SAINT JAMES ORTHODOX CHURCH

Transcription

1 SAINT JAMES ORTHODOX CHURCH 195 N. Main Street Milpitas, Ca Saturdays Vespers 5:00 p.m. Sundays Matins 8:00 a.m. Sundays Liturgy 10:30 a.m. The Very Reverend Fr. Jiris Hanna (408) Fr. Dcn. Joseph Kawar (408) Issue No. 617 Sunday November 22 (11/9), th Sunday after Pentecost Martyrs Onesiphorus and Porphyrius, of Ephesus ( ) St. Matrona, abbess of Constantinople (492) St. Theoctista of the isle of Lesbos (881) األحد الخامس والعشرون بعد العنصرة الشهيدين اونيسيفورس و برفيريوس والقديسة ثاوكتيستي وأمنا البارة مطرونا Matins (Eothina III): Mark 16:9 20 Epistle: Ephesians 4:1 6 Gospel: Luke 8:41 56 Services This Week تذكار القديسين Friday 11/20 at 7pm Liturgy Service Synaxis of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and the Other Bodiless Powers Saturday 11/21 at 5pm - Vespers Service Fr. Giris will be available for confessions after the service The Church s Prayer for the Dead The Holy Orthodox Church, like a concerned mother, daily, at every divine service, offers up prayers for all her children who have departed for the land of eternity. Thus, at the midnight service prayers for the departed are read. This is so also at Compline. At matins and vespers the departed are remembered by name at the Augmented Ektenia, "Have mercy on us, O God..." They are commemorated three times during the Liturgy: at the Proskomedia (preparation of the Holy bread during matins), at the ektenia following the Gospel, and after the consecration of the Precious Gifts when "Meet it is in truth..." is chanted. Furthermore, one day of the week is set aside for prayers for the dead Saturdays on which it is customary to have a service for the dead, unless it coincides with a feast, if such is to be served on that day. The Third Day We commemorate the dead on the third day firstly, because those who have departed had been baptized in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the One God in three Persons, and had kept the Orthodox faith they received at holy baptism;

2 secondly, because they preserved the three virtues which form the foundation of our salvation, namely: faith, hope and love; thirdly, because man's being possesses three internal powers reason, emotion and desire by which we all have transgressed. And since man's actions manifest themselves in three ways by deed, word, and thought by our commemoration on the third day we entreat the Holy Trinity to forgive the departed all transgressions committed by the three above-mentioned powers and actions. When St. Macarius of Alexandria besought the angel who accompanied him in the desert to explain to him the meaning of the Church's commemoration on the third day, the angel replied to him: "When an offering is made in church on the third day, the soul of the departed receives from its guardian angel relief from the sorrow it feels as a result of the separation from the body. This it receives because glorification and offering is made in the Church of God which gives rise in it to blessed hope, for in the course of the two days the soul is permitted to roam the earth, wherever it wills, in the company of the angels that are with it. Therefore, the soul, loving the body, sometimes wanders about the house in which his body had been laid out, and thus spends two days like a bird seeking its nest. But the virtuous soul goes about those places in which it was want to do good deeds. On the third day, He Who Himself rose from the dead on the third day commands the Christian soul, in imitation of His resurrection, to ascend to the Heavens to worship the God of all." The Ninth Day On the ninth day, the Holy Church offers prayers and the Bloodless Sacrifice for the departed, that his soul be accounted worthy to be numbered among the choirs of the saints through the prayers and intercession of the nine ranks of angels. St. Macarius of Alexandria, in accordance with the angel's revelation, says that after worshipping God on the third day, it is commanded to show the soul the various pleasant habitations of the saints and the beauty of Paradise. The soul considers all of this for six days, lost in wonder and glorifying the Creator of all. Contemplating all of this, it is transformed and forgets the sorrow it felt in the body. But if it is guilty of sins, at the sight of the delights of the saints it begins to grieve and reproach itself, saying: "Woe is me! How much I busied myself in vanity in that world! Enamored of the gratification of lust, I spent the greater portion of my life in carelessness and did not serve God as I should, that I too might be accounted worthy of this grace and glory. Woe is me! Poor me!" After considering all the joys of the righteous in the course of six days, it again is borne aloft by the angels to worship God. The Fortieth Day From earliest antiquity the Holy Church has correctly and devoutly made it a rule to commemorate the departed in the course of forty days, and on the fortieth day in particular. As Christ was victorious over the devil, having spent forty days in fasting and prayer, so the Holy Church likewise, offering for the departed prayers, acts of charity and the Bloodless Sacrifice throughout the forty days, asks the Lord's grace for him to conquer the enemy, the dark prince of the air, and that he receive the Heavenly Kingdom as his inheritance. St. Macarius of Alexandria, discussing the state of man's soul after the death of the body, says: "After the second adoration, the Master of all commands that the soul be led to hell and that it be shown the places of torment there, the various parts of hell, and the diverse tortures of the wicked, in which the souls of sinners ceaselessly wail and gnash their teeth. The soul is borne about these various places of torment for thirty days, trembling lest it itself be imprisoned therein. On the fortieth day it is once again borne aloft to adore the Lord God, and it is at this time that the Judge determines the place of confinement proper to it in accordance with its deeds. This is a great day for the deceased, for it determines his portion until the Dread judgment of God, and therefore, the Holy Church correctly commands that fervent prayer be made for the dead on this day." The commemoration of the departed at the first opportunity after death is important and essential because it alleviates the passage of the soul of the departed through the so-called toll-booths. St. Cyril of Alexandria says: "At Our soul's separation from the body, there will stand before us on one side warriors and powers of Heaven, and on the other side the powers of darkness, the princes of this world, the aerial publicans, the torturers, the prosecutors of our deeds... Seeing them, the soul is dismayed, it shudders, and in consternation and horror will seek protection from the angels of God; but being received by the holy angels and passing through the aerial space, lifted on high under their protection, it encounters the toll-booths, as it were, certain gates or toll houses in which taxes are exacted which will bar its way into the Kingdom, will halt and hold back its progress towards it. At each of these toll-booths an account is demanded for particular sins." The Venerable Theodora, as she passed through the toll-booths, was greatly aided by the intercession of her elder St. Basil the New, which served to outweigh the torments for those sins not covered by repentance. Thus does commemoration benefit departed sinners. A commemoration has been established by the Orthodox Church on the twentieth and fortieth days after death, and also on the half-year and yearly anniversaries of the death. Grain (i.e., koliva or kutiya) is brought by the relatives for the

3 commemoration, presenting an image of the Resurrection itself. In general, the custom of observing days for the commemoration of the dead has been continuously observed in the Orthodox Church from the beginning of its establishment until our own times, being handed down from generation to generation, from century to century. The Divine Liturgy has always been celebrated in memory of the dead, the great propitiatory sacrifice is offered up for them, psalms are read, and on these days many have increased and continue to increase their offerings in the church, assisting the poor and needy brethren out of love for their departed brethren Beginning of Nativity Fast Saturday 11/28 November 28 January 6 بدء صوم الميالد يوم السبت 28 تشرين الثاني Fish, Wine, and Oil allowed on all Saturdays and Sundays Wine and Oil allowed on all Tuesdays and Thursdays Strict Fast (No Oil or Wine Allowed) on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays Fasting is more relaxed on certain days with major feasts. Will be announced every week. Please talk to the priest if you cannot fast for health reasons or for other reasons. Have a Blessed Fast! Happy Birthday The parish of St. James Orthodox Church wishes our beloved The Very Rev. Fr. Moen (Therapon) Hanna & The Very Rev. Fr. Giris Hanna A very Happy Birthday Sunday November 22 For many year serving the Lord and with your blessings and good health Are you up-to-date with your 2015 pledge? It is almost end of 2015! Time flies, and being busy we so many other things, we tend to forget our dues to our church. If your 2015 pledge is falling behind, this is the time to make it up-to-date and get tax breaks Please talk to the treasurer Samer Aboujudom for any questions about your 2015 pledges.

4 ST. NECTARIUS OF AEGINA Commemorated on November 22 (11/9) Saint Nectarius was born Anastasius Kephalas in Selebria, Thrace on October 1, Since his family was poor, Anastasius went to Constantinople when he was fourteen in order to find work. When he was still a young man, Anastasius made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. During the voyage, the ship was in danger of sinking in a storm. Anastasius looked at the raging sea, and then at the captain. He went and stood beside the captain and took the helm, praying for God to save them. Then he took off the cross his grandmother had given him (containing a piece of the Cross of Christ) and tied it to his belt. Leaning over the side, he dipped the cross into the water three times and commanded the sea, "Silence! Be still." At once, the wind died down and the sea became calm. Anastasius was saddened, however, because his cross had fallen into the sea and was lost. As the boat sailed on, sounds of knocking seemed to come from the hull below the water line. When the ship docked, the young man got off and started to walk away. Suddenly, the captain began shouting, "Kephalas, Kephalas, come back here." The captain had ordered some men into a small boat to examine the hull in order to discover the source of the knocking, and they discovered the cross stuck to the hull. Anastasius was elated to receive his "Treasure," and always wore it from that time forward. There is a photograph taken many years later, showing the saint in his monastic skufia. The cross is clearly visible in the photo. On November 7, 1875, Anastasius received monastic tonsure at the Nea Moni Monastery on Chios, and the new name Lazarus. Two years later, he was ordained a deacon. On that occasion, his name was changed to Nectarius. The saint celebrated the services in the seminary church, taught the students, and wrote several edifying and useful books. Since he was a quiet man, St Nectarius did not care for the noise and bustle of Athens. He wanted to retire somewhere where he could pray. On the island of Aegina he found an abandoned monastery dedicated to the Holy Trinity, which he began to repair with his own hands. He gathered a community of nuns, appointing the blind nun Xenia as abbess, while he himself served as Father Confessor. Since he had a gift for spiritual direction, many people came to Aegina to confess to him. Eventually, the community grew to thirty nuns. He used to tell them, "I am building a lighthouse for you, and God shall put a light in it that will shine forth to the world. Many will see this light and come to Aegina." They did not understand what he was telling them, that he himself would be that beacon, and that people would come there to venerate his holy relics. For two months St Nectarius suffered from a disease of the bladder. At ten thirty on the evening of November 8, 1920, he surrendered his holy soul to God. He died in peace at the age of seventy-four. In the bed next to St Nectarius was a man who was paralyzed. As soon as the saint had breathed his last, the nurse and the nun who sat with him began to dress him in clean clothing to prepare him for burial at Aegina. They removed his sweater and placed it on the paralyzed man's bed. Immediately, the paralytic got up from his bed, glorifying God. St Nectarius was buried at the Holy Trinity Monastery on Aegina. Several years later, his grave was opened to remove his bones (as is the custom in Greece). His body was found whole and incorrupt, as if he had been buried that very day. St Nectarius was glorified by God, since his whole life was a continuous doxology to the Lord. Both during his life and after his death, St Nectarius has performed thousands of miracles, especially for those suffering from cancer. There are more churches dedicated to St Nectarius than to any other modern Orthodox saint. Through the prayers of St. Nectarius O Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on us and save us. Amen.

5 Happy Birthdays Christina Hanna 11/16 Peter Nijmeh 11/16 Kennedy Nijmeh 11/17 Nick Zeidan 11/18 Yazan Ammari 11/18 Baz Hina 11/19 Effie Zissimatos 11/19 Dina Jweinat 11/20 Paul Toma 11/20 Joy Zumout 11/20 Rojina Wahhab 11/21 Emile Nijmeh 11/21 Fr. Giris Hanna 11/22 Fr. Moen Hanna 11/22 Mayce Keilo 11/22 عقبال المئة سنة!!! Majid & Noura Barance 11/16 Saleh & Georgette Isied 11/18 George & Nahla Catambay 11/22 For Many Years! for your bulletin personal announcements, comments, or feedback. St. James Upcoming Events St. James Annual Christmas Party St. James Orthodox Church Annual Christmas dinner and music. Please see flier in this bulletin. This Saturday 11/21/ Can-Food Drive St. James Orthodox Church is sponsoring Thanksgiving Food Drive again this year. Three large bins are now available at the church entrance and in the church hall for your food donation. Deadline - Tuesday 11/24/ Nativity Fasting Begins Saturday 11/28/ Project Mexico & St. Innocent Orthodox Orphanage Sponsoring an orphan for Christmas St. James Orthodox Church is sponsoring Irwin an orphan from Mexico to our St. James family with his Christmas list of basic needs. Please see Irwin s wish list in this bulletin. Please call Heba Khoury (714) for questions or information. More details coming soon. Deadline - Sunday 11/29/ Sunday School Kids Christmas Show St. James Sunday School kids will wish you a Merry Christmas when performing a beautiful show and Christmas chanting. Sunday 12/20/15

6 St. James Orthodox Church Christmas Dinner Saturday, November 21 Doors open at 7:00pm Also Celebrating Fr. Giris & Fr. Moheen s Birthdays! Featuring Samer Theodossy Biltmore Hotel in Santa 2151 Laurelwood Road- Santa Clara - Dinner Options Mixed Grill of two lamb chops, petite fillet mignon and two jumbo shrimps or Baked Salmon over wild rice and steamed veggies Babysitting & Food Available for $25 Tickets: Adults $70 Donation Kids 12 & Under $35 Donation To Reserve Tickets, Call Yousef Hanna at (408)

7 Commemoration of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, and the other Bodiless Powers Saturday November 21 (11/8) The Angelic Ranks are divided into three Hierarchies: highest, middle, and lowest. The Highest Hierarchy includes: the Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones The six-winged SERAPHIM stand closest of all to the Most Holy Trinity. They blaze with love for God and kindle such love in others. God and behold His glory. The many-eyed CHERUBIM stand before the Lord after the Seraphim. Through them wisdom is poured forth, and people's minds are enlightened so they may know The THRONES stand after the Cherubim. They are ministers of God's justice, giving to tribunals, kings, etc. the capacity for righteous judgment. The Middle Angelic Hierarchy consists of three Ranks: Dominions, Powers, and Authorities DOMINIONS hold dominion over the angels subject to them. They instruct the earthly authorities to rule wisely, and to govern their lands well. The Dominions teach us to subdue sinful impulses, to subject the flesh to the spirit, to master our will, and to conquer temptation. POWERS fulfill the will of God without hesitation. They work great miracles and give the grace of wonderworking to saints pleasing to God. The Powers assist people in fulfilling obedience. They also encourage them to be patient, and give them spiritual strength and fortitude. AUTHORITIES have authority over the devil. They protect people from demonic temptations, and prevent demons from harming people as they would wish. They also help people in the struggle with evil thoughts. The Lowest Hierarchy includes the three Ranks: Principalities, Archangels, and Angels PRINCIPALITIES have command over the lower angels, instructing them in the fulfilling of God's commands. They watch over the world and protect lands, nations and peoples. Principalities teach those in authority to use their position, not for personal glory and gain, but to honor God, and to spread word of Him, for the benefit of those under them. ARCHANGELS enlighten people to know and understand the will of God, they spread faith in God among the people, illuminating their minds with the light of the Holy Gospel. ANGELS are in the lowest rank of the heavenly hierarchy, and closest to people. They reveal the lesser mysteries of God and His intentions, guiding people to virtuous and holy life. They never abandon us and they are always prepared to help us, if we desire it. All the Ranks of the Heavenly Powers are called angels, although each has its own name and position by virtue of their service. The Lord reveals His will to the highest ranks of the angels, and they in turn inform the others. Over all the Nine Ranks, the Lord appointed the Holy Archangel Michael as Chief Commander. Holy Scripture and Tradition give us the names of the Archangels: Gabriel: Strength (power) of God, herald and servitor of Divine omnipotence. He announces the mysteries of God.

8 Raphael: The healing of God, the curer of human infirmities. Uriel: The fire or light of God, enlightener. We pray for him to enlighten those with darkened minds. Selaphiel: The prayer of God, impelling to prayer. He prays to God for mankind. Jehudiel: The glorifying of God, encouraging exertion for the glory of the Lord and interceding for the reward of efforts. Barachiel: Distributor of the blessings of God for good deeds, entreats the mercy of God for people. Jeremiel: The raising up to God. Each person has a guardian angel, and every nation also receives its own guardian angel from God. When a church is consecrated, it also receives a guardian angel تعريب دير السيدة العذراء ينبوع الحياة دبين A SPIRITUAL FATHER Our Lord Jesus Christ, while praying in the gardens of Gethsemane, was to a certain degree an image of every spiritual father in relation to his spiritual children, for he takes their sins upon himself. What a great work, and what only he must endure! - St. Nikon St. James Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive For I was hungry and you gave Me food It is that time again Time of giving and thinking of others who are less fortunate. - Matthew 25:35 St. James Orthodox Church is sponsoring Thanksgiving Food Drive again this year. Three big bins are now available at the church entrance and in the church hall for your food donation. The Food bank is in need of the following: The bins will be available through Monday November 23 rd. Meals in a can (stew, chili, soup) Tuna and canned meat Peanut butter Canned foods with pop-top lids Low-sugar cereals 100% fruit juices in single serving boxes Canned fruit packed in juice Canned vegetables (low salt) Frozen whole Turkeys or Ham are also acceptable Please avoid donating items packaged in glass. Please do not donate bulk quantities of rice, flour, or sugar. God gave us a gift by having food on the table. Please share this gift with the poor and needy families in the community.

9 Dear Family & Friends of St. James, This year St. James Orthodox Church will be sponsoring an Orthodox orphan boy through Project Mexico & St. Innocent Orphanage located in Rosarito, Mexico. Through their Santa s Helpers program & generous donors like you, they are able to make Christmas the joyful, magical, love-filled and holy feast it should be for every child. Simply put your name & phone number next to any item(s) on the wish list and bring it back to church on or before December 1 st. Since this project is not local we will need to ship the items. This deadline ensures that the child will receive their gifts in time for Christmas. Please DO NOT BE LATE! Please DO NOT WRAP THE GIFTS. The items on the wish list must be exact, of quality & in new condition, (do not need to be expensive brand name clothes). If you are unable to find them please let us know ahead of time. Special wish list items are online only please allow yourself enough time for shipping (to yourself) and the deadline of December 1 st. We thank you in advance for your participation in this program. Your Christmas gift will surely create warm memories in the hearts of the boys of St. Innocent s. If you have any questions, please contact Heba Khoury (510) or hhkhoury05@yahoo.com

10 Irwin Favorite: Color: Red Subject: English Sport: Soccer Activity: Soccer Tournaments Likes to: Play Soccer He wants to be a: Soccer Player

11 Salvation Comes in Ten Thousand Places I know a man, who recently met with the hand of Christ through a little girl at his church. As it happens in our broken world, he had been greatly wounded by people in his Christian community. A thought tempted him; I should excommunicate myself. I am unwelcome here. There is nothing but hatred. And so he told himself again and again, all the while knowing that this was a temptation and not at all from God. In his struggle he asked for the intercessions of St John of San Francisco. As he prayed a little girl approached him: Will you go to communion with me? What?!?! Aren t you old enough to go alone? I don t know I don t want to go alone Okay. I can go to Communion with you. My mother wasn t feeling well and had to eat before Liturgy*. There is no one to go to Communion with me And so he went with her to the chalice with joy! This simply conversation played out in such a way that it broke the storm of dark thoughts holding his mind captive. The heavenly intercession of the saint and the innocence of a child convicted him of what he knew to be true. Even a child can speak the truth, and the truth sets us free. It can be hard to reconcile, but the people in our lives are there for our salvation. Whether it is our church or our family, a monastic brotherhood or a coworker, a friend or an enemy we have to have the conviction that the people we have in our lives have been placed there for our salvation. If we don t believe this, life can overwhelm us with feelings of frustration, despair and futility. But if we open the eyes our heart to the work that God is trying to do in our lives, we may find many unexpected occasions for spiritual growth. Sacramental theologians often speak of how in marriage the bride and groom are saved through each other. I would add that the Orthodox marriage service contains so many references to having children precisely because parents are often saved through the process of raising their children. The Apostle Paul references this, although the verse is considered cryptic by many (1 Tim 2:15). But I believe, that in many cases, it is the children that transform a family into a true salvation community. As Saint Anthony the Great says, our life and death are with our neighbor. Through each other, Christ appears in ways we cannot anticipate. But this is not always obvious, because it often takes the form of intense, even discouraging struggle. It is our responsibility to continually call our hearts and minds back to the way of Christ so that we can apprehend the subtle movements of grace. As Fr Seraphim Rose famously said try to find something for your salvation in everything. Amen! The saving work of Christ was accomplished once and for all on the cross, but He daily sends our souls moments of resurrection. Everywhere there are little moments to bear our cross, and when each of these moments is embraced with faith there is a spark of new life in us from the hand of the Master. Christ indeed saves us in ten thousand ways. God be with you.

12 Christmas Trees Downtown Felton Get 10% off if you Pre-Order Your Christmas Tree at stnicholaschristmastrees.com Benefitting St. Lawrence Academy and Valley Churches United Missions St. Lawrence Orthodox Church 6192 Hwy 9 Felton, Ca Please see Yousef Moheen Hanna for Christmas tree order forms on Nov 22 & Nov 29. Trees will be delivered and tied to your car on Dec 6. All proceeds go to St. Lawrence Orthodox Academy. Thanks for your support!! Have a Merry Christmas Volunteers Needed to Offer Healthcare and Education in Guatemala The Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) is seeking medical/dental professionals, students, and those interested in providing medical/dental care for two upcoming short-term mission teams to Guatemala. These teams, serving from April 8th to the 17th (1st team) and August 26th to September 4th (2nd team), will offer healthcare and education to the Mayan people of Aguacate. This rural village is home to a growing community of Orthodox Christians that do not have access to basic medical/dental services. Please prayerfully consider joining one or both of these vital teams! For more information or to apply, visit teams@ocmc.org, or call ext. 141.

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