Saturdays: Vespers: 5:00 pm
Sundays: Matins: 9:00 am
Divine Liturgy: 10:15 am
Feastdays: If Scheduled: 6:30 pm
Prokeimenon. 4th Tone. Psalm 67.35,26.
God is wonderful among his saints.
Verse: Bless God in the congregations.
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 3:23-29; 4:1-5.
BRETHREN, before faith came, we were confined under the law, kept under restraint until faith should be revealed. So that the law was our custodian until Christ came, that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a custodian; for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no better than a slave, though he is the owner of all the estate; but he is under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father. So with us; when we were children, we were slaves to the elemental spirits of the universe. But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
10th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 13:10-17
At that time, Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her and said to her, "Woman, you are freed from your infirmity." And he laid his hands upon her, and immediately she was made straight, and she praised God. But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the sabbath, said to the people, "There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be healed, and not on the sabbath day." Then the Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?" As he said this, all his adversaries were put to shame; and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.
HOLY OBLATION
THE HOLY BREAD IS OFFERED for the health of Daniel Richard, Nikolas, Angela, Marie, Anna, Richard and Regina, Bishop David, Ashley and Michelle, Carl, Michael, Cassie, Kyra, Peter, Seth and Denise, the Mahaffey, Bojrab, Meterko, Massad, Fliotsos, Lezinsky and Thomas Families. For our Godchildren Victoria, Joseph, Arianna, Quinn and our nieces Caitrin, Brooke & Emilia.
IN MEMORY of those who have fallen asleep in the hope of resurrection to life. For the souls of the departed servants of God, Matushka Karen, Isaac, Sub Deacon Nicholas, Susan, Michael, Sara, David, Phillip, Alice, Gabriel, Julie Ann, Father George.
BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES
December Birthdays
2 Rula, 10 Miliinda, 13 Ramzi, 14 George M, 16 Nikolas, 17 Michele, 21 Elizabeth B, 22 John D, 3 Tony, 25 Cammille C, 30 Paul B
December Wedding Anniversaries
21 Alex & LaVerne
May God grant you many years!
Advent
Baklava Baking
9:00AM Matins
10:15AM Divine Liturgy
Hall reserved
Chicago Bus Tour
4:30PM Confession
5:00PM Great Vespers
9:00AM Matins
10:15AM Divine Liturgy
6:30PM Dinner with Bp. Anthony
7:00PM Parish Council Meeting
4:30PM Confession
5:00PM Great Vespers
9:00AM Matins
10:15AM Divine Liturgy
3:00PM Christmas Caroling
ANNOUNCEMENTS
2016 Christmas Services
Friday, Dec. 23: 9 am Royal Hours for the Prefeast of the Nativity of Christ
Saturday, Dec. 24: 9 am Great Vespers & 7 pm Matins & Divine Liturgy for Nativity Feast
NO SERVICES SUNDAY, DEC. 25th
Chicago Bus Trip on Dec 10
The annual Chicago bus trip is Saturday, December 10, 2016 will be leaving St. John's at 7 AM and will be returning around 11 PM (leaving Chicago 6:30pm Central standard time). The cost is $55 per person includes transportation, light breakfast, and appetizers and beverages on the way back. Deadline is November 28, 2016. Please make checks payable to St. John Chrysostom. Please see Andre or Ashley for questions.
Parish Dinner with Bishop Anthony; Monday, Dec. 12
His Grace Bishop Anthony will be joining our entire parish for dinner on Monday, Dec. 12th. The dinner will be served at 6:30, and is free-of-charge. There will be a Lenten Menu, and with His Grace's Blessing, there will also be meat served for those who are not able to participate in the fast due to health/age reasons. We hope to see everyone there.
Nativity Fast began on Nov. 15th
The Nativity fast is our preparation for the Incarnation of Christ on December 25th. It will help us prepare our bodies and souls for the coming of Christ in the flesh. The general guidelines for the fast are as follows:
The Nativity Fast runs from November 15 until after Liturgy for Nativity and traditionally entails fasting from red meat, poultry, meat products, eggs, dairy products, fish, oil, and wine. Fish, wine and oil are allowed on Saturdays and Sundays, and oil and wine are allowed on Tuesdays and Thursdays. As is always the case with Orthodox fasting rules, persons who are ill, the very young or elderly, and nursing mothers are exempt from fasting. Each individual is expected to confer with their spiritual father regarding any exemptions from the fasting rules, and should never place themselves in physical danger.
Stewardship Pledging for 2017 Underway
"You must not think of charity & stewardship as an expense. It is not an outlay of money, but it is a profitable business. For you get back more than you give. You give bread and get back eternal life. You give a coat and get back a garment of immortality. You give your house to be shared, and you receive back a heavenly Kingdom.”
- St. John Chrysostom
Sunday, November 20th was supposed to be the end of our 2017 Stewardship Drive. However, many families have not returned their pledge cards. Therefore, we are going to extend the date for the return of pledge cards until Sunday, December 4. We have the potential for 50 pledges if every family/member returns a pledge card. As of Sunday, November 20th about half of our parishioners have returned their pledges. Thank you! If you need a pledge card, see Don. Please make every effort to return your pledge card by December 4th.
Bulletin info due by Monday, 11:59 pm to stjohnfortwaynebulletin at yahoo dot com.
PASTOR'S CORNER
The Advent Period in Home Life
What is the meaning of the feast of the Nativity of Our Lord in our family life? How can we live through the preparatory period of Advent as a Christian family? Can this meaning be truly and naturally, unpretentiously, embodied in the experience of a family, a home with children, teenagers, adults and old people?
1. Place an Icon of the Nativity of Christ in a special place in your home. Use it with your children to talk about the Nativity Story and each individual or important item in the icon. For information about the Nativity, go to http://www.antiochian.org/nativity
2. Set up a Nativity scene with your children to keep in their room or the family room. Have a family member tell the Nativity story as the Scene is assembled.
3. Use the Troparion and Kontakion as part of your family’s mealtime and bedtime prayers on Christmas Day, and for the eight days following the feast (the Afterfeast).
Troparion: Thy nativity, O Christ our God, has caused the light of knowledge to shine upon the world. For therein the worshippers of the stars were by a star instructed to worship Thee, the very Sun of Righteousness, and to know Thee, the Orient from on high. O Lord, Glory to Thee.
Kontakion: On this day the Virgin gives birth to the Transcendent One, and the earth offers a cave to the Unapproachable One! Angels with shepherds glorify Him! The wise men journey with a star! Since for our sake the Eternal God was born as a Little Child!
4. Read the Nativity Gospel: Luke 2:1-20. Very young children may enjoy a children's version of the Nativity story from a Bible Storybook. With younger children, it is best to read the story several times during the week. Consider using the Nativity scene figures to retell the story.
5. Attend the services for Christmas. The Royal Hours will be served on Friday, Dec. 23rd at 9 am. Vespers for the Nativity will be served Saturday morning, Dec. 24th, at 9 am. Festal Matins and Divine Liturgy for the Nativity will be celebrated Saturday, Dec. 24th at 7 pm. This will keep the focus of this Holy Day on Christ’s birth and its importance in our life and salvation. Be proactive when making choices.
6. Visit a shut-in parishioner or friend. Plan ahead so you can bring Antidoron, the Blessed Bread from the Christmas Liturgy and a Church Bulletin, plus a homemade gift to share along with your Christmas greeting:
Christ is Born! Glorify Him!