Mutual Submission

Preserving this unity takes work – we must “endeavor” or strive to attain this goal. It cannot simply be as-sumed. People are often astonished to find that someone has left their congregation. After all, we stood or knelt together, we lined up for the Eucharist or to kiss the cross together. We were one – weren‟t we?

Communal practices – ritual gestures, using offering envelopes or pledging in fundraising campaigns do afford us a measure of unity, but while people may be united in these practices they may be divided in other fundamental ways.

St Paul (writing before there were pledge cards or parish newsletters) indicates that the quality of the interpersonal relationships in a community is the first basis for its unity. If I sense that you ignore me or look down on me, will I want to exchange signs of communion with you? Kissing an icon or worshipping at the Liturgy express our vertical relationships in the Church – to God or the saints – but living in the Body of Christ involves horizontal relationships as well – to fellow parishioners, those in our eparchy and in the wider Church.

Horizontal relationships in a Christian community, Paul writes, should be characterized by two main qualities: humility and long-suffering. Humility in this sense is expressed in “lowliness and gentleness” (Eph 4:2), a virtue continually acclaimed in the New Testament. In the Canticle of the Theotokos (Lk 1:46-56), sung daily at orthros, God is extolled for “regarding the lowliness of His handmaiden” (v. 48) and praised as the One who “puts down the mighty from their thrones and exalts the lowly” (v. 52).

Christ Himself confronted the relationships of believers in Israel. He criticized the Pharisees for loving “the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues” (Matt 23:6) and counseled guests to take the last place rather than the first before the host gives their place to another. When we are tempted to seek preferential treatment or control of even small things in Church, we might well reflect on these passages.

Long term relationships in a parish also demands that we be “long suffering, bearing with one another in love” (Eph 4:3). Some people are simply not going to change. They cannot or will not see that their behavior might offend others. We must simply bear with them if we value unity with them, “warts and all.”

Diversity in Unity

Paul goes on to say that those who strive to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the Church do well to recog-nize and respect the variety and purpose of the Spirits gifts in the Church. In Eph 4: 11 he indicates that there are various levels of leadership such as apostles, pastors and teachers. They have these gifts, not to oc-cupy the best places at feasts, but “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry” (Eph 4:12).

There have always been a number of ministries in our Church exercised by laypeople: in worship (as chanters and readers), in education (as teachers of children and youth), in the arts (as builders and iconographers) and in administration (on community and administrative councils). In times when the clergy may have been the only lit-erate members of the community they often exercised these ministries as well as those proper to their orders. How-ever in our world today this is no longer appropriate. With sufficient training Church members are capable of exer-cising all these traditional ministries as well as modern ones such as parish web masters. Ignoring the gifts of parish-ioners is another way to destroy peoples commitment to their Church.

It is the role of the clergy, according to St. Paul, to see that their believers are afforded the training necessary for service. Ministry of one form or another is the calling of all the faithful, but responsible exercise of ministry presumes that the faithful are willing to be trained and that the pastors and teachers provide the necessary training.

In some cases local clergy can personally “equip the saints” in their parish for works of ministry. A pastor or deacon, for example, may train young men to serve at the altar. They may engage the services of an experienced chanter to train people in church singing or an effective youth worker to train others in this work. In other cases it is the wider circle of “pastors and teachers” – the bishop and his presbyters – who are called to provide more specialized training, equipping people to be clergy or catechists in local parishes. The emergence of on-line courses from seminaries and diocesan ministries can make distance learning an option for training in these roles.

True unity in the local Church as envisioned in this epistle presumes that “the saints” do what is necessary to assume the service to which they are called. It also demands that they respect the gifts and ministries given to oth-ers. Higher clergy should not infringe on the roles of one another; rather they should provide the training necessary to improve the quality of their service. Professional teachers build unity, not by boycotting the classes of inexperienced catechists, but by offering their services as master teachers.

Twice at each Divine Liturgy the priest prays that the holy gifts be given to us “for the communion of the Holy Spirit.” By coming forward to share in the Eucharist we are expressing our desire to deepen our communion with God, but also with one another. We are echoing the priests prayer in the Liturgy of St Basil, “Unite all of us who share the one Bread and the one Cup to one another in the communion of the Holy Spirit.” By the mutual respect we show one another and by our commitment to serve the Church in ministry we back up our prayer with action.

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Classes for Religious Education 2011 - 2012 are in full session now:

If your child is not registered please do so. These classes are very important for all our children for their Christian Formation

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Scholarship Applications:

To all our high school seniors and college students. There are two different applications in the church vestibule: One is for graduating high school girls, The Syrian Lebanese Women’s Club of Greater Boston Scholarship. The deadline is March 31, 2012. And the ALAA Scholarship For both girls and boys. The deadline date is March 1, 2012. Our own scholarship applications are now available. The deadline is April 15, 2012. Remember there is a Scholarship for an eighth grade Graduate entering a Catholic High School.

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To join or renew your membership in the National Association of Melkite Women:

Download, Complete and Mail this form with your check for $10.00 made payable to N.A.M.W.

"Click here: National Association of Melkite Women"

 

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PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS By Rt. Rev. Philip Raczka:

O Eternal Father, You are the Lord of the Harvest who sent our Lord Jesus Christ to save us and the Apostles to spread the good news of this salvation. Look now with mercy upon our Melkite Catholic Eparchy of Newton and sustain our clergy in their vocation. Send us young men to serve the Church as priests and deacons. Inspire others to serve your Church as monks and nuns and move the hearts of all of our parishioners to serve their parishes in whatever way they are able. We praise You for all of Your blessings now and forever.
Amen

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SAMARITANS OF MERRIMACK VALLEY:

The Samaritans of Merrimac Valley is a suicide prevention center. We rely on volunteers who, through the goodness of their hearts out to help people who call our confidential crisis help lines. We are always looking for compassionate people who are willing to give 5 hours a week to befriend our callers. For more information or to sign up for training you can contact Debbie at 978-327-6671 or dhelms@familyserviceinc.com

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Fr. Joe Thomas, BSO, has published his first book. IN THE GRASP OF THE LOVING GOD Oh, What Joy There Is In Believing!   "In this book, Aboona tries to show why we believe what we believe as Catholic-Orthodox Christians. If it is true that we are created in the image and unto the likeness of God, then everything we believe about God -- the Holy Trinity, the true humanity and divinity of Jesus Christ, the Eucharist -- also reveals who we are! All through this 331-page book, Aboona Joe weaves the Scriptures, the Liturgy, the Fathers of the Church, and -- last but not least -- many stories from his own Lebanese family life and 40-year pastoral experience. Sean Cardinal O'Malley authored the Preface to the book and Archbishop Cyril Bustrus wrote "A Word For the Journey" and stamped his Imprimatur. Bishop Gregory John Mansour of the Maronite Eparchy also wrote a personal recommendation. The book, which is $ 18.00, also features a 30-page Glossary of "People, Places, and Things" mentioned throughout the text. Aboona Joe will be here on Sunday, 26 February, for a book-signing after both the 9 and 11 AM Liturgies."

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Disclaimer: Credit is given for any and all holy icons posted when the author is known. Saint Joseph Church makes no claim of authorship for Icons used and welcomes communication and posting of all Iconographers known.

Updates: All updates are done Weekly. We are in need of pictures for posting of parish functions. Thank you Faith for the updates. For Additional Information, Weekly Updates and Corrections:

Contact Internet Ministry:
Gilbert-Joseph Gallant