Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal Fourth Mode

You descended from on high, O compassionate One, and condescended to be buried for three days, so that from the passions You might set us free. Our life and resurrection, O Lord, glory be to You.

Ἐξ ὕψους κατῆλθες ὁ εὔσπλαγχνος, ταφὴν καταδέξω τριήμερον, ἵνα ἡμᾶς ἐλευθερώσῃς τῶν παθῶν. Ἡ ζωὴ καὶ ἡ Ἀνάστασις ἡμῶν, Κύριε δόξα σοι.

Apolytikion for Great Martyr Barbara in the Fourth Mode

Let us honour Saint Barbara, for she hath broken the snares of the enemy; and like a sparrow, she, the all-modest maiden, was delivered out of them by the help and weapon of the Cross.

Βαρβάραν τὴν Ἁγίαν τιμήσωμεν, ἐχθροῦ γὰρ τὰς παγίδας συνέτριψε, καὶ ὡς στρουθίον ἐρρύσθη ἐξ αὐτῶν, βοηθεία καὶ ὅπλω τοῦ Σταυροῦ ἡ Πάνσεμνος.

Apolytikion for John of Damascus in the Plagal Fourth Mode

The guide of Orthodox beliefs, and sacred teacher of true religion and of dignity, the luminary of the world, the God-inspired adornment of the episcopate, O John the wise, through your instructions you have illumined all, O harp of the Spirit. Intercede with Christ our God for the salvation of our souls.

Ορθοδοξίας Οδηγέ, ευσεβίας διδάσκαλε καί σεμνότητος, τής οικουμένης ο φωστήρ, αρχιερέων θεόπνευστον εγκαλλώπισμα, Ιωάννη σοφέ, ταίς διδαχαίς σου πάντας εφώτισας, λύρα τού Πνεύματος, πρέσβευε Χριστώ τώ Θεώ, σωθήναι τάς ψυχάς ημών.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Third Mode

On this day the Virgin cometh to the cave to give birth to * God the Word ineffably, * Who was before all the ages. * Dance for joy, O earth, on hearing * the gladsome tidings; * with the Angels and the shepherds now glorify Him * Who is willing to be gazed on * as a young Child Who * before the ages is God.

Ἡ Παρθένος σήμερον, τὸν Προαιώνιον Λόγον, ἐν Σπηλαίῳ ἔρχεται, ἀποτεκεῖν ἀπορρήτως. Χόρευε ἡ οἰκουμένη ἀκουτισθεῖσα, δόξασον μετὰ Ἀγγέλων καὶ τῶν Ποιμένων, βουληθέντα ἐποφθῆναι, παιδίον νέον, τὸν πρὸ αἰώνων Θεόν.

Services and Sacraments

December 4, 2022 – 10^th Sunday of Luke

Services This Week

Monday, December 5 – GREAT VESPERS, ST. NICHOLAS

7:00 pm – St. Nicholas Church, Ann Arbor; and St. Nicholas Church, Troy

Tuesday, December 6 – FEAST DAY OF ST. NICHOLAS, 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

December 04

10th Sunday of Luke

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Psalm 67.35,26.
God is wonderful among his saints.
Verse: Bless God in the congregations.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 3:23-29; 4:1-5.

Brethren, before faith came, we were confined under the law, kept under restraint until faith should be revealed. So that the law was our custodian until Christ came, that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a custodian; for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no better than a slave, though he is the owner of all the estate; but he is under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father. So with us; when we were children, we were slaves to the elemental spirits of the universe. But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

Προκείμενον. Fourth Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 67.35,26.
Θαυμαστὸς ὁ Θεὸς ἐν τοῖς Ἁγίοις αὐτοῦ.
Στίχ. Ἐν Ἐκκλησίαις εὐλογεῖτε τὸν Θεὸν.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Γαλάτας 3:23-29, 4:1-5.

Ἀδελφοί, πρὸ τοῦ δὲ ἐλθεῖν τὴν πίστιν, ὑπὸ νόμον ἐφρουρούμεθα, συγκεκλεισμένοι εἰς τὴν μέλλουσαν πίστιν ἀποκαλυφθῆναι. Ὥστε ὁ νόμος παιδαγωγὸς ἡμῶν γέγονεν εἰς Χριστόν, ἵνα ἐκ πίστεως δικαιωθῶμεν. Ἐλθούσης δὲ τῆς πίστεως, οὐκέτι ὑπὸ παιδαγωγόν ἐσμεν. Πάντες γὰρ υἱοὶ θεοῦ ἐστε διὰ τῆς πίστεως ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ. Ὅσοι γὰρ εἰς Χριστὸν ἐβαπτίσθητε, Χριστὸν ἐνεδύσασθε. Οὐκ ἔνι Ἰουδαῖος οὐδὲ Ἕλλην, οὐκ ἔνι δοῦλος οὐδὲ ἐλεύθερος, οὐκ ἔνι ἄρσεν καὶ θῆλυ· πάντες γὰρ ὑμεῖς εἷς ἐστε ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ. Εἰ δὲ ὑμεῖς Χριστοῦ, ἄρα τοῦ Ἀβραὰμ σπέρμα ἐστέ, καὶ κατʼ ἐπαγγελίαν κληρονόμοι. Λέγω δέ, ἐφʼ ὅσον χρόνον ὁ κληρονόμος νήπιός ἐστιν, οὐδὲν διαφέρει δούλου, κύριος πάντων ὤν· ἀλλὰ ὑπὸ ἐπιτρόπους ἐστὶν καὶ οἰκονόμους, ἄχρι τῆς προθεσμίας τοῦ πατρός. Οὕτως καὶ ἡμεῖς, ὅτε ἦμεν νήπιοι, ὑπὸ τὰ στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου ἦμεν δεδουλωμένοι· ὅτε δὲ ἦλθεν τὸ πλήρωμα τοῦ χρόνου, ἐξαπέστειλεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ, γενόμενον ἐκ γυναικός, γενόμενον ὑπὸ νόμον, ἵνα τοὺς ὑπὸ νόμον ἐξαγοράσῃ, ἵνα τὴν υἱοθεσίαν ἀπολάβωμεν.

Gospel Reading

10th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 13:10-17

At that time, Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her and said to her, "Woman, you are freed from your infirmity." And he laid his hands upon her, and immediately she was made straight, and she praised God. But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the sabbath, said to the people, "There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be healed, and not on the sabbath day." Then the Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?" As he said this, all his adversaries were put to shame; and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.

10th Sunday of Luke
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 13:10-17

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ῏Ην δὲ διδάσκων ἐν μιᾷ τῶν συναγωγῶν ἐν τοῖς σάββασι. καὶ ἰδοὺ γυνὴ ἦν πνεῦμα ἔχουσα ἀσθενείας ἔτη δέκα καὶ ὀκτώ, καὶ ἦν συγκύπτουσα καὶ μὴ δυναμένη ἀνακῦψαι εἰς τὸ παντελές. ἰδὼν δὲ αὐτὴν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς προσεφώνησε καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ· γύναι, ἀπολέλυσαι τῆς ἀσθενείας σου· καὶ ἐπέθηκεν αὐτῇ τὰς χεῖρας· καὶ παραχρῆμα ἀνωρθώθη καὶ ἐδόξαζε τὸν Θεόν. ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ ἀρχισυνάγωγος, ἀγανακτῶν ὅτι τῷ σαββάτῳ ἐθεράπευσεν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς, ἔλεγε τῷ ὄχλῳ· ἓξ ἡμέραι εἰσὶν ἐν αἷς δεῖ ἐργάζεσθαι· ἐν ταύταις οὖν ἐρχόμενοι θεραπεύεσθε, καὶ μὴ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τοῦ σαββάτου. ἀπεκρίθη οὖν αὐτῷ ὁ Κύριος καὶ εἶπεν· ὑποκριτά, ἕκαστος ὑμῶν τῷ σαββάτῳ οὐ λύει τὸν βοῦν αὐτοῦ ἢ τὸν ὄνον ἀπὸ τῆς φάτνης καὶ ἀπαγαγὼν ποτίζει; ταύτην δέ, θυγατέρα ᾿Αβραὰμ οὖσαν, ἣν ἔδησεν ὁ σατανᾶς ἰδοὺ δέκα καὶ ὀκτὼ ἔτη, οὐκ ἔδει λυθῆναι ἀπὸ τοῦ δεσμοῦ τούτου τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τοῦ σαββάτου; καὶ ταῦτα λέγοντος αὐτοῦ κατῃσχύνοντο πάντες οἱ ἀντικείμενοι αὐτῷ, καὶ πᾶς ὁ ὄχλος ἔχαιρεν ἐπὶ πᾶσι τοῖς ἐνδόξοις τοῖς γινομένοις ὑπ᾿ αὐτοῦ.

Parish News and Updates

EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES:

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

METROPOLIS OPEN HOUSE: Today, 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.

GOYA NIGHT WITH GOD Father Teodor and Presvytera Roxana will host a Night with God event for GOYAns at their home on Friday, December 9, from 6:30-9:30. This is a casual night with Q & A and discussion about our faith with Fr. Teodor, good food, gift exchange, and even an ugly sweater contest! Please RSVP on the spreadsheet or to a GOYA advisor as soon as possible.

COOKIES AND COCOA WITH SANTA! Next week’s coffee hour Sunday, December 11^th, will be hosted by HOPE and JOY. All parishioners are invited to stay for coffee hour, with hot cocoa, Christmas cookies, carols! Bring the kids, grandkids, and Godchildren for a special visit (and photo opportunity) with SANTA!

PARISH CHRISTMAS PAGEANT/CHRISTMAS TREE OF LIGHTS CEREMONY: On Sunday, December 18^th following the Divine Liturgy, will be the “Mary Drakos Tree of Lights” ceremony, with the reading of names of those living and departed that are commemorated on the church Christmas tree. Our Christmas pageant will follow, with our Choir and Sunday School children telling the story of the first Christmas. The day will end with a parish sing-a-long to traditional carols.

BIBLE STUDY: Adult Bible Study will continue this week, on Tuesday, December 6th at 7:00 pm. via the ZOOM platform. We will continue our study of the Book of Matthew. ZOOM LINK is: https://zoom.us/j/7345256789, Meeting ID: 734 525 6789. All adults are welcome to join, no pre-registration is required.

METROPOLIS WEBINAR: The next webinar in the Metropolis of Detroit “Transformative Christianity” series will be held Wednesday, December 7th at 7:00 p.m. Fr. Michael Marcantoni will present a talk about the passion of pride, “Escaping the Haze of Self-Deception.” NO registration is needed to attend, and all are welcome! Zoom link: https://tinyurl.com/2p96eepw Meeting ID: 880 9611 8808 Passcode: 3

ST CONS NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY: Let’s ring in the new year together! Our parish is 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. 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 be on sale during the coffee hour or in the church office. Reserved seats will be held for tables of 8 or 10.

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.

NEWS AND NOTICES:

CHRISTMAS GIVING: Once again, through God’s grace this Christmas season, a group of donors from our parish will match all Christmas donations up to $20,000. Your gift can count twice! All donations that come to the church in a special Christmas giving envelope will be counted toward our needed match. Envelopes were sent to parishioners homes, and are also available at the Pangari and the church office.

TREE OF LIGHTS: Our 28^th annual Mary Drakos Tree of Lights Ceremony will be held on Sunday, December 18^th. You have one more week to 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.

SHARE YOUR WARMTH: Once again this year, we are collecting new, warm hats, gloves, scarves, and socks for adults and children for our homeless and needy. Starting next week, please bring your new items and hang them on the Christmas tree outside the church office to share with those less fortunate. We will collect items through January 1^st.

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.

VIDEO ARCHIVE: Previously recorded Sunday Divine Liturgy services will now be archived and available on our website! Go to https://www.stcons.org/video-streaming and you can click on the service you would like to view. Fr. Teodor’s sermon link will also be posted to facebook weekly.

HOMEBOUND COMMUNION VISITS/CONFESSION APPOINTMENTS: During the month of December, Fr. Teodor is making visits to our homebound parishioners who are unable to attend church in person to receive Holy Communion. If you know a person who would appreciate a visit from Fr. Teodor, please let us know. Father is also taking appointments at this time for those who wish to make confession during the Nativity Lent. If you would like to schedule a communion visit or an appointment for confession, please call or email the church office, 734.525.6789 or stcons2@gmail.com

ST CONS BOOKSTORE: Our parish bookstore is one of the finest in the area. There are many beautiful new icons, jewelry, and other items just delivered from Greece – perfect for Christmas gift-giving! The bookstore is open every Sunday during church, or during the week by appointment through the church office.

MEMORIAL SERVICES: Please call the church office to schedule all memorials and coffee hour sponsorships at least two weeks in advance. On the day of the service, please bring a list of family names you would like Father to remember in prayer. Koliva will be distributed at the coffee hour; if you wish to bring in paximadia, koulourakia, or other dry cookie it may also be distributed. Coffee Hour sponsorship is not required, however the church is grateful to those who wish to make a sponsorship donation of $150, and the HCC will set up a table with cloth and coffee, etc. for your family.

Wisdom of the Fathers

So great an evil is envy. For not against strangers only, but even against our own, is it ever warring.

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 40 on Matthew 12, 4th Century

And yet here He speaks only; whereas elsewhere in many cases He heals by laying on of hands also. But nevertheless none of these things made them meek; rather, while the man was healed, they by his health became worse. For His desire indeed was to cure them before him, and He tried innumerable ways of healing, both by what He did in their presence, and by what He said: but since their malady after all was incurable, He proceeded to the work.