14th Sunday of Luke, Dec. 1
9:00 AM: Orthros; 10:00 AM: Divine Liturgy, Sunday School
Wednesday, Great-Martyr Barbara, Dec. 4
9:00 AM: Divine Liturgy
Thursday, Dec. 5
10:30 AM: Lectionary Bible Study; 6:00 PM: Ward VI NPA; 7:00 PM: OCF @ Norwich Univ; 7:00 PM: Vespers, UVM Catholic Center
Friday, St. Nikolaos the Wonderworker, Dec. 6
Afternoon: AHEPA Outreach at Ronald McDonald House, Burlington
Saturday, Dec. 7
Afternoon: OCF Outreach at Veterans Place, Northfield
10th Sunday of Luke, Dec. 8
9:00 AM: Orthros; 10:00 AM: Divine Liturgy & Memorial Service, Sunday School
Fasting this week
Wed & Fri: Wine & Oil Allowed
All Other Days: Fish Allowed
Vespers at UVM: St. Jacob of Alaska OCA Mission, Northfield VT, will be serving Vespers on the first Thursday of each month at the UVM Catholic Center, starting at 7:00 PM. Contact Fr Mark Korban for further information (802.673.4042).
Veterans Place: for the second time this year, on Saturday Fr Andreas and the members of OCF at Norwich University will be preparing a delicious Greek meal for the residents and staff of The Veterans' Place, Northfield VT. The Veterans' Place is a 26-bed transitional residential facility for homeless veterans, allowing them to get a headstart on reassimilation as productive members of society. If you are interested in helping this worthy effort, please contact Fr Andreas.
Prosphora - Fr Andreas & Presv-Dr Mari Papayiannis, for Father's Name Day
Coffee Hour - Dr Marios & Eva Prikis
In giving birth you did retain your virginity. In your repose, you did not forsake the world, O Theotokos. You have passed into life, you that are the Mother of Life. And by your intercessions, you redeem our souls from death.
Prokeimenon. Grave Mode. Psalm 28.11,1.
The Lord will give strength to his people.
Verse: Bring to the Lord, O sons of God, bring to the Lord honor and glory.
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians 2:14-22.
Brethren, Christ is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
14th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 18:35-43
At that time, as Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging; and hearing a multitude going by, he inquired what this meant. They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by." And he cried, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" And Jesus stopped, and commanded him to be brought to him; and when he came near, he asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" He said, "Lord, let me receive my sight." And Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.
HOLY COMMUNION
With the fear of God, faith, and love draw near! (Divine Liturgy)
Here are some things to prayfully consider before approaching the Body and Blood of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ:
1.) The frequent reception of Holy Communion is encouraged! This means however that we must all frequently prepare to receive Holy Communion. If you have not been to Church for a while, consider this an opportunity to restart your life in Christ, and to speak with your Priest about receiving the Sacraments of the Church. Never be afraid or discouraged to come and speak to Father Andreas before receiving Holy Communion!
2.) We receive Holy Communion when we become members in good standing of the Orthodox Church. This takes places through the Sacraments of Baptism, and Chrismation in a canonical jurisdiction of the Orthodox Church. If you would like to become an Orthodox Christian, please see Fr. Andreas!
3.) Our goal is to become closer to God by living a life of Holiness! Something to reflect on before and after we consume the Body and Blood of Christ is whether or not we are living our lives in peace and love as God wants us to.
4.) It is necessary to fast prior to receiving Holy Communion. We should abstain from food or drink prior to receiving the the Body and Blood of our Lord unless it is medically neccesary. If you have any questions, please speak to Fr. Andreas.
5.) CAUTION! Please approach the chalice carefully! Never do anything that could potentially spill the Body and Blood of Christ from the Chalice!!!
6.) When receiving Communion, please close your mouth in a natural manner as you would when feeding yourself with a spoon. Please also ensure that the red cloth is placed under your chin.
8.) Women, please blot or remove lipstick prior to receiving Holy Communion.
PASTORAL VISITATIONS
Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. (James 5:13-15)
Please call the Church Office or call Fr. Andreas’s emergency cell phone number to let him know what your pastoral needs are. You can also ask a family members, a social worker, or a Hospital Chaplain to notify the Church so that they can inform Fr. Andreas that you are in need of pastoral care.
CONFESSION
A young monk said to the great ascetic Abba Sisoes: “Abba, what should I do? I fell.” The elder answered: “Get up!” The monk said: “I got up and I fell again!” The elder replied: “Get up again!” But the young monk asked: “For how long should I get up when I fall?” “Until your death,” answered Abba Sisoes. (Sayings of the Desert Fathers)
Confession is necessary for our personal healing, and for the repentance and forgiveness of sins. It’s also a vital element of our Lord’s Commission to us as Orthodox Christians for the life and growth of the Church.
Never be afraid to speak to Fr. Andreas in order to make the necessary arrangements for the Sacrament of Confession. Confession is offered after Saturday evening Great Vespers. You can also call Father during the week, or just get a hold of him after Liturgy, to schedule Confession!
For additional resources about Holy Communion, Confession, or any other pastoral concern please see Father Andreas or visit our Church website http://www.gocvt.org/
The Prophet Nahum had Elkesaeus (Elkosh) as his homeland, and was from the tribe of Symeon; he is seventh in order among the twelve Minor Prophets He prophesied during the time of Hezekias, after the destruction of Samaria (721 years before Christ), but before the ten tribes were taken into captivity; he prophesied against Nineveh, the capital of Assyria. His name means "comforter." His book of prophecy is divided into three chapters.
Saint Barbara was from Heliopolis of Phoenicia and lived during the reign of Maximian.
She was the daughter of a certain idolater named Dioscorus. When Barbara came of age, she was enlightened in her pure heart and secretly believed in the Holy Trinity. About this time Dioscorus began building a bath-house; before it was finished he was required to go away to attend to certain matters, and in his absence Barbara directed the workmen to build a third window in addition to the two her Father had commanded. She also inscribed the sign of the Cross with her finger upon the marble of the bath-house, leaving the saving sign cut as deeply into the marble as if it had been done with an iron tool. (When the Synaxarion of Saint Barbara was written, the marble of the bath-house and the cross inscribed by Saint Barbara were still preserved, and many healings were worked there.) When Dioscorus returned, he asked why the third window had been added; Barbara began to declare to him the mystery of the Trinity. Because she refused to renounce her faith, Dioscorus tortured Barbara inhumanely, and after subjecting her to many sufferings he beheaded her with his own hands, in the year 290.
This Saint was born in 439 in Moutalaska, a small village of Cappadocia. He entered the arena of the monastic life from childhood and was under that master trainer of monastics, Euthymius, the Great, the teacher of the desert. He became the spiritual Father of many monks and an instructor for the monasteries in Palestine, and was appointed leader (archimandrite) of the desert-dwellers of Palestine by the Patriarch of Jerusalem. In his old age he went to Constantinople, to the Emperors Anastasius and Saint Justinian the Great, in behalf of the Orthodox Faith and the dogmas of the Council of Chalcedon. Having lived ninety-four years, he reposed in 533. The Typicon for the ecclesiastical services had its beginning in the monastery established by this righteous one.
This Saint lived during the reign of Saint Constantine the Great, and reposed in 330, As a young man, he desired to espouse the solitary life. He made a pilgrimage to the holy city Jerusalem, where he found a place to withdraw to devote himself to prayer. It was made known to him, however, that this was not the will of God for him, but that he should return to his homeland to be a cause of salvation for many. He returned to Myra, and was ordained bishop. He became known for his abundant mercy, providing for the poor and needy, and delivering those who had been unjustly accused. No less was he known for his zeal for the truth. He was present at the First Ecumenical Council of the 318 Fathers at Nicaea in 325; upon hearing the blasphemies that Arius brazenly uttered against the Son of God, Saint Nicholas struck him on the face. Since the canons of the Church forbid the clergy to strike any man at all, his fellow bishops were in perplexity what disciplinary action was to be taken against this hierarch whom all revered. In the night our Lord Jesus Christ and our Lady Theotokos appeared to certain of the bishops, informing them that no action was to be taken against him, since he had acted not out of passion, but extreme love and piety. The Dismissal Hymn for holy hierarchs, The truth of things hath revealed thee to thy flock ... was written originally for Saint Nicholas. He is the patron of all travellers, and of sea-farers in particular; he is one of the best known and best loved Saints of all time.