wasted much of his dough on half-baked schemes.
Despite being a little flaky at times, he still was a crusty old man and was
considered a positive roll model for millions. Doughboy is survived by his wife
Play dough, three children: John Dough, Jane Dough and Dosey Dough --plus
they had one in the oven. He is also survived by his elderly father, Pop tart.
The funeral was held at 3:50 for about 20 minutes.
CATCH THE VISION
It’s a healthy exercise to regularly ask ourselves, “Where are we going?” (and then
ask, “How are we going to get there?”) Let me ask you to think about “What kind of
parish community do we want to create at St. Stephen’s?” “What are our
specific goals for the near and far future?” Just in "off the cuff" thinking, I (Father
Mark) would be willing to work to eventually see: 1) 100 adult members, not counting
teens and kids (at 70 we would split off a daughter mission); 2) all members
committed personally to Jesus Christ, to the Orthodox Faith, and to each other (our
three foundational commitments I annually emphasize); 3) all members having
completed our Seekers Group at least once in full, also, all members having
completed our "Cell Group" Understandings, and our "Evangelism" series; 4) a
liturgical life with well attended Saturday Vespers, at least one weekday service with
Bible Study, and feastday liturgies (inc. American saints); 5) charitable outreach,
including weekly Nursing Home Visitation, elderly members visitation, Pro-life fund
raising, and ministry involvement such as hosting a weekly Celebrate Recovery group
here at St Stephen's (a majority of members involved in some kind of care for the
needy); 6) a parish council of Elders --made up of those who are working in ministries
in the church– which sets a positive tone for all and implements the priest’s vision by
word and example; 7) all members tithing at least 3% of their annual gross household
income, and increasing that percentage annually with a goal of over ten percent; 8)
Educational programs including a vibrant Children’s Church School, an active Teens
Youth Group, OCF chapters at every area college, a "Pairs and Spares" Fellowship
Group for adults, and an encouraging group for our seniors; 9) Fellowship going on
outside of church services, including a men's support group, women gathering
regularly (as we grow, organized "Cell Groups"); 10) a majority of members living
within a five mile radius of the church (anything more becomes a detriment to the
parishioner’s involvement in parish life); 11) outreach to Lima’s large black
community –inviting Fr Moses Berry here to speak on Orthodox Christianity as the true
spiritual heritage of Africans (not Islam), and promoting it among the Black Ministerial
Alliance --eventually serving once-a-month liturgies featuring music composed for the
Divine Liturgy with the African American community in mind; 12) outreach to area
Hispanics, with a monthly Spanish liturgy (both in language and in Latino music).
I’m sure you could come up with lots more. As we have said, it all starts with
me, right now. We’re beginning by meeting our neighbors this Saturday, October 2nd.
This past summer, we’ve noted that there are lots of things we would like to see
accomplished in Lima, but as far as the reason for existence is concerned, our
mission at St Stephen’s is to care for the needy (physically and spiritually), and to
share the Good News of Jesus Christ in His Church! For the time being, we are
viewing our neighbors as our immediate mission field, our surrounding area, trusting
God that He has placed people here in part to learn about Orthodoxy.
NEWS FROM THE ORTHODOX WORLD...
Focus on the Family recently donated to a local pregnancy
center the 500th ultrasound machine designed to help women
contemplating abortion see an image of their unborn baby. The
program is credited with saving 81,000 children from abortions.
A delegation of the International Congregation of Hagia
Sophia will travel to Istanbul on September 17th to conduct the
first liturgy in the Basilica after 557 years. Representing the
International Congregation is attorney Lanny J. Davis, former
Special Counsel to President Clinton and member of President
Bush’s Civil Liberties and Privacy Oversight Board. In a letter
written to Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan, Davis said, “There is
no question the right thing to do is restore Hagia Sophia, the
holy place and the heart and soul of the Orthodox Christian
religion, to its original status as a Christian Church.”
From the Church Fathers...
St John Cassian: "Holy Scripture must be committed to memory and they
must be pondered ceaselessly. Such meditation will profit us in two ways.
First, when the thrust of the mind is occupied by the study and perusal of the
readings it will, of necessity, avoid being taken over by the snares of
dangerous thoughts. Second, as we strive with constant repetition to commit
these readings to memory, we have not the time to understand them because
our minds have been occupied. But later when we are free from the attractions
of all that we do and see and, especially, when we are quietly meditating
during the hours of darkness, we think them over and we understand them
more closely.”
Orthodox???
“Orthodox” means “right teaching,” or, “true worship.” Ours is the
Church founded by Jesus Christ, which wrote and compiled the Bible. We
follow the rich Tradition of the Apostles and the early Church, down through
the centuries. There are over 255 million Orthodox Christians worldwide.
Believing Holy Communion to be the most sacred and intimate mystery, only
those who affirm all of the following may receive the Holy Eucharist:
✠ I believe Jesus Christ is God and I confess Him as my Master.
✠ I have been Baptized in the Name of the Father, Son & Holy Spirit,
and Chrismated in the Orthodox Church.
✠ I profess the Nicene Creed and the entire Orthodox Christian Faith,
the Ecumenical Councils and Holy Tradition of the Church.
✠ I have soberly confessed my sins and repented of them.
✠ I am at peace with all, holding absolutely no grudge or malice
toward anyone (Church members, spouse, parents, children, employer,
employee, neighbor, priest, friend, enemy, anyone)
St Stephen the First Martyr Orthodox Mission
3560 Shawnee Rd, Lima OH 45806 (419) 224-8600
Saturday Vespers 6:30pm; Sunday Liturgy 10:30am
Church site: www.orthodoxlima.org
Great books! http://stores.lulu.com/elijahpublications
