Sunday Services -- Kuriakh:
Orthros, 9:00 a.m.
Divine Liturgy, 10:00 a.m.
OrqroV, 0900 pm.
Q. Leitourgia, 1000 pm.
Weekday Holy Days (as scheduled):
Orthros, 8:45 a.m.
Divine Liturgy, 9:30 a.m.
KaqhmerineV EorteV:
OrqroV, 0845 pm.
Q. Leitourgia, 0930 pm.
"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:18
As we gather together in celebration of the beautiful and unique holiday of our great nation, Thanksgiving, we are given the opportunity to reflect on the meaning of this wonderful day in light of all that our almighty God has bestowed upon us. Truly, as we gather around our Thanksgiving tables and offer up expressions of thanks and appreciation for our beloved family members, friends, and loved ones, we must not overlook or neglect to express our gratitude to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ for all of His heavenly blessings upon us. This expression of our thanks to our Lord should not be limited to mere reflection or words but should be accompanied with our active participation in living our Orthodox Faith, through our participation in the Holy Sacraments, through our love for our fellow man, and through our acts of charity and philanthropy to all those in need.
Therefore, my beloved in the Lord, I implore you, that as we celebrate this amazing holiday, enjoying the delicious food and the wonderful fellowship, that we remember to reflect on the many gifts that God has blessed us with. Our true appreciation of His love for us is a rich blessing that allows us to continue to grow closer to Him and to continue to follow the path which He has laid for us, which leads to salvation.
Wishing all of you, your families and all the faithful people of our sacred Metropolis a most blessed, healthy and Happy Thanksgiving filled with His blessings from above, I remain,
With Paternal Love and Blessings
† APOSTOLOS Metropolitan of New Jersey
In the weeks leading up to the Nativity, beginning on December 4th, Presbytera Connie will sing the Paraklesis service on Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. Father Milton will hear confessions following the service. No appointment necessary. If you would like to give your confession prior to the service, please contact Fr. Milton and that can be accommodated.
CHRISTMAS EVE -- THE EVE OF THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST
Tuesday, Dec. 24th
Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great, 6:00 p.m.
CHRISTMAS MORNING, THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST
Wednesday, Dec. 25th
Orthros, 9 a.m. Divine Liturgy, 10 a.m.
Christmas Carols will follow both Liturgies
Please stop by the shop for some very nice items that will make thoughtful Christmas gifts! These include exquisitely packed gold Vasilopita coins, watercolor nativity porcelain ornaments, watercolor nativity cards & banners, wooden orthodox nativity, orthodox children’s calendars, ICXC beanie, agate night lights, water color advent cards & stickers, and other beautiful items. All proceeds from these sales support the philanthropic endeavors of Philoptochos. Please stop by the Philoptochos table in the church hall next to the Christmas tree during coffee hour to place your order by December 1.
Philoptochos will be selling VASILOPITA from AGIA SKEPI this year! The freshly baked 2lb loaf is not only delicious but beautifully decorated by these very talented nuns! Each loaf is $25. All paid orders are due by December 7th. Please stop by the Philoptochos Christmas Shop to place your order.
Let us light the path for the coming of our Lord on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with luminaries! Names will be commemorated in the Proskomiki of Christmas and on each luminary. The cost is $10 per LUMINARY - One individual name or one family name per LUMINARY. All orders must be received by SUNDAY, December 15th. All proceeds support the philanthropic endeavors of Philoptochos. See the order form below to order. Please submit the order form along with payment to the ST. DEMETRIOS PHILOPTOCHOS SOCIETY Place your orders in the clear Philoptochos mailbox located in the church hall or mail it to the church noting ATTN: PHILOPTOCHOS
A former member of our Greek American community of Hampton Roads is still in need of a stem cell transplant. I have extra registration kits available for anyone who would like to join. To join the registry, all that is required is a short health survey and a cheek swab. Join the Registry | NMDP (Formerly Be The Match) Only persons between 18- 40 years old are eligible. Please contact me, Elaine Jansen at 757 810-5206 or [email protected] with any questions and to sign up. Thank you!
Updates on Orthodox Church news items can be found on our Facebook page. We thank Presbytera for monitoring and administering the page.
Also, check out our St. Demetrios website.
Lift up in prayer:
Peter and Beverly Daikos
Sonny Halioris
Athanasia Jouvanis
Jim Kokolis
Nancy Marakos
Chris Marker
John and Connie Pavlides
Nick Vlahakis
Nick Vlattas
From His Eminence Metropolitan Apostolos
Please open for the form to support Philoptochos.
Support the Philoptochos
PHILOPTOCHOS SPONSORED FUNDRAISER FOR THE BENEFIT OF ST. BASIL'S HOME FOR CHILDREN. THE PARISH CUTTING OF THE VASILOPITA WILL BE ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 12th.
Proceeds support St. Basil's Academy Home for Children
Your support for those less fortunate is appreciated.
23rd Sunday after Pentecost
The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians 2:4-10
Brethren, God who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with him, and made us sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God: not because of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
23rd Sunday after Pentecost
Πρὸς Ἐφεσίους 2:4-10
Ἀδελφοί, ὁ θεός, πλούσιος ὢν ἐν ἐλέει, διὰ τὴν πολλὴν ἀγάπην αὐτοῦ ἣν ἠγάπησεν ἡμᾶς, καὶ ὄντας ἡμᾶς νεκροὺς τοῖς παραπτώμασιν συνεζωοποίησεν τῷ Χριστῷ - χάριτί ἐστε σεσωσμένοι - καὶ συνήγειρεν, καὶ συνεκάθισεν ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ· ἵνα ἐνδείξηται ἐν τοῖς αἰῶσιν τοῖς ἐπερχομένοις τὸν ὑπερβάλλοντα πλοῦτον τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ ἐν χρηστότητι ἐφʼ ἡμᾶς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ· τῇ γὰρ χάριτί ἐστε σεσῳσμένοι διὰ τῆς πίστεως, καὶ τοῦτο οὐκ ἐξ ὑμῶν· θεοῦ τὸ δῶρον· οὐκ ἐξ ἔργων, ἵνα μή τις καυχήσηται. Αὐτοῦ γάρ ἐσμεν ποίημα, κτισθέντες ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ ἐπὶ ἔργοις ἀγαθοῖς, οἷς προητοίμασεν ὁ θεός, ἵνα ἐν αὐτοῖς περιπατήσωμεν.
14th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 18:35-43
At that time, as Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging; and hearing a multitude going by, he inquired what this meant. They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by." And he cried, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" And Jesus stopped, and commanded him to be brought to him; and when he came near, he asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" He said, "Lord, let me receive my sight." And Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.
14th Sunday of Luke
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 18:35-43
Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ᾿Εγένετο δὲ ἐν τῷ ἐγγίζειν αὐτὸν εἰς ῾Ιεριχὼ τυφλός τις ἐκάθητο παρὰ τὴν ὁδὸν προσαιτῶν· ἀκούσας δὲ ὄχλου διαπορευομένου ἐπυνθάνετο τί εἴη ταῦτα. ἀπήγγειλαν δὲ αὐτῷ ὅτι ᾿Ιησοῦς ὁ Ναζωραῖος παρέρχεται. καὶ ἐβόησε λέγων· ᾿Ιησοῦ υἱὲ Δαυΐδ, ἐλέησόν με· καὶ οἱ προάγοντες ἐπετίμων αὐτῷ ἵνα σιωπήσῃ· αὐτὸς δὲ πολλῷ μᾶλλον ἔκραζεν· υἱὲ Δαυΐδ, ἐλέησόν με. σταθεὶς δὲ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς ἐκέλευσεν αὐτὸν ἀχθῆναι πρὸς αὐτόν. ἐγγίσαντος δὲ αὐτοῦ ἐπηρώτησεν αὐτὸν λέγων· τί σοι θέλεις ποιήσω; ὁ δὲ εἶπε· Κύριε, ἵνα ἀναβλέψω. καὶ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτῷ· ἀνάβλεψον· ἡ πίστις σου σέσωκέ σε. καὶ παραχρῆμα ἀνέβλεψε, καὶ ἠκολούθει αὐτῷ δοξάζων τὸν Θεόν· καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ἰδὼν ἔδωκεν αἶνον τῷ Θεῷ.
The Prophet Nahum had Elkesaeus (Elkosh) as his homeland, and was from the tribe of Symeon; he is seventh in order among the twelve Minor Prophets He prophesied during the time of Hezekias, after the destruction of Samaria (721 years before Christ), but before the ten tribes were taken into captivity; he prophesied against Nineveh, the capital of Assyria. His name means "comforter." His book of prophecy is divided into three chapters.
Saint Philaret a native of Paphlagonia in Asia Minor, was a virtuous Christian layman who lived in lawful wedlock and raised a family. He was most renowned for his generosity to all in need. With the permission of God, in a short space of time he lost the greater part of his possessions to theft and other misfortunes and was left with nothing but his family, his home, and a little livestock. Yet he continued to give generously to the poor despite the faint-heartedness of his family, who reproached him for giving alms when they were in need themselves; and God, seeing his faith, restored his prosperity to him many times over. He foresaw the day of his death, and reposed in an odour of sanctity in Constantinople in 789.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Fr. Seraphim Dedes
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Greek Standard Text
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Greek Standard Text