ST. ANDREW ORTHODOX CHURCH

Transcription

1 1216 GREENCREST AVE. EAST LANSING, MI ST. ANDREW ORTHODOX CHURCH DECEMBER 2009 REV. FATHER CHRISTOPHER ROZDILSKI, PASTOR CONTACT US FROM THE PASTOR S DESK FATHER CHRISTOPHER (517) PRESIDENT JOHN JOHNSON (517) VICE PRESIDENT DON DIMITROFF (517) SECRETARY LEANN MATTA (517) TREASURER MARIA DALY (517) CATHY ESTRADA (517) DAVID LONG (517) Christe, Redemptor omnium Jesu, the Father s only Son, whose death for redemption won, before the worlds, of God Most High, begotten all ineffably. The Father s Light and splendour thou, their endless hope thee that bow: accept the prayers and praise to-day that through the world thy servants pay. Slavation s author, call to mind thou tookest the form of humankind, when of the Virgin undefiled thou in man s flesh becamest a child. Thus testifies the present day through every year in long array, that thou, salvation s source alone proceedest from the Father s Throne. Whence sky, and stars, and sea s abyss, and earth, and all that therein is, shall still, with laud and carol meet, the Author of thine Advent greet. And by who, by thy precious Blood from sin redeemed, are marked for God, on this, the day that saw thy Birth, sing the new song of ransomed earth. All honour, laud, and glory be, O Jesu, Virgin-born, to thee; All glory is ever meet, to Father and to Paraclete. Amen. Western Church Hymn sung on Vespers of Christmas Eve This little Benedictine hymn draws together so much about Our Lord, His origins, His purpose and His love for us. He comes from the Father to be born of a Virgin. He became one of us by taking on the form of humankind. Having become man, he knows our sorrows. He s a king with all power given unto Him. Yet He comes as an infant under the protection of His mother. The All Powerful One presents Him- self defenseless to His creatures. His motive is love and to free mankind from the tyranny of sin. His desire was to redeem the creation He so loved. And so in that night when all things were silent, He appeared, and the only sound was the voice of an angel. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace good will towards men. We should prepare to meet Him in the silence of our hearts and give Him glory through our repentance. Christ is Born! Glorify Him! Father Christopher DATES TO REMEMBER Cookie Walk, December 12, 10-1pm Sisterhood Meeting December 15, 6:30pm Church School Play December 20, coffee hour Holy Supper December 24, 5:00pm Christmas December 25, 9:30am TO OUR PARISHIONERS AND FRIENDS May God grant you and your loved ones a blessed Nativity. And may the peace, love and joy of our Lord s birth shine brightly in your hearts throughout the coming year For by it, those who worshipped the stars, were taught by a star to adore Thee, the son of righteousness and to know Thee, the Orient on high. This issue of our newsletter has been sponsored by Father Christopher and Matushka Sarah for the health of all the Parishioners of St. Andrew.

2 ST. ANDREW ORTHODOX CHURCH Page 2 GENERAL INFORMATION Christmas Candles If you would like to offer a candle for the upcoming Feast of the Nativity in memory of a loved one, please see Pauline Petney. Candle donations are $ Christmas Flower Donations In your weekly offering envelopes you will find an envelope earmarked for Christmas Flowers. Please remember to turn this in early enough so that the poinsettias can be purchased to decorate our temple in time for the feast Wall Calendars St. Andrew 2010 wall calendars are now available and can be picked up in the church hall. Bookstore Items If your are looking for some Orthodox Christmas Cards or a religious gift, the book store now has a large selection of Cards and small gift items. These include small prayer ropes, icon bracelets, crosses, Icons and books. For more information please talk to Matushka Sarah. No confessions will be heard either Christmas Eve or Christmas morning preceding services. Please plan accordingly. DECEMBER 2009 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT :00 AM 13 9:00 AM pm Cookie Walk :30 PM Sisterhood meeting :00 AM, Church School Christmas play :00 PM Holy Supper 7:00 PM Compline & Matins 25 Christmas :00 AM Jan, 1 Matins & Divine

3 1216 GREENCREST AVE. EAST LANSING, MI Page 3 WHAT S HAPPENING Church School Christmas Pagent The annual Church School- Christmas Pageant is scheduled for Sunday, December 20. This year they are planning to tell a Christmas story and perform ethnic Christmas Carols. Please plan on joining us for this special treat. Sisterhood of Saint Helen Cookie Walk The sisterhood s annual Cookie Walk will take place on Saturday, December 12 from 10:00-1:00pm. Please support this fundraiser by attending, bringing friends, telling co-workers and posting flyers around the community. Complimentary coffee will be served. If you need some flyers, please see Matushka Sarah. For those of you who are baking, cookies, they must be dropped off by Friday, Dec. 11 between 10-6pm. Please have the name of the cookies attached to the box or container (main ingredients would be good too). Remember to stack your cookies in between wax paper so they don t stick. For more information please talk to one of the Sisterhood members. Holy Supper Please join us for our annual Holy Supper which will take place at 5:00pm on Christmas Eve. Everyone is asked to sign up to bring a Lenten dish to pass, the sign up sheet is in the Church Hall. Signing up also helps us to better prepare the seating arrangements, so please indicate how many will be in your party. This is a beautiful tradition which gives USHERS, COFFEE HOUR SPONSERS AND PROSFORA DONORS USHERS COFFEE HOUR PROSFORA 12/06/08 Nevenka Dines & John Johnson Council Family Outreach Volunteer Needed. 12/13/08 Denise & Steve Covell Ephram & Asmeret Volunteer Needed 12/20/08 Anna Zivic & Simo Paripovic Ciucanu Family For the health of Christine Ciucanu on her birthday from her family. 12/27/08 Leann & Samir Matta Volunteer Needed Volunteer Needed HAPPENINGS, CONTINED us the opportunity to come together as a church family to prepare for the Feast of the Nativity. Compline and Matins will begin at 7:00pm. month s newsletter and return it to him as soon as possible. Please plan a time between January 6 and January 15. Hannah House in need of the following items: Home: Toilet Paper, Paper Towels Laundry Detergent, Fabric Softener Baby Disposable Diapers, sizes 1-5 New Baby Clothes, sizes 3mo- 12mo, Wipes, Dressers Please consider helping them dur- Theophany Hannah house is a local Christ Residents ing this Christmas season. Father Christopher is currently planning his house blessing schedule for the feast of Theophany, January 6. To have your house blessed, please fill out the form included in this centered shelter for homeless pregnant women and their babies. St. Andrew has helped this organization in the past with different donations and fundraisers. They are currently Disposable Camera, Fast Food Gift Cards, Grocery Store Gift Cards Personal Care Items Hannah's House, Inc. PO Box Lansing, MI Phone: (517)

4 ST. ANDREW ORTHODOX CHURCH Page 4 HOLY NIGHT SUPPER At the appearance of the first star in the heavens on Christmas Eve, it is traditional to share the Holy Night Supper. In the Orthodox tradition this is the final Lenten meal at the end of 40 days of Nativity Lent, The family gathers around the table on which has been placed a white cloth symbolizing the swaddling clothes of the Newborn Infant of Bethlehem. Beneath the table is spread a small amount of hay, depicting the cave-manger where the Christ- Child was born. The head of the household reads the Christmas Story from the Scriptures, and then he takes a loaf of the round, homemade strict fast bread, offers a prayer of blessing and distributes a piece to everyone. The prayer is offered up, and the sign of the cross is made with the bread before it is consumed. Customarily, twelve strict fast foods are served, representing the Twelve Apostles. The food is served from common bowls and platters from which all share. This is symbolic of family unity. The following strict-fast foods are served at the Holy Supper. These foods vary according to village, county and even household in Europe. Only twelve of the following foods are served. Wine Strict-fast bread Garlic Bobalki Pirohi Lima Beans Mushroom Soup Rice/Mushroom Stuffed Cabbage Honey Vegetables Prunes Saurekraut Mushrooms Potato and Bean Soup Pea Soup Fish The foods range from bitter to sweet to remind us of the bitterness of life before Christ was born and the sweetness of life which comes after His birth. Following the Holy Supper, a prayer of thanksgiving is recited, and carols may be sung. The family prepares to attend the service of Great Compline in the Church. Holy Supper begins at 5:00pm and is followed by Compline at 7:00pm. EVE OF THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD Troparion - Tone 4 Mary was of David¹s seed, so she went with Joseph to register in Bethlehem. She bore in her womb the Fruit not sown by man. The time for the birth was at hand. Since there was no room at the inn, the cave became a beautiful palace for the Queen. Christ is born, raising up the image that fell of old. Kontakion - Tone 3 Today the Virgin comes to the cave to give birth to the Eternal Word. Hear the glad tidings and rejoice, O universe! Glorify with the angels and the shepherds the Eternal God, who is willing to appear as a little child!

5 1216 GREENCREST AVE. EAST LANSING, MI Page 5 HOME BLESSING Christ by entering the Jordan, sanctified it, and with it all creation. Material creation, once again, became very good, as it was in the beginning. The central sign of God s sanctification of all things through the Feast of Theophany is the act of blessing the homes of faithful Christians. The Priest visits all members of the Chruch to pray with them in the place where they live. And to bless their surroundings with Holy Water. He asks God to have mercy on the house, to rid it of every evil, and to fill it with every blessing. Please remember when Father Christopher visits your home, turn off all TV s & radios; have everyone meet at your prayer corner or a table with an icon; be prepared spiritually to invite God through the Holy Spirit into your home as you lead Father through the house. Sign up for: HOUSE BLESSINGS, THEOPHANY OF CHRIST Tuesday, January 6th is the Feast of Theophany and as is tradition, Father Christopher will be available to bless homes beginning January 6 until January 15. If you would like Father to bless your home please fill out the form below and return it to the address below. ADDRESS AND DIRECTIONS Phone Date #1 Time of Day Date #2 Time of Day ST. ANDREW ORTHODOX CHURCH, 1216 GREENCREST AVE. EAST LANSING, MI (517)

6 St. Andrew Orthodox Church 1216 Greencrest Ave. East Lansing, MI (517) ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED Cookie Walk Save time baking this holiday season, come to the Sisterhood of Saint Helen s 6th annual cookie walk and bake sale. Baklava, Russian tea cakes, nut rolls, and decorated cookies are just some of the treats that will be available. Date: Saturday, 13 December 2008 Time: 10:00am-1:00pm Saint Andrew Orthodox Church 1216 Greencrest, East Lansing, MI Phone: , contact: Cindy Smalley & Patsy Swidriski.