Pentecost Sunday

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. -Acts 2:4

The Holy Spirit is also our life-giver. In John 6:63 we read, "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life." In Genesis 2:7 we see a prophecy of the Holy Spirit giving us life, "Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being." There is a breath that gives physical life and there is a breath that gives Spiritual life. Paul tells us that it is the same Lord and God who gives us both physical and Spiritual life, "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else." (Acts 17:24-25) The Holy Spirit is our Lord. He is God. Paul blesses the Corinthians in the name of the Trinity, "May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." (2 Corinthians 13:14) The Holy Spirit makes fellowship with God possible and elevates our ability for human fellowship so as to have fellowship without shame.  The Holy Spirit is our Advocate. Jesus says, "“But I will send you the Advocate —the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me." (John 15:26) The word "advocate" is a translation of the Greek word "Paraclete" which means one who is called on for help from close by one's side, and refers often to a legal counsel or lawyer. A paraclete is a helper, an advisor, and one who comforts us. The devil is often called the accuser- who tries to trap us in our sins, but the Holy Spirit makes for us the legal argument that Jesus has paid our debts, and that we deserve mercy from the Just Judge.  You could not love Jesus if you did not possess the living source of holy and pure love, namely, the Holy Spirit. Our divine Redeemer said, "He that believeth in Me, out of his belly shall flow streams of living water." (John 7:38.) This He said of the spirit which they should receive who believed in Him. Therefore, when God enkindles in you the flames of divine love, holy, pure, and without stain, let yourself disappear in the infinite Good, and, like an infant, sleep the sleep of faith and love in the bosom of your heavenly Spouse. - St. Paul of the Cross St. Paul of the Cross speaks in vivid imagery about the need for the Holy Spirit to dwell in us, so that we can have divine love. In 1 John 4:8 we read, "God is love." The Holy Spirit is love, and when He dwells in us, love dwells in us.   The Holy Spirit is not an idea or a feeling. He is a person. He is God. He seeks to live in us to give us love, life, and power. you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8) Please click this link-- to see some of the needs of our neighbors in the wake of the tornado. https://www.mostmetro.com/the-featured-articles/friday-update-how-to-help-tornado-victims.html?fbclid=IwAR052rO4u1y6Tvv7KZdprM5ul1ZR3jw26IHL_Wr0uKbmdHrupSMJ-iW65dI Let us come together to give what we can so that we can purchase and renovate Our New Home on 50 Nutt Rd. We hope to close this week. We plan to have our first liturgy on Sunday, June 16th. The goal is to raise $150,000 in additional donations and pledges with $60,000 to go towards the purchase and $90,000 to go towards renovations including renovations and hall and addition of commercial kitchen so that we can make a smooth transition while keeping a safety net in our savings and waiting for the sale of our current property. We have raised the last $60,000 to close on Our New Home. Please help us raise $90,000 to renovate Our New Home over the next few months. We hope to have the money raised by January.

- Pastoral Council Meeting Tuesday, June 11th at 7 PM at 5915 N Springboro Pike. -Our New Home Moving Day Saturday, June 15th from 5915 N. Springboro Pike to 50 Nutt Rd. -House of Bread Tuesdays June 18th and July 30th from 9 am - 2 pm at 9 Orth Avenue. -First Liturgies at Our New Home, Sunday, June 16th. 50 Nutt Rd. - Feast of St. Sharbel, Relic of St. Sharbel Sunday, June 23rd at Our New Home. -Youth summer camp in Michigan from July 1st-July 4th. There are activities like a ropes course, kayaking, canoeing, swimming in the lake, sports, and other fun activities which will be facilitated by trained camp staffers. Ages 12-17. Please speak with Fr. Alex for more information. -Annual Lebanese Festival August 23rd, 24th, and 25th. - Annual St. Ignatius of Antioch Banquet Saturday, December 14th. -Our religious education policies are changing. Please see Fr. Alex for more information

- Initiatives- To what is God calling you? What are your hopes, dreams, and ideas for our parish? What do you want to do? Mission, charity, prayers, work, fundraisers, or maintenance? How can we support you? -We need volunteers to read during the liturgy and to bring the gifts. If you would like to do so, please see George Najem for 11 am liturgy or Jim Zaidan for the 9 am Liturgy. -Marriage announcments

Please pray for John Dohar and Jessy Eid as they prepare for marriage. Please pray for Jordan Gunter and Krystal Daoud as they prepare for marriage. Please pray for Tarek Shteiwi and Micheline Eid as they prepare for marriage.

Please pray for two parishioners in treatment for cancer.  Please pray for one parishioner who is sick. Please pray for the school of one parishioner which has had two gun scares.

- Bible Study every Sunday at 10 am.

- Sunday liturgies 9 am and 11 am

- Confessions immediately before and after liturgies or by appointment.

St. Ignatius of Antioch Pentecost Sunday June 9, 2019