(Saturday, December 27, 2014: Great Vespers at 5pm as usual.)
Sunday, December 28, 2014
After-Feast of & Sunday after the Nativity of Christ
Commemoration of Joseph the Betrothed, David the Prophet and King, and James the Brother of the Lord.
Visitors, we are blessed by your joining us in worship and for fellowship.
Let us pray to the Lord: “For the suffering Christians of Syria, Palestine, Iraq, & all of the Middle East, and for those suffering in the Ukraine.”
Nourishment of the Soul: “It was a great joy to celebrate the birth of our Savior together. Let us embrace these 12 days of feasting and rejoicing as we anticipate the baptism of our Lord on January 6th together with the Great Sanctification of the Waters and house blessings during the weeks that follow. Christ is Born! Glorify Him! — Fr. Peter Jon
Boxes for Knitted Caps and Mittens/Gloves will be available throughout the winter to collect your donations for local school children.
Communion: We invite you to receive the Holy Eucharist if you are an Orthodox Christian who has prepared yourself through fasting, prayer, and recent confession. If you are not Orthodox, or are Orthodox but have not prepared, we invite you to receive a piece of the blessed bread in the wooden bowls held by the altar servers at the front of the church.
Communion Line: The choir goes first in both lines so members may continue ministering through music during communion. Little Lambs Sunday School follows. The ushers then assist each row from front to back. Those in the overflow behind the choir may follow adjacent rows.
Sunday School for those in Grades One through 12 meets after Divine Liturgy.
FOOD PANTRY: Thank you for the abundant outpouring. You will notice that the pantry is almost bare again! The need is ongoing.
GIFT CARDS FROM THE CHRISTMAS TREE are being used to brighten the lives of those around us. Thank you for your generosity. Donations throughout the year can be given to Father Peter Jon or to Marcia to be used in the same way.
THIS WEEK
There is a general dispensation from fasting until January 4th as we approach Theophany.
Wednesday, December 31: Evening Liturgy on New Year’s Eve at 6:00 to Commemorate the Circumcision in the Flesh of Christ and the Feast of St. Basil the Great
Saturday, January 3: Great Vespers at 5:00
Sunday, January 4: Matins at 8:50; Divine Liturgy at 10:00
LOOKING AHEAD
Tuesday, January 6: Holy Epiphany and the Blessing of the Waters (Vesperal liturgy may be served on Monday evening)
Tuesday, January 20: Skating with All Saints skaters at Western Skateland on West 17th Street, 6:30 to 8:30: Admission is $4 for skaters and watchers! Stephanie is the contact person.
Happy Birthday: Stephanie Dillard (1st); Lina Tabbal (1st)
Memory Eternal: Wilma (16th); Nicholas (21st); Jolee (10th); Priscilla (15th); Nick (18th); Kh. Chinnu (Dec.19th)
Prayer List: Ioana; Patricia; Dee Haney; Galina; John; Nicetas; Barb; Shirley; Metropolitan Paul, Archbishop John; Kh. Loretta; Fr. John Koen; Archpriests Roman, George & Stephen; Krystal & Jason (hard times & death of child); Adrian, Catherine & Marah; Heather (Charles’ daughter); Susan; Gabriella & Matt; Sara; Shelley; Fr. Moses Berry; Geni; Frank & Becky Hrisomalos; Those with child: Kh. Kristina, Mary, Kathleen; Brooke; Kh. Marilyn; Noah; Emily D; Emma; Kim; Nancy; Neal; Lyuda; Bob R; Alex; John; Leanne; Beth; Lillian; Julie; Roger; Virginia McCallister; Marilyn; Eric; Cheryl; Lori; Pam; Debbie; Natasha; Michael & Shelley: Gabriel; Mary; Doug; Janet; Kelly; Matushka Raisa; John C; Marty; Charles; Eileen; Mary; Marvin, Alice; Katie; Deborah; Ruth; Steve; Kevin; Romaine; Derek, Claire & Micah; Tim; Preston; Sharon; Sherri; Dianna; Michael and Diane; Aaron; Brent; Jennifer; Brigid; Caleb; Korene; Dennis & Joyce; Ethan; Lena, Dean; Gayle; Thomas; Amy; Heidi; Gene & Connie; Cathi
Today’s Epistle and Gospel Readings
Prokeimenon: “God is wondrous in His saints.”
Verse: “In the churches bless ye God!” Psalm 67:35,27
Epistle: The Reading is from Saint Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians. (1:11-19)
BRETHREN, I make known to you that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man; for neither did I receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me by revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my manner of life in time past in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and destroyed it; and I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age within my nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
But when it pleased God, who separated me, even from my mother’s womb, and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the nations, immediately I did not confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and again I returned to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles, except James, the Lord’s brother.
Gospel: The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (2:13-23)
When the wise men had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the Child and His mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the Child, to destroy Him.” And he rose and took the Child and His mother by night, and departed to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt have I called My Son.” Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, was in a furious rage, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region, who were two years old or under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they were no more.” but when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Rise, take the child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the Child’s life are dead.” And he rose and took the Child and His mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus reigned over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. And he went and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”
Divine Liturgy Variables
Resurrectional Apolytikion – Tone 4
Having learned the joyful message of the Resurrection from the angel, the women Disciples cast from them their parental condemnation, and proudly broke the news to the Disciples, saying, Death hath been spoiled. Christ God is risen, granting the world Great Mercy.
Apolytikion of the Nativity – Tone 4
Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, has shown to the world, the Light of Wisdom; for those who followed the stars were led by a star to adore Thee, the Son of Righteousness and to know Thee, the Orient from on High; O Lord, glory to Thee.
Apolytikion of the Sunday after the Nativity – Tone 2
Proclaim, O Joseph, to David, the grandparent of God, the amazing wonders; for thou hast seen a Virgin great with child; for with the shepherds thou didst give glory, with the Magi thou didst worship, and by the angel it was revealed to thee. Wherefore, plead thou with Christ God to save our souls.
Kontakion of the Nativity of Christ- Tone 3
The Virgin brings forth today, the Omnipotent One; and the earth offers a cave to the Unapproachable One; Angels give glory with shepherds, and the magi journey with the star when for our sakes was born as a new babe, He Who is from eternity God.