Saints and Feasts

December 15

11th Sunday of Luke

On the Sunday that occurs on or immediately after the eleventh of this month, we commemorate Christ's forefathers according to the flesh, both those that came before the Law, and those that lived after the giving of the Law.

Special commemoration is made of the Patriarch Abraham, to whom the promise was first given, when God said to him, "In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed" (Gen. 22:18). This promise was given some two thousand years before Christ, when Abraham was seventy-five years of age. God called him and commanded him to forsake his country, parents, and kinsmen, and to depart to the land of the Canaanites. When he arrived there, God told him, "I will give this land to thy seed" (Gen. 12:7); for this cause, that land was called the "Promised Land," which later became the country of the Hebrew people, and which is also called Palestine by the historians. There, after the passage of twenty-four years, Abraham received God's law concerning circumcision. In the one hundredth year of his life, when Sarah was in her ninetieth year, they became the parents of Isaac. Having lived 175 years altogether, he reposed in peace, a venerable elder full of days.

December 15

Eleutherios the Hieromartyr, Bishop of Illyricum, and his mother Anthia

This Saint had Rome as his homeland. Having been orphaned of his father from childhood, he was taken by his mother Anthia to Anicetus, the Bishop of Rome (some call him Anencletus, or Anacletus), by whom he was instructed in the sacred letters (that is, the divine Scriptures). Though still very young in years, he was made Bishop of Illyricum by reason of his surpassing virtue, and by his teachings he converted many unbelievers to Christ. However, during a most harsh persecution that was raised against the Christians under Hadrian (reigned 117-138), the Saint was arrested by the tyrants. Enduring many torments for Christ, he was finally put to death by two soldiers about the year 126. As for his Christ-loving mother Anthia, while embracing the remains of her son and kissing them with maternal affection, she was also beheaded.

December 17

Dionysios of Zakynthos

The holy hierarch, Saint Dionysius, who was born and reared on Zakynthos, was the son of pious and wealthy parents, Mocius and Paulina by name. In his youth he entered the ancient monastery of the Strophada Islands, which lie south of Zakynthos, and there he donned the monastic habit. Later, he was appointed Archbishop of Aegina, and adorned its throne for a considerable time. Thereafter he returned to his homeland. One incident in his life especially reveals to what virtue he attained. A man came to him in desperation, witnessing that he had committed a murder, and was being pursued by the slain man's family. He asked Saint Dionysius to give him refuge. The Saint agreed to this, upon learning that it was his own brother whom the man had slain, he said nothing, but concealing the agony of his grief, hid him. When the Saint's kinsmen arrived at the monastery, he told them that the Murderer had gone by such and such a way. When they had departed, he admonished the man concerning the gravity of his sin, instructed him in repentance, and sent him off in peace having forgiven him his brother's murder. According to local tradition, this man later returned and became a monk at this same monastery. Saint Dionysius reposed in peace in 1621, leaving behind his sacred and incorrupt relics as a treasure for his fellow citizens.

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal Fourth Mode

From on high didst Thou descend, O Compassionate One; to burial of three days hast Thou submitted that Thou mightest free us from our passions. O our Life and Resurrection, Lord, glory be to Thee.

Apolytikion for 11th Sun. of Luke in the Second Mode

By faith didst Thou justify the Forefathers, when through them Thou didst betroth Thyself aforetime to the Church from among the nations. The Saints boast in glory that from their seed there is a glorious fruit, even she that bare Thee seedlessly. By their prayers, O Christ God, save our souls.

Apolytikion for Hieromartyr Eleutherios and Anthia in the Fourth Mode

Being comely adorned in thy sacred priestly robes and newly drenched with the streams of thy pure and sanctified blood, thou didst soar aloft to stand before thy Master, Christ; hence never cease to intercede for those honouring with faith thy mighty and blessed contest, thou overthrower of Satan, O wise and blessed Eleutherius.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Third Mode

On this day the Virgin cometh to the cave to give birth to * God the Word ineffably, * Who was before all the ages. * Dance for joy, O earth, on hearing * the gladsome tidings; * with the Angels and the shepherds now glorify Him * Who is willing to be gazed on * as a young Child Who * before the ages is God.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Third Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Mark 16:9-20

When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons. She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. But when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.

After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them. After this He appeared to the eleven themselves as they sat at table and He upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw Him after He had risen. And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover."

So then the Lord Jesus, after He had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that attended it. Amen.

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Grave Mode. Psalm 115.5,3 (116.15,12).
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.
Verse: What shall I render to the Lord for all that he has given me?

The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 1:8-18.

TIMOTHY, my son, do not be ashamed then of testifying to our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel in the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not in virtue of our works but in virtue of his own purpose and the grace which he gave us in Christ Jesus ages ago, and now has manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. For this gospel I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, and therefore I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. Follow the pattern of the sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus; guard the truth that has been entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.

You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, and among them Phygelos and Hermogenes. May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphoros, for he often refreshed me; he was not ashamed of my chains, but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me eagerly and found me - may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that Day and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesos.

Gospel Reading

11th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 14:16-24

The Lord said this parable: "A man once gave a great banquet, and invited many; and at the time of the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, 'Come; for all is now ready.' But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I go out and see it; I pray you, have me excused.' And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I must go to examine them; I pray you, have me excused.' And another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.' So the servant came and reported this to his master. Then the householder in anger said to his servant, 'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and maimed and blind and lame.' And the servant said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and there is still room.' And the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges, and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet. For many are called, but few are chosen.'"

Wisdom of the Fathers

What was the nature of the invitation? God the Father has prepared in Christ for the inhabitants of earth those gifts which are bestowed upon the world through Him, even the forgiveness of sins, the cleansing away of all defilement, the communion of the Holy Spirit, the glorious adoption of sons, and the kingdom of the heavens.

St. Cyril of Alexandria

Translation courtesy of "The Orthodox New Testament" Volume 1, 4th Century

Come, O faithful, Let us enjoy the Master's hospitality, The banquet of immortality. In the upper chamber with uplifted minds Let us receive the exalted words of the Word Whom we magnify.

Last Ode of the Compline Canon

This parable ... proclaims beforehand both the casting out of the Jews, and the calling of the Gentiles; and it indicates together with this also the strictness of the life required, and how great the punishment appointed for the careless ....

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 69 on Matthew 22, 4th Century

But not by words only, but also by actions did He bid them, after His ascension by Peter, and those with him. "For He that wrought effectually in Peter," it is said, "to the apostleship of the circumcision, was mighty also in me towards the Gentiles." ...

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 69 on Matthew 22, 4th Century

Parish Activities

Special Service: 40 days memorial service Olga Papayoti

2024 STEWARDSHIP and financials as of 12/21/2024

Goal:                                        $555,660

Pledged:                                     $523.566

Received To Date of Pledged: $482,885

Pledges Submitted:                   198

2025 STEWARDSHIP and financials as of 12/21/2024

Goal:                                        $550,000

Pledged:                                     $238,806

Pledges Submitted:                   43

Needed to be Pledged:             $383,934

DOME ICONOGRAPHY financials as of 12/21/2024

Total Project value: $411,000

Balance in the account at the beginning of the campaign: $110,898

Pledged (including grant): $225,284

Number of pledges: 54

Needed: $74,818

TODAY, AFTER SERVICE:
- 2^nd Tray Collection for Nativity Monastery in Kemp, TX (for building a Cemetery Chapel)
- Sunday School: Christmas Pageant
- Explore Orthodoxy class – 12:30 pm
- Coffee Hour – Potluck (Fast, Wine, Oil allowed)
- Living Word Bookstore: Orthodox books for Children
- Today is the Due date for:
  - Picking up your Christmas Bake Order Form
  - the Philoptochos “Socks and Blankets” Collection
UPCOMING EVENTS:
- Sunday, Dec. 28, 9:30 am: Nativity Monastery - Annual Monastery Feast Day 17671 Co Rd 4057, Kemp, TX 75143. Register at: https://www.nativitymonastery.com
The speaker this year is Fr. Vasile Tudora. The title of his presentation is "The Child Who Was Born to Die: From Nativity to the Passion in Iconography and Relics.”

Donations for this event are greatly appreciated! Donations will be used to cover the cost of the event and fundraising for the building of our church. Tickets may be purchased with the donation amount of your choice. If you cannot donate at this time, please purchase a free ticket. PLEASE ORDER ONE TICKET FOR EACH MEMBER OF YOUR PARTY.

Schedule:

9:30 am - 10:00 am -Hours and Prayers before Communion

10:00 am - 11:30 am - Hierarchical Divine Liturgy

12:00 pm - 2:00 pm – Lunch, Presentation Fr. Vasile Tudora
- Friday – Saturday, January 24-25: North Texas Orthodox Mission Perspectives 2025 – Kindling the Fire; Finding the light of Christ in our lives through active participation in His church. Speakers: Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick and Spyridoula Fotinis. Free admission, please register at www.ntom.org

Prayers Request

Prayer Request – December 15, 2024

(Use the baptismal name when commemorating.

If not available, please use the first name.)

Members of our parish who are in hospital or rehab:

Name: Baptismal name:

Leslie Hock
Bernard Peter Korzun

Members of our parish who are in assisted living or nursing home:

Name: Baptismal name:

Leo Alexander Panteleimon
Joyce Hofland
Velva Johnson Heleni

Members of our parish who are ill / in recovery:

Name: Baptismal name:

Wes Albaugh
Chrysanthi Andromalos Chrysanthi
Elias Bahou Elias
Michael Bogdos Michael
Kassandra Bogordos Kassandra
Robin Boomstra
Jason Caros Jason
Margaret Chokas Maria
Charlie Clark
Tim Cline Timothy
Edward Tex Collins Taxiarchon
Mariana Cuceu Maria
Helen Dieb Helen
David Dube
Orest & Refije Duka Anesti & Katherine
Timothy Elder Timothy
Martha Fletcher
Awni & Maryan Haddad Rafael & Maryan
Jennifer Hock Zenobia
Steve Howton
Harry & Virginia Karegeannes Haralambos & Catherine
Filiratos & Alina Ionita Filiratos & Alina
Petar & Slavica Ivovic Petar & Slavica
Abraham Maayeh Abraham
Jude MacLead
George & Victoria Manos George & Victoria
Michael Mavias Michael
Themis & Zoe Mavrelli Euthymia & Zoe
Catherine Macdonald Catherine
Laura & Liliana Nicolescu Laura & Liliana Gabriela
Ruby Phillips
Cristina Popa Cristina
Candice & Annette Reyes
Ted Sarros John
Robert Steffaro Rodion
Elizabeth Strong Elizabeth
Andrew Tiganiuc Andrew
Georgia Vratinina Georgia
Ronald Warkentin
Gary Winfrey
Helen Yu

Members of our parish who have chronic illnesses:

Name: Baptismal name:

Gabriel, Rita & Marina Abanoub Gabriel, Rita & Marina
Tami, Olivia & Nathaniel Brugman Dymphna, Theodora & Nathaniel
Andrew Lucas Burlacu
Ashley Choate Maria Magdalena
Elizabeth Cronin Elizabeth
Samiha Gayed Samiha
Michael Genovezos Michael
Mavra Grimm Mavra
Gregory Kerbow Gregory
John Koutsoufis Ioannis
Emilia Lueth Emilia
Maria Lungu Post Maria
Emily & Michael MacLeod Emily & Michael
Maire Barachiel MacLeod Maire Barachiel
Erzsi Rafael MacLeod Erzsi Rafael
Brigid Seraphim MacLeod Brigid Seraphim
Michaela Miller Michaela
Andreas Mihalakeas Andreas
Gail Poriotis Evangelia
Georgia Souris Georgia
Ann, Jason Sullivan Ana, Jason
Madalina Tache Madalina
Sarah Varvaris Sara
Kristy Warkentin Paraskeva
George Vittas George, Reader

Members of our parish with limited mobility:

Name: Baptismal name:

Dr. Lucille Howton Lucille
Constantinos Katsikas Constantinos
Marika Shackelford Maria

Family members who fell asleep in the Lord in the last 40 days:

- Nicholas - Konstantinos Bosnakis - Rose Clark

- David Hunter - Terry Murray - Nathan Nimri

- Tom Savage - Jeffrey Turner - Milorad Pavlovic

- Theodosia Kinman - Demetra Morakis - Emilia Teodoreanu

Kindly let us know of anyone else that should be on this list.

Church Calendar

STJB Calendar

November 15 to December 29, 2024

Friday, November 15

Nativity Lent

Sunday, December 15

8:30AM Orthros

9:30AM Divine Liturgy

10:45AM Sunday School

11:00AM Coffee Hour - sponsored by Philoptochos

11:00AM Philoptochos Bake Sake Forms Deadline

11:00AM Memorial service for Theresa (Theodora) Alexander

12:15PM Explore Orthodoxy Class

Wednesday, December 18

5:00PM Confession

6:00PM Paraklesis

6:45PM Gladsome Light Dialogues

Friday, December 20

11:00AM Homeschool Co-op

Saturday, December 21

9:00AM Philoptochos Baking Day for the Christmas Bake Sale (using kitchen)

9:00AM Sunday School Nativity Retreat

12:00PM Baptism Nicholas Ashford

4:00PM Confession

5:00PM Great Vespers

Sunday, December 22

8:30AM Orthros

9:30AM Divine Liturgy

11:00AM Nativity Pageant

11:00AM Pick Up Bake Sale Orders

12:00PM Coffee Hour - Potluck

12:30PM Explore Orthodoxy Class

Tuesday, December 24

8:00AM Royal Hours of Nativity

6:00PM Vesperal Liturgy

Wednesday, December 25

8:30AM Orthros and Divine Liturgy

Friday, December 27

8:00AM Orthros and Divine Liturgy

Saturday, December 28

9:30AM Hours & Prayers before Holy Communion (Kemp, TX)

10:00AM Hierarchical Divine Liturgy (Kemp, TX)

12:00PM Lunch, Presentation (Kemp, TX)

5:00PM Great Vespers

Sunday, December 29

8:30AM Orthros

9:30AM Divine Liturgy

11:00AM Coffee Hour - Potluck

12:15PM Explore Orthodoxy Class

General Information

Contact Information

Services Schedule

Past Bulletins

Saints and Feasts

11th Sunday of Luke

Eleutherios the Hieromartyr, Bishop of Illyricum, and his mother Anthia

Dionysios of Zakynthos

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal Fourth Mode

Apolytikion for 11th Sun. of Luke in the Second Mode

Apolytikion for Hieromartyr Eleutherios and Anthia in the Fourth Mode

Seasonal Kontakion in the Third Mode

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Epistle Reading

Gospel Reading

Wisdom of the Fathers

Parish Activities

Prayers Request

Church Calendar

STJB Calendar

November 15 to December 29, 2024