St. Nicholas Bulletin for Week of July 1 through 7, 2023

Published: Fri, 06/30/23

Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church

A Western-Rite Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America

1325 E. Queen Ave.
Spokane, WA 99207
Phone: (509) 866-6074

Liturgy Schedule

Saturday Vespers: 5:00 p.m.
Sunday Matins: 10:00 a.m.

Fourth Sunday after Trinity
2 July A.D. 2023
Saturday I Vespers of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
St. Dunstan's (StD) Psalter: Ordinary of the Office - p. 247
Opening Versicles (StD 245-246) Simple (or Ferial) Tone
First Vespers Psalms 113, 122, 127
Vesper Hymn Ave, Maris Stella [MD 64*]
Versicle V. Blessed art thou among women. 
R. And blessed is the fruit of thy womb
Old Testament Song of Songs (Wisdom) 2:1-6
Antiphon to Magnificat: (MD 556) Blessed art thou + O Mary, for thou hast
believed; and there shall be a performance 
in thee of those things which were told 
thee from the Lord, Alleluia
Magnificat St. Dunstan's Psalter p.460
New Testament Lesson Luke 1: 5-25
Nunc Dimittis St. Dunstan's Psalter p.475
Apostles' Creed St. Dunstan's Psalter p. 248
Kyrie Eleison & Pater Noster St. Dunstan's Psalter p. 249
Collects Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary [2 July]
Most Precious Blood [1 July]
(MD 555) Almighty everlasting God...
Saint Dunstan's Psalter p. 251
Closing Versicles
Salve Regina		 (StD 252)
St. Dunstan's Psalter p. 496

Sunday Matins - St. Dunstan's Psalter
Ordinary of the Office - p. 247
 
Opening Versicles                              (StD 245-246) Simple (or Ferial) Tone
Antiphon on Venite                              Let us celebrate the Visitation of the Virgin Mary; Let us worship Christ the Lord her Son.
Venite Adoramus Come, let us sing unto the Lord
Matins Hymn (MBM 114) Quem terra, pontus, aethera
Matins Psalms 45, 46, 81
Old Testament Lesson Isaiah 7:10-14
Te Deum laudamus St. Dunstan's Psalter p.351
New Testament Lesson Luke 1:26-38
Antiphon on Benedictus                                                                          When Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, she spoke out with a loud voice and said: Whence is
this to me, that the mother of my Lord should
come to me? Alleluia. (MD 557)
Benedictus Dominus St. Dunstan's Psalter p.418
Apostle's Creed St. Dunstan's Psalter p. 248
Kyrie Eleison & Pater Noster             St. Dunstan's Psalter p. 249
Collects Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary [2 July]
S. John of San Francisco, BC [2 July]
SS. Processus & Martinian, MM [2 July]
St. Dunstan's Psalter p. 251
Closing Versicles St. Dunstan's Psalter p. 252
Salve Regina St. Dunstan's Psalter p. 496
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Please Remember to Pray for...
Your parish, Diocese, Archdiocese and Fr. Mark, Kh. Karen and Barbara Myers.
 
Sad News

Sadly we must share the news that Fr. David and Khouriya Mona Cook have retired from the priesthood. Unfortnuately Fr. David's final mass for the Spokane St. Nicholas Orthodox Church was Sunday, June 25, 2023.

While we await our new Father, Metropolitan Saba approved a deacon to serve "Presanctified Masses" at St. Nicholas periodically until a new priest is assigned to the parish.  This is wonderful news and not generally granted.
 
Keeping You Updated

It is our intention to send out a bulletin each week to keep you abreast of the Vespers, Matins, and Presanctified Mass schedules. Please refer to the latest bulletin to know when the Deacon(s) will be at the parish to distribute the Holy Gifts.
 
 
Fellowship

While we are in transition mode, let us continue to fellowship and share ideas of how to grow church membership during coffee hour scheduled right after Sunday Matins. Coffee hour is the best way to stay connected. Bring food of your choice; and help with clean-up afterwards is needed
and appreciated.
 
CHURCH MAINTAINENCE
Outside Security - So far there has only been minor new taggings on the alley exit. Work has started with adding a new fence. The posts have been placed in concrete balls and all that's needed is the fencing.

Please share any ideas you have on how to discourage night time neighbors from using the day window bays. -- Charles Roth

Church Cleaning - It is imperative that we keep our place of worship clean and presentable. We need volunteers to help with the dusting, vacuuming, cleaning of the restrooms, etc.

As stewards of our beloved church, we are reaching out to kindly request your voluntary assistance in an endeavor that will help maintain the beauty and cleanliness of our sacred space.

Over time, our church has served as a haven for spiritual growth, shared fellowship, and countless cherished memories. To ensure that it continues to be a welcoming environment for all, we believe it's crucial to invest our collective efforts in its upkeep. Together, we can create an even more inviting atmosphere for worship, reflection, and the various activities that bring us closer as a community.

To this end, during coffee hour, I would like to briefly discuss a possible cleaning schedule for the multitudes of volunteers I am anticipating for this honorable endeavor.

I am looking forward to discussing this further this coming Sunday.

With deepest gratitude,

Selina C. Brantley,
Parishioner
 
SUGGESTED BIBLE COMMENTARIES
Several parishioners have asked for suggestions of Bible commentaries. Here is a selection of commentaries that Fr. David uses:
  • The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to St. Luke (Volume 3) Available on Amazon or from other retailers like Abe Books.
  • The Explanation of the Holy Gospel According to John by Blessed Theophylact (Volume 4) Available in hardcover on Amazon or from other retailers like Abe Books.
  • The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to St. Mark (Volume 2) Available on Amazon or from other retailers like Abe Books.
  • The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew (Volume 1) Available on Amazon or from other retailers like Abe Books.Keep in mind that these were written in the tenth century A.D. and they do not conform to our modern "delicate" sensitivities.
Keep in mind that these were written in the tenth century A.D. and they do not conform to our modern "delicate" sensitivities.
 
Church Etiquette

St. Nicholas is a well mannered and polite parish. Here are some basic etiquette rules to live by at Church so we remain as such:

  • No Food or Drink allowed in the nave of the Church.
    • This includes gum, candy and water.
  • Clean up after yourself.
    • We do not have a cleaning staff.
  • Unless in Major Holy Orders, all gentlemen will remove head coverings when entering the nave of the Church at all times.
  • Ladies may, at their discretion, avail themselves of the laudable practice of wearing head coverings in the nave of the Church.
  • Unless specifically invited to do so by the priest, do not go behind the altar rail.
    • While performing their duties, before or after Mass, the altar guild is exempted from this restriction.
  • No loud conversations in the narthex or nave of the Church.
    • Please take these conversations outside or to the Church hall.
    • Unless we are saying the responses in the Offices or Mass, we use our quiet voices in Church.
  • This is not a free speech zone.
    • We certainly talk about religion here but we leave all politics in the car.
    • We serve the King of kings in this parish and our Kingdom is the Kingdom of Heaven -- everything else is secondary and must be discussed elsewhere.
  • Profane language will not be tolerated in the Church or the Church hall.
    • If you use profane language in the Church, you will immediately be asked to leave.
 
Holy Communion - is received by intinction only: Only duly-prepared Orthodox Christians may receive the sacrament of Holy Communion. Preparation includes the pre-communion fast (see below) and confession to a priest of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. All others may receive a blessing by crossing their arms and bowing their head.
 
Pre-communion Fast - Unless you are under a doctor's care, all of those between 21-60 are expected to fast from drinking and eating from midnight on Saturday until after communion on Sunday. However, you can have water up until an hour before communion. If we are having a scheduled evening Mass, please eat and drink as close to noon as possible. You can have water up until about an hour before communion. There are exceptions to these rules. If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected].
 
Confession -- TBD
 
Scripture Readings for the Week - Please visit English Office website for the daily offices. This site is run by the Brown family and is an excellent resource for when you want to pray the parochial daily offices and you don't have your Psalter and/or Bible handy. It renders very nicely on your phone or tablet devices. 
 
OTHER NEWS, REQUESTS AND/OR RESOURCES
  • Have an idea to post on the Bulletin? Email Selina at [email protected] with your topic. It could be discussed at coffee hour.
  • To stay connected with other parishioners, a February 2023 parish social media directory is available from the parish secretary. Email: [email protected].
  • Have a desire to worship in song? Our next choir practice will be held Saturday, July 8 at 9:30 AM. Please join us.
-------
  • Parish website (Currently Under Construction)
  • Archdiocese website
  • His Beatitude, John X Patriarch of Antioch and all the East.
  • His Eminence, Metropolitan Saba Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of All North America
  • His Grace, Bishop JOHN
  • Father David Cook, Rector
  • Email: [email protected]
  • YouTube: Western Rite Orthodox Resources
  • Visit us on Facebook
 
St. Nicholas Orthodox Church

1325 E Queen Ave
Spokane WA 99207
USA

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