Blessed Feast of our Lord Jesus Christ’s holy baptism and Theophany! This Feast is called, “Theophany,” because, as the name means in the Greek, God the Holy Trinity was manifest at the baptism of Christ, in which the Father spoke, the Holy Spirit descended, and Christ received baptism and made the way through which all of us may “put on Christ” (Gal. 3:27) and become “a new creation,” (II Cor. 5:17), an adopted son or daughter of God, and a co-heir of His eternal Kingdom. Because Christ God, the Maker of all things, entered into the elemental creation He Himself made, i.e., water, all of creation is blessed and sanctified, i.e., made holy.
Our participation in this Great Feast of the Church is made personal for us by receiving that blessed water into our homes and receiving Christ God’s blessing of our homes as we strive for holy living in this new year. Every local church is a family in God, the basic element of the Church’s Body. This Body is made up of many ‘small churches,’ our families and homes, which together make up the local church of which the priest is father. We invite Christ into our homes to bless them, sanctify them, renew them, by inviting the priest, the father of the family, to come to our homes, impart Christ God’s blessing, protection, and renewal to our homes with the holy water Christ God has sanctified. In this way, we strive to live for Christ and in His midst with renewed vigor in this new year of life with God, as we continue our journey further up and further in His Kingdom. You can sign up for a house blessing at the back of the Church.
In His love, Fr. Robert+
This week at Holy Archangels:
- Saturday, Jan. 12, 6 p.m.,Great Vespers with the Matins Gospel. Confession following.
- Sunday, Jan. 13, 9:30 a.m. Hours, Divine Liturgy followed by Trapeza.
Looking Ahead: Save the Dates!
- Saturday, January 12, 3 p.m., Baby Shower for Nini!
- Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 16-17, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon to Visit Holy Archangels.
Prayer Requests:
- Please pray for our Mission that we may find a Choir Director.
- Pray for Noel and Nini as they look for new housing.
- Please pray for Azariah (Brian) as he looks for a teaching position.
- Healing for Fr. George Johnson, Viorica, Benedict, Vera, Marina, Colette, Mary, Leah and her baby, Katherine.
Troparion of the Feast Tone 1
When You, O Lord, were baptized in the Jordan,
the worship of the Trinity was made manifest.
For the voice of the Father bore witness to You,
calling You His Beloved Son;
and the Spirit in the form of a dove
confirmed the truthfulness of His word.
O Christ our God, You have revealed Yourself,//
and have enlightened the world, glory to You
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 of the Feast Tone 4
Today You have shone forth to the world, O Lord,
and the light of Your countenance has been marked on us.
Knowing You, we sing Your praises.
You have come and revealed Yourself,//
O unapproachable Light.
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.
