January 10, 2016 Sunday after Theophany Gregory of Nyssa Dometian, Bishop of Melitene. Blessing of the Homes at Theophany

Transcript

1 January 10, 2016 Sunday after Theophany Gregory of Nyssa Dometian, Bishop of Melitene ENTRANCE HYMNS Resurrectional Apolytikion - Katelisas to Stavro ( By Thy Cross Destroyed ) O Death didst Thou destroy by Thy Cross. Thou opened Paradise to the Thief and the laments of the myrrhbearers didst Thou change and to Thine own Apostles command them to announce that Thou had risen O Christ our God, Who gives to the World Thy Great Mercy. Apolytikion for Theophany En Iordhani ( In the Jordan ) As You were baptized in the Jordan, O Lord, then the worship of the Trinity became manifest, for the voice of the Father bore witness to You, naming You the Beloved Son; and the Spirit, in the form of a dove, confirmed the certainty of the word. O Christ God, who appeared and illumined the world, glory to You. Apolytikion of St. Sophia/Ss. Faith, Hope & Agape Greek Oς ελαία κατά καρπος ανεβλάστησας, έν ταίς ανλαίς του Κυρίου, Σοφία μάρτυς σεμνή, καί προσήγαγες Χριστώ καρπόν η δύτατον, τούς τής νηδύος σου βλαστούς, δί α γώνων εύαγων, Αγάπην τε καί `Ελπίδα σύν τη θεόφρονι Πίστει, μεθων δυσώπει υπέρ πάντων ήμων. English Phonetics for Greek Os elea kata karpos anevlastisas, en tes avles tu Kyriou Sofia martys semni, ke prosigages Christo karpon idytaton, tus tis nidyos su vlastus, di agonon evagon, Agapin te ke Elpida, syn ti theofroni Pisti; meth on dysopi yper pandon imon. Blessing of the Homes at Theophany If you wish to have your homes and/or businesses blessed by Fr. Peter, please call the Parish Office to schedule a visitation. Before the Priest Comes to Bless the House Be prepared (this is a serious sacrament.) Make sure ALL the lights in the house have been turned on, as Epiphany is known as the Feast of Lights. Make sure all radios, stereos, TVs, etc. are turned off. Have a table where a bowl of water (2/3 to 3/4 full enough to sprinkle the home with some left over if you wish) with an icon, a lit candle, and a list of names, living and deceased, of those you wish to commemorate, may be placed. When the priest begins to sprinkle the rooms, lead him to the rooms that you wish blessed. This procession should include all who are able to walk. Children who are very young may need to be carried (nursing mothers are exempted if the feeding needs to take place immediately.) Afterwards, return to the place you started (where the table, icon, etc., are) for the closing prayer and blessing. English As an olive tree laden with fruit you sprouted forth, in the courtyards of the Lord, Sophia martyr dignified, and you brought to Christ a fruit most sweet, Namely your womb s own sprouts, brought up by instructive deeds: your daughters Faith and Hope, along with God-minded Love; together intercede with God for us all. Seasonal Kontakion Epefanis simeron ( You appeared today ) You appeared today to us * on earth, O Master, * and Your light was signed on us * who cry aloud to You and say * with understanding, O Christ our God: You came and shone forth, O Light unapproachable.

2 GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS (continued) Gertrude Hawk Candy Sale: Our Philoptochos is still selling Gertrude Hawk candy during coffee hour. We have limited quantities, so make sure you stop by and get your treats before they are all gone. For that gift you forgot... We still have candy available! EPISTLE READING The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians 4:7-13 Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us. Verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous. Adult Bible Study: Understanding our Orthodox Faith: Are you new to the Orthodox faith? Or were you born into the faith and most questions were answered with, because, that s why? Or just want to learn more about our faith? If so, then please join our fellow parishioners who have learned about and grown stronger in their faith through our Adult Bible Study sessions. Adult Bible Study will resume after the holidays. Register Tapes: Don t forget to save your Shop-Rite register tapes. We can only use receipts from any of the ten Brown s stores located in: Bensalem PA, East Norriton, PA, Fairless Hills PA, Cheltenham, PA and in Philadelphia, PA, on Island Ave., Oregon Ave., 52 nd & Parkside, Haverford Ave., and Ridge Ave. in the Roxborough section. They also have one store in Brooklawn, NJ. The drop off box is located in the lobby of the Cultural Center. Please submit receipts timely, only tapes from within 4 months of the transaction date are accepted. REDNER S Register Tapes: We are now collecting Redner s Market register tapes. Remember to use your Pump Perks card when making purchases. The drop off box is located in the lobby of the Cultural Center. GIANT shoppers: We have enrolled in their Gift Card Program and the gift cards are on sale during coffee hour. If you are interested, please see Alexis Witt. Coffee Hour Sponsors Needed!: There are several opportunities to be a coffee sponsor in the next several weeks.. If you are interested in hosting a coffee hour, please put your name on the list at the back of the hall or contact Elaine in the Parish office. In Case of Emergency: If you are having an extreme medical emergency and are in need of an Orthodox priest, please call the Parish office at Any information or announcements for the Sunday bulletin must be received by 3pm on the Wednesday prior to publication. Please information to stsophia@verizon.net. Thank you. Elaine Piligian BRETHREN, grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it is said, "When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men." (in saying, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is he who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Ἀνάγνωσις ἐπιστολῆς Πρὸς Ἐφεσίους 4:7-13 Γένοιτο, Κύριε, τὸ ἔλεός σου ἐφ' ἡμᾶς. Στίχ. Ἀγαλλιᾶσθε δίκαιοι ἐν Κυρίῳ Ἀδελφοί, ἑνὶ ἑκάστῳ ἡμῶν ἐδόθη ἡ χάρις κατὰ τὸ μέτρον τῆς δωρεᾶς τοῦ Χριστοῦ. Διὸ λέγει, Ἀναβὰς εἰς ὕψος ᾐχμαλώτευσεν αἰχμαλωσίαν, καὶ ἔδωκεν δόματα τοῖς ἀνθρώποις. Τὸ δέ, Ἀνέβη, τί ἐστιν εἰ μὴ ὅτι καὶ κατέβη πρῶτον εἰς τὰ κατώτερα μέρη τῆς γῆς; Ὁ καταβάς, αὐτός ἐστιν καὶ ὁ ἀναβὰς ὑπεράνω πάντων τῶν οὐρανῶν, ἵνα πληρώσῃ τὰ πάντα. Καὶ αὐτὸς ἔδωκεν τοὺς μὲν ἀποστόλους, τοὺς δὲ προφήτας, τοὺς δὲ εὐαγγελιστάς, τοὺς δὲ ποιμένας καὶ διδασκάλους, πρὸς τὸν καταρτισμὸν τῶν ἁγίων, εἰς ἔργον διακονίας, εἰς οἰκοδομὴν τοῦ σώματος τοῦ Χριστοῦ μέχρι καταντήσωμεν οἱ πάντες εἰς τὴν ἑνότητα τῆς πίστεως καὶ τῆς ἐπιγνώσεως τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ, εἰς ἄνδρα τέλειον, εἰς μέτρον ἡλικίας τοῦ πληρώματος τοῦ Χριστοῦ.

3 GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS (continued) Senior Citizen Ministry: St. Sophia s Senior Parea is open to all senior citizens of the community. Meetings place each Thursday from 10am to 12 noon. GOSPEL READING The Reading is from the Gospel of Matthew 4:12-17 At that time, Jesus heard that John had been arrested, He withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth He went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned." From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." ΕVΑΓΓÉΛΙΟΝ Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 4:12-17 Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἀκούσας δὲ ὁ Ιησοῦς ὅτι Ιωάννης παρεδόθη, ἀνεχώρησεν εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν, καὶ καταλιπὼν τὴν Ναζαρὲτ ἐλθὼν κατῴκησεν εἰς Καπερναοὺμ τὴν παραθαλασσίαν ἐν ὁρίοις Ζαβουλὼν καὶ Νεφθαλείμ, ἵνα πληρωθῇ τὸ ῥηθὲν διὰ Ησαΐου τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος γῆ Ζαβουλὼν καὶ γῆ Νεφθαλείμ, ὁδὸν θαλάσσης, πέραν τοῦ Ιορδάνου, Γαλιλαία τῶν ἐθνῶν, ὁ λαὸς ὁ καθήμενος ἐν σκότειεἶδε φῶς μέγα, καὶ τοῖς καθημένοις ἐν χώρᾳ καὶ σκιᾷ θανάτουφῶς ἀνέτειλεν αὐτοῖς. Απὸ τότε ἤρξατο ὁ Ιησοῦς κηρύσσειν καὶ λέγειν μετανοεῖτε ἤγγικε γὰρ ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν. Calling all Girl Scouts of the Parish!!! If you would like to sign-up to sell Girl Scout cookies in the cultural center, please contact Presvytera Katherine either in person or via at pkstfamily@verizon.net. Cookie booths will be scheduled starting Sunday, January 17 th through Sunday, March 13 th. Please be aware that the girls will be scheduled as requests are made, and I will try to accommodate those requests as best I can. Each Girl Scout and her parent are responsible for setting up their table, advertising, and cleaning up once they are finished. Joy/Hope Community Service Project: Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 19 th, 2016, from 1:00-3:00 pm to have your child/children participate in a wonderful opportunity to give of their time and talents to those in need. We will be volunteering at Cradles to Crayons in Conshohocken with the goal of helping them sort, clean, and organize items that will be distributed to children in need. This is a wonderful opportunity for children and their parents alike to practice our Christian faith. "Cradles to Crayons provides children from birth through age 12, living in homeless or low-income situations, with the essential items they need to thrive - at home, at school and at play." They supply these items free of charge by connecting those communities that have with communities that need. Thanksgiving/Christmas/Theophany Food Drive: Our fall and winter food drive continues through Theophany. Please continue to bring in your non-perishable food items. Collection bins will be in the lobby of our Cultural Center. Food will be brought to area food banks as it accumulates. MOST NEEDED ITEMS: - Canned meat (tuna, chicken, beef stew, etc.) - Canned fruit and vegetables - Canned or plastic jarred proteins like peanut butter, beans, canned stews and chili - Juice & juice boxes - Cereal - Pasta, rice & dry mixes - Breakfast foods (hot & cold cereals, bars & oatmeal) - Macaroni & cheese PLEASE DO NOT DONATE: - Expired food, open packages, perishable food, or glass jars. Representative Needed: The Federation of Hellenic-American Societies of Philadelphia and the Greater Delaware Valley is the umbrella organization of over 45 Hellenic-American associations, representing over thousands of individuals in the Greek community. St. Sophia is looking for someone to act as our representative at the Federation meetings and then report back to our Parish Council (either in writing or in person) regarding the activities of the Federation. The meetings take place every 2 months or so; they rotate their meetings at the different churches in the area. If you are interested in being St. Sophia s representative or if you would like more information, please contact Roula Matsiras at or you may her at rmatsiras@hotmail.com.

4 GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS GOYA: If you or your child is between 7 th and 12 th grade and would like to join our GOYA, please contact our GOYA Advisors, John Pogas, George Prieston or Anthony Dimitriadis. Our focus continues to be on Faith, Fellowship and Service. Our meetings will focus on the calendar of events for the Ecclesiastical year. Each event follows our same formula with a discussion topic and a fun activity but also continues our commitment to feed the needy. Our casseroles, food drives and volunteer work with Manna on Main Street continues to be very well received. Sadly, the needs of our less fortunate neighbors are greater now than ever before. If you have any questions you may John at johnpogas@gmail.com or phone him at (h) or (c) , or Anthony Dimitriadis or John Prieston (see contact information below.) Also note that our activities, meetings and events are open to all who want to join us regardless of age! GOYA will be meeting on Saturday, January 16, 2016 at 2:00 pm to bake ziti for Manna on Main Street, discuss our faith and then go to Sky Zone Trampoline Park in Oaks, PA. We will get a thrill from their endless trampolines, get a great work-out and have fun. The cost for Sky Zone is approximately $15.00 per hour. After that activity we will go to have burgers or pizza. It should be a fun time! Please contact Anthony Dimitriadis ( or at Hercules5@me.com) or George Prieston ( or at prie@comcast.net) Also, save the dates: February 20 th (still waiting confirmation for the date for Dodgeball tournament at St. Luke s to help fight childhood diabetes) and March 12 th for a trip to the Holy Protection Monastery Agia Skepi, in White Haven, PA. More information to follow.

5 January 10, 2016 Sunday after Theophany Gregory of Nyssa Dometian, Bishop of Melitene The Children s Choir will be singing today. Children should meet in the Cry/Bride room at 9:45 am. On the days the Children s Choir sings, the children will stay in church until the distribution of Holy Communion, after which they will go to their Sunday school classes. St. Nicholas Shrine Vigil Candle: Thank you to Mrs. Marie Del Viscio for sponsoring last week s vigil candle for St. Nicholas Shrine. Anyone wishing to sponsor a vigil candle should sign up at the Pangari. (Each vigil candle lasts one week). Each week a new vigil candle will be placed next to the icon of St. Nicholas until the construction of St. Nicholas Shrine has been completed. The asking donation is $10. Today is Philoptochos Vasilopita Sunday! In addition, our Ladies Philoptochos, in cooperation with Hellenic News of America, is happy to welcome Dr. Konstadinos A. Plestis to our community. Immediately after the Divine Liturgy, the entire community is invited to a complimentary brunch, after which Dr. Plestis will be making a short presentation. This presentation supports the Saint Basil Academy, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese home for children in need Ecclesiastical Calendars: In an effort to save the Parish resources, 2016 Church calendars are available for pickup at the back of the Fr. John A. Limberakis Cultural Center on a first come, first serve basis. We respectfully request that each stewarding family take only 1 calendar per household. Thank you! St. Sophia s 35 th Anniversary: May 17, 2016, will mark the 35 th anniversary of the official establishment of St. Sophia/Ss. Faith, Hope & Agape Greek Orthodox Church. If you are interested in helping plan activities throughout the year celebrating this milestone anniversary, please contact Fr. Peter or members of the Parish Council. Let s take advantage of this one-in-a lifetime opportunity to celebrate all of our accomplishments and plan for the greater future of our parish. The mortgage balance as of 12/31/2015 is $1,296,

6