St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church Sunday November 26, th Sunday after Pentecost. Weekly Schedule of Services/Events

Transcription

1 St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church Sunday November 26, th Sunday after Pentecost St. John Chrysostom Epistle: Hebrews 7:26-8:2 Gospel: John 10:9-16 8:5-15 Weekly Schedule of Services/Events Sunday, November 26 9:00AM Divine Liturgy Epistle: Altar Server Liam Gerety 10:30AM Church School Monday, November 27 7:00PM Choir Rehearsal Tuesday, November 28 Nativity Fast Begins 12:00PM St. John's Seniors Thursday, November 30 9:00AM Phyllis Piendle by her family Sunday, December 3 9:00AM Divine Liturgy Epistle: Jenna Greenhill 10:30AM Church School From the Church Fathers... Take heed, then, often to come together to give thanks to God, and show forth His praise. For when ye assemble frequently in the same place, the powers of Satan are destroyed, and the destruction at which he aims is prevented by the unity of your faith. St. Ignatius of Antioch Epistle to the Ephesians Ch. 13, 2nd century Service Schedule Divine Liturgy 9am Weekday Eve Service 7pm General Information Street Address: 384 Mill Hill Ave., Bridgeport, CT Mailing Address 40 Beaver Dam Road Stratford, CT Contact Information Fr. David Cochran H: C: pauldcochran@gmail.com Carol Feduik, President carolcfeduik@yahoo.com John Galpin, Choir Dir. choir@stjohnsmillhill.com Peter Adzima, Editor newsletter@snet.net Diocesan Online Resources Diocesan Website: Camp Nazareth: Facebook: acroddiocese Twitter: acrodnews You Tube: youtube.com/ acroddiocese

2 Weekly Announcements CROSS ROAD ORTHODOX SUMMER INSTITUTE: This is a 10 day immersive program for high school Juniors and Seniors held at Holy Cross School of Theology. Scholarships are available. Please see the bulletin for more information of contact Fr. David. PAN ORTHODOX UNCTION SERVICE: The Orthodox Clergy Brotherhood of Greater Bridgeport is sponsoring an Unction Service on December 7 at 7pm at St. George Church in Trumbull. I hope to see all of you there. CHRISTMAS FOOD BANK: Our Christmas Food Bank will take place on Sunday, December 17th. Please be as generous as possible. In addition, we are looking for donations of hams, turkeys or kielbasa. GIVING TREE: Our Annual Giving Tree is up in the Church Auditorium. If you are able, please take a two ro two and purchase the items listed. Please bring them wrapped to the Church by December 17. God bless you for your generosity. ST. NICHOLAS BRUNCH: Our St. Nicholas Brunch will take place Sunday, December 17, following Divine Liturgy. More information will be available shortly. Please plan to share this enjoyable day with us! Scripture Readings for Sunday Epistle Reading The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 7:26-8:2. Brethren, it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people; he did this once for all when he offered up himself. Indeed, the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect for ever. Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the sanctuary and the true tent which is set up not by man but by the Lord. Gospel Reading The Reading is from John 10:9-16 The Lord said, "I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hireling and not a shep-

3 herd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hireling and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd." Saint of the Day - John Chysostom This greatest and most beloved of all Christian orators was born in Antioch the Great in the year 344 or 347; his pious parents were called Secundus and Anthusa. After his mother was widowed at the age of twenty, she devoted herself to bringing up John and his elder sister in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. John received his literary training under Anthragathius the philosopher, and Libanius the sophist, who was the greatest Greek scholar and rhetorician of his day. Libanius was a pagan, and when asked before his death whom he wished to have for his successor, he said, "John, had not the Christians stolen him from us." With such a training, and with such gifts as he had by nature, John had before him a brilliant career as a rhetorician. But through the good example of his godly mother Anthusa and of the holy Bishop Meletius of Antioch (see Feb. 12), by whom he was ordained reader about the year 370, he chose instead to dedicate himself to God. From the years 374 to 381 he lived the monastic life in the hermitages that were near Antioch. His extreme asceticism undermined his health, compelling him to return to Antioch, where Saint Meletius ordained him deacon about the year 381. Saint Meletius was called to Constantinople later that year to preside over the Second Ecumenical Council, during which he fell asleep in the Lord. In 386 Bishop Flavian ordained John presbyter of the Church of Antioch. Upon his elevation to the priesthood his career as a public preacher began, and his exceptional oratorical gifts were made manifest through his many sermons and commentaries. They are distinguished by their eloquence and the remarkable ease with which rich imagery and scriptural allusions are multiplied; by their depth of insight into the meaning of Scripture and the workings of God's providence; and, not least of all, by their earnestness and moral force, which issue from the heart of a blameless and guileless man who lived first what he preached to others. Because of his

4 fame, he was chosen to succeed Saint Nectarius as Patriarch of Constantinople. He was taken away by stealth, to avoid the opposition of the people, and consecrated Patriarch of Constantinople on February 28, 398, by Theophilus, Patriarch of Alexandria, who was to prove his mortal enemy. At that time the Emperor of the East was Arcadius, who had had Saint Arsenius the Great as his tutor (see May 8); Arcadius was a man of weak character, and much under the influence of his wife Eudoxia. The zealous and upright Chrysostom's unsparing censures of the lax morals in the imperial city stung the vain Eudoxia; through Theophilus' plottings and her collaboration, Saint John was banished to Pontus in 403. The people were in an uproar, and the following night an earthquake shook the city; this so frightened the Empress Eudoxia that she begged Arcadius to call Chrysostom back. While his return was triumphant, his reconciliation with the Empress did not last long. When she had a silver statue of herself erected in the forum before the Church of the Holy Wisdom (Saint Sophia) in September of 403, and had it dedicated with much unseemly revelry, Saint John thundered against her, and she could not forgive him. In June of 404 he was exiled to Cucusus, on the borders of Cilicia and Armenia. From here he exchanged letters with Pope Innocent of Rome, who sent bishops and priests to Constantinople requesting that a council be held. Saint John's enemies, dreading his return, prevailed upon the Emperor to see an insult in this, and had John taken to a more remote place of banishment called Pityus near the Caucasus. The journey was filled with bitter sufferings for the aged bishop, both because of the harshness of the elements and the cruelty of one of his 310 guards. He did not reach Pityus, but gave up his soul to the Lord near Comana in Pontus, at the chapel of the Martyr Basiliscus (see May 22), who had appeared to him shortly before, foretelling the day of his death, which came to pass on September 14, 407. His last words were "Glory be to God for all things." His holy relics were brought from Comana to Constantinople thirty-one years later by the Emperor Theodosius the Younger and Saint Pulcheria his sister, the children of Arcadius and Eudoxia, with fervent supplications that the sin of their parents against him be forgiven; this return of his holy relics is celebrated on January 27. Saint John was surnamed Chrysostom ("Golden-mouth") because of his eloquence. He made exhaustive commentaries on the divine Scriptures and was the author of more works than any other Church Father, leaving us complete commentaries on the Book of Genesis, the Gospels of Saints Matthew and John, the Acts, and all the Epistles of Saint Paul. His extant works are 1,447 sermons and 240 epistles. Twenty-two teachers of the Church have written homilies of praise in his honour. Besides his feasts today and on January 27, he is celebrated as one of the Three Hierarchs on January 30, together with Saint Basil the Great and Saint Gregory the Theologian.

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6 OCF Giving Tuesday With the Thanksgiving and Nativity Fast Season upon us, the Diocesan Chancery is pleased to provide you information regarding the Orthodox Christian Fellowship s ( OCF ) Student Leadership Board s 2017 Giving Tuesday Challenge. Giving Tuesday is November 28, 2017, which is this coming Tuesdsay. As most of you know, OCF is our Orthodox Church s campus ministry. All across the United States and Canada, OCF, through its Student Leadership Board, hosts retreats for college students. To keep the regional and district retreats affordable, the OCF s Student Leadership Board has established a campaign whose sole purpose is providing funding to make attending these retreats possible for students who otherwise would be unable to participate. The 2017 Giving Tuesday Challenge is already open. Online donations must be made by November 28, 2017 at 11:59:59 Pacific Standard Time and mailed donations must be postmarked on or before November 28, 2017 to be credited to the matching challenge. Contributions can be made online at Donorbox.org/givingtuesday-17 or by mailing a check to Orthodox Christian Fellowship, Giving Tuesday Challenge, 50 Goddard Avenue, Brookline, MA To follow OCF's Giving Tuesday progress on the 28th, you can follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (@ocfministry). When making a donation please designate on your online or mailed in donation that the donation is for the Giving Tuesday Challenge. Please keep our Diocesan college students in your thoughts and prayers.

7 Diocesan Distinguished Donor Program

8 Birthdays & Anniversaries Birthdays and Anniversaries Happy December Birthdays to: Holly Mesavage 1 Steve Thrush 5 David Chernak 5 Alexis Klimaszewski 8 Greg Babey 9 Chuck Hall 10 Annamae Dragone 12 Nick Vasil 16 Sandy Masikiewicz 18 Helen Kopchik 20 Kingston Mesavage 26 Christina Adzima 30 Cassie Chirsky 31 May God grant you many more years! Please Alix your birthday or anniversary!!! amsdrs@optonline.net Monthly Announcements and Events Lucky 52 Winners for November 5 th Helen Villareal #34 12 th Nancy Barger #5 19 th Pat LaBelle #9 26 David Skirkanich # 26 Rescue Mission Volunteers: December 10: Don, Alix, and Irene Coffee Hour: 12/3 Capellaro Family 12/10 Semanchik Family 12/17 St. Nicholas Breakfast 12/31 Chrissy & Lynne Food Bank: December 17th. Please give with your heart. School Supplies: As you are doing your Christmas, please remember to pick up some school supplies! The R Club will be collecting school supplies throughout the year. Please bring in any supplies that will help children succeed in school. We will be setting up kits next June to send to the IOCC. Supplies needed: pencils, crayons, markers, spiral notebooks, rulers, pens, etc. this is the time of year that these things are on sale.

9 Nativity Fast Prayer Challenge This year, just like the last two years, to further focus our journey of peace and love this Nativity season, Bishop Gregory has offered a challenge to all of the clergy and faithful and especially the youth and young adults of the Diocese. It is not enough to talk about making the world a more peaceful place, rather we must actually do something about it. And the challenge is: To offer a special prayer for peace during evening prayers. During the Litany of Fervent Supplication at each Divine Liturgy a special petition is also to be included. The text of these prayers are included below. Each household should have sufficient copies so that each young person that can read has one by their bed to use nightly and those who are too young to read may say this prayer together with their parents before they go to bed. Of course all adults should join the challenge as well so that all together our prayers will reach our Lord s ears. Prayer For Peace Evening Prayers Lord Jesus Christ, Son and Word of God, You became flesh and dwelt among us. You made the womb of Your most-pure Mother more spacious than the heavens. Yet You, the true light, were born in the darkness of a cave, thereby enlightening the world that was darkened by sin. To redeem us, You shared Your whole life. You submitted to death on the Cross and rose from the dead, bestowing life. We share in Your death and resurrection, that we may indeed be dead to sin and alive in You. As we fast and prepare to celebrate Your lifegiving manifestation, we pray especially that our respect for life will prevail in the world. Directed by Your command to care for the least of these, may we and all people heed Your call to show care and concern for life in the womb; for the lives of the poor, oppressed, and suffering; and for the lives of the sick, the elderly, and the dying. May Your peace reign in our hearts and throughout world, especially in places of unrest, so that the shedding of blood in warfare, violence, terrorism, tyranny, and all manner of strife may come to an end. May aggression between neighbors and nations fade away. May love reign in the lives of families. O Savior, You have said I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. May we become partakers of Your abundant life, together with all the saints whose lives have pleased You from the beginning. For You are the way, the truth and the life, O Christ our God, and to You we give glory, together with Your eternal Father and Your mostholy, gracious and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and forever. AMEN.

10 CrossRoad Summer Institute The Diocesan Chancery is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the 2018 CrossRoad program. CrossRoad is a ten-day academic summer institute that prepares high school juniors and seniors to make big life decisions and invites them to connect with the Orthodox Christian theological and spiritual tradition. Participants from all over the country come together to experience daily worship, take theology classes from some of the best professors in the country, visit local parishes, serve their neighbor, tour the city, and even spend a day at the beach. Historically, CrossRoad has been hosted solely on the campus of Hellenic College Holy Cross. This year, we are excited to announce that CrossRoad is expanding to Chicago! This summer, there will be a third session offered on the campus of North Park University in Chicago, IL. CrossRoad Chicago is the same program, run by the same staff, in a brand new location! The sessions are as follows: Session 1 - June 16 June 26 (Boston) Session 2 - July 2 July 12 (Boston) Session 3 - July 21 July 31 (Chicago) Scholarships covering the registration and tuition fee will be available to our Diocesan students who apply and are accepted to any one of the three sessions. Diocesan Students interested in attending are asked to apply to the program before the February 1, 2018 Deadline. Upon acceptance, students are kindly asked to contact Fr. Stephen Loposky, Diocesan Director of Youth at campnazareth@acrod.org or

11 Christmas Shut In List Mrs. Ann Andras Hancock Hall 31 Staples Road Danbury, CT Mrs. Jacqueline Banik C/O Whitney Manor 2798 Whitney Avenue Hamden, Connecticut Mrs. Mary Belush 201 Granite Road Apt 13 Guilford, CT Mrs. Anna Bashar 104 Blueberry Lane Shelton, CT Mrs.George Borodack 36 Oldfield Road Trumbull, CT Mr. Joseph Chirsky Rock 708A Bridgeport Avenue Shelton, CT Mr. Michael Demchak 4312 Ashlar Village 74 Cheshire Road Wallingford, CT Mrs. Margaret Dobson 40 East Gate Lane Stratford, CT Mr.. Frank Esuchenko Gardner Heights HCC 172 Rocky Rest Road Shelton, CT Mr. Joseph Fialkovich 92 Big Horn road Shelton, CT Mrs. Katherine Henetz Atria of Stratford 6911 Main Street Stratford, CT Mrs. Mary Huchko St. Joseph s Manor 6448 Main Street Trumbull, CT Mrs. Anna Kaplan 57 Vought Place Stratford, CT Mr. John Kranyak St. Joseph s Manor 6448 Main Street Trumbull, CT Mr.& Mrs. Edward Lesko 32 Mill Hill Avenue Bridgeport, CT Mr. Edward Lovanio C/O Lord Chamberlain HCC 7003 Main Street Stratford, CT Mrs. Marie Mudre 70 Brandon Ave Stratford, CT Mrs. Irene Osowski 9 Crosby Commons Shelton, CT Mrs. Ann Pall Carriage Green # Plains Road Milford, CT Mr. John Plavnicky 192A Bayfield Lane Stratford, CT Mrs. Christine Samoskevich 9 Lantern Drive Newtown, CT Mrs. Helen Saranich 307 Wesley Heights Shelton, CT Mrs. Helen Skirkanich Milford Health Care Center 195 Platt Street Milford, CT Mrs. Margaret Strich 54 Cedarknoll Drive Stratford, Ct Mrs. Helen Sutyak Benchmark of SL at Split Rock 708A Bridgeport Avenue Shelton, CT Mrs. Ann Tvardzik Cambridge Manor 2428 Easton Turnpike Fairfield,CT Mr. George Vasil 330 Kent Avenue Bridgeport, CT

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13 On Stewardship - Giving Your All Part 2 And (Jesus) said, Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all the living that she had (Luke 21:1-4 RSV). The Gospel story of The Widow s Mite is very well-known. As Jesus observes those who were making offerings at the temple in Jerusalem, he sees two types of givers. First there are those who make a great show of the great amount they have given; second there was the widow who gave all that she had. The large donations of the rich had deprived them of no comfort or even luxury. Their giving required no sacrifice. This poor widow, so much a picture of the widow who gave all her food to the Holy Prophet Elias leaving none for herself or her son, gave her last two coins to give support to what she held to be most important in her life. What she held to be important was of more value than money, and, now without anything, perhaps more important than even her own life. The value of the widow s mites could not even be compared to the value of any other gift. It is the motive that gives value to our acts. Not the great things that every eye sees and every tongue praises that are accounted most precious in the eyes of God. A heart that is full of faith and love and sacrifice is dearer to God than the most costly gift. The poor widow gave her living to do the little that she did. She deprived herself of food in order to give these two mites to the cause she loved. And she did it in faith, believing that her heavenly Father would not overlook her great need. It was this unselfish spirit and childlike faith that won Christ s commendation. And what of the rich and wealthy? In this Gospel story, those rich who gave, we are told, gave out of their abundance. And after they had given? They still had abundance. They gave not in sacrifice. They suffered nothing from their giving. And they had no increase in reliance upon the graciousness of God than they had before they gave their gift. Our stewardship, as a way of life, is best shown when we give till it hurts as the old saying goes. If when we give of ourselves to Christ and His Church we do not increase our reliance upon God to provide, then we, too, have simply given out of our abundance. she out of her poverty put in all the living that she had This weekly series of brief thoughts on stewardship and Orthodox life is brought to you by your Diocesan Stewardship Commission.

14 Parish Prayer List Please pray for parish family and friends Helen Barbara Sophie Elisabeth Gerald Alice Mary Ann Dan Rosa Nancy Janice Tom Mary Craig Bernadette Susan Helen Sally Kathleen Luann Anne Mary Carolyn Lorraine John Jason Adam Margaret Judy Kevin Adam Anna Michael Nicholas Tom Frank Carol Michael Susan Edward Rebecca Jackie Pauline Mary Helen John Gary Carl Angie Mary Connor Addie Nadine Linda Deborah Bill Arleen John Reenie Debby Dave Dave Kelly Michael Layla Lona Korie Katie Anastasia Larissa Ellen Sean Rebecca Laura Melisa Enid Roger Ronald Anne Noreen David John Cameron and family Brett Michael Jimmy Helen Rebecca Mary Anne Shelli Rosa Bryice Breanna Lillian Joe Amanda Alexander Jackie Mike Bob Denise Kristen Jason Jordan Craig Bernadette Susan O holy Father, heavenly Physician of our souls and bodies, who has sent Your Onlybegotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to heal all our ailments and deliver us from death: visit and heal these Your servants, granting them release from pain and restoration to health and vigor, that they may give thanks unto You and bless Your holy Name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: now and ever and forever. Amen.

15 Daily Scripture Readings for November 2017 Prayer before Reading Scripture 1. Romans Romans Romans Acts 20: Acts Acts Ephesians Ephesians Philippians Colossians Hebrews Hebrews Hebrews Hebrews Philemon & 1 Peter 1, Peter Peter Timothy Timothy Titus Timothy John 1, John John, 3 John & Jude 25. Revelation Revelation Revelation Revelation Revelation Revelation Revelation Memory Verse Great peace have those who love Thy law; nothing can make them stumble - Psalm 119:165 * Reading plan courtesy of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese November Memorial Service - December 9th 9am George & Mary; Michael & Anna; Ann; Benjamin & Mary; Margaret by Michael Mojcik George, Theodora, Lillian, Paul, Helen by Helen Dudick Alexander, Tillie Dobosz by the Dobosz family John by the Adzima Family Mary, Nicholas by Susan Kopchik John, Stephen, Martha by Martha Petrus George; Valint & Mary; Vasil & Mary by Mrs. Anna Karaffa Parents: Stephen & Helen, Peter by Mary Anne Vojtek

16 St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church Sunday Divine Liturgy 9:00am Holy Day Divine Liturgy 9:00am Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 3 Divine Liturgy 9am Epistle: J. Greenhill Blessing of children Church School Coffee: Capellaro Church School 10 Divine Liturgy 9am Epistle: G. Morrison Church School Coffee: Semanchik 17 St. Nicholas Day Divine Liturgy 9am Epistle: J. Morrison St. Nicholas Breakfast R Club cookie Sale Food Bank 24 Reader s Service 9am 31 Divine Liturgy 9am Coffee:Chris & Lynne Epistle: C. Greenhill 4 Entry Mother of God Divine Liturgy 9am Choir Rehearsal 7pm 11 Choir Rehearsal 7pm 18 St. Nicholas Vespers 5 St. John s Seniors 12 St. John s Seniors 19 St. Nicholas Divine Liturgy 9am St. John s Seniors December Moleben to Mother of God with anointing 7pm 13 Moleben to Mother of God with anointing 7pm 20 Moleben to Mother of God with anointing 7pm 7 Holy Unction at St. George s Trumbull 7pm Monthly Memorial 9am Confessions R Club Cookie Packing/Meeting and St Nick setup 21 Monthly Pirohi setup 9am Officers Meeting 7pm Weekday Memorial Services 8am Evening Services 7pm 22 Monthly Pirohi 9am EP + Anna Kudravy