Sunday, January 4, 2015
Forefeast of & Sunday before Theophany of Christ
Synaxis of the Seventy Holy Apostles; Venerable Theoktistos of Sicily; Venerable Martyrs Euthymios and his Twelve companions of Vatopedi Monastery on Mount Athos
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: “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the Name of the Lord our God.” Psalm 20:7
Boxes for Knitted Caps and Mittens/Gloves will be available throughout the winter to collect your donations for local school children.
FOOD PANTRY: Thank you for the abundant outpouring. You will notice that the pantry is almost bare again! The need is ongoing throughout the year.
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.
THIS WEEK
Did you date your check for 2015?
Monday, January 5: Evening Liturgy of Theophany at 6:00 with the Blessing of the Waters
This is a strict fast day in anticipation of the Feast on Tuesday.
Tuesday, January 6: Feast of Holy Epiphany
Wednesday, January 7: Daily Vespers at 6:00
Thursday,January 8: Mitchell-Bedford Fellowship 10 am – Noon
Thursday, January 8: SOYO at 6:00; Compline at 7:30
Saturday, January 10: Mandatory Meeting for Altar Servers including boys — 3:00-4:30
Saturday, January 10: Great Vespers at 5:00
Sunday, January 11: Matins at 8:50; Divine Liturgy at 10:00
LOOKING AHEAD
…House Blessings until Great Lent: Sign up with Father Peter Jon to schedule a time.
…January 16-18: SOYO Basketball Weekend at Canton, Ohio – Parental Permission is needed prior to travel as well as other paperwork.
…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.
…February 4: Orthodoxy 101 resumes following Daily Vespers.
Happy Anniversary: Darryl & Nancy Jones (4th); Michael & Missy Shahadey (7th)
Happy Birthday: John Alexander (5th); Charles Coats (8th); Harold Sabbagh (9th)
[Omitted last week: Adriana Calinescu (30th); Molly Alexander (31st); Nancy Jones (31st)]
Blessed Name Day: John Alexander (7th); John Labban (7th); Gregory Gillquist (10th)
Memory Eternal: Jolee (Dec. 10th); Priscilla (15th); Nick (18th); Kh. Chinnu (Dec.19th); Marianne Dye (26th); Anthony (28th);
Prayer List: (IF YOU HAVE PLACED NAMES ON THE PRAYER LIST AND WANT THEM REMOVED, PLEASE TELL MARCIA.) Ioana; Patricia; Dee Haney; Galina; John G; Nicetas; Barb; Shirley; Metropolitan Paul, Archbishop John; Kh. Loretta; Fr. John Koen; Archpriests Roman, George & Stephen; Krystal & Jason; 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: “O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance.”
Verse: “Unto Thee, O Lord, will I cry, O my God!” Psalm 27:9,1
Epistle: The Reading is from Saint Paul’s Second Epistle to Timothy. (4:5-8)
MY CHILD TIMOTHY, be watchful in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a libation, and the season of my departure is at hand: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have guarded the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will reward me at that Day, and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved His appearing.
Gospel: The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark. (1:1-8)
The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before Thy face, who shall prepare Thy way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” John the Baptizer appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the River Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, “After me comes He Who is mightier than I, the strap of Whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Divine Liturgy Variables
Resurrectional Apolytikion – Tone 5
Let us believers praise and worship the Word; coeternal with the Father and the Spirit, born of the Virgin for our salvation. For, He took pleasure in ascending the Cross in the flesh to suffer death; and to raise the dead by His glorious Resurrection.
Apolytikion of the Forefeast of Theophany – Tone 4
Make ready, O Zebulon, and prepare, O Naphtali, and thou, River Jordan, cease thy flow and receive with joy the Master coming to be baptized. And thou, Adam, rejoice with the first mother, and hide not yourselves as ye did of old in paradise; for having seen thee naked, He appeared to clothe thee with the first robe. Yea, Christ hath appeared desiring to renew the whole creation.
Kontakion of the Forefeast of Theophany- Tone 4
today hath the Lord appeared in the courses of the Jordan, crying to John and saying, “Be not dismayed at my Baptism; for I have verily come to save Adam, the first to be created.”