HOLY OBLATION

THE HOLY BREAD IS OFFERED is provided by Sandra and Joe and the coffee hour is hosted by Connie and Don.  These gifts are offered in thankful response to God's many blessings to the Cockrell family and the Schenkenberger, Suh, McColl, Boss, Roza and Archinal families; for the good health of Father Michael and family, Elizabeth, Betty, Fred, Connie, Don and the members of St. John Chrysostom Orthodox Church; and for all the Christians suffering in war zones throughout the world.

BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES

January Birthdays
1 Dima, 3 David I, 8 Anees, 14 Julia C, Dosity, Jozefa, 17 Mark D, 18 Marie B, 27 George D. B., 31 Laudia

January Wedding Anniversaries
2 Alex & Michele, 26 Daniel & Jozefa

May God grant you many years!

 ANNOUNCEMENTS

Archpastoral Visit of Bishop Anthony to Fort Wayne

Tuesday, February 7^th, 6 pm:  "Youth Night with Sayedna Anthony":  All of church school children and teens are invited to share an evening with Bishop Anthony.  Pizza, salad, and other refreshments will be provided. 

Wednesday, February 8^th, 6 pm:  Evening Divine Liturgy, presided over by Bishop Anthony. Parish dinner to follow in the fellowship hall.

Home Blessing Season

Home blessing season has begun.  There is a sign-up sheet in the fellowship hall.  Please sign up, and I will contact you in order of sign-up to schedule the house blessing. I encourage the entire parish to make time to have their home blessed, so that the grace of Christ and the blessing of the Church can accompany you all the days of the next year in your homes. Home blessing season ends at the start of Lent (Feb. 27).

"Souper Bowl of Caring Sunday" - February 5th

Next Sunday is our annual "Souper Bowl of Caring" event.  On this day, our entire parish community is asked to remember the Lord's commandment to feed the hungry.  I am asking two small things from each family:

1.)  On Sunday, Feb. 5th, please bring a bag of canned goods for our food pantry.

2.)  Following liturgy that day, our Teen SOYO youth will be asking for your donations, all of which will be used to support the work of local charities such as the Franciscan House, and the Community Harvest Food Bank.

May the Lord bless you for following the teaching of helping our neighbor.

New Parish Council Members to Be Sworn In Today

Following the Liturgy, please remain in the church for the swearing-in of our new parish council officers & members.  May God bless their ministry to the church.

Antiochian Women Education Grants

The Antiochian Women of the Archdiocese are offering $500 grants to women who seek to return to their education and training.  The requirements are:

Be a female, 26 years of age or older

Be a member in Good Standing of their Antiochian parish

Be actively involved in the worship, service, and social life of her parish

Be applying for, or registered in, an academic or trade study program

Demonstrate financial need

Applications can be found on www.antiochian.org, or speak with Fr. Michael.

Bulletin info due by Monday, 11:59 pm to stjohnfortwaynebulletin at yahoo dot com. 

PASTOR'S CORNER

 The Meeting of the Lord

On February 2nd, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Meeting of the Lord in the Temple. (We will hold the service on Feb. 1 at 6:30 pm.)  Forty days after Christ was born he was presented to God in the Jerusalem Temple according to the Mosaic Law. At this time as well his mother Mary underwent the ritual purification and offered the sacrifices as prescribed in the Law. Thus, forty days after Christmas, on the second of February, the Church celebrates the feast of the presentation called the Meeting (or Presentation or Reception) of the Lord.

The meeting of Christ by the elder Simeon and the prophetess Anna is the main event of the feast of Christ’s presentation in the Temple. It was “revealed to Simeon by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ” and, inspired by the same Spirit, he came to the Temple where he met the new-born Messiah, took him in his arms and said the words which are now chanted each evening at the end of the Orthodox Vesper service:

    "Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word; for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation which Thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for the revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Thy people Israel."  (Lk 2:29-32)

At this time as well Simeon predicted that Jesus would be the “sign which is spoken against” and that he would cause “the fall and the rising of many in Israel.” He also foretold Mary’s sufferings because of her son (Luke 22:34-35). Anna also was present and, giving thanks to God “she spoke of Jesus to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem” (Lk 2:38).

In the service of the feast of the Meeting of the Lord, the fact emphasized is that Christ, the Son and Word of God through whom the world was created, now is held as an infant in Simeon’s hands; this same Son of God, the Giver of the Law, now himself fulfills the Law, carried in arms as a human child.

    "Receive him, O Simeon, whom Moses on Mount Sinai beheld in the darkness as the Giver of the Law. Receive him as a babe now obeying the Law. For he it is of whom the Law and the Prophets have spoken, incarnate for our sake and saving mankind. Come let us adore him!"

    "Let the door of heaven open today, for the Eternal Word of the Father, without giving up his divinity, has been incarnate of the Virgin in time. And as a babe of forty days he is voluntarily brought by his mother to the Temple, according to the Law. And the elder Simeon takes him in his arms and cries out:  Lord now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, O Lord, who has come to save the human race—glory to Thee!" 

  (Vesper Verses of the Feast)

The celebration of the Meeting of the Lord in the Church is not merely an historical commemoration. Inspired by the same Holy Spirit as Simeon, and led by the same Spirit into the Church of the Messiah, the members of the Church also can claim their own “meeting” with the Lord, and so also can witness that they too can “depart in peace” since their eyes have seen the salvation of God in the person of his Christ.

    "Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, Full of Grace!  From you shone the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, enlightening those who sat in darkness!  Rejoice and be glad, O righteous elder;  you accepted in your arms the Redeemer of our souls who grants us the resurrection."

(Troparion)

    "By Thy nativity, Thou didst sanctify the Virgin’s womb. And didst bless Simeon’s hands, O Christ our God.  Now Thou hast come and saved us through love.  Grant peace to all Orthodox Christians, O only Lover of man."     (Kontakion)