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The Grace of God has
Appeared to All

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Everyone who was here last weekend witnessed a wondrous and archetypal outpouring of God’s grace.  When Metropolitan Hilarion laid hands on Father Christopher, he carried on the same timeless activity that is part of the grace of God rained down on our heavenly patrons, the Holy Apostles.  The Lord said to them after His resurrection, “Receive ye the Holy Spirit.”  The Metropolitan called down that same Holy Spirit on Father Christopher.  This grace was called down on us as well.  It’s the same grace that comes down on the Holy Gifts so that we can eat and drink of His Body and Blood.
We pray with the ordination service that all things be brought to perfection.  We envision perfection, which vision is a gift of God to help show us the way forward in the Lord.  He has granted that Father Christopher be made a helper, a great helper, on that way.
Whenever we pray “O Heavenly King” in our prayers, we pray for Him in His Holy Spirit to fill all things.  While we have fulfillment of that prayer all the time when we open our eyes to see it, what happened last week and unfolds daily and hourly as a result makes fierily clear that “God is with us”, as says the prophet.  From the ground of our hearts, we thank Him and bless Him; we worship Him.

Father George

Schedule of Services and
Events from 12/1/2011 through 1/8/2012

 11/28 Monday the Nativity Fast began

12/1 – Thursday 7-9 PM – Choir Rehearsal – Preparing for the Metropolitan’s visit and the Ordinations

12/2 – Friday 6:30 PM – Vespers, Matins & 1st Hour
12/3 – Saturday 8:30 AM
– Hours & Hierarchical Divine Liturgy & Ordination to the
Priesthood of Father Deacon Christopher, with Ordination to the
Deaconate of Monk Damaskinos – Fore-Feast of the Entry of the Theotokos
into the Temple – Venerable Gregory of Decapolis – Following
the service, all are invited to the Rectory for a Reception for
Metropolitan Hilarion and the newly-ordained Father Christopher until 3
PM

12/3 – Saturday 5 PM Evening Vigil – We sing “Christ is born” in this service and continue through Nativity
12/4 – Sunday 9:40 AM
Hours & Divine Liturgy – 25th Sunday after Pentecost – The Entry of
the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple – One of the 12 Great Feasts of
the Church – After the agape meal and Sunday School, weather permitting, a prayer service will be held at the St. Joseph’s Chapel

12/5 – Monday 7 PM Parish Council

12/7 – Wednesday 7 PM – Prayer Service to the Holy Great Martyr Katherine with petitions on behalf of the parish and the sick

12/8 – Thursday 7-9 PM – Choir Rehearsal – Choir members needed!  Rehearsals are required, so if you can sing this is an opportunity for you!

12/9 – Friday 7 PM – St Joseph’s Young Adults at the Rectory

12/10 – Saturday 5 PM Evening Vigil
12/11 – Sunday 9:40 AM Hours & Divine Liturgy – 26th Sunday after Pentecost – Holy Martyr Monk Stephen the New - After the agape meal and Sunday School, weather permitting, a prayer service will be held at the St. Joseph’s Chapel

12/11 – Sunday 6 PM
– “Orthodox Spirituality and the Heart” – a talk by Constantine Zalalas
at the church.  Donations for the benefit of the parish and its
building fund

12/14– Wednesday 7 PM – Prayer Service with the Akathist of St. Romanos to the Mother of God of Iveron on behalf of the parish and the sick – followed by discussion on a spiritual topic

12/15 – Thursday 7-9 PM – Choir Rehearsal – Choir members needed!  Rehearsals are required, so if you can sing this is an opportunity for you!

12/17 – Saturday 5 PM Evening Vigil
12/18 – Sunday 9:40 AM Hours & Divine Liturgy – 27th Sunday after Pentecost – Holy Venerable Sabbas the Sanctified

12/18 – Sunday 6:3o PM Evening Vigil
12/19 – Monday 8:40 AM Hours & Divine Liturgy – St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia

12/21 – Wednesday 7 PM – Prayer Service with the Akathist of St. Romanos to the Mother of God of Iveron on behalf of the parish and the sick – followed by discussion on a spiritual topic

12/22 – Thursday 7-9 PM – Choir Rehearsal – Choir members needed!  Rehearsals are required, so if you can sing this is an opportunity for you!

12/24 – Saturday 5 PM Evening Vigil
12/25 – Sunday 9:40 AM
Hours & Divine Liturgy – 28th Sunday after Pentecost – Sunday of
the Holy Forefathers – Our Venerable Father Herman Wonderworker of
Alaska – Parish Pledge forms for 2012 due today!

12/28 – Wednesday 7 PM – Prayer Service with the Akathist of St. Romanos to the Mother of God of Iveron on behalf of the parish and the sick – followed by discussion on a spiritual topic

12/29 – Thursday 7 PM – Choir Rehearsal – Choir members needed!  Rehearsals are required, so if you can sing this is an opportunity for you!

12/31 – Saturday 5 PM Evening Vigil
1/1 – Sunday 9:40 AM Hours & Divine Liturgy – 29th Sunday after Pentecost – Sunday of the Holy Fathers – After the agape meal and Sunday School, weather permitting, a prayer service will be held at the St. Joseph’s Chapel

1/6 – Friday 9:00 AM – Royal Hours, Vespers & Divine Liturgy of St. Basil, the Eve of the Nativity of Christ

1/6 – Friday 6:30 PM – Evening Vigil
1/7 – Saturday 9:40 AM
– Hours & Divine Liturgy, the Nativity according to the flesh of
our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ – One of the twelve great feasts
of the Church – The Nativity Fast ends
today – Potluck parish meal at the church – please indicate your
contribution on the sign-up sheet in the kitchen, or talk to Maria
Petrenko about the needs

1/7 – Saturday 5 PM – Evening Vigil
1/8 – Sunday 9:40 AM
Hours & Divine Liturgy – 30th Sunday after Pentecost – Sunday After
Nativity – The Holy Kinsmen of Christ, Joseph the Betrothed, David the
King, and James the Lord’s Brother

1/8 – Sunday 6 PM – Singing of Christmas Carols at the Rectory with potluck of Ethnic Appetizers