The first is a benefit for Habitat for Humanity  on Tuesday, August 3. Tickets for a picnic supper and the game are $30 per adult; $20 for children under 12. This is a fundraising event for a most worthy cause. Call Maria Gezerlis at 641-2374 or the church office.

The second outing is for the altar boys on Friday, August 20^th. This night has become a fun annual event. There is no charge for the altar boys. The cost is $10 per ticket for anyone else attending. See Jim Diamantopoulos or call the church office for reservations.

A notice from Graceland Cemetery. Graceland will be raising prices on SS-1 and SS-2 plots from $850 to $1,000 each. However, you may still purchase two grave plots for your family until October 1, 2010 at the current price of $850. Call the cemetery at 463-8408.

The Bingo café refreshment team is still in need of volunteers to work one night a month. Please see Cookie Patelos or call the church office.

Most people think of making donations to the food pantry only in the fall and winter. But hunger, unfortunately, is year round and, in these difficult economic times, there is a great need. Please remember that there is a food basket by the church office that is routinely picked up by Food Pantries for the Capital District. This local agency then distributes the food to various locations to serve the poor and those in need.

A notice from St. Sophia and Holy Wisdom Senior Housing. HUD has raised the income eligibility for one year. The eligibility for a single person occupancy is $42,300; $48,350 for a couple. The housing is open to the community-at-large. Please share this information with friends or family who may be considering down-sizing to a senior living complex.

Epistle Reading

The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 4:22-27

BRETHREN, Abraham had two sons, one by a slave and one by a free woman. But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, the son of the free woman through promise. Now this is an allegory: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written, "Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and shout, you who are not in travail; for the children of the desolate one are many more than the children of her that is married."

Gospel Reading

9th Sunday of Matthew

The Reading is from Matthew 14:22-34

At that time, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. But immediately he spoke to them, saying "Take heart, it is I; have no fear."

And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "O man of little faith, why did you doubt?" And when they entered the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.