Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal Second Mode

When the angelic powers appeared at Your grave, the soldiers guarding it feared and became as dead. And standing by the sepulcher was Mary who was seeking Your immaculate body. You devastated Hades, not afflicted by it. You went to meet the virgin, and granted eternal life. You resurrected from the dead. O Lord, glory to You.

Ἀγγελικαὶ Δυνάμεις ἐπὶ τὸ μνῆμά σου, καὶ οἱ φυλάσσοντες ἀπενεκρώθησαν, καὶ ἵστατο Μαρία ἐν τῷ τάφῳ, ζητοῦσα τὸ ἄχραντόν σου σῶμα. Ἐσκύλευσας τὸν ᾍδην, μὴ πειρασθεὶς ὑπ' αὐτοῦ, ὑπήντησας τῇ Παρθένῳ, δωρούμενος τὴν ζωήν, ὁ ἀναστὰς ἐκ των νεκρῶν, Κύριε δόξα σοι.

Apolytikion for Forefeast of the Entry of the Theotokos in the Fourth Mode

By blossoming forth the only Ever-virgin as fruit, today holy Anna doth betroth us all unto joy, instead of our former grief; on this day she doth fulfil her vows to the Most High, leading her with joy into the Lord's holy temple, who truly is the temple and pure Mother of God the Word.

Χαράν προμνηστεύεται, σήμερον Άννα ημίν, τής λύπης αντίθετον, καρπόν βλαστήσασα, τήν μόνην Αειπάρθενον, ήν περ δή καί προσάγει, τάς ευχάς εκπληρούσα, σήμερον γηθομένη, τώ Ναώ τού Κυρίου, ως όντως ναόν τού Θεού Λόγου, καί Μητέρα αγνήν.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Mode

The whole world is filled today with joy and gladness on the Theotokos's auspicious and resplendent feast, whereon with great voice it crieth out: The heavenly tabernacle is she in truth.

Ευφροσύνης σήμερον, η οικουμένη, επληρώθη άπασα, εν τή ευσήμω Εορτή, τής Θεοτόκου κραυγάζουσα, Αύτη υπάρχει, σκηνή επουράνιος.

Services and Sacraments

NOVEMBER 20, 2022 – 9^TH SUNDAY OF LUKE

Memorial:

JOSIF KANA – 40 Days

May his memory be eternal!

SERVICES THIS WEEK:

Monday, November 21st – ENTRANCE OF THE THEOTOKOS TO THE TEMPLE, Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; Sts. Constantine and Helen, Westland

Friday, November 25^th – FEAST DAY, ST. CATHERINE, Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; Sts. Constantine and Helen, Westland

We strongly encourage those who will not be attending church to participate in services through our website at https://www.stcons.org/video-streaming

If you wish to follow along with the text, please use this link: https://dcs.goarch.org/

LIGHT A CANDLE AND SAY A PRAYER: When you are not able to attend church, you can purchase a candle from our church website (home page or video-streaming page), which be lit before the following service or a service that you specify. Please give specific names, living or deceased, that you would like Father to remember in prayer. Father will light candles one hour before each service. For Sunday services, please place candle orders prior to 8:00 am Sunday morning.

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PLEASE PRAY FOR: Deanna, Greg, Charles, Rene, Leonidas, Gus, Connie, Maria, Brenda, Panagiota, Nicholas, Vicki, Susan, Tom, Suzanne, Tom, Thomas, Jim, Panagioti, Gloria, Evans, Phyllis, Marti, Marty, Janet, John, Paul, Zacharias, Vanessa (Vasiliki), Jake, Maegan, Irene, Lisa, Pat, Jonathan, Alexandra, Tracy, Dianna, Betty, Catherine, Susan, Evelyn, Gregg, Peter, Angela, Bill, Carrie, Vito, Pete, Amalia, Stephanie, Lisa, Anastasia, Kylie, Effie, Nicholas, and Maria. Names may be added to the prayer list by request. If you would like to add a name to the prayer list, or if there is a name that should be removed from the prayer list, please contact the church office at stcons2@gmail.com

Saints and Feasts

November 20

9th Sunday of Luke

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

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 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.

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 Ἐφεσίους 2:4-10.

Ἀδελφοί, ὁ θεός, πλούσιος ὢν ἐν ἐλέει, διὰ τὴν πολλὴν ἀγάπην αὐτοῦ ἣν ἠγάπησεν ἡμᾶς, καὶ ὄντας ἡμᾶς νεκροὺς τοῖς παραπτώμασιν συνεζωοποίησεν τῷ Χριστῷ - χάριτί ἐστε σεσωσμένοι - καὶ συνήγειρεν, καὶ συνεκάθισεν ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ· ἵνα ἐνδείξηται ἐν τοῖς αἰῶσιν τοῖς ἐπερχομένοις τὸν ὑπερβάλλοντα πλοῦτον τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ ἐν χρηστότητι ἐφʼ ἡμᾶς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ· τῇ γὰρ χάριτί ἐστε σεσῳσμένοι διὰ τῆς πίστεως, καὶ τοῦτο οὐκ ἐξ ὑμῶν· θεοῦ τὸ δῶρον· οὐκ ἐξ ἔργων, ἵνα μή τις καυχήσηται. Αὐτοῦ γάρ ἐσμεν ποίημα, κτισθέντες ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ ἐπὶ ἔργοις ἀγαθοῖς, οἷς προητοίμασεν ὁ θεός, ἵνα ἐν αὐτοῖς περιπατήσωμεν.

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."

9th Sunday of Luke
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 12:16-21

Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τήν παραβολὴν ταύτην· Ἀνθρώπου τινὸς πλουσίου εὐφόρησεν ἡ χώρα· καὶ διελογίζετο ἐν ἑαυτῷ λέγων· τί ποιήσω, ὅτι οὐκ ἔχω ποῦ συνάξω τοὺς καρπούς μου; καὶ εἶπε· τοῦτο ποιήσω· καθελῶ μου τὰς ἀποθήκας καὶ μείζονας οἰκοδομήσω, καὶ συνάξω ἐκεῖ πάντα τὰ γενήματά μου καὶ τὰ ἀγαθά μου, καὶ ἐρῶ τῇ ψυχῇ μου· ψυχή, ἔχεις πολλὰ ἀγαθὰ κείμενα εἰς ἔτη πολλά· ἀναπαύου, φάγε, πίε, εὐφραίνου. εἶπε δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ Θεός· ἄφρον, ταύτῃ τῇ νυκτὶ τὴν ψυχήν σου ἀπαιτοῦσιν ἀπὸ σοῦ· ἃ δὲ ἡτοίμασας τίνι ἔσται; οὕτως ὁ θησαυρίζων ἑαυτῷ, καὶ μὴ εἰς Θεὸν πλουτῶν.

Parish News and Updates

EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES:

PHILO BAKE SALE: Our Philoptochos Holiday Bake Sale will take place TODAY November 20^th after church, just in time to pick up something special for your Thanksgiving table! They will be selling spanakopita, tiropita, and a variety of sweet treats! Funds raised support our Philoptochos charities.

GOYA MEETING: Our next GOYA meeting will be held TODAY, Sunday, November 20 in the board room after church. Young people, ages 12 – 18 are welcome to attend.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING: Our parish will have its Fall General Assembly meeting on Sunday December 4^th immediately following the coffee hour. Please plan to attend -snacks will be provided for those who stay.

PHILO CHRISTMAS PARTY: Our St. Helen Philoptochos will hold their annual Christmas Party on Saturday December 3^rd 12:00 noon at the Livonia Marriott at Laurel Park. Tickets are available for purchase after church, or from Georgene Ochadleus at 248.685.8375.

GOYA NIGHT WITH GOD: Father and Presvytera will host a Night with God event for GOYAns at their home on Friday, December 9, from 6:30-9:30. This is a night for worship, witness, fellowship, and possibly service. Please RSVP to an advisor or on the spreadsheet as soon as possible so that planning can begin!!!

BIBLE STUDY: There will be no Adult Bible Study this week. We will continue our study of the Book of Matthew on Tuesday, November 29^th. All adults are welcome to join, no pre-registration is required.

SUNDAY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS HAPPENINGS:

On Sunday, December 11^th, all of our Sunday School students will go from church into the HCC Hall together for a rehearsal of the annual Christmas pageant. Following church, there will be a special HOPE and JOY Coffee Hour for all parishioners, with hot cocoa, Christmas cookies, and a visit (and photo op) with our special guest from the North Pole!

On Sunday, December 18^th the children will join with the members of our parish choir to present the Christmas pageant following the Divine Liturgy.

PARENTS! PLEASE RSVP by email to fmarinos@comcast.net and let us know if your Sunday Schooler will be able to attend both days, so we can prepare the pageant!

NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY: Let’s ring in the new year together! Our parish will be having a Family New Year’s Eve Party on December 31^st. We will have a fabulous adult and kids’ buffet menus, Greek and American music and dancing, Fireworks, Hats, Noisemakers, and a Champagne/Sparkling cider toast. And the best thing… we will count down to the New Year at 9:00 pm! You and the kids will home and cozy long before midnight if you want to be! Tickets will go on sale in December.

METROPOLIS OPEN HOUSE: On Sunday, December 4 from 12:30 pm – 4:30 pm, the Metropolis of Detroit Council and Metropolis Philoptochos invite all to attend an open house and reception to celebrate the Feast of Saint Nicholas and the nameday of His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit.

DETROIT ORTHODOX CHRISTMAS CONCERT: Sunday, December 11^th at 5:00 pm our Sts. Constantine and Helen Choir will join with the Orthodox Choir of Detroit to present hymns and carols of Greek, Romania, Egypt, Ukraine, and traditional English selections. Guest ensembles will also be performing for the concert, to be held at our parish, Sts. Constantine and Helen. Free will donations go to support the Council of Orthodox Christian Churches (COCC) and FOCUS Detroit.

A NATIVITY FAST REFLECTION; On Monday evening, November 28^th at 7:00 pm the Orthodox Christian Women of Michigan (OCW) will be presenting “A Nativity Fast Reflection: Being Set Apart for God and the Example of Holiness Found in the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple”. The speaker is Fr. James King, and the event will be held at the Nativity of the Virgin Mary Church in Plymouth. For questions, contact Gia Cherpes-See at gcsee1@gmail.com.

NEWS AND NOTICES:

THANK YOU! Many thanks to all of our parishioners who gave their time, talent and treasure to help with the Men’s Club “Feed the Needy” effort! We had a great turn out to help unload groceries, pack bags, and deliver meals! Through your volunteer support this weekend, your donations, and all the sponsorship and participant support of the Golf Outing, our Men’s Club is providing and delivering a complete Thanksgiving dinner to Westland and Livonia families in need.

CAN/BOTTLE RETURNABLES: GOYA will be holding a collection on 11/27, the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Please bring your clean returnable cans and bottles to the lobby outside the office to help GOYA raise funds for future activities.

PARISH COUNCIL NOMIMATIONS: If you would like to nominate someone for the Parish Council, there are Nomination forms available at the Pangari, and will be available the day of the General Assembly (December 4^th) . Both the nominators and the nominee must be members in good standing of Sts. Constantine and Helen, Westland.

TREE OF LIGHTS: Our 28^th annual Mary Drakos Tree of Lights Ceremony will be held on Sunday, December 18^th. You may place an ornament on the tree in honor or in memory of a loved one for a donation of $10. Forms are available at the Pangari, church office, or contact Diane Plungis at 734.462.1179.

PARISH CHRISTMAS CARD: There is no charge to be included in the Saints Constantine and Helen Christmas Card. All those who have completed a 2022 Stewardship Card will be listed. If you wish to be included in the parish Christmas card and did not complete a Stewardship Commitment Card this year, they are still available in the church office, at the Pangari, or you can request one to be sent to you by email at stcons2@gmail.com. Stewardship cards must be received by the church office no later than December 12^th to make our print deadline.

Wisdom of the Fathers

I cannot be silent about the story of Hesychius the Horebite. He passed his life in complete negligence, without paying the least attention to his soul. Then he became extremely ill, and for an hour he left his body.

St. John Climacus

Ladder of Divine Ascent. Step 6: On Remembrance of Death, 6th Century

And when he came to himself, he begged us all to leave him immediately. And he built up the door of his cell, and he stayed in it for twelve years without ever uttering a word to anyone, and without eating anything but bread and water.