Announcements
+ Last updated on Dec 5, 2009 +
  • Merry Christmas and Happy New year! May the Lord bless us with good tidings so we will have a prosperous upcoming New Year. Our Christmas Eve Liturgy went very well; we had a good attendance and a beautiful party. Santa came, and the children had a wonderful time.
  • Thanks to all who helped at the Christmas Sunday school play rehearsals. We had the play after Christmas Liturgy, and it was wonderful to see the children act, wearing their costumes. Remember what the children told us during the play, “Jesus is the reason for the season.” Please keep that in mind in this busy world we live in and why we came into existence.
  • Please read the article about Theophany. It is self explanatory. We need not remind you how important it is to attend Liturgy that day. Our Holy Theophany Liturgy will be on January 10th even though it is celebrated on January 6th. If anyone would like a house blessing, please call Fr. Mark or Fr. Liviu.
  • Bible study will take place on January 31. Please remember Father Mark takes plenty of time each bible study so parishioners can acquire a better understanding about the Old and New Testament. Sometimes he feels he is wasting people’s time because no one asks him questions during the session. Please feel free to ask questions. Don’t be shy; we are all one family at St. Michael and trying to learn more about God. Next Bible Study we will discuss St. Luke.

Pre-Lent begins February 8th Last day to consume meat, Feb. 7th (Meat Fare Sunday) Great Lent begins February 15th and ends April 3rd.

Calendar
January - February and March 2010


January 3
Sunday before Epiphany and after
Nativity of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

Wednesday, January 6
Feast of the Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

January 10
The Leave taking of the Feast of Epiphany

January 17
Commemoration of St. Gregory the Theologian

January 24
Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee

January 31
Sunday of the Prodigal Son
the Sunday before the Presentation of Our Lord into the Temple

Tuesday, February 2
Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

February 7
Sunday of the Meat Fare
Sunday after the Presentation of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

February 14
Sunday of Cheese Fare

February 21
First Sunday of Lent
Sunday of the Orthodoxy

February 28
Second Sunday of Lent
Commemoration of St Gregory Palamas, Bishop of Thessalonica

March 7
Third Sunday of Lent
The Adoration of the Holy Cross

March 14
Fourth Sunday of Lent
Commemoration of St. John the Ladder

March 21
Fifth Sunday of Lent
Commemoration of St. Mary of Egypt



FEAST OF THE THEOPHANY

The Feast of the Theophany ("Manifestation of God") takes its name from the event of the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ in which the fullness of the Holy Trinity is revealed. At the moment of the baptism the Father's voice is heard, calling Jesus his "Beloved Son" and the Holy Spirit is seen descending on Him in the form of a dove. The doctrine of the Holy Trinity - Three Persons in One God - is thus proclaimed to all! This teaching is fundamental to the Orthodox Christian faith: our faith is based on the truth of who God is - any other concept of God is mistaken as it takes people away from who He really is.

Doctrine in the Orthodox Church is not abstract: it is a lived reality and basic to our spirituality, our way - the true way - of relating to God as a Church and as individuals. Our lives as Christians are an internalization and a manifestation of the Holy Trinity who dwells within us: the Person of the Holy Spirit sanctifies us and brings us into the life of the Person of the Son, Jesus Christ. In turn, Christ brings us into the Person of the Father. That is why we pray in the power of the Holy Spirit in the name of the Son to the heavenly Father. That is why the Holy Mysteries (sacraments) of the Church are nothing less than the life of the Holy Spirit being poured into our lives by the Father in the name of his Beloved Son.

The baptismal rite performed by Saint John the Baptist, in which the Holy Trinity is revealed, prefigures the later Christian mystery of Baptism in which each individual is brought into the life of the Trinity. Just as our Lord began his ministry among men with his baptism, so we begin our lives as Christians with Baptism. The baptism performed by Saint John was a rite of repentance: our Baptism is an act of repentance which turns us away from sin to the life of God's grace and holiness.

May our participation in the Sanctification of the Waters, done during the Liturgy of the Feast of the Theophany, be for all of us a renewal of our life in the Trinity and a commitment on our part to dedicate ourselves to our Lord Jesus Christ, who saves us a draws all men to Himself!

-His Eminence Archbishop Lorenzo



Sunday, January 3, 2010
Sunday before the Theophany

  • Troparion of the Resurrection, Tone 5

Let us believers praise and worship the Word, coeternal with the Father and the Spirit, born of the Virgin for our salvation; for he took pleasure in ascending the Cross in the flesh to suffer death and to raise the dead by his glorious Resurrection.

  • Troparion of the Sunday before Epiphany, Tone 4

Make ready, O Zebulon, and prepare, O Nephtali, and thou, River Jordan, cease thy flow and receive with joy the Master coming to be baptized. And thou, Adam, rejoice with the first Mother, and hide not yourselves as ye did of old in paradise; for having seen you naked, he appeared to clothe you with the first robe. Yea, Christ hath appeared desiring to renew the whole creation.

  • Troparion of St Michael, Tone 4

O Commanders of the Heavenly Hosts, we the unworthy beseech you, that through your entreaties you will fortify us, guarding us in the shelter of the wings of your ethereal glory, even as we fervently bow before You, crying: " Deliver us from all danger as commanders of the powers on high."

  • Kontakion for the Sunday before Epiphany, Tone 4

Today the Lord appeared in the courses of the Jordan, crying to John and saying, “Be not dismayed at my baptism; for I have verily come to save Adam the first to be created.”

Epistle: II Timothy 4:5-8
Gospel: Mark 1:1-8



Sunday, January 10, 2010
Sunday Sunday after Epiphany

The Leave taking of the Feast of Epiphany


  • Troparion of the Resurrection, Tone 6
When Mary stood at thy grave, looking for the sacred Body, angelic powers shone above thy revered tomb; and the soldiers who were to keep guard became as dead men. Thou led hades captive and wast not tempted there by. Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst give life to the world. O thou who art risen from the dead, O Lord, glory to thee.

  • Troparion of the Epiphany, Tone 1
Lord when you were baptized in the Jordan, the veneration of the Trinity was revealed; for the voice of the Father gave witness to You, calling You Beloved, and the Spirit in the form of the dove confirmed the certainty of His words. Glory to you Christ our God. Who appeared and enlightened the world.

  • Troparion of St.Gregory, Tone 4
Thy righteous acts have manifested thee to thy flock as a model of faith, a reflection of humility, and a teacher of abstinence, O Father Bishop Gregory. Therefore, through humility thou hast achieved exaltation, and through poverty, riches. Intercede thou with Christ God to save our souls.

  • Troparion of St. Michael, Tone 4
O Commanders of the Heavenly Hosts, we the unworthy beseech you, that through your entreaties you will fortify us, guarding us in the shelter of the wings of your ethereal glory, even as we fervently bow before You, crying: " Deliver us from all danger as commanders of the powers on high."

  • Kontakion of the Epiphany, Tone 4
Today thou hast appeared to the universe, O Lord; and thy light hath been signed upon us, who praise thee with knowledge saying: Thou hast come and appeared O unapproachable Light.


Epistle: Ephesians 4: 7-13
Gospel: Matthew 4: 12-17


Sunday, January 17, 2010
Commemoration of St. Gregory the Theologian


  • Troparion of the Resurrection, Tone 7
Thou didst shatter death by thy Cross, thou didst open Paradise to the thief; thou didst turn the sadness of the ointment bearing women into joy, and didst bid thine apostles proclaim a warning that thou hadst risen, O Christ, granting to the world the great mercy.

  • Troparion of St. Anthony, Tone 4
Thou didst become like the zealous Elijah…

  • Troparion of St. Michael, Tone 4
O Commanders of the Heavenly Hosts, we the unworthy beseech you, that through your entreaties you will fortify us, guarding us in the shelter of the wings of your ethereal glory, even as we fervently bow before You, crying: " Deliver us from all danger as commanders of the powers on high."

  • Kontakion of the Presentation, Tone 1
Thou O Christ God, who by Thy Birth, didst sanctify the Virgin’s womb, and as is meet, didst bless Simeon’s arms, and didst also come to save us; preserve Thy fold in wars, and confirm them whom Thou didst love, for Thou alone art the Lover of mankind.

Epistle: Heb. 13:17-21
Gospel: Luke 19:1-10




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and we are hoping to see you this Sunday!

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