St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church, New Orleans Louisiana - USA Calendar and News Febraury 1997

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

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	1 Divine Liturgy Mobile, AL. 9:00AM-12:30PM Aghapi ------------- Vespers, Bible Study&Midnight New Orleans 7:00PM-9:00PM
2 Divine Liturgy "English" New Orleans 8:30AM-12:30PM Aghapi	3	4 Divine Liturgy New Orleans Comm. Archangel Sorial 5:00 - 7:00 AM	5 Divine Liturgy New Orleans 9:30 - 12:00 AM	6	7 Vespers & Midnight Birmingham, AL. 7:00PM	8 Divine Liturgy Birmingham, AL. 9:00AM
9 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 ------------ 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 ------------- Vespers, Bible Study&Midnight New Orleans 7:00PM-9:00PM

Church News:

The Church celebrates for the first time in the Southern Diocese the ordination of a priest by H. G. Bishop Youssef. The celebration will be held in Dallas, TX. on Sunday, February 16, 1997.
The Church congratulates Mark and Norma Fleming for the Baptism blessing and becoming a member of the Coptic Orthodox faith.
The Church would like to welcome two new families: Mr. Sherif & Amira Abadir and their son Kareem from Lafayette ( Tel:318-989-4208), and Dr. Youssef & Viola Guirguis and their sons Tony and Peter from Bay Minette, Alabama.
Please forward to Father Shenouda any item that you would like to be published in this news letter.
Remember the first Sunday Liturgy of every month will be celebrated in English.
Happy Birthday:

Alexis Nawal Menasko ................. Feb 13

Bishoy Samir Ramzy ..................... Feb 24

If you have any comments or suggestion, Please send me an E-mail me at

Click To Go Back

Last Modified 2/5/1997