“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. So too today, Christ God admonishes us to ready ourselves for participation in His Kingdom because the time is near just as Advent itself reminds us not only of Christ’s first coming, but of His imminent Second Coming as well. The Parable of the Banquet is a cautionary tale to remind 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, 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, so that we, like those invited to the banquet in Christ’s Gospel, may not remove ourselves from life with Him, but instead, may put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him…”
This week at Holy Archangels:
- v TODAY: Sign up for Memorial Poinsettias at the Entrance Table. $15 per Poinsettia, which you can take home after the Feast. Those listed will be commemorated at the Feast of the Nativity (please specify living or departed).
- v Saturday, Dec. 21 , 6:00 p.m., Great Vespers. Confession following
- v Sunday, Dec. 22, 9:30 Hours, 10 a.m. Divine Liturgy, Sunday before Nativity
Looking Ahead/Mark Your Calendars for these Special Events:
- Tuesday, Dec. 24, NATIVITY IN THE FLESH OF OUR LORD GOD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST
- v 10:30 a.m., Royal Hours of the Feast of the Nativity
- v 10:30 p.m., Vesperal Divine Liturgy of the Feast, Carols and Feasting Meal
- Thursday, Jan. 2, 5:30-8:30 p.m., “Colinde”—An Evening of Caroling, Rejoicing, and Feasting. Please bring a main or side dish to share as this will be a potluck!
- Sun., Jan. 5, 10 a.m., Divine Liturgy, Eve of Theophany (Christ’s Baptism) Following Trapeza: the Great Blessing of Water at the City Dock in Annapolis (Strict Fast—no flesh meats, dairy, wine, olive oil)
- Monday, Jan. 6, ROYAL HOURS followed by the Divine Liturgy of THEOPHANY Great Blessing of the Waters for the Faithful (bring your jar for holy water), Feasting Trapeza to follow.
Prayer Requests:
- That God may grow our Mission “in spirit and in numbers as a living witness of His love, healing, power, and glory;”
- For God’s continued financial provision for our Mission and our college ministry, ACM;
- For our Mission that we may find a Choir Director;
- Healing for Metropolitan TIKHON, Archpriest George, Archpriest Michael, Priest John, Deacon Basil, Deacon Michael, Rdr. Michael, Rdr. John, Benedict, Lance, Colette, Mary, Carol, Katherine, James, Charlene, Claudia, Daniel, Michael Anthony, Sarah, Seraphim, Ed, the Church in Georgia and Romania as they address the relativism of the West, speaking the truth in love, for our suffering Orthodox brethren in Syria and Egypt, the nuns and orphans of St. Thekla Monastery abducted by Syrian terrorist rebels.
- The departed Lelia and Woodrow.
Troparion (Resurrection) Tone 8
You descended from on high, O Merciful One!
You accepted the three day burial to free us from our sufferings!//
O Lord, our Life and Resurrection, 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!
Troparion (Holy Archangels) Tone 4
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 (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!”
Kontakion (Holy Archangels) 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,// Supreme Commanders of the Bodiless Hosts
