Message from your Priest

Beloved in Christ,

Whenever a building is put together, there are certain things that need to be in place before construction can begin. If a building is constructed at random, then it will not stand to test of time, but will fall apart as soon as the first storm hits. The construction team has to know what kind of building they are going to produce. Homes are constructed very differently from stores, and skyscrapers need special considerations. Then, an architect needs to draw up a blueprint that tells the construction team what the final product should look like. Buildings are always constructed with a purpose and a plan.

Our lives are very similar to the construction of a building. When we focus all of our effort on earthly things like wealth, possessions, or reputation, we build our lives into one type of building. This is what the man in today's Gospel is doing when he decides to build large storehouses for all his material goods. All the earthly goods that we acquire are temporary. When we pass away, our earthly possessions and reputation do not benefit us in any way.

The person whose life has become a storehouse for temporary things is like someone who has built their house on shifting sands. About a house like that, Jesus says "the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it," (Matthew 7:27).

If, on the other hand, we "lay up...treasures in heaven," (Matthew 6:20), then our lives are like a different kind of building. Instead of being a storehouse for temporary goods, this kind of life becomes a temple to the unchanging God. A temple is a place where we encounter the presence of God. When our heart is with God in heaven, then we find that God is also with us in our heart. When we encounter God in our heart, then St. Paul's words from today's Epistle become true for us: in Jesus Christ "you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit," (Ephesians 2:22).

The life that has been built into a temple to God is like the house that is built on solid rock. Jesus says about this house that "the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock," (Matthew 7:25).

The Wisdom of Sirach gives us a piece of poignant advice: "In all that you do, remember your end and you will never sin," (Sirach 7:36). Let us remember that everything here on earth is temporary, while God's Kingdom is everlasting. Let that understanding become the 'blueprint' on which we build our lives. When we seek to build up our spiritual treasures with God in heaven, then the building of our life is built on a solid foundation, "for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also," (Matthew 6:21).

In Christ,
Fr. Jeremy

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Grave Mode

O Lord by your sacred Cross you abolished death, and granted unto the thief blessed paradise. The Myrrh-bearers ceased lamenting and turned to joy. The apostles did preach the Good News at your command, that you had risen from the dead, O Christ our God, bestowing your mercy upon the world evermore.

Apolytikion for Afterfeast of the Entry of the Theotokos in the Fourth 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 Fourth 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

Matins Gospel Reading

Second Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Mark 16:1-8

When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint Jesus. And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?" And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back, for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you." And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to any one, for they were afraid.

Epistle Reading

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.

Gospel Reading

9th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 12:16-21

The Lord said this parable: "The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' And he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.' But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." As he said these things, he cried out: "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

Saints and Feasts

November 22

Afterfeast of the Entry of the Theotokos into the Temple

According to Holy Tradition, the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple took place in the following manner. The parents of the Virgin Mary, Saints Joachim and Anna, praying for an end to their childlessness, vowed that if a child were born to them, they would dedicate it to the service of God.

When the Most Holy Virgin reached the age of three, the holy parents decided to fulfill their vow. They gathered together their relatives and acquaintances, and dressed the All-Pure Virgin in Her finest clothes. Singing sacred songs and with lighted candles in their hands, virgins escorted Her to the Temple (Ps. 44/45:14-15). There the High Priest and several priests met the handmaiden of God. In the Temple, fifteen high steps led to the sanctuary, which only the priests and High Priest could enter. (Because they recited a Psalm on each step, Psalms 119/120-133/134 are called “Psalms of Ascent.”) The child Mary, so it seemed, could not make it up this stairway. But just as they placed Her on the first step, strengthened by the power of God, She quickly went up the remaining steps and ascended to the highest one. Then the High Priest, through inspiration from above, led the Most Holy Virgin into the Holy of Holies, where only the High Priest entered once a year to offer a purifying sacrifice of blood. Therefore, all those present in the Temple were astonished at this most unusual occurrence.

After entrusting their child to the Heavenly Father, Joachim and Anna returned home. The All-Holy Virgin remained in the quarters for virgins near the Temple. According to the testimony of Holy Scripture (Exodus 38; 1 Kings 1: 28; Luke 2: 37), and also the historian Josephus Flavius, there were many living quarters around the Temple, in which those who were dedicated to the service of God dwelt.

The earthly life of the Most Holy Theotokos from Her infancy until She was taken up to Heaven is shrouded in deep mystery. Her life at the Jerusalem Temple was also a secret. “If anyone were to ask me,” said Saint Jerome, “how the Most Holy Virgin spent the time of Her youth, I would answer that that is known to God Himself and the Archangel Gabriel, Her constant guardian.”

But there are accounts in Church Tradition, that during the All-Pure Virgin’s stay at the Temple, She grew up in a community of pious virgins, diligently read the Holy Scripture, occupied Herself with handicrafts, prayed constantly, and grew in love for God. From ancient times, the Church has celebrated the Feast of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple. Indications that the Feast was observed in the first centuries of Christianity are found in the traditions of Palestinian Christians, which say that the holy Empress Helen (May 21) built a church in honor of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple.

Parish Information

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Church School

Church School for our children will take place at 5pm on Saturdays. Lessons will follow the "Tending the Garden of our Hearts" curriculum. Sessions will take place outside, weather permitting. Adult family members are encouraged to stay for the lesson. Masks are required for adults when indoors. Please email Fr. Jeremy if you have any questions.

Adult Ed

Please join us on Wednesday following Paraklesis for our Adult Ed Discussion Group. We are currently continuing to meet over Zoom. Please ask Fr. Jeremy if you need the link for the class.

We are currently discussing Elder Aimilianos of Simonopetra's “Revelation and Knowledge of God in Humility,” from The Way of the Spirit: Reflection on Life in God (Indiktos Publishing Company, 2009) pp. 295-304.

Coronavirus Procedures

Here at St. Nicholas we are blessed to be able to welcome our community back to public services with the following directives in place:

-Individuals who have been exposed to the Coronavirus, or are at high risk as defined by the CDC (those 65-years or older, those with compromised immune systems, those with respiratory illness, heart conditions, or other underlying medical conditions) are encouraged to stay at home. Our livestream will still be active for the time being.

-A distance of six feet must be observed between families at all times.

-Use of non-medical masks is required in the Church building.

-There will be no fellowship hour following Liturgy. Parishioners are asked to depart the Church in an orderly fashion family-by-family following the dismissal.

-Icons are to be venerated by crossing oneself and bowing. Please do not kiss the icons.

This Week at St. Nicholas

Today, everyone is welcome to sign our Church School Thanksgiving poster, located at the back of the Church, for the residents of Solstice Senior Living.

Tuesday, November 24: 6pm Vespers
Wednesday, November 25 St. Catherine the Great: 8am Orthros, 9am Divine Liturgy, 6pm Paraklesis, 7pm Adult Ed (online)
Saturday, November 28: 5pm Youth Church School, 6pm Great Vespers

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