This Week

13th Sunday of Luke, Nov. 24
9:00 AM: Orthros; 10:00 AM: Divine Liturgy; 12:15 PM: Philoptochos

Monday, Great-Martyr Katherine, Nov. 25
9:00 AM: Divine Liturgy

Friday, Apostle Andrew the First-Called (in anticipation), Nov. 29
6:30 PM: Divine Liturgy

14th Sunday of Luke, Dec. 1
9:00 AM: Orthros; 10:00 AM: Divine Liturgy, Sunday School

Fasting this week
Wed & Fri: Strict Fast
All Other Days: Fish Allowed

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal 2nd Mode

Angelic powers appeared at Your tomb, and those guarding it became like dead, and at Your grave Mary was standing, seeking Your most pure body. You plundered Hades, not being tempted by it; You encountered the virgin, granting life. O Lord, who rose from the dead, glory to You!

Apolytikion for Afterfeast of the Entry of the Theotokos in the 4th Mode

Today is the prelude of God's good will and the heralding of the salvation of mankind. In the temple of God, the Virgin is presented openly, and she proclaimeth Christ unto all. To her, then, with a great voice let us cry aloud: Rejoice, O thou fulfilment of the Creator's dispensation.

Seasonal Kontakion in the 4th Mode

Today, the most pure temple of the Savior, the precious bridal chamber and Virgin, the sacred treasure of God, enters the house of the Lord, bringing the grace of the Divine Spirit. The Angels of God praise her. She is the heavenly tabernacle.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal 2nd Mode. Psalm 27.9,1.
O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians 2:4-10.

Brethren, God who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with him, and made us sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God: not because of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Gospel Reading

13th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 18:18-27

At that time, a ruler came to Jesus and asked him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.' " And he said, "All these I have observed from my youth." And when Jesus heard it, he said to him, "One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." But when he heard this he became sad, for he was very rich. Jesus looking at him said, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." Those who heard it said, "Then who can be saved?" But he said, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."

Announcements & Future Events

ARCHIEPISCOPAL ENCYCLICAL FOR THANKSGIVING DAY 2019

Protocol No. 63/19

November 28, 2019, Thanksgiving Day

To the Most Reverend Hierarchs, the reverend priests and deacons, the monks and nuns, the Presidents and Members of the Parish Councils of the Greek Orthodox Communities, the distinguished Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Day, Afternoon, and Church Schools, the Philoptochos Sisterhoods, the Youth, the Hellenic Organizations, and the entire Greek Orthodox family in America

Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ,

As Orthodox Christians the act of thanksgiving is an expression of our faith that is deeply rooted in our communion with God. We come together in worship as His people to offer a public proclamation of thanksgiving to Him as our Creator and Savior. We celebrate the Holy Eucharist, the holy mystery of thanksgiving in which we receive the Body and Blood of Christ. We give thanks in remembrance of what our Lord has done for our salvation, and we give thanks for the power of His grace through the sacrament.

In our reflection on our faith and thanksgiving in commemoration of Thanksgiving Day, let us read the words of the Psalmist:

            When shall I come and behold the face of God?
            My tears have been my food day and night,
            While men say to me continually, “Where is your God?”
            These things I remember, as I pour out my soul:
            How I went with the throng,
            And led them in procession to the house of God,
            With glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving,
            A multitude keeping festival. (Psalm 42:1-4)

Today is a unique festival in this country, one that has its origins in gratitude to God for safety and freedom, as well as in the plea for divine guidance in a time of national crisis. It is also a day when we as Christians can demonstrate the importance and priority of faith in giving thanks.

As affirmed by the Psalmist, thanksgiving is an act that expresses a longing to be in the presence of God. It is an expression of all of our being—soul, heart, mind and body—that reflects a desire to worship Him and show our gratitude to Him for all that He has done for us. It is an insuppressible and uncompromised action by which we lead others to join us in the house of God to offer songs of thanksgiving!

In the words of the Psalmist, we also see that some will challenge the message of the Gospel and our faith, especially in times of trial. We also know there are many forces in our contemporary world, seeking to remove any reference to God and to faith. This leads to a limited understanding of thanksgiving, one that is void of the relationship of gratitude with the purpose of our lives, and one that is concerned only with meaningless self-gratification. In compassion and truth, we are called to be witnesses of genuine thanksgiving that is offered to the Source of our life, our purposeful existence, and our eternity.

On this blessed Thanksgiving Day, I wish all of you a joyous time of fellowship with friends and family. I give thanks to God for the many ways in which you have and will show compassion to those in need so that they too may give thanks to God. I exhort you on this day to be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, and be strong. (I Corinthians 16:13) Be witnesses of Almighty God before all, offering words of thanksgiving unto Him for His abundant blessings and promises!

With paternal love in Christ,

† ELPIDOPHOROS, Archbishop of America

Proskomide (Offerings):

Prosphora - Father Andreas

Coffee Hour - Batranac Family

Saints and Feasts

November 30

Andrew the First- Called Apostle

This Saint was from Bethsaida of Galilee; he was the son of Jonas and the brother of Peter, the chief of the Apostles. He had first been a disciple of John the Baptist; afterwards, on hearing the Baptist's witness concerning Jesus, when he pointed Him out with his finger and said, "Behold the Lamb of God, Which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1.29,36), he straightway followed Christ, and became His first disciple; wherefore he is called the First-called of the Apostles. After the Ascension of the Saviour, he preached in various lands; and having suffered many things for His Name's sake, he died in Patras of Achaia, where he was crucified on a cross in the shape of an "X," the first letter of "Christ" in Greek; this cross is also the symbol of Saint Andrew.

November 24

Peter, Archbishop of Alexandria

Saint Peter illustriously occupied the throne of Alexandria for twelve years, and, as Eusebius says, "was a divine example of a bishop on account of the excellence of his life and his study of the sacred Scriptures" (see Eusebius, Eccl. Hist., Book VII, 3 2; Book VIII 11, 13; and Book IX, 6). He excommunicated Arius for his sympathy with the Meletian schism. When Arius learned that Saint Peter had been imprisoned, he sent many priests and deacons to him, asking that he receive him back into the communion of the Church before his martyrdom. When the ambassadors of Arius, who had not, like Saint Peter, perceived the ruin he would engender, were astonished at the vehemence with which Saint Peter refused to receive Arius again, he revealed to them a dread vision he had seen, in which the Master Christ had appeared to him as a child wearing a garment torn from head to foot. When Saint Peter asked the Lord who rent His garment, the Lord answered that it was Arius, and that he must not be received back into communion. The holy hieromartyr Peter was beheaded during the reign of Maximinus in the year 312; he is called the "Seal of the Martyrs," because he was the last Bishop of Alexandria to suffer martyrdom under the pagan Emperors. His successors to the throne of Alexandria, Saints Alexander and Athanasius the Great, brought to final victory the battle against Arius' heresy which Saint Peter had begun.

November 25

Catherine the Great Martyr of Alexandria

Saint Catherine, who was from Alexandria, was the daughter of Constas (or Cestus). She was an exceedingly beautiful maiden, most chaste, and illustrious in wealth, lineage, and learning. By her steadfast understanding, she utterly vanquished the passionate and unbridled soul of Maximinus, the tyrant of Alexandria; and by her eloquence, she stopped the mouths of the so-called philosophers who had been gathered to dispute with her. She was crowned with the crown of martyrdom in the year 305. Her holy relics were taken by Angels to the holy mountain of Sinai, where they were discovered many years later; the famous monastery of Saint Catherine was originally dedicated to the Holy Transfiguration of the Lord and the Burning Bush, but later was dedicated to Saint Catherine. According to the ancient usage, Saints Catherine and Mercurius were celebrated on the 24th of this month, whereas the holy Hieromartyrs Clement of Rome and Peter of Alexandria were celebrated on the 25th. The dates of the feasts of these Saints were interchanged at the request of the Church and Monastery of Mount Sinai, so that the festival of Saint Catherine, their patron, might be celebrated more festively together with the Apodosis of the Feast of the Entry of the Theotokos. The Slavic Churches, however, commemorate these Saints on their original dates.

Welcome Home

FOR VISITORS

Welcome home!

Please let either a greeter or a Parish Council member know if this is your first time at Dormition Church so that we can make you feel more at home.

At the end of the service, come and introduce yourself to Father Andreas, and receive a piece of antidoron (blessed bread). Also, join us for Coffee Hour after Liturgy!

Remember, the Church is everyone's home whether we are longtime members of the parish, or if we are stepping into the Church for the first time. Everyone one of is responsible for showing hospitality to those who we do not know.

CHURCH ETIQUETTE

Let everything we do be done in an orderly way. (1st Corinthians 14:40)

The best way to show love to God is to be respectful to others. Make every effort to be in church before the Divine Liturgy begins (10:00 AM), and to remain quiet and respectful throughout the entire service.

Appropriate clothing should be worn, hands should be prayerfully at our sides or folded, not in our pockets, or laid on the tops, or sides of the pews; there should be no food or drink in the Church (no gum chewing!) unless it's Holy Communion or food that has been blessed and distributed by the Priest; when seated, legs should not be crossed. Remember that socializing is for Coffee Hour and should not take place in the narthex or nave. Limit talking and moving around, and try not to create a distraction for yourself or for others. Please clean up after yourself, and do not leave bulletins or bread crumbs behind you once the service has come to a conclusion.

FOR MEMBERS

I was a stranger and you welcomed me. (Matthew 25:35)

Welcome everyone (both visitors and longtime members) with a smile. If it's someone's first time visiting Dormition, help them find a seat, and to understand the service

PARTICIPATING IN THE DIVINE LITURGY

Please make every effort to be on time and to participate in the Divine Liturgy. Remember, the Liturgy is meant to be a work of ALL PEOPLE!

Ask Fr. Andreas about volunteering to help read the Psalms or the Epistle! The Great Doxology can be found on p. 1 in the green Divine Liturgy Hymnal. The hymns for the day can also be found in the bulletin.

CHILDREN IN CHURCH

The presence of children in the worship is essential to a healthy Church! Why else would our Lord say “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14)

Here are some insights that we all might find helpful:

Help your children see what is taking place in the service and explain to them what is happening. Don’t be afraid to sit up front!

If your child asks a question that you might not know the answer to, ask Fr. Andreas or a Sunday School teacher! It can be a good learning opportunity for the rest of the children.

It’s ok to correct your child’s behavior if they misbehave. At the same time, don’t resent them for being children. Even adults struggle to pay attention in Church!

It’s ok to take your children to the area on the north side of the Altar (where the Baptismal Font is) if you feel that it’s necessary.

Lead by example! Bring your children to Church on a regular basis, and establish a routine of prayer at home.

If children are not comfortable receiving Holy Communion, it’s our responsibility as parents to show them by our example. This means preparing for and receiving the sacraments ourselves. Why would they feel comfortable doing something that we don’t?

We must all show support, love, and patience to one another, especially to struggling mothers. This includes those of us who have already raised children, those who might not have children. This especially includes fathers! Honor your wife, and fulfill your role in training up your children in the way that they should go! (cf. 1 Peter 3:7; Prov 22:6)

Wisdom of the Fathers

Love of money is the worship of idols, a daughter of unbelief, an excuse for infirmities, a foreboder of old age, a harbinger of drought, a herald of hunger.

St. John Climacus

The Ladder of Divine Ascent, Step 16:2,7 and Step 17:1, 6th Century

He who has conquered this passion has cut out care; but he who is bound by it never attains to pure prayer.