11TH SUNDAY OF LUKE DECEMBER 15, 2013

Transcript

1 11TH SUNDAY OF LUKE DECEMBER 15, 2013 Sts. Raphael, Nicholas and Irene Greek Orthodox Church Rev. Fr. Barnabas Powell, Proistamenos Jimmy Smith, Psaltis 3074 Bethelview Road Cumming GA (770) cell (770) We are an intentional Orthodox Christian Community for North Georgia!

2 WORSHIP Third Eothinon/Tone Plagal Fourth We are so very glad you have joined us today, and we pray you will be inspired and encouraged by your time with us. The Orthodox worship service is an ancient and timeless expression of how people have loved, served and worshipped God for many centuries, but it may be a bit of a different experience for you. Please feel free to use a service book or not and simply allow the words of the service to wash over you. The central act of our worship culminates in people receiving communion. This is a very special time for us all and we have some specific beliefs about our communion together. This is why we never impose this service on those who are not prepared or are not baptized Orthodox. This service may raise questions in your mind. Please feel free to ask Fr. Barnabas or Fr. Paul anything you wish after the service. At the end of the service EVERYONE is invited to come forward and receive a portion of the blessed bread from Fr. Barnabas. No one should leave church hungry! Know you are welcome and we are glad you are here. May God bless you and your family. Apolytikion in honor of Sts. Raphael, Nicholas & Irene Having contended on Lesvos for the sake of Christ God, you have sanctified the island since the discovery of your sacred relics, O blessed ones; wherefore we honor you, O Godbearing Raphael, together with Nicholas and virgin Irene, as our divine protectors and intercessors with the Lord. Schedule for the Week December 18th, Wednesday - 6:30 p.m. Vespers Adult Religious Education, Orthodoxy 101, immediately following Vesper Service December 21st, Saturday - 5:00 p.m. Great Vespers Chrismation: Len Vanerstrom will be Chrismated into the Orthodox faith following Great Vespers. He will receive his 1st Eucharist on Sunday, December 22nd. Richard & Sophia Bethune are Len s sponsors. Parish Council On Duty Today - Bill Manos & John Patrick Ushering Ministry - PC/Parishioners Welcoming Ministry - Tina Maheras Fellowship Ministry - Evon Patrick ACOLYTES Jacob Atkins, Zachery Bethune, Mike & Peter Jordanopolos, Thomas Miller, Evan & Mitchell Roussey, Mike Trainor, Alex & Niko Tzevelekos and Christos Zourzoukis SENIOR ACOLYTES Mike Manos, Dean Pryles

3 TODAY WE REMEMBER 11th Sunday of Luke Reading: On the Sunday that occurs on or immediately after the eleventh of this month, we commemorate Christ's forefathers according to the flesh, both those that came before the Law, and those that lived after the giving of the Law. Special commemoration is made of the Patriarch Abraham, to whom the promise was first given, when God said to him, "In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed" (Gen. 22:18). This promise was given some two thousand years before Christ, when Abraham was seventy-five years of age. God called him and commanded him to forsake his country, parents, and kinsmen, and to depart to the land of the Canaanites. When he arrived there, God told him, "I will give this land to thy seed" (Gen. 12:7); for this cause, that land was called the "Promised Land," which later became the country of the Hebrew people, and which is also called Palestine by the historians. There, after the passage of twenty-four years, Abraham received God's law concerning circumcision. In the one hundredth year of his life, when Sarah was in her ninetieth year, they became the parents of Isaac. Having lived 175 years altogether, he reposed in peace, a venerable elder full of days. Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone: From on high didst Thou descend, O Compassionate One; to burial of three days hast Thou submitted that Thou mightest free us from our passions. O our Life and Resurrection, Lord, glory be to Thee. Apolytikion in the Second Tone: You justified the forefathers in faith, and through them betrothed yourself, aforetime, to the Church taken from out of the Gentiles. The saints boast in glory. For from their seed, there exists a noble crop, who is she who without seed has given You birth. By their intercessions, O Christ our God, save our souls. Seasonal Kontakion in the Third Tone: On this day the Virgin cometh to the cave to give birth to * God the Word ineffably, * Who was before all the ages. * Dance for joy, O earth, on hearing * the gladsome tidings; * with the Angels and the shepherds now glorify Him * Who is willing to be gazed on * as a young Child Who * before the ages is God. We Also Remember The Holy Heromartyr Eleutherius, Bishop of Illyricum The Martyr Susannah the Deaconess Please pray for those faithful who are currently in need of our most fervent intercessions: Andrew, Angie, Bill, Bill, Brent, Carrie, Demetra, Diane, Dina, Donna, Ela, Elaine, Elizabeth, Christina, George, Gus, Heidi, Igli, James, Jamie, Jerry, Joe, Maria, Michael, Oni, Patsy, Paul, Peter, Staikoula, Taki, Tara, Violeta, John & Sheila Consos, Katherine & Sam Yalanzon 2013 Parish Council President - John Patrick; Vice President- Harald Hagen; Treasurer - Chris Foxhall; Recording Secretary/Corresponding Secretary - Harriet Howell; Sophia Bethune, Kosta Bozzuto, Marie Chapman, Quay Farr, Bill Manos, Plutarch Vamvakias

4 EPISTLE Reading The Reading is from St. Paul s 2nd Letter to Timothy 1:8-18 Prokeimenon. Grave Mode. Psalm ,12 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. Verse: What shall I render to the Lord for all that he has given me? TIMOTHY, my son, do not be ashamed then of testifying to our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel in the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not in virtue of our works but in virtue of his own purpose and the grace which he gave us in Christ Jesus ages ago, and now has manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. For this gospel I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, and therefore I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. Follow the pattern of the sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus; guard the truth that has been entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, and among them Phygelos and Hermogenes. May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphoros, for he often refreshed me; he was not ashamed of my chains, but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me eagerly and found me - may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that Day and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesos. ΑΩ Τέκνον Τιμόθεε, μὴ οὖν ἐπαισχυνθῇς τὸ μαρτύριον τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν, μηδὲ ἐμὲ τὸν δέσμιον αὐτοῦ ἀλλὰ συγκακοπάθησον τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ κατὰ δύναμιν θεοῦ, τοῦ σώσαντος ἡμᾶς καὶ καλέσαντος κλήσει ἁγίᾳ, οὐ κατὰ τὰ ἔργα ἡμῶν, ἀλλὰ κατʼ ἰδίαν πρόθεσιν καὶ χάριν τὴν δοθεῖσαν ἡμῖν ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ πρὸ χρόνων αἰωνίων, φανερωθεῖσαν δὲ νῦν διὰ τῆς ἐπιφανείας τοῦ σωτῆρος ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, καταργήσαντος μὲν τὸν θάνατον, φωτίσαντος δὲ ζωὴν καὶ ἀφθαρσίαν διὰ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου, εἰς ὃ ἐτέθην ἐγὼ κῆρυξ καὶ ἀπόστολος καὶ διδάσκαλος ἐθνῶν. Διʼ ἣν αἰτίαν καὶ ταῦτα πάσχω, ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐπαισχύνομαι οἶδα γὰρ ᾧ πεπίστευκα, καὶ πέπεισμαι ὅτι δυνατός ἐστιν τὴν παραθήκην μου φυλάξαι εἰς ἐκείνην τὴν ἡμέραν. Ὑποτύπωσιν ἔχε ὑγιαινόντων λόγων ὧν παρʼ ἐμοῦ ἤκουσας, ἐν πίστει καὶ ἀγάπῃ τῇ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ. Τὴν καλὴν παραθήκην φύλαξον διὰ πνεύματος ἁγίου τοῦ ἐνοικοῦντος ἐν ἡμῖν. Οἶδας τοῦτο, ὅτι ἀπεστράφησάν με πάντες οἱ ἐν τῇ Ἀσίᾳ, ὧν ἐστιν Φύγελος καὶ Ἑρμογένης. Δῴη ἔλεος ὁ κύριος τῷ Ὀνησιφόρου οἴκῳ ὅτι πολλάκις με ἀνέψυξεν, καὶ τὴν ἅλυσίν μου οὐκ ἐπαισχύνθη, ἀλλὰ γενόμενος ἐν Ῥώμῃ, σπουδαιότερον ἐζήτησέν με καὶ εὗρεν - δῴη αὐτῷ ὁ κύριος εὑρεῖν ἔλεος παρὰ κυρίου ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ - καὶ ὅσα ἐν Ἐφέσῳ διηκόνησεν, βέλτιον σὺ γινώσκεις.

5 GOSPEL READING The Reading is from Luke 14:16-24 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.'" Α Ω Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τήν παραβολὴν ταύτην Ἄνθρωπός τις ἐποίησε δεῖπνον μέγα καὶ ἐκάλεσε πολλούς καὶ ἀπέστειλε τὸν δοῦλον αὐτοῦ τῇ ὥρᾳ τοῦ δείπνου εἰπεῖν τοῖς κεκλημένοις ἔρχεσθε, ὅτι ἤδη ἕτοιμά ἐστι πάντα. καὶ ἤρξαντο ἀπὸ μιᾶς παραιτεῖσθαι πάντες. ὁ πρῶτος εἶπεν αὐτῷ ἀγρὸν ἠγόρασα, καὶ ἔχω ἀνάγκην ἐξελθεῖν καὶ ἰδεῖν αὐτόν ἐρωτῶ σε, ἔχε με παρῃτημένον. καὶ ἕτερος εἶπε ζεύγη βοῶν ἠγόρασα πέντε, καὶ πορεύομαι δοκιμάσαι αὐτά ἐρωτῶ σε, ἔχε με παρῃτημένον. καὶ ἕτερος εἶπε γυναῖκα ἔγημα, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο οὐ δύναμαι ἐλθεῖν. καὶ παραγενόμενος ὁ δοῦλος ἐκεῖνος ἀπήγγειλε τῷ κυρίῳ αὐτοῦ ταῦτα. τότε ὀργισθεὶς ὁ οἰκοδεσπότης εἶπε τῷ δούλῳ αὐτοῦ ἔξελθε ταχέως εἰς τὰς πλατείας καὶ ῥύμας τῆς πόλεως, καὶ τοὺς πτωχοὺς καὶ ἀναπήρους καὶ χωλοὺς καὶ τυφλοὺς εἰσάγαγε ὧδε. καὶ εἶπεν ὁ δοῦλος κύριε, γέγονεν ὡς ἐπέταξας, καὶ ἔτι τόπος ἐστί. καὶ εἶπεν ὁ κύριος πρὸς τὸν δοῦλον ἔξελθε εἰς τὰς ὁδοὺς καὶ φραγμοὺς καὶ ἀνάγκασον εἰσελθεῖν, ἵνα γεμισθῇ ὁ οἶκος μου. λέγω γὰρ ὑμῖν ὅτι οὐδεὶς τῶν ἀνδρῶν ἐκείνων τῶν κεκλημένων γεύσεταί μου τοῦ δείπνου. Πολλοί γὰρ εἰσιν κλητοί, ὀλίγοι δέ ἐκλεκτοί.

6 DECEMBER SERVICES/EVENTS TODAY, December 15 8:45 a.m. Orthros 9:45 a.m. Divine Liturgy Parish Council Elections, Sunday School Christmas Program Practice in the Nave & St. Nicholas Gift the Blue House Wednesday, December 18 Thursday, December 19 Saturday, December 21 Sunday, December 22 Tuesday, December 24 Nativity Eve Wednesday, December 25 Holy Nativity Saturday, December 28 Sunday, December 29 Wednesday, January 1, 2014 New Year s Day Sunday, January 5, :00 p.m. GOYA Jam w/ Fr. Barnabas in the Youth Room 6:30 p.m. Vespers 7:30 p.m. Orthodoxy 101 9:00 a.m. Divine Metropolis Chapel, Atlanta 5:00 p.m. Great Vespers 8:45 a.m. Orthros 9:45 a.m. Divine Liturgy Church School Christmas Presentation 8:30 a.m. The Great Hours of the Nativity 6:30 p.m. Vesperal Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great 8:30 a.m. Orthros 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy NO EVENING VESPERS 5:00 p.m. Great Vespers 8:45 a.m. Orthros 9:45 a.m. Divine Liturgy 8:30 a.m. Orthros 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great 6:30 p.m. Vespers 8:45 a.m. Orthros 9:45 a.m. Divine Liturgy Cutting of the Vasilopita

7 ANNOUNCEMENTS Father Barnabas is available to hear confession every Wednesday either before or after Vespers and by appointment. Please call or the church office to request a time to meet with Father and avail yourself to this healing divine mystery of the Church. Father Paul is available on Sunday during Orthros to hear confession, but no later than 9:20 a.m. Please phone the church office to make an appointment. Please call the Church office for more information (770) TODAY - PARISH COUNCIL ELECTIONS PLEASE TAKE TIME TO VOTE Election Day for the Parish Council is set for Sunday, December 15th. Voting will open at the end of Divine Liturgy & close at 12:30 p.m. Candidates are: David Chapman; Chris Foxhall; Bill Manos; Gregory Pappas; John Patrick. If you have any questions, please send an to mtmanos@gmail.com The Committee: Renee Birozes, Dr. Archie Lytle, Tina Maheras, Margaret Manos, Tina Vamvakias FELLOWSHIP MINISTRY Our Fellowship Hour Donation Campaign has begun. A suggested donation of $25/family helps cover the cost of the weekly Fellowship Hour. Checks should be made payable to Sts. RNI G.O. Church with Fellowship on the memo line. We hope you have enjoyed the refreshments provided over the past year and will continue to support the Fellowship Committee s efforts to serve you each Sunday. Thank you for your support of this Ministry.

8 CHILDREN & YOUTH EDUCATION Church School September 8th THROUGH May 18, 2014 A focus on Sacraments and Feasts; Scripture and Bible Stories; Saints and Orthodox Spirituality in communion with our teachers and our children. Church School has Begun! Registration forms are in the Narthex. Pre-K through High School Students need to sign up. CHRISTMAS PRESENTATION BY CHURCH SCHOOL CHILDREN Sunday, December 22nd - The Sts. RNI Sunday School will present a Nativity Carol immediately following the Divine Liturgy. All of the Sunday School classes will meet in the Youth Room during Sunday School to practice and rehearse. Each child is being sent home with a copy of the carols he/she will be singing on the 22nd. We ask that you help by practicing the carols with your child during the week. If you do not have a copy of the carols, please contact Jennifer Tubbs at jmtubbs@gmail.com. Church School Teachers are needed in 3-5 grade as well as High School If interested, please contact Quay Farr (quayfarr@bellsouth.net). Children & Youth Choir Practice - will meet in the Youth Room after receiving the Holy Eucharist.

9 GOYA ACTIVITIES TONITE at 5 p.m. Sts. RNI Youth Room GOYA Jam with Fr. Barnabas Monday, December 23rd 8 a.m. til noon Serve at Soup Kitchen Preparing & serving a hot breakfast for the community. St. John the Wonderworker Atlanta Friday, December 27th til Monday, December 30th Winter Youth Rally Marriott Century Center Atlanta RSVP & Questions to Athena Catapano, Advisor athenacatapano@yahoo.com

10 GREEK SCHOOL Contact Smara Wolff for information on Greek School - smara.wolff@gmail.com or Fall Semester Classes have begun. 1st Grade Classes held on: Friday - 6:15-7 p.m. or 7-7:45 p.m. 2nd Grade Class held on: Thursday - 6:45-7:45 p.m. Advanced Class held on: Sunday p.m. Spring Semester Classes will begin January 23rd, 2014 and run through May Registration forms will be available soon.

11 PHILOPTOCHOS CHRISTMAS BAKE SALE LAST WEEK TO PLACE ORDERS Delivery Sunday, December 22nd (earlier dates can be arranged) 9x12 trays of Baklava, Galatoboureko, Spanakopita, Pastichio $25 each Koulourakia - $6.00/dozen Place your orders ASAP with Helen McCart ( ) or Ginny Kostulakos (officeadmin@stsrni.org)

12 ANNOUNCEMENTS Sts. RNI Bookstore News Your purchases through Amazon helps us raise money! We have a new e-store on Amazon for the Sts. RNI Bookstore. This is an Amazon webstore that we put items into categories like books, cds, jewelry, food, etc. and we get paid 10% on all sales through our store. If someone from the church wants to buy something on Amazon, they need to click through our link for us to get credit. Also, if anyone wants a book, cd, etc., not on our list, they need to let us know & we can add it to the site. Use the link: For more information or to add items, contact Aftan Romanczak at aromanczak@hotmail.com Visitors Welcome Dina Sarandis resides at The Oaks on Post Road and welcomes visits from fellow parishioners. Dina says THANK YOU to those who have visited her and wants you to know that she has really enjoyed the company. She looks forward to more visitors. John & Sheila Consos are now residing in Dunwoody 4355 Georgetown Sq., Unit 442 and would enjoy phone calls (770/ ) &/or visits. If you know of someone who would like a visit, please contact Helen McCart at or the Church Office.

13 ANNOUNCEMENTS Prosforo Baking Prosforo will be made on Tuesday, January 14th, at the Blue House beginning at 9 a.m. All who would like to come and help are welcome. Contact Stamatia Hagen at mamma2maria@gmail.com BOOK CLUB Book Club has resumed. Contact Richard Bethune at rstzremod@gmail.com for more information. PROJECT COMFORT If you enjoy crocheting or knitting (or would like to learn), please contact Emily Christie at singcookwrite@gmail.com or Emily has started a ministry to make baby blankets & shawls for newborns & sick or shut-ins or for someone who just may need some comfort & a warm hug. New Year s Eve Dance The champagen is chilling & we hope you are willing to be our guest at The Annunciation Cathedral New Year s Eve Dance! 2500 Clairmont Road NE, Atlanta Tuesday, December 31st Doors Open at 9:30 p.m. Advanced Adult Ticket $25/At the Door $35 Advanced Student Ticket $15/At the Door $25 Cash Bar & Champagne Toast at Midnight! Come dance the Night away with Live music and DJ! Breakfast will be served following the dance.

14 TODAY St. Nicholas Marketplace Sunday, December 15th Sts. RNI Blue House Join us in the Blue House following the Divine Liturgy and General Assembly Meeting to shop at our St. Nicholas Marketplace. Vendors will include Smara Wolff with her olive oil and olive wood products; Carol Tadros with Silpada Jewelry and home decor; Tina Vamvakias with the Gifted Pan; Marie Chapman with Greek food items & gifts; and the Sts. RNI Gift Shop with religious items, ornaments & treasures. Come start (finish?) your Christmas gift shopping at our Marketplace. A portion of your purchases will be donated STEWARDSHIP DRIVE Richard & Sophia Bethune Kosta & Carolyn Bozzuto Keith & Mary Druffner Quay & Trissie Farr Robert & Jennifer Guano Tina Maheras Al & Helen McCart Matthew & Athena Miller John & Evon Patrick Koko & Carol Tadros Greg Tzevelekos/Evie Atkinson Rusty & Christine Waldron Plutarch & Tina Vamvakias Len Vanerstrom

15 Philoptochos Christmas Project St. John the Wonderworker & The Place Thank you to all who donated so generously to this project. The gifts and food are being delivered to St. John the Wonderworker in Atlanta today by Renee Birozes. If you can help Renee make the delivery and have not already contacted her, please see her after church. THANK YOU

16 To date the 104 families below have returned Stewardship Commitment Cards for Nicholas & Varvara Alexiou Jim & Angie Andropoulos Sarante & Julie Athenson Richard & Sophia Bethune Anthony & Mary Birozes Renee Birozes Katherine Blanos James & Jennifer Bochis Joseph & Barbara Bonelli-Selwa Jordan & Lisa Boston Helen Bouboulis Kosta & Carolyn Bozzuto Sean & Maria Carney David & Marie Chapman Russell & Chyrisse Chason Grace Chihlas Julie Chokos Connie Condos John & Sheila Consos Giles & Emily Christie Dan & Alyssa Douglas John & Beth Doulgerakis Gregory & Mariya Dunkel Quay & Trissie Farr Chris & Liz Foxhall Valerie Galanis Robert & Carey Gilbert Robert & Jennifer Guano Harald & Stamatia Hagen Christine Hatcher Michael & Ann Costakis Hayes Harriet Howell Alan & Julia Jenkins Mark & Jennie Johnson Eleni Jordan Panagiotis & Elizabeth Jordanopoulos Vasilios & Mary Kaloudis James Kanellos Maria Kardomateas Theodoros & Vasiliki Kavellaris Theodoros & Aphrodite Kazazakis-Levendakis Dennis & Ginny Kostulakos Alex & Melpo Levantis Earnest & Elizabeth Livaditis Leon & Francis Lopez Archie & Florence Lytle Connie Machoudy Harry & Tina Maheras Wade & Andrea Mancil Bill & Margaret Manos Emanuel Manos Bill & Audrey Marianes John Martin Riley & Ann Marvos George Matthews Al & Helen McCart John & Becky Melts Bill & Mary Milam Matt & Athena Miller Nikolaos Moissiadis Patricia Morris Peter & Jamie Nunn Nicolas & Teddie Panos Constantinos & Evelyn Pantazopoulos Lazaros & Christina Papadopoulos Gregory Pappas Gus Pappas John & Evon Patrick Sts. RNI Philoptochos Gus Plakiotis Ioanna Plakiotis Mihai & Heidi Popa Father & Presvytera Powell Pam Powers Katherine Prattes Vic & Suzi Pryles Paul & Gigi Ray Marina Raymond David & Mary Roberts Athan & Cheri Romanczak Jimmy & Pat Roney Andrew & Lorez Roussey Dina Sarandis Taka & Kathy Shoji Eric & Donna Smith Eugenia Smith Estelle Sofikitis George & Anna Sofikitis Dennis & Laura Sparks James Stockdill Koko & Carol Tadros Steven & Thalia Thompson Ed & Anne Trainor Brian & Jennifer Tubbs Sharon Tyre Greg Tzevelekos George Tzortzinakis Plutarch & Tina Vamvakias Rusty & Christine Waldron Tim & Diane Walters Steve & Smara Wolff Sam & Katherine Yalanzon George & Thalia Zazanis-Bruno John & Mildred Zourzoukis Stewardship is caring for the needs of others. Stewardship is offering one s self to God, as He offered Himself to us. Stewardship is what a person does after saying I believe as proof of that belief.