Blessed Feast of the Foremost of the ranks of the Apostles, Peter and Paul (celebrated today), and of ALL the Holy Apostles (tomorrow)! If you are named after any of the Holy Apostles, then I pray that through the intercessions of your heavenly patron - God grant you many years!

Some Parish News: We were blessed with an enthusiastic, engaging and in general, simply awesome Teen SOYO gathering this past Sunday afternoon! With approximately 20 teens present; there was singing, swimming, great discussion, and of course, plenty of food! We really have wonderful teens at St. Luke's, which is a testament to their loving parents! Many thanks to all those who support Youth Ministry in our parish! Our new parish Youth Director, Paul Kinan, offered a warm encouraging introduction to the parish this Sunday, and I'm sure we'll be hearing much more in the future.

Also, many thanks to all those who came out to help this past Tuesday at Project Real Help. Although they neglected to inform us that it had been "cancelled"; through your help and dedication, we were still able to provide bag lunches for the needy, across the street in the park, as their hunger and need doesn't just conveniently get "cancelled"!

As usual (just as a reminder) we have Great Vespers on Saturday evening at 6pm, Orthros on Sunday morning at 9am, followed by Divine Liturgy at 10am. There will also be a one-year Trisagion in loving memory of Margaret Kouparadze.

Many thanks to all who came out last evening for the Divine Liturgy in celebration of the Holy Apostles. It was very beautiful.

True Freedom: Soon, on July 4th, we will rightly celebrate the freedom that we enjoy here in America. We are all thankful and count it a blessing to live in America, where we are free to worship in the Orthodox Christian Church. Still, there is a freedom that transcends earthly freedom:

From the First catechetical lecture of our holy father Cyril, Archbishop of Jerusalem, to those who are to be enlightened, delivered at Jerusalem, as an introductory lecture to those who had come forward for baptism.

If any here is a slave of sin, let him promptly prepare himself through faith for the new birth into freedom and adoption; and having put off the miserable bondage of his sins, and taken on him the most blessed bondage of the Lord, so may he be counted worthy to inherit the kingdom of heaven. Put off, by confession, the old man, which waxeth corrupt after the lusts of deceit, that ye may put on the new man, which is renewed according to knowledge of Him that created him. Get you the earnest of the Holy Spirit through faith, that ye may be able to be received into the everlasting habitations. Come for the mystical Seal, that ye may be easily recognized by the Master; be ye numbered among the holy and spiritual flock of Christ, to be set apart on His right hand, and inherit the life prepared for you. For they to whom the rough garments of their sins still clings are found on the left hand, because they came not to the grace of God which is given through Christ at the new birth of Baptism: new birth I mean not of bodies, but the spiritual new birth of the soul. For our bodies are begotten by parents who are seen, but our souls are begotten anew through faith: for the Spirit bloweth where it listeth: and then, if thou be found worthy, thou mayest hear, Well done, good and faithful servant, when thou art found to have no defilement of hypocrisy in thy conscience.

Beloved faithful at St. Luke's…

"Christ is in our midst!"

More Wisdom from St. Silouan of Mt. Athos "On the Will of God":

Abba Pimen said: `Our own will is like a wall of brass between us and God, preventing us from coming near to Him or contemplating His mercy.'

We must always pray to the Lord for peace of soul that we may the more easily fulfill the Lord's commandments; for the Lord loves those who strive to do His will, and thus they attain profound peace in God.

He who does the Lord's will is content with all things, though he be poor or sick and suffering, because the grace of God gladdens his heart. But the man who is discontent with his lot and murmurs against his fate, or against those who cause him offence, should realize that his spirit is in a state of pride, which has taken from him his sense of gratitude towards God.

But if it be so with you: do not lose heart but try to trust firmly in the Lord and ask Him for a humble spirit; and, when the lowly spirit of God comes to you, you will then love Him and be at rest in spite of all tribulations.

The soul that has acquired humility is always mindful of God, and thinks to itself: `God has created me. He suffered for me. He forgives me my sins and comforts me. He feeds me and cares for me. Why then should I take thought for myself, and what is there to fear, even if death should threaten me?'

The "Summertime Fast":

We are in the midst the fast of Saints Peter and Paul, which happens to be very brief this year, lasting only from Monday June 19th through the celebration of the Evening Divine Liturgy commemorating the "foremost of the ranks of the apostles" on Wednesday, June 28th. Liturgy that evening will begin at 6:30 pm and will be followed by a pot-luck.

I called this the "Summertime Fast" as in the Orthodox Church we have four major fasts, each of which roughly corresponds to one of the four seasons of the year: Great Lent (spring), Saints Peter and Paul (summer), the Dormition of the Theotokos (fall), and Advent (winter).

St. Luke's Yahoogroup Update:

Several new pictures have just been posted. They are from our beautiful Pentecost Grecian Luncheon, sponsored by the Men of St. Luke's, together with the annual Raffle, sponsored by the Ladies of St. Luke's. This was a beautiful parish celebration! It seems that everyone thoroughly enjoyed it. Many thanks to all those who worked and supported this event in any way!

Here is the link to our yahoogroup site… http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stlukesoc/

Have you seen our newly updated parish website lately? Take a peek at… www.stlukesoc.org

Camp St. Nicholas – our Camp Fund:

If your children (parishioners of St. Luke's) are going to Camp St. Nicholas this summer and you would like financial assistance from our parish's Camp Fund, please contact us at the Church Office ASAP so we can include you on our list for distribution!

Many thanks to those who have been preparing all the homemade ethnic foods that are sold in support of the Camp Fund… and to everyone who supports this great cause!

Also, if your financial situation is such that you need a full scholarship to send your child to Camp, please contact me ASAP as there are still funds available through our St. Ignatius Camp Scholarship.

Our new Parish Youth Director!

On behalf of the Parish Council, I am exceedingly pleased to announce that we have recently been blessed to receive a new Parish Youth Director who has graciously and humbly volunteered to offer his time and effort working with the youth at St. Luke's… someone that we all know, trust, and love; he is a long-time faithful parishioner at St. Luke's… Paul Kinan. Thank you, Paul! Following the Divine Liturgy this Sunday, Paul will be making an initial brief presentation to the parish about Youth Ministry here at St. Luke's, our vision and goals etc. As he is enthusiastic and eager to get things started… there will be a teen gathering this Sunday afternoon! A separate email will be sent to all the teens and their parents including all the details.

St. Julian of Tarsus (commemorated today):

As I see it, the whole purpose of the Church, in general, is to create saints; and the whole purpose of Youth Ministry, in particular, is also to produce saints… who just happen to be young! Take for example…

Julian was of noble and senatorial origin. He lived in Tarsus in Cilicia and suffered during the reign of Diocletian. Even though he was only eighteen years of age when he was subjected to torture for the Faith, St. Julian was sufficiently educated and strengthened in Christian piety. The imperial deputy led him from town to town for an entire year torturing him and all the time trying to persuade him to deny Christ. Julian's mother followed her son from a distance. When the deputy seized Julian's mother and sent her to counsel her son to deny Christ, for three days in prison she spoke the opposite advice, teaching him and encouraging him not to despair in spirit but with thanksgiving and courage go to his death. The torturers then sewed Julian in a sack with sand, scorpions and serpents and tossed the sack into the sea and Julian's mother also died under torture. His relics were tossed by the waves to the shore and the faithful translated them to Alexandria and honorably buried them in the year 290 A.D. Later, St. Julian's relics were translated to Antioch. Later on, St. John Chrysostom, himself, delivered a eulogy [an oration of praise] for the holy martyr Julian. St. John Chrysostom said: "From the mouth of the martyr came a holy voice and, together with the voice, a light emanated brighter than the rays of the sun." Further, he added: "Take anyone, be it a madman or one possessed, and bring him to the grave of this saint where the relics of the martyr repose and you will see how he [the demon] without fail will leap out and flee as from a burning fire." It is obvious from these words how numerous miracles must have taken place at the grave of St. Julian.

Beloved faithful at St. Luke's,

Blessed Great Feast of the Ascension! The following brief teaching on the power of the Cross and the Ascension of Christ comes from Saint Cyril of Jerusalem's "Baptismal Catechesis - Oration Four" (5th century). Notice how St. Cyril says "in fact, He who was crucified on Golgotha here, has ascended into heaven from the Mount of Olives on the East". Imagine that! He was teaching the class of catechumens on the very spot where Christ was crucified!

ON THE RESURRECTION.

12. But He who descended into the regions beneath the earth came up again; and Jesus truly rose again the third day. And if the Jews ever worry thee, meet them at once by asking thus: Did Jonas come forth from the whale on the third day, and hath not Christ then risen from the earth on the third day? Is a dead man raised to life on touching the bones of Elisha, and is it not much easier for the Maker of mankind to be raised by the power of the Father? Well then, He truly rose, and after He had risen was seen again of the disciples: and twelve disciples were witnesses of His Resurrection, who bare witness not in pleasing words, but contended even unto torture and death for the truth of the Resurrection. What then, shall every word be established at the mouth of two of three witnesses, according to the Scripture, and, though twelve bear witness to the Resurrection of Christ, art thou still incredulous in regard to His Resurrection?

CONCERNING THE ASCENSION.

13. But when Jesus had finished His course of patient endurance, and had redeemed mankind from their sins, He ascended again into the heavens, a cloud receiving Him up: and as He went up Angels were beside Him, and Apostles were beholding. But if any man disbelieves the words which I speak, let him believe the actual power of the things now seen. All kings when they die have their power extinguished with their life: but Christ crucified is worshipped by the whole world. We proclaim The Crucified, and the devils tremble now. Many have been crucified at various times; but of what other who was crucified did the invocation ever drive the devils away?

14. Let us, therefore, not be ashamed of the Cross of Christ; but though another hide it, do thou openly seal it upon thy forehead, that the devils may behold the royal sign and flee trembling far away. Make then this sign at eating and drinking, at sitting, at lying down, at rising up, at speaking, at walking: in a word, at every act. For He who was here crucified is in heaven above. If after being crucified and buried He had remained in the tomb, we should have had cause to be ashamed; but, in fact, He who was crucified on Golgotha here, has ascended into heaven from the Mount of Olives on the East. For after having gone down hence into Hades, and come up again to us, He ascended again from us into heaven, His Father addressing Him, and saying, Sit Thou on My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool.

ON THE JUDGMENT TO COME.

15. This Jesus Christ who is gone up shall come again, not from earth but from heaven: and I say, 'not from earth', because there are many Antichrists to come at this time from earth. For already, as thou hast seen, many have begun to say, I am the Christ: and the abomination of desolation is yet to come, assuming to himself the false title of Christ. But look thou for the true Christ, the Only-begotten Son of God, coming henceforth no more from earth, but from heaven, appearing to all more bright than any lightning and brilliancy of light, with angel guards attended, that He may judge both quick and dead, and reign in a heavenly, eternal kingdom, which shall have no end. For on this point also, I pray thee, make thyself sure, since there are many who say that Christ's Kingdom hath an end.