13th Sunday of Luke. Sunday Worship Schedule: Matins 9:00 am & Divine Liturgy 10:00 am

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1 Saint Barbara Greek Orthodox Church 8306 NC HWY 751, Durham NC News & Announcements November 27, th Sunday of Luke James the Great Martyr of Persia Nathaniel of Nitria & Pinouphrios of Egypt, the Righteous James the Wonderworker, Bishop of Rostov Gregory of Sinai and his disciple Gerasimos Arsenios of Rhaxos NEWCOMERS AND VISITORS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME! Sunday Worship Schedule: Matins 9:00 am & Divine Liturgy 10:00 am To Our Visitors and Guests We welcome you to worship with us today, whether you are an Orthodox Christian or this is your first visit to an Orthodox Church, we are pleased to have you with us. Although Holy Communion and other Sacraments are offered only to baptized and chrismated (confirmed) Orthodox Christians in good standing with the Church, all are invited to receive the Antidoron (blessed bread) from the priest at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy. The Antidoron is not a sacrament, but it is reminiscent of the agape feast that followed worship in the ancient Christian Church. After the Divine Liturgy this morning please join us in the Church hall for fellowship and refreshments. Please complete a Visitor's Card before you leave today and drop it in the offering tray, or give it to one of the parishioners after the service, or mail it to the church Office. Today's Readings: St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians 2:4-10 BRETHREN, God who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with him, and made us sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God: not because of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. 1

2 Πρὸς Ἐφεσίους 2:4-10 Ἀδελφοί, ὁ θεός, πλούσιος ὢν ἐν ἐλέει, διὰ τὴν πολλὴν ἀγάπην αὐτοῦ ἣν ἠγάπησεν ἡμᾶς, καὶ ὄντας ἡμᾶς νεκροὺς τοῖς παραπτώμασιν συνεζωοποίησεν τῷ Χριστῷ - χάριτί ἐστε σεσωσμένοι - καὶ συνήγειρεν, καὶ συνεκάθισεν ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ ἵνα ἐνδείξηται ἐν τοῖς αἰῶσιν τοῖς ἐπερχομένοις τὸν ὑπερβάλλοντα πλοῦτον τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ ἐν χρηστότητι ἐφʼ ἡμᾶς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ τῇ γὰρ χάριτί ἐστε σεσῳσμένοι διὰ τῆς πίστεως, καὶ τοῦτο οὐκ ἐξ ὑμῶν θεοῦ τὸ δῶρον οὐκ ἐξ ἔργων, ἵνα μή τις καυχήσηται. Αὐτοῦ γάρ ἐσμεν ποίημα, κτισθέντες ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ ἐπὶ ἔργοις ἀγαθοῖς, οἷς προητοίμασεν ὁ θεός, ἵνα ἐν αὐτοῖς περιπατήσωμεν. The Gospel according to Luke 18:18-27 At that time, a ruler came to Jesus and asked him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.' " And he said, "All these I have observed from my youth." And when Jesus heard it, he said to him, "One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." But when he heard this he became sad, for he was very rich. Jesus looking at him said, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." Those who heard it said, "Then who can be saved?" But he said, "What is impossible with men is possible with God." Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 18:18-27 Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἄρχων λέγων διδάσκαλε ἀγαθέ, τί ποιήσας ζωὴν αἰώνιον κληρονομήσω; εἶπε δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ Ιησοῦς τί με λέγεις ἀγαθόν; οὐδεὶς ἀγαθὸς εἰ μὴ εἷς ὁ Θεός. τὰς ἐντολὰς οἶδας μὴ μοιχεύσῃς, μὴ φονεύσῃς, μὴ κλέψῃς, μὴ ψευδομαρτυρήσῃς, τίμα τὸν πατέρα σου καὶ τὴν μητέρα σου. ὁ δὲ εἶπε ταῦτα πάντα ἐφυλαξάμην ἐκ νεότητός μου. ἀκούσας δὲ ταῦτα ὁ Ιησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτῷ ἔτι ἕν σοι λείπει πάντα ὅσα ἔχεις πώλησον καὶ διάδος πτωχοῖς, καὶ ἕξεις θησαυρὸν ἐν οὐρανῷ, καὶ δεῦρο ἀκολούθει μοι. ὁ δὲ ἀκούσας ταῦτα περίλυπος ἐγένετο ἦν γὰρ πλούσιος σφόδρα. ἰδὼν δὲ αὐτὸν ὁ Ιησοῦς περίλυπον γενόμενον εἶπε πῶς δυσκόλως οἱ τὰ χρήματα ἔχοντες εἰσελεύσονται εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ! εὐκοπώτερον γάρ ἐστι κάμηλον διὰ τρυμαλιᾶς ῥαφίδος εἰσελθεῖν ἢ πλούσιον εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ εἰσελθεῖν. εἶπον δὲ οἱ ἀκούσαντες καὶ τίς δύναται σωθῆναι; ὁ δὲ εἶπε τὰ ἀδύνατα παρὰ ἀνθρώποις δυνατὰ παρὰ τῷ Θεῷ ἐστιν. Philoptochos December Dates to Remember: November 27 holiday decorations go up December 3 St Barbara vesper & reception December 10 bake sale Note that the salvation army angel tree will be going up November 13. The tentative deadline for gifts being collected will be December 4 TRIANGLE YAL PROGRAMS AND INFORMATION The Triangle Young Adult League (YAL) is a Pan-Orthodox Christian Young Adult Ministry for the Triangle area (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) of North Carolina. We welcome all post-college young adults to join us! (note: we primarily comprise of members who are between ages 22-35). YAL's Mission: Our mission is to bring young Orthodox Christians together for Service, Fellowship, Worship and Christian Witness. We do so only with the support of all of our parishes, and the love and mentorship of the St. John the Merciful Outreach Ministry. Save the Date - May 6 & 7, Saint Barbara Greek Festival 2

3 WE NEED YOU as a STEWARD! Our Saint Barbara Church needs each and every family to join our Stewardship Program. Our goal is to have 150 Pledged Families in the Stewardship Program. As of Sept. 30th we have 103 Pledged Families in our Stewardship Program. Please help us Reach our Goal. PROJECTS TO DATE: 2015 February 7 June 6-7 July 18 September 12 September 26 October 3 November 6 November December 6 December 12 Gyro Day Greek Festival Gyro Feast Yard Sale Fashion Show Chicken Dinners To-go Evening of Music Joint Philoptochos/PC Fundraiser Saint Barbara Celebration Banquet Holiday Greek Pastries 2016 January 16 January 30 February 20 June 4-5 July 23 September 24 October 1 November December 2 December Evening of Music Spaghetti Event Gyro Event Greek Festival Gyro Event Evening of Jazz Greek Style Chicken Dinner & Pastry Athenian Grill and Pastry Christmas Concert Holiday Greek Pastries 3

4 HOPE AND JOY ACTIVITIES - SAVE THE DATES - FIRST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH - MEETING AT THE CHURCH - TIMES TBA November 5: Peace December 3: Off because St. Barbara's Vespers January 7: Patience; Vasilopita February 4: Kindness March 4: Goodness April 1: Faithfulness May 6: Gentleness June 3: Self-Control This theme is "The Fruits of the Spirit" Each session we will include fellowship and an activities based lesson on one fruit per month, Christmas Concert December 2 - Save the Date Christmas Concert Rehearsal Dates: Saturday November 12th 2 to 5 pm. Sunday November 27th 3 to 6 pm Dress Rehearsal Hey Everyone! Re: Concert Dec. 2 Byzantine Voices Choral Society We have 3 rehearsals scheduled so far for Byzantine Voices Choral Society. Saturday November 12th in the afternoon around 2:00 Tuesday November 15th at 6:30 pm Sunday November 27th around 2:00. Please attend as many as you can of these rehearsals as they may be the only chant group sessions we have this month. Also, please do not forget that each of you has a training CD and text/music for the program which you can practice each day. Tip: begin by saying aloud the text in rhythm. Then hum melody. Put melody and words together last. This is how you have a been learning in our sessions. thanks to all of you for your contribution to this endeavor. You are all a blessing to me! -Tony 4

5 Saint Barbara Feastday Celebration Days! Saturday, December 3rd, 2016 Great Vespers & Artoclasia... 6:30 pm followed by Refreshments Prepared by Philoptochos Sunday, December 4th, 2016 Matins for Saint Barbara... 9 am Divine Liturgy for Saint Barbara...10 am Sunday, December 4th, 2016 Saint Barbara Luncheon in Fellowship Hall after the Sunday Worship Service 5

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7 The Annual Philoptochos Christmas Angels for Children are available for all Parishioners on the Philoptochos Christmas Tree next to the book store. Please take an Angel and provide a child with a Christmas gift. The Angels have the children's sizes listed with their age. There is also a Dream Gift section. This is exactly what it says, a dream for that particular child. You DO NOT HAVE to purchase the dream gift, it is OPTIONAL. PLEASE DELIVER YOUR GIFT UNWRAPPED. PLEASE TIE YOUR ANGEL TO THE UNWRAPPED GIFT BAG. THE GIFTS SHOULD BE DELIVERED TO THE CHURCH ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 4TH. The gifts will be delivered later that week. If you have questions please contact Catherine Constantinou catherine.constantinou@yahoo.com. Thank You for Generosity 7

8 Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann The Services of Christmas in the Orthodox Church The Nativity Cycle As Orthodox Christians, we begin the celebration of the Nativity of Christ on December 25 with a time of preparation. Forty days before the feast of the birth of Our Lord we enter the period of the Christmas Fast: to purify both soul and body to enter properly into and partake of the great spiritual reality of Christ s Coming. This fasting season does not constitute the intense liturgical season that is characteristic of Great Lent; rather, Christmas Lent is more of an "ascetical" rather than "liturgical" nature. Nevertheless, the Christmas fasting season is reflected in the life of the Church in a number of liturgical notes that announce the coming feast. Within the forty days preparation the theme of the approaching Nativity is introduced in the services and liturgical commemorations, little by little. If the beginning of the fast on November 15 is not liturgically marked by any hymn, five days later, on the eve of the Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple, we hear the first announcement from the nine hirmoi of the Christmas Canon: "Christ is born, glorify Him!" With these words something changes in our life, in the very air we breathe, in the entire mood of the Church s life. It is as if we perceive far, far away, the first light of the greatest possible joy the coming of God into His world! Thus the Church announces the coming of Christ, the Incarnation of God, His entrance into the world for its salvation. Then, on the two Sundays preceding Christmas, the Church commemorates the Forefathers and the Fathers: the prophets and the saints of the Old Testament who prepared that coming, who made history itself into the expectation, the waiting for, the salvation and reconciliation of mankind with God. Finally, on December 20th, the church begins the Forefeast of the Nativity, whose liturgical structure is similar to the Holy Week preceding Pascha for the birth of the Son of God as child is the beginning of the saving ministry which will lead Him, for the sake of our salvation, to the ultimate sacrifice of the Cross. The Eve The liturgical services of December 24th, the Eve of the Nativity, are: 8

9 1. The Hours 2. Vespers, and 3. The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great. Coming at the end of the Forefeast, and indeed of the entire Advent, the Hours summarize all the themes of the feast and make them into a last and solemn announcement. In the special psalms, hymns and biblical readings prescribed for each hour, the joy and power of Christ s Coming are proclaimed. It is one last meditation on the cosmical meaning of the Nativity, on the decisive and radical change it performed in the entire creation. Vespers, which usually follows the Hours, inaugurates the celebration of the feast itself, for, as we know, the liturgical day begins in the evening. The tone of this celebration is given by the five stichera on "Lord, I call..." What they really are is an explosion of joy for the gift of Christ s Incarnation, which is now fulfilled! Eight biblical readings show that Christ is the fulfillment of all prophecies, that His Kingdom is the Kingdom "of all ages," that all human history finds its meaning in it, and the entire cosmos its center. The Liturgy of St. Basil which follows Vespers was in the past the baptismal liturgy at which catechumens were baptized, chrismated and integrated into the Church, the Body of Christ. The double joy of the feast, for the newly-baptized and other members of the Church, is reflected in the prokeimenon of the day: The Lord said to me: Thou art My son, this day have I begotten Thee. Ask of Me, and I shall give Thee the nations for Thine inheritance, and the ends of the earth as Thy possession. Then, at the end of the Liturgy, the celebrant, taking a lighted candle to the very centre of the Church, and surrounded by the entire congregation, intones the troparion and kontakion of the Feast: 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! The Vigil and the Liturgy 9

10 Since Vespers of the feast already have been celebrated, the Vigil begins with Great Compline and the joyful proclamation from Isaiah "God is with us!" The order of Matins is that of a great feast. Now, for the first time, the full Canon "Christ is born," one of the most beautiful canons in Orthodox worship, is sung while the faithful venerate the icon of Christ s Nativity. The Praises follow, summarizing the joy and themes of the entire feast: Make glad, O you righteous! Greatly rejoice, O heavens! Dance for joy, O mountains; for Christ is born! The Virgin has become like the cherubic throne. She carries at her bosom God the Word, made flesh. Shepherds glorify the newborn child. Wise men offer the master gifts. Angels praise Him and sing: O Lord, past understanding, glory to Thee! Concluding the celebration of the Nativity of Christ is the Liturgy of the day itself with its festal antiphons proclaiming: The Lord will send Thee the scepter of power from Zion: "Rule in the midst of Thine enemies." With Thee is dominion on the day of Thy birth, in the radiance of holiness. The Post-feast On the second day of the feast, the Synaxis of the Theotokos is celebrated. Combining the hymns of the Nativity with those celebrating the Mother of God, the Church points to Mary as the one through whom the Incarnation was made possible. His humanity concretely and historically is the humanity He received from Mary. His Body is, first of all, her body; His life is her life. This feast, the assembly in honour of the Theotokos, is probably the most ancient feast of Mary in the Christian tradition, the very beginning of her veneration by the Church. Six days of post-feast bring the Christmas season to a close on December 31. At the services of all these days, the Church repeats the hymns and songs glorifying Christ s Incarnation, reminding us that the source and the foundation of our salvation is only to be found in the One Who, as God before the ages, came into this world and for our sake was "born as a little Child." The Rev. Alexander Schmemann in the book The Services of Christmas: The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, David Anderson and John Erickson, Dept of Religious Education, Orthodox Church in America, Syosset, New York,