ALL SAINTS: NOTICES - - SIXTH SUNDAY OF MATTHEW, 2026
BELOVED CHRISTIANS,
The healing of the two demoniacs in today's Holy Gospel (Matthew 8:28-9:1) is a dramatic miracle. It should remind us that we are all in need of healing, and should call upon Christ for healing for ourselves, our family, our friends, for the entire world...
All of us are, to varying extents, possessed and seduced by the things of this world. But, if we have the joy, love, humility, patience, courage and faith to face difficulties we should not be frightened, because we are promised that the gates of Hades shall not prevail against the Church (Matthew 16:18), and that prayer and fasting drive out demons (Matthew 17:21).
The war against the demonic is illustrative of the struggles of us all to be written as eikons of God's will rather than allow ourselves to be written upon by atheism-secularism-commercialism.
We must, if we are serious, become ‘a new creation’ and ‘bear in [our] body the marks of the Lord Jesus’, so that we may participate in holiness and become a pure vessel of the Holy Spirit.
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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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PRAY, PRAY, PRAY
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.
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, make a charitable 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!
Gavriella (newly-illumined) - reading post-Communion prayers.
Michael (newly-illumined) - for candles for the holy table; strengthening his prayer obligation; helping presbytera.
Samuel (newly-illumined) - strengthening his prayer obligation.
Harry (katekhoumen) - always very helpful.
Adam (newly-illumined) - recovering well, post-op.
Our parish choir - adjusting to changes.
Everyone who supports our parish in prayer, service, titheing.
Delia - for the beautiful gift for Presbytera.
Emily - for runner beans.
Ted - for veg.
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YOUR PRAYERS
Tom & Ruth - moving home, tomorrow (Monday, 6th July).
Elizabeth (non-Orth.) - very unwell.
Daniel (newly-illumined, Bailey) & family - May God protect.
Serafim & Paraskevi (both newly-illumined) - may God give strength.
Savvas - baking prosphora.
For our renewed Parish Chat Group, for the administrators (Subdeacon Aaron, Natasha) and all users.
For our car, home, place of employment - may we humbly ask the priest to come and bless.
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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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