WisdomOn the feast of St. Andrew (November 30) we begin to sing the pre-Christmas Idiomela:
Dance, Isaiah! Receive the word of God! Prophesy to the Maiden Mary that the bush shall burn with the light of the Godhead, yet shall not be consumed. Prepare, O Bethlehem! Open your gates, O Eden! Come, O Magi, make your journey to behold salvation wrapped and laid in a manger, whom the Star above the cave reveals as the Lord, the giver of life, who saves our race.
(Vespers of the Feast of St. Andrew, Theotokion of the Stichera)
Bethlehem, welcome the Mother City of God; for she has come to give birth in you to the light that never sets. You angels, marvel in heaven! People, give glory on earth! Magi from Persia, bring your three glorious gifts! Shepherds abiding in the fields, sing the thrice-holy hymn! Let everything that has breath praise the Maker of all!
(Matins of the Feast of St. Andrew, Theotokion of the Praises)
Excerpts from: Meditations for Advent: Preparing for Christ’s Birth
by Archimandrite Vassilios Papavassiliou
Upcoming EventsThe Akathist Hymn originally scheduled for Friday, December 3rd has been moved Thursday, December 2nd. The time is still 6:00 p.m. I will be available for confession as well.
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We will have our traditional celebration during coffee hour on December 5th. The children of the parish should bring their costumes to change into after liturgy. Adults, please bring a bag of treats to hand out. Additionally, a volunteer to tell the story of St. Barbara to the children is needed and an older man willing to play the role of St. Nicholas (Feastday on 12/6) is needed as well. Please contact Elizabeth Clause ASAP.
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How will you use your time and talents for the Church? Sign-up sheets to host fellowship-hour, clean the facilities, service-duty, and to help bake prosphora are now available.
Also, please email Fr Silouan directly (frsilouanburns@gmail.com) if you would like to be a part of the Gardening / Outdoor Beautification group or the Nursing Home / Homebound Outreach.
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The Annual All-Parish Meeting will resume on December 12th during Fellowship Hour so we can discuss the renovations and finalize our plan.
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We are holding a class on the foundations of the Orthodox faith. It is being held Sunday mornings in the sanctuary during church school time (at the ringing of the bell).
There will be no Foundations Class on Sunday, November 28th. We will resume on Sunday, December 5th when Father Silouan will be teaching on The Church: Its Structure and How the Theotokos Is an Integral Part.
Other AnnouncementsOlga Maloney is managing our Google Docs directory and is looking to make sure it is as accurate as possible for 2022. Please let her know if you have had any change of address, phone number, or a new addition (with name & birthday). Email Olga at: olgamaloney1@gmail.com and please be sure to copy me at frsilouanburns@gmail.com.
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This week through next Sunday we will finish up collecting goods for the Blessing Bags to give to the homeless and/or needy. Items can go in the box at the Fellowship Hall entrance and monetary donations to help purchase items for the bags can go in the collection plate (memo: Blessing Bags.)
The finished blessing bags will be available to parishioners (i.e. kept in cars) to give to a person in need.
Reader Schedule
| Date | 3rd Hour | 6th Hour | Epistle |
| Dec 5 | Vojacsek | Skomorucha | Carey |
| Dec 12 | D'Orazio | Wojciechowski | Lewis |
| Dec 19 | Lewis | George | Lewis |
Service Schedule
| Date | Coffee Hour | Service Duty | Church Cleaners |
| Nov 28 | Whalen | Sulpizi | N. Carey |
| Dec 5 | Grishin / Pacienza | Hojnicki / Najemy | Baldychev / Shatley / Sylvest |
| Dec 12 | Wojciechowski / D'Orazio | Telep / Baldychev | Sulpizi |
| Dec 19 | Clause | Bunitsky / Morjana | Riley |
News from the Orthodox Church in America
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