Coptic Orthodox Diocese Of The Southern United States
St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church
New Orleans - Louisiana
February 1997 Church News Letter & Activities Calendar

JONAH
"Out of the eater came something to eat. Out of the strong came something sweet" Judges 14: 14
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In the book of Jonah, God wants us to know an important fact: that the prophets were not of a different nature but were persons "with a nature like ours" (Jas5:17), having weaknesses, shortcomings and faults, and it was possible for them to fall like us. The only thing was that the grace of God worked in them and gave them power. It was not their power but the power of the Holy spirit working in their weakness, so that the power may be of God and not of us, according to the Apostle's words (2Cor 4:7).
Jonah the prophet was one of the weak people God used to shame the mighty ones (1Cor1:27). He had faults and he had virtues, and the Lord chose him despite his faults, worked through him, in him and with him, and designated him to be a great and saintly prophet. In doing so God is teaching us that he can do the same with us and use our weaknesses for His glory.
One of God's beautiful attributes is that he takes all sorts of people and appoints for them portions in His Kingdom . In the Holy Bible we find different kinds of mentality and spirituality. The Kingdom of God is like a net let down in the sea gathering all sorts. God called Jonah the stubborn who held to his word. He also called a doubtful man like Thomas and a rash person like Peter. He called a gentle and patient person like Moses, and a fiery person like Elijah. He called Abraham who used to fear and say that Sarah was his sister, and made him the Father of All Believers. These are different types of people whom God takes and works in them with His grace and His Holy Spirit.
If the Lord prepares for you a great fish to swallow you, do not fear, neither be troubled, nor grieve. But from in side the belly of the fish praise the Lord like Jonah did. Be assured that the whale can swallow you but it cannot harm you. It can never touch you without God's sanction. The time will surely come when the Lord will order it to disgorge you onto dry land. Is God not the creator of the whale? and are not its life and direction in His hand? If your are in tribulation then remember Jonah's whale and you will be reassured.
You will know that it is the Lord who prepared this whale to grant you a particular virtue or a special grace. Be careful not to complain whenever you are swallowed by a whale for the whales of this world are many. Do not say Where are you God? Or Why do you treat me like this O'Lord? For God's answer will be "do not be afraid for it is enough for you to be with Me, I am with you. I will not disregard you or abandon you". Therefore do not be afraid. Remember the saying of the righteous Abba Paul, "He who flees from tribulation has fled from God"

Sunday  Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
26 27 28 29 30 31 
Vespers & Bible Study 
Mobile, AL. 7:00PM-9:00PM
Divine Liturgy
Mobile, AL. 
9:00AM-12:30PM
Aghapi
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Vespers, Bible Study&Midnight
New Orleans 7:00PM-9:00PM
Divine Liturgy
"English"
New Orleans 
8:30AM-12:30PM
Aghapi
3
Divine Liturgy
New Orleans
Comm. Archangel Sorial
5:00 - 7:00 AM
Divine Liturgy
New Orleans
9:30 - 12:00 AM
6
Vespers & Midnight
Birmingham, AL.
7:00PM
Divine Liturgy
Birmingham, AL.
9:00AM
Divine Liturgy
New Orleans 
8:30AM-12:30PM
Aghapi
10 
Return From
Atlanta
11 
Divine Liturgy
New Orleans
5:00 - 7:00 AM 
-----------------
Vespers & Midnight
New Orleans 
7:00PM-9:00PM
12 
Divine Liturgy
New Orleans
9:30 - 12:00 AM
13 
Divine Liturgy
New Orleans
5:00 - 7:00 AM
14 
Vespers & Midnight
New Orleans 
7:00PM-9:00PM
15 
Divine Liturgy
(Presentation Of Jesus In The Temple)
New Orleans 
8:30AM-12:30PM
Aghapi
16 
Abouna Will Be in Dallas, TX.
17 
Divine Liturgy (Jonah's Fast)
New Orleans
12:00-3:00PM
18 
Divine Liturgy (Jonah's Fast)
New Orleans
4:00-7:00PM
19 
Divine Liturgy (Jonah's Fast)
New Orleans
4:00-7:00PM
20 
Divine Liturgy
(Jonah's Feast)
Lafayette, LA.
6:00-8:00PM
21 
Fr. Shenouda Trip 
To Memphis
22 
Divine Liturgy
Memphis
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Vespers, Bible Study&Midnight
New Orleans 7:00PM-9:00PM
23 
Divine Liturgy
(Departure Of St. Elizabeth)
New Orleans 
8:30AM-12:30PM
Aghapi
24 25 
Vespers & Midnight
New Orleans 7:00PM-9:00PM
26 
Divine Liturgy
New Orleans
9:30 - 12:00 AM
27 28 
Vespers & Bible Study 
Mobile, AL. 7:00PM-9:00PM
1 March 
Divine Liturgy
Mobile, AL. 
9:00AM-12:30PM
Aghapi
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Vespers, Bible Study&Midnight
New Orleans 7:00PM-9:00PM
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Copyright © 1996 and 1997 by St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church, New Orleans Louisiana - USA

Last Modified 2/5/1997