Holy Cross Melkite Catholic Church Bulletin. August 16, 2020.
Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost. Transfer of the Icon of the Veil of our Lord.

August 16. Second Day of Celebration of the Dormition. Transfer of the Icon of the Holy Viel of our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ. Commemoration of the Holy Martyr Diomedes.
Icon of the Holy Viel of our Lord, called “the icon not made by human hands” was brought to Constantinople about 944. Traditionally, this is believed to have been a picture of our Lord in person which had been given to Abgar, King of Edessa.
Saint Diomedes suffered death for the faith at Nicea of Bithynia in the beginning of the fourth century, under Emperor Diocletian.

On Friday, August 14 at 7:00 p.m. we will have a Divine Liturgy for the feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God at the Holy Cross Church courtyard.

Pray for the people of Lebanon and the worsening political and social situation. If you would like to make a donation for relief in Lebanon please use our parish link and add a note: “Lebanon Relief”: holycrossmelkite.org/donate

A Note Regarding Preparations for the Holy Mysteries (The Sacraments). The Holy Mysteries of our Church, also called the Sacraments, such as the Holy Mysteries of Christian Initiation, consisting of Baptism, Chrismation, and the Eucharist and the Holy Mystery of Crowning (Marriage) require preparation. They are the beginning of a life long journey of Faith through an ever growing relationship with Christ. In order to prepare yourself adequately regular participation in the Divine Liturgy is required. In addition, prior to confirming the date for a baptism, the couple and the godparents need to set a meeting with Fr. François and bring with them their marriage certificate, their baptismal certificate, and the baptismal certificates for the godparents. A person living in a common law relationship may not stand as a godparent.
For the Mystery of Holy Crowning (Marriage) the engaged couple is required to meet with Fr. François prior to setting a wedding date in order to review the marriage preparation requirments. A couple cannot get married if they have not completed these requirements. If you have any questions please contact the office.

The Sunday Divine Liturgy will be celebrated outside in our new Church courtyard.
For your safety and the safety of those around you please observe
the following guidelines based on California State Laws for COVID-19.
1. You must wear a face mask at all times.
2. Please bring your own chairs, a hat, and some water. We have set up some additional chairs if needed.
3. For Communion, form only one line and maintain the required 6 feet safe distance.
4. No holding or shaking hands during the Divine Liturgy.
5. Please place your offering in the collection basket or donate online at: holycrossmelkite.org/donate

We have been blessed in so many ways through our online broadcasts of the weekly Divine Liturgy, daily 11 a.m. prayers for you and your family, Arabic and English Bible studies, and regular Zoom meetings to keep us united as a family of faith.

As we have transitioned online for some aspects of our spiritual life, we have also moved to online giving with Faith Direct. With Faith Direct, you can make contributions to Holy Cross Church automatically and securely from a checking account or credit card – as you do with a mortgage and other monthly payments.

Faith Direct will be of great benefit to you and to Holy Cross Church in these ways:
• Cost-Effective and time saving: Faith Direct streamlines the donation process by eliminating envelopes, postage, and parish processing.

• Consistency: You can prayerfully discern your weekly or monthly donations. This allows us to budget, plan programs in a stable manner, and help our parish make clear and realistic short- and long-term goals.

• Convenience: You will never have to worry about writing checks. You can also view your account details online, make changes at any time, and print your own tax receipts.

Online giving is an important transition for the growth and stability of our parish. Please prayerfully the form we mailed you and send it to Faith Direct; alternatively visit faith.direct/CA1088 or text “Enroll” to 714-430-8003 to securely enroll online.

I am grateful for your generous support as we continue to build a healthy spiritual future for you, your family, and our Church community. St. Peter reminds us: “As each has received a gift, employ it for one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace” (1 Peter 4:10).

Our Weekly Online Prayer and Faith Nourishment Schedule.
Daily Prayers on Facebook live and Youtube live. Monday-Friday. 11:00-11:20 a.m. Visit: YouTube.com/HolyCrossMelkite or Facebook.com/HolyCrossMelkite

A Journey Through the Gospel of St. Luke, led by Father François Beyrouti.Every Monday and Thursday from 5:00-6:30 p.m. Open to all age groups. Monday, August 17 (Luke 22), Thursday, August 20 (Luke 23), Monday, August 24 (Luke 24). Zoom meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86256912606 or call: (669) 900-9128. Meeting ID: 862 5691 2606.

Saturdays.
4:30 p.m. Confession.
5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. Vespers (Evening Prayer).

Sundays.
-10:00 a.m. Orthros (Morning Prayer).
-10:15 a.m. Choir practice.
-11:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy on Facebook live and Youtube live. Visit: YouTube.com/HolyCrossMelkite or Facebook.com/HolyCrossMelkite

Wine Fundraiser extended. We received a donation of Louis Bernard 2017 Côtes de Provence Rosé imported from France. Please contact the office to reserve a box of 12 bottles for $150. The full price goes to Holy Cross Church. We thank the generous donor and the generous parishioners. We have raised $1200.

Continue to gather as a family for daily prayers, watch the live-stream prayers together, and spend time with each other reading the Bible.

Holy Cross Church is here for you and your family during this difficult time. If you need any groceries, have any medical needs, or need assistance in any way please contact the office.

The Church is available for private prayer and we are carefully practicing social distancing. If you wish to spend some private time with the Lord in Church, go to confession, or receive communion please contact us.

Scripture Memory:
“If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. This is my defense to those who would examine me” (1 Corinthians 9: 2-3).

“Then his lord summoned him and said to him, `You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me; and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?' And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, till he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart" (Matthew 18:32-35).

Today’s Divine Liturgy is celebrated for the repose of the souls of:
Marie Semaan (August 13, 2020), Father George N. Vida (August 4, 2020), Ala Zahi Qaqish (July 20, 2020), Marie (Khalil) Karout (July 28, 2020), Rose Asfour (July 27, 2020), Francisco Javier Andujo (July 22, 2020), Fr. Andre St. Germain (July 22, 2020), Deborah Ann Saikaly (July 21, 2020), Carolyn (Monestero) Lamb (July 19, 2020), Wadade (Barakeh) Abouzeid (July 15, 2020), Nehmtallah Farid Wazen (July 15, 2020), Layla Jubran Tawk (July 14, 2020), Fr. Joseph Wakim (July 11, 2020), Yasmin Khoury Beyrouti (July 6, 2020), Antoun Maallouly (July 4, 2020), Samira (Besmar) Tannous (July 29, 2018).
The health, safety, and salvation of:
Amin Abukhader, Inaam Bottomley, Laverne Carlino, Rodrigue Dib, Margaret Haddad, Carmen Italia, Isabella Hernandez, Boulous Ibrahim, Carmen Kassouf, Lily Marji, Rebecca Prokopchuk, Adib Qsar, Violette Saghbini, Salem Saikaly, Florence Shaib, May Williamann, Rose Ann Hammond, Zeid Daher.
For peace in the United States of America.
For all who suffered from the blast in Beirut, Lebanon.
For all those suffering from the Coronavirus and their families.
For vocations to the priesthood, monastic life, and lay parish ministries.
For peace in Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, and all the troubled regions around the world.

Thank you for your ongoing generous donations:
-Sunday August 9, 2020 collection: $1,559 + Faith Direct $2,825 + Weddings $500 + Baptisms $500 + Candles $147 + Bookstore $45 = $5,576.
-Sunday August 9, 2020 Building Fund: $2,950 + PayPal $500 + Faith Direct $400 = $3,850.
-Sunday August 9, 2020 Charity account: Give Now $325 + Lebanon Relief $550 = $875.
-Sunday August 2, 2020 collection: $3,591 + Memorial $100 + Baptism $350 + Candles $26 = $4,067.
-Sunday August 2, 2020 Building Fund collection: $1,495 + Paypal $470 + Wine Fundraiser $800 = $2,765.
-Sunday August 2, 2020 Charity account: Women’s Shelter = $100

2020 deposits: May: $25,322, June: $21,963, July: $52,733, August: $17,233.

Sample Holy Cross Church Expenses:
$29.40 paid on August 5, 2020. SoCal Gas.
$603.60 paid on July 30, 2020. Southern California Edison.
$610.57 paid on July 27, 2020. Our Sunday Visitor (donation envelopes).
$300 paid on July 30, 2020. Church/facility Cleaning Service.
$187 paid on July 30, 2020. Church Mutual insurance.
$90.03 paid on July 30, 2020. Sparkletts Water.
$118.63 paid on July 24, 2020. Photocopier lease (Great America Financial Services).
$349.31 paid on July 24, 2020. Spectrum (donated)
$177.39 paid on July 20, 2020. Republic services.

Full Readings Below.
Epistle: 1 Corinthians 9: 2-12. Marian Aranki will read today’s epistle.
Gospel: Matthew 18:23-35.

Hymns: (See our Church’s website for Audio Recordings: holycrossmelkite.org/Melkite-hymns)
Troparion of the Resurrection (Tone 2). When You descended to death, O immortal Life, You destroyed Hades by the splendor of Your divinity. And when You raised the dead from below the earth, all the heavenly powers cried out to you: “O Giver of life, Christ our God, glory to You!”
Troparion of the Dormition (Tone 1). In giving birth you have preserved your virginity and in falling asleep you did not forsake the world, O Mother of God. You have passed to life being the Mother of Life. Through your intercession, save our souls from death.
Troparion of the Holy Cross (Tone 1). O Lord save your people and bless your inheritance, granting peace to the world; and protect your community by the power of your Cross.
Kondakion of the Dormition (Tone 2). Neither death nor the tomb could hold the Mother of God, our watchful Protectress and our unfailing hope. Since she is the Mother of Life. Christ who dwelt in her ever-virginal womb lifted her up to the eternal life.

PROKIMENON (Tone 2)
My strength and my courage is the Lord, and He has been my Savior.
Stichon: The Lord has chastised me through his teaching, yet He has not delivered me to death.

Reading from the First Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians (9: 2-12).
Brethren, you are the seal set upon my apostleship in the Lord. My defense against those who question me is this: Have we not a right to eat and to drink? Have we not a right to take around with us a sister woman, as do the other apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have not the right of exemption from manual labor? What soldier ever serves at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Who tends the flock and does not drink of the flock’s milk? Do I speak these things on human authority? Or does not the Law also say these things? For it is written in the Law of Moses. Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treads out the grain. (Dt. 25:4) Is God concerned about the oxen, or does he say this simply for our sakes? These things were written for us. For he who plows should plowاin hope, and he who threshes. in the expectation of partaking of the fruit. If we have sown for you spiritual things, is such an affair if we reap from you material things? If others share in this right over you. why should it not rather go to us? Yet, we have not used this right, but we bear all our expenses. lest we be a hindrance to Christ’s Good News.

ALLELUIA (Tone 2)
The Lord shall hear you on the day of distress: the name of the God of Jacob shall defend you.
Stichon: O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.

The Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew the Evangelist (18:23-35).
The Lord told this parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who desired to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun the settlement, one was brought to him who owed him millions. And as he had no means of paying, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all he had, and payment to be made. But the servant fell down and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will pay you all.’ And moved with compassion, the master of that servant released him, and forgave him the debt. But as that servant went out, he met one of his fellow-servants who owed him a small amount, and he laid hold of him and throttled him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ His fellow-servant therefore fell down and began to entreat him, saying, have patience with me and I will pay you all.’ But he would not; but went away and threw him into prison until he would pay what was due. His fellow-servants therefore, seeing what had happened, were very much saddened, and they went and informed their master of what had taken place. Then his master called him, and said to him, ‘Wicked servant, I forgave you all the debt, because you begged me. Should not you also have had pity on your fellow-servant, even as I had pity on you?’ And his master, being angry, handed him over to the torturers until he would pay all that was due to him. So also, my heavenly Father will do to you, if you do not each forgive your brothers from your hearts.”

Father François Beyrouti’s Homilies. You can listen and subscribe to the homilies on YouTube.com/MelkiteTV or these podcasts: Apple’s iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and TuneIn + Alexa, Google Podcast, and iHeart Radio podcasts.
If you would like to receive the emailed weekly parish bulletin or homily please sign up on our website (HolyCrossMelkite.org) or contact the office. Most recent homilies by Father François Beyrouti:
-“The Worst Kind of Christianity.” Sunday August 9, 2020.
-“Synchronized Swimming With God.” Sunday August 2, 2020
-“The Miracle is in the Details.” Sunday July 26, 2020.
-“Attacks On Catholics Won’t Burn Us.” Sunday July 19, 2020.
-“How Charming Are You?” Sunday July 12, 2020.
-“The Right Mix for Chocolate Cake and Your Faith.” Sunday July 5, 2020.

Listen to Melkite audio links on our parish website at holycrossmelkite.org/Melkite-hymns

Do you want to be inspired and learn more about your Catholic Faith? Listen to Relevant, a Catholic Radio station on 930 am. For further information visit their website or call 1-888-887-7120.

An offer for financial planning assistance from our parishioners Gus & Hala Nakhoul. Do you have a Financial Plan For Your Family? (1) How is your current job security? Do you have a plan B? We have one for you? (2) How safe are your retirement savings with the current market conditions? We have plans that secure your original investments. (3) Is your family well protected just in case the breadwinner is no longer around and you lose the household income? We have the right plan for you to replace that income. For more info contact: Gus Nakhoul (714) 249-8100. Hala Nakhoul (714) 920-6180.

Bulletin Advertisers:
Premier Jewelers. 270 East 17th Street #10 Costa Mesa, CA 92627. Call Jack (949) 650-4475.

Stay safe and support Holy Cross parishioner. Sanitizers, face shields and Masks, for personal or business use, at 15% discount for Holy Cross Melkite Church parishioners. Contact Salam Salman at (909) 282-0451.

Holy Cross Melkite Catholic Church.
451 West Madison Avenue, Placentia, CA 92870-4537
Telephone: (714) 985-1710.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Parish Web site: HolyCrossMelkite.org
Facebook Page: Facebook.com/HolyCrossMelkite
YouTube Page: Youtube.com/HolyCrossMelkite
Twitter: Twitter.com/HCMelkite

Pastor: Father François Beyrouti.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Cellular phone: (714) 914-1710.

Pastoral Associate: Deacon Elias Kashou.
Pastoral Director: Carol Nasr. E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Choir Directors: Saad Tashman and Lupe Ojeda.
Sunday School / Eastern Christian Formation Program: Every Sunday after the Divine Liturgy from September-May. Pre-School to Grade 8.
Our Lady’s Society: Iman Lutfi (714) 595-7999.

LITURGICAL SCHEDULE
SATURDAY: 4:30 p.m. Confession. 5:00 p.m. Vespers (Evening prayer).
SUNDAY: 9:45 p.m. Orthros (Morning prayer). 11:00 a.m. The Divine Liturgy.

HOLY DAYS AND WEEKDAYS: Please check the bulletin.

THE HOLY MYSTERIES
MYSTERIES OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION: The three Mysteries of Baptism, Chrismation and Holy Eucharist are always celebrated together in one ceremony. One month notice is required and one baptismal preparation meeting is required with the priest.
MYSTERY OF HOLY CROWNING: Six month notice, an initial meeting with the priest, marriage preparation sessions, and a wedding license are required. You must be an active member of the parish.
MYSTERY OF HOLY CONFESSION: Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
MYSTERY OF HOLY ANOINTING: Available for anyone who is ill.
PLEASE NOTE: There is no charge for the celebration of the Sacramental Mysteries, however, it is appropriate to offer a gift of thanksgiving. We suggest an offering of $200 for Baptisms; $500 for Weddings; $300 for Funerals; and $100 for a Memorial Service.