Orthos
Sunday & Weekdays: 9:00 a.m.
Divine Liturgy
Sunday: 10:00 a.m. Weekdays: 10:00 a.m.
Vespers
None
SUNDAY JANUARY 5, 2020 - SUNDAY BEFORE EPIPHANY
Parish Vasilopita/Stewardship Sunday
At the end of today’s Divine Liturgy, Fr. Teodor will cut the Parish Vasilopita, and distribute Vasilopita to all parishioners. The St. Helen Philoptochos will also collect donations today to benefit the St. Basil Academy.
40-Day Blessing: VIVIAN VALKANOS, Parents: Sam and Alyvia Valkanos
Congratulations!
SERVICES THIS WEEK:
Orthros 9:00 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; Sts. Constantine and Helen, Westland
St. John Greek Orthodox Church, Sterling Heights
PLEASE PRAY FOR: Alexandra, racy, Dianna, Lazarus, Henry, Betty, Catherine, Susan, Evelyn, Gregg, Peter, Stella, Ann Marie, Vasilios, Carol, George, Demetri, Steve, Molly, Maria, Elizabeth, Carol, Evans, Katherine, Mike, Connie, Mary, Margaret, Angela, Connie, Bill, Carrie, Vito, Pete, Amalia, Stephanie, Lisa, Bill, Connie, Jacob, Anastasia, Rima, Kylie, Effie, Camryn, Nicholas, and Maria. (Names may be added by request to the prayer list.)
Prokeimenon. Plagal Second 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 Second Letter to Timothy 4:5-8.
TIMOTHY, my son, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry.
For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
Προκείμενον. Plagal Second Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 27.9,1.
Σῶσον, Κύριε τὸν λαὸν σου καὶ εὐλόγησον τὴν κληρονομίαν σου.
Στίχ. Πρὸς σἐ, Κύριε, κεκράξομαι ὁ Θεός μου.
τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Τιμόθεον β' 4:5-8.
Τέκνον Τιμόθεε, νῆφε ἐν πᾶσιν, κακοπάθησον, ἔργον ποίησον εὐαγγελιστοῦ, τὴν διακονίαν σου πληροφόρησον. Ἐγὼ γὰρ ἤδη σπένδομαι, καὶ ὁ καιρὸς τῆς ἐμῆς ἀναλύσεως ἐφέστηκεν. Τὸν ἀγῶνα τὸν καλὸν ἠγώνισμαι, τὸν δρόμον τετέλεκα, τὴν πίστιν τετήρηκα· λοιπόν, ἀπόκειταί μοι ὁ τῆς δικαιοσύνης στέφανος, ὃν ἀποδώσει μοι ὁ κύριος ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ, ὁ δίκαιος κριτής· οὐ μόνον δὲ ἐμοί, ἀλλὰ καὶ πάσιν τοῖς ἠγαπηκόσιν τὴν ἐπιφάνειαν αὐτοῦ.
Sunday before Epiphany
The Reading is from Mark 1:1-8
The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophets, 'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who shall prepare your way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.' John was baptizing in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
Sunday before Epiphany
Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 1:1-8
᾿Αρχὴ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου ᾿Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ, υἱοῦ τοῦ Θεοῦ. ῾Ως γέγραπται ἐν τοῖς προφήταις, ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἀποστέλλω τὸν ἄγγελόν μου πρὸ προσώπου σου, ὃς κατασκευάσει τὴν ὁδόν σου ἔμπροσθέν σου· φωνὴ βοῶντος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, ἑτοιμάσατε τὴν ὁδὸν Κυρίου, εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους αὐτοῦ, ἐγένετο ᾿Ιωάννης βαπτίζων ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ καὶ κηρύσσων βάπτισμα μετανοίας εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν. Καὶ ἐξεπορεύετο πρὸς αὐτὸν πᾶσα ἡ ᾿Ιουδαία χώρα καὶ οἱ ῾Ιεροσολυμῖται, καὶ ἐβαπτίζοντο πάντες ἐν τῷ ᾿Ιορδάνῃ ποταμῷ ὑπ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἐξομολογούμενοι τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν. Ἦν δὲ ὁ ᾿Ιωάννης ἐνδεδυμένος τρίχας καμήλου καὶ ζώνην δερματίνην περὶ τὴν ὀσφὺν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐσθίων ἀκρίδας καὶ μέλι ἄγριον. Καὶ ἐκήρυσσε λέγων· ἔρχεται ὁ ἰσχυρότερός μου ὀπίσω μου, οὗ οὐκ εἰμὶ ἱκανὸς κύψας λῦσαι τὸν ἱμάντα τῶν ὑποδημάτων αὐτοῦ· ἐγὼ μὲν ἐβάπτισα ὑμᾶς ἐν ὕδατι, αὐτὸς δὲ βαπτίσει ὑμᾶς ἐν Πνεύματι ῾Αγίῳ.
UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES:
2020 STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY: TODAY, Sunday, January 5, has been designated as the Stewardship Sunday for our parish. Our 2020 Stewardship Pledge cards were mailed out before Christmas, along with the 2020 Ecclesiastical Calendars. They are also available at the Pangari or church office. Stewardship cards must be completed and submitted each year to be considered a member in good standing of our parish. PLEASE PLAN TO STAY AFTER CHURCH FOR A COMPLIMENTARY LUNCH IN THE HELLENIC CULTURAL CENTER.
TLC LUNCHEON: Join our TLC group for lunch and a celebration of the New Year 2020 on Thursday, January 9th. Lunch is served at 12:00 noon at the Hellenic Cultural Center, and the cost is $10. Please RSVP no later than Tuesday, January 7th to reserve your spot.
PHILOPTOCHOS GENERAL MEETING/MEN’S CLUB MEETING: On Sunday, January 12th, immediately following church there will be two meetings: Philoptochos General Meeting in the multi-purpose room/library; Men’s Club meeting in the coffee hour Cultural Center hall. Members of both groups are encouraged to attend.
FEBRUARY 9TH GREEK FEST: The excitement is building! We are exactly 5 weeks from our church’s one-day Greek Festival, featuring delicious Greek food and sweets, live Greek music with the “Enigma” band, KYKLOS dancers and other area dance groups, and much more! Each parishioner is needed to help us get the word out, volunteer in some way, and then attend with their family and friends! This event is open to the community, and we want to encourage our friends and neighbors to “Be Greek for a Day” and join us!
NEWS AND NOTICES:
HOLY WATER: Monday, January 6th is Epiphany, with the Blessing of the Waters at the Divine Liturgy service, at 10:00 am. The Holy Water from the church is given to the faithful to consume and to use when the priest comes to bless their homes. For those who are unable to attend, on the following Sunday, January 12th, Father Teodor will sprinkle everyone with Holy Water and bottles of Holy Water will be available for parishioners.
ANNUAL HOME BLESSINGS: After the Epiphany and through the beginning of Lent, Father Teodor will be available for home blessings. This is a beautiful and very important tradition of our church; every Orthodox Christian should have their home blessed annually. Please call the office to schedule your home blessing for the new year.
INCLEMENT WEATHER: During inclement weather we will always try to notify people whenever possible of a cancelled event or activity, but when in doubt, please call the church office before you come in. Phone messages and emails are checked periodically and responded to when there is nobody in the office.
VOLUNTEER NEEDS: As you are completing your 2020 Stewardship Pledge card, please consider ways that you might volunteer your time and talents to our parish. Upcoming events with many volunteer needs include: Greek Festival, St. Cons 90th Anniversary celebration, Great Lent and Easter. We also have many general parish ministry, outreach, and administrative needs.
SAVE THE DATE:
SERVICES AND SACRAMENTS
Funerals:
12/30/19 JOHN KOINIS
1/3/20 SOPHIE KATSARELAS
1/9/20 JIM DAGIANTIS - Visitation/Trisagion, Vermuelen Funeral Home, Plymouth;
1/10/20 - Visitation 9:30, Funeral 10:30 Sts. Constantine and Helen, Westland
May their memory be eternal!
Non Orthodox Visitors Please Note: Holy Communion is offered to Orthodox Christians who have properly prepared themselves. Visitors are welcome to receive the Antidoron (Blessed Bread), which is distributed at the end of the Divine Liturgy.