GOD INVITES US TO GROW

Transcription

1 Volume 28, Number 1 On GOD INVITES US TO GROW Dept. of Christian Education, OCA January 10, four days after the Feast of Theophany on which we remember the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan, the Church celebrates the memory of Saint Gregory of Nyssa. Gregory was born into an extraordinary family; history is not sure of his exact birthdate. His maternal grandmother Macrina is a saint of the Church. Her husband was, in Gregory's words, "killed by imperial wrath" the deadly wrath of the pagan emperor Maximinus. Therefore Gregory believed that his grandfather could rightly be called a martyr for the faith. As for Gregory's own generation, four of his siblings, in a family of nine children, are saints as he is. But most biographers don't describe Gregory as a singularly devout child. An experience he had when he was almost twenty seems to have been a decisive one. Some relics of the saints known as the Forty Martyrs of Sebastea were brought to a chapel near the family home, and Gregory's contemplation of these relics led him to understand that it is possible to give one's whole life to God. He took his own spiritual life more seriously then, and began on his personal path of serving God with all he had. Gregory was emotionally close to his siblings. He had been through difficulties with his older brother Basil, who all but forced him to become a bishop. It was a position to which he was ill-suited and which he was not able to handle well, even being falsely accused of mishandling funds. Nevertheless, when Basil died in 378 at just forty, Gregory was devastated. He put his grief into a huge but important task finishing Basil's great work "The Six Days of Creation" (Hexaemeron), which Basil had not yet completed at the time of his death. The next year brought another terrible blow, when Gregory's beloved older sister Macrina died. She had been his mentor and teacher, as he freely acknowledged. He wrote a beautiful tribute to her that describes the ways in which her noble character affected him, and also tells us a great deal about the life of the Church at that time. Gregory continued to write, developing his conviction that God has created us to grow constantly closer to Him. One of his best-known works is based on 2 Corinthians 3: 18, in which Saint Paul writes that we are being transformed "from glory to glory". Gregory relates this growth to baptism, which he calls "regeneration". He writes that in baptism "we shall not, according to the Jew Nicodemus and his somewhat dull intelligence, change the old man into a child, nor shall we form anew him who is wrinkled and gray-headed to tenderness and youth...but we do bring back, by royal grace, him who bears the scars of sin, and has grown old in evil habits, to the innocence of the babe." This "royal grace" makes baptism a way for us to grow--to become as innocent as babes, which means being completely dependent on God. In so doing we become stronger than giants. This weekly bulletin insert complements the curriculum published by the Department of Christian Education of the Orthodox Church in America. Protection of the Holy Mother of God Orthodox Church in Falls Church, VA An English Speaking Parish Community of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate, OCA

2 SISTER DR. VASSA (Larin) COMES TO WASHINGTON, DC! Coffee with Sister Vassa You-Tube sensation and renowned author and speaker, Sister Dr. Vassa Larin, will be giving 3 presentations in the Washington D.C. area at the end of January. Sr. Dr. Vassa Larin is a nun of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad and a Liturgiologist of the University of Vienna in Austria. Sister Vassa is known for her wit and down to earth approach in discussing the lives of the saints, feasts, scripture, and church traditions. January 24: St. John the Baptist at 7:30 p.m. January 25: St. Nicholas Cathedral at 6:00 p.m. January 26: St. Nicholas Cathedral at these times: 10:30 a.m. English Language 12:30 p.m. Russian Language Harold and Patricia Baum Adele Chadwick The Coleman Family Elaine Devine Henderson Family Jonathan and Lori Herold Stephanie Kozemchak Victoria and Victor Oancea Antoinette Robertson Matthew and Alethea Tan Robert and Paula Yuskavage Sarah and Arthur Zimmerli The Fernandez Family Deanna and Douglas Matty Ovidiu and Dorina Maxim In memory of Jean McAlpine, and Raymond & Hazel Bailey In memory of Theodore, Emma, and Michael Raddish In memory of Arthur, Tsvetanka, and Ivan In memory of Jack Devine In memory of Ryker Ellis Henderson In memory of Barbara, Martin, Luise, Douglas, Dmitri, Mary, Raymond, Anna, Bogdan, Otto, Edith, and Richard In memory of Joseph Sikorski, Anna & Stephen Salash, Kathryn & John Sikorski, and Florence & Peter Kozemchak In memory of Niculaie In memory of Marie and Armand Scala In memory of Grandparents of the Tans, Chews, Gays, and Uncle David Tan 2013 Nativity Poinsettia Donors 2

3 On MARCH AGAINST ABORTION Orthodox Church in America Wednesday, January 22, 2014, Orthodox Christians from across the country will gather in the US capital for the annual March for Life. His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, will be joined at the March by several members of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America, including His Eminence, Archbishop Nathaniel; His Grace, Bishop Melchisedek; His Grace, Bishop Michael; and His Grace, Bishop Mark. Metropolitan Tikhon will deliver the opening prayer at the March s outset. It is anticipated that students from Saint Tikhon s Seminary, South Canaan, PA and Saint Vladimir s Seminary, Crestwood, NY, and clergy and faithful from the region and beyond will participate. will follow. All marchers are invited to attend. On Wednesday evening, Metropolitan Tikhon will offer the invocation at the annual Rose Banquet at DC s Hyatt Regency Hotel. Additional details will be posted on the OCA web site as they become available, while general information on the March may be found at For more information please contact Orthodox Christians for Life at the Saint Ambrose Society of Saint Vladimir s Seminary atwww.svots.edu/events/ride-bus-student-led-stambrose-society-sponsors-participation-marchlife-washington-dc, or DC-area clergy. General March information may be accessed at In related news, an interdenominational service will be held at Constitution Hall on Wednesday, January 22, from 8:30-10:30 a.m. Representatives from many faith traditions including Orthodox Christian are expected to attend. The Veil Monthly Journal Protection of the Holy Mother of God Orthodox Church Romanian Orthodox Episcopate, OCA Marchers are asked to gather under the Orthodox Christians for Life banner at the right side of the stage near Seventh Street. They will march to the Supreme Court, where Metropolitan Tikhon will lead the hierarchs, clergy and faithful in prayer for the victims of abortion. On Tuesday, January 21, Vespers will be celebrated at the OCA s Saint Nicholas Cathedral, 3500 Massachusetts Ave. NW, at 7:00 p.m. A reception Archbishop NATHANIEL of Detroit, Hierarch Rev. David G. Subu, Pastor Protodeacon Peter Danilchick, Parish Deacon Eugene Huang, Parish Subdeacon Nicholas Dujmovic, Parish Subdeacon Nicholas Jones, Parish Subdeacon Christopher Thomas, Parish Council President Eleni Woglom, Choir Director Renee Lerner & Irene Liu, Sunday School 7223 Roosevelt Avenue, Falls Church, Virginia Contact: newsletter@stmaryorthodox.org (Office) (Cell) Editor-in-Chief: Fr. David Subu, Pastor Circulation: Lori Jacobson/Ellen Robinson Layout & Graphics: Psa. Stephanie Subu 3

4 AROUND THE COFFEE URN News and events percolating around our Orthodox community Tis the Season for House Blessings Beginning Monday, January 6, Father David travels all over the greater Washington D.C. area to bless the homes of our faithful! This is a very good time to think about dates in January and early February to have Father come over preferably coordinating with other families who live in your area. His calendar is filling up quickly! Please look on page 7 for your copy of the 2014 House Blessing Form. Please use this form to list the living and the departed that will be prayed for during the service. Please have the form, a candle, and an icon ready to greet Father David. Preoteasa and the children do not come to the blessings. However, if you wish to have the Subu clan invade your home, please notify Father David in advance. A special request from Lisa Jones St. Mary member, Lisa Jones, makes the sad announcement of the passing of her father. Lisa had to leave our community over a year ago to help take care of her aging parents in the Williamsburg area. Her father s graveside service will be January 10 and she would very much appreciate any friends who might be able to make it. If you would like a ride or more information, please Renee Lerner at rlerner@law.gwu.edu. THE VEIL WOULDN T EXIST WITHOUT PARISHIONER CONTRIBUTION! DEADLINE FOR FEBRUARY ISSUE: JANUARY 24 CALL TO ORDER OF THE ANNUAL PARISH ASSEMBLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2014 PROTECTION OF THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD ORTHODOX CHURCH 7223 ROOSEVELT AVE. FALLS CHURCH, VA :00 PM UNTIL COMPLETION OF BUSINESS 2013 ANNUAL PARISH ASSEMBLY AGENDA (PROPOSED) OPENING PRAYER ROLL CALL APPROVAL OF PROPOSED AGENDA APPROVAL OF PARLIAMENTARIAN AND TELLERS REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF JANUARY 2014 MINUTES PARISH COUNCIL MINUTES PARISH PRIEST S REPORT PARISH COUNCIL PRESIDENT S REPORT LADIES GUILD PRESIDENT S REPORT CHURCH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL S REPORT AUDITORS REPORT TREASURER S REPORT RECOMMENDED 2014 BUDGET PROPOSAL SLATE AND ELECTION OF THE PARISH COUN- CIL TO EPISCOPATE CONGRESS ADJOURNMENT AND CLOSING PRAYER ALL WELCOMED. ONLY FULL MEMBERS CAN VOTE ON MOTIONS. TO CHECK YOUR MEM- BERSHIP STATUS, PLEASE SEE FATHER DAVID OR JONATHAN JACOBSON, TREASURER. 4

5 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 29 Holy Innocents Choir / 9:30 Akathist Fellowship/ Church School 11:45am - Fellowship pm - 10pm New Year's Eve party 1 (Office hours by appt. only this month) pm - 6pm Vespers with confessions 5 Theophany Eve Baptism 11:45am Blessing of Waters 11:45am - Fellowship 6 Theophany 10am - 11am with Blessing of Waters Byzantine Chant Class pm - 3pm Wedding 12 St. Tatiana Choir / 9:30 Akathist Fellowship/ Church School 13 Byzantine Chant Class 7:30pm - 9pm Parish Council 14 St. Nina of Georgia 7am - 8am St. Anthony the Great 10:30am - 11:30am 12pm - 1pm Book Study 18 5pm - 6pm Vespers with confessions 19 St. Macarius Choir / 9:30 Akathist Fellowship/ Church School 20 MLK Day Byzantine Chant Class 21 St. Maximus 22 March for Life 23 12pm - 1pm Book Study 24 2pm - 3pm Wedding Choir / 9:30 Akathist Fellowship/ Church School 12pm - 2pm Annual Parish Assembly 27 Byzantine Chant Class Great Vespers 8pm - 9pm Adult Education 30 Three Hierarchs 7am - 8am 12pm - 1pm Book Study pm - 6pm Great Vespers with Litya 6pm - 7pm Group Confession 5

6 GOD GRANT YOU MANY YEARS! JANUARY COFFEE HOUR SPONSORS January Birthdays Adrian Apodaca Alexandra Schmalzbach Anne Wright Armand Scala II Christina Jatras Demitri Apodaca Dionne Manos Gregory Zimmerli Kristine Lorentz Luke Henderson Luna Asghedom Maria Lerner Mina Coleman Rodica Morosanu Toni Robertson January Anniversaries 30 Sarah and Arthur Zimmerli 31 John and Julie Grecco January Names Days 7 St. John the Baptist: Ioana Lutai 12 St. Tatiana, Martyr in Rome: Dsa. Tanya Danilchick 14 St. Nina the Enlightener: Nina Apodaca 21 St. Agnes: Ursula Rij 21 St. Maximus the Confessor: Max Masick HOLY BREAD BAKER BAKER NEEDED EPISTLE READER Reader Steve Miroy Since the rollout of the Affordable Coffee Hour Act, we have seen a quick adaptation by the parish to volunteer for various roles and needs. We are especially happy with seeing better help in the areas of setting up coffee/tea and cleanup! Thanks to all who have supported coffee hour in some manner. However, we are noticing a decline in participation again most likely because of how our sign up list is displayed/managed in the hall. We can see how it can easily be passed by. Over the course of the month, a NEW corkboard will be displayed in the hall for coffee hour sign up only. Rather than posting multiple Sundays to a clip board, they will be pinned on the dedicated corkboard, displaying 9 Sundays at a time, or roughly, two months worth. Also, please remember that each square is a volunteer spot so if it empty, please consider writing your name to volunteer! No need to coordinate with others...just bring what you want! JANUARY 12 Coffee/Set-Up Matty Family Church School Meal & Beverages Adult Meal & Beverages Josh Khoury Wright Family Dill Family Clean-Up Wright Family JANUARY 19 Coffee/Set-Up Church School Meal & Beverages Adult Meal & Beverages Clean-Up 6

7 2014 Home Blessings/ Commemorations Fr. David wants to visit you this January during this season of Theophany with a traditional home blessing! Besides having your home blessed with holy water, this tradition is an excellent time for Fr. David to get to know you and your family better. This list will be also be used by Fr. David for commemorations during Proskemedia before each. FAMILY: (Please print/detach this form) For the Living (first names only): For the Departed (first names only): 7

8 THE VEIL JOURNAL St. Mary Orthodox Church 7223 Roosevelt Avenue Falls Church, Virginia