Reflections on the Holy Nativity of Our Lord. Volume 34 December 23, 2018 Number 52

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1 The Church Herald Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church 2053 North Road, NE Warren, OH Church Phone: (330) Rectory Phone: (330) Pastor: The Very Rev. Protopresbyter Kenneth M. Bachofsky, D. Min. Parish Web Page: Volume 34 December 23, 2018 Number 52 Reflections on the Holy Nativity of Our Lord When the Creator saw that man, who He had made with His own hands, perish, He was so moved that, He bowed the Heavens and came down. The Feast of the Nativity is the reconciliation of Heaven and earth. The birth of Christ has united those on high and those below. Today God has come down to earth, and man ascends to Heaven. Today the invisible God, manifests Himself in flesh for the sake of His creation. Let our souls and lips cry out Christ is born, Glorify Him! Today the Creator has come down into the full reality of His creation. The Feast of the Nativity is a time of joy and celebration of much giving but we need to ask ourselves, what is the true meaning of the Feast? If we look around, Christmas in the world today is heavily commercialized, and how much do we as Orthodox Christians contribute to the cheapening of this great Feast? Today, Christmas is about everything but Christ. To a l ot of us, the Feast is just an opportunity to have a jolly good time with mulled wine and sumptuous food. It is important for us to step away from the noise and hear the real significance of this Feast. In the words of Isaiah the glorious Prophet:...to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder, and His Name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace! (Isaiah 9:6). The words of the popular Christmas carol echo a great truth, O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining, it is the night of our dear Savior s birth. Long lay the world in sin and error pining. Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth It was not until the coming of the Son of God, that man/the soul realized his/its true worth, meaning and significance. The Mystery of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ speaks to us of something so deep and impossible, today God who fashions everything, creies and breathes the breath, which at first He gave to man, now as a babe. The coming together of God and man is at the heart of this great mystery, this great Feast. The Father of the Church say, In the glory of the Incarnation, the Divine and the worldly are suddenly, triumphantly, united and transformed. This Feast is an opportunity for every believer to behold the Wonderful, and be struck with awe because, today the King of kings and the Lord of lords, rests in a cave! The Feast of God s Embracing Love Christmas is a time of coming to terms with God s all embracing and redemptive love for us, in spite of all our failures and betrayals. When we journey to Bethlehem, this redemptive love becomes so visible. The truth is not only that God became man, not just that the Eternally Begotten Second Person of the Holy Trinity took flesh, but in the manger lies not only God, but also ME! God took my nature for Himself, this is the all embracing and redemptive love! A love that is so beyond description, where me, who am but clay, we, who are but dust, are made perfect in Christ! The Feast of the Greatest Mission Today is the day of the greatest mission the world has ever seen. In the New Testament you will not find the word mission but there are numerous references to God sending His Son, and Jesus sending us! The Nativity Feast proclaims the act of the Father sending His Only Begotten into the world. The Father does not send Jesus Christ into the world simply to speak, but He sends Jesus Christ to share the life of His people. He sends Christ to give His life for His people, and to give new life to the whole world. Christ shares in the sufferings, the struggles, the hopes and the joys of the people around Him and the Gospels bear witness to that on numerous occasions. We too are sent to

2 give our love and our compassion. St. Paul says that Jesus is sent into the world to destroy the power of death, and to bring Everlasting Life to light! And so we are sent in order to challenge the power of death, and to bring life. Our mission is always more than words our mission is the sharing of life life that transforms another life. The Feast of the Greatest Surprise The greatest thing about Christmas morning is the surprises of the gifts wrapped and placed under the tree. As Charles Swindoll so beautifully put it, Surprises are woven through the very fabric of all our lives. They await each one of us at unexpected and unpredictable junctures. This Feast is an amazing surprise in that God Himself decided to become man, God comes to us, gives Himself to us, and not only in deed and action. Our very nature is taken up into His, and to our mortal frame is imparted a portion of the Divine Life! The Feast of God Descending Into Our Reality The Incarnation is about God becoming man, God descending into the world, but more so He descends into the deeper reality of our hearts our life! The reality of our weakness. Christ becomes the very center of our life, the source of our energy in the world and the purpose of our life in this world. The sin of Adam banished him from Paradise and today that exile is banished and man is set free and Christ unites in His Person what is fallen in man and what is perfect in His. Today Eden is opened and the fullness of salvation is made manifest: salvation enters the world, and the curse is destroyed! The Feast that Refuses to Compel Us God has given Himself away so completely that we meet Him in poverty and weakness, with no splendor or glory. The whole of creation lives by a love that refuses to bully us or force us or compel us, it is the love of the Cradle and the Cross! Christ is the fire in the equations that sustain everything. We live in a world where power is everything, in fact we are so obsessed with power that as Christians we have failed to see the two most vivid images of love that of the helpless babe in the manger and the dying man of the Cross! God empties Himself in the manger and the Cross. He gives away all that he is to restore mankind. We live in Him, from Him, and through Him. God never held back His love, instead extended it unconditionally to man. The Eternal God, utterly unknowable, unfathomable, incomprehensible in His innermost being, deigned to enter into the sphere of our daily life, to assume the burdens and suffering fo people like ourselves. He did so for one purpose only: to rescue us from the consequences of our sinful rebellion against the Author of Life, and to raise us up from death and corruption! St. Athanasius puts it so well when he says, He became what we are, so that we might become what His is! The Eternal Son of God took flesh and became man so that we might participate now and forever in all the joy and all the glory of His Divine Life! Bethlehem points us to Jerusalem, there is no manger without the Cross and Resurrection all the services in the Orthodox Christian tradition points to the salvific sacrifice of Christ and the Glorious Resurrection! * Written by: Mr. Tenny Thomas * Our Worship Schedule Sunday, December 23rd 9:30 a.m. The Reading of the Third Hour. 10:00 a.m. The Sunday Before the Nativity of the Lord, Tone 5 (Pages 93 & 129). The Ten Martyrs of Crete are commemorated. Epistle Hebrews 11:9,10, 17-23,32-40 Gospel Matthew 1:1-25 MONDAY, DECEMBER 24TH THE VIGIL FOR THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD! A DAY OF STRICT FASTING! 9:00 A.M. THE LITURGY OF ST. BASIL THE GREAT FOR THE VIGIL OF THE NATIVITION OF THE LORD (PAGE 130)! EPISTLE HEBREWS 1:1-12 GOSPEL LUKE 2:1-20 1:00 3:00 P.M. CONFESSIONS OF THE FAITHFUL! 7:00 P.M. THE SINGING OF CHRIST- MAS CAROLS! THE VIGIL SERVICE WITH LYTIA FOR THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD! TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25TH 9:30 A.M. THE READING OF THE THIRD HOUR. 10:00 A.M. THE FEAST OF THE NA- TIVITY OF OUR LORD, GOD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST (PAGE 132)! EPISTLE GALATIANS 4:4-7 GOSPEL MATTHEW 2:1-12 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26TH 9:00 A.M. THE FEAST OF THE SYNAXIS OF THE MOTHEROF GOD (PAGE 136)! EPISTLE HEBREWS 2:11-18 GOSPEL MATTHEW 2:13-23 THURDAY, DECEMBER 27TH 9:00 A.M. THE FEAST OF THE FIRST DEACON AND

3 MARTYR, ST. STEHEN (PAGE 137! EPISTLE ACTS 6:8-15,7:1-5,47-60 GOSPEL MATTHEW 21:33-42 Saturday, December 29th 4:00 p.m. The Vesper Service followed by Bible Study Class. Sunday, December 30th 9:30 a.m. The Reading of the Third Hour. 10:00 a.m. The Sunday After the Nativity of the Lord, Tone 6 (Pages 96 & 138). The Virgin Martyr Anysia and Zoticus are commemorated. Epistle Galatians 1:11-19 Gospel Matthew 2:13-23 TUESDAY, JANUARY 1ST 10:00 A.M. THE FEAST OF THE CIRCUNCISION OF CHRIST! FEAST OF ST. BASIL THE GREAT! THE CIVIL NEW YEAR! BLESSING OF THE VASILOPITA (PAGE 140)! EPISTLE COLOSSIANS 2:9-12 GOSPEL LUKE 2:20,21,40-52 Nativity Celebration! It is with great joy that we have now come to the remaining few moments that will user in the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ! Let us all prepare ourselves to gather together as a Family-in-Christ, here at St. Nicholas Church to worship the New Born Saviour, born in a Cave and lay in a Manger, in Bethlehem, for us and for our Salvation! So that the commemoration and celebration of our Lord s Birth will enable us to experience, the silence, peace, love and joy of this Feast, we inform you of the following traditions that will take place in the next few days: Strict Fasting: Tomorrow has been designated by our Holy Mother Church as a day of Strict Fast! This is done in our personal preparation to maintain the solemnity and holiness of our Lord s Nativity! This means that no meat or dairy products should be included in one s diet. Nativity Eve Vigil: The Vigil Service for Christmas Eve will begin at 7:00 p.m. Father Ken and faithful in attendance will sing Christmas Carols within the darkened Church, while holding candles. After the final carol, the Great Incensing and the Beginning of the Vigil Service will take place! Festive Anointing: Holy Oil from the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem will be used to anointing faith faithful for the Festal Divine Liturgy on December 25th! As you are anointed may it be for the reception of the Blessings of the New Born King, for our good health and salvation! At the conclusion of the Liturgy faithful will be able to come forward to venerate the Icon of the Nativity of the Lord. The Antidoron will be distributed, as well, to all the faithful and guest joining us for the Nativity Divine Liturgy. Advent Confessions The most important spiritual discipline for the celebration of our Lord s Nativity is Repentance! Repentance was the primary proclamation of John the Baptist and the first words of our Lord as He began is Preaching Ministry: Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand! (Mark 1:14). St Theophan the Recluse tells us that In the Sacrament of Confession the Lord enters into man by His Grace, vividly establishes communion with him, and gives him to taste of all the sweetness of the Divine! Faithful will be able to avail themselves of the Sacrament of Confession before and after the divine services, as well as, tomorrow afternoon from 1:00 3:00 p.m. If you are from our of town and need to come prior to the Liturgy Tuesday morning, please come early so as not to delay the beginning of the Nativity Liturgy! Come, let us receive this sanctifying grace for our salvation in Christ our Lord! The Christmas Archpastoral Letter Office of the Metropolitan 312 Garfield Street J o h n s t o w n, P A Christ is Born! Glorify Him! Dear Beloved Brothers & Sister in Christ, I greet you with joy and love in the Name of our Incarnate Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Let us give thanks to Almighty God, by whose grace we have been given the opportunity to celebrate the Birth of His Son.

4 If we look around, we find hatred, mistrust, suffering, and the absence of peace and love in our homes, neighborhoods, cities, country, and in fact the whole world. This reality in life makes us cry out for God s help, assistance, and intervention. My beloved ones, despite all the suffering, sorrow and injustice in our world, today joy and hope comes to us once more. That s why at this blessed time of the year we look forward to the arrival of the New Born King! Therefore let us celebrate the miracle of His Birth. Let kindness come with every gift. Let compassion, forgiveness and love come with every greeting. Let our hearts be filled with prayer, charity, and reconciliation for one another. May all of us, Priests, Panis, Deacons, Sub- Deacons, Readers, Archons, Parish Officers, Parishioners (young and old), Friends and Supporters of the God-protected American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese experience the joy and wonders of the Shepherds and the awe and respect of the Three Wise Men at the arrival of the Messiah, our New Born King! Christ is Born! Greetings from Johnstown with much love, +Metropolitan Gregory of Nyssa The American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of the U.S.A. ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE OF CONSTANTINOPLE A Christmas Social E v e - ryone is cordially invited to A Christmas Social hosted by Father Ken & Pani Mary Bachofsky! This 40 year tradition will be held after the conclusion of the Nativity of the Lord Divine Liturgy, in the Fellowship Hall. At the social there will be Holiday Hors d oeuvres, Cookies, Kolachi, a Beverage and the traditional Christmas Toast with some Champagne! There will be plenty of time to socialize, sing carols, and enjoy the Christian Fellowship with one another! It s the Bachofsky way of celebrating Christmas with our spiritual family-in-christ, here at St. Nicholas! Allow this party to be the beginning of your Christmas Day celebration! Happy Birthday! Mia Colon December 25th Jim Buzzanco..December 26th Ruth Lock December 28th Ray Speicher...December 29th A Christmas Message From Our Pastor! December 25, 2018 Christ is Born! Glorify Him! Christos Rozdajetsja! Slavite Jeho! Christos Yehnateh! Doxa Sathe! My Dearly Beloved in the Infant Saviour, Just few weeks ago, as I stopped at a red light, a 2015 Chevy sedan, had painted on the hood, in large white letters, John 3:16! And as he passed me the same inscription was written on the entire trunk of the car. Many of our protestant brethren will use this Scriptural quote to support their belief that salvation was based on faith in Jesus alone. However, we Orthodox Christians see, within this Scriptural passage that reads For God so loved the world that He gave His Only-Begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have Eternal Life! a deeper insight into our salvation. In fact, this passage reflects the central reason for today s celebration! In His limitless love for mankind, God became Incarnate, taking upon Himself our weakness, and all the affects of our fallen condition, so that we can be saved! To quote the wisdom of St. Ephraim the Syrian: The Lord of David and Son of David hid His Glory in swaddling clothes. His swaddling clothes gave a robe of glory to human beings. You see, the Son of God is a gracious gift to mankind, and He takes up residence within our fallen world. He continues, This dwelling in the midst of Creation, as a part of it, makes God the Son close to, and available to, the surrounding creatures in a way that was not possible before. The presence of the Son here is a personal one that involves Him as a complete whole. He can taken on our infirmities so that what was once fallen, corrupt, and alienated, can become rejuvenated renewing us in His image, so that we can once more enter into communion with Him! So that we can become whole again like Adam was in his pristine state before the fall within Paradise!

5 TEST PAGE The child 5 TEXT in the cold Cave of Bethlehem, wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger, is non other than the Incarnate Son of God Himself! Our con-celebration of our Lord s Nativity draws us into the great Mystery of Divine and unconditional love! In this mystery we glimpse the Power and the Glory of Divine humility as it is related to everything leading up to the Lord s birth culminating in His Cross, Tomb and Glorious Resurrection! During the last two Sundays of Advent, our Holy Mother Church, took us on a spiritual trip down the road leading us to all the ancestors of Christ, beginning with Adam and ending with St. John the Baptist. A crescendo of these commemorations occurs when, at last Sunday s Gospel, the focus is placed on the genealogy of Christ according to St. Matthew. From these commemorations we become vividly aware and reacquainted with a history fraught with sin! You see, there is nothing clean or pure about the Lord s background. The ugliness of sin and the horror of death surround and permeate God s preparation for the Incarnation of His Only-Begotten Son! With the exception of but a few, those who make possible Christ s birth have personal histories, deeply rooted by one or a combination of sins ranging from idolatry, ignorance, duplicity, prostitution, adultery, incest and even murder. My brothers and sisters, Christ s birth does not concur apart from the personal histories which, when joined together, form the historical material in which the Pre-Eternal Word and Son of the Father comes into the world. Many of the sins of these ancestors of Christ are our sins also! This feast day becomes a Divine/human endeavor! To quote St. Athanasius the Great: God became man so that man can become like God! The Sinless One uniting to our sinfulness to make possible our salvation! However, the personal histories of Christ s ancestors show that their sin is often coupled with an authentic faith and desire to repent that ultimately allows God s will to prevail. This has to be our resolve as well! This will enable us to grow into the image of Christ, what the Fathers of the Church calls theosis or divinization becoming like God. The Nativity of Jesus Christ is a type of cross-roads where God meets humanity, and in His limited-less love, transforms the fallen human condition. The Love, Compassion and Mercy of God lays in a manger in the House of Bread (The meaning of Bethlehem), to feed humanity, who ever so hungers for His Love! It is this birth of that love into the world that we celebrate today! The babe in the manger becomes the Light of the World, even when the world is in shambles, for in Christ the Divine and the human cross paths. No matter where we are in life, no matter in what condition we find ourselves, not matter how far we might have strayed, or how unfaithful and sinful we are, God, the Ultimate Lover, will pursue us in love for all Eternity! God s love never stops shinning on us, and never stops searching for us! For God so loved the world that He gave His Only-Begotten Son, so that he who believes in Him shall have Eternal Life! The wonder and mystery of our Lord s Nativity its unceasing joy is bound to a living faith that is aware of its own doubts and distractions. It is a living faith that allows us to surrender to God s love and care! It is a living faith that brings us into the saving grace and the very Mystery of God s Incarnation a Mystery beyond nature and our inability to fully comprehend it! It is a Mystery that is filled with light and wisdom! It is through a living faith in the Incarnate God, that we will be able to offer others the wonder and joy of God becoming a child for the life of the world, and its, and all of our salvation! I pray that this year s celebration of the Lord s Nativity will fill all of you and your loved ones with the joy, peace, and love that the arrival of the Messiah, Christ our New Born King brings! Christ is Born! With much love in the New Born Saviour, Father Kenneth M. Bachofsky, Pastor: St. Nicholas Orthodox Church. Christmas Flowers The serenity and dignity of our parish s celebration of our Lord s Nativity is increased due to the beautifully sanctuary of our Church! The majestic beauty of our sanctuary is second to none in Warren, Ohio. This is due to the generosity of many people who have contributed to the purchase of the poinsettia plants that adorn the Altar and Iconscreen, other liturgical appointments. At this time we would like to acknowledge the following donors and intentions that they offer this morning: For the good health and salvation of the faithful of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church and for our growth in faith, love and devotion to the Lord! May the Lord increased the size of our community! This is being offered by Father Ken & Pani Mary Bachofsky. For the good health and salvation of our children, grand-children and all members of the Bachofsky, Barriger, Monaco, and Pericco Families. This is being offered by Father Ken & Pani Mary Bachofsky. In loving memory of our parents: +Libbie & +Michael Bachofsky and +Robert & +Josephine Barriger. This is being offered by Father Ken & Pani Mary Bachofsky. In loving memory of +Bonnie Delaquila and deceased members of the Delaquila and Polivka Families. This is being offered anonymously.

6 For the good health and salvation of the members of the Delaquila and Polivka Families. This is being offered anonymously. In loving memory +Fausto & +Fedele De Santis. This is being offered by Marilyn Ben & Family. In loving memory of our beloved husband, father and grandfather, +Nick Ben. This is being offered by Marilyn Ben & Family. In loving memory of my parents: +Andrew & +Catherine Steiner. This is being offered by Gerry Frazeskos. In loving memory of my brother +Kenneth Steiner. This is being offered by Gerry Franzeskos. For the good health and love of Kathy Clark, Ethyn & Kenley Johns. This is being offered by Michael & Chrissy Van Valien. For the good health and salvation of our Church Family and for all their prayers, love, and support! This is being offered by Fred, Sonya, Emily & Jonathan Anzivino. For the good health and salvation of our fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters. This is being offered by Fred, Sonya, Emily & Jonathan Anzivino. For the good health and salvation of our children: Emily & Jonathan, and for the answer to all of our prayers. This is being offered by Fred & Sonya Anzivino. For the good health and salvation of our godchildren, who bring us such love and joy. This is being offered by Fred & Sonya Anzivino. For the good health and salvation of the Albers, Anzivino, Chaney, Millik, Uhrin, and Brisbine Families. This is being offered by Sis Albers. In loving memory of +George, +Elizabeth, +Kerya, +Claudia and +Grandparents. This is being offered by Sis Albers. In loving memory of my grandfather +Mike Krupey. This is being offered by Debra Yenchochik. In loving memory of my grandmother +Ann Krupey. This is being offered by Debra yenchochik. In loving memory of the deceased members of the +Pugh, +Duchnak, Brozier, and +Staviski Families. This is being offered by Gib & Diana Pugh. In loving memory of +Maria Bourekos. This is being offered by James & Mary Pitinii & Family. In loving memory of +Nicholas Koutsouras. This is being offered by James & Mary Pitinii & Family. In honor of the Feast Day of Eugenia Koutsouras, December 24th. This is being offered by James & Mary Pitinii & Family. For the good health and salvation of James Pitinii. This is being offered by Mary Pitinii & Family. For the good health and salvation of Mary Pitinii. This is being offered by James Pitinii & Family. For the good health and salvation of Lukea Pitinii, and Nicolette Pitinii. This is being offered by James & Mary Pitinii. For the good health and salvation of Evelyn Koutsouras. This is being offered by James & Mary Pitinii & Family. For the good health and salvation of Pam Levengood. This is being offered by James & Mary Pitinii & Family. For the blessings of: Father Ken & Pani Mary Bachofsky, and of all members of St. Nicholas Church. This is being offered by Mike & Alice DeMas. In loving memory of all the deceased members of St. Nicholas Church. This is being offered by Mike & Alice DeMas. For God s blessings on the Choir and all St. Nicholas Church members. This is being offered by Mike & Alice DeMas. In loving memory of +Anna Kurpey & +Regina Hopko. This is being offered by Mike & Alice DeMas. For the blessings of the Lord upon our Arkon, Ray Speicher and Dorothy Speicher. This is being offered by Mike & Alice DeMas. In loving memory of +Carl DeMas. This is being offered by Mike & Alice DeMas. In loving memory of +Dorothy Johnson. This is being offered by Mike & Alice DeMas. In loving memory of +Marshall Johnson, This is being offered by Mike & Alice DeMas. In loving memory of +Nettie, +John, +Katherine & +Andrew. This is being offered by Mike & Alice DeMas. For the good health and salvation of the members of the Speicher Family. This is being offered by Ray & Dorothy Speicher. For the good health and salvation of the members of the Linko Family. This is being offered by Ray & Dorothy Speicher. For the good health and salvation of the members of the Choma, Kennel, Falibota and Royal Families. This is being offered by Renay Choma. In loving memory of my parents +Nick & +Kathryn Lazor. This is being offered by Sandra Kish. For the good health and salvation of the Lazor, Kish, Keeley and Gadley Families. This is being offered by Sandra Kish. In loving memory of our parents, Mr. & Mrs. +Peter Bevelaqua. This is being offered by Mr. & Mrs. David Boich. In loving memory of our aunt & uncle, Rev. & Mrs. +Joseph Simko. This is being offered by Mr. & Mrs. David Boich. In loving memory of +Elizabeth Roberts. This is being offered by Carol Lee. In loving memory of +Jennifer Mahaffey. This is being offered by Carol Lee. In loving memory of +Victor & +Joann Gober. This is being offered by Gary & Jill Weber. For the good health and prosperity of the Gober & Weber Families. This is being offered by Gary & Jill Weber. For the good health and happiness of the members of the Clark, Johns, and Van Valien Families. In loving memory of +Frank & +Ann Semanco. This is being offered by Mike & Carol Semanco. For the good health and salvation of

7 Mark, Tami and Cassidy Drawl. This is being offered by Mike & Carol Semanco. Your assistance in providing these beautiful plants for decoration during the Nativity Season is greatly appreciated. Such a gracious way being one of those who Love the beauty of Your House! (A petition from the Divine Liturgy). We would also like to thank those who help decorate the sanctuary this past Friday morning. Your love for the beauty of the House of the Lord is noteworthy. You are to be congratulated for a outstanding job! May the Infant Messiah bless all of you with peace, good health, joy and salvation for Many Years! Christ is Born! Society Christmas Gift We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate everyone who gave of their stewardship of time and talent to work in the Church Kitchen, for our Internationally Renowned Perohi & Holupki Dinners, these past three months! You have done an outstanding job and you are to be commended! Your love and devotion to our stewardship of working in the Kitchen is deeply appreciated! Because of your hard work and dedication a Special Christmas Gift of $20, dollars will be given to our Church for Christmas! May the New Born Saviour bestow upon all of you with His abiding peace, joy and all of the blessings of this Festive Nativity Season in abundance! The officers and members of the St. Nicholas Society would like to extend, to all of our parishioners, guests and Kitchen Crew, their prayerful best wishes for a Blessed Christmas and a Prosperous New Year! Our Gifts to the Lord! One of the many acts of worship conducted at each Sunday Divine Liturgy, is performed in our generous donations made during the Church Offering! This is an excellent way of expressing our love, devotion to the Lord, as well as our thanksgiving, for the many blessings received from His Hands! We would like to share with you the Church Offerings from last Sunday: Regular Church Offering $1,007.0/ Candle Offerings $121.00/ Christmas Flowers $100.00/ Gas Royalties $19.43/ Total Church Offerings = 41, May the New Born Saviour, Jesus Christ, our Lord, bless all of you 100 fold for your gracious gifts offered for the continuing salvic work being done here at our beloved St. Nicholas Church!!! Christ is Born! As we begin the new year of 2019 let us remember the words of the Apostle Paul: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for god loves a cheerful giver! God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance. So that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work! (2 Corinthians 9:6-8). We encourage all faithful members of our Family-in-Christ, here at St. Nicholas Church, to give joyfully, regularly, and generously to our Church during the course of the year! With every dollar you give, you keep the doors of our Church open as we proclaim the Holy Gospel and charitably minister to those in need! We simply would not be able to do this without your gracious donations! Please pick up you box of 2019 Church Envelopes this morning before you leave for home! Along with the Church Assessment of $75.00 per person, and generous offering is also required. The envelopes system is the only way to enable us to keep track of providing contributions and budgeting finances for the year. God bless you 100 fold for your stewardship of the give from your treasures! Camp Nazareth News There have been several parents asking about the schedule for the 2019 Youngstown Deanery Camping Session. That will be held from Sunday, July 28th until Saturday, August 3, 2019! The registration will begin via the camp website (CAMPNAZARETH.ORG) beginning on March 1, Camping fee for our students is $ per camper. You can take advantage of the Early Bird Special by registering and paying by May, 15, There are Camping Scholarships available from our Church School as well as other programs. If any of our students need some financial aid please see Father Ken. Take some time out and read all of the information from the flyers on the complex bulletin boards. More info will be printed in future editions of: The Church Herald.

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9 Special Camp Bulletin As we now brace ourselves for the winter season we want to give you a preview of a favorite summer activity, especially for our youth! We are providing this information to afford everyone the opportunity to participate in the camping ministry at Camp Nazareth. Flyers are also posted on the bulleting boards of our parish complex. Camp Nazareth is eagerly awaiting and preparing for the arrival of the 2019 Summer Camping Season. Diocesan priest and parents have already been calling to find our the details of the 2019 Summer Camping Schedule. The 2019 Schedule is posted on the Camp s website. There is a Save the Date Poster for the camping weeks included. Registration for camp will only be able to be done online through the camp s website CAMPNAZARETH.ORG. The online registration system will be up and running starting March 1, We ask you to help us disseminate to others who may be interested! The following are the different information from previous years: 1) the dates for the /Diocesan weeks have been updated. 2) The fee for camp is: $ per diocesan camper and $370.0 per non diocesan camper. 3) staff applications are due March 15, ) If any parishioners are interested in being on the Camp s Medical Staff (MD or RN), please have them contact Father Stephen at the camp. The doctors and nurses on staff each week will receive a stipend of $ dollars and a campership for one of their children or someone whom they designate. Remember, for some, coming to Camp Nazareth is a last minute decision, but for many more it is a planned and highly anticipated event. We encourage our parishioners to come and see the blessings in store for camper during there sessions. You can call the camp for an appointment for a tour or visit the camp website! The Camp Nazareth Summer Staff positions will be open for registration. You have to be at least 18 years of age at the beginning of the camping session and have completed High School to be considered for any position on the staff. There are positions available as counselor, head counselor, kitchen staff, maintenance staff, athletic director, program director (and assistant program director), technology director (and assistant technology director), Ropes Course Facilitator and Lifeguard. For any of these positions there are internships available. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to fulfill to earn extra credit in their program of study. The following are the Diocesan Camping Weeks: Week 1) July 14-20, 2019: Pittsburgh, Mid-Atlantic, Tri-State; and Washington D.C. Deaneries. Week 2) July 21-27, 2019: New England, New York & New Jersey, Florida and Canada Deaneries. Week 3) July 28-August 3, 2019 Johnstown, Pocono, Southern Tier, Youngstown and Chicago Deaneries. Register online starting March 1, 2019 at campnazareth.org. From the home page, from the 2019 Summer Camp Icon, or From the Diocesan Summer Camp Tab found under the Summer Camp Tab and look for Camper Registration. Take advantage of the Early Bird Discount, per child, (one time only, not per week) by registering and paying by May 15, 2019! Registrations after June 15th will incur an additional $20.00 late fee! Please consult the flyers for additional information. You will not want to miss this wonderful way of enjoying the outdoors, in the summer, and increasing your spiritual life coming closer to the Lord and His Holy Church!

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