Scripture Lesson for this week Nativity – Tone 3
Epistle: Gal 4:4-7 Gospel: Matt 2:1-12
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
- No Coffee Hour: There will be no Coffee Hour today after Liturgy.
- New Years Services: There will be no special new year service, only our normal Sunday Divine Liturgy at 10am.
- Weekly Envelopes: You may pick up your new Church envelopes today. Please see the printed list that has your name with a number next to it. That number next to your name is the number on the box that holds your envelopes.
- Church Calenders: Please feel free to take home a Church calendar for the new year!
Thoughts on the Nativity from the Church Fathers
If the Word has been made man, it is so that men may be made gods. —St. Irenaeus
The Christmas tree reminds us of the tree of knowledge as well as the tree of life, but especially the latter. It underlines clearly the truth that Christ is the tree of life and that we cannot live or fulfill the purpose of our existence unless we taste of this tree, "the producer of this life." —Met. Hierotheos Vlachos
O Lord, give us leave this day to celebrate Your true birthday, of which our annual festival puts us in mind. This day is like Yourself: it is the friend of man. Year by year it returns throughout the centuries, growing old with the aged, renewing itself with the newborn child. Year by year it comes to us, passes, and then returns, full of the old magic. —St. Ephrem the Syrian
The Ancient of Days is become a Child, to make us children of God. From glory in the Heavens, because of His love for mankind, He now lies in a manger. He has taken on my body, so that I am made capable to have within myself His Spirit. He has taken unto Himself my nature, being garbed in my body, and gives me His Spirit, so that I, giving and in turn receiving, might discover the treasure of life. —St. Gregory, Wonderworker of Neo-Ceasarea
He who is God by nature converses with those whom he has made gods by grace, as a friend converses with his friends, face to face. —St. Symeon the New Theologian
The child in that distant Bethlehem cave has no desire that we fear him; he enters our hearts not by frightening us, by proving his power and authority, but by love alone. He is given to us as a child, and only as children can we in turn love him and give ourselves to him. The world is ruled by authority and power, by fear and domination. The child God liberates us from that. All he desires from us is our love, freely given and joyful; all he desires is that we give him our heart. And we give it to a defenseless, endlessly trusting child. —Fr. Alexander Schmemann
On this great day now celebrated, of shattered chains, of Satan shamed, of all demons put to flight, the all-destroying death is replaced by life, paradise is opened to the thief, curses be transformed into blessings, all sins forgiven and evil banished, truth is come, and they have proclaimed tidings filled with reverence and love for God, traits pure and immaculate are implanted, virtue is exalted upon the earth, angels have greeted people, and people make bold to converse with angels. From where and why has all this happened? From this, that God has descended into the world and exalted mankind unto Heaven. —St. Gregory Thaumatourgos
SUNDAY, December 1st, 2011
Popadia Toni: Health of Martha and for a speedy recovery after a fall.
Health of family and parishioners. Memory of Nancy Boville's mother – 40
days.
Mary Perch: Christmas Donation
Donna Kimevski: Health of family for Christmas.
Carol & George Karakis: Health of Olga Perch, Martha and a speedy recovery,
Matushka Kobbs. Memory of Nancy Boville's mom & son & our family who
passed.
Alex & Raisa Minev: Memory of Rosa Karataeva.
Nicholas Kostoff: Health of parents Chris & Sophia Kostoff.
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