ALL SAINTS: NOTICES - - SIXTH SUNDAY OF MATTHEW, 2026
LOVE IN ACTION
In today's Holy Gospel, (Matthew 9:1-8), we see such love and faith in action. Christ rewards the faith that is expressed in love of one’s neighbour: it is not the faith of the paralysed man but that of his friends which Christ sees and rewards. This miracle of healing and forgiveness is very different from that of the man at the pool of Bethesda, who waited unloved, for years, who had no-one to help him – perhaps because he shunned help and cut himself off? When we become isolated, antisocial and alone we are choosing death rather than life. No-one is saved alone but only in communion- in receiving the life-giving blood of the one, holy, body of Christ.
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LOVE OVER ANGER
Christ does not attack the scribes, does not insult them. He is not driven into pointless controversies or disputes. He simply and calmly asks these questions and He cures the paralysed man.
Christ's avoidance of argument with His enemies is indicative of the true Christian Way. Saint John Chrysostomos advises that we ought to imitate God and entreat and advise with gentleness and meekness, never with anger.
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CHRIST IS GOD
Christ’s divinity is demonstrated by His healing of the paralysed man, and the forgiveness of his sins. And it is in our acceptance of this immense and terrifying fact that Christ is God - in trusting in the honesty of the Gospels, with our whole heart and with our whole mind and with our whole soul - that we, too, may be healed from our own paralyses- physical, mental, spiritual. True healing of the rift which separates us from God, and from one another, can only be granted by God.
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A repetition...TRUE HEALING FROM CHRIST
We are all, in one way or many, unwell and in need of healing. True spiritual healing doesn’t come from therapists or counsellors or pills, it can only be granted by God. Physical and psychological illnesses are often underpinned by spiritual illness. If we accept that Jesus Christ is God, and trust in Him with our whole heart and with our whole mind and with our whole soul, we can be healed from our illnesses.
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Another repetition...CARRY YOUR NEIGHBOUR, FRIEND, SISTER, BROTHER, TO CHRIST
Orthodox Christians-- Pray! Compile a Diptychon (Gk.) / Pomyannik (Sl.), that is, a book of names of people for whom you will pray daily. Such books may be purchased (for example, from SGOIS) pre-formatted, or you can use any notebook or exercise book.
YOU, ME, WE HAVE DOZENS OF PEOPLE TO PRAY FOR: the SICK, FRIENDS, FAMILY, NEIGHBOURS, COLLEAGUES, the DEPARTED; above all, THOSE WHO HATE US AND TROUBLE US.
In addition, compile a short list of names, give it to the priest, with a thanks-offering. Do this every time you attend Divine Liturgy or visit another parish or cathedral or monastery, here or abroad.
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ALL GLORY TO GOD!
Savva - for successful prosforon baking!
Those who are willing to serve in our parish; including those who pray for others, bring food & drink to share, help Presbytera Susanna, and have joined the new rotas for teas & coffees (contact Susannah), vacuuming (contact Daniel O.), watering the garden (contact Emily Katherine), flowers in Church (contact Emily Katherine & Delia).
Elizabeth & Ted- anniversary on Tuesday. Many years!
Ted - for veg.
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YOUR PRAYERS
That we will truly love God and truly love our neighbour.
Father Alexander. Recently reposed. Funeral on Tuesday. Memory eternal!
Father Jakob- severe lumbar pain. All glory to God- pain is less severe since Holy Communion.
For all those who remove themselves from frequent Communion through fear or apathy. May God guide them to Holy Confession and back to full Communion.
Savvas - unwell.
Susannah - severe back pain.
Serafim - unwell, in pain.
Presbytera Susannnah, Michael - travelling tomorrow (Monday). Not together!
Ruth & Daniel - holy matrimony: next Sunday, 19th July; and those travelling to Shrewsbury: Subdeacon Aaron (who is khoumbaros, "best man"), Emily Katherine, baby Irene, Susannah, Jeff, James.
***Orthodox couples in our parish heading towards holy matrimony.***
Billy - in palliative care; his partner, Karen; and his daughter, Nikola (all non-orth.).
Elizabeth (non-orth.) - severely unwell. Pray. Help her and Ted if you are able.
All who are new to our parish - that they engage with love and humility.
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In Christ God,
Father Jakob
the sinner and unworthy presbyter
Please feel free to post online and share with friends and family
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LOOKING AHEAD -- TWELVE GREAT FEASTS
To help you plan ahead, for those of you who are able to take time off work, etc., here are the dates of GREAT FEASTS for the year ahead.
These are dates upon which we should try to be in Church (sadly, many of us do not always have this choice).
These are days upon which the Divine Liturgy should be served at All Saints. Servers, singers, helpers- please do what you're able.
14th SEPTEMBER -- EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS
21st NOVEMBER -- ENTRY OF THE THEOTOKOS INTO THE TEMPLE
25th DECEMBER -- NATIVITY OF CHRIST
6th JANUARY -- HOLY THEOPHANY
2nd FEBRUARY -- PRESENTATION OF OUR LORD IN THE TEMPLE
25th MARCH -- HOLY ANNUNCIATION
5th APRIL -- ENTRY OF OUR LORD INTO IERUSALEM*
12th APRIL -- HOLY PASCHA*
21st MAY -- HOLY ASCENSION*
31st MAY -- HOLY PENTEKOST*
6th AUGUST -- HOLY TRANSFIGURATION
15th AUGUST -- FALLING-ASLEEP OF THE MOTHER OF GOD
[ * The dates of these feasts vary from year to year. ]
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ORTHODOXY 101 : ATTENDING THE DIVINE LITURGY
Christianity is experiential; it is not just 'read about', it must be lived. The Holy Eucharist is at the centre of our worship, at the centre of our Life in Christ.
We come to the Church, we remain in the Church in order that our souls be saved. That is all. It is our soul's salvation - there is nothing else.
The Holy Services are a store-house of spiritual treasures. To be saved, we need to gain knowledge of ourselves. We do this by discovering our sins and weaknesses, and by fighting against their pull. Our faith is war on personal pride. When our pride is wounded in the course of Church life, we should thank God!
We fight best when we are supported. For support we have the Holy Gospels; the Holy Fathers, their Lives and Teachings; we have God and we have each other.
The Church Community (both living and departed) is our Family in Christ. Our God is LOVE. And we are giving of our best, when we give love to God and to each other.
The Holy Eucharist is the body and Blood of Christ. It is life itself, it is Salvation. It is our treasure: "Where your treasure is there will your heart be also"(Matthew 6:21). We spend time with - we are attentive to - the people, the things we love the most.
Canon LXXX (Sixth Oecumenical Council) reads, "A cleric or layman shall not go three consecutive Sundays without attending church, unless some necessary business requires him to leave his town. The usual penalties apply: deposition for a cleric; excommunication for a layman".
It is not always possible to come to every holy service, but our good practice, and simple good manners, is to notify the priest of our absence, or if we have moved away. Notification demonstrates love and humility, and allows the priest and community to pray for us, for example - when we are sick.
We pray for those who are absent from the divine services for legitimate reasons. The others, who come infrequently or have not attended for long periods, have become prodigal sons, wanderers. They have distanced themselves from Christ and from their Christian family. Their love has become luke-warm. A full and proper return to Church requires a full and proper repentance, taking responsibility for our failings.
Church life is about responsibility. It is about stepping up and being adult. This is done by singing, standing throughout the holy services, fasting, making regular confession, reading in Church, serving, cleaning and tidying, cooking, reading the morning and evening prayers every day, preparing properly for confession and communion. Above all it is about praying.
To be blunt, Church (parish) life is about giving time and money to the glory of God. Church life is about commitment. Without commitment, we will never become deeply Orthodox or even remain Orthodox.
Love of God and love of neighbour are entwined. We cannot love God if we do not love our neighbours, especially our fellow Christians; and we cannot love our neighbours if we do not love God (1 John 4:20).
We spend time with God, we spend time with each other. We do so not because we feel 'obliged' or even because we 'want to' but simply because our heart draws us, and we follow Christ's new commandment (Luke 10:27): "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself".
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AΓAΠH = CARITAS = CHARITY = LOVE
John 4:16: Ὁ Θεὸς ἀγάπη (koine Greek) = Deus caritas est (Latin) = God is Love (English)
GIVING TO OTHERS
All glory to God! Our small parish has been able in little ways to help the poor, offer love to the stranger, to help heal the wounded.
GIFTAID
This past year we received more than £4,000 from the UK government. Our parish trustees have authorised this, and future monies, raised through giftaid to be passed on to our poorer neighbours. If more of us donated by giftaid we could do even more to help the poor, the wounded, and the marginalised who are our neighbours.
'HOW CAN I HELP?'
Every penny helps! Donate to our parish via giftaid. If you pay tax in the UK you can use giftaid. It's free, it's easy, and as you can see above, it helps us to help others. The UK government pays us back for what you give to us via gftaid. This is the only official help that UK charities receive.
Our hope and ambition is that every penny given to us by you comes through giftaid.
LAZAROS, OUR NEIGHBOUR
The dying Lazaros is lying outside our door (Luke 16:20). We Christians have a duty of care (John 21:17), this is a constant in our life (Matthew 26:11), we must not ignore him (1 John 3:17). Let us do all that we are able to help to help our neighbour (John 15:12). May I ask you - please make a start, and donate to the parish by giftaid.
CHRIST IS RISEN!
In the Risen Lord,
Father Jakob
Presbyter, All Saints North Benfleet
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