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This Week's Calendar

Friday, September 13 - Forefeast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross
7:00 pm - Great Vespers at Holy Cross, Farmington Hills

Saturday, September 14 - Elevation of the Holy Cross
10:00 am Divine Liturgy at Holy Cross, Farmington Hills
3:00 pm Baptism

Sunday, September 15 - The Sunday after Holy Cross
Click here to view the printed liturgy
8:45 am Orthros
10:00 am Divine Liturgy
11:30 am Sunday Church School and Catechism
12:30 pm GOYA Meeting and Election of Officers

Monday, September 16
6:00 pm Philoptochos Meeting and Pot Luck dinner

Wednesday, September 18
7:00 pm Holy Unction at Sts. Constantine and Helen

Thursday, September 19
7:00 pm Parish Council Meeting

Friday, September 20
6:00 pm - Hope Joy Family Night
7:00 pm - Choir Practice

Saturday, September 21
4:30 pm - Baptism

Sunday, September 22 - 1st Sunday of Luke
Click here to view the printed liturgy
8:45 am Orthros
10:00 am Divine Liturgy
11:30 am Sunday Church School and Catechism
12:30 pm Altar Server Orientation

Parish News and Updates

FEAST DAY SERVICES FOR THE ELEVATION OF THE HOLY CROSS - Great Vespers are on Friday, September 13 at 7 pm and Divine Services are on Saturday, September 14 at 10 am at our sister parish, Holy Cross located in Farmington Hills.

GOYA MEETING AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS - The first GOYA meeting is Sunday, September 15. The youth will elect officers and begin making plans for fall activities.

PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS - Ladies, we will hold our first meeting on Monday, September 16 at 6:00 pm. Please bring an appetizer pot-luck sharing. Also, if you have any new or unused item that you do not want, we are asking that you bring it to the meeting so that we may include it in a future raffle basket. We hope to see you there!

HOLY UNCTION OFFERED THIS FALL - The Holy Unction Service is a Sacrament of the Church meant to bring healing of body and soul. We will offer this service by rotation at the three sister parishes mentioned in the schedule. Please check their calendars for any changes that may occur. Sts. Constantine and Helen will host the first service on Wednesday, September 18 at 7 pm.

DO YOU LIKE TO SING? Join the choir! The first choir practice is Friday, September 20 at 7 pm. Participants will help determine the future practice schedule. Contact Louis Poulos if you have questions.

ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN WOMEN PRESENTS - Stories from Guatemala to Detroit - What does it mean to be an Orthodox Christian Missionary - with Rev. Fr. Phillip Dage at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Ann Arbor on Saturday, September 21 from 1-3 pm. See bulletin insert below.

CALLING ALL ALTAR SERVERS - There will be an Altar Server Orientation on SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 following church school at 12:30 pm. All boys - both new and old are welcome and encouraged to attend. If you have questions, contact Bill Smith - [email protected].

ATTENTION PARENTS OF YOUNG ADULTS—we’re looking for contact information to your children who are off to University or new beginnings. Send their address, email and phone to Kathy in the church office. We’d like to send them notes of encouragement as they step out into the world.

10TH ANNUAL DENNIS FORD MEMORIAL GOLF OUTING is scheduled for Sunday, September 29. We are seeking sponsors for this event. See bulletin insert below for details.

Click this link to become a sponsor: SPONSORSHIP LINK (https://form.jotform.com/241787954320160)
Click this link to register to participate: REGISTRATION LINK (https://form.jotform.com/242283883499170)

NATIVITY SENIORS - The first Senior Lunch this fall will be October 8 at noon.

HELP WANTED - Nativity is seeking someone with website design skills to help update and refresh our web page. It could be as little or as much work as someone would want to take on. In particular, it could be a good opportunity for a student looking to boost their resume. Contact Lynn Perakis <[email protected]> if you can help.

THE CRY OF THE FORERUNNER - Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church in Livonia, MI, is pleased to host our second annual men's retreat on September 27-29. Called "The Cry of the Forerunner," it will focus on the life and preaching of St John the Baptist as a model for men to deepen their Orthodox faith. See bulletin insert attached below or on the bulletin board in the hallway for details or visit https://www.avg2alpha.com/cry-of-the-forerunner/

Those in Our Prayers

Nicholas the Bishop, John the Priest, John the Priest, Cassani the Presvytera,Kalliope the Presvytera, Sevi Bertolis, Panayiotis Christodoulos, Mary Christopoulos, Constantin Dumitrescu, Kosta Efthimiou, Tracey Ford, Greg Georvassilis , Randa Istephan, Zoe Jaimee, Kathy Jenaras, Maria Kalas, Kanella Katsikas, Diane Kotsonas, Panayiota Koutoupa, Elias Koumariotis, Gus Kyriakou, Penelope Kyriakoula, Jim Lee, Nick Malamis, Frank Maroudis, Freda Mollasis, Gregory Morakeas, Evelyn Morris, George Mortis, Alexander Nichoff, Marchela Papageorgakis, Stella Papasavva, Nikolia Pappas, Nicholas Pappas, George Peters, Helen Peters, Katerina Peters, Costas Photsios, Penny Poulos, Pam Provgna, Helen Sitaras, Vasillios Sotiropoulos, Rick Stanley & Family, Randa Istephan, Evan Kotsonas Stoecklein, Mike & Julia Tate, Jim Tsakos, Evris & Helen Tsaprazis, John Vardouniotis, Alexander Varverakis , Jim Vlahakis, Irene Vouharas, Trevor Wilhelmi, Sandy Zembylas, Selina Zembylas-Hernandez, George Zervos, Little Jack, Sofia.

THE CHURCH IS HERE FOR YOU In times of need or times of celebration, there are a number of pastoral situations that warrant contacting Father Nick.

Any Hospital Stay: Illness, Surgery, etc.
Death - Call when a person is dying and at the actual time of death, regardless of the hour!
Substance abuse involving you or a loved one.
Domestic problems of any sort, Marital or children.
When you desire spiritual direction.
Birth of a child, (naming, and 40 day blessing).
When you become engaged and are planning a wedding.

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Third Mode

Let the heavens be glad. Let the earth rejoice exceedingly. For the Lord has shown strength with his arm. He trampled death by death. He became the first-born of the dead. Out of the belly of Hades, He has rescued us, and to the world He has granted the great mercy.

Εὐφραινέσθω τὰ οὐράνια, ἀγαλλιάσθω τὰ ἐπίγεια, ὅτι ἐποίησε κράτος, ἐν βραχίονι αὐτοῦ, ὁ Κύριος, ἐπάτησε τῷ θανάτῳ τὸν θάνατον, πρωτότοκος τῶν νεκρῶν ἐγένετο, ἐκ κοιλίας ᾅδου ἐρρύσατο ἡμᾶς, καὶ παρέσχε τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.

Apolytikion for Afterfeast of the Holy Cross in the First Mode

Save, O Lord, Your people and bless Your inheritance, granting victory to the faithful over the enemy, and by Your Cross protecting Your commonwealth.

Σώσον Κύριε τόν λαόν σου καί ευλόγησον τήν κληρονομίαν σου, νίκας τοίς Βασιλεύσι κατά βαρβάρων δωρούμενος καί τό σόν φυλάττων διά τού Σταυρού σου πολίτευμα.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Mode

You who were lifted on the cross voluntarily, * O Christ our God, bestow Your tender compassions * upon Your new community to which You gave Your name. * Cause our faithful emperors to be glad in Your power, * granting them the victories against their adversaries. * And for an ally, Lord, may they have You, * peace as their armor, the trophy invincible. (Mode 4. Automelon. Ὁ ὑψωθεὶς ἐν τῷ Σταυρῷ.

Ο υψωθείς εν τώ Σταυρώ εκουσίως, τή επωνύμω σου καινή πολιτεία, τούς οικτιρμούς σου δώρησαι, Χριστέ ο Θεός, Εύφρανον εν τή δυνάμει σου, τούς πιστούς Βασιλείς ημών, νίκας χορηγών αυτοίς, κατά τών πολεμίων, τήν συμμαχίαν έχοιεν τήν σήν, όπλον ειρήνης, αήττητον τρόπαιον.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Third Mode. Psalm 46.6,1.
Sing praises to our God, sing praises.
Verse: Clap your hands, all you nations.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 2:16-20.

Brethren, knowing that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we ourselves were found to be sinners, is Christ then an agent of sin? Certainly not! But if I build up again those things which I tore down, then I prove myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Προκείμενον. Third Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 46.6,1.
Ψάλατε τῷ Θεῷ ἡμῶν, ψάλατε.
Στίχ. Πάντα τὰ ἔθνη κροτήσατε χεῖρας.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Γαλάτας 2:16-20.

Ἀδελφοί, εἰδότες ὅτι οὐ δικαιοῦται ἄνθρωπος ἐξ ἔργων νόμου, ἐὰν μὴ διὰ πίστεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, καὶ ἡμεῖς εἰς Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν ἐπιστεύσαμεν, ἵνα δικαιωθῶμεν ἐκ πίστεως Χριστοῦ, καὶ οὐκ ἐξ ἔργων νόμου· διότι οὐ δικαιωθήσεται ἐξ ἔργων νόμου πᾶσα σάρξ. Εἰ δέ, ζητοῦντες δικαιωθῆναι ἐν Χριστῷ, εὑρέθημεν καὶ αὐτοὶ ἁμαρτωλοί, ἆρα Χριστὸς ἁμαρτίας διάκονος; Μὴ γένοιτο. Εἰ γὰρ ἃ κατέλυσα, ταῦτα πάλιν οἰκοδομῶ, παραβάτην ἐμαυτὸν συνίστημι. Ἐγὼ γὰρ διὰ νόμου νόμῳ ἀπέθανον, ἵνα θεῷ ζήσω. Χριστῷ συνεσταύρωμαι· ζῶ δέ, οὐκέτι ἐγώ, ζῇ δὲ ἐν ἐμοὶ Χριστός· ὃ δὲ νῦν ζῶ ἐν σαρκί, ἐν πίστει ζῶ τῇ τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ, τοῦ ἀγαπήσαντός με καὶ παραδόντος ἑαυτὸν ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ.

Gospel Reading

Sunday after Holy Cross
The Reading is from Mark 8:34-38; 9:1

The Lord said: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."

Sunday after Holy Cross
Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 8:34-38, 9:1

Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος· Εἴ τις θέλει ὀπίσω μου ἐλθεῖν, ἀπαρνησάσθω ἑαυτὸν καὶ ἀράτω τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀκολουθείτω μοι. ὃς γὰρ ἂν θέλῃ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ σῶσαι, ἀπολέσει αὐτήν· ὃς δ᾿ ἂν ἀπολέσῃ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ψυχὴν ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ καὶ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου, οὗτος σώσει αὐτήν. τί γὰρ ὠφελήσει ἄνθρωπον ἐὰν κερδήσῃ τὸν κόσμον ὅλον, καὶ ζημιωθῇ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ; ἢ τί δώσει ἄνθρωπος ἀντάλλαγμα τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ; ὃς γὰρ ἐὰν ἐπαισχυνθῇ με καὶ τοὺς ἐμοὺς λόγους ἐν τῇ γενεᾷ ταύτῃ τῇ μοιχαλίδι καὶ ἁμαρτωλῷ, καὶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐπαισχυνθήσεται αὐτὸν ὅταν ἔλθῃ ἐν τῇ δόξῃ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ μετὰ τῶν ἀγγέλων τῶν ἁγίων. Καὶ ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι εἰσί τινες τῶν ὧδε ἑστηκότων, οἵτινες οὐ μὴ γεύσωνται θανάτου ἕως ἂν ἴδωσι τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐληλυθυῖαν ἐν δυνάμει.

Saints and Feasts

September 15

Sunday after Holy Cross

September 15

Nikitas the Great Martyr

This Saint was of high birth among the Goths beyond the Danube River. He was taken by Athanaric, pagan ruler of the Goths, and after being tortured, was burned to death for his confession of Christ. According to some, this took place during the reign of Saint Constantine the Great; according to others, under the Emperor Gratian.

September 21

Jonah the Prophet

The Prophet Jonah, the son of Amathi, of the town of Geth-hopher (IV Kings 14:25), was of the tribe of Zabulon; he prophesied during the years 838-810 before Christ. God commanded him to go to Nineveh, the great city of the Assyrians, and to proclaim that its destruction was nigh at hand because of the sins of its people. But he, as a Prophet who knew the great compassion of God, feared that at his preaching the Ninevites would repent; that God, accepting their repentance in His love for man, would not fulfill Jonah' threats; and that he would be branded a false prophet. So he disobeyed the divine command, and boarded a ship and departed elsewhere. Yet, the sudden and fearful sea-storm and the revelation of Jonah' disbedience caused the sailors to cast him into the sea. A great sea-monster appeared straightway by divine providence, and swallowed him up. For three days and nights he was found in its belly and he prayed, saying the words, "I cried aloud in my affliction unto the Lord my God..." (Jonah 2:3, the Sixth ode of the Holy Psalter). The sea-monster then vomited him up on dry land and he again heard God's command. Wherefore, he went and preached, saying, "In three days, Nineveh shall be destroyed." The people became terrified and all repented. The great, the small, babes at the breast, and even the irrational beasts themselves fasted, and thus, having found mercy from God, they were spared His wrath. Jonah' book of prophecy is divided into four chapters, and is placed fifth in order among the twelve minor Prophets. His three-day sojourn in the sea-monster's belly is an image of our Saviour's three-day burial and His life-bringing Resurrection (Matt. 12:39-40). His name means "dove."

September 17

Sophia & her three daughters: Faith, Hope, and Love

These Saints were from Italy and contested for the Faith about the year 126, during the reign of the Emperor Hadrian. Faith was twelve years old, Hope, ten, and Love, nine; each was tormented and then beheaded, from the eldest to the youngest. Their mother Sophia mourned at their grave for three days, where she also fell asleep in peace; because of her courageous endurance in the face of her daughters' sufferings, she is also counted a martyr. The name Sophia means "wisdom" in Greek; as for her daughters' names, Faith, Hope, and Love (Charity), they are Pistis, Elpis, and Agape in Greek, and Vera, Nadezhda, and Lyubov in Russian.

Memorials and Trisagion

3 year memorial for Evthoksia Cantor.

11 year memorial for Mary Pantelides Oliver.

May their memory be eternal.

Thank you to the Cantor & Collias families for sponsoring coffee hour.

Blessings, Baptisms and Weddings

Baptized on Saturday, September 14

Zachary Nawar Saleh

Son of Tina and Faqar Saleh
Grandson of Ann and Harry Katopodis
Godparent Sofia Kaplantzes

“As many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ. Alleluia.”

Wisdom of the Fathers

The key to knowledge is the humility of Christ. The door of the Kingdom of Heaven is open, not to those who only know in their learned minds the mysteries of faith and the commandments of their Creator, but to those who have progressed far enough to live by them.

St. Bede the Venerable

Unknown, 8th century

To deny oneself means to give up one's bad habits; to root out of the heart all that ties us to the world; not to cherish bad thoughts and desires; to suppress every evil thought; to avoid occasions of sin; not to desire or to do anything out of self-love, but to do everything out of love for God. To deny oneself, according to St. Paul means "to be dead to sin. . . but alive to God."

St. Innocent of Alaska

The Lenten Spring, SVS Press, p. 147, 19th Century

Three Hierarchs Greek School

Χαίρετε!

Hello everyone!

Greek School registration is now open! More details coming soon.

Quick links for registration

Children: YOUTH Student Registration 2024-2025

Adults: ADULT Student Registration 2024-2025

Classes begin October 8 with Agiasmos and Blessing of Students and Teachers.

Regards,

Anna Liakou-Hentnik
Director/Teacher
[email protected]

Nativity's Gmail Calendar

Nativity of the Virgin Mary Google Calendar

September 15 to September 29, 2024

Sunday, September 15

Sunday after Holy Cross

Memorials and Trisagion

8:45AM Orthros

10:00AM Divine Liturgy

12:30PM GOYA Meeting and Election of Officers

Monday, September 16

6:00PM Philoptochos Meeting and Potluck dinner

Wednesday, September 18

7:00PM Holy Unction at Sts. Constantine and Helen

Friday, September 20

6:00PM Hope/Joy Family Night

7:00PM Choir Practice

Saturday, September 21

4:30PM Baptism

Sunday, September 22

1st Sunday of Luke

8:45AM Orthros

10:00AM Divine Liturgy

12:30PM Altar Server Meeting

Thursday, September 26

The Falling Asleep of St. John the Evangelist and Theologian

Sunday, September 29

2nd Sunday of Luke

Memorials and Trisagion

8:45AM Orthros

10:00AM Divine Liturgy

1:30PM Dennis Ford Golf Outing (Tee Time 2:30 pm)

Bulletin Inserts

General Information

Contact Information

Services Schedule

Past Bulletins