Welcome to the celebration of the Divine Liturgy. Please join us in worship in the nave-- the church proper. Enter with joy, reverence, and thanksgiving. The glass enclosed narthex is designated for parents with infants and very young children. However, please remain in the narthex during the "Small Entrance," "Great Entrance," "Epistles," and "Gospel Readings" before entering the church. We also ask that you please turn off all cell phones and beepers during church services.  If you are a visitor or a newcomer, we are very pleased to have you with us, and we invite you to sign our guest book at the Pangari. Please remember that only those who have been baptized and/or chrismated and in good standing in the Eastern Orthodox faith may participate in the Holy Sacraments of the Church. Please join us in the parish hall for our fellowship hour following church services.  Our website is http: //stsophia.net

Today:
Elias the Prophet July 20
Elias of great fame was from Thisbe or Thesbe, a town of Galaad (Gilead), beyond the Jordan. He was of priestly lineage, a man of a solitary and ascetical character, clothed in a mantle of sheep skin, and girded about his loins with a leathern belt. His name is interpreted as "Yah is my God." His zeal for the glory of God was compared to fire, and his speech for teaching and rebuke was likened unto a burning lamp. From this too he received the name Zealot. Therefore, set aflame with such zeal, he sternly reproved the impiety and lawlessness of Ahab and his wife Jezebel. He shut up heaven by means of prayer, and it did not rain for three years and six months. Ravens brought him food for his need when, at God's command, he was hiding by the torrent of Horrath. He multiplied the little flour and oil of the poor widow of Sarephtha of Sidon, who had given him hospitality in her home, and when her son died, he raised him up. He brought down fire from Heaven upon Mount Carmel, and it burned up the sacrifice offered to God before all the people of Israel, that they might know the truth. At the torrent of Kisson, he slew 450 false prophets and priests who worshipped idols and led the people astray. He received food wondrously at the hand of an Angel, and being strengthened by this food he walked for forty days and forty nights. He beheld God on Mount Horeb, as far as this is possible for human nature. He foretold the destruction of the house of Ahab, and the death of his son Ohozias; and as for the two captains of fifty that were sent by the king, he burned them for their punishment, bringing fire down from Heaven. He divided the flow of the Jordan, and he and his disciple Elisseus passed through as it were on dry land; and finally, while speaking with him, Elias was suddenly snatched away by a fiery chariot in the year 895 B.C., and he ascended as though into heaven, whither God most certainly translated him alive, as He did Enoch (Gen. 5:24; IV Kings 2: 11). But from thence also, after seven years, by means of an epistle he reproached Joram, the son of Josaphat, as it is written: "And there came a message in writing to him from Elias the Prophet, saying, Thus saith the Lord God of David thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the way," and so forth (II Chron. 21:12). According to the opinion of the majority of the interpreters, this came to pass either through his disciple Elisseus, or through another Prophet when Elias appeared to them, even as he appeared on Mount Tabor to the disciples of Christ (see Aug. 6).

Special Celebration of the 99^th Birthday of
Krisula Christie
Coffee Fellowship Sponsored in her Honor

Two-Year Memorial for the late^
Arthur P. Takes

Seven-Year Memorial for the late ^
Mary Marin Takes
Coffee Fellowship Sponsored in their Memory

May their Memory be Eternal

FIFTH SUNDAY OF MATTHEW

July 20, 2008 -- July 26, 2008

July 20	Sunday	9:30 am	Divine Liturgy
21	Monday	11:00 am	Senior Exercise
22	Tuesday	1:00 pm	Senior Program
23	Wednesday	11:00 am	Senior Exercise
		7:30 pm	Bingo "D"
24	Thursday	12:30 pm	Seniors
25	Friday	11:00 am	Senior Exercise

 

PARISH NEWS & EVENTS

Attention Altar Boys: The Second Annual "Valley Cats Night" will be on Friday, August 1^st. Seats are first come and limited to the first 30. Altar boys are FREE; family and friends, $10 each. Everyone will meet at the church at 5 p.m. for pizza before the game. Game time is 7 p.m. For reservations, call Jim Diamantopoulos at 463-1315 or 369-4160.

Mark your calendars. On Sunday, August 24^th we will be having our St. Sophia Annual Church Picnic. Please plan on attending church and the picnic with family and friends.

Greek School yearbooks are now available. The cost is $15.

A collection is under way for used cell phones. The phones will be recycled and then distributed to soldiers serving in the armed forces.

GOSPEL READING The Gospel is also available in: 5th Sunday of Matthew The Reading is from Matthew 8:28-34; 9:1 At that time, when Jesus came to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, two demoniacs met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one would pass that way. And behold, they cried out, "What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?" Now a herd of many swine was feeding at some distance from them. And the demons begged him, "If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of swine." And he said to them, "Go." So they came out and went into the swine; and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and perished in the waters. The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, and what had happened to the demoniacs. And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their neighborhood. And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city.     EPISTLE READING The Epistle is also available in:   The Reading is from St. James' Universal Letter 5:10-20 BRETHREN, take as an example of suffering and patience the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we call those happy who were steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath, but let your yes be yes and your no be no, that you may not fall under condemnation. Is any one among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects. Elijah was a man of like nature with ourselves and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth its fruit. My brethren, if any one among you wanders from the truth and some one brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.