Junior & Senior SOYO Activities Saturday, November 27th
…Junior SOYO will decorate our Christmas tree Saturday (11/27) at 4 o’clock with Mr. Tom. Bring a friend or a teen to help and share in the fun!
…Senior SOYO will continue decorating after Vespers, together with discussion and food from 6 to 8:00 as usual.
O Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, for His mercy endures forever!
Sunday, November 28, 2021
Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost
Venerable-martyr Stephen the New
Martyr Irinarchos of Sebastia and those with him
Nativity Fast
Thought for Today: “He who gives to no one is truly poor!” – St. Clement of Rome
Saint Nicholas Celebration: This year we will be graced by a visit from Saint Nicholas on Sunday, December 5 following the Divine Liturgy. Weather permitting, this year’s celebration will take place in the pavilion, so bring a scarf! Families are encouraged to bring a hearty soup or loaf of bread to share. Cookies are also welcome.
Teen SOYO Diaper Drive: Please place donations for Newborn and sizes 1 and 2 in the box in the social hall. The Women’s Care Center will distribute them to families in need.
St. Nicholas Tree: Continuing our local tradition, we will set up a small tree in the fellowship hall on which all are encouraged to place gift cards for families in need. Cards for Kroger, Sam’s Club and other local merchants as well as gas cards are always helpful. God loves a cheerful giver!
THIS WEEK
Wednesday, December 1: Daily Vespersat 6:00; Ask Abouna and O101 follow with Dr. John Craton discussing baptism.
Saturday, December 4: Divine Liturgy for Ss. Barbara and John of Damascus at 9am.
Saturday, December 4: Great Vespers at 5:00; Jr. SOYO at 4:00; Teen SOYO at 6:00
Sunday, December 5: Matins at 9:00; Divine Liturgy at 10:00 – A Visit by St. Nicholas
LOOKING AHEAD
The Adult Bible Study at the Webb’s meets from 9:00 to 10:30 am on Saturday mornings: December 11 and 18 and January 8. The format: snack and fellowship as people arrive followed by prayer, Bible study (about 1 hour), and then closing prayer and prayer requests. All adults are invited.
EPISTLE and GOSPEL READINGS
The Reading is from St. Paul’s First Epistle to the Ephesians. (2:4-10)
O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance.
Unto Thee, O Lord, will I cry, O my God.
Brethren, God, being rich in mercy, through His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead through the trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you are saved—and raised us up together with Him, and made us to sit together with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the coming ages He would show the exceeding riches of His grace, in kindness toward us, in Christ Jesus. For by grace you are saved through faith, and that is not of yourselves: it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (18:18-27)
At that time, a man came testing Jesus and asking, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery. Do not kill. Do not steal. Do not bear false witness. Honor your father and mother.’” And the man said, “All these I have observed from my youth.” And when Jesus heard it, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the man heard this he became sad, for he was very rich. Jesus, seeing him sad, said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus said, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.”
Receiving the Eucharist: 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.
DIVINE LITURGY VARIABLES for CHOIR and PARISH
Resurrection Apolytikion – Tone 6
When Mary stood at Thy grave, looking for Thy sacred body, angelic powers shone above Thy revered tomb. And the soldiers who were to keep guard became as dead men. Thou led Hades captive and wast not tempted thereby. Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst give life to the world, O Thou, Who art risen from the dead, O Lord, glory to Thee.
Apolytikion of St. Stephen the New – Tone 4
Trained on the mountain in ascetical-labors, with the whole armor of the Cross thou didst vanquish the spiritual arrays of unseen enemies; and when thou hadst stripped thyself with great courage for contest, thou didst slay Copronymus with the sword of the true Faith. For both these things hast thou been crowned by God, O righteous Martyr, blest Stephen of great renown.
Kontakion of Preparation of Christ’s Nativity – Tone 3
The Virgin cometh today, to the cave to give birth, ineffably to bring forth the Word Eternal. Therefore, rejoice O Earth, at the message. With the angels and shepherds give glory to Him Who shall appear by His own will, as a young child, He Who is from eternity God!
FAMILY NEWS
The Nativity Fast: The first period is November 15 through December 19 – no meat, poultry, eggs, dairy, fish, wine and oil with wine and oil on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and for fish, wine and oil on Saturdays and Sundays. The second period is December 20 through 24 when the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, eggs, dairy, fish, wine and oil) is observed with katalysis for wine and oil only on Saturday and Sunday.
PANTRY NEEDS: Let’s continue filling the Pantry. We DO NOT NEED rice or spaghetti. Take a look in Marcia’s office, and you may see something else that would fill the shelves!
Meals for the Cowan Family: If you have not had the opportunity to sign up to bring a meal for Lance, Catherine and little Abigail Joy, please click the following link to do so: https://www.giveinkind.com/inkinds/I5G1X5X
Birthday Celebrations: Dan M (30th); Gregory G (2nd)
Name Day Blessings: Don H (St. Andrew -30th); Andrew L (St. Andrew – 30th)
Belated Name Day Blessings to all who celebrated St. Katherine the Great on November 25th (also Thanksgiving Day). Catherine Alexander; Katie Alexander; Rachel Barber; Catherine Cowan; Mallory Finchum; Sharon Catherine Gill; Karen Hrisomalos; Catherine Polit; Kelly Sanderson; Lina Tabbal
Memory Eternal: Lois; Richard
Prayer List: Catherine Polit (hospice) and her family;Jake Immimk (hospitalized); Fr. Athanasius Wilson; Jack;Christopher:Catherine, Lance, Abigail; Covid-19 resurgence; refugees and immigrants; our nation and nation’s leaders at all levels of government; schools: school children, youth and personnel across the nation; Nancy; April; Don; Vicki; Mat. Raisa;; Ingrid, Fr. Jerome; Catherine;; Anastasia with child; Bonnie Thelen; Wadia; Jayci; Dee, Patricia, Marvin, Alice; Michael; Olga; Eileen; Soren; Kitsa; Apthrodite and Angelos; Kim; Dusty, Cari; Betsy, Josh; Allison; Andrew and Isaac ( Korea/military); Leanne; Heather; Nancy; Sharon Catherine; Emma; Lexi, Ross and Vivian; Theo; Doug; Jeremy; Marcia & Deacon; Elias; Waded; Seraphima; Lilly’s family; Jennifer; Christy