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Gospel pericope
The Lord said this parable: "A man once gave a great banquet, and invited many; and at the
time of the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, 'Come; for all is
now ready.' But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a
field, and I go out and see it; I pray you, have me excused.' And another said, 'I have bought
five yoke of oxen, and I must go to examine them; I pray you, have me excused.' And another
said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.' So the servant came and reported this
to his master. Then the householder in anger said to his servant, 'Go out quickly to the streets
and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and maimed and blind and lame.' And the servant
said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and there is still room.' And the master said to
the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges, and compel people to come in, that my house
may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet. For
many are called, but few are chosen.'"
Announcements
Liturgical/Program Schedule:
Wed. Dec. 16th: Parish Council Meeting, 6:30pm
Fri. Dec. 18th: St. Sebastian the Martyr, Orthros/Divine Liturgy 8:30am
Sat. Dec. 19th: Youth Christmas Program Rehearsal, 12:30pm
Sat. Dec. 19th: Christmas Caroling @ St. Marys and Pizza after, 2pm
Holiday Bake sale: The orders will be available for pick up at coffee hour TODAY. Thank you for
supporting our Society!!!
Special Tray for St. Philothei: This ministry meets twice a month to cook the weekend meals for
the women and children staying at the local Womens Shelter. It costs $200 a month to operate and
we rely solely on parishioners donations. We have been blessed by these donations and also those
of our Philoptochos Society. Currently, the ministry is in need of monetary support. Thank you for
your generosity!
Unofficial PC Election Results: The following parishioners have been elected to serve on the Parish
Council once our elections are ratified by the Metropolis: Amy Franqueira, John Maragos, Halina
Woroncow. Congratulations and THANK YOU to all candidates for their willingness to serve, as
well as thanks to the Election Committee for hard work!
HOW TO RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNIONOnly Orthodox Christians (i.e. the Orthodox Church
does not observe open communion) in good standing are encouraged to receive Holy Communion frequently,
provided they have prepared themselves spiritually, mentally and physically. They must be on time for the Divine
Liturgy, and be in a Christ-like, humble state of mind. They should be in a confession relationship with their priest
or spiritual father, have observed the fasts of the Church, and they should have self-examined their conscience.
On the day of receiving Holy Communion, it is not proper to eat or drink anything before coming to church. When
you approach to receive Holy Communion, state your Christian (baptismal) name clearly, and hold the red
communion cloth to your chin. After receiving, wipe your lips on the cloth, step back carefully, hand the cloth to
the next person and make the sign of the Cross as you step away. Please do not be in a rush while
communing! Please take special care not to bump the Holy Chalice.
Christmas Toy
Drive
This year our parish will partner with the Salvation Army to provide Christmas
presents for those families in need. Please bring your unwrapped gifts for teenagers or
children newborn through 4yrs, clothing or toys are preferred. Place gifts in the large
Christmas box located in the narthex of the church. The last of day for drop off will be
Sunday. Dec. 20th. FYI, gifts will be secured in locked office during the week in order to
prevent the disappearance of some gifts. Thank you for participating in this important
drive!
Hymnographical Glimpses
Undoubtedly we are all familiar with the traditional Western Christmas
carols which elicit timeless memories of this holy and joyful season. Indeed,
O Holy Night is my favorite and every time I hear that incredible song it
inspires and moves me deeply. However, more often than not, the divine hymnography of our
Orthodox Church which poetically describes and elucidates both the spiritual and theological
aspect of the Nativity passes us by without our noticing or paying heed. I offer the following
hymns from the Feast which demonstrate the unique and powerful qualities the Spiritinspired liturgical hymns offer the faithful. We should not disparage our non-liturgical
traditional American carols nor exclude them; concurrently we need to return to a deeper
liturgical understanding of our Faith by means of the treasure we possess in our Orthodox
hymnography+FM
Mary, why are you amazed and awed by what was done in you? And she answers,
For in time I have brought forth a timeless Son. But I have no understanding of His
conception. Husbandless am I: how can I bear a son? Who has ever seen seedless
childbirth? But where God wills, the order found in nature is overcome, as it is
written. So Christ was born from the Virgin Maiden, in Bethlehem of Judea. Orthros
of the Nativity
He whom nothing can contain has been contained in a womb. He is in the Fathers
bosom and His Mothers embrace. How can this be, but as He knows and willed and
was well pleased. Fleshless as He was, He willingly took flesh. And He Who Is became
what He was not, for us. And while departing not from His own nature, He shared in
our natures substance. So Christ was born with dual natures, wishing to replenish the
world on high. Orthros of the Nativity
Come, let us extol and praise the Saviors Mother, who remained a virgin even after
childbirth. Animate City of our King and God, rejoice, for Christ having dwelt in you
has wrought our salvation. Together with Gabriel we sing your praise, together with
the shepherds we glorify you, crying out, O Theotokos, intercede with the Lord, who is
incarnate from you, to save us. Orthros of the Nativity
Todays Commemorations:
The Holy Martyrs Eustratius, Auxentius, Eugene, Mardarius and Orestes
These five courageous men shone like five shining stars in the dark days of the Christ-persecuting
Emperors Diocletian and Maximian. St. Eustratius was a Roman commander in the city of Satalionus;
Eugene was his companion in the army; Orestes was likewise a distinguished soldier; Auxentius was a
priest; and Mardarius was an ordinary citizen who came, like Eustratius, from the town of Arabrak. The
imperial deputies Lysias and Agricolus tortured Auxentius first since he was a priest. Seeing the innocent
suffering of Christians, Eustratius appeared in front of Lysias and declared that he was also a Christian.
While Eustratius was being tortured, Eugene appeared before the judge and cried out: ``Lysias, I too am a
Christian.'' When Eustratius was led through the town of Arabrak with the other martyrs, Mardarius saw
them from the roof of his house. He took leave of his wife and two young children and rushed after the
martyrs, shouting into the faces of the tormentors: ``I too am a Christian, like my lord Eustratius.'' When
St. Orestes was target-practicing in the presence of Lysias, the cross he was wearing fell from his chest
and Lysias realized that he was a Christian, after which Orestes openly confessed his faith. Orestes was a
young and handsome soldier and towered above all the other soldiers in stature. Auxentius was beheaded,
Eugene and Mardarius died while being tortured, Orestes expired on a red-hot iron grid, and Eustratius
died in a fiery furnace. St. Blaise (February 11) administered Holy Communion to St. Eustratius in prison
before his death. Their relics were later taken to Constantinople and buried in the church dedicated to
them: The Holy Five Companions. They were seen alive in that church, and St. Orestes appeared to St.
Dimitri of Rostov (October 28). A beautiful prayer by St. Eustratius is extant, which is read at the
Midnight Service on Saturday: ``Most highly do I magnify Thee, O Lord.''
2. The Holy Martyr Lucy the Virgin
With her mother, Lucy visited the grave of St. Agatha in Catania, where St. Agatha appeared to her. Her mother,
who had dropsy, was then miraculously healed in the church. Lucy distributed all her goods to the poor, and this
embittered her betrothed, who accused her of being a Christian before Paschasius the judge. The wicked judge
ordered that she be taken to a brothel in order to defile her. However, by the power of God she remained immovable,
as if rooted to the earth, and not even a multitude of people was able to move her from that spot. Then an enraged
pagan pierced her throat with a sword and she gave up her soul to God and took up her habitation in the Kingdom of
Eternity. Lucy suffered in the year 304.