Our Church Services
የቤተክርስቲያናችን አገልግሎቶች
Church Services
Our Church Services
Saint Mary Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church of Atlanta provides the following Services to all Christians in Greater Atlanta area.1. Sunday Service
2. Sermon
3. Bible Study
4. Baptism
5. Holy Eucharist Wedding
6. Prayer Services
7. Memorial Services
8. Confession (Penance)
Sunday Service
6:30
– 7:30AM: Baptism and morning prayer (Kidan)
7:30
– 10:00: The Divine Liturgy
10:00 – 11:00: Weekly preaching and spiritual singing
9:00
– 12:30: Weekly Sunday School programme
3:30 - 4:00PM Weekly Radio Service (Sermon)
Every Wednesday
6:30 – 7:00pm Bible study and evening prayer
5:00PM -7:00PM Bible Study and Choir practice
Saint Mary’s day, on the 21st of every month
(In according to E.C.). The service on this day include prayers, the Divine
Liturgy and Sermon by the Clergy.
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Sermon
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Bible Study
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Baptism
Of
the seven sacraments, Baptism is the first. Baptism is the sacrament through
which we are reborn and enter the Kingdom of God. (Jn. 3:5). Baptism has a
Biblical basis (Mt. 28:19-20).
In our church we baptise children. In the Old Testament children were
considered as people of the covenant after they were circumcised. In the New
Testament children are baptized in their infancy and become members of the
family of Christ. God has never isolated children from His grace. For
example Jeremiah was blessed while he was in the womb of his mother. (Jer.
1:5). John the Baptist was likewise filled with the Holy Sprit while in the
womb of his mother (Lk. 1:15). Our Lord and Savior during the period of His
teaching has blessed children. This shows that the age of children does not
prevent them form being brought to God (Mr. 19:13-15; Mk. 10:13-15; Lk.
18:15-17; Acts 16:33; 1Cor. 1:16). In the practice of our Church a boy is
baptized on the fortieth day after birth and a girl on the eightieth day
after birth
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Holy Eucharist Wedding
MatrimonyChristian marriage is one of the seven sacraments, which is performed in a church by means of which the grace of the Holy Spirit is obtained. Holy Matrimony is based on the Bible. (Gen. 1:27,28, 2:18, Mt. 19:4-6). The Canon of the Church requires that before matrimony is affected the following conditions should be met.• Both couples should be Christians to obtain the grace of God
• Both should belong to the Orthodox Tewahido Church. If any one of them is not a member, he/she should first be a member of the Church.
• No pre-martial sexual relationship is permitted.
• Both should consent to be united in marriage.
• No marriage is allowed within seven generations so as not to break the rule of kinship that forbids marriage between close family relations. (Lev. 18:6-21; Deut. 7:3-4).
• As the marriage of Christians epitomizes the unity between Christ and the Church, it shall not be broken. (Eph. 5:32),
• In our Church one to one marriage only is allowed.
• Re-marriage cannot be conducted by any one of the two partners unless divorce is affected because of adultery or one of the partners dies. (Mt. 19:6-9)
• Bishops and priests celebrate the Sacrament of Matrimony.
• Matrimony is not performed without Holy Communion. (Fetha Negest Article 24:899)
• Parents should be consulted and their consent should be secured.
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Prayer Services
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Memorial Services
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Confession (Penance)
PenancePenance means to feel remorse, repent and cleanse oneself from sin. Although Christians are reborn through Baptism, men are liable to commit sins. Therefore: Every Christian should have a father confessor (soul-father).Every one should go to the father confessor and confess his/her sins. (Lev. 14:30, Mt. 8:4; Epiphanius Faith of Fathers Hai. Ab. 59:20). Those who confess their sins and return to God receive the grace of God and by receiving the Holy Communion they will enter to their former place of honor. Confessions and remissions are performed only by bishops or priests only. Penance is based on the Bible. (Mt.16: 19, 8:4). The confession of the penitent made in front of the father-confessor and the tears shed for the sins committed will enable them to be rejuvenated by the Holy Sprit. (Liturgy of Athanasius). Penance is one of the Sacraments that are repeated. The main objectives of the teachings starting from the Prophets, of John the Baptist; Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and his disciples that Apostles is to enable people to inherit the kingdom of God through repentance, ?Repent Ye: for the Kingdom of God is at hand.? On the basis of this truth, the Church teaches the need and virtue of Penance. (Mt. 3:1-2,4:17, Zach. 1:3)
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