I pray for each of you a most blessed celebration in continuation of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ’s holy Nativity! Even as our preparation for the Feast has its own season (the Nativity Fast or Advent), as Orthodox, we remember that Christmas/Nativity is a season consisting of twelve days and not just one day. On these holy, light and joy-filled days of the Feast of our Savior’s incarnation-in-the-flesh, we thank God for His greatest gift, that of Himself, whereby He entered into our human nature to renew the human race and make possible our deification through second birth into that renewed nature that Christ has vivified as the new Adam. This renewal is made personal to us in our baptism, which begins with Christ’s own baptism in the Jordan at Theophany, which we will celebrate not many days from now. I strongly encourage you to continue to make time to bring Christ into the center of your lives and prioritize these Great Feasts of the Church for you and your children’s sake, and to the glory of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
With Christ God’s love and blessing, `Fr. Robert+
THIS WEEK AT HOLY ARCHANGELS:
- Fri, 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 (krissymiclean@gmail.com) to indicate what contribution you’d like to bring.
- Sat, Jan. 3, 6:00 p.m. Great Vespers Confession following
- Sun, Jan. 4, 9:30 a.m., Hours 10am Divine Liturgy, Memorial Service for Charlene Miclean, Mother of Fr. Robert (1 year), Trapeza following (fast free).
Looking Ahead: Mark your Calendars!
- Tues, Jan. 6, 9:30am Divine Liturgy of THEOPHANY, followed by short feasting Trapeza and 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 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, Robert, 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 4
When the women Disciples of the Lord
learned from the Angel the joyous message of the Resurrection, // they cast away the ancestral curse
and elatedly told the Apostles: // “Death is overthrown!
Christ God is risen,// granting the world great mercy!”
Troparion of 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;
thou hast seen a Virgin great with child; // and thou didst give glory with the shepherds;
thou didst worship with the Magi, // and didst receive the news from the Angel. //
Pray to Christ God to save our souls!
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!
