SAINT JAMES ORTHODOX CHURCH

Transcription

1 SAINT JAMES ORTHODOX CHURCH 195 N. Main Street Milpitas, Ca Matins 8:00 a.m. Liturgy 10:30 a.m. The Very Reverend Fr. Jiris Hanna (408) Fr. Dcn. Joseph Kawar (408) Sunday January 11 (12/29), st Sunday after Pentecost Sunday after the Nativity Commemoration of the Holy Righteous Ones: Joseph the Betrothed, David the King, and James the Brother of the Lord The 14,000 Infants slain by Herod at Bethlehem St. Marcellus, abbot of the Monastery of the Unsleeping Ones, Constantinople (485) األحد الحادي والثالثون بعد العنصرة - األحد الذي بعد ميالد المسيح - نقيم فيه تذكار القديسين الصديقين يوسف الخطيب. وداود الملك. ويعقوب اخي األله - تذكار األطفال القديسين األربعة عشر الفا الذين قتلهم هيرودس - وأبينا البار مركل س رئيس دير الذين ال ينامون Matins (Eothina IX): John 20:19 31 Epistle: Galatians 1:11 19 Gospel: Mathew 2:13 23 CHRIST IS BORN GLORIFY HIM المسيح ولد... مجد وه CHRISTOS GENATE DOXASATE Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men. المجد هلل في العلى وعلى األرض السالم وفي الناس المسرة. Δόξα εν Υψίστοις Θεώ και επί γης ειρήνη εν ανθρώποις ευδοκία.

2 My Dear Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, Message From The Very Rev. Fr. Giris Hanna On this most joyful week, our Holy Orthodox Church celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ and the chain of miraculous events that have shined upon us all. Not only do we celebrate the glorious birth of our Savior, but the life and resurrection of Christ, which has once again opened the gates to paradise. The birth of Jesus Christ was most importantly the entry of salvation into our world. This defining moment in history is significant as it is not only the birth of our Lord but the birth to our faith. Through our faith, we are given the chance to once again join our Almighty One in the heavens of heavens. The Almighty God freely chose to become a human being, in every aspect except for sin. This is what is meant by the Gospel of John And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Even though it was within His power, our God did not choose to enter this world clothed as an earthly monarch looking to conquer this world for its earthly fruits. Rather, He came as the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), whose desire was to restore all human beings to a relationship with God permanently bonded by love. He faced humiliation, pain, suffering and denial. He prayed for us, fasted for us and finally, He was crucified for us. It is our duty to return the love that Our Lord has given us. This joyful feast of the Nativity once again, reminds us to love one another, to help the needy and to most importantly live holy lives that will lead us back to the path that our Lord Jesus Christ came down and paved for us. May the Lord God bless you and your family and fill your hearts with joy and peace during this Holy feast of the Nativity and may the new year be a joyful and blessed one filled with Lord s Grace.. + Fr. Giris Hanna Fast Free Period January 7 January 17 The Orthodox church prohibits fasting during this period after the Nativity including Wednesdays and Fridays Wednesdays & Fridays fasting resumes on Wednesday 1/21 كل عام وأنتم بخير

3 Nativity Prayer Services Monday January 5 th 2015 The Royal Hours for the Nativity (First, Third, Sixth, and Ninth Hours) starting at 4:00pm Divine Liturgy of St. Basil at 7:00pm Tuesday January 6 th, 2015 The Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Matins starting at 5:00pm Nativity Divine Liturgy 7:00pm Followed by Potluck Dinner اوقات صالة عيد الميالد المجيد األثنين 5 كانون الثاني 2015 السواعي الكبيرة لميالد المسيح )الساعة االولى والثالثة والسادسة والتاسعة( الساعة 4:00 مساءا قداس باسيليوس االلهي الساعة 7:00 ليال الثالثاء 6 كانون الثاني 2015 قداس عيد الميالد المجيد صالة السحر الساعة 5:00 مساءا القداس االلهي لعيد الميالد المجيد الساعة 7:00 مساءا يتبع بعشاء العيد If you plan to have confession with Fr. Giris, please arrive early so we can start our Nativity service at 7pm. Thank you for your understanding. Other Services This Week Friday 1/9 at 7pm Proto-martyr and Archdeacon Stephen Thank You For Your Understanding If you need to talk to Fr. Giris after the liturgy on Sundays, he will be more than happy to take as much time as you need. But please allow him to spend some time with the rest of the parish in the church hall first. Please do not tie him up in the church or in the office immediately after the liturgy. You can also call him directly and set an appointment to meet with him privately.

4 God Is With Us! Christ is born! Glorify Him! Christ is come from heaven! Receive Him! Christ is on earth! Be ye lifted up! Give ear all the nations! Attend all ye inhabitants of the earth! For God is with us! For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: And the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this (Isaiah 9:6-7). This week we do the unusual! We reverse the patterns of earthly life, waking, gathering, worshipping at night as the world sleeps! We refuse the routines of corruption because the unusual itself has taken place! We reverse the patterns of earthly life because God Himself has reversed the very fabric of human existence. We refuse the routines of corruption and the oppression of sleep because this week, in the darkness of the night, the incorruptible One has clothed Himself in mortal flesh! This week the Virgin brings forth the incomprehensible One! He Who is before the ages God, is born a Child in Bethlehem. He Who called the universe into existence and fashioned man in His power takes His newly acquired hands and cups the breasts of the Virgin to His newly acquired mouth to drink. The whole universe will never be the same. Our lives will never be the same. And so we meet in the night. We worship at night as if to proclaim to our own hearts and to the world itself- Take heed! Sound the trumpets! Ring the bells! Christ is born to raise up the image that had fallen! Consider the glory of this holy night of the Nativity. Thousands of years ago our first parents lived in unceasing communion with the Holy Trinity. They radiated the grace of God, and lived in an unspeakable joy and happiness in the presence of the Lord. This precious pearl, this angelic life, they defiled and trampled under foot by their passions. Passions for food, for artificial glory, and self-importance, and they found themselves lamenting bitterly as they tasted what the devils had to offer. They were cast from Paradise, and found themselves separated from God. They were separated by something more profound than geography. They had lost their friendship, and their privilege of intimacy. They had become strangers, aliens, outcasts, even enemies of the Almighty. But God did not do what we humans so often do when we are betrayed. He did not abandon those who had spit in His face. He began to devise ways to recover man. He spoke to our fathers once again. Again we heard His voice. But it was not as we had heard it in Paradise. God spoke to our forefathers long ago in the prophets in many portions and in many ways. God inspired men to speak as His ambassadors. These were the prophets. Pure men. Holy men. Men and women devoted to seeking the face of God and refusing the pleasures of this world. To these prophets the Lord God delivered messages of hope for His people and inspired writings that over the centuries we have gathered together and preserved for our salvation. We heard through these prophets that a day would come in the future when the Fall of our first parents would be undone. Cryptically, mysteriously, we heard that somehow our separation from God would be reversed and overcome, and that God Himself would come to us. We waited until the fullness of time came when God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the Law that we might receive adoption as His children (Gal. 4:4) and our intimate communion, face to face friendship, and familial relation would be restored. And not just restored but made more solid, deep and abiding than ever it was in Paradise of old. This week we, on behalf of the world, welcome the Co-Eternal Son to the earth as a man! We witness the birth in the flesh of the Son of God! God is with us! Never to leave us again! Almighty God, in His great condescension and love for us has come down from on high, bending over and kissing the earth! He has cradled us in His arms and assumed our nature! He has joined what was thought impossible to join: divinity and humanity. God s humility has saved us. His lowliness has lifted us high. His poverty has made us rich. We who worship such a humble God, Who has traversed the heavens and bowed down to earth for us, can we not bow down to one another? We, Who have benefited from such humility, can we not also be humble? Can we not also bow down before and obey our elders? Our parents? Our teachers? Can we not also bow down before and obey our spiritual fathers? Before those more holy and Christ-like than we? Even before those whose innocence proves them to be our superiors, such as young children and the mentally handicapped who have never committed sin? Certainly we can mightily show ourselves to be Christians and servants of the humble God by so doing. Christ is born!

5 Saints This Week Friday 1/9 (12/27) Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen Yesterday the Master appeared in the flesh among us, today His servant departs from the flesh. Yesterday the King was born, and today His servant is stoned to death; for His sake, the divine Protomartyr Stephen is perfected through martyrdom. امس اقبل السيد بالجسد الينا واليوم العبد برح بالجسد. امس ولد الملك بالجسد واليوم العبد ي رجم بالحجارة من اجله وبها قضى اجله اعني به استفانوس االلهي اول الشهداء. May his memory be eternal Please join Deebeh Khashan and family for the 1-year Trisagion memorial service for the servant of God Nativity Potluck Dinner This Tuesday January 6 th سامي خشان - Khashan Sami This Sunday January 11 after the liturgy service. فليكن ذكره مؤبدا sjoc@earthlink.net or call (408) for your bulletin personal announcements, comments, or feedback. Right after the Nativity Divine Liturgy this Tuesday night January 6 th. Break your Nativity fasting with your favorite potluck dish and bring it to church. Please contact Ghada Khoury (925) , or Georgette Isied (408) to sign-up. PRIDE If you cannot live with your own sister, it seems that you will not get along with an angel in paradise because of pride. - St. Joseph General Parish Meeting Sunday January 25, 2015 Immediately after liturgy in the church to present the Budget Forecast for 2015, and to present the 2015 Board of Trustees. Please do your very best to stay in the church and listen to the latest updates about the church and meet the new Board Members.

6 Presbytera Lisa Koo from St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church is traveling to stay at the Orthodox Orphanage in India for a month. She leaves on January 13th, Sister Nektaria from the Orphanage is asking all the faithful if they can help with the following: For children 3-18 years old of boys & girls (They are in general way smaller than American kids): 1. Gently worn clothes and underwear. 2. White socks which all the children wear at school. 3. Gently worn winter jackets/coats. 4. Gently used children's books & novels for the school's library A collection box will be available at the church entrance this Sunday and through January 10. Help Feed the Homeless But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just. Luke 14:13-14 We will be serving dinner to the homeless at Maple Street Inn in Redwood City on Saturday January 17, 2015 Please sign up if you can either donate some of the ingredients, help cook at church, or serve at the shelter. Please sign up on the sheet on the church bulletin board. Ingredients (estimate for 60 people): 6 lbs. Spaghetti 10 Garlic Bread Loaves 120 pieces meatballs (pre-made) 4 bags Salad (3 lbs. each) Tomatoes Cucumbers Dressing 8 Large Jars Tomato Sauce 3 cases water Cookies

7 Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen Friday 1/9 (12/27) The Holy Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen was the eldest of the seven deacons, appointed by the Apostles themselves, and therefore he is called "archdeacon." He was the first Christian martyr, and he suffered for Christ when he was about thirty. In the words of Asterias, he was "the starting point of the martyrs, the instructor of suffering for Christ, the foundation of righteous confession, since Stephen was the first to shed his blood for the Gospel." Filled with the Holy Spirit, St Stephen preached Christianity and defeated Jewish teachers of the Law in debate. The Jews maligned St Stephen, saying that he had uttered blasphemy against God and against Moses. St Stephen came before the Sanhedrin and the High Priest to answer these charges. He gave a fiery speech, in which he recounted the history of the Jewish nation, and denounced the Jews for persecuting the prophets, and also for executing the promised Messiah, Jesus Christ (Acts ch. 7). During his speech, St Stephen suddenly saw the heavens opened and Jesus Christ standing at the right hand of God. The Jews shouted and covered their ears, and rushed at him. They dragged him out of the city and stoned him, but the holy martyr prayed for his murderers. Far off on the heights stood the Mother of God with the holy Apostle John the Theologian, and She prayed fervently for the martyr. Before his death St Stephen said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. O Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." Then he joyfully gave up his pure soul to Christ. The body of the holy Protomartyr Stephen, left to be eaten by beasts, was secretly taken up by the Jewish teacher Gamaliel and his son Habib, who buried Stephen on his estate. They both believed in Christ, and later received holy Baptism. تذكار القديس استفانوس اول الشهداء ورئيس الشمامسة هوأول شهيد في عالم المسيحية ومعنى اسمه باليونانية ( التاج أو اكليل الزهور(. كان القديس استفانوس رجال تقيا صالحا كما وصفه الكتاب المقدس رجال ممتأل من اآليمان والروح القدس وكما كان ممتأل نعمة وقوة من هللا وقد منح كذلك موهبة صنع العجائب. لقدكان استفانوس أول شهيد في المسيحية وأول شماس فيها وقد أختير من بين العامة ومعه ستة أخرين لخدمة الكنيسة ولكي ينصرف الرسل لخدمة كلمة هللا.لقد نشط استفانوس وقد جلب الكثير من اليهود للدين المسيحي وهذا أزعج اليهود فجاؤا اليه ليجادلوه في االنجيل فلم يستطيعوا ألنه كان ينطق بالحكمة اآللهية ولما لم يستطيع اليهود مجابهته أوباألحرى مقاومة روح هللا المتكلم باستفانوس لفقوا له تهمت الكذب وشهود زور بأنه يجدف على هللا وعلى موسى النبي وضد الشريعة والهيكل. بعد ذلك سيق استفانوس الى الم جمع المسمه السنهدريم أي المحكمة وتتألف من 71 عضو برئاسة رئيس الكهنة. بعد ذلك تم استجواب استقانوس وتم الحكم عليه بالموت رجما بالحجارة فأخرجوه خارج المدينة ورجموه حتى الموت وكان يقول المسيح قائم عن يمين هللا. أيها الرب يسوع اقبل روحي. يارب التقم لهم هذه الخطية. ومات القديس استفانوس نحو سنة 37 ميالدية.

8 Nativity Fasting November 28 January 6 Wine and Oil allowed this Tuesday Strict Fast (No Oil or Wine Allowed) this Monday Please talk to the priest if you cannot fast for health reasons or for other reasons. Have a Blessed Fast! Red Wine Needed We are in need of a box or more of Elysium red wine. It is available online. If you like to donate wine please talk to Dcn. Joseph or just bring the wine to the altar. Happy Birthdays Alexandra Nijmeh 1/5 Andrew Khadder 1/6 Arabella Nijmeh 1/7 Francis Nijmeh 1/7 Ilham Sarsam 1/8 Anna Keilo 1/8 David Toma 1/8 Samira Al Twal 1/8 Bendi Seoud 1/9 Rana Nijmeh 1/10 Farouq Daoud 1/10 Vivian Khoury 1/11 Nour Alassad Asfour 1/11 عقبال المئة سنة!!! St. James Orthodox Church 195 N. Main Street Milpitas, CA Sunday 1/11 (12/29) 14,000 infants slain by Herod at Bethlehem

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