SUNDAY BEFORE NATIVITY DECEMBER 22, 2013 Sts. Raphael, Nicholas and Irene Greek Orthodox Church Rev. Fr. Barnabas Powell, Proistamenos Jimmy Smith, Psaltis 3074 Bethelview Road Cumming GA 30040 (770) 781-5250 cell (770) 861-3544 www.stsrni.org We are an intentional Orthodox Christian Community for North Georgia!
WORSHIP Fourth Eothinon/Tone First We are so very glad you have joined us today, and we pray you will be inspired and encouraged by your time with us. The Orthodox worship service is an ancient and timeless expression of how people have loved, served and worshipped God for many centuries, but it may be a bit of a different experience for you. Please feel free to use a service book or not and simply allow the words of the service to wash over you. The central act of our worship culminates in people receiving communion. This is a very special time for us all and we have some specific beliefs about our communion together. This is why we never impose this service on those who are not prepared or are not baptized Orthodox. This service may raise questions in your mind. Please feel free to ask Fr. Barnabas or Fr. Paul anything you wish after the service. At the end of the service EVERYONE is invited to come forward and receive a portion of the blessed bread from Fr. Barnabas. No one should leave church hungry! Know you are welcome and we are glad you are here. May God bless you and your family. Apolytikion in honor of Sts. Raphael, Nicholas & Irene Having contended on Lesvos for the sake of Christ God, you have sanctified the island since the discovery of your sacred relics, O blessed ones; wherefore we honor you, O Godbearing Raphael, together with Nicholas and virgin Irene, as our divine protectors and intercessors with the Lord. Please give a warm welcome to Fr. Allan Boyd, who is our guest today serving with Fr. Barnabas & Fr. Paul. Fr. Allan is the 2nd priest at St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Los Angeles. He will deliver today s homily. Schedule for the Week Nativity Eve - December 24th, Tuesday 8:30 a.m. The Great Hours of the Nativity 6:30 p.m. Vesperal Divine Liturgyof St. Basil the Great Holy Nativity - December 25th, Wednesday 8:30 a.m. Orthros/9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy No Evening Vespers December 28th, Saturday - 5:00 p.m. Great Vespers Parish Council On Duty Today - John Patrick & Harald Hagen Ushering Ministry - Philoptochos Welcoming Ministry - Sharon Tyre Fellowship Ministry - Evon Patrick ACOLYTES Jacob Atkins, Zachery Bethune, Mike & Peter Jordanopolos, Thomas Miller, Evan & Mitchell Roussey, Mike Trainor, Alex & Niko Tzevelekos and Christos Zourzoukis SENIOR ACOLYTES Mike Manos, Dean Pryles
TODAY WE REMEMBER Sunday Before Nativity Reading: On the Sunday that occurs on or immediately after the eighteenth of this month, we celebrate all those who from ages past have been well - pleasing to God, beginning from Adam even unto Joseph the Betrothed of the Most Holy Theotokos, according to genealogy, as the Evangelist Luke hath recorded historically (Luke 3:23-38); we also commemorate the Prophets and Prophetesses, and especially the Prophet Daniel and the Holy Three Children. Resurrectional Apolytikion in the First Tone: When the stone had been sealed by the Jews and the soldiers were guarding Thine immaculate Body, Thou didst arise on the third day, O Saviour, granting life unto the world. Wherefore, the powers of the Heavens cried out to Thee, O Lifegiver: Glory to Thy Resurrection, O Christ. Glory to Thy Kingdom. Glory to Thy dispensation, O only Friend of man. Apolytikion in the Second Tone: Great are the accomplishments of faith. In the fountain of flame the three Holy Youths rejoiced as though they were resting by the waters. And the Prophet Daniel showed himself to be a shepherd to the lions, as though they were sheep. Through their prayers O Christ our God, save our souls. Seasonal Kontakion in the Third Tone: On this day the Virgin cometh to the cave to give birth to * God the Word ineffably, * Who was before all the ages. * Dance for joy, O earth, on hearing * the gladsome tidings; * with the Angels and the shepherds now glorify Him * Who is willing to be gazed on * as a young Child Who * before the ages is God. We Also Remember Anastasia the Great Martyr Chrysogonos, Theodota, Evodias, & Eutychianus, the Martyrs The Opening of the Gates of the Great Church of God Forefeast of the Nativity of Our Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ Please pray for those faithful who are currently in need of our most fervent intercessions: Andrew, Angie, Bill, Bill, Brent, Carrie, Demetra, Diane, Dina, Donna, Ela, Elaine, Elizabeth, Christina, George, Gus, Heidi, Igli, James, Jamie, Jerry, Joe, Maria, Michael, Oni, Patsy, Paul, Peter, Staikoula, Taki, Tara, Violeta, John & Sheila Consos, Katherine & Sam Yalanzon 2013 Parish Council President - John Patrick; Vice President- Harald Hagen; Treasurer - Chris Foxhall; Recording Secretary/Corresponding Secretary - Harriet Howell; Sophia Bethune, Kosta Bozzuto, Marie Chapman, Quay Farr, Bill Manos, Plutarch Vamvakias
EPISTLE Reading The Reading is from St. Paul s Letter to the Hebrews 11:9-10, 32-40 Prokeimenon. Mode 4. Daniel 3.26,27 Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers. Verse: For you are just in all you have done. BRETHREN, by faith Abraham sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city which has foundation, whose builder and maker is God. And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets - who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated - of whom the world was not worthy - wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us,that apart from us they should not be made perfect. ΑΩ Πίστει παρῴκησεν εἰς γῆν τῆς ἐπαγγελίας ὡς ἀλλοτρίαν, ἐν σκηναῖς κατοικήσας μετὰ Ισαὰκ καὶ Ιακὼβ τῶν συγκληρονόμων τῆς ἐπαγγελίας τῆς αὐτῆς ἐξεδέχετο γὰρ τὴν τοὺς θεμελίους ἔχουσαν πόλιν, ἧς τεχνίτης καὶ δημιουργὸς ὁ θεός. Καὶ τί ἔτι λέγω; ἐπιλείψει με γὰρ διηγούμενον ὁ χρόνος περὶ Γεδεών, Βαράκ, Σαμψών, Ιεφθάε, Δαυίδ τε καὶ Σαμουὴλ καὶ τῶν προφητῶν, οἳ διὰ πίστεως κατηγωνίσαντο βασιλείας, εἰργάσαντο δικαιοσύνην, ἐπέτυχον ἐπαγγελιῶν, ἔφραξαν στόματα λεόντων, ἔσβεσαν δύναμιν πυρός, ἔφυγον στόματα μαχαίρης, ἐδυναμώθησαν ἀπὸ ἀσθενείας, ἐγενήθησαν ἰσχυροὶ ἐν πολέμῳ, παρεμβολὰς ἔκλιναν ἀλλοτρίων ἔλαβον γυναῖκες ἐξ ἀναστάσεως τοὺς νεκροὺς αὐτῶν ἄλλοι δὲ ἐτυμπανίσθησαν, οὐ προσδεξάμενοι τὴν ἀπολύτρωσιν, ἵνα κρείττονος ἀναστάσεως τύχωσιν ἕτεροι δὲ ἐμπαιγμῶν καὶ μαστίγων πεῖραν ἔλαβον, ἔτι δὲ δεσμῶν καὶ φυλακῆς ἐλιθάσθησαν, ἐπρίσθησαν, ἐν φόνῳ μαχαίρης ἀπέθανον, περιῆλθον ἐν μηλωταῖς, ἐν αἰγείοις δέρμασιν, ὑστερούμενοι, θλιβόμενοι, κακουχούμενοι, ὧν οὐκ ἦν ἄξιος ὁ κόσμος, ἐπὶ ἐρημίαις πλανώμενοι καὶ ὄρεσιν καὶ σπηλαίοις καὶ ταῖς ὀπαῖς τῆς γῆς. Καὶ οὗτοι πάντες μαρτυρηθέντες διὰ τῆς πίστεως οὐκ ἐκομίσαντο τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν, τοῦ θεοῦ περὶ ἡμῶν κρεῖττόν τι προβλεψαμένου, ἵνα μὴ χωρὶς ἡμῶν τελειωθῶσιν.
GOSPEL READING The Reading is from Matthew 1:1-25 The book of the Genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asa, and Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ. So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations. Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel"(which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife, but knew her not until she had borne a son; and he called his name Jesus. ΑΩ
DECEMBER SERVICES/EVENTS TODAY, December 22 8:45 a.m. Orthros 9:45 a.m. Divine Liturgy Church School Christmas Presentation Tuesday, December 24 Nativity Eve 8:30 a.m. The Great Hours of the Nativity 6:30 p.m. Vesperal Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great Wednesday, December 25 Holy Nativity 8:30 a.m. Orthros 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy NO EVENING VESPERS Saturday, December 28 5:00 p.m. Great Vespers Sunday, December 29 8:45 a.m. Orthros 9:45 a.m. Divine Liturgy Wednesday, January 1, 2014 New Year s Day 8:30 a.m. Orthros 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great 6:30 p.m. Vespers Saturday, January 4, 2014 5:00 p.m. Great Vespers Sunday, January 5, 2014 8:45 a.m. Orthros 9:45 a.m. Divine Liturgy Cutting of the Vasilopita
ANNOUNCEMENTS Father Barnabas is available to hear confession every Wednesday either before or after Vespers and by appointment. Please call or email the church office to request a time to meet with Father and avail yourself to this healing divine mystery of the Church. Father Paul is available on Sunday during Orthros to hear confession, but no later than 9:20 a.m. Please phone the church office to make an appointment. Please call the Church office for more information (770) 781-5250. PARISH COUNCIL ELECTIONS Congratulations to: David Chapman; Chris Foxhall; Bill Manos; Gregory Pappas; John Patrick on their election to the Parish Council. Thank you to The Election Committee: Renee Birozes, Dr. Archie Lytle, Tina Maheras, Margaret Manos, Tina Vamvakias, for their service. FELLOWSHIP MINISTRY Our 2013-2014 Fellowship Hour Donation Campaign has begun. A suggested donation of $25/family helps cover the cost of the weekly Fellowship Hour. Checks should be made payable to Sts. RNI G.O. Church with Fellowship on the memo line. We hope you have enjoyed the refreshments provided over the past year and will continue to support the Fellowship Committee s efforts to serve you each Sunday. Thank you for your support of this Ministry.
CHILDREN & YOUTH EDUCATION Church School September 8th THROUGH May 18, 2014 A focus on Sacraments and Feasts; Scripture and Bible Stories; Saints and Orthodox Spirituality in communion with our teachers and our children. Church School has Begun! Registration forms are in the Narthex. Pre-K through High School Students need to sign up. CHRISTMAS PRESENTATION BY CHURCH SCHOOL CHILDREN TODAY the Sts. RNI Sunday School will present a Nativity Carol immediately following the Divine Liturgy. All Sunday School classes need to come to the Youth Room during Sunday School and will return to the church after the Divine Liturgy to present a short Nativity Carol. Church School Teachers are needed in 3-5 grade as well as High School If interested, please contact Quay Farr (quayfarr@bellsouth.net). Children & Youth Choir Practice - will meet in the Youth Room after receiving the Holy Eucharist.
GREEK SCHOOL Contact Smara Wolff for information on Greek School - smara.wolff@gmail.com or 770-889-5419 Fall Semester Classes have begun. 1st Grade Classes held on: Friday - 6:15-7 p.m. or 7-7:45 p.m. 2nd Grade Class held on: Thursday - 6:45-7:45 p.m. Advanced Class held on: Sunday - 4-5 p.m. Spring Semester Classes will begin January 23rd, 2014 and run through May 2014. Registration forms will be available soon.
PHILOPTOCHOS CHRISTMAS BAKE SALE Thank you to all who helped to make our Christmas Bake Sale a success. Orders that haven t already been delivered are ready for you in the Blue House after Divine Liturgy. Vasilopita Sunday - January 5th, 2014 Father Barnabas will be cutting the New Year s Vasilopita (New Year s Bread) on Sunday, January 5th, following the Divine Liturgy. Philoptochos will have a Vasilopita Auction to raise funds in honor of St. Basil for the St. Basil Academy as one of their National Commitments. If you are able to bake a Vasilopita to donate to the auction, please bring it to the church on Sunday, January 5th. If you don t bake, but would like a Vasilopita for your home, please plan to bid on one (or more). As always, your generosity is sincerely appreciated.
ANNOUNCEMENTS Prosforo Baking Prosforo will be made on Tuesday, January 14th, at the Blue House beginning at 9 a.m. All who would like to come and help are welcome. Contact Stamatia Hagen at mamma2maria@gmail.com BOOK CLUB Book Club has resumed. Contact Richard Bethune at rstzremod@gmail.com for more information. PROJECT COMFORT If you enjoy crocheting or knitting (or would like to learn), please contact Emily Christie at singcookwrite@gmail.com or 678-447-3918. Emily has started a ministry to make baby blankets & shawls for newborns & sick or shut-ins or for someone who just may need some comfort & a warm hug. WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY Wednesday Bible Study will resume on Wednesday, January 8th, 10 a.m. in the Youth Room
ANNOUNCEMENTS Sts. RNI Bookstore News Your purchases through Amazon helps us raise money! We have a new e-store on Amazon for the Sts. RNI Bookstore. This is an Amazon webstore that we put items into categories like books, cds, jewelry, food, etc. and we get paid 10% on all sales through our store. If someone from the church wants to buy something on Amazon, they need to click through our link for us to get credit. Also, if anyone wants a book, cd, etc., not on our list, they need to let us know & we can add it to the site. Use the link: http://astore.amazon.com/stsrapnicireo-20 For more information or to add items, contact Aftan Romanczak at aromanczak@hotmail.com Visitors Welcome Dina Sarandis resides at The Oaks on Post Road and welcomes visits from fellow parishioners. Dina says THANK YOU to those who have visited her and wants you to know that she has really enjoyed the company. She looks forward to more visitors. John & Sheila Consos are now residing in Dunwoody 4355 Georgetown Sq., Unit 442 and would enjoy phone calls (770/232-5147) &/or visits. If you know of someone who would like a visit, please contact Helen McCart at 678-947-4771 or the Church Office.
ANNOUNCEMENTS New Year s Eve Dance The champange is chilling & we hope you are willing to be our guest at The Annunciation Cathedral New Year s Eve Dance! 2500 Clairmont Road NE, Atlanta Tuesday, December 31st Doors Open at 9:30 p.m. Advanced Adult Ticket $25/At the Door $35 Advanced Student Ticket $15/At the Door $25 Cash Bar & Champagne Toast at Midnight! Come dance the Night away with Live music and DJ! Breakfast will be served following the dance.
ANNOUNCEMENTS Samaria Chapter of Atlanta Pancretan Association of America Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of ENOSIS KRHTIKO GLENTI CRETAN GLENDI Saturday, January 25, 2014 7 p.m. Cocktails 7:30 p.m. Dinner 9 p.m. Dance Hellenic Center Kartos Ballroom 2500 Clairmont Road Atlanta, Georgia 30329 Dinner Dance featuring traditional Cretan cuisine, live Cretan music and Cretan dancing Music provided by Emmanuel A. Tsikoudakis, Lyra Dimitrios Spatharakis, Laouto Nikos Stamatakis, Bass Reserved table of 10 paid by January 19, 2014 $50/adult; $18/children (ages 6-16) Individual tickets (general seating) paid by January 19, 2014 $55/adult; $20/children (ages 6-16) Tickets purchased after January 19 & at the door $60/adult; $15/children (ages 6-16) Children 5 and under Free Dance Only (after 9 p.m.) $25 Contact: Costa Panos at costapanos@yahoo.com or 404-642-6756 Local Contact: Smara Wolff or Beth Doulgerakis
STEWARDSHIP DRIVE - 2014-20 families Richard & Sophia Bethune Anthony & Mary Birozes Kosta & Carolyn Bozzuto David & Marie Chapman Keith & Mary Druffner Quay & Trissie Farr Robert & Jennifer Guano Tina Maheras Al & Helen McCart Matthew & Athena Miller Gus Pappas John & Evon Patrick Marina Raymond Koko & Carol Tadros Steven & Thalia Thompson Greg Tzevelekos/Evie Atkinson Rusty & Christine Waldron Diane Walters Plutarch & Tina Vamvakias Len Vanerstrom
To date the 104 families below have returned Stewardship Commitment Cards for 2013. Nicholas & Varvara Alexiou Jim & Angie Andropoulos Sarante & Julie Athenson Richard & Sophia Bethune Anthony & Mary Birozes Renee Birozes Katherine Blanos James & Jennifer Bochis Joseph & Barbara Bonelli-Selwa Jordan & Lisa Boston Helen Bouboulis Kosta & Carolyn Bozzuto Sean & Maria Carney David & Marie Chapman Russell & Chyrisse Chason Grace Chihlas Julie Chokos Connie Condos John & Sheila Consos Giles & Emily Christie Dan & Alyssa Douglas John & Beth Doulgerakis Gregory & Mariya Dunkel Quay & Trissie Farr Chris & Liz Foxhall Valerie Galanis Robert & Carey Gilbert Robert & Jennifer Guano Harald & Stamatia Hagen Christine Hatcher Michael & Ann Costakis Hayes Harriet Howell Alan & Julia Jenkins Mark & Jennie Johnson Eleni Jordan Panagiotis & Elizabeth Jordanopoulos Vasilios & Mary Kaloudis James Kanellos Maria Kardomateas Theodoros & Vasiliki Kavellaris Theodoros & Aphrodite Kazazakis-Levendakis Dennis & Ginny Kostulakos Alex & Melpo Levantis Earnest & Elizabeth Livaditis Leon & Francis Lopez Archie & Florence Lytle Connie Machoudy Harry & Tina Maheras Wade & Andrea Mancil Bill & Margaret Manos Emanuel Manos Bill & Audrey Marianes John Martin Riley & Ann Marvos George Matthews Al & Helen McCart John & Becky Melts Bill & Mary Milam Matt & Athena Miller Nikolaos Moissiadis Patricia Morris Peter & Jamie Nunn Nicolas & Teddie Panos Constantinos & Evelyn Pantazopoulos Lazaros & Christina Papadopoulos Gregory Pappas Gus Pappas John & Evon Patrick Sts. RNI Philoptochos Gus Plakiotis Ioanna Plakiotis Mihai & Heidi Popa Father & Presvytera Powell Pam Powers Katherine Prattes Vic & Suzi Pryles Paul & Gigi Ray Marina Raymond David & Mary Roberts Athan & Cheri Romanczak Jimmy & Pat Roney Andrew & Lorez Roussey Dina Sarandis Taka & Kathy Shoji Eric & Donna Smith Eugenia Smith Estelle Sofikitis George & Anna Sofikitis Dennis & Laura Sparks James Stockdill Koko & Carol Tadros Steven & Thalia Thompson Ed & Anne Trainor Brian & Jennifer Tubbs Sharon Tyre Greg Tzevelekos George Tzortzinakis Plutarch & Tina Vamvakias Rusty & Christine Waldron Tim & Diane Walters Steve & Smara Wolff Sam & Katherine Yalanzon George & Thalia Zazanis-Bruno John & Mildred Zourzoukis Stewardship is caring for the needs of others. Stewardship is offering one s self to God, as He offered Himself to us. Stewardship is what a person does after saying I believe as proof of that belief.