St. Nicholas Orthodox Church Monthly Parish Bulletin

Transcription

1 St. Nicholas Orthodox Church Monthly Parish Bulletin Orthodox Church in America 2143 S. Center Road Burton, Michigan Served by: Fr. Matthew-Peter Butrie Rector Deacon Kerry Luke Gonser Website: Fr. Matthew s lanscoal@sbcglobal.net Cell: Church: Fax: Services: Sunday - 9:30 a.m. Third Hour 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy Holydays, Vigil and Vespers as announced Confessions are heard before all morning services and after all evening services. But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God; wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. St. Jude 1:20 December 1-31, 2014

2 FROM FATHER S DESK Dearly beloved faithful and friends of Saint Nicholas, You may have seen on television the program Who Do You Think You Are? It s series about celebrities tracing their family history through DNA. Many times the persons find out something about their family history they never knew. Before we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ this month we will hear about our Lord s family history. We will hear Saint Matthew recount Jesus genealogy. The listing of all of these names in the gospel is not for the sake of rattling off the great ancestors of our Lord. Rather, Saint Matthew is providing the broader context for our Lord s birth, to show his Jewish ancestry, that the promise of God would be fulfilled in that the Messiah would come from the house of Israel. And also Saint Matthew is revealing our Lord Jesus great humility and great mercy to us. It is interesting that it is Saint Joseph s ancestry that is recounted rather than that of the Blessed Virgin because Joseph was not Jesus father according to the flesh. But, in the tribes of Israel, all are related so to recount Saint Joseph s lineage is the same as to recount that of the Mother of God. Looking at that line of ancestors is revealing. First there is Abraham and Sarah. They were in extreme old age and when Sarah heard the prophecy that she would bear a son she laughed out loud. She could not believe it would be so. She doubted the word of the Lord until it came to pass. Then there is Judah who, not knowing, became the father of two of his sons by Tamar, his daughter-inlaw. Then there is Salmon who had his son Boaz through Rahab who had been a prostitute. And there is Boaz who became the father of Obed by a Gentile, Ruth. And then there is King David who had his son Solomon through adultery. All of these pieces of our Lord s genealogy and all of the rest show how the Son of God was coming to heal a wounded and broken humanity, a sinful humanity. It was not beneath Him to count as His ancestor s sinners, adulterers, and Gentiles. These show how off-course our human nature had become. How far it had fled from God. And it is the Son of God Who came to reach out to our humanity, to catch it and bring it back to God. He took on that nature which had fornicated in order to purify it. He took on that nature which was sick to heal it. He took on that nature which fell in order to raise it up. (St. Severus) The birth of the Son of God from such a lineage does not demean Him but rather shows the greatness of His mercy to us. Christmas is now only a few short weeks away. In the midst of all the hurry and flurry, let us remember the reason for the season. It is the season of God s mercy to us, of Emmanuel, God-with-us. The Son of God comes to us, even in our sinfulness, to heal us and redeem us from slavery to sin and death. The commercialism we see now, the pressure our society tries to put upon us to outdo ourselves in gift-giving or gift-shopping, is not the true meaning of Christmas. And we can t be forced into this frantic pace or unrealistic expectations. This happens only if we allow ourselves to do so. Let s not rush through and then collapse on Christmas day from sheer exhaustion, thankful that the day has come and gone. Let us be deliberate in our prayer, our fasting, our giving alms as we draw near to the birth in the flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us be offering words of thanks every day that the Son of God has taken on our flesh with its weaknesses and sinfulness in order to save it, in order to save us, each one the first among sinners who can offer glory to God for His plan of salvation which included not only Abraham and David and the rest, but each and every one of us, also, who through Baptism are members with Him. With love in Christ PARISH HEALTH WORKSHOP Thank you to everyone who attended the workshop with Joe Kormos on November 8. Thank you to everyone who helped with the set-up, lunch and clean-up. Thirty-nine (39) people were in attendance. It was an energizing workshop that everyone walked away from with renewed vigor in the mission of our parish as a light of the Gospel in Flint. On the next page is a summary Mr. Kormos presented after Liturgy on Sunday, November 9 with three areas of focus for our parish as we prepare for our 100 th anniversary in a little less than two years: 1- Worship more timeliness in attendance, greater attendance at non-sunday services 2- Charity a line item in the budget for charity and involvement in hands-on charitable works 3- Financial Generosity increase the number of households who pledge & increase in pledge amounts Those who attended the workshop, please share your experience with those who were not there. A full summary from Mr. Kormos will be sent via and printed out in hard copy and be available at the church.

3 Items Joe Kormos Mentioned after Liturgy on Nov. 9 Focus Area Worship Current reality Many late arrivals Goal for 100th Anniversary Emphasize on time arrival & full participation 85% of people in church before Holy God ~3-10 at vespers 20-25@ vespers Charity Financial Generosity Few at feast day services Charitable support from parish funds ~0.2% 80 families support parish (> $100/yr) Median donation (family/yr) = ~ $800 8 families above $2500/yr Commit serious rebirth of feast days Attendance of 25+ for feast liturgies or vespers (various tactics can be tried here) Establish budget policy to increase charitable line item by 2% (of budget) / year up to 10% Identify and begin at least one additional hands on local charitable ministry in which >40 people (and most kids) participate 120 families supporting > (e.g.) $100/yr. Median donation of $1500/yr/family 16 families above $2500/yr.

4 BISHOP ALEXANDER S VISIT On Saturday and Sunday, January 10 & 11 Bishop Alexander will visit our parish for the Sunday after Theophany. Vespers will be at 5:00 pm on Saturday, January 10. On Sunday, January 11 we will welcome Bishop Alexander at 9:45 followed by the Divine Liturgy with the outdoor blessing of water. There will be a Theophany banquet following the Liturgy. Please plan on being with us! ST. NICHOLAS FEAST DAY on Friday, December 5 at 6 pm we will have Vespers with Litya for our parish feast day. Please come to join in worship and fellowship. Reader Schedule December January February 7 Reggie 4 Taras 1 Kathy 14 Johnny 11 Esteban 8 Reggie 21 Esteban 18 Reggie 15 Esteban 28 Angelo 25 Johnny 22 Johnny Third Hour Schedule December January February 7 Lucy 4 Reggie 1 Angelo 14 Reggie 11 Angelo 8 Lucy 21 Angelo 18 Lucy 15 Reggie 28 Lucy 25 Reggie 22 Angelo If you are unable to make your assigned reading date, you must find a replacement. If you are unable to make your assigned reading date, you must find a replacement. LOVE, INC. ENVELOPES In the pews in the church are envelopes for donations to Love In The Name of Christ, a local consortium of churches that provides assistance to those who need help with their utility bills, etc. Your donations go a long way to helping those who are in need. Please be generous to our brothers and sisters in Christ. SONS AND DAUGHTER OF SAINT NICHOLAS Your help is needed this month in preparation for the Nativity of our Lord. On Tuesday, December 9 at 10 am we will arrange the flowers, wreaths and garland for the church as well as put up and decorate the church Christmas tree and the exterior and interior Nativity scenes. The Parish Council will meet on Monday, December 6:45 pm. Please call the parish office if you are unable to attend this meeting. All newly elected parish council members are encouraged to attend this meeting. PARISH MEETING FOR ELECTIONS RESULTS The parish meeting for elections of parish council and auditors was held on Sunday, November 2, The following were elected; Parish Council: Linda Branoff, Lucy Hogg and Reggie Jehnsen. Auditor: Christine Panoff. The installation of the new parish council and auditors will be held on Sunday, January 4, please be in attendance. Parish council members should take Confession and Holy Communion in preparation for their installation. Confessions should be heard prior to the feast of the Nativity. ANNUAL MEETING The Annual Meeting of Saint Nicholas Parish will be held on Sunday, January 18, 2015 beginning with a short prayer service after the Divine Liturgy. The Meeting will then reconvene in the Parish Hall. All parish organizations must prepare a report, oral or written, to be given at this meeting. A Sloppy Joe lunch will be sold for $6.00 a plate. MEMORY ETERNAL +Harold Brock, husband of Laurie Brock, father of Stephanie Price, Stacy Loomis, Joe Brock and the late +Nicholas Brock fell asleep in the Lord on Sunday, November 2. Viewing and Parastas were held at Swartz Funeral Home on Thursday, November 6 with funeral at church on Friday, November 7 followed by interment at Evergreen Cemetery. May God grant His newly-departed servant +Harold a blessed repose and eternal memory.

5 BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES NAMESDAYS BIRTHDAYS 4 Barbara Brown 3 Nick George Barbara Vuckovich 4 Donna Nedanis 6 Nicholas Biernacki 6 Diane Todorovsky Nicholas Karayanis 11 Larry Bladecki-96 yrs Nicholas Karayanis 12 Hailey Paul Nicholas Kirwan 13 David Vuckovich Nicholas Nicoloff 19 Doug Brown Nicholas Ponomarenko 20 Reggie Jehnsen Nicholas Sfetkidis 21 Christine Brucksch Nick George 23 Caitlyn Rittman Nicola Pirkovic John Sfetkides Nicole Steiner 24 Olivia Panoff Nicole Weber 26 Chad Conover Nicole Zelenko Marla Houser Nikolai Evanenko 27 Alexandra Price Nikolas Eckert 30 Marilyn Branoff 9 Hannah Seeley Sunday of the Forefathers Adam Ford December Wedding Anniversaries Adam Michael George 17 Jim & Kristin Hart Noah Gonser 21 Kosta & Luba Todorovsky-60 yrs Sarah Rose Neely Rachael Nicevski Cierra Joy Conover (form of Sarah) 16 Allison Borkovich Alyson Wilhelm 17 Daniel Krigner Sunday before Christmas Deborah Adams Deena Marie Karayanis Debbie Neely 27 Stevan Pirkovic Steve Spankie Steven Nicoloff Steven Nikoloff Steven Panoff Sunday after Christmas Joseph Brock Joseph Neely ST. NICHOLAS DAY Joseph Oginsky Joseph Oginsky POT LUCK LUNCHEON Josephine Sredich Kraig David Houser & Jesse Popoff Visit from St. Nicholas Jessica Biggs SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7 Charles Joseph Jernigan David Batzos David Condon FOLLOWING THE David George David Goodman DIVINE LITURGY David Harrison David Houser PLEASE BRING A David Jernigan David Mitevski MEATLESS DISH TO SHARE David Vuckovich

6 COMING EVENTS Cookie Walk: Saturday, December 13 from 10 am until 1 pm. Theophany Banquet: Sunday, January 11 following Divine Liturgy. CHURCH SCHOOL NEWS Visit from St. Nicholas: Sunday, December 7 Christmas Caroling at Lockwood following Divine Liturgy on Sunday, December 28. ST. CATHERINE S NEWS As a reminder St. Catherine s Women s League meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 6:30 pm Next meeting date: Wednesday, December 3 Upcoming St. Catherine s League Events Cookie Walk: Saturday, December 13 from 10 am 1pm. Your holiday and ethnic baked goods are needed. COFFEE HOUR VOLUNTEERS the 2015 coffee hour volunteer schedule has been posted. It is located next to the kitchen window. The schedule is for the entire year PLEDGES As we draw to the close of 2014 please check to see if you are current with your pledge of stewardship for the year. Anytime during the year you can make your pledges using VISA or Master Card by stopping in the church office. In order to receive credit for 2014 all pledges MUST be in no later than December 29. Any pledges received after business Monday, December 30 (3pm) will be credited to your 2015 pledge. Our stewardship is our pledge to God as a thank-offering to Him for the blessings He has bestowed upon us. The Orthodox Book Club will meet on Monday, December 8 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at St. George. Our book will be: "Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives: The Life and Teachings of Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica". You will be touched and deepened by the life and words of this elder. For more information please contact Deacon Michael Bassett at frdnmike@gmail.com CONGRATULATIONS to Noah Gonser for earning the rank of Eagle Scout. A ceremony will be held at St. Nichols on Saturday, December 6 at 2pm. NORTH END SOUP KITCHEN ANGEL TREE PROGRAM Our parish will participate in this program for this Christmas. We are adopting three (3) families The names and ages for family #1: Catina (girl-2 years old), Cornell (boy-4 years old and Iyona (girl-6 years old), family #2: Barb (16 years old) and Sam (12 years old) and family #3: Irene (15 years old) and Shelby (16 years old). The gift items are on tags hanging from the wreath in church. Take a tag and shop for the child you have chosen. Keep the tag with the gift, so that we know which family the gift belongs to. Their gifts will then be dropped off at the North End Soup Kitchen to be distributed at the Christmas Dinner at the Soup Kitchen. Please have your donations into the parish office by Dec. 14. The gifts need to be taken to the Soup Kitchen no later than Wednesday, Dec. 17. We will need volunteers to wrap and deliver the gifts. See Father Matthew if you are willing to volunteer. Coffee Hour Volunteers December 7: St. Nicholas Day Potluck Luncheon December 14: Adams & Gonser Families December 21: Kantor Family December 28

7 November 16, 2014 January 11, 2015 Bring any non-perishable food items and/or toiletries (Toothpaste, Toothbrush, Brush, Comb, etc) Place your donations in front of the icon of St. George. Cash donations will also be accepted. *Please do not bring expired food items. DAILY INTERCESSION FOR OUR SICK AND HOMEBOUND The following are our brothers and sisters of St. Nicholas who are currently homebound, suffering from chronic illness, in recovery or in need of special prayers. Please remember them in your prayers and reach out to them with a card, a phone call or a visit! Holy Communion is available upon request. Archimandrite Roman Susan Goodman Lydia Keeler Peter Samaras Helen Bibilikow Jo Ann Havens Macy Lemmen Anne Smith Larry Bladecki Bill Haw Tula Nastos Aspasia Stathopoulos Anna Branoff Helen Iwanoff Evdokia Naumoff Bill Tadrick Linda Branoff Goldie Johnson Pauline Nenoff Wendy Tadrick Gladys Edwards Nick Karayanis Fred Oginsky Gloria Zelenko Evanka Elieff Mary Karayanis Olga Samaras John Zelenko To aid in your outreach, here is a listing of the addresses and phone numbers of our Homebound: Helen Bibilikow 2109 Ann Arbor Saline Rd #206 Ann Arbor, MI Larry Bladecki th Street Bay City, MI Gladys Edwards 2 Harbor Dr. St. Clair, MO Evanka Elieff 5080 Baldwin Rd #E8 Holly, MI Goldie Johnson 310 E. Willard Ave Lansing, MI Lydia Keeler 4104 Squire Hill Dr. Flushing, MI Pete & Olga Samaras 1285 Cleaver Rd. Caro, MI Anne Smith 3375 N. Linden Rd #306 Flint, MI Aspasia Stathopoulos 4064 Sheraton Dr. Flint, MI 48532

8 CHRISTMAS FLOWERS This year you will be able to offer the Christmas flowers in honor of the living or as a memorial for the deceased. Poinsettias will be available only in the large arrangement. The offering for the large plant will be $ We will also have wreaths available: 36 inch wreath, 24 inch wreath and 10 inch wreath. The offerings for the garland will be priced at $ Please fill out the form below as soon as possible. There are a limited number of plants available. We will be ordering 20 poinsettias, 2 36 wreaths, 2 24 wreaths and 2 10 wreaths and 1 50 garland; donations will be taken on a first come first served basis. Return the form to the office, give it to a council member, or put it into the collection basket on Sunday. The names of those honored or memorialized will be published on a later date. Dear Father Matthew: I wish to donate: In honor of (for the living) Red poinsettia ($20.00) (20 available) (How many) 36 inch wreath ($50.00) (2 available) (How many) 24 inch wreath ($40.00) (2 available) (How many) 10 inch wreath ($20.00) (2 available) (How many) 50 foot Garland ($30.00) (1 available) (How many) Or, in memory of (deceased) Name: Amount $

9 Theophany Banquet Sunday, January 11, 2015 Following the Divine Liturgy and Outdoor Blessing of Water Menu Lamb Rice Bread & Butter Salad Dessert Beverage Adults: $12.00 Children 12 & Under: $6.00

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12 December St. Nicholas Orthodox Church 2143 S. Center Rd. Burton, MI Website: saintnicholasburton.org Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 **Fast 3 St. Catherine s 6:30 pm 4 **Fast 5 **Fast 6 pm Vesperal Liturgy for St. Nicholas 6 *Fast St. Nicholas Day Noah Gonser Eagle Scout 2 pm 7 *Fast St. Nicholas Visit Potluck Luncheon 3 pm Baptism of Madi Lu Fisher No Church School 8 Parish Council 6:45 pm Book Club 6-8 St. George 9 **Fast 10 am Decorating of the Church **Fast 12 Fr. Matthew in Toledo Cookie Drop Off 9 am 4 pm 13 *Fast Cookie Walk 10 am 1 pm 14 *Fast 40 days +Harold Brock Church School **Fast Fr. Matthew in Toledo **Fast **Fast 21 **Fast Church School 22 Fr. Matthew in Toledo 23 **Fast 7 pm Royal Hours 24 Eve of the Nativity 5:30 pm Carols 6 pm Vespers w/liturgy 25 NO Fast Nativity of our Lord 26 NO Fast Synaxis of the Theotokos 27 NO Fast 28 NO Fast No Church School 29 NO Fast 30 NO Fast 31 NO Fast New Year s Eve Office Open 9am 1pm 1 NO Fast New Year s Day 2 NO Fast 3 NO Fast *Fish, Wine & Oil Permitted **Wine & Oil Permitted

13 January St. Nicholas Orthodox Church 2143 S. Center Rd. Burton, MI Website: saintnicholasburton.org Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat ALL DATES & TIMES ARE TENTATIVE Fast Fish Permitted Wine & Oil Permitted Dairy Permitted 1 NO Fast New Year s Day Circumcision of the Lord 2 NO Fast 3 NO Fast 4 Swearing in of Parish Council Church School 5 6 pm Vespers with Divine Liturgy for Theophany & Blessing of Water 6 Theophany Fr. Matthew in Toledo 7 Synaxis of St. John the Baptist pm Vespers 11 9:45 3 rd & 6 th Hour Outdoor Blessing of Water Theophany Banquet 12 Parish Council 6:45 pm No Church School 18 Annual Meeting Church School Winter Dinner for Dormition St. George month Parastas +Tronda Nicevski Church School Three Holy Hierarchs 31