December 23, 2007 Church Bulletin
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SUNDAY BEFORE THE NATIVITY
Today's Celebrants: V. Rev. Fr. Timothy Ferguson;
Rt. Rev. Fr. Constantine Yanney;
Rev. Dn. Nicholas Belcher; Subdeacon Douglas Howdy;
Subdeacon Khalil Samara; Subdeacon Chadi Saad; Subdeacon James Irving
VARIATION IN TODAY'S DIVINE LITURGY
At the entrance (Service Book page 97):
1) TROPARION OF THE RESURRECTION - Tone 5: Let all us believers give praise and worship to the Word, of one essence with the Father and with the Spirit and who is eternal. Who was born of the Virgin for our salvation. For He did willingly ascend in the flesh to be hung from the Cross and to suffer pain and death, and to lift up the dead by His glorious Resurrection.
2) THE ENTRANCE HYMN: O Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ. O son of God, who art risen from the dead save us who sing unto thee: Alleluia.
3) Repeat #1 above.
4) TROPARION OF THE FOREFEAST - Tone 4: Make ready, O Bethlehem; for Eden hath been opened for all. Prepare, O Ephratha; for the Tree of life hath blossomed forth in the cave from the Virgin; for her belly did appear as a supersensual paradise in which is planted the divine Plant, whereof eating we shall live and not die as Adam. Verily, Christ shall be born, raising the likeness that fell of old.
5) TROPARION OF THE FATHERS - Tone 2: Great are the accomplishments of faith; for the three holy youths rejoiced in the fountain of flames as though waters of rest. And the Prophet Daniel appeared a shepherd to the lions as though they were sheep Wherefore, by their pleadings, O Christ God, have mercy upon us.
6) TROPARION OF ST. GEORGE - Tone 4: As deliverer of captives and defender of the poor, healer of the infirm, champion of kings, victorious, Great Martyr George, intercede with Christ our God for our soul's salvation.
7) KONTAKION FOR THE PREPARATION FOR THE NATIVITY - Tone 3: Today the Virgin cometh unto the cave, to give birth to the Word, who was born before all ages; begotten in a manner that defies description. Rejoice, therefore, O Universe, if thou shouldst hear, and glorify with the angels and the shepherds, (glorify) Him who by His will shall become a new born babe, and who is our God before all ages.
8) NEXT WEEK'S HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT: Galatians 1:11-19; Matthew 2:13-23.
Prokeimenon:
For you are just in all you have done.
The Epistle reading: St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews (Chapt. 11. 9-10; 32-40)
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 foundations, whose builder and maker is God.And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jepthah, 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.
The Holy GOSPEL according to St. Matthew 1:1-25
(Sunday before Nativity or the Sunday of Genealogy)
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac was 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 Aram and Aram the father of Ammin'adab, and Ammin'adab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Bo'az by Rahab, and Bo'az 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 Uri'ah, and Solomon the father of Rehobo'am, and Rehobo'am the father of Abi'jah, and Abi'jah the father of Asa, and Asa the father of Johosh'aphat, and Johosh'aphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezeki'ah, and Hezerki'ah the father of Manas'seh, and Manas'seh the father of Amon, and Amon the father of Josi'ah, and Josi'ah the father of Jechoni'ah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.
And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoni'ah was the father of Sheal'ti-el, and Sheal'ti-el the father of Zerub'babel, and Zerub'babel the father of Abi'ud, and Abi'ud the father of Eli'akim, and Eli'akim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eli'ud, and Eli'ud the father of Elea'zar, and Elea'zar 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 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 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 Emman'u-el" (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.
Special note: Except for those who are elderly and/or disabled, please remain standing during Holy Communion.
Members of the Ladies Society will be selling Christmas Decorations and Hostess Baskets during the Luncheon following Divine Liturgy. Please stop by their table. You may need some last minute Christmas items.
Teen SOYO Progression Dinner - Saturday January 12
It's time for the annual Progression Dinner. Join us for an evening of fun, fellowship, and fabulous food! That's right, appetizers, dinner, and dessert at three different houses. Host houses will be announced soon. Great Vespers will begin at 5:00 pm, and we will depart to the first house immediately after Vespers. If you can attend, please RSVP to Carolyne Moussa or Khalil
Winter Camp @ Antiochian Village - January 18-21
It's just like summer camp, but in the winter! A weekend of fun, friends, and spiritual growth at the Village. Winter Camp begins Friday at 7 pm, and ends Monday morning, and is open to anyone in grades 7 to 12.
Visit www.antiochianvillage.org/camp for more info.
If a group from our church is interested in going, Khalil will look into renting a van to drive to the Village as a group. Please let Khalil know if you are interested or if you have any questions.
Join the Teen SOYO Email List
Parents and teens are asked to sign up for the Teen SOYO email list to receive updates and announcements of all activities. Follow this link to join:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/StGeorgeBostonTeenSOYO/
Calling all College Students!
All College Students are asked to email their current contact information (address, email, phone, school, graduation year) to our Youth Director Khalil at khalilsamara@yahoo.com. This will help us keep an accurate record of where our students are attending college, and to keep them up to date on any activities and programs for college students. College students can also join the "St. George Boston College Students" group on Facebook. Thank you!
Looking Ahead...
Jesus Youth Fan Club - Ice Skating - Saturday, January 12 - more details to follow.
Teen SOYO Snow Tubing at Nashoba Valley - Friday January 18
Teen SOYO Diocese Retreat: March 21-23, 2008 - Contoocook, NH
Summer Camp @ Antiochian Village: Session 3, July 13-25, 2008 - for ages 9-17
Subdeacon Khalil G. Samara, Youth Director, khalilsamara@yahoo.com
ARABIC TRANSLATOR NEEDED
We would like to have several volunteers to translate articles for our new WEB PAGE from English to Arabic. Must be computer literate with Arabic text in Unicode. Please contact Father Timothy if you can assist with this important task. Thank you.
URGENT!
St. George Orthodox Church of Boston is made possible through the generous contributions of faithful people like you.
We are thankful for all the families who support St. George Parish through our Annual Pledge Program - our Pledge is the foundation of our budget and all that we are able to accomplish here at St. George. This year, unfortunately, our Pledges are lagging behind and, as it looks now, we will not meet our needs by the end of the year. Please help out now.
- If you made a Pledge and haven't contributed on it yet - we ask you to please do so now - we urgently need your commitment and financial support before the close of the year [just a few weeks away].
- If you are contributing on your Pledge and have a remaining balance - now is the time to send it in.
- If you did not made a Pledge and appreciate and benefit from all the community has to offer you and your family - we urge you to make a donation of support now - your assistance is urgently needed.
Total Pledged $223,634.16
Total Received $207,277.92
Difference $ 16,356.24
Percent Received
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PLEDGE FORMS and ENVELOPES are at the Candle Stand |
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CHRISTMAS FOOD DRIVE FOR THE NEEDY Thank you to all those who brought in food items, gift certificates and sent in their "Christmas Offering for the Needy" envelopes. Bagged items, gift certificates to local supermarkets, hams and stuffed bears were distributed on Tuesday, December 18th to over 50 needy families. ¥Thank you to the Teens for separating and bagging the food. A special thank you from the Church staff to George Joseph and Moussa Sallale for helping distribute the items. And a special thank you to Louise Jabaily and the Wellesley Council on Aging for supplying the beautiful stuffed bears each wearing a handmade sweater. |