The Eve of the Nativity of Our Lord, and God, and Savior Jesus Christ. O Gladsome Light

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2 Psalm 103 Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, You are magnified exceedingly; You clothe Yourself with thanksgiving and majesty, Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment, Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain; You are He Who covers His upper chambers with water, Who makes the clouds His means of approach, Who walks on the wings of the winds, Who makes His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire. He established the earth on its stable foundation; It shall not be moved unto ages of ages. The deep like a garment is His covering; the waters shall stand upon the mountains; at Your rebuke they shall flee; at the sound of Your thunder, they shall be afraid. The mountains rise up, and the plains sink down to the place You founded for them. You set a boundary they shall not pass over; neither shall they return to cover the earth. You are He Who sends springs into the valley; the waters shall pass between the mountains; they shall give drink to all the wild animals of the field; the wild asses shall quench their thirst; the birds of heaven shall dwell beside them; they shall sing from the midst of the rocks. You are He Who waters the mountains from His higher places; the earth shall be satisfied with the fruit of Your works. You are He Who causes grass to grow for the cattle, and the green plant for the service of man, to bring forth bread from the earth; and wine gladdens the heart of man, to brighten his face with oil; and bread strengthens man's heart. The trees of the plain shall be full of fruit, the cedars of Lebanon, which You planted; there the sparrows shall make their nests; the house of the heron takes the lead among them. The high mountains are for the deer; the cliff is a refuge for the rabbits. He made the moon for seasons; the sun knows its setting. You established darkness, and it was night, wherein all the wild animals of the forest will prowl about; the young lions roar and snatch their prey, and seek their food from God. The sun arises, and they are gathered together; and they shall be put to bed in their dens. Man shall go out to his work and to his labor until evening. O Lord, Your works shall be magnified greatly; You made all things in wisdom; the earth was filled with Your creation. There is this great and spacious sea: the creeping things are there without number; the living things are there, both small and great; there the ships pass through; there is this dragon You formed to play therein. All things wait upon You, that You may give them food in due season. When You give it to them, they shall gather it; when You open Your hand, all things shall be filled with Your goodness. But when You turn Your face away, they shall be troubled; when You take away their breath, they shall die and return again to their dust. You shall send forth Your Spirit, and they shall be created, and You shall renew the face of the earth. Let the glory of the Lord be forever; the Lord shall be glad in His works; He looks upon the earth and makes it tremble; He touches the mountains, and they smoke. I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing to my God as long as I exist; may my words be pleasing to Him, and I shall be glad in the Lord. May sinners cease from the earth, and the lawless, so as to be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul. The sun knows its setting. You established darkness, and it was night. O Lord, Your works shall be magnified greatly; You made all things in wisdom.

3 The Eve of the Nativity of Our Lord, and God, and Savior Jesus Christ O Gladsome Light Φως ἱλαρὸν ἁγίας δόξης, ἀθανάτου Πατρός, οὐρανίου, ἁγίου, μάρκαρος, Ἰησοῦ Χριστέ, ἐλθόντες ἐπὶ τὴν ἠλίου δύσιν, ἰδόντες φῶς ἑσπερινόν, ὑμνοῦμεν Πατέρα, Υἱόν, καὶ ἅγιον Πνεῦμα Θεόν. Ἄξιόν σὲ ἐν πᾶσι καιροῖς,ὑμνεῖσθαι φωναὶς αἰσαίς, Υἱὲ Θεοῦ, ζωὴν ὁ διδούς O gladsome light of holy glory, the immortal Father, heavenly and holy, blessed Jesus Christ, now that we have come to the setting of the sun and see the light of evening, we praise You, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God. It is worthy at all times to praise You, with voices of holy song, O Son of God the Giver of life We will continue with the Liturgy of St. Basil (on page 183 of the white books) after the Old Testament readings Megalynarion Hymn Επi σoί χαίρει, Κεχαριτωμένη, πάσα η κτίσις, Αγγέλων τό σύστημα καί ανθρώπων τό γένος, ηγιασμένε ναέ καί παράδεισε λογικέ, παρθενικόν καύχημα, εξ ής Θεός εσαρκώθη καί παιδίον γέγονεν, ο πρό αιώνων υπάρχων Θεός ημών τήν γάρ σήν μήτραν θρόνον εποίησε, καί τήν σήν γαστέρα πλατυτέραν ουρανών απειργάσατο. Επί σοί χαίρει, Κεχαριτωμένη, πάσα η κτίσις δόξα σοι. All of creation rejoices in you, O full of grace; the assembly of angels and the human race. You are a sanctified temple and a spiritual paradise, the glory from whom God was incarnate and become a child our God existing before all ages. He made your womb a throne, and your body more spacious than the heavens. All of creation rejoices in you, O full of grace. Glory to you.

4 Genesis 1:1 13 In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth. Now the earth was invisible and unformed, and darkness was upon the deep and the Spirit of God was borne upon the water. And God said, Let there be light,for to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David, and over his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and for evermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God made a separation between the light and the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night; and there was evening and there was morning, one day. And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the water and let there be a separation between the water and the water ; and it was so. And God made the firmament. And God made a separation between the water, which was below the firmament, and between the water which was above the firmament. And God called the firmament Heaven; and God saw that it was good, and there was evening and there was morning, a second day. And God said, Let the water below heaven be gathered together into one gathering, and let dry land appear ; and it was so. And the water below heaven was gathered together into their gatherings, and the dry land appeared. And God called the dry land Earth, and the accumulations of the waters he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. And God said, Let the earth sprout herb of grass, sowing seed according to its kind and according to its likeness, and fruiting tree making fruit, whose seed is in it according to its kind upon the earth ; and it was so. And the earth brought forth herb of grass, sowing seed according to its kind and according to its likeness, and fruiting tree making fruit, whose seed was in it according to its kind upon the earth, and God saw that it was good. And there was evening and morning, a third day. Isaiah 9:6-7 A child has been born for us, a son has been given to us; whose government is upon his shoulder, and his name will be called Angel of Great Counsel, Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Potentate, Prince of Peace, Father of the age to come. For I will bring peace upon princes, peace and health to him. Great his government, and of his peace there is no bound, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with judgment and with justice from henceforth and for ever more. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. Isaiah 7:10-16 and 8:1-4, 8-10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, "Ask a sign of the Lord your God; in the depth or in the height." But Ahaz said, "I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test." And he [Isaias] said, "Hear then, O house of David! Is it a little thing for you to contend with men, and how do you contend with the Lord? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel. He shall eat butter and honey before he knows how to prefer evil or choose good. For before the child knows good or evil, he refuses the evil to choose the good. Then the Lord said to me, 'Take for yourself a large new volume and write upon it in with a man's pen, Of making a rapid plunder of spoils; for it is at hand. And get me witnesses, reliable men, Urias the priest and Zachary the son of Barachias.' And I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then the Lord said to me, 'Call his name Despoil-quickly-plunder-rapidly; for before the child knows how to cry "Father" or "Mother," he will take the power of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria before the king of the Assyrians.' Know you nations and be worsted; give ear, as far as the extremity of the earth; for if again you have become strong, again you will be worsted. And whatever counsel you take, the Lord will scatter it; and whatever word you speak, it will not remain in you, for God is with us."

5 Epistle - St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 1:1-12 IN MANY AND VARIOUS WAYS God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature, upholding the universe by his word of power. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has obtained is more excellent than theirs. For to what angel did God ever say, "Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee"? Or again, "I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son"? And again, when he brings the first-born into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him." Of the angels he says, "Who makes his angels winds, and his servants flames of fire." But of the Son he says, "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever, the righteous scepter is the scepter of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, thy God, has anointed thee with the oil of gladness beyond thy comrades." And, "Thou, Lord, didst found the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of thy hands; they will perish, but thou remainest; they will all grow old like a garment, like a mantle thou wilt roll them up, and they will be changed. But thou art the same, and thy years will never end." Πολυμερῶς καὶ πολυτρόπως πάλαι ὁ θεὸς λαλήσας τοῖς πατράσιν ἐν τοῖς προφήταις, ἐπʼ ἐσχάτου τῶν ἡμερῶν τούτων ἐλάλησεν ἡμῖν ἐν υἱῷ, ὃν ἔθηκεν κληρονόμον πάντων, διʼ οὗ καὶ τοὺς αἰῶνας ἐποίησεν, ὃς ὢν ἀπαύγασμα τῆς δόξης καὶ χαρακτὴρ τῆς ὑποστάσεως αὐτοῦ, φέρων τε τὰ πάντα τῷ ῥήματι τῆς δυνάμεως αὐτοῦ, διʼ ἑαυτοῦ καθαρισμὸν ποιησάμενος τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν ἡμῶν, ἐκάθισεν ἐν δεξιᾷ τῆς μεγαλωσύνης ἐν ὑψηλοῖς, τοσούτῳ κρείττων γενόμενος τῶν ἀγγέλων, ὅσῳ διαφορώτερον παρʼ αὐτοὺς κεκληρονόμηκεν ὄνομα. Τίνι γὰρ εἶπέν ποτε τῶν ἀγγέλων, Υἱός μου εἶ σύ, ἐγὼ σήμερον γεγέννηκά σε; Καὶ πάλιν, Ἐγὼ ἔσομαι αὐτῷ εἰς πατέρα, καὶ αὐτὸς ἔσται μοι εἰς υἱόν; Ὅταν δὲ πάλιν εἰσαγάγῃ τὸν πρωτότοκον εἰς τὴν οἰκουμένην λέγει, Καὶ προσκυνησάτωσαν αὐτῷ πάντες ἄγγελοι θεοῦ. Καὶ πρὸς μὲν τοὺς ἀγγέλους λέγει, Ὁ ποιῶν τοὺς ἀγγέλους αὐτοῦ πνεύματα, καὶ τοὺς λειτουργοὺς αὐτοῦ πυρὸς φλόγα πρὸς δὲ τὸν υἱόν, Ὁ θρόνος σου, ὁ θεός, εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος ῥάβδος εὐθύτητος ἡ ῥάβδος τῆς βασιλείας σου. Ἠγάπησας δικαιοσύνην, καὶ ἐμίσησας ἀνομίαν διὰ τοῦτο ἔχρισέν σε ὁ θεός ὁ θεός σου, ἔλαιον ἀγαλλιάσεως παρὰ τοὺς μετόχους σου. Καί, Σὺ κατʼ ἀρχάς, κύριε, τὴν γῆν ἐθεμελίωσας, καὶ ἔργα τῶν χειρῶν σού εἰσιν οἱ οὐρανοί αὐτοὶ ἀπολοῦνται, σὺ δὲ διαμένεις καὶ πάντες ὡς ἱμάτιον παλαιωθήσονται, καὶ ὡσεὶ περιβόλαιον ἑλίξεις αὐτοὺς, καὶ ἀλλαγήσονται σὺ δὲ ὁ αὐτὸς εἶ, καὶ τὰ ἔτη σου οὐκ ἐκλείψουσιν.

6 Gospel - Luke 2:1-20 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 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 this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger." 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 among men with whom he is pleased!" When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child; and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. Εν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις, ἐξῆλθε δόγμα παρὰ Καίσαρος Αὐγούστου ἀπογράφεσθαι πᾶσαν τὴν οἰκουμένην.αὕτη ἡ ἀπογραφὴ πρώτη ἐγένετο ἡγεμονεύοντος τῆς Συρίας Κυρηνίου.καὶ ἐπορεύοντο πάντες ἀπογράφεσθαι, ἕκαστος εἰς τὴν ἰδίαν πόλιν.ἀνέβη δὲ καὶ Ιωσὴφ ἀπὸ τῆς Γαλιλαίας ἐκ πόλεως Ναζαρὲτ εἰς τὴν Ιουδαίαν εἰς πόλιν Δαυΐδ, ἥτις καλεῖται Βηθλεέμ, διὰ τὸ εἶναι αὐτὸν ἐξ οἴκου καὶ πατριᾶς Δαυΐδ,ἀπογράψασθαι σὺν Μαριὰμ τῇ μεμνηστευμένῃ αὐτῷ γυναικί, οὔσῃ ἐγκύῳ.ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν τῷ εἶναι αὐτοὺς ἐκεῖ ἐπλήσθησαν αἱ ἡμέραι τοῦ τεκεῖν αὐτήν,καὶ ἔτεκε τὸν υἱὸν αὐτῆς τὸν πρωτότοκον, καὶ ἐσπαργάνωσεν αὐτὸν καὶ ἀνέκλινεν αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ φάτνῃ, διότι οὐκ ἦν αὐτοῖς τόπος ἐν τῷ καταλύματι. Καὶ ποιμένες ἦσαν ἐν τῇ χώρᾳ τῇ αὐτῇ ἀγραυλοῦντες καὶ φυλάσσοντες φυλακὰς τῆς νυκτὸς ἐπὶ τὴν ποίμνην αὐτῶν.καὶ ἰδοὺ ἄγγελος Κυρίου ἐπέστη αὐτοῖς καὶ δόξα Κυρίου περιέλαμψεν αὐτούς, καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν φόβον μέγαν.καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ ἄγγελος μὴ φοβεῖσθε ἰδοὺ γὰρ εὐαγγελίζομαι ὑμῖν χαρὰν μεγάλην, ἥτις ἔσται παντὶ τῷ λαῷ,ὅτι ἐτέχθη ὑμῖν σήμερον σωτήρ, ὅς ἐστι Χριστὸς Κύριος, ἐν πόλει Δαυΐδ.καὶ τοῦτο ὑμῖν τὸ σημεῖον εὑρήσετε βρέφος ἐσπαργανωμένον, κείμενον ἐν φάτνῃ.καὶ ἐξαίφνης ἐγένετο σὺν τῷ ἀγγέλῳ πλῆθος στρατιᾶς οὐρανίου αἰνούντων τὸν Θεὸν καὶ λεγόντων δόξα ἐν ὑψίστοις Θεῷ καὶ ἐπὶ γῆς εἰρήνη, ἐν ἀνθρώποις εὐδοκία. καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἀπῆλθον ἀπ αὐτῶν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν οἱ ἄγγελοι, καὶ οἱ ἄνθρωποι οἱ ποιμένες εἶπον πρὸς ἀλλήλους διέλθωμεν δὴ ἕως Βηθλεὲμ καὶ ἴδωμεν τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο τὸ γεγονός, ὃ ὁ Κύριος ἐγνώρισεν ἡμῖν.καὶ ἦλθον σπεύσαντες, καὶ ἀνεῦρον τήν τε Μαριὰμ καὶ τὸν Ιωσὴφ καὶ τὸ βρέφος κείμενον ἐν τῇ φάτνῃ.ἰδόντες δὲ διεγνώρισαν περὶ τοῦ ῥήματος τοῦ λαληθέντος αὐτοῖς περὶ τοῦ παιδίου τούτου καὶ πάντες οἱ ἀκούσαντες ἐθαύμασαν περὶ τῶν λαληθέντων ὑπὸ τῶν ποιμένων πρὸς αὐτούς.ἡ δὲ Μαριὰμ πάντα συνετήρει τὰ ῥήματα ταῦτα συμβάλλουσα ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτῆς.καὶ ὑπέστρεψαν οἱ ποιμένες δοξάζοντες καὶ αἰνοῦντες τὸν Θεὸν ἐπὶ πᾶσιν οἷς ἤκουσαν καὶ εἶδον καθὼς ἐλαλήθη πρὸς αὐτούς.

7 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. The Prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective (James 5:16) Prayers for Health JoGeo, Konstantinos, Shelly, Ruthie, Barbara, Samantha, Maria, Efstathia, Tony, Rouba, Sarah, Emily, Kynlee, Wesley, Afrodite, Nick, Nicholas Wyatt, Cameren, Helen, Chrissy, Nancy, MaryAnn, Marian, Tina, Salin, George-Panagiotis, Salin, Raphael, Marta, Guadalupe, Caroline, John, Lili, Archie, Kelsey, Eva,, Papouli Stamati, Virginia, Makena, Dolly, Afrodite, Alexandros, Lou, Thomas, Greg, Bill, Kathryn, John, Kathy, Nakis, Maggie, Rosemary, Mindy, Pat, Louella, Steve, Marie, Clifford, Tina, Timothy, Cynthia, Chad, Douglas, Mat. Sissy Yerger, Fr. Paul, Kyle, Katerina, Vasili, Harry, Angie, Francis, Petya, Thomas, Romeo,John, John, Brenda, Georgie, Dale, John, Dale, Anna, Brenda, Carol, Jan, Nick, Damon, Afrodite, Nick, Alex,, John Francis, Petya, Thomas, Romeo, Fr. Jason and family, Presv. Tiffany, Maria, David, Boyd, Chris, Jennifer, Jay, Dede, Michael, Jason, Ling, Josh, Chrissy, Bradley 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, MAJ Chris Chase, SPC Mindy Keys, SPC Andrew Bentzel, MAJ Scot Thornhill, CPT Christopher Gilbert, CPT. Alexander Stathos, 1st LT Angela Bahlatzis, MIDN 1/C Joseph Barone, SGT Walter Hurbert ( Nikolaos ) Willoughby IV, LCDR Thomas Uhl Arthur Christopher Anthony Pavlovsky We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a most blessed New Year!

8 Christmas and Epiphany Schedule of Services Thursday, December 25, 2014, Merry Christmas!!! Feast of the Nativity of Christ 9am Matins 10am Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom for the 25th Friday, December 26, 2014 Synaxis of the Theotokos 9am Orthros 10am Divine Liturgy Saturday, December 27, 2014 Feast of St. Stephen 9am Orthros 10am Divine Liturgy Sunday, December 28, 2014 Sunday after Nativity 8:45am Orthros 10am Divine Liturgy Thursday, January 1, 2015, Happy New Year!!! The Circumcision of our Lord and the Feast of St. Basil the Great 9am Orthros 10am Divine Liturgy Sunday, January 4, 2015 Sunday Before the Feast of the Theophany of Christ 8:45am Orthros 10am Divine Liturgy Monday, January 5, 2015 The Proeortia (Forefeast) of the Theophany of Christ 9am Orthros 10am Imperial Hours 5pm Vesperal Divine Liturgy & Lesser Blessing of the Waters Tuesday, January 6, 2015 The Holy Theophany of Our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ 9am Orthros 10am Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great followed by the Service of the Greater Blessing of Waters Wednesday, January 7, 2015 The Synaxis Feast of St. John the Baptist 9am Orthros 10am Divine Liturgy

9 Encyclical of Archbishop Demetrios for the Feast of the Nativity of Christ 2014 Protocol Number 239/14 December 25, 2014 The Nativity of Christ For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given. (Isaiah 9:6) Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ, This holy and blessed Feast of the Nativity of our Lord is a very joyous day that brings us together in worship and praise of our Creator and Redeemer. Today the eternal God enters our humanity for our deliverance from sin, evil and death. Today the infinite wisdom of God is revealed in the birth of the Savior, and the truth of His divine will is made known. Today an enduring promise of peace is established by an infant who is the Prince of Peace and whose name Emmanuel means God is with us. On this day His great love for us is shown as the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). The Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ is a revelation of truth. Today, the brilliance of divine wisdom, the glory of the Lord, and the hope of the Gospel of salvation are revealed. The ancient promise made to Adam and Eve, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and to so many others is fulfilled. All that was foretold by the Prophets has happened. God has become man so that we can be redeemed and restored to blessed communion and abundant life with Him. The Incarnation is also a revelation of true and eternal peace. Through the birth of Christ, the path of our reconciliation with God is visible. The turmoil caused by sin and despair is met with the calm of the coming of the Prince of Peace. The Theotokos and Joseph find comfort in the eyes of the infant Lord. The shepherds hear the holy angels proclaim Peace on earth! The Magi find assurance in the miraculous sign that leads them to Bethlehem and to the One who fulfills all things. The Incarnation of Christ is a revelation of love. In offering Himself for our sakes, He becomes the greatest gift. The light of grace reveals God s compassion for His creation, and the power of grace visible in the child affirms that healing has come. In the newness of life, He has come to lead us from death to life. In the beauty of a child, not by overwhelming force or temporal might, the power of God s love for us brings unspeakable joy and unquenchable hope! Our celebration on this glorious Feast of the Nativity affirms this revelation and offers a witness of its power in our lives. Our worship and praise of the Incarnate Lord offers a vibrant witness of truth in a world filled with confusion and deception. Into the darkness and hopelessness that many have found, we proclaim the divine wisdom that guides us to the meaning of our existence and to the true life for which we have been created. Our hearts are filled with peace which we share with others, for our hope has been renewed by our trust in God. We live in the assurance of eternal blessings, and we invite others to come and see all that He has done for us. Finally, our gatherings in parishes and homes, each day and every moment of our lives are filled with His love. As He revealed His great love for us in the birth of our Lord, we reveal divine grace through our faith, our acts of kindness and service, and our generosity to others especially those in need. Our compassion, which leads us to give glory to God in the highest, will lead others to the King of kings, to our Savior who is Christ the Lord! May you and your communities and families be filled with joy and peace on this blessed Feast as you celebrate the revelation of God in the birth of Christ. While you live in the midst of tremendous challenges and needs, may you also affirm that you live in the presence of our Lord who guides you in sharing the grace and truth that will lead others to Him and to abundance of life. With paternal love in Christ, DEMETRIOS Archbishop of America

10 GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA 8-10 East 79th St. New York, NY * Tel: (212) Fax: (212) communications@goarch.org Contact: PRESS OFFICE Stavros Papagermanos pressoffice@goarch.org Date: December 22, 2014 FROM THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE Prot. No Beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord, "Christ is descending from the heavens; let us meet Him!" God has appeared on earth and, at the same time, we have seen the perfect man together with the inconceivable value of the human person. Today especially, we experience the condition of humanity after the fall, as we daily affirm with the Psalmist that "all have gone stray, they are all alike corrupt; there is none that does good no, not one!" (Psalm 13.3; Rom ) Before the incarnation of Christ, humanity could never imagine the inconceivable value of the human person, which was weakened and distorted after the fall. Only the most illumined people could perceive, even before the time of Christ, the value of the human person and the response to the Psalmist's question: "What is man that God would remember him?" (Psalm 8.5), which they proclaimed in the Psalmist's words: "You have made man a little lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor." (Psalm 8.6) Ιt is this supreme value of the human person that the divine-human Lord revealed. And since that time, we each year have heard repeated declarations on the same subject by states, governments and social groups as well international treaties about respecting the human person and human rights. We witness with great surprise the constantly repeated "drama of Bethlehem." It is a drama because it is no longer a joyous event when we ignore the Son and Word of God born in a manger, when humanity as His creation is not respected as a "divine image." Our holy Orthodox Church and its theology teach us that humanity and the human body deserve the utmost respect because they were united to God in the incarnate Lord. Therefore, all of us are obliged to intensify our efforts for the supreme value of the human person to be respected by everyone. It is with great sorrow and deep regret that the Ecumenical Patriarchate follows the ongoing and increasing waves of violence and brutality, which continue to plague various regions of our planet and especially the entire Middle East, and in particular the native Christians there, often in the name of religion. We will never cease to declare to all from this Sacred Center of Orthodoxy to our brother Primates of the Orthodox and other Christian Churches, the leaders and representatives of other religions, the heads of state and every person of good will everywhere, but above all to our fellow human beings that, whether motivated or not by

11 others, place their own lives at risk in order to deprive others of their lives; for they, too, are created by God that there can be no form of true and genuine religiosity or spirituality without love toward the human person. Any ideological, social or religious expression that either despises humanity created in the image of God or else teaches and permits the death of our fellow human beings, especially in the savage and primitive ways that we see, surely has nothing to do with the God of love. Dear brothers and sisters, as we turn our attention to the situation prevailing in our world today, we condemn the tragic events stemming from hatred of other religions and enmity toward people, which we witness so frighteningly close to us as we hear and see the terror so readily through social media. In response, we offer as the only powerful antidote to contemporary violence the "ultimate poverty" of God, which always acts as love and which surprised the wise men and the entire world. This is the mystical power of God, the mystical power of the Orthodox Church, and the mystical power of the Christian faith. This is the power that conquers and overcomes every form of violence and evil through love. This is our humble assessment of world affairs this Christmas. We pray that everyone may experience the joy of utmost respect for the human person, of our fellow human being. We also pray for the cessation of every form of violence, which can only be overcome through the love promoted and provided by the "angel of great counsel," the "prince of peace," our Savior Christ. May the grace, boundless mercy and goodwill of the newly-born and incarnate Lord of glory, peace and love be with you all. Christmas 2014 Your fervent supplicant to God, + BARTHOLOMEW Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome, and Ecumenical Patriarch

12 GREEK ORTHODOX METROPOLIS OF DENVER 4550 East Alameda Avenue, Denver, CO Telephone (303) FAX (303) web: Protocol Christmas 2014 For the Peace from above and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord. Beloved in the Lord, This petition which is found in all the holy services of the Church most clearly affirms the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ into the world. He is the peace from above and He came for the salvation of our souls. When He was here on earth almost two-thousand years ago, His initial greeting was "Peace be with you." Yet for the past two millennia the peace from above has been experienced only by the faithful members of His Church. Whenever peace came about, it was formed by human and worldly forces. This is why it did not last. Today the whole world is in turmoil due to human forces which identify only with the material and secular interests of the world. Natural phenomena and disasters are also on the increase. There is no question that we are in the beginning of the last days. Even so, we do not have any apprehension regarding our lives; for as faithful members of the Church which the Lord established through His death and resurrection, we are protected from any and all harm as He promises. Therefore, let us rejoice once again as we celebrate His Holy Nativity, knowing that He will continue to protect us from all harm even in the face of every kind of disaster, including pestilences and wars. May the joy of this year's celebration of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ overflow in your hearts, and may the peace from above be with you throughout the new year. With paternal love and blessings, Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver

13 Blessing of the Waters and Diving for the Cross Weather permitting, Fr. Vasileios will be doing the Blessing of the Waters and Diving for the Cross on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015 at 3106 Edgewater Drive, Austin, TX Bring you bathing suit and dive for the Cross! House Blessings Father Vasileios will begin our house blessings after the Feast of Theophany on January 6, This year again, we will do a progressive house blessing in your neighborhood. Please get together with your neighbors and arrange for a day that Father Vasileios can come and bless the houses in your neighborhood. To set an appointment please return the form below to the office. Please make sure you mark a couple of dates Thank you! EPIPHANY HOUSE BLESSING FORM To schedule a progressive house blessing, please return this form to the Church Office as soon as possible. Please indicate your preferred days of the week and time of day: Name of families: Addresses: Phone Numbers: If you have any questions please call the Church Office at

14 ! Mark your 2015 Calendars! Transfiguration s Planned activities Saturday, January 3: The Shroud of Turin Exhibition in San Antonio Sunday, January 4: Philoptochos Vasilopita Auction Friday, January 16 - Monday, January 18: GOYA Basketball Tournament in Dallas Sunday, February 8: Transfiguration Oratorical Festival Saturday, February 14: Apokreatiko Friday, March 13 - Sunday, March 15: Southern Regional Great Lent GOYA Retreat at Sky Ranch, TX Sunday, March 22: Metropolis Oratorical Festival Sunday, March 29: Transfiguration Bible Bowl Thank you to everyone who has committed to be a 2015 Steward so far! Fr. Vasileios & Presv. Stella Flegas Dr. & Mrs. Vaios Athanasiou Rev. Fr. Theodor & Presv. Aspasia Bita Dn. George & Presv. Ria Bithos Ms. Andja Bjeletich Mr. & Ms. Marko Bjeletich Mrs. Lynne Bourgeois Ms. Maria Burke Ms. Catherine Christ Mr. & Ms. Bill Colovas Mr. & Ms. Alex Demetriadis Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Dow Ms. Heathyr Ellington Mr. & Mrs. Rich Edwards Mr. Ilias Georgakopoulos Mr. & Ms. Peter Geranios Mr. & Mrs. Michael Glaros Ms. Mary Beth Gradziel Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Harris Ms. Vickie Hicks/Gialusis Mr. & Mrs. David Horwedel Mrs. Eleni Hrissikopoulos Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Jones Ms. Nici Kalogirou Dr. James Kalpaxis Ms. Demetra Georgantonis-Keah Khouria Anne Kenna Mr. & Ms. Scott Kenyon Ms. Panagiota Klaras Mr. & Ms. Kevin Korioth Mr. & Mrs. James Landon Mr. Steve Levendakes Mr. & Mrs. Robert Lindsey Ms. J. Fotini Margos Mr. David Maziasz Mr. & Ms. Archie Meador Mr. & Ms. Steven Mowad Mr. Blair Mulholland Mr. & Mrs. Paul Petrogeorge Mrs. Yanna Petty Mr. & Mrs. Ken Pon Mr. & Ms. George Poulos Mr. Peter Romell Ms. Maria Sarinaki Mr. & Ms. John Sasaridis Ms. Georgia Spiropoulos Mr. & Mrs. Nicolaos Spiropoulos Mr. & Mrs. Harry Stamatis Ms. Theone Stateson Mr. & Ms. Thomas Suehs Mr. & Ms. Brandon Suehs Ms. Mia Tannous Ms. Debbie Tindle Mr. Mark Werner Mr. & Ms. Walter Willoughby Mr. & Mrs. Allen Wynn Mr. Drew Xanthopoulos Mr. & Mrs. Stuart Yoder

15 VASILOPITA AUCTION! Our Philoptochos is planning their annual LIVE Vasilopita Auction on Sunday, Jan. 4 th! All cakes and traditions are welcome to participate to the auction. Please stop by the Philoptochos table for more information or to sign up to bring something to auction. Thank you! We wish to thank everyone who has volunteered so much of their valuable time with Transfiguration s many ministries and events in this past year, and for all of your help in making this Nativity season beautiful. Thank you to all of our 2014 Stewards! Fr. Vasileios & Prsv. Stella Flegas Mr. & Mrs. Dennis Ackerman Mr. & Mrs. Rod Ambrose Dr. & Mrs. Jacob Angelo Dr. & Mrs. Louis Apostolakis Mr. & Mrs. Dan Appling Dr. & Mrs. Vaios Athanasiou Mr. & Mrs. Michalis Bakiris Mr. & Mrs. Gregg Bell Mr. & Mrs. Harry Benas Mrs. Kiki Benson Mr. & Mrs. George Betondo Dn. George & Prsv. Ria Bithos Mr. & Mrs. Marko Bjeletich Mr. & Mrs. Ed Boudreau Mrs. Lynette Bourgeois Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Bowles Mr. & Mrs. Jason Bryant Mr. & Mrs. J.T. Burgess Ms. Maria Burke Dr. & Mrs. Jerry Burks Mr. & Mrs. Michael Burns Mrs. Arlena Carrozza Mrs. Despina Carter Ms. Cathy Christ Mr. & Mrs. Gregory Chronis Ms. Marianne Clay Mr. Ryan A. Clay Mr. & Mrs. Bill Colovas Mr. & Mrs. Michael Courtney Mr. & Mrs. Michael Daskalantonakis Mr. & Mrs. R. Dean Davenport Mr. & Mrs. Chris Delvizis Mr. & Mrs. Alex Demetriadis Mr. & Mrs. Joseph DeRossi Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Dow Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Draina Ms. Judith Eagle Fr. David & Prsv. Vasiliki Eckley Mr. Richard Edgell Mr. & Mrs. Rich Edwards Drs. Fred & Dorothy Ekery Mr. & Mrs. John Esper Mr. & Mrs. Costas Evgenides Mr. & Mrs. Chris Falkowski Dr. & Mrs. Jason Foster Mr. & Mrs. Jason Garwood Mr. & Mrs. Jack Gatlin Mr. Ilias Georgakopoulos Ms. Mary Georgantonis Ms. Demetra Anna Georgantonis-Keah Mr. & Mrs. Anthony George Mr. & Mrs. James George Mr. & Mrs. Peter Geranios Mr. & Mrs. Dean Geuras Mr. & Mrs. George Gianakopoulos Mrs. Kaliopi Gialusis Mrs. Stella Gianas Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Gilbert Ms. Christina Glarakis Mr. & Mrs. Michael Glaros Mr. & Mrs. Tom Gouris Ms. Mary Beth Gradziel Mr. & Mrs. Duane Graves Mr. Scott Guild Mr. & Mrs. John Halter Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Harris Mrs. Vickie Hicks

16 Dr. James Hitt Mr. & Mrs. Brian Holland Mr. & Mrs. David Horwedel Ms. Eleni Hrissikopoulos Drs. Lucas & Jenny Jacomides Mr. & Mrs. Harry Jaffers Ms. Gwen Elizabeth Jerome Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Jones Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Jones Mr. & Mrs. Johnny Justice Mr. Ted Kalenterides Ms. Nici Kalogirou Dr. James Kalpaxis Dr. & Mrs. Peter Kangos Mr. & Mrs. George Karides Ms. Elsie Karvelas Khouria Anne Kenna Mr. & Mrs. Drew Keys Mr. & Mrs. Tahseen Khan Ms. Patricia Klaras Mr. & Mrs. Panagiotis Konstantinou Mr. & Mrs. Kevin Korioth Mr. Steve Kounelias Mr. & Mrs. Foti Kwasny Mr. William Leara Mr. & Mrs. Lee Leatherwood Mr. Steve Levendakes Mr. & Mrs. Robert Lindsey Ms. Mary Long Ms. J. Fotini Margos Mr. David Maziasz Mr. & Mrs. Archie Meador Mr. & Mrs. Sam Mikhail Ms. Maria Miller Ms. Patricia Mitchell Ms. Maria Moros Ms. Nina Morris Mrs. Elena Nakonechna-Campos Mr. & Mrs. John Nicholas Mrs. Maria and Mr. Dimitri Nikas Mr. & Mrs. Jim Norman Mr. & Mrs. Shawn O Brien Mr. & Mrs. David Osowski Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Panagiotou Ms. Gretchen Papazis Mr. & Mrs. Tom Papadatos Ms. Valli Pappas Mr. & Mrs. Alexander Papavasiliou Mrs. Sophie Paulos Mr. & Mrs. Eric Paulson Mr. & Mrs. John Peet Drs. Nicholas & Lisa Peppas Mr. & Mrs. Chris Petropoulos Mrs. Ioanna Petty Mr. & Mrs. Austin Phelps Mrs. Cynthia Phillips Mr. & Mrs. Denis Phocas Mr. & Mrs. Ken Pon Mr. George Poulos Mr. & Mrs. Paul Prasifka Mr. & Mrs. Peter Price Mr. & Mrs. Jamal Qatato Mr. & Mrs. Mark Randol Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Read Mr. Tom Rigney Mr. & Mrs. Jim Roberts Mr. & Mrs. William Robertson Mr & Mrs. Peter Romell Dr. David Romine Mr. & Mrs. Mihalis Salmatanis Ms. Maria Sarinaki Ms. Katherine Scattergood Mr. & Mrs. Shane Sewell Mr. & Mrs. Michael Shannon Ms. Patrice Shotwell Mr & Mrs. George Simbles Mr. & Mrs. George Skevofilax Mr. & Mrs. Alexander Smith Mr. & Mrs. Kostas Spanos Ms. Georgia Spiropoulos Mr. & Mrs. Nicolaos Spiropoulos Mr. & Mrs. Steve Spyropoulos Mr. & Mrs. Karl Stahlke Mr. & Mrs. Harry Stamatis Ms. Theone Stateson Ms. Judith Stathos Mr. & Mrs. Michael Strong Mr. & Mrs. Brandon Suehs Ms. Michele Suehs Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Suehs Mr. & Mrs. Alexis Takvorian Ms. Mays Tannous Ms. Deb Tindle Mr. & Mrs. Michael Tomadakis Mr. & Mrs. Matthew Tracey Mrs. Alice Traggis Mr. & Mrs. Josh Trevino Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Tsihlas Mr. Mark Werner Mr. & Mrs. Judd Willmann Mr. & Mrs. Walter Willoughby Mr. & Mrs. Allen Wynn Mr. & Mrs. Stuart Yoder Mr. & Mrs. Elias Zachos