The MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE

Transcript

1 The MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE HOLY TAXIARHAI AND SAINT HARALAMBOS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH 7373 CALDWELL AVENUE, NILES, ILLINOIS PHONE (847) Where there is no vision, the people perish. (Proverbs 29:18) CHRISTMAS SEASON 2010 In this issue Introducing Stewardship 2011: See page 3! On behalf of the Parish Council, our parish organizations and the entire St. Haralambos Family, we wish you a blessed and joyful Christmas, and a wonderful, healthy and prosperous New Year!

2 WORSHIP SCHEDULE FOR DECEMBER /JANUARY Sunday, December 19 Sunday before Christmas 9:30 am Sunday 9:45 am Divine Friday, December 24 6:00 am Ninth Hour 7:00 am Vesperal of Christmas Eve December 24 Christmas Eve TO BE ANNOUNCED SATURDAY, DECEMBER 25 CHRISTMAS DAY THE BIRTH IN THE FLESH OFOUR LORD AND SAVIOR 8:30 am Orthros and Divine Sunday, December 26 9:45 am Divine Family Worship Saturday, January 1, 2011 New Year s Day, Feastday of St. Basil the Great 8:30 am Orthros and Divine Sunday, January 2 9:45 am Divine Family Worship Wednesday, Janaury 5 Eve of Epiphany 8:30 am Ninth Hour 10:00 am Vesperal, Great Blessing of the Waterrs Thursday, January 6 EPIPHANY 8:00 pm Orthros and Divine, Great Blessing of the Waterrs Sunday, January 9 9:30 am Sunday 9:45 am Divine Sunday, January 16 9:30 am Sunday 9:45 am Divine TUESDAY, January 18 Ss. Athanasios and Cyril 8:30 am Orthros and Divine Sunday, January 23 GODPARENT SUNDAY 9:45 am Divine FAMILY WORSHIP Sunday, January 30 The Three Hierarchs 9:30 am Sunday 9:45 am Divine OUR SISTER COMMUNITY OF ST BASIL in Chicago invites you to Great Vespers at 7:00 pm on Friday evening, December 31st in honor of the Feastday of St. Basil, and to Divine the morning of Saturday, January 1st. WILL be celebrated at St. Haralambos on Saturday, January 1st.) OUR SISTER COMMUNITY OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST in Des Plaines invites you to Great Vespers at 7:00 pm on Thursday evening, January 6 in honor of the Feastday of St. John, and to Divine the morning of Friday, January 7th. will NOT be celebrated at St. Haralambos on Saturday, January 7.) SACRAMENTS AND BLESSINGS BLESSINGS OF INFANTS Forty days after birth, a child and its mother come to church to receive a 40 Day Blessing, imitating Christ who was presented in the Temple 40 days after He was born. Please call the church office to arrange this blessing. BAPTISMS Please call the church office to schedule Baptisms. Plan ahead! there are some days when Baptisms are not performed. Keep in mind that there should be only one Godparent and that a child is supposed to be given but one name when he or she is baptized. WEDDINGS Please arrange an appointment with Fr. Dean at least eight months before the proposed wedding date to allow time for all necessary marriage preparation. CONFESSION Confessions are arranged by appointment. Please call the church office to schedule Confession. MINISTRY TO PERSONS WHO ARE SICK Orthodox Christians who would like to receive Holy Sacraments but are unable to attend church (hospitalized or at home) should contact the church office so Holy Sacraments can be administered to them. Please inform the church office if your loved one is hospitalized! Most hospitals no longer inform us when they receive patients from our parish. MEMORIAL SERVICES Memorial Services are offered for the eternal rest of persons who have fallen asleep in the Lord. Customarily, these services are offered at 40 days, at 6 months, at 1 year and at 3 years. When three years have passed, the departed are more properly remembered on the Saturdays of the Souls. DID YOU KNOW?.....About Saturday nights: Saturday night is the time of preparation for the Lord s Day (Sunday) and for the Divine. It should be a quiet time of prayer and contemplation, a time to offer incense in our homes. Did you know that the day begins with the setting of the sun? That is why the vespers of our holidays falls the evening before the holiday: the holiday has already begun! For this reason, we should avoid planning parties and dinner dances on Saturday evenings. 2

3 Introducing 2011 STEWARDSHIP AT ST HARALAMBOS: 3

4 HOLY TAXIARHAI AND SAINT HARALAMBOS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH 7373 CALDWELL AVENUE, NILES, ILLINOIS PHONE: 847/ From Father Dean Christmas 2010 Dear Stewards and Friends of St. Haralambos, This is last issue of Visions for 2010, and we are already looking ahead to 2011 with excitement and anticipation. We are looking forward to the completion of our Dome restoration, and to move ahead with other new projects and programs, with your help! As you review Visions this month, we hope you will enjoy the Christmas articles on pages 8 and 9, as we get in the spirit! We are also introducing our new 2011 Stewardship program, Come and See! You will notice in your stewardship package that we are asking about your talents this year. We have found that many of our stewards would like to offer abilities and services for the good of the church, in addition to their monetary gifts, and we are grateful for this. We plan to expand our Stewardship Committee, so that our church can benefit from these wonderful talents! One way that you can offer your talents may be as obvious as joining the new Stewardship Committee. We would like about 20 stewards to step forward and offer their talents in this way. We are expecting this Committee to be one of the true gems of 2011; if you would like to be on this committee please call the church office! We are also looking ahead to January for our Vasilopita (Jan 9), for our Godparents Sunday (Jan 23) and for the Sanctity of Life Prayer Service (Jan 30) please keep all these dates in mind. And we will have our Annual St. Haralambos Banquet in the afternoon of February 23 at the Rosewood, with dancing and Silent Auction. We would really appreciate your support of this year s 60th Anniversary Program Book! And the angel said to them, Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people: for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will among men! In a few days, we will be embracing the Birth of our Lord and Savior, who hopes to find a place in the inn in our hearts and minds. He comes to bless us, that we might also bless Him, and live in a way that pleases Him. Let us give Him thanks for His many blessings! Merry Christmas! Fr. Dean HOLY TAXIARHAI AND SAINT HARALAMBOS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH NILES, ILLINOIS Proistamenos..Fr. Constantine P. Botsis Synefimerios Fr. Chrysanthos Kerkeres Pastoral Assistant..... Deacon John G. Suhayda Chanter......Nick Harisiadis Parish Council Officers President.. George Anastasiadis Vice President..... Nick Andrews Treasurer... George Houpis Secretary... Evangelos Anastasiadis Budget Committee Chairman...George Conopeotis Building & Grounds Chairman.....Michael Pontikes and Theodoros Karabatsos Decor Committee Chairman...Stephan Aliferakis Finance Committee Chairman...George Kotsionis Phase III Chairman...Pete Zouras Board Chairman Stewardship Com Chairman...Dr. Thomas Bournias Philoptochos President......Ritsa Bazianos PTA Co-Presidents (Afternoon )...Linda Politis and Pauline Sarantopoulos PTA Co-Presidents (Preschool)... Vicky Mazur and Kathy Ioannides Greek Principal... Mrs. Anastasia Liapi GSL Director...Mrs. Evangelia Vlahou-Khouri Preschool Director......Mrs. Rita Petratos Sunday Director...Presvytera Georgia Botsis Athletic Director David Loomos Scoutmasters...John Melonides and George Alpogianis Little Angels...Christine Papadis YAL President......Patricia Grivas GOYA President......Evangeline Alpogianis and Yiannis Floros Bookstore Manager... Jolynn Ruggerio Web Page George Houpis Office Staff.Barbara Skaouris and Alexandra Grivas IN THIS ISSUE: Stewardship (pg 3) Letter from our Priest (pg 4) Parish Announcements (pg 5) Ανακοινώσεις (pg 6) Holiday Service Schedule (pg 7) Christmas Thoughts (pg 8-9) Calendar for December/Jan (pg 10) 2010 STEWARDSHIP FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT FOR OUR FAITH As of December 3, 616 stewards have committed $306,053 to the ministries of our church. Have you become a 2010 Steward yet? 4

5 THE BULLETIN BOARD Parish Announcements MERRY CHRISTMAS! HOLY COMMUNION----During the Christmas Season, all Orthodox Christians usually plan to receive Holy Communion. In order to receive Holy Communion properly, please plan to prepare yourself through prayer, Holy Confession, fasting and almsgiving. Let us think of our heart as the manger in which Christ will be born, and let us prepare our manger to receive Him! SHUT-INS--Please inform the church office about elderly or ill who would like to receive Holy Communion but are unable to come to church, so that our priests can bring the Sacrament to them. PARISH COUNCIL ELECTIONS will take place after church services on Sunday, December 19! Plan to vote! BLESSING OF HOMES--It is an annual custom in the Epiphany Season (Epiphany is Thursday, January 6) to bless our homes with the Agiasmos of Epiphany. If you would like to have your home blessed by the priest, please call the church office ( ). ANNUAL VASILOPITA LUNCHEON-our St. Haralambos Vasilopita Luncheon will take place on Sunday, January 9 th in our Community Center after Church services. Plan on coming, and bring your entire family. The donation is only $10. STEWARDSHIP 2011 come and see! When you receive our 2011 Stewardship mailing, we urge you to read the information carefully, and to make a bold and faith-filled commitment to your church for 2011! At the present time, about 46% of our parish income is derived from stewardship. This means that we depend on other sources to sustain 54% of OUR church s needs. Our church does not belong to somebody else! Can you help us get closer to fully sustaining our own church s needs (100%) through Stewardship? If you have not yet become a steward for 2010, it s not too late! Help us meet our 2010 goal-your help matters! SANCTITY OF LIFE Our Third Annual Pan-Orthodox Sanctity of Life Prayer Service will take place on Sunday evening, January 30, 2011 at the St. Peter and St. Paul Orthodox Church at 6980 County Line Road in Burr Ridge. As Orthodox Christians, we believe and defend that all human life is sacred. ANNUAL ST HARALAMBOS BANQUET MARK YOUR CALENDAR! Our annual St. Haralambos Banquet will take place on Sunday afternoon, February 13 at the Rosewood. It will be an afternoon Luncheon with music and dancing, and a Silent Auction! There will also be a program ad book, and contracts are now available from our church office. As always, we count on your support! If you can support our Ad Book, or know of persons or businesses that could contribute and ad, please help. Please Keep the date open!. METROPOLIS OF CHICAGO VASILOPITA--Our Annual Metropolitan Vasilopita will take place Sunday evening, January 9th at St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church in Chicago, and all are invited to join Metropolitan Iakovos and the clergy and laypeople of our Metropolis at this annual event. The Vasilopita benefits St. Basil Academy. GODPARENTS SUNDAY-Our Godparents Sunday will be observed on January 23, 2011! Godparent Sunday gives us the opportunity to renew the relationship between Godparents and their Godchildren by receiving Holy Communion together and attending our Godparents Luncheon. This is a popular event every year, and reservations are required! Please call the church office to make your reservations, and plan to participate in our Godparents Sunday! DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ORTHODOX CHURCH? The Orthodox Church traces its origin to the Day of Pentecost, 50 days after Christ s Resurrection from the dead, when the Holy Spirit descended on the Holy Disciples. If you are interested in learning more about the Orthodox Faith, feel free to visit our Bible Study, or call the church office. Instruction for adults who desire to become Orthodox Christians is also offered. Please call Fr. Chris Kerkeres ( ) if you have questions or would like to attend! MANY THANKS...To all our stewards and friends who participated in this year s DCFS Gift Drive! Through your generosity, gifts were provided by St. Haralambos Church members for 200 foster children in Cook County! 5

6 ΕΝΟΡΙΑΚΕΣ ΑΝΑΚΟΙΝΩΣΕΙΣ ΘΕΙΑ ΚΟΙΝΩΝΙΑ-Κατά την εορταστικήν εποχή των Χριστουγέννων, όλoι oι Ορθόδoξoι Χριστιαvoί πρoγραμματίζoυv vα λάβoυv Θείαv Κoιvωvία. Δια vα δεχθoύμε τηv Θ. Κoιvωvία, πρέπει vα πρoετoιμασθoύμε αvάλoγα, με πρoσευχή, Εξoμoλόγηση, vηστεία και ελεημοσύνη. Ας θεωρήσουμε την ψυχή μας ως την φάτνη όπου γεννήθηκε ο Χριστός, και ας πρoετoιμάσoυμε τηv ψυχή μας ως φάτvη δια vα δεχθoύμε τov vεoγέvvητo Χριστό! ΕΣΩΚΛΕΙΣΤΑ ΑΤΟΜΑ-Παρακαλούμε όπως πληροφορείτε το γραφείο της εκκλησίας δια τους ηλικιωμένους ή αρρώστους που θέλουν να λάβουν την Θείαν Κοινωνίαν και δεν δύνανται να έλθουν στην εκκλησία, ούτως ώστε οι ιερείς να προγραμματίσουν να τους προσφέρουν την Θείαν Κοινωνίαν όπου διαμένουν STEWARDSHIP-YΠΕΝΘΥΜΙΣΗ-Βασιζόμεθα στην υποστήριξή σας. Έχετε γίνει steward δια το έτος 2010; ΕΚΛΟΓΕΣ ΔIΟIΚΗΤIΚΟΥ ΣΥΜΒΟΥΛIΟΥ Τηv Κυριακήv 19 Δεκεμβρίoυ, μετά τηv Θεία Λειτoυργία, θα γίvoυv oι εκλoγές τoυ Διoικητικoύ Συμβoυλίoυ. Ελάτε αυτη την ημέρα να ψηφίσετε! ΑΓIΑΣΜΟΣ ΣΠIΤIΩΝ-Τo έθιμo καλεί vα αγιάζoυμε τα σπίτια μας κατά τηv επoχή τωv Θεoφαvείωv (Ημέρα των Θεοφανείων είναι Τετάρτη, 6 Ιανουαρίου). Εαν θέλετε ο ιερέας να έλθει σπίτι σας για αγιασμό παρακαλoύμε όπως τηλεφωvείτε στo γραφείo της εκκλησίας (847/ ). ΕΟΡΤΑΣΜΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΒΑΣIΛΟΠIΤΑΣ Η εκκλησία μας θα εoρτάσει τηv Βασιλόπιτα εις τις 9 Ιαvoυαρίoυ με γεύμα τo oπoίo θα πρoετoιμασθεί από τηv Φιλόπτωχo μετά την Θεία Λειτουργία στην Κοινοτική μας Αίθουσα. Σας περιμένουμε με την οικογένειά σας. Η δωρεά είναι μόνον $10. ΕΤΗΣΙΑ ΒΑΣΙΛΟΠΙΤΑ ΤΗΣ ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΗΣ - Η ετήσια Βασιλόπιτα της Μητρόπολης θα λάβει χώρα την Κυριακή, 9 Ιανουαρίου στον Άγιο Ιωάννη εις Des Plaines, και προσκαλούνται όλοι να συνεορτάσουμε με τον σεβασμιώτατο Μητροπολίτη μας κ. κ. Ιάκωβο αυτό το σπουδαίο γεγονός. Τα έσoδα θα διατεθoύv δια τηv Ακαδημίαv τoυ Αγ. Βασιλείoυ. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΝΟΝΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΑΝΑΔΟΧΩΝ-Η Κυριακή, 23 Ιανουαρίου είναι Κυριακή των Νονών και Αναδόχων εις τον Αγ. Χαράλαμπον. Είναι ευκαιρία δια τους Νονούς και Αναδόχους μαζί να λάβουν Θεία Κοινωνία εκείνη τη Κυριακή, και να παρακαθήσουν στο γεύμα που θα δοθεί μετά την Θ. Λειτουργία εις την Κοινοτική Αίθουσα του Aγ. Χαραλάμπους. Τηλεφωνήσατε στο γραφείο της εκκλησίας (847/ ) δια να κρατήσετε θέσεις και να παρευρεθείτε στην Κυριακή των Αναδόχων! ΕΤΗΣΙΑ ΣΥΜΠΟΣΙΟ ΑΓ. ΧΑΡΑΛΑΜΠΟΥΣ-Παρακαλούμε σημειώστε την Κυριακή το ΑΠΟΓΕΥΜΑ, 13 Φεβρουαρίου 2011, και σχεδιάστε να συνεορτάσουμε εις το Rosewood banquets! Θα γίνει Συμπόιο και SILENT AUCTION, επίσης θα τυπωθεί Program Book. Από τώρα διατίθενται συμβόλαια διαφημίσεων δια το Program Book εις το γραφείο της εκκλησίας. Η συμπαράστασή σας έχτισε την κοινότητά μας και την εκκλησία μας. Σας παρακαλούμε να υποστηρίξετε και το εφετεινό Program Book! ΠΕΡΙ ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑΤΙΚΩΝ ΕΥΧΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΜΥΣΤΗΡΙΩΝ ΕΥΧΕΣ ΝΕΟΓΕΝΝΗΤΩΝ ΤΕΚΝΩΝ-- Κάθε μάνα και το παιδί της, σαράντα ημέρες μετά την γέννησή του προσέρχονται στην εκκλησία για να λάβουν την Ευλογία των 40 Ημερών, κατά μίμησην του Ιησού Χριστού ο οποίος παρουσιάσθηκε στον Ιερόν Ναόν σαράντα ημέρες μετά την γέννησή του. Παρακαλούμε τηλεφωνείτε στο γραφείο της εκκλησίας για να κανονίσετε την ευλογία αυτή. ΒΑΠΤΙΣΕΙΣ Παρακαλούμε όπως τηλεφωνείτε στο γραφείο της εκκλησίας δια να προγραμματίσετε Βαπτίσεις. Σχεδιάστε πολύ ενωρίτερα!-υπάρχουν μερικές μέρες που δεν γίνονται βαπτίσεις. Σας υπενθυμίζουμε ότι, κανονικά, πρέπει να δοθεί ένα όνομα στο παιδί, και πρέπει να είναι ένας ανάδοχος. ΓΑΜΟΙ-Παρακαλούμε όπως κανονίζετε συνάντηση με τον π. Κωνσταντίνο τουλάχιστον οκτώ μήνες πριν την προτεινόμενη ημερομηνία του γάμου δια τις απαιτούμενες προετοιμασίες. ΕΞΟΜΟΛΟΓΗΣΗ Οι Εξομολογήσεις κανονίζονται κατόπιν ραντεβού. Δια να προγραμματίσετε εξομολογήσεις, παρακαλούμε τηλεφωνείτε στο γραφείο της εκκλησίας. ΜΕΡΙΜΝΑ ΑΡΡΩΣΤΩΝ Ορθόδοξοι Χριστιανοί που θα ήθελαν να λάβουν τα Άγια Μυστήρια και δεν μπορούν να έλθουν στην εκκλησία (βρίσκονται εις νοσοκομεία ή ανήμποροι εις τα σπίτια τους) παρακαλούνται να επικοινωνούν με το γραφείο της εκκλησίας δια να μπορέσουν να τα λάβουν. Παρακαλούμε να επικοινωνείτε με το γραφείο της εκκλησίας εαν κάποιος συγγενής σας είναι στο νοσοκομείο! Τα νοσοκομεία πλέον δεν μας πληροφορούν όταν έχουν αρρώστους από την ενορία μας. ΜΝΗΜΟΣΥΝΑ Επιμνημόσυνες δεήσεις γίνονται για την αιώνιον ανάπαυση των τεθνεώντων. Συνήθως, αυτές οι δεήσεις γίνονται κατά τις 40 ημέρες, τους 6 μήνες, τον 1 ον χρόνο και τον 3 ον χρόνο. Όταν έχουν περάσει τρία χρόνια, είναι πιο αρμόζον να ενθυμούμεθα τους αποθανόντας κατά τα Ψυχοσάββατα. 6

7 Schedule Of Holiday Services- Christmas and Epiphany Friday morning, December 24 Eve of Christmas 6:00 am Ninth Hour, Vesperal Divine Friday evening, December 24 TO BE ANNOUNCED ΠΡΟΓΡΑΜΜΑ ΙΕΡΩΝ ΑΚΟΛΟΥΘΙΩΝ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥΓΕΝΝΩΝ / ΘΕΟΦΑΝΕΙΩΝ Παρασκευή πρωϊ, 24 Δεκεμβρίου Παραμονή της του Χριστού Γεννήσεως 6.00 πμ Ενάτη Ωρα, Εσπερινή Θεία Λειτουργία Παρασκευή Βράδυ, 24 Δεκεμβρίου TO BE ANNOUNCED Saturday, December 25 THE BIRTH IN THE FLESH OF OUR LORD AND GOD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST 8:30 am Orthros 9:45 am Divine *Note: There is no fasting from Dec 25 through Jan. 4 Sunday, December 26 Family Worship Sunday 8:30 am Orthros and Divine Σάββατο, 25 Δεκεμβρίου Η ΚΑΤΑ ΣΑΡΚΑ ΓΕΝΝΗΣΙΣ ΤΟΥ ΚΥΡΙΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΘΕΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ ΗΜΩΝ ΙΗΣΟΥ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥ 8.30 πμ Ορθρος μμ Θεία Λειτουργία ΣΗΜ: Από την 25 ην Δεκ. μέχρι την 4 ην Ιαν. δεν νηστεύουμε. Κυριακή, 26 Δεκεμβρίου 8.30 πμ Ορθρος και Θεία Λειτουργία HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Saturday, January 1, 2011 Feastday of St. Basil the Great 8:30 am Orthros and Divine Sunday, January 2 Family Worship Sunday 8:30 am Orthros and Divine Wednesday, January 5 Eve of Epiphany (Day of Fasting) 8:30 am Ninth Hour 9:30 am Vesperal Divine, The Great Blessing of the Waters Thursday, January 6 THE GREAT FEAST OF THEOPHANY 8:30 am Orthros and Divine, followed by The Great Blessing of the Waters ΕΥΤΥΧΕΣ ΤΟ ΝΕΟΝ ΕΤΟΣ! Σάββατο, 1 Ιανουαρίου 2011 Αγ. Βασιλείου του Μεγάλου, Αρχιεπισκόπου Καισαρείας 8.30 πμ Ορθρος και Θεία Λειτουργία Κυριακή, 2 Ιανουαρίου 8.30 π.μ. Όρθρος και Θεία Λειτουργία Τετάρτη, 5 Ιανουαρίου Παραμονή Θεοφανείων (Ημέρα νηστείας) 8.30 πμ 9η Ώρα 9.30 πμ Θεία Λειτουργία, Τελετή του Μεγ. Αγιασμού Πέμπτη, 6 Ιανουαρίου -ΤΑ ΑΓΙΑ ΘΕΟΦΑΝΕΙΑ 8.30 πμ Ορθρος και Θεία Λειτουργία, Τελετή του Μεγ. Αγιασμού THIS YEAR S VASILOPITA LUNCHEON WILL TAKE PLACE ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 9, FOLLOWING THE DIVINE LITURGY. ΕΦΕΤΟΣ, ΘΑ ΕΟΡΤΆΣΟΥΜΕ ΤΗΝ ΒΑΣΙΛΟΠΙΤΑ ΣΤΗΝ ΚΟΙΝΟΤΙΚΗ ΜΑΣ ΑΙΘΟΥΣΑ ΤΗΝ ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ, 10 ΙΑΝΟΥΑΡΙΟΥ, ΜΕΤΑ ΤΗΝ ΘΕΙΑ ΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΙΑ. 7

8 A Sermon on the Nativity of Christ by St John of Kronstadt The Word became flesh; that is, the Son of God, co-eternal with God the Father and with the Holy Spirit, became human having become incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary. O, wondrous, awesome and salvific mystery! The One Who had no beginning took on a beginning according to humanity; the One without flesh assumed flesh. God became man without ceasing to be God. The Unapproachable One became approachable to all, in the aspect of a humble servant. Why, and for what reason, was there such condescension shown on the part of the Creator toward His transgressing creatures toward humanity which, through an act of its own will had fallen away from God, its Creator? It was by reason of a supreme, inexpressible mercy toward His creation on the part of the Master, Who could not bear to see the entire race of mankind which, He, in creating, had endowed with wondrous gifts enslaved by the devil and thus destined for eternal suffering and torment. And the Word became flesh!...in order to make us earthly beings into heavenly ones, in order to make sinners into saints; in order to raise us up from corruption into incorruption, from earth to heaven; from enslavement to sin and the devil into the glorious freedom of children of God; from death into immortality, in order to make us sons of God and to seat us together with Him upon the Throne as His royal children. O, boundless compassion of God! O, inexpressible wisdom of God! O, great wonder, astounding not only the human mind, but the angelic mind as well! Let us glorify God! With the coming of the Son of God in the flesh upon the earth, with His offering Himself up as a sacrifice for the sinful human race, there is given to those who believe the blessing of the Heavenly Father, replacing that curse which had been uttered by God in the beginning; they are adopted and receive the promise of an eternal inheritance of life. To a humanity orphaned by reason of sin, the Heavenly Father returns anew through the mystery of rebirth, that is, through baptism and repentance. People are freed of the tormenting, death-bearing authority of the devil, of the afflictions of sin and of various passions. Human nature is deified for the sake of the boundless compassion of the Son of God; and its sins are purified; the defiled are sanctified. The ailing are healed. Upon those in dishonor are boundless honor and glory bestowed. Those in darkness are enlightened by the Divine light of grace and reason. The human mind is given the rational power of God we have the mind of Christ (Cor. 2, 16), says the Holy apostle Paul. To the human heart, the heart of Christ is given. The perishable is made immortal. Those naked and wounded by sin and by passions are adorned in Divine glory. Those who hunger and thirst are sated and assuaged by the nourishing and soul-strengthening Word of God and by the most pure Body and Divine Blood of Christ. The inconsolable are consoled. Those ravaged by the devil have been and continue to be delivered. What, then, O, brethren, is required of us in order that we might avail ourselves of all the grace brought unto us from on high by the coming to earth of the Son of God? What is necessary, first of all, is faith in the Son of God, in the Gospel as the salvation-bestowing heavenly teaching; a true repentance of sins and the correction of life and of heart; communion in prayer and in the mysteries [sacraments]; the knowledge and fulfillment of Christ s commandments. Also necessary are the virtues: Christian humility, alms-giving, continence, purity and chastity, simplicity and goodness of heart. Let us, then, O brothers and sisters, bring these virtues as a gift to the One Who was born for the sake of our salvation let us bring them in place of the gold, frankincense and myrrh which the Magi brought Him, as to One Who is King, God, and Man, come to die for us. This, from us, shall be the most-pleasing form of sacrifice to God and to the Infant Jesus Christ. Amen. Translated into English by G. Spruksts, from the Russian text appearing in Chapter 2 of "Solntse Pravdy: O Zhizni i Uchenii Gospoda Nashego, Iisusa Khrista" ["The Sun of Righteousness: On the Life and Teaching of Our Lord, Jesus Christ"], by Protopriest [Saint] Ioann [John] (Sergiev) of Kronstadt, pp English-language translation copyright 1983, 1996 by The Saint Stefan of Perm' Guild, The Russian Cultural Heritage Society, and the Translator. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission from "KITEZH: The Journal of the Russian Cultural Heritage Society," Vol. 12, No. 4 (48). 8

9 A Christmas List from Jesus (If Jesus were to write you a letter, it might look like this:) If you want to give me a present in remembrance of my birth, here is my wish list. Choose something from it: 1. Instead of complaining and writing letters objecting to the way my birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, because they tell me all the time. 2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don t have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them. 3. Instead of writing the President to complain about the wording of the cards that his staff sent out this year, why don t you write and tell him that you ll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up...it will be nice hearing from you again. 4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can t afford and they don t need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of my birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them. 5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her. 6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel alone and hopeless? Since you don t know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference. 7. Instead of nitpicking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren t allowed to wish you a Merry Christmas, that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then STOP shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn t make so much money on that day they d close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families. 8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary especially one who takes my love and Good News to those who have never heard my name. 9. Here s a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no Christmas tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don t know them, buy some food and few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you. 10. If you want to make a statement about your belief and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don t do things in secret that you wouldn t do in the open. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine. 11. Finally, examine and cleanse yourself. Come to Confession. If you love me, follow my commandments. Let others know that you are my follower by loving one another. Love your neighbor as yourself. Love your enemies and do good to them. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love! (borrowed from the bulletin of the Descent of the Holy Ghost Romanian Orthodox Church, Merrillville, IN) Jesus 9

10 December :30 am Sunday 9:45 am Divine - Christmas Pageant 20 5:30 pm--family Night 7:30 pm-goya Christmas Carol CHRISTMAS EVE MORNING: 6:00 am-9th Hour and Vesperal EVENING: TO BE ANNOUNCED 25 CHRISTMAS DAY 8:30 Orthros and 26 9:30 am Divine January Feastday of St. Basil 8:30 Orthros and 2 9:30 am Divine FAMILY WORSHIP 3 Preschool resumes 4 7:30 pm Orthodoxy Eve of Epiphany 8:30 am--9th Hour and ; Great Agiasmos FASTING DAY 6 EPIPHANY 8:30 am--orthros and ; Great Agiasmos 7Feastday of John the Baptist ( at Des Plaines) 8 9:00 am GSL 9 9:30 am Sunday 9:45 am Divine VASILOPITA! 10 5:30 pm Family Night 7:30 pm GOYA 11 11:30 -Little Angels 7:30 pm Orthodoxy :30 pm Philoptochos mtg :00 am GSL 16 9:30 am Sunday 9:45 am Divine 17 ST ANTHONY Martin L King Day NO SCHOOL 18 SS CYRIL & ATHANSIOS 8:30 am-orthros and S 7:30 pm Orthodoxy :30 pm Parish Council Mtg :00 am GSL 23 9:30 am Divine GODPARENTS SUNDAY 24 5:30 pm Family Night 7:30 pm GOYA 25 11:30 -Little Angels 7:30 pm Orthodoxy :00 Preschool Three Hierarchs program 6:00 Three Hierarchs Program 29 9:00 am GSL 30 Feastday of Three Hierarchs 31 10

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