S u n day B e f o r e Th e o p h a n y

Transcript

1 S u n day B e f o r e Th e o p h a n y Ap o d o s i s o f t h e Nat i v i t y; Me l a n i a, Nu n o f R o m e Happy New Year Transfiguration of our Lord Greek Orthodox Church 414 St. Stephens School Road Austin, Texas (512) office@transfiguration.org website - Sunday Service Schedule Orthros 8:15am; Divine Liturgy 9:30am Reverend Fr. Vasileios Flegas, Proistamenos

2 HY M N S Nativity Hymn Ἡ γέννησίς σου Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ἀνέτειλε τῷ κόσμῳ, τὸ φῶς τὸ τῆς γνώσεως ἐν αὐτῇ γὰρ οἱ τοῖς ἄστροις λατρεύοντες, ὑπὸ ἀστέρος ἐδιδάσκοντο σὲ προσκυνεῖν, τὸν Ἥλιον τῆς δικαιοσύνης, καὶ σὲ γινώσκειν ἐξ ὕψους ἀνατολήν, Κύριε δόξα σοι. Your birth O Christ our God did shine upon the world and through the light of wisdom illumined the universe and to those who held the stars in worship did through a star learn to worship You, Worship You the Sun of Righteousness and came to know You the Light from on high. Glory to You O Lord. Hymn Τὸν συνάναρχον Λόγον Πατρὶ καὶ Πνεύματι, τὸν ἐκ Παρθένου τεχθέντα εἰς σωτηρίαν ἡμῶν, ἀνυμνήσωμεν πιστοὶ καὶ προσκυνήσωμεν, ὅτι ηὐδόκησε σαρκί, ἀνελθεῖν ἐν τῷ σταυρῷ, καὶ θάνατον ὑπομεῖναι, καὶ ἐγεῖραι τοὺς τεθνεῶτας, ἐν τῇ ἐνδόξῳ Ἀναστάσει αὐτοῦ. Eternal with the Father and the Spirit is the Word, Who of a Virgin was begotten for our salvation. As the faithful we both praise and worship Him, for in the flesh did He consent to ascend unto the Cross, and death did He endure and He raised unto life the dead through His all glorious resurrection. Hymn for Joseph, David, & James Εὐαγγελίζου Ἰωσήφ, τῷ Δαυῒδ τὰ θαύματα τῷ Θεοπάτορι Παρθένον εἶδες κυοφορήσασαν, μετὰ Μάγων προσεκύνησας, μετὰ Ποιμένων ἐδοξολόγησας, δι' Ἀγγέλου χρηματισθείς. Ἱκέτευε Χριστὸν τὸν Θεόν, σωθῆναι τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν. O Joseph, proclaim the wonders to David, the ancestor of God. Thou hast seen a Virgin great with child; thou hast given glory with the shepherds; thou hast worshipped with the Magi; and thou hast been instructed through an Angel. Entreat Christ God to save our souls. Hymn for the Transfiguration of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Μετεμορφώθης εν τώ όρει Χριστέ ο Θεός, δείξας τοίς Μαθηταίς σου τήν δόξαν σου, καθώς ήδυναντο, Λάμψον καί ημίν τοίς αμαρτωλοίς, τό φώς σου τό αϊδιον, πρεσβείαις τής Θεοτόκου, φωτοδότα δόξα σοι. When O Christ our God Thou wast Transfigured on the mountain Thou didst reveal Thy glory to Thy disciples in proportion as they could bear it. Let Thine everlasting light also enlighten us sinners. Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Thou Bestower of light, glory to Thee Kontakion Ἡ Παρθένος σήμερον, τὸν ὑπερούσιον τίκτει, καὶ ἡ γῆ τὸ Σπήλαιον, τῷ ἀπροσίτῳ προσάγει. Ἄγγελοι μετὰ Ποιμένων δοξολογοῦσι. Μάγοι δὲ μετὰ ἀστέρος ὁδοιποροῦσι δι' ἡμᾶς γὰρ ἐγεννήθη, Παιδίον νέον, ὁ πρὸ αἰώνων Θεός. On this day the Virgin beareth the Transcendent in Essence; to the Unapproachable, the earth doth offer a small cave; Angels join in choir with shepherds in giving glory; with a star the Magi travel upon their journey; for our sakes is born a young Child, He that existed before the ages as God. Megalinarion Hymn Μεγάλυνον ψυχή μου, τὴν λυτρωσαμένην, ἡμᾶς ἐκ τῆς κατάρας. Στέργειν μὲν ἡμᾶς, ὡς ἀκίνδυνον φόβῳ, Ῥᾶον σιωπήν, τῷ πόθῳ δὲ Παρθένε, Ὕμνους ὑφαίνειν, συντόνως τεθηγμένους, Ἐργῶδές ἐστιν, ἀλλὰ καὶ Μήτηρ σθένος, Ὅση πέφυκεν ἡ προαίρεσις δίδου. O my soul, magnify the ever virgin Maiden who from the curse has redeemed us. Easier for us is from fear to love silence, free of any peril as it is, O Virgin; whereas to weave stirring hymns out of longing in earnest, is difficult. Therefore, O Mother, give us strength to match our volition, we pray you. Nativity Communion Hymn Λύτρωσιν ἀπέστειλε Κύριος τῷ λαῷ αὐτοῦ. Ἀλληλούϊα. He hath sent Redemption unto His people. Alleluia

3 Epistle - St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 4:5-8 Prokeimenon. Mode Plagal 2. Psalm 27.9,1 Προκείμενον. Ήχος πλ. β'. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 27.9,1 O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance. Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God. The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 4:5-8 T IMOTHY, my son, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry. For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. Σῶσον, Κύριε τὸν λαὸν σου καὶ εὐλόγησον τὴν κληρονομίαν σου. Στίχ. Πρὸς σἐ, Κύριε, κεκράξομαι ὁ Θεός μου. Πρὸς Τιμόθεον β' 4:5-8 τὸ ἀνάγνωσμα είναι απο Τ έκνον Τιμόθεε, νῆφε ἐν πᾶσιν, κακοπάθησον, ἔργον ποίησον εὐαγγελιστοῦ, τὴν διακονίαν σου πληροφόρησον. Ἐγὼ γὰρ ἤδη σπένδομαι, καὶ ὁ καιρὸς τῆς ἐμῆς ἀναλύσεως ἐφέστηκεν. Τὸν ἀγῶνα τὸν καλὸν ἠγώνισμαι, τὸν δρόμον τετέλεκα, τὴν πίστιν τετήρηκα λοιπόν, ἀπόκειταί μοι ὁ τῆς δικαιοσύνης στέφανος, ὃν ἀποδώσει μοι ὁ κύριος ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ, ὁ δίκαιος κριτής οὐ μόνον δὲ ἐμοί, ἀλλὰ καὶ πάσιν τοῖς ἠγαπηκόσιν τὴν ἐπιφάνειαν αὐτοῦ. Thank you to this week s Epistle reader Maria Skevofilax Next week s Epistle reader Konstantinos Christou PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS Happy New Year! On behalf of PHILOPTOCHOS I wish you a blessed new year I want to let you know that without your support Philoptochos would never be able to help so many needy and deserving people. Thank you On Sunday December 31, just in time for the new year, PHILOPTOCHOS will be auctioning off delicious vasilopitas. The money raised goes directly to St Basil for the orphanage. Please bring your beautifully wrapped vasilopita or other baked goods to be auctioned to Mt Tabor Hall before church. If you can t wrap we will have a team of helpers on hand. After church during coffee hour, Jack Gatlin will auction everything. Please remember to, also, bring your checkbook. Your generosity is truly appreciated! Script cards are available for groceries or gifts ask at the PHILOPTOCHOS table for details

4 G o s p e l - Ma r k 1 : 1-8 T he beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophets, 'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who shall prepare your way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.' John was baptizing in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." Potluck Patristics Αρχὴ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ, υἱοῦ τοῦ Θεοῦ. Ως γέγραπται ἐν τοῖς προφήταις, ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἀποστέλλω τὸν ἄγγελόν μου πρὸ προσώπου σου, ὃς κατασκευάσει τὴν ὁδόν σου ἔμπροσθέν σου φωνὴ βοῶντος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, ἑτοιμάσατε τὴν ὁδὸν Κυρίου, εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους αὐτοῦ, ἐγένετο Ιωάννης βαπτίζων ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ καὶ κηρύσσων βάπτισμα μετανοίας εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν. Καὶ ἐξεπορεύετο πρὸς αὐτὸν πᾶσα ἡ Ιουδαία χώρα καὶ οἱ Ιεροσολυμῖται, καὶ ἐβαπτίζοντο πάντες ἐν τῷ Ιορδάνῃ ποταμῷ ὑπ αὐτοῦ ἐξομολογούμενοι τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν. Ἦν δὲ ὁ Ιωάννης ἐνδεδυμένος τρίχας καμήλου καὶ ζώνην δερματίνην περὶ τὴν ὀσφὺν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐσθίων ἀκρίδας καὶ μέλι ἄγριον. Καὶ ἐκήρυσσε λέγων ἔρχεται ὁ ἰσχυρότερός μου ὀπίσω μου, οὗ οὐκ εἰμὶ ἱκανὸς κύψας λῦσαι τὸν ἱμάντα τῶν ὑποδημάτων αὐτοῦ ἐγὼ μὲν ἐβάπτισα ὑμᾶς ἐν ὕδατι, αὐτὸς δὲ βαπτίσει ὑμᾶς ἐν Πνεύματι Αγίῳ. Our most recently canonized saint, St. Porphyrios, has his words recorded in a beautiful book entitled Wounded by Love. There are copies of the book in the bookstore for you to buy and join our club. POTLUCK PATRISTICS WILL RESUME IN FEBRUARY Thank you to all who participated in this year s Christmas Art Exhibit. You truly blessed us with your talents and allowed us to appreciate Christ s birth in a new and wonderful way! A big thanks also goes to Stephen Dow who provided us with beautiful and festive music on opening day! We will be taking down the exhibit today, so please come collect your artwork and take it home. Thank you! Bringing Your Brokenness Open to individuals and couples, meetings will be held bi-monthly on Thursday evenings at 6:30pm in the church. We are studying the book Truly Human: Recovering Your Humanity in a Broken World by Kevin Scherer, which is available in our bookstore. Our goal is to provide a loving Orthodox Christian atmosphere for support, accountability, study, and discussion, with the ultimate goal of restoring our souls and bodies to the image and likeness of God. Our next meeting will be Thursday, January 4. If you have questions please contact Fr. Vasileios, or Brian Holland at brianholland5143@yahoo.com or

5 Welcome Visitors! We welcome all new visitors who worshipped with us this morning. We are pleased to have you with us! Please join us next door after service for coffee and fellowship. There is material in the entrance of the church regarding ministries and events of Transfiguration. We hope that you will return often to worship with us and grow in Christ! Receiving Holy Communion The sacrament of Holy Communion is reserved for only baptized and/or Chrismated Orthodox Christians who have properly prepared by fasting, prayer and confession. The Orthodox Church is not in sacramental communion with any other church outside the Orthodox Christian Faith. If you are not Orthodox, you are invited with everyone to receive the Antidoron (blessed bread) at the end of service. If you would like information about the Orthodox Church, please see Fr. Vasileios after services. he is always wrestling in prayer for you (Colossians 4:12) Prayers for those in our Armed Forces SGT Jennifer D. Atkinson, SSG John Atkinson, COL Dave Romine, CPT James Alfaro, SSG Deane Anderson, CPT William Willett, MAJ Timothy Ullman, Lt. Col. Chris Chase, SPC Mindy Keys, SPC Andrew Bentzel, MAJ Scot Thornhill, CPT Christopher Gilbert, Major Alexander Stathos, 1st LT Angela Bahlatzis, MIDN 1/C Joseph Barone, SGT Walter Hurbert ( Nikolaos ) Willoughby IV, LCDR Thomas Uhl, Lt. Lance Shannon, Lt. Raphael Regalado The Prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective (James 5:16) Prayers for Health Prsv. Aspazia, Nicholas Wyatt, Marihiam, Archie, Paul, Rebecca, Lynne Marie, Simone, Dennis Luke, Jacquie, Hunter, Zenon, Bill, Douglas Edwards, Paul Thomas, Thomas James, Maria, Nancy, Cassandra, Efstathia, Evan, Victoria, Terri, Elias, Tim, Rhonda, George Geuras, Sharon, Dante, Loukas, Charlie, Despina, Anna, Mary, Wanda, Kathreen, Chuck, Stephenie, Athena, Bill, Kathryn, John, Harriet, Angel, Clarisa, Damon, Athanasios, Niky, Niky, Dino, Diakonissa Claire, Pete, William, George, Ioanna, Panayiotis, Athanasia, Katherine, John, Anna, Emmanuel, George, William, Julia, Andrew, Mary, Ignatius, Eva, Philip Sorak, Jennifer, Antonis, Pete, Maria, Michael, Louis, Cecilia, Gwendolyn, Christine, Athena Cheryl, Margot, Kyriakos, Costa, Maria, Joy Jackie, Evangelos, Sophia, Alexander, Jim, Trinity, Eddy, Fr. Damaskinos, Prsv. Maria, Emmanuel, Eleni, Thomas, Maria, Spyridon, Maria, Emmanuel, Zoe, Miguel, Anna, Sandy, Konstantinos, Michael, Gail, Mark, Diane, Scott, Fr. Joseph and family, Raymond, Steve, Janice, Jared, Maria, Jimmy H., Grayson, Gwen, Sheila, baby William, Fr. Meletios Marks, Kristi, Noah, Anna, MariaTeresa, Irene, Chance, Cary, Eleni, Tatiana, baby Hazel, Stephen, Chelsea, Sarah, Laurena, Christopher Martin, Theresa Marie, Trey, Jennifer, Nikoletta, Cristie, Phillip, Summer, baby Daniel, Paul, Virginia, Diamanto, Theophania, Nikolaos, Georgios, Billy, Russ, Irma, Dave Osborn, Nancy Va s i lo p i t a A u c t io n t o d a y! Home baked Vasilopitas from all different traditions and old family recipes will be auctioned off today! All proceeds will go towards the St. Basil Academy, a national not-for-profit philanthropic center of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America which provides love, shelter, food, education, protection and a home for her orphans, children of chronically ill or destitute parents or children from broken homes. Thank you to all our bakers and all of you who help support such an important institution with this annual tradition by purchasing a Vasilopita.

6 VANCO our new E-Giving Platform Warmest greetings in Christ, Let us first begin by mentioning how grateful and thankful the stewardship committee is that so many of you have embraced using E-Giving as your method of choice for donating to our church. It is the best way to contribute because it allows us to better budget our finances and eliminates the need to process as many checks. As of Jan 1st we will no longer support the current E-giving platform and will be converting over to the new Vanco E-Giving platform. We are kindly asking everyone who currently is using the existing platform to create a new account with Vanco before the end of December. There will be a new link on our website this week that you can click on to begin the process. As an added convenience Vanco also offers a very user friendly app you can download onto your smart phone for those individuals who prefer to conduct donating using mobile devices for both Apple and Android. Also, the option to donate via text-messages is also possible with the Vanco system. The information on how to do navigate all these features will be included in your upcoming 2018 Stewardship mailing as well in future bulletins and on our website. Yours In Christ, Harry Stamatis & Nyda Glaros Stewardship Committee

7 Fr. Vasileios & Prsb. Stella Flegas Fr. David & Prsb. Vasiliki Eckley Fr. Teodor & Prsb. Aspazia Bita Dn. George & Prsb. Ria Bithos Ackerman, Eleni Adamson, Phillip & Rachel Agnos, Peter & Sarah Aldridge, Bill & Roxanne Ambrose, Rod & Effie Angelo, Jacob & Diana Apostolakis, Dr. Lou & Ellen Appling, Dan & Georgine Arges, Chris Atkinson, John & Jennifer Athanasiou, Vaios & Madeleine Ayers, Robert & Magdalene Bakiris, Michalis & MaryKatherine Bartela, Thomas & Sofia Benson, Kiki, Maria & Jerry Bjeletich, Marko & Elissa Boukadakis, Michael Bourgeois, Lynne Bowles, Thomas & Niky Boyer, Russell & Christine Bryant, Jason & Katherine Milosovich Burke, Maria Burns, Michael & Eva Calhoun, Debbie Carter, Despina Chremos, Nicholas Christou, Christakis Chronis, Gregory & Marousa Chronis, John & Amy Clark, Ron Clay, Marianne Colovas, William & Betty D. Cokins, Anita Constantinides, Minas & Melissa Craus, Constantin & Adina Daniello, Victor & Hilary Daskalantonakis, Dean Daskalantonakis, Michael & Elizabeth Demetriadis, Alex & Joan Demirdal, Oktay & Tsambika Demopoulos, & Joanna DeRossi, Jo & Koula Dolan, Karen Dow, Stephen & Diann Thank you to all our 2017 Stewards Draina, Jo & Joann Eagle, Judith & Robert Edwards, Richard & Lia Ekery, Fred & Dorothy Esper, John & Jessica Evgenides, Costas & Ellen Fuselier, Kevin & Katie Garwood, Jason & Amity Gatlin, Jack & Pat Georgakopoulos, Ilias Georgantonis, Mary George, Anthony & Effie Geranios, Peter & Lillian Gianakopoulos, George & Crissi Gianas, Stella Giannopoulos, Demetri Glarakis, Christina Glaros, Michael & Nyda Gouris, Tom & Allison Gradziel, MaryBeth Hahalis, Roula Haldes, Tula Harris, Christopher & Vicki Hasiotis, Thanos & Misty Hatgil, Paul Herescu, Octavian & Oltea Hildom, Nick & Ruth Holland, Brian & Sue Holtsinger, Gretchen Horwedel, David & Eleni Hrissikopoulos, Eleni Jerome, Gwen Elizabeth Jones, Jerry & Julie Jones, Ralph & Anita Justice, Johnny & Argiro Justice, Maria Kalenterides, Theodore Kalogirou, Nici Kalpaxis, James Kangos, Peter & Linda Karides, George, Georgia & Mia Karvelas, Elsie Katsos, Louis & Pat Keah, Demetra Kersch, Vana Kenna, Anne Kenyon, Scott & Katina Keys, Andrew & Dolores Khan, Sophia King, Neysa Klaras, Patricia Kolber, Carolyn Korioth, Kevin & Patricia Koulakis, Mihail & Katina Kwasny, Fotis & Fatin Lambousis, Maria Lambropoulos, Panayiotis & Tara Lambros, Despina Landon, James & Karen LaRue, Keith Leakas, Timothy & Sophia Leara, William & Michelle Leatherwood, Lee & Elaine Levendakes, Steve Lindsey, Robert & Susan Lowe, Ioana Margos, Fotini Maziasz, David McFalls, David & Mariam Meador, Archie & Dina Melas, Christoforos Misetzis, Despina Misthos, James & Donna Mitchell, Pat Moros, Maria Morris, Nina Moya, Enrique & Iulia Graf Nikas, Maria O'Brien, Shawn & Stephanie Orthmann, Chris & Summer Orr, Terry & Patricia Osowski, David & Elaine Ousaklides, Ioannis & Wanda Papageorgakis, Christos Papanikolaou, Nick & Smaranda Pappas, Andrea Pappas, Valli Pavlos, Pete & Toni Peet, Kim Peppas, Nicholas & Lisa Perez, Irene Petty, Ioanna Phelps, Austin & Irene Phillips, Cynthia Tassos Phocas, Dionissios & Sonia Pon, Ken & Mary-Ellen Postelnicu, Alina Poulos, John & Nina Pozharova, Mariya Veselinova Prasifka, Greg & Marisa Price, Geoffrey & Maria Price, Peter & Cynthia Colovas Qatato, Jamal & Angele Randol, Mark & Jackey Read, Bruce & Anastasia Reeder, Daniel Rigney, Tom Rivera, Mara Robertson, William & Linda Romell, Peter & Barbara Romine, Dr. David Rossnagel, Stella Russell, Mary Helen Ryburn, Earl & Michelle Sanftner, Roger & Juleen Sarinaki, Maria Sewell Shane & Christa Shotwell, Pat Sigalos, John Skevofilax, George & Teresa Smith, Alexander & Sandra Sofyanos, John & Peggy Sounas, Dimitrios Spanos, Kostas & Vasiliki Spiropoulos, Georgia & Athanasios Spiropoulos, Nicholaos & Christiana Stahlke, Karl & Evangelia Stamatis, Harry & Patrice Stateson, Theone Stathos, Judith Stefos, John Strategakos, George & Georgia Streetman, Kyle & Sophie Suehs, Brandon & Jennifer Suehs, Thomas & Christine Tannous, Mays Terzi, Fotini Tindle, Deb Tsihlas, Stephen & Martha Uritu, Daniel & Marinela Vlahogiannis, Kiriakos Vrentas, Greg & Andrea Werner, Mark Willmann, Judd & Carol Willoughby, Walter & Triantafillia Wynn, Allen & Julie Yentzen, David & Celia Yoder, Stuart & Kori Zachos, Elias & Cynthia Zotis, Stathis & Vicki

8 Thank you 2018 Stewards thus far Fr. Vasileios & Prsb. Stella Flegas Fr. David & Prsb. Vasiliki Eckley Dn. George & Prsb. Ria Bithos Prsb. Aspazia Bita Ambrose, Rod & Effie Ayers, Robert & Magdalene Benson, Kiki, Maria & Jerry Bryant, Jason & Katie Clark, Ron Craus, Radu Draina, Joseph & JoAnn Edwards, Rich & Lia Gatlin, Jack & Patricia Georgantonis - Keah, Demetra Anna Georgantonis, Mary Giannopoulos, Demetrios Glaros, Michael & Nyda Gligor, David Gouris, Tom & Allison Gradziel, MaryBeth Haldes, Tula Herescu, Octavian & Oltea Holland, Brian & Susan Hrissikopoulos, Eleni Kalogirou, Nici Kenna, Anne King, Neysa Klaras, Panagiota Kolber, Carolyn Koulakis, Mihail & Katina Koutsavdis, Evangelos & Mary-Roselie Lambros, Despina Leatherwood, Lee & Elaine Lowe, Josh & Ioana Meador, Archie & Dina Menezes, Evandro Nelson, Richard & Eleni Orr, Terry & Patricia Orthmann, Chris & Summer Papageorgakis, Christos Peter, Evan, Carson & Jacob Petropoulos, Chris & Tina Petty, Ioanna Phocas, Denis & Sonia Pon, Ken & Mary-Ellen Poulos, Gabe & Lisa Prasifka, Greg & Marisa Qatato, Jamal & Angele Randol, Mark & Jackey Reeder, Daniel Rigney, Thomas Romell, Peter & Barbara Russell, Mary Helen Ryburn, Earl & Michelle Sarinaki, Maria Skevofilax, George & Teresa Spanos, Kostas & Vasiliki Stamatis, Harry & Patrice Stathos, Judith Streetman, Kyle & Sophie Tindle, Debbie Uritu, Daniel & Marinela Willmann, Judd & Carol Willoughby, Walter & Triantafilli Wynn, Allen & Julie Xylouris Bowles, Niky & Tom Become a steward TODAY!

9 EPIPHANY SCHEDULE OF SERVICES Friday, January 5 The Proeortia (Forefeast) of the Theophany of Christ 9am Matins 10am Royal Hours of the 5th 5pm Vesperal Divine Liturgy of St. Basil for the 5th followed by the Lesser Blessing of the Waters Saturday, January 6 The Holy Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ 9am Orthros 10am Divine Liturgy of St. John the Chrysostom followed by the Service of the Greater Blessing of Waters Sunday, January 7 The Synaxis Feast of St. John the Baptist 8:15am Orthros 9:30am Divine Liturgy

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11 GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA 8-10 East 79th St. New York, NY * Tel: (212) Fax: (212) communications@goarch.org Protocol No. 01/18 December 27, 2017 He has sent me to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. (Luke 4:19) Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ, January 1, 2018 Feast of Saint Basil and New Year In the Holy Gospel of Luke we read about the beginning of our Lord s earthly ministry. As He traveled throughout Galilee teaching in synagogues, He came to Nazareth where He had been raised. When Christ stood to speak, He read from the book of Isaiah: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and the recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. (Luke 4:18-19) At the inception of this New Year of 2018, we affirm as Orthodox Christians that the words above offered by our Lord in reference to His divine work are also the focus of our worship and ministry. In all that we do as the Greek Orthodox Church in America, we look to Christ as our Savior and Guide, we offer the Gospel of life and truth, and we demonstrate the grace of God in our service to others. We preach the message of salvation. We speak of liberty in Christ to all who are in bondage to sin and the burdens of this life. We offer a witness of the healing and transformation that we find in Him. We proclaim constantly and consistently that this is the acceptable year of the Lord. The emphasis on the Gospel of life and truth and on service to others is also the focus of the ministry offered at Saint Basil Academy. In an environment of love and faith, the staff nurture the children and youth. They constantly demonstrate the grace of God and reveal that Christ is present. Through faith they offer hope and healing, so that the promises of liberty in Christ and abundant blessings from Him are experienced by all who reside at Saint Basil s. In support of this vital ministry, our Ladies Philoptochos Society leads our parishes each year on this Feast and in our traditional cutting of the Vasilopeta. As we commemorate Saint Basil and anticipate the blessings of our Lord in 2018, I ask that you show your support through prayers for the residents, staff, directors and benefactors of Saint Basil Academy. I also ask that you give generously to assist this ministry. Your gifts will strengthen a ministry that reveals the promise and potential of life in Christ. As we look ahead to a year full of opportunities and blessings, may we join together in praising and thanking God for all that He has given us for our lives, our communities, and for the work of ministry. May this year be acceptable to the Lord through our worship and our offering of service through the message, programs, and resources of our Holy Archdiocese. May we stay focused on our calling and commitment to share our saving faith and our dynamic heritage, and above anything else to grow in the knowledge and grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; to Him be the glory to the day of eternity, Amen. (II Peter 3:18) Have a blessed and happy New Year. With paternal love in Him, DEMETRIOS Archbishop of America

12 WEEKLY SERVICES Sunday, December 31, 2017 Services for this Week : Fr i d a y, J an u a r y 5 - Fo r e f e a s t of th e T h e o p h an y Orthros & Royal Hours Vepseral Liturgy & Lesser Blessing of waters 5pm S a tu r d a y, J an u a r y 6 - Feast of Theophany & Greater Blessing of waters Orthros 9am Divine Liturgy 10am Great Vespers 5pm 9am Memorial Service The memorial service today is for: Fr. Teodor Bita (40 Days)- survived by his beloved wife Presbytera Aspazia; his children Roxanne (William) Aldridge, & Gabriel Bita; and his granddaughter Maia Georgina. May His Memory be Eternal A Makaria meal in Father Teodor Bita s memory will be offered by his family after church in Mt. Tabor Hall. Please join us Transfiguration s cutting of vasilopita TODAY! Fr. David Eckley will be cutting a vasilopita TODAY for our Parish. All Ministry Leaders are asked to come forward when called to receive a piece for their ministry. HAPPY NAME DAY Fr. David Eckley & thank you and Presbytera Vasiliki for celebrating the Divine Liturgy with us Thank you to last week s Coffee Hour Sponsors : Thank you to this week s Coffee Hour sponsors: Next week s Coffee Hour Sponsors: Uritu, Webber, Willmann, Yoder, Zachos, Zotis, Angelo, Antoniadis, Apostolakis Willoughby, Wynn Ackerman, Boyer, Ambrose Appling, Athanasiou, Petty Thank you to last week s ushers: Thank you to today's ushers: Next week s ushers are: James Landon (PCM) Harry Stamatis (PCM) Pat Mitchell (PCM) Harry Stamatis, MaryBeth Gradziel, Brian Holland Argyro Justice, Sophia Khan, Allen Wynn Jack Gatlin, Stella Rossnagel,