Holy Cross Melkite Catholic Church Bulletin. July 5, 2020.
Fifth Sunday After Pentecost.

Holy Cross Melkite Catholic Church wishes you and your family a Happy and Safe Independence Day!
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1).

Re-Opening Rules for Church and Hall
Per California State Laws for COVID-19
For your safety and the safety of those around you:

1. You must wear a face mask at all times, sanitize your hands before entering the church, and maintain 6 ft distance with non-family members.
2. Please follow the ushers’ instructions on available seating in the church and in the hall.
3. Front door is for entrance only - Exit from the back door – one-way flow.
4. No sharing of books during service.
5. Communion is one line only while maintaining the required 6 feet safe distance.
6. Crying Room is for Families with small kids only.
7. No holding or shaking hands during the Liturgy and the sign of peace.
8. Please submit your offering in the offertory box available by the front door entrance of the church.

July 5. Commemoration of our Holy Father Athanasius of Athos, of the Holy Wonderworker Lampados and of the Holy Woman Martha, mother of Simeon the Hermit.
Athanasius is the founder of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos.
Lampados lived in Isauria in the tenth century.
Martha, the mother of the saint whose feast is celebrated on May 24, was known for her charity and love of the poor. She died in 551.

We have exciting news: To make it easier for you to support our parish and the important ministries we provide, Holy Cross Melkite Catholic Church is partnering with Faith Direct – the leading electronic giving (eGiving) program for Catholic churches all across the country. You can donate by visiting: HolyCrossMelkite.org/Donate
Then click on Faith Direct. Thank you for your ongoing generosity.

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.

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

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

Friday July 3 and July 10, 11:30 a.m. Arabic Bible Study led by Deacon Elias Kashou. On Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81131094348 and at Holy Cross Church.

Saturdays.
4:30 p.m. Confession.
5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. Vespers (Evening Prayer) on Facebook live and Youtube live. Visit: YouTube.com/HolyCrossMelkite or Facebook.com/HolyCrossMelkite

Weekly Arabic Divine Liturgy starting Saturday July 18, 2020, at 5:00 p.m.

Sundays.
-10:00 a.m. Orthros (Morning Prayer).
-11:00 a.m. English Divine Liturgy on Facebook live and Youtube live. Visit: YouTube.com/HolyCrossMelkite or Facebook.com/HolyCrossMelkite
-1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. Weekly Children’s Sunday School (Eastern Christian Formation). Your teacher will send you a zoom link or contact the office for details.

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

Today’s Divine Liturgy is celebrated for the repose of the souls of:
Edward Lutfi (June 28, 2020), Nick Aboody (June 22, 2020), Florence Boxley (June 16, 2020), Jamileh Assaf Bechara (June 7, 2020), Ibrahim El-Gharbi (June 5, 2020), Jamil Michel Kilzi (May 26, 2020), Evie Hajjar Calafat (May 26, 2020), Brother Maurus de Klerk (May 26, 2020), Father Francis Morrisey (May 23, 2020), George Haddad (May 22, 2020), Father Jeffrey Lyman deWitt King (May 20, 2020), Rima (Asfour) Haddad (April 19, 2020).
The health, safety, and salvation of:
Inaam Bottomley, Margaret Haddad, Carmen Italia, Isabella Hernandez, Boulous Ibrahim, Carmen Kassouf, Andrea Lutfi, Lily Marji, Violette Saghbini, Marie Semaan, Ramadan Shaban, Florence Shaib, May Williamann.
For peace in the United States of America.
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.

Scripture Memory:
“Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but it is not enlightened. For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness.” (Romans 10:1-3)

“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.” (Matthew 8:30-32)

Full Readings Below.
Epistle: Romans. 10: 1-10.
Gospel: Matthew 8:28-9:1.

Hymns: (See our Church’s website for Audio Recordings: holycrossmelkite.org/Melkite-hymns)
Troparion of the resurrection (Tone 4). The women disciples of the Lord, * having learned from the angel the joyful announcement of the resurrection, * and having rejected the ancestral sentence, * proudly told the apostles: * Death is despoiled. Christ God is risen, * bestowing to the world great mercy.”
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 Mother of God (Tone 2). O never failing Protectress of Christians and their ever present intercessor before the Creator, despise not the petitions of us sinners, but in your goodness extend your help to us who call upon you with confidence. Hasten, O Mother of God, to intercede for us, for you have always protected those who honor you.

PROKIMENON (Tone 4)
How great are your works, O Lord!
In wisdom you have wrought them all.
Stichon: Bless the Lord, O my soul!
You are very great indeed, O Lord my God!

Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans
Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God in their behalf is for salvation. For I bear witness to them that they have zeal for God, but a zeal that is not informed. For ignorant of God’s holiness and seeking to establish their own, they have not submitted to the sanctification offered by God. For Christ is the consummation of the Law in terms of justification for everyone who believes.
For Moses has written that the man who brings about that justification which is of the Law shall live by it. But the justification which is of faith says, do not ask in your heart, who shall go up to heaven that is, -- to bring down Christ. Or, who will descend into the abyss that is, to bring up Christ from the dead? But what does it say? The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart. that is, the word of faith which we preach. For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is the Lord, and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. For a man believes with the heart and attains justification, but he professes his faith with his mouth and attains salvation.

ALLELUIA (Tone 4)
String your bow, go forth, reign for the sake of truth, meekness and righteousness, and your right hand shall lead you wonderfully.
Stichon: You loved righteousness and hated iniquity: therefore God, your God, anointed you with the oil of joy above your companions.

The Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew the Evangelist 8:28-9:1. Healing of the Gerasene Demoniacs.
At that time as Jesus reached the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two men who were possessed, coming from the tombs, so exceedingly fierce that no one could pass by that way. And behold, they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with you, Jesus Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” Now at a distance from them there was a herd of many swine, feeding. And the devils kept begging him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us into the herd of swine.” And he said to them, “Go!” And they came out and entered into the swine; and behold, the whole herd rushed from the top of the cliff into the sea, and perished in the water. But the swineherds fled, and going away into the town, they reported everything, and what had befallen the men possessed by - demons. And behold, all the town came out to meet Jesus; and on seeing him they insisted that he leave their district. And getting into a boat, he crossed over and came into his own town.

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:
-“Power and Responsibility.” Sunday June 28, 2020.
-“Wander Into Focus.” Sunday June 21, 2020.
-“How to Become a Family of Saints.” Sunday, June 14, 2020.
-“Are You a Saint?” Sunday, June 7, 2020.

Thank you for your ongoing generous donations:
-Thursday July 02, 2020. Sunday collection deposit:
Sunday offertory $2,122 + eGiving Venmo $40 + candles $114 + Bookstore $2 = $2,278.
-Thursday July 02, 2020. Building fund deposit: $6,810 + eGiving Paypal $470 = $7,280.

2020 deposits: April: $21,766, May: $25,322, June: $21,963, July: $9,558.

Sample Holy Cross Church Expenses:
$600.88 paid on July 02, 2020. Southern California Edison.
$30.51 paid on July 02, 2020. SoCal Gas.
$118.63 paid on June 26, 2020. Great America Financial Services.
$177.39 paid on June 20, 2020. Republic Services.
$121.64 paid on June 19, 2020. Sparkletts.

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.

Bulletin Advertisers:
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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. Therefore the Parish Advisory Council suggests an offering of $200 for Baptisms; $500 for Weddings; $300 for Funerals; and $100 for a Memorial Service.