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Twenty-Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
Sunday of the Forefathers
Materici
St. Nicholas Bulletin - December 25, 2022
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Christ is in our midst! Христос међу нама! Cristo está entre nosotros! | |
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Homily on the Bridal Feast
by St. Anthony of Sourozh
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In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Time and again we hear this parable of Christ. If we only received it deep in our hearts, if we only saw ourselves as we are depicted in it, both to our shame and to our glory, to our hope! How many of us are those who are described there, are the people who could say when they are called by God – not to do anything in particular, but simply to be with Him, to share His joy, to be partakers of the grace – how many of us would say to Him (and we do, but are we aware of it?): Lord, I belong to the earth; didn't You take me out of the earth, have I not been fashioned out of the dust? The earth is my mother, the earth is the closest thing to me, I belong to it? Forgetting that indeed, we belong to it; we are taken out of it, fashioned out of it, but we shall return to it as dust, unless there is the other dimension that has grown in us, unless we realize, not only with our mind – with all our being, that we were indeed made out of earth, but by the powerful, the creative word of God, and that we belong to Him Who spoke this word, we are akin to Him more than we are to this earth, if that is possible. We feel as though we have set roots deep, deep into the earth, as though we derived from it all that we are: our life – yes, called out of it; but also all that it produces, beauty and joy, and everything; and it is so easy to forget that we are called to be more than just the dust of this earth!
And then, how often do we think, there is no time for me to spend in the intimacy of God, to be with Him, just to be, just to be happy, to be together with Him: haven’t I got a task? It may be something that I feel is important! It may even be something that we imagine is important to God – is there time for me to be with Him? We may be with Him later, one day, when all things are fulfilled, or when death has severed our fetters, our link with the earth and with what we imagine is our task. And our tasks are endless; one or another of the divines of the past had said that the image of the five yokes of oxen indeed speaks of the work we feel we must fulfill; but also perhaps, do they not represent our five senses? Do they not represent the five senses which we use continuously, in all directions, anarchically, unpurposefully being by them blinded to the invisible? Isn’t it true that the demon of the noonday is this moment when everything created, all the visible becomes so intensely, powerfully perceptible to us and blinds us to the invisible?
And then, the last man said, I can’t share your joy, oh Lord, I have my own. I have taken a bride, my heart is full of rejoicing! Can I turn away from my joy, forget it for one moment, let go of it and share yours? Let this joy of mine become every day’s life; loose its newness perhaps, and then I will share yours.
Isn’t that the various images which depict us? And what can God do about it? He offers Himself; He wants to share with us all there is: yes, even this earth, but on His terms; to use an image of Saint Ephraim of Syria, to make for us this very earth a sacrament of initiation: a sacrament, a divine act by which He Himself is disclosed, and the means by which He discloses Himself become holy, sacred, shining with glory divine… Yes, He wants us to fulfill a task on earth, but that this task should be what He is doing, make us co-workers with Him, not people sent away from His presence, but people who had become so perfectly one with Him that what we do is what He does and what we are is what He is, ultimately, and that His joy should be ours, the joy that cannot be contained in our hearts, so great it is – it fills the heart of God.
But isn’t there a way? Yes! Become like the people to whom the King send His servants: they were lame, they were beggars, they were in rags, they were the scum of the earth; but because they were deprived of everything, their longing was for all; and all was not simply the little things of the earth that seem so great to us, but something greater: the Kingdom of God, where all should be love, beauty, truth, justice they have longed all their lives; and it is to them the Angels of God, the servants of the King were sent!
What about us? Couldn’t we become, each of us, one of these people? Aren’t we as blind as the blind, as lame as the lame, as poor as the poorest? Why not turn to God and receive the earth, and our task, and all that can fill our life and our hearts on God’s own terms, with Him? And this is what He is offering us on this day of the Nativity which we will keep next week; the day when He became one of us to show us that while being human totally, perfectly, unreservedly human, and yet, totally pervaded with divinity, we can become one with Him, partakers of the divine nature, partakers of His cross and of His glory. Let us reflect on this; let us become the lame, and the poor, and the blind, and the hungry; and then as the Beatitude tells us we shall be fed. Amen.
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Commemorating Saint Spyridon the Wonderworker Bishop of Tremithus, Hieromartyr Alexander Bishop of Jerusalem, Martyr Synetus of Rome, Martyr John Abbot of the Zedazeni Monastery, Venerable Therapon Abbot of Monza
RESURRECTION TROPARION—TONE 3
Let the heavens rejoice! Let the earth be glad! For the Lord has shown strength with His arm. He has trampled down death by death. He has become the first born of the dead. He has delivered us from the depths of hell, and has granted to the world great mercy.
FOREFATHERS TROPARION—TONE 2
Through faith You justified the Forefathers, betrothing through them the Church of the gentiles. These saints exult in glory, for from their seed came forth a glorious fruit: she who bore You without seed. So by their prayers, O Christ God, have mercy on us!
RESURRECTION KONTAKION—TONE 3
On this day You rose from the tomb, O Merciful One, leading us from the gates of death. On this day Adam exults as Eve rejoices; with the Prophets and Patriarchs they unceasingly praise the divine majesty of Your power.
FOREFATHERS KONTAKION - TONE 6
You did not worship the graven image, O thrice-blessed ones, but armed with the immaterial Essence of God, you were glorified in a trial by fire. From the midst of unbearable flames you called on God, crying: “Hasten, O compassionate One! Speedily come to our aid, for You are merciful and able to do as You will!”
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~Scripture Readings of the Day~ | |
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READERS:
This Week: Matins: Nick Ressetar Epistle: Dasha Gencturk
Next Week: Matins: Lenny Tepsich Epistle: Marko Rocknage
EPISTLE: Colossians 3:4-11
DEACON: Let us pay attention.
PRIEST: Peace be unto all!
READER: And with your spirit!
DEACON: Wisdom.
READER: The Prokeimenon in the Fourth Tone: Blessed are You, O Lord God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is Your name forever!
CHOIR: Blessed are You, O Lord God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is Your name forever!
READER: v: For You are just in all that You have done for us!
CHOIR: Blessed are You, O Lord God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is Your name forever!
READER: Blessed are You, O Lord God of our fathers...
CHOIR: ...and praised and glorified is Your name forever!
DEACON: Wisdom!
READER: The Reading is from the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Colossians.
DEACON: Let us attend!
READER: Brethren, when Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.
PRIEST: Peace be unto you, reader!
READER: And with your spirit!
DEACON: Wisdom.
READER: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
READER: Moses and Aaron were among His priests; Samuel also was among those who called on His Name.
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
READER: They called to the Lord and He answered them.
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
АПОСТОЛ: Колошанима 3:4-11
Ђакон: Пазимо
Свештеник: Мир свима!
Читач: I Духу Твоме!
Ђакон: Премудрост
Читач : ПРОКИМЕН- глас 4 Благословен си, Господе Боже отаца наших, и хвално и прослављено је име Твоје у све вјекове.
Хор: Благословен си, Господе Боже отаца наших, и хвално и прослављено је име Твоје у све вјекове.
Читач: Јер си праведан у свему што си учинио за нас.
Хор: Благословен си, Господе Боже отаца наших, и хвално и прослављено је име Твоје у све вјекове.
Читач: Благословен си, Господе Боже отаца наших,
Хор: и хвално и прослављено је име Твоје у све вјекове.
Ђакон: Премудрост
Читач: Читање посланице Светога апостола Павла Колошанима
Ђакон: Пазимо
Читач: Браћо, када се јави Христос, живот наш, онда ћете се и ви с Њиме јавити у слави. Умртвите, дакле, удове своје који су на земљи: блуд, нечистоту, страст, злу похоту и лакомство, што је идолопоклонство, због којих долази гњев Божији на синове противљења, у којима и ви негда ходисте, када живљасте у њима. А сад одбаците и ви то све: гњев, љутину, пакост, хуљење, срамотне ријечи из уста својих. Не лажите један другога, јер свукосте старога човјека са дјелима његовим, и обукосте се у новога, који се обнавља за познање, према лику Онога који га је саздао, гдје нема Јелина ни Јудејца, обрезања ни необрезања, варварина ни Скита, роба ни слободњака, него је све и у свему Христос.
Свештеник: Мир ти читачу!
Читач: I Духом Твоме!
Ђакон: Премудрост.
Читач: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Читач: Мојсеј и Арон, свештеници Његиви, и Самуило један од оних који призиваху име Његово.
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Читач: Призиваху Бога и Он их услиши
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
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LITURGY GOSPEL:
Luke 14: 16-24
At that time, “A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for all things are now ready.’ But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.’ Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ So that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.’ And the servant said, ‘Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.’ Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.’ ”
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ЈЕВАНЂЕЉЕ:
Лука 14: 16-24
Каза Господ причу ову: Неки човјек зготови велику вечеру и позва многе. И у вријеме вечере, посла слугу својега да каже званицама: Дођите, јер је већ све готово. И почеше се сви редом изговарати. Први му рече: Купих њиву и морам изићи да је видим; молим те, изговори ме. И други рече: Купих пет јармова волова, и идем да их огледам; молим те, изговори ме. И трећи рече: Ожених се, и зато не могу доћи. И дошавши слуга тај, јави ово господару своме. Тада се разгњеви домаћин и рече слуги своме: Изиђи брзо на тргове и улице градске, и доведи амо сиромахе, и богаље и хроме, и слијепе. И рече слуга: Господару, учињено је како си заповједио, и још има мјеста. И рече господар слуги: Изиђи на путеве и међу ограде, и приволи их да уђу да ми се напуни дом. Јер вам кажем да ниједан од оних званих људи неће окусити моје вечере. Јер је много званих, али је мало изабраних.
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~ The Week Ahead: Scriptures and Services ~ | |
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~Prayers for the Faithful~
In Our Prayers
Newly Illumined Ethan & Lauren Bebeau, Endora Lucille, their parents and sponsors, Metropolitan Paul, Archbishop Youhanna, Protopresbyter Srboljub and Protinica Ljubica Jockovic, Protopresbyter Rodney Torbic, Popadija Sara Golic, Matushka Barbara Ealy, the child Katie Elizabeth and her parents Mileva and Michael Repasky, the child Metodija and his parents Fr. Dn. Milan and Mira Damljanovic, the child Danijela and her parents Mark and Jennifer Belo, Melissa Thomason and the child newly born of her, Clare Jurkovic and the child newly born of her, Lauren Spangler and the child newly born of her, Bethany Peterson and the child to be born of her, Michelle Adams, Addy Andy, Louise Bare, Dori Bert, Jonathan Bertsch, Darlene & Larry Black, Carole Blitva, Stephan and Barbara Blitva, Walter “Bud” Brown, Guiliana & Aleksandar Carricato, Leann Cox, Joseph Derk, Art Dils, Draga Donato, Tommy and Kara (Blitva) Dorsey, Anaya Garvin, Christian & Melanie Geib, Michael Geppert III, Dr Andrea Govelovich, Nick & Terry Govelovich, Kata Gruich, George Gutshall, Dan Hazlett, Basil Havalchak, Travis Heilman, Adam Herigan, Edith Herigan, Nicole Stefan Imschweiler, Susan Jacobs, Tijana Jaksic, Slobodan Jovicic, Spencer Klinge, Ljuban Kosovac, Dorothy Krnjaich, Henry Laichak, Peter Lalic, Dragan Lalovic, Stella Wren Lappas, Catherine Lewis, Dick Livingston, Maggie Livingston, Stephen Lundingrin, Dianne & Jim Martin, Rowan Martin, Jack McFall, Annabelle McLaughlin, John J Milakovic, Marija Miljkovic, Daria Milletics, Infant of God Ryan Leigh Moffitt, Dave Morris, Peter Mrgich, George Myers, Patty Navarro, Bosiljka Ninkovic, Eva Orr, Lila Packer, Daniel Paddock, Ljubomir Pejanovic, Vid & Marica Pejcic, Hope Pesner, Tracy Petrovich, Logan Roszkowski, Greg Selman, Michael Schaffner, Michael Semic, Steven Semic, Benjamin Shaffer, Tessa Shaffer, John Sheaffer, Pat Shoemaker, Branko Smitran, Tim Stefan, Patricia & Joseph Sypniewski, Leonard Tepsich, Leroy Tepsich Jr, Edie & Michael “Bo” Venesevich, Rita Vorkapich, Kristina Vukalo, Steve Vulich, Paula Werner, Draga Worman, Dewey Yetter, Mileva “Millie” Yezdimir, Marija Zabrodnaya, Demetrios & Eleni Ziogas, Miriam “Mim” Codan Ziolkowski
Those Who Need Special Care
COUNTRY MEADOWS MECHANICSBURG: Florence Ivanoff; MASONIC HOME ELIZABETHTOWN: Ray Foltz; RS: Cedo Lukic; SPRING CREEK: Chuck Belic
Those to be Baptized
Sloane Ivey & Berkeley Blythe Semic, Emilia Renee Peterson, Barrett Scott, Divna and Danica Mitrovic, Nora Katherine & Maeve Noelle Van Huysen, Sloane York, Logan Michael Livingston, Bennett Noah Spangler
Our College Students
Anastasija Gligorevic, Cayden Healy, Matthew Hoover, Kalei Howard, Sophia Mummert, Kobe Petrovich, Christina Radanovic, Ioanna Radanovic, Kyranna Radanovic, Maxim Reznitchenko, Madison Vorkapich
Our Dearly Departed Loved Ones
Matushka Anna Hopko, Nenad ‘Nesho’ Pantelich, Mark Gruin, Slobodanka Balaban, Mihailo Novakovic, Ljubica Tajkovic, Jo-An Tracey Stanovich, William Yovanovich, Eva Stimac, Ljubisa Stankovic, Natalija Mandic
~Vigils Offered~
TOOTSIE KRNJAICH Offering vigils and prayers for our Kuma Tootsie. May God’s blessings be with her during her rehab period. From her Godchildren, Kat and families.
DARLENE BLACK Offered with love by the Barber & Geib Families for God’s Blessings during her recovery. We pray that He will bless her with good health. Our Love & Prayers are with her.
MICHAEL GEPPERT Offered prayerfully by Mom & Dad for improvement in health and God’s blessings and loving care during his recovery.
†LJUBICA VIOLA YANICH Offered in loving memory of Mom/Grammy/Nin/Ojna as we observe the 10th anniversary (Dec 24) of her repose. We are sustained by memories of her wisdom, faith and good humor and lifted by the certainty that she rests peacefully in Christ’s eternal light. Given by her Family. Vjecnaja Pamjat! Memory Eternal!
†CAROLE HEALY Offered in loving memory her 80th birthday (Dec 24). I love you and miss you, Michael. Vjecnaja Pamjat! Memory Eternal!
†ANNA BARBER Offered in loving memory of Mother/Baba/Great-Baba for her repose (20 years—Dec 27). Sadly missed and always in our hearts and prayers. Given by the Foltz, Barber and Geib families. Vjecnaja Pamjat! Memory Eternal!
†GEORGE FILEPAS Offered by JoAnn and family in loving memory his repose (13 years—Dec 27). We miss him and pray for him to be in peace. Vjecnaja Pamjat! Memory Eternal!
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Please continue to pray for all of those currently being persecuted for Christ's sake in Kosovo, Metohija, Montenegro, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, the Sudan, China, North Korea, for all of our brothers and sisters in Christ suffering throughout the world, especially in Ukraine, that they might be comforted with the Joy of our Lord, and for all of those suffering from the pandemic, for those who minister, and for those who are unjustly persecuted that they may be strengthened by the love of Christ which knows no race.
LET US PRAY TO THE LORD!
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Stewardship Offering Information
Date 12/19/2022
Collection: $760.00
Date 12/18/2022
Collection: $2,235.00
Date 12/11/2022
Collection: $5,494.00
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December Birthdays
Laurie Brosius (Dec 1), Stephani York (Dec 2), Alex Govelovich (Dec 2), Gordana Fasnacht (Dec 4), Alexandra McFall (Dec 4), Paul Kasper (Dec 7), Alexa Healy (Dec 10), Nicholas Blitva (Dec 11), Sarah Milletics (Dec 11), Lorraine James (Dec 15), Quinn Gilroy (Dec 15), Irina Miljkovic (Dec 17), Steve Barry (Dec 17), Michael Filepas Jr (Dec 23), Carole Blitva (Dec 25)
December Anniversaries
Alex & Nicole Bazdar (Dec 11), Dori & Doug Bert (Dec 18), Lauren & Ross Spangler (Dec 21), Pharon & Christine Bertsch (Dec 27)
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NATIVITY FAST
The Nativity Fast began on Monday, November 28. This means that we prepare the body to receive the Incarnate Christ Child through fasting, alms-giving and prayer. It is a time to focus upon giving alms to the poor. It is a time to focus upon offering ourselves to God’s Church. It is a time to re-dedicate ourselves to praying to God, both in Divine Services and at home. Receive the Fast with Joy!
SPECIAL THANKS TO GOD
We would like to thank Wiedeman Funeral Home and the Wiedeman family for once again providing us with our 2023 Wall Calendars. If you haven’t gotten yours yet, they are in the lobby for you to pick up.
We would like to thank Dewey Yetter for once again assembling and donating the kits the Sunday School used for planting wheat on St Nicholas Day. We are thankful he continues to share his stewardship with our students.
Special Thank You goes out to Jovanka Shaffer for her efforts in assuring the Christmas Trees in the Capitol Complex remain lit through our Christmas.
GREETERS TEAM
Hello! Welcome to St. Nick’s! If you can say this with a smile, you are a born GREETER. Have you ever felt uncomfortable upon entering a place where no one knows you? It is not a great feeling. St. Nick’s is asking you to be a steward willing to share your warm welcome to all those who enter our beautiful church for the first or the five hundredth time. Please let Daria or Terry know that you can be that steward once every 6 weeks.
NEW ITEMS AVAILABLE IN THE DISPLAY CASE
Check out the Mother’s Club Display Case as we are getting new items in weekly. There are also new Nativity/Christmas Cards available. Check them out!
KSS 2023 DUES AND SENIORS 2023 DUES
Jovanka Shaffer and JoAnn Filepas will be seated in the church hall after Liturgy on Sundays to collect 2023 dues. Dues remain at $5 for the year.
MOTHERS CLUB 2023 DUES AND SERB CLUB 2023 DUES
Please see Nikki Lewis to pay your 2023 Mother’s Club Dues and Popadija Andreja to pay your 2023 Serb Club Dues.
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LEARN CHRISTMAS CAROLS WITH THE CHOIR
Learn to sing a selection of beautiful Serbian and traditional Christmas carols in 4-part harmony. Non-choir members are invited to join the choir for 30-minute rehearsals. The choir will dedicate the last 30 minutes of weekly choir rehearsals, as well as 30 minutes on Sundays after Liturgy to rehearse Christmas carols. Rehearsal dates are: December 29, If interested, and/or for more information, please contact Nina Radanovic at 717-634-6170, or by email:
ninarad.mil19@gmail.com.
SING CAROLS WITH THE CHOIR
After learning the carols, join us in singing them both on January 1st as we visit our parishioners who are shut-in or in nursing homes and then in the choir loft to sing Carols during communion and at the end of Liturgy on January 7th. If you know of anyone we should visit, please contact Nina Radanovic at 717-634-6170, or by email at: ninarad.mil19@gmail.com.
CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
Office hours are Monday thru Friday from 9am until noon. You may call the office during these hours at (717-939-3972) or come by the office in person. Office hours will be adjusted when services are occurring during those hours.
BULLETIN DEADLINE
Bulletin Deadline is Wednesday at 11 am. Please send all bulletin requests to office@stnicholassteelton.org. You may also call the office at (717-939-3872).
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December Charity
Very Reverend Stavrophor Srboljub Jockovich
Fund for St. Nicholas Church Ministries & those in Need
In 2010, our congregation established The Fr. Srboljub Fund as a permanent resource for special ministries and other special needs or events in our church community or with our Orthodox Christian partners in the Central PA area or the larger Orthodox Christian community. Each month we participate in the Charity Sunday program and we always give those donations to an outside charity. Through the Fr. Srboljub Fund, we have created a dynamic new way to support the special ministries of our Church community and to respond to the special needs of our Orthodox Christian brothers and sisters. We are preparing ourselves to respond to ministries and programs in areas such as feeding the hungry, youth and senior programs, library needs, gift shop resources, education and outreach initiatives, visitation efforts and unforeseen emergencies or crises.
Please give generously to the Fr. Srboljub Fund so we may honor our long-time spiritual leader in this unique way as we grow our resources and are prepared to respond when a special need arises. God bless you and thank you for your generosity.
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MOTHERS CLUB CHRISTMAS PARTY
Sunday, January 15th at Gilligan’s on Eisenhower Blvd at 12 noon
Whether you are a mother, godmother, stepmother or grandmother, please join us for food and fun, and of course our traditional polyanna/white elephant gift exchange.
Please RSVP to Angie Vorkapich by Sunday, January 8th
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AXIOS!! MANY YEARS! MNOGAJA LJETA!
Congratulations to Very Reverend Father Christopher Rocknage on his elevation to Protonamesnik; as well as newly tonsured Reader Matthew Hoover. Both the tonsuring and elevation were received from His Grace, Bishop +Irinej on St Nicholas Day during the Hierarchical Liturgy.
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The Winter Pascha, Chapter 14:
The Sunday of the Holy Forefathers
The following is an excerpt from The Winter Pascha, by Fr. Thomas Hopko
Two Sundays before the celebration of Christmas, the Orthodox Church rejoices in the festival of the Holy Forefathers of the Old Covenant, including those who came before the giving of the Law. They foretold the coming of the Messiah and are redeemed by his saving Pascha. Together with the Canon of the Nativity of Christ, the following hymns are sung at the services of the day.
Let us offer praise to the fathers who shone forth before and during the Law; with righteous minds they served the Lord and Master Who shone forth from the Virgin, And now they delight in the unending Light. Let us honor Adam, the first-formed man and forefather of us all, who was honored by the hands of the creator. He rests in the heavenly mansions with all the elect. …
With his whole mouth, tongue and heart, The wondrous Enoch hoped that in the Spirit He might call with godly mind upon God, the Master of all. Having lived on earth in a well-pleasing manner, he has been taken up in glory. Let us hear the divine words of those who cry aloud, telling of the coming of Christ. For behold, He is born in a cave of an unwedded Maiden, And his awesome birth is foretold to the Wise Men By the suddenly appearing star. …
There is a great difference between existing and living. Many people exist. Very few really live. Only those who seek God have life. Only those who delight in His commandments and rejoice in accomplishing His will pass beyond mere existence and actually find life. "Seek God, and your soul shall live" (Ps 69:32, LXX). This is the cry of the psalmist David who is especially hymned on this Sunday and on the Sunday after Christmas. His exhortation is in perfect harmony with the words of God given to Moses in His revelation of the divine Law. "See I have set before you this day life and good, death and evil. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day, by walking in His ways, and by keeping His commandments and His statutes and His ordinances, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you are entering to take possession of it. But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you this day, that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land which you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess. I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying His voice, and cleaving to Him; for that means life to you and length of days, that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them." (Deut 30:15-20) The holy forefathers and mothers, together with all their descendants, have chosen life. They find it in God's Messiah, Jesus Christ, who is Life itself, God's incarnate Word. The celebration of the Winter Pascha is a celebration of Life in God's Word. For "Christ who is our life" has already appeared (Col 3:4). We have "beheld His glory" (Jn 1:14). Now that glory is hidden in the "form of a slave" (Phil 2:7), but it will be revealed at the end of the ages in power for those who "have loved His appearing" and "live in Him" (2 Tim 4:8; Col 2:6).
You shone as heaven's lights upon the earth Enkindling the light of piety. You called forth the choir of all creation as you sang to the Master who saves all from temptation, "Bless Him, O children! Exalt Him, O priests! Praise Christ, all people, throughout all the ages!"
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Nativity
Service Schedule
Wednesday, January 4
Vespers 6:30pm
Holy Confession to Follow
Friday, January 6
Eve of the Nativity / Бадња Дан
Royal Hours 8:30am
Baptismal Vesperal Liturgy 9:30am
Badnjak Service 7:30pm
Christmas Vigil 8:00pm
Saturday, January 7
Божић / Nativity of our Lord
Festal Liturgy 9:30am
Sunday, January 8
Synaxis of the Theotokos/Sunday after the Nativity
Matins 8:30am
Liturgy 9:30am
Monday, January 9
Feast of Protomartyr and Apostle, Stephen
Festal Liturgy 9:30am
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