Small Paraklesis - Wednesday 6:00PM
Great Vespers - Saturday 5:00PM
Matins - Sunday 8:30AM
Divine Liturgy - Sunday 9:30 AM
Confessions - Saturday after Vespers or upon request
On the Sunday that occurs on or immediately after the eighteenth of this month, we celebrate all those who from ages past have been well-pleasing to God, beginning from Adam even unto Joseph the Betrothed of the Most Holy Theotokos, according to genealogy, as the Evangelist Luke hath recorded historically (Luke 3:23-38); we also commemorate the Prophets and Prophetesses, and especially the Prophet Daniel and the Holy Three Children.
This Saint, who was from Rome, was a most comely, wealthy, and virtuous maiden, the daughter of Praepextatus and Fausta. It was her mother who instructed her in the Faith of Christ. The Saint was joined to a man named Publius Patricius, who was prodigal in life and impious in disposition, but she was widowed after a short time. Henceforth, she went about secretly to the dwellings of the poor and the prisons where the Martyrs of Christ were, and brought them whatever was needed for their daily subsistence. She washed their wounds and loosed them from their fetters, and consoled them in their anguish. Also, because the Saint, through her intercessions, has healed many from the ill effects of spells, potions, poisons, and other harmful substances, she has received the name "Deliverer from Potions." Since the fame of her deeds had spread about, she was arrested by Diocletian's minions, and after enduring many torments she was put to death by fire in the year 290.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
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: Holy Transfiguration Monastery
The memory of the just is celebrated with hymns of praise * but the Lord's testimony is sufficient for thee, O Forerunner, * for thou wast proved to be truly even more venerable than the Prophets * since thou wast granted to baptize in the running waters * Him Whom they proclaim. * Wherefore having contested for the Truth, * thou didst rejoice to announce the good tidings even to those in Hades * that God has appeared in the flesh * taking away the sin of the world * and granting us great mercy.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Fourth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Luke 24:1-12
On the first day of the week at early dawn, the women went to the tomb, taking spices, which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel; and as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how He told you, while He was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise." And they remembered His words and returning from the tomb they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told this to the Apostles; but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home wondering at what had happened.
Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Daniel 3.26,27.
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
Verse: For you are just in all you have done.
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 11:9-10; 32-40.
BRETHREN, by faith Abraham sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city which has foundation, whose builder and maker is God.
And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets - who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated - of whom the world was not worthy - wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
Sunday before Nativity
The Reading is from Matthew 1:1-25
The book of the Genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Aram, and Aram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king.
And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asa, and Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amon, and Amon the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.
And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Salathiel, and Salathiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.
So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.
Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel" (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife, but knew her not until she had borne a son; and he called his name Jesus.
Special Service: 40 days memorial service Olga Papayoti
2024 STEWARDSHIP and financials as of 12/20/2024
Goal: $555,660
Pledged: $523.566
Received To Date of Pledged: $482,735
Pledges Submitted: 198
2025 STEWARDSHIP and financials as of 12/20/2024
Goal: $550,000
Pledged: $228,806
Pledges Submitted: 42
Needed to be Pledged: $383,934
DOME ICONOGRAPHY financials as of 12/20/2024
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:
UPCOMING EVENTS:
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
Prayer Request – December 22, 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:
Members of our parish who are in assisted living or nursing home:
Name: Baptismal name:
Members of our parish who are ill / in recovery:
Name: Baptismal name:
Members of our parish who have chronic illnesses:
Name: Baptismal name:
Members of our parish with limited mobility:
Name: Baptismal name:
Family members who fell asleep in the Lord in the last 40 days:
- Nicholas - Terry Murray -Milorad Pavlovic
- Demetra Morakis - Emilia Teodoreanu - Olga Papayoti
Kindly let us know of anyone else that should be on this list.
Nativity Lent
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
8:00AM Royal Hours of Nativity
6:00PM Vesperal Liturgy
8:30AM Orthros and Divine Liturgy
8:00AM Orthros and Divine Liturgy
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
8:30AM Orthros
9:30AM Divine Liturgy
11:00AM Coffee Hour - Potluck
12:15PM Explore Orthodoxy Class
6:00PM Vespers & Lity
8:00AM Orthros and Divine Liturgy
5:00PM Feed the Hungry - packing lunch bags for UGM
8:00AM Royal Hours of Theophany
11:00AM Homeschool Co-op
4:00PM Confession
5:00PM Great Vespers
8:30AM Orthros
9:30AM Divine Liturgy
10:45AM Sunday School
11:00AM Coffee Hour - Potluck
12:15PM Explore Orthodoxy Class
6:00PM Vespre and Lity
5:00AM Orthros and Divine Liturgy