Blessed New Year and Many Years! A new year brings with it new opportunities to say “Yes!” to God and “No!” to sin in our daily lives, even moment by moment, as we live in and for Christ in a spirit of humility and repentance. Today we are called to “repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” Without repentance, a change of heart and turning continuously to Christ, there is no life in Him, there is no Christianity. Let this year be the year that you decide to give yourself more fully to Christ by living out your faith and making use of the tools of salvation found only in His Holy Church. Behold, Christ makes all things new! “Today the waters of the Jordan are transformed into healing by the coming of the Lord. Today the transgressions of men are washed away by the waters of the Jordan… Today we have been delivered from darkness and illuminated with the light of the knowledge of God. Today the blinding mist of the world is dispersed by the Epiphany of our God. Today the whole creation shines with light from on high. Today error is laid love and the coming of the Master has made for us a way of salvation. Today things above keep feast with things below, and things below commune with things above.”—From “the Great Blessing of the Waters”
Important: 2018 Pledges and Commitments: If you have not yet offered your commitment for 2018, PLEASE place it in the offering box today. As of now we have $2000 total in monthly commitments. We need $3,500. To all for whom this Mission is dear, please give generously so we can continue to pay rent and other necessary expenses to provide for our church and her growth. “Let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver” (II Cor. 9:7). Thank you & thanks be to God! The Mission Council
THIS WEEK at HOLY ARCHANGELS
- TODAY, 9:30 Hours, 10, Divine Liturgy, Trapeza, Sunday School
- Friday, Jan. 5, 6:30 p.m., Vesperal Divine Liturgy, Great Feast of the Holy Theophany, Great Blessing of the Waters. Trapeza following (fasting meal).
- Sat, Jan. 7, 6 p.m., Great Vespers (confession offered after service)
- Sun, Jan. 8, 9:30 a.m., Hours, 10 a.m., Divine Liturgy, Trapeza. Annual Great Blessing of the Waters at City Dock.
Looking Ahead: Mark your Calendars
- Wed, Jan. 17, 6:45 p.m., NEW STUDY: On the Incarnation, St. Athanasius of Alexandria (4th century)
House Blessings: Saturday begins the season of house blessings: The faithful invite Christ into their homes to set them aside, have them blessed, and pray God to make them places manifesting Christ’s light, peace, truth, and love, harbors in the midst of the storm of the world, places of refuge for our souls. Please contact Fr. Robert with two suggested days, times for a house blessing as soon as possible. He will do his best to accommodate (n.b., Mondays he is generally not available).
Confession and Reception: In keeping with OCA Guidelines, it is the discipline at Holy Archangels to practice monthly confession. If you wish to receive Communion and a month has passed and you have not made confession for good reason, or, are visiting, please talk with Fr. Robert prior to the service and before approaching the Chalice.
Monthly Giving—Expanding the Mission: Our Mission has taken a big step of faith to move into our new church home, to expand our bookstore and outreach efforts, and make more room for new families and individuals. We need your help to afford our new space. Monthly pledges and giving are key to our sustainability and our growth.
TRAPEZA: The lunch and fellowship we serve after Divine Liturgy is an important part of our Mission’s life together. We cannot draw closer to God if we are not also drawing closer to each other. If we wish to grow “in spirit and in numbers,” such fellowship needs to be part of our life together in Christ. Please sign up to help provide for this important ministry.
Prayer Requests: That our Mission grows “in spirit and in numbers”
- For God’s financial provision for our Mission & college ministry, ACM (Annapolis Pan-Orthodox College Ministry);
- Forgiveness, memory eternal: His Majesty Regele (king) Mihai I of Romania (last Orthodox king who reigned), Linda (aunt of Fr. Robert), Phillis (friend of the Miclean family)
- Isaiah of Georgia, Archpriest George, Priest John, Rdr. John, Gov. Hogan, Frederica, Benedict, Daniel, Eric, Daniel, Noah, Norm, Alex, Gary, Timothy, Sophia, Vivian, Marlena and baby, Beatrice, George, Helen, Helen, Geneva, Phoenix, Sydney, Young, Jason, Cynthia, Valerie, the Church in Georgia & Romania as they address the relativism of the West and speak the truth in love, our persecuted brethren in the Middle East, peace in Syria.
From the Fathers…
“It was fitting that the Giver of all holiness should enter this world by a pure and holy birth. For He it is that of old formed Adam from the virgin earth, and from Adam without help of woman formed woman. For as without woman Adam produced woman, so did the Virgin without man this day bring forth a man. For it is a man, saith the Lord, and who shall know him [Jer. 17:9]. For since the race of women owed to men a debt, as from Adam without woman came, therefore without man the Virgin this day brought forth, and on behalf of Eve repaid the debt to man.”—St. John Chrysostom, On the Virgin Birth.
Troparion (Resurrection) Tone 5
Let us, the faithful, praise and worship the Word,
co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit,
born for our salvation from the Virgin;
for He willed to be lifted up on the Cross in the flesh,
to endure death, //and to raise the dead//by His glorious Resurrection.
Troparion (for the Feast) Tone 4
Thy Nativity, O Christ our God,
has shone to the world the light of wisdom!
For by it, those who worshipped the stars,
were taught by a star to adore Thee, // the Sun of righteousness,
and to know Thee, the Orient from on high.// O Lord, glory to Thee!
Troparion (of the Righteous Ones) Tone 2
Proclaim the wonder, O Joseph, // to David, the ancestor of God;
you saw a Virgin great with child; // you gave glory with the shepherds;
you worshipped with the Magi;//you received the news from the Angel.
Pray to Christ God to save our souls!
Troparion (Angels) Tone 4
O Commanders of the heavenly hosts, // we who are unworthy beseech you: // by your prayers encompass us beneath the wings of your immaterial glory, // and faithfully preserve us who fall down and cry to you://Deliver us from all harm, for you are the Commanders of the Powers on high!
Kontakion (of the Righteous Ones) Tone 3
Today godly David is filled with joy; Joseph and James offer praise.
The glorious crown of their kinship with Christ fills them with great joy.
They sing praises to the One ineffably born on earth,
and they cry out: “O Compassionate One, save those who honor Thee!”
Kontakion of the Feast Tone 3
Today the Virgin gives birth to the Transcendent One,
and the earth offers a cave to the Unapproachable One.
Angels with shepherds glorify Him;
The wise men journey with the star,//
since for our sake the eternal God was born as a little Child.
Kontakion (Angels) Tone 2
Commanders of God’s armies and ministers of the divine glory,//
princes of the bodiless Angels and guides of mankind;
ask for what is good for us, and for great mercy,//
O Supreme Commanders of the Bodiless Hosts.
