Orthros - Sunday 8:450am
Divine Liturgy- Sunday 10:00am
On the Sunday that occurs on or immediately after the eighteenth of this month, we celebrate all those who from ages past have been well-pleasing to God, beginning from Adam even unto Joseph the Betrothed of the Most Holy Theotokos, according to genealogy, as the Evangelist Luke hath recorded historically (Luke 3:23-38); we also commemorate the Prophets and Prophetesses, and especially the Prophet Daniel and the Holy Three Children.
These Saints, who were all from Crete, contested for piety's sake during the reign of Decius, in the year 250. Theodulus, Saturninus, Euporus, Gelasius, and Eunician were from Gortynia, the capital; Zoticus was from Knossos; Agathopus, from the port city of Panormus; Basilides, from Cydonia; Evarestus and Pompey, from Heraklion. Haled before the Governor as Christians, they were subjected to torments for thirty days, being scourged, racked, dragged upon the ground through dung heaps, stoned, spit upon. They were questioned again, but their costancy roused the Governor to greater fury. After subjecting them to torments more bitter still, he had them beheaded.
Eighth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 20:11-18
At that time, Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him." Saying this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?" Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, "Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, "Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God." Mary Magdalene went and said to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and she told them that He had said these things to her.
Prokeimenon. 4th Tone. Daniel 3.26,27.
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
Verse: For you are just in all you have done.
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 11:9-10; 32-40.
BRETHREN, by faith Abraham sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city which has foundation, whose builder and maker is God.
And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets - who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated - of whom the world was not worthy - wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us,that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
Sunday before Nativity
The Reading is from Matthew 1:1-25
The book of the Genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Aram, and Aram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king.
And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asa, and Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amon, and Amon the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.
And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Salathiel, and Salathiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.
So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.
Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel" (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife, but knew her not until she had borne a son; and he called his name Jesus.
Dear Parishioners of our Beloved Assumption,
There is never a more profound sense of joy in this world than when a family welcomes a new child. The feeling of rebirth and awe is almost indescribable. This new life that parents seem to profoundly know, even from the womb, changes us right to the core. All of a sudden the whole world around us seems “different.”
One would think that the extreme pain of childbirth would result in a whole lot of one-child families, but the pain is virtually forgotten to the new mom who now holds a new precious life. In fact, this is stated expressly by Christ in the Gospel according to St. John (16:21):
“A woman in childbirth suffers, because her time has come; but when she has given birth to the child she forgets the suffering in her joy that a human being has been born into the world.” (Christ is referring to the Joy and Peace that He has brought into the world that He will fulfil at His return.)
If we are so overjoyed by the birth of a new child, a creature brought into the world, how much more joy does the “birth” of the Creator bring to us? Our perception of the world changes with the birth of a child, but it is not the perception of the world, but, the world itself that changes with the birth of our Lord into it. He is the cornerstone that our salvation is built upon; the bedrock foundation on which we have built our entire lives upon; not only the reason for the season, but the Way, the Truth and the Life.
This humble birth in a small suburb of Jerusalem over 2,000 years ago was, is and forever shall be the greatest “Christmas Gift” ever given or received!!!
Wishing you a Blessed Nativity of the Lord,
I remain in His Service,
Rev. Father Jon Boukis
Proistamenos
“Attract, Serve, Illuminate”
If you would like to donate a poinsettia to adorn the Church during the Christmas Season, please see the flyer in the Beacon or the Sunday Bulletin (at the Candle Stand) and contact the Church Office with your offering.
On Saturday, January 12, 2018, the Waters of the Ohio River will be sanctified through the Prayers of our Orthodox Faithful and by the submerging of the Holy Cross in the River. In this way, we sanctify the water of our community and everywhere that it runs.
Come to the Captain’s Quarters in Prospect, KY, and witness your faith to the whole world.
The Blessing will take place at 11:00 a.m. with a reception to follow. Bring your family, friends and neighbors to participate in this once a year Epiphany Celebration so that as His Blessings are given to us that through us they may be given to the whole world.
On Sunday, January 13, 2019, the Blessed Vasilopita will be cut and distributed to the ministries of our Church and Parish. Through our faith, and the actions born of it, we ask for the Blessings of the Lord upon all of our ministries that do His divine will.
Following the Vasilopita celebration, the Philoptochos members will give the Parish the opportunity to display faith and generosity as Vasilopita is auctioned to aid their philanthropic activities. Our Philoptochos Chapter truly works to aid those who are in need. Let us come and support them as they do His work.
Glendi 2019 will be held on Friday, February 8th at The Olmsted. The theme for this year is 'Flavors of Modern Greece'. The Glendi committee is in need of unique items to be auctioned in the silent auction. The silent auction is a major fundraiser for our parish. If you have an item that you would like to donate, please complete the form found outside of the church office and return it and the items to either Souha Nassar, Angela Pecha, Dana Schenk or Joanna Caneris. Thank you for your support!
Looking for a last minute Christmas gift? Raffle tickets to win one week (2/19 - 2/20) at "Villa by the Sea", a four bedroom condo on the beach in Blue Mountain Beach located on infamous 30a are now for sale. The price for each ticket is $100 and only 100 tickets will be sold. Drawing will be held on February 8th at the Glendi. Need NOT be present to win. Please see Dana Schenk or go to www.glendi.us if you would like to buy a ticket for yourself or someone special. Hurry, they are going fast!
Bible Study is an opportunity for us to apply the Scriptures to our everyday lives. The Bible is the “Good News” that enriches our faith and deepens our understanding of every issue that we face. This can only be done through obtaining the mind of the Holy Fathers. Let the scripture come alive in your life today!!!
The Wednesday Orthodox Bible Study will meet on Wednesday Evenings from 6:00pm-7:30pm (please check calendar to verify times) starting September 12th. The Sunday Orthodox Bible Study will meet after Divine Liturgy from 12:00 noon-1:00pm (please check calendar to verify times) to study St. Paul's 2nd Letter to the Corinthians. Make a commitment to learning His Word!
Kroger has partnered with the Assumption to provide flowers for us to take out to those who are homebound, in assisted living facility or hospitals.
Please bring any empty vases that you may have accumulated and don’t know what to do with—we will put them to good use!!!
Are you already Kroger shopper?
Your current shopping could be benefitting the Assumption!
Kroger Community Rewards® makes fund-raising easy...all you have to do is shop at Kroger and swipe your Plus Card!
______________________________________________________
TO USE THE KROGER COMMUNITY REWARDS PROGRAM:
· Go to www.krogercommunityrewards.com and register your Kroger Plus Card (if you are already registered, click “Sign In” instead of “Create an Account.”)
· Sign up for a Kroger Rewards Account by entering zip code, clicking on favorite store, entering your email address and creating a password, agreeing to the terms and conditions
· You will then get a message to check your email inbox and click on the link within the body of the email.
· Click on My Account and use your email address and password to proceed to the next step.
· Click on Edit Kroger Community Rewards information and input your Kroger Plus card number. If you use your phone number at the register instead of a card, call 800-576-4377, select option 4 to get your Kroger Plus card number.
· Update or confirm your information.
· Enter “Assumption” or our NPO number of AT066 and select us from the list and click on confirm.
· If enrollment is complete, you will see Assumption’s name on the right side of your information page.
· That’s it!!! Use your registered Kroger Plus card or phone number at the register and our parish benefits!!!
By registering online, coupons can be electronically attached to your Plus Card. Not only do you help the Church, but you save money. Talk to everyone you know about registering to benefit our parish!!!
8:45AM Orthros
10:00AM Divine Liturgy
11:15AM Sunday School
11:45AM Greek School
12:00PM Orthodox Bible Study (2nd Corinthians)
5:00PM Vesperal Divine Liturgy for the Great Feast of the Nativity of the Lord
9:00AM Orthros for the Great Feast of the Nativity of the Lord
10:00AM Divine Liturgy for the Great Feast of the Nativity of the Lord
6:00PM No Orthodox Bible Study
8:45AM Orthros
10:00AM Divine Liturgy
11:15AM Sunday School
12:00PM Orthodox Bible Study (2nd Corinthians)
5:00PM Vesperal Divine Liturgy for the Feast of St. Basil the Great
6:00PM No Orthodox Bible Study
Parish Council Affirmation of Office
8:45AM Orthros
10:00AM Divine Liturgy of Theophany/Epiphany
11:30AM No Sunday School
11:45AM Greek School