“Sleepers awake!” is the name of Bach’s popular cantata, originally sung during Advent. The title refers to a common theme of the Holy Scriptures, and, therefore, of our Orthodox Faith, particularly during this season of preparation for Christ’s coming: The parable of the wise Virgins, whose lamps where lit and ready to meet the Lord echoes the theme of vigilance that is at the heart of the Gospel and life in Christ that we see in today’s Gospel in which Christ God admonishes us to ready ourselves for participation in His Kingdom because the time of His “marriage feast” is near. Advent is mean to prepare us not only for the celebration of Christ’s first coming, but of His imminent Second Coming as well. The Parable of the Banquet is a cautionary reminder to us of what’s at stake in our response to God’s gracious invitation to “dine with Him,” to enjoy the blessings of communion and life with Him who is the Life of the world and our only hope for eternal life. All are called but not all choose by their will, by the way that they live their lives, by their humble obedience and denial of self to answer Christ’s call, to accept His gracious gift of relationship and communion. St. Paul, almost in response to this truth, admonishes us in today’s Epistle as those called into new life in Christ, to embrace our identity in Him above all else, putting away the works of iniquity, so that we, like those invited to the banquet in Christ’s Gospel, may not remove ourselves from life with Him, but may put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him…”
With Christ God’s love and blessing,
Fr. Robert+
THIS WEEK AT HOLY ARCHANGELS:
- Sun, Dec. 14—Last day to sign up for poinsettias on the back table!
- Wed, Dec. 17, 11 a.m., Mission Council Meeting, Rectory
- Sat, Dec. 20, 6:00 p.m. Great Vespers Confession following
- Sun, Dec. 21, 9:30 a.m., Hours 10am Divine Liturgy, Trapeza (fish, wine, oil allowed)
Looking Ahead: Mark your Calendars!
- WEDNESDAY, Dec. 24, 10 p.m. LUMINOUS FEAST of the NATIVITY. Bring a quiche and a favorite desert to share!
- FRIDAY, Jan. 2, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Potluck Dinner, Wassailing and Colinde at the Rectory. Bring your slippers to celebrate the Feast of Nativity and enjoy fellowship, carols together. Please RSVP to Psa. Krissy, indicate what you would like to bring.
- TUESDAY, Jan. 6, 9:30 Hours followed immediately by Divine Liturgy of holy THEOPHANY and the GREAT BLESSING OF WATER. Short Trapeza followed by the BLESSING of the WATERS at CITY DOCK.
November Financial Report: Holy Archangels received a total of $3,405 in offerings in November ($2448 in October). $2500 was pledged. Glory to God! $25,536 was received in offerings from January – October 2014. The budgeted amount based on pledges is $27,500. This leaves us a gap of $2,000 to make up between now and Dec. to meet our expenses! Please stay current with your pledges/offerings, and consider increasing your offering and/or making a special one-time gift to help meet this deficit. Thank God for His provision and thank you for your faithful support, which insures that our Mission can continue and grow! The Holy Archangels Mission Council
2015 Pledge Update: $2330 has been pledged monthly for 2015. The average pledge is $220 per family. To meet our financial needs, we need $2500 in monthly pledges. If you’re willing to increase your pledge (or make a pledge) to help meet this need and provide for our Mission’s needs and growth, please contact Fr. Robert right away. We ask everyone to be as generous as possible, giving thanks with a grateful heart for God’s work in our lives through this church.
Prayer Requests:
- That God may grow our Mission “in spirit and in numbers…”
- For God’s financial provision for our Mission and ACM (Annapolis College Ministry);
- Newly-departed handmaiden of God, Genica, newly-departed servant of God, John (grandfather of Sbdn. Michael Anthony).
- Metropolitan Isaiah of Georgia, Archpriest George, Priest John, Dcn. Basil, Rdr. John, Benedict, James, Daniel, Seraphim, Ed, Bede, Wanda, Peter, the Church in Georgia and Romania as they address the relativism of the West, speaking the truth in love, our suffering, persecuted Orthodox brethren in Iraq and Syria, a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine., for all those suffering from the Ebola epidemic and for a speedy end to the disease.
Troparion (Resurrection) Tone 2
When You descended to death, O Life Immortal,
You destroyed hell with the splendor of Your Godhead.
And when from the depths You raised the dead,
all the powers of heaven cried out:// “O Giver of life, Christ our God, glory to You!”
Troparion (Forefathers) 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!
Kontakion (Forefathers) 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!”
