CATHEDRAL BULLETIN. 26 th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST THE HOLY MONK MARTYR AND CONFESSOR STEPHEN THE NEW; HOLY MARTYR CHRISTOS

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1 CATHEDRAL BULLETIN 26 th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST THE HOLY MONK MARTYR AND CONFESSOR STEPHEN THE NEW; HOLY MARTYR CHRISTOS See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. St. Paul s Letter to the Ephesians: 5:15 16 Saint Steven s Serbian Orthodox Cathedral Alhambra, California Los Angeles County Matins 9:00 AM Divine Liturgy 10:00 AM

2 SAINT STEVEN S SERBIAN ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL A Parish of the Western American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church Parish Office: 1621 West Garvey Avenue Alhambra, California Telephone: (626) Fax: (626) Right Reverend Bishop Maxim, PhD, Bishop of Western America Protopresbyter Stavrophor Nikola Ceko, Dean Protopresbyter Stavrophor Ilija Daikovich Presbyter Norman P. Kosanovich Today DECEMBER 11, :00 AM Matins 10:00 AM Divine Liturgy 11:15 AM Choir rehearsal North hall Church school 12:00 PM Luncheon/Women s Advent Conference This Week Monday, December 12 Woodland Hills Bible study Tuesday, December 13 La Habra Bible study Thursday, December 15 San Marino Bible study 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM Saturday, December 17 Vespers 6:00 PM For those who like to surf the web you can see what s new at our Cathedral website, or on Saint Steven s Facebook page. Also, if you would like to get regular e bulletins, please contact Fr. Nick. Welcome to ST. STEVEN S CATHEDRAL This bulletin is your guide to the special hymns & New Testament Scripture readings this morning. In addition, it provides news & announcements from our Cathedral parish.

3 HYMNS FOR TODAY FIRST ANTIPHON VERSE: It is good to give thanks to the Lord; and to sing Psalms to Your name, O Most High! REFRAIN: Through the prayers of the Theotokos, Savior, save us. VERSE: To proclaim Your mercy at dawn and Your truth by night! REFRAIN: Through the prayers of the Theotokos, Savior, save us. VERSE: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. REFRAIN: Through the prayers of the Theotokos, Savior, save us. SECOND ANTIPHON VERSE: The Lord is King, He is clothed with majesty; The Lord is clothed with strength and He hath girt Himself! REFRAIN: O Son of God who arose from the dead, save us who sing to Thee: Alleluia! VERSE: For He established the world which shall not be shaken! REFRAIN: O Son of God who arose from the dead, save us who sing to Thee: Alleluia! VERSE: Glory to the Father Both Now and Ever...Only begotten Son and immortal Word of God VERSE: THIRD ANTIPHON For in His hand are the ends of the Earth, and the heights of the mountains are His. For the sea is His and He made it; and the Earth His hands have fashioned! RESURRECTIONAL TROPARION TONE ONE: When the stone had been sealed by the Jews; while the soldiers were guarding Your most pure body; You arose on the third day, O Savior, granting life to the world. The powers of heaven therefore cried to You, O Giver of Life: Glory to Your Resurrection, O Christ! Glory to Your Kingdom! Glory to Your dispensation, O You who loves mankind! KONTAKION FOR THE RESURRECTION TONE ONE: As God, You arose from the tomb in glory, raising the world with Thyself. Human nature praised Thee as God, for death has vanished. Adam exults, O Master! Eve rejoices, for she is delivered from bondage, and cries to Thee: Thou art the Giver of resurrection to all, O Christ! HYMN TO THE MOTHER OF GOD TONE SIX: Steadfast Protectress of Christians and constant advocate before the Creator, do not despise the cry of us sinners; but in your goodness come speedily to help us who call on you in faith. Hasten to hear our petition and to intercede for us, O Theotokos, for you always protect those who honor you!

4 The Epistle Lesson Ephesians 5: 8 19 Celebrant: Wisdom! Let us be attentive! Peace be to all! Reader: And to your spirit! Celebrant: Wisdom! Reader: The Prokimenon in the 1st Tone: Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us as we have set our hope on Thee. Celebrant: Reader: Celebrant: Wisdom! The reading is from the holy Apostle Paul to the Ephesians. Let us be attentive! B rethren, you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light. See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. THE ALLELUIA VERSES: God gives vengance to me, and subdues people under me. He magnifies the salvation of the king, and deals mercifully with His Christ, with David and his seed forever. COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE READING FROM EPHESIANS We must judge what the world says is reasonable on the basis of what God says is true. Besides separating from darkness, Christians are also to expose it. But we must first come out of hiding in order to be exposed ourselves, confessing and repenting of our sins. We renounce the fallenness of the world, but not creation itself.

5 The Holy Gospel St. Luke 12: Celebrant: Wisdom! Let us be attentive! Let us listen to the Holy Gospel! Peace be to all! People: And to your spirit! Celebrant: The reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke. People: Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You! T he Lord told this parable: The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops? So he said, I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul: Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink and be merry. But God said to him, Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided? So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF LUKE The rich man is a fool despite his material success because he vainly puts his trust in these possessions rather than in God. To be rich toward God is to have a life of communion with Him through a sacramental life in the Church, demonstrable faith and works of love and mercy towards others.

6 Prayer is a great weapon, a rich treasure, a wealth that is never exhausted, an undisturbed refuge, a cause of tranquility, the root of a multitude of blessings, and their source. St. John Chrysostom The Orthodox Church has always viewed body and soul as inseparable thus stressing the necessity for preserving both in good health, following our Lord, Jesus Christ's exhortation to his disciples to "heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons" (Matthew 10:10). This follows Christ's ministry to "heal the brokenhearted, and to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind" (Luke 4:18; see Is 61:1), and to heal "all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease (Matthew 4:23). In healing, the Church follows the procedure prescribed by the Apostle James: "Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sin, he will be forgiven" (James 5:14 15). If you or a family member are in the hospital or is in need of pastoral care, please contact Fr. Nick, our Cathedral Dean and our church office at Pastoral Care is the ministry provided by our priests to visit the sick in the hospital and homebound. It is an outreach program to ensure that our faith reaches all of those that are part of our parish. Additionally, our parish bulletin prayer list is maintained regularly by our Cathedral office. Please contact the office to add a name to this list, or to inform us that the person has recovered and their name may be removed from this prayer list of the sick.

7 CATHEDRAL BULLETIN BOARD 2012 STEWARDSHIP COMMITMENT FORMS Everyone should have received a Stewardship brochure and form for 2012 in the mail. After filling in the pledge card, please bring or mail it to the Cathedral. These estimates of financial commitment from our parishioners allow us to be better prepare our budget. Thank you for your continued support and participation as a faithful Steward of the Cathedral. May God reward you one hundred fold. We remind Cathedral Congregation Members that the Cathedral no longer utilizes the dues system for one s financial obligation for membership. In order to continue to be a member in good standing of the Cathedral, in addition to fulfilling the canonical and sacramental components for membership, everyone must also meet their financial obligation annually through a Stewardship pledge. Only members in good standing at Saint Steven s Cathedral have the right to participate in the sacraments with no obligation for payment of stole fees; may attend all regular and special Congregation meetings, take part in the discussions and vote; may be elected to one of the Cathedral Congregation or Auxiliary Boards; and have the privilege of utilizing the Cathedral s social hall facilities. CHOIR CONCERT & OBSERVANCE OF ST. NICHOLAS/CHILDREN S DAY Next Sunday, December 18th, our Cathedral Choir will perform a special concert following the Divine Liturgy, in praise of the Holy Virgin Mother of God; they will be joined by the Church school children for an inspiring finale. Then, a brief children s program will immediately follow lunch in the social hall with the possibility of a special guest joining us! REFLECTION ON SAINT STEPHEN THE NEW, COMMEMORATED TODAY Reading the examples of perseverance in the Faith and generosity of the saints of God, we also become persevering in the Faith and generous. When Copronymus men urged St. Stephen to reject the veneration of icons to please the iconoclastic emperor, Stephen extended his hand, clenched his fist and said: If I had in myself only a fist full of blood, I would shed it for the icon of Christ. From The Prologue by Saint Nikolai Velimirovic BIBLE READINGS FOR THIS WEEK Monday, December 12 1 Timothy 5:1 10; Luke 17:20 25 Tuesday, December 13 1 Timothy 5:11 21; Luke 17:26 37 Wednesday, December 14 1 Timothy 5:22 6:11; Luke 18:15 17, Thursday, December 15 1 Timothy 6:17 21; Luke 18:31 34 Friday, December 16 2 Timothy 1:1,2,8 18; Luke 19:12 28 Saturday, December 17 Galatians 5:22 6:2; Luke 10:19 21

8 Holiday Season Almsgiving Opportunities Many of us have been blessed in this life and want to offer something back to God in thanksgiving. Saint Paul wrote that as Christians we are to bear one another s burdens, so once again during this season of celebrating God s gift of eternal salvation for all humankind, St. Steven s Cathedral would like to bring to your attention some of those in need of your love and mercy: Two clergy families in the Western Diocese currently have serious medical issues that are exacting a tremendous financial toll. Your offering of cash or a gift card from a major retailer or credit card company will especially help at this time of year; Children s Hospital Los Angeles is collecting gifts for their special patients, children with hand deformities. The gifts would have to be brought here no later than next Sunday, December 18 and they are asking not just for toys, but for specific items to help the children with their therapy: Sticker books & stickers, Coloring books & markers, Basketballs, Baseballs, Footballs (regulation or Nerf type), Bead kits, Musical instruments; JOIN THE CIRCLE OF 100 Rebuilding Monastery Hilandar Our Goal 100 Benefactors $1,000 a year for three years Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, During my recent Pilgrimage to our Most Holy Monastery Hilandar on Mount Athos, it was readily apparent that the reconstruction and restoration following the devastating 2004 fire has slowed considerably for lack of funds. The restoration to date has been outstanding but so much more has to be done. Recognizing a great need, I thought that our Diocese might take the lead and make a major contribution toward the completion of the restoration by initiating a PLEDGE PROGRAM to be called the CIRCLE OF 100. We are seeking 100 individuals or families who would pledge $1,000 a year for three years. I have asked our Diocesan vice president, Ron Radakovich to chair this effort and he has gladly accepted. Today s Hilandar was founded in 1198 by Saints Sava and Simeon. In course of its long history, Hilandar has suffered damage time and time again as a result of conquering, plundering, earthquakes and fires, always to be restored to its perennial beauty. We express our gratitude to all people of good will who have so far selflessly and kindly aided the reconstruction of Hilandar. We now pray that more of our people will step forward and support this worthy cause by joining the CIRCLE OF 100. Bishop MAXIM