Cultivate Yourself in Christ

This month features two special blessings in church: fruit on the Transfiguration of Christ Jesus (August 6, recalling how his divinity shone through his humanity), and flowers and herbs on the Dormi­tion of the Virgin Mary (August 15, remembering her passage from earthly life into heavenly bliss).

Both customs remind us that the combined themes of these holy days — transformation and transition — involve us too. Because we were“bap­tized into Christ” (Galatians 3:27), we too “can share in God’s nature” (2 Peter 1:40) and “live as chil­dren of light” (Ephesians 5:8) who are destined to “be at home with the Lord” (2 Corin­thians 5:8).

But that change is a process: like fruit, flowers, and herbs, we Christians start as seeds that grow over time to yield ripened produce fit for harvest time — so long as we cultivate our lives in Christ through almsgiving, prayer, fasting, and churchgoing to become ever more open to “God who makes things grow” (1 Corinthians 3:7).

Mark Your Calendar!

Saturday, August 1 through Friday, August 14
Dormition Fast

Sunday, August 2 • 9:30 a.m.
Divine Liturgy
Ninth Sunday After Pentecost

Thursday, August 6
Transfiguration of Christ Jesus

Sunday, August 9 • 9:30 a.m.
Divine Liturgy and Blessing of Fruit
Tenth Sunday After Pentecost
Sunday Observance of the Transfiguration

Saturday, August 15
Dormition of the Virgin Mary

Sunday, August 16 • 9:30 a.m.
Divine Liturgy and Blessing of Flowers and Herbs
Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost

Sunday, August 23 • 9:30 a.m.
Divine Liturgy
Twelfth Sunday After Pentecost

Saturday, August 29
Beheading of Saint John the Baptizer

Sunday, August 30 • 9:30 a.m.
Divine Liturgy
Thirteenth Sunday After Pentecost

Pitch In!

Church doesn’t happen on its own. It happens when all of us pool our time, talent, and treasure together and put them at God’s disposal to do his will as followers of Jesus. In a word, that’s stewardship. Want to lend a helping hand? See our parish priest, Father Alexis Woytek, to find out what needs doing. Want to become a supporting member? See our parish treasurer, Mrs. Lydia Pinkowski, to find out how. Thanks for pitching in to make your church happen!

Reach Out!

The Church doesn’t exist for itself. God calls it to reach out and share his love with the world that it lives in. Our parish charity bin is one way that we do such outreach, by collecting nonperish­able food that our friends at People Helping People in Hernando County share with locals in need. To download a grocery list from our website, click here. Thanks for reaching out and helping others through your church’s charity!