December 1, 2019
Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost

Ephesians 2:14-22: In our reading from Ephesians, we are reminded that Christ not only brought us into union with Himself, but also into union with each other and the faithful saints who have gone before us to be with the Lord.

Luke 18:35-43: In our reading from Luke we see the Lord’s mercy toward those who have faith as He restores the sight of a blind man on the road to Jericho.

Troparion of the Resurrection: Thou didst shatter death by thy Cross; thou didst open paradise to the thief; thou didst turn the mourning of the ointment-bearing women into joy, and didst bid thine Apostles proclaim warning that thou hast risen, O Christ, granting the world Great Mercy.

Troparion of the Chains of St. Peter: O Holy Apostle, Peter, thou dost preside over the Apostles by the precious chains which thou didst bear. We venerate them with faith and beseech thee that by thine intercessions we be granted the great mercy.

Kontakion Preparatory for Nativity: Today the Virgin comes unto the cave to give birth in an ineffable manner to the Word before the ages. Rejoice, therefore, O universe, when you hear, and glorify with the angels and the shepherds him who shall appear by his own will as a new babe, being God before the ages.

CALENDAR

Sunday, December 1 (Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost)
8:50 a.m.

November 24, 2019
Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost
After-feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple

Ephesians 2:4-10: St. Paul, writing to the Ephesians, encourages us by reminding us that we who were dead in our sins are now alive in our union with Christ because of God’s mercy toward us and are now able to do the good works prepared for us.

Luke 18:18-27: In the Gospel according to St Luke we hear our Lord tell us via an encounter with a rich, young ruler that to obtain eternal life we must be willing to give up everything that we possess in service to the Kingdom of God.

Troparion of the Resurrection: 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.

Troparion of the Presentation of the Theotokos: Today the Virgin is the foreshadowing of the pleasure of God, and the beginning of the preaching of the salvation of mankind. You have appeared in the Temple of God openly and have gone before, preaching Christ to all. Let us shout with one thrilling voice, saying, Rejoice, O you who are the fulfillment of the Creator’s dispensation.

Troparion of the Chains of St. Peter: O Holy Apostle, Peter, thou dost preside over the Apostles by the precious chains which thou didst bear. We venerate them with faith and beseech thee that by thine intercessions we be granted the great mercy.

Kontakion of the Presentation of the Theotokos: The all-pure temple of the Saviour, the most precious bridal-chamber and Virgin, the treasure-house of the glory of God, today enters the Temple of the Lord, bringing with her the grace which is in the divine Spirit; whom also the angels of God do celebrate in song; for she is the heavenly tabernacle.

CALENDAR

Sunday, November 24 (Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost)
8:50 a.m.

November 17, 2019

Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost

Galatians 6:11-18: In the conclusion of his letter to the Galatians, St Paul reminds them that to be cir­cumcised or uncircumcised is not the issue, but rather to be a new creation in Christ Jesus.

Luke 12:16-21: In the parable of the rich landowner the Lord teaches us that material possessions are worthless when valued more than knowing God.

Troparion of the Resurrection: Let us believers praise and worship the Word, co-eternal 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.

Troparion of St. Gregory the Wonder-worker: By vigilance in prayer, and continuance in the working of wonders, thou didst acquire thine achievements as a surname; wherefore intercede with Christ our God, O Father Gregory, to enlighten our souls, lest we sleep in sin unto death.

Troparion of the Chains of St. Peter: O Holy Apostle, Peter, thou dost preside over the Apostles by the precious chains which thou didst bear. We venerate them with faith and beseech thee that by thine intercessions we be granted the great mercy.

Kontakion of the Presentation of the Theotokos: The all-pure temple of the Saviour, the most precious bridal-chamber and Virgin, the treasure-house of the glory of God, today enters the Temple of the Lord, bringing with her the grace which is in the divine Spirit; whom also the angels of God do celebrate in song; for she is the heavenly tabernacle.

CALENDAR

Sunday, November 17 (Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost)

8:50 a.m. — Orthros

9:00 a.m. — Christian Education

10:00 a.m. — Divine Liturgy

Monday, November 18

Father John’s Day Off

Tuesday, November 19

6:00 a.m. — Daily Orthros

Wednesday, November 20

6:30 p.m. — Great Vespers with Litia and Artoklasia

7:30 p.m. — Parish Council Meeting

Thursday, November 21 (Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple)

6:00 a.m. — Festal Orthros

Friday, November 22

Saturday, November 23

5:45 p.m. — Ninth Hour followed by Great Vespers

Sunday, November 24 (Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost)

8:50 a.m. — Orthros

9:00 a.m. — Christian Education

10:00 a.m. — Divine Liturgy

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Daniel Roots for the Divine Liturgy this morning.

Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

November 17 D. Root Katool/Davis/BaBa/Algood

November 20 (Wed. p.m.) Katool (Artoklasia Bread) NO MEAL

(Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple)

November 24 Karam Schelver/Karam/Pacurari

December 1 Brock Habeeb/Jones/Turner

December 5 (Thurs. p.m.) Henderson (Artoklasia Bread) NO Meal

(Feastday of St. Nicholas)

December 8 Baker Ellis/Zouboukos/Waites

December 15 Algood Henderson/Lockhart/Alaeetawi/Cooper

December 22 Katool Stewart/Meadows

Schedule for Epistle Readers – Page numbers refer to the Apostolos (book of the Epistles) located on the front pew. Please be sure to use this book when you read.

Reader Reading Page#

November 17 Sh. Charlotte Algood Gal. 6:11-18 198

November 24 Warren Strain Eph. 2:4-10 202

December 1 Kh. Sharon Meadows Eph. 2:14-22 207

December 8 Mildred Morris Eph. 4:1-7 212

December 15 Sam Habeeb II Tim. 1:8-18 346

December 22 Brenda Baker Heb. 11:9-10, 32-40 348

Please be reminded of the following:

Be very careful with the Blessed Bread when you take it after communion. Because this bread has been blessed, we should take care not to let crumbs fall on the floor. Parents, especially, please help your children to choose a small piece and treat it carefully.

Also, at the end of the liturgy, maintain a prayerful disposition during the veneration of the cross as the prayers of thanksgiving after communion are still underway. Please exchange your greetings with each other in the Fellowship Hall during Coffee Hour.

Please be reminded that the Sacristy/Vestry which is adjacent to and behind the altar in our church is considered by the Orthodox Church to be part of the Sanctuary (Altar area) and should not be entered without the blessing of the priest for a specific purpose. If you need to speak with a member of the clergy while they are in the Sanctuary, please ask them to come to you in the nave.

Please remember the following in your prayers: Steve, Sheryl Chamblee; Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Sam and Lamia Dabit; Mary Greene (Lee and Kh. Sharon’s sister); Lynda Costas; Fr. Nicholas, Kh. Jan and Angelina Speier; David Morris and his family; Vernie Meadows, Fr. James and Kh. Sharon and their family; Dn. Noah and Sh. Beth Ann (Baker) Pappas, the Reader Basil and Brenda and all of the Baker family; Chris and Rebecca Dansereau and their daughters; Fr. Leo and Kh. Be’Be’ and their family; Emad and Natalia Alaeetawi and their family.

Continue to pray for Metropolitan Paul (who is also the brother of our Patriarch) and the Syriac Archbishop John of Aleppo who were abducted while on a humanitarian mission in Syria.

Please remember Fr. Joseph and Kh. Joanna Bittle, and their daughter Abigail, in your prayers.

Congratulations and Many Years! to Denis and Tatiana Lavric on the birth of their daughter Ariana (5 lbs) Wednesday of last week! Mother and daughter are doing well.

Daily Orthros will resume this week.

Many thanks to all who worked so hard to make this past weekend a success!

Calendar Items:

* The Men of the parish meet for lunch and fellowship on the first Thursday of the month. However, they will meet on the third Thursday in July (only).

* The Ladies of St. Peter meet at 10:00 a.m. on the second Saturday of the month to pray the Akathist to the Mother of God, Nurturer of Children.

* The Ladies of the parish meet for lunch and fellowship on the last Tuesday of the month.

* Daily Orthros will resume this week.

* We will celebrate the Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple with Great Vespers with Litia and Artoklasia on Wednesday evening, November 20th, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

For Parents: Children in the nursery during Coffee Hour MUST be supervised just as they are on the playground. This room is used for Sunday School each week. Children who are unsupervised create disarray and use materials set aside for the teaching of Christian Education. This creates extra work for the Sunday School teachers who have to come in and set the room in order before class or who find supplies depleted unexpectedly. A parent must be in the room with their children at all times. Please help us with this! — Fr. John

Fasting Discipline for November

In November, the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil) is observed on Wednesdays and Fridays until the 15th of the month, when the Fast of the Nativity begins. During this fast the traditional fasting discipline is observed each day of the week. Note, however, through December 19th there is a katlysis on Tuesdays and Thursdays when wine and oil are permitted, and on Saturdays and Sundays when fish, wine and oil are permitted.

Major Commemorations for November

November 21 Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple

November 25 Great-martyrs Catherine and Mercurios

November 30 Apostle Andrew-the First-called

Information regarding the Diocesan Winter Retreat will be forthcoming in the near future.

If severe weather is in the area please check our website or facebook page for information on services. If it is ever necessary to cancel any of our services due to severe weather conditions, this will be posted on those sites.

Unsupervised children in the Kitchen: For health and safety concerns children are not to be allowed in the kitchen unless accompanied by a parent. Please get ice for your children and do NOT allow them to use the icemaker themselves.

ead of ManHead of Maonasteries

Quotable: “Therefore, prayer of repentance makes way for the forgiveness of sins and prevents the final judgment of God by justifying man through self-condemnation. But it also brings about the creative work of his perfection as an hypostasis, which task can only be fulfilled in the acquisition of divine grace. Fr. Sophrony confirms this when he says that human nature can be renewed only by the fire of repentance. Man’s renewal is an extremely intricate process by reason of the fall, and its deathly consequences. The very nature of man was undermined: it was divided into parts and this loss of integrity destroyed the harmony of its unity with its hypostatic principle. When the believer struggles to fulfil the commandments, he noticed his disorder. He sees that he is not in full possession of his true nature. He has one thing in his mind, desires something else with his heart, and is drawn to yet another thing by his senses. There is no unity in his nature as would allow the fulfilment of the first and great commandment: ‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength’ (Mark 12:30). Neither does he reflect on the ontological truth of the second commandment, which is similar to the first: ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself’ (Mark 12:31).”

Archimandrite Zacharias, The Hidden Man of the Heart

Worship: Sunday, November 24, 2019 (Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost)

Scripture: Ephesians 2:4-10; Luke 18:35-43

Celebrant: Father John

Epistle Reader: Warren Strain

Prosphora: Karam

Coffee Hour: Schelver/Karam/Pacurari

November 10, 2019
Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost

Galatians 2:16-20: We hear from St Paul’s letter to the Galatians that we are justified by faith in Christ, not by works of the Law; and that we now live our lives by faith in the Son of God.

Luke 10:25-37: From the Gospel reading we hear the parable of the Good Samaritan in which the Lord teaches us that to love one’s neighbor requires giving of our time and money in addition to prayers and good words.

Troparion of the Resurrection: 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 has been spoiled. Christ God is risen, granting the world Great Mercy.

Troparion of the Chains of St. Peter: O Holy Apostle, Peter, thou dost preside over the Apostles by the precious chains which thou didst bear. We venerate them with faith and beseech thee that by thine intercessions we be granted the great mercy.

Kontakion of the Presentation of the Theotokos: The all-pure temple of the Saviour, the most precious bridal-chamber and Virgin, the treasure-house of the glory of God, today enters the Temple of the Lord, bringing with her the grace which is in the divine Spirit; whom also the angels of God do celebrate in song; for she is the heavenly tabernacle.
CALENDAR

Sunday, November 10 (Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost)
8:50 a.m.