Sunday after the Nativity - St. Stephen Day
St. Nicholas Bulletin - January 9, 2021
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God's Peace! Christ is born! Мир Божији! Христос се роди! Paz de Dios! Cristo ha nacido! |
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God entered into the depths of Human Life
Homily from St. Justin of Celije
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In truth God as a man was born on earth! Why? That we might live through him (1 John 4:9). For without the God-man, the Lord Jesus Christ, human life is wholly and completely a suicidal absurdity, and death is truly the most outright and horrible absurdity on earth. To comprehend death means comprehending life in all its depth, height, and limitlessness. This can only be done by the All-man-loving Lord, Who by His immeasurable love becomes man and forever remains the God-man in the human world. Only as God-life, life in God, can human life acquire its eternal meaning. But outside of God, life is the most ridiculous absurdity, filled with offense and bitterness. Your life, O man, can find its only reasonable, rational, logical meaning in God alone. And your thought, brother, your human thought finds its divine and immortal meaning only in God, only as God-thought. Human thought only becomes God-thought in the God-man, the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the same with your senses, O man—only in God do they find their divine, immortal meaning. Without this, your senses are your most merciless torturers, continually crucifying you on an eternal cross, after which there is no resurrection. And the conscience? Where does this ferocious stranger come from in us, people? It too only unites with its divine and eternal meaning as God-conscience. Without this, human conscience is a ferocious and ghastly absurdity. And your death, and my death, and the death of all people—isn’t it the cruelest torture for human beings throughout the world? Yes, it truly is. But it too, only as the death of the God-man, gains its eternal meaning through the resurrection of the God-man, the Lord Jesus Christ; for through Him and only through Him does victory over death happen and death in the human world can be comprehended. Thus also everything human, the entire human with all his innumerable infinities, only as the grace-filled God-man in the deified and all-vivifying Body of the God-man Christ—the Church—gains his divine, eternal, God-human, and higher meaning.
Through His incarnation, through becoming man, becoming human, has God in the most manifest way entered into the very womb, the very bowels of human life, into the blood, into the heart, into the center of all existence. Squeezed out by voluntary human sin from the world, from the body, from the human soul, through the incarnation, by becoming man He returns to the world, to the body, to the soul. He wholly becomes a man, and being a man He labors for man, settles into the world and among creatures, takes care of the creature, enlightens the creature, saves the creature, transforms the creature, and deifies the creature. God’s incarnation is the greatest upheaval and the most providential event, both on Earth and in Heaven, for the miracle of miracles has happened. If up until then the creation of the world from nothing was the greatest miracle, the incarnation of God in man has without a doubt surpassed it in its miraculousness. If at the creation of the world the words of God were clothed in matter, then at the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ God has clothed Himself in a body, in matter, in flesh. Therefore the incarnation of God became providential throughout the whole creation—for every individual, for every being, for every creature.
You, too, live by Him—live by the God-man and you will be healed of all deaths, all sins, all passions, and all diabolism. May your life become a God-life. In this is your whole heavenly-earthly mystery, O man, the moment you become a member of the church—a member of the God-man Body of Christ. And how should we live in the Church of Christ? We should live through the Holy Mysteries and holy virtues. That is why there is a fast before the Nativity. Fasting is the first virtue, and prayer is always with it. These two foundational virtues bring a person to the God-man and teach him with divine wisdom how to live by Him and in Him. What should we do with the body given to us from God? Purify it, free it from all uncleanness, from all passions, from all evil, from every demon. And what does this mean? It means cleansing it of every sin, for in every sin a devil is hiding, in every sin a devil works apart from your free will. In a great sin is a prince of demons, in a small sin is an imp. You and I and every person has been given all the necessary means to conquer those demons, all the passions, all sins, and all deaths in us and in the world around us. Prayer and fasting are in the first place. The all-true lips of the All-true Lord Jesus Christ have pronounced also this life-creating truth: This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting (Matt. 17:21)—all kinds of sins, all kinds of passions, all kinds of demons.
The Nativity is before you, before me, before us, brothers and sisters: God is born as a man, “so that we would receive life through Him” and thus be filled in soul and body with God. And this is most readily acquired by prayer and fasting. They cleanse and purify the body and the soul, so that wondrous joy would settle into them, and the sweetest God-infant, our Lord Jesus and God would fill completely our human existence, all of its enumerable infinities. It is for this reason, O man, that your body and your soul were created—to be filled with God and to live with God in the divine world on high. Our God-given teachers in this work are humble prayer and humble fasting—these holy foundational Gospel virtues. May they fly with us, may they precede us and ceaselessly announce to all people throughout the world the all-saving and all-joyful glad tidings:
Christ is Born!
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Commemorating the Sunday after the Nativity of Christ, the Holy Righteous Joseph the Betrothed, the Holy Righteous Prophet David the King, the Holy Righteous James, Brother of the Lord and first Bishop of Jerusalem, the Holy Apostle, Archdeacon and Protomartyr Stephen, St. Theodore, Archbishop of Constantinople, Holy Venerable Theodore Graptus, "the branded" Confessor
RESURRECTION TROPARION—TONE 4
When the women disciples of the Lord learned from the angel the joyous message of Your Resurrection, they cast away the ancestral curse and elatedly told the disciples: “Death is overthrown, Christ our God is Risen, granting the world great mercy!”
NATIVITY TROPARION—TONE 4
Your Nativity, O Christ our God, has shone to the world the light of wisdom! For by it, those who worshipped the stars, were taught by a star to adore You, the Sun of righteousness, and to know You, the Orient from on high. O Lord, glory to You!
PROTOMARTYR ARCHDEACON STEPHEN TROPARION—TONE 4
Your head is crowned with a royal diadem, because of the struggles you endured for Christ God, O first of the Martyrs to suffer; for when you confounded the council of the Jews, you saw your Savior enthroned at the Father's right hand. Always interecede for Him to save our souls.
RIGHTEOUS ONES TROPARION—TONE 2
Proclaim the wonder, O Joseph, to David, the ancestor of God; you saw a Virgin great with child; you gave glory with the shepherds; you worshipped with the Magi; you received the news from the Angel. Pray to Christ God to save our souls!
NATIVITY KONTAKION - TONE 3
Today the Virgin gives birth to the Transcendent One, and the earth offers a cave to the Unapproachable One. Angels with shepherds glorify Him; the Wise Men journey with the star, since for our sake the eternal God was born as a little Child!
Instead of “It is truly meet,” we sing: TONE 1
Magnify, O my soul, the Most-Pure Virgin Theotokos, more honorable and more glorious than the heavenly hosts.
I behold a strange, most glorious mystery: heaven—the cave; the cherubic throne—the Virgin; the manger—the place where Christ lay—the uncontainable God, Whom we magnify in song.
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~Scripture Readings of the Day~ |
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READERS:
Matins: Nicholas Ressetar Epistle: Lincoln Govelovich
Next Week: Matins : Lenny Tepsic Epistle: Natalija Gligorevic
EPISTLE: Galatians 1: 11-19
DEACON: Let us pay attention.
PRIEST: Peace be unto all!
READER: And with your spirit!
DEACON: Wisdom.
READER: The Prokeimenon in the Sixth Tone: O Lord, save Your people, and bless Your inheritance!
CHOIR: O Lord, save Your people, and bless Your inheritance!
READER: v: To You, O Lord, will I call. O my God, be not silent to me!
CHOIR: O Lord, save Your people, and bless Your inheritance!
READER: O Lord, save Your people...
CHOIR: ...and bless Your inheritance!
DEACON: Wisdom!
READER: The Reading is from the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Galatians.
DEACON: Let us attend!
READER: Brethren, I make known to you, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.
PRIEST: Peace be unto you, reader!
READER: And with your spirit! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
READER: He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the heavenly God.
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
READER: He will say to the Lord: “My Protector and my Refuge; my God, in Whom I trust.”
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
АПОСТОЛ: Галаћанима 1: 11-19
Ђакон: Пазимо
Свештеник: Мир свима!
Читач: I Духу Твоме!
Ђакон: Премудрост
Читач : ПРОКИМЕН- глас 6 Спаси, Господе, народ Свој и благослови наследство Своје.
Хор: Спаси, Господе, народ Свој и благослови наследство Своје.
Читач: Теби, Господе Боже мој, вапим: немој ме оставити без одговора.
Хор: Спаси, Господе, народ Свој и благослови наследство Своје.
Читач: Спаси, Господе, народ Свој
Хор: и благослови наследство Своје.
Ђакон: Премудрост
Читач: Читање посланице Светога апостола Павла Галатима
Ђакон: Пазимо
Читач: Браћо, дајем вам на знање, да јеванђеље које сам ја благовијестио, није од човјека; Нити га ја примих од човјека, нити научих, него откривењем Исуса Христа. Јер сте чули моје живљење некад у Јудејству, да одвише гоних Цркву Божију и пустоших је. И напредовах у Јудејству више од многих врсника својих у роду своме, будући одвише ревнитељ за своја отачка предања. А када благоволи Бог, који ме изабра од утробе матере моје и призва благодаћу својом, да објави Сина својега у мени, да га благовијестим међу незнабошцима, тога часа не питах тијела и крви, нити изиђох у Јерусалим онима који су били апостоли прије мене, него отидох у Арабију, и опет се вратих у Дамаск. А потом, након три године, изиђох у Јерусалим да видим Петра, и остадох код њега петнаест дана. А другога од апостола не видјех, осим Јакова брата Господњега.
Свештеник: Мир ти читачу!
Читач: I Духом Твоме! Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Читач: Који живи у закону Вишњега, у сјени Свемогућега почива.
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Читач: Говори Господу: Ти си уточиште моје и бранич мој, Бог мој, у кога се уздам.
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
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LITURGY GOSPEL:
Mark 2: 13-23
At that time, when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: “A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted because they are no more.”
Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.” Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”
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ЈЕВАНЂЕЉЕ:
Марко 2: 13-23
Кад мудраци отидоше, а то анђео Господњи јави се Јосифу у сну и рече: Устани, узми дијете и матер његову, па бјежи у Египат, и буди ондје док ти не кажем: јер ће Ирод тражити дијете да га погуби. И он уставши, узе дијете и матер његову ноћу и отиде у Египат. И би тамо до смрти Иродове – да се испуни што је Господ рекао преко пророка који говори: Из Египта дозвах сина својега. Тада Ирод, видјев да су га мудраци преварили, разгњеви се веома и посла те погуби сву дјецу по Витлејему и по свој околини његовој од двије године и ниже, по времену које је тачно дознао од мудраца. Тада се испуни што је рекао пророк Јеремија говорећи: Глас у Рами чу се, плач и ридање и нарицање много, Рахиља оплакује дјецу своју, и неће да се утјеши, јер их нема. А по смрти Иродовој, гле, анђео Господњи јави се у сну Јосифу у Египту. И рече: Устани, узми дијете и матер његову и иди у земљу Израиљеву; јер су помрли они који су тражили душу дјетета. А он уставши, узе дијете и матер његову, и дође у земљу Израиљеву. Али чувши да Архелај царује у Јудеји умјесто Ирода, оца својега, побоја се онамо ићи, него, примивши у сну заповијест, отиде у крајеве галилејске. И дошавши настани се у граду званом Назарет, да се испуни што су рекли пророци да ће се Назарећанин назвати.
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~ The Week Ahead: Scriptures and Services ~ |
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January Birthdays
Kristina Carricato (Jan 3), Brad Livingston (Jan 4), Betty Matovich (Jan 5), Christine Krnjaic (Jan 5), Voni Brown (Jan 6), Jody Atty (Jan 7), Fred Book (Jan 7), Ellen Long (Jan 8), Lauren Spangler (Jan 9), Jason Milletics (Jan 11), Peggy Radanovic (Jan 13), JoAnn Filepas (Jan 13), Tracy Petrovich (Jan 13), Bill Wenner (Jan 15), Stacey Stanovich (Jan 15), Nicole Stefan Imschweiler (Jan 15), Christina Radanovic (Jan 15), Tatyana Reznitchenko (Jan 16), Sylvia Stefan (Jan 18), Nina Radanovic (Jan 19), Makrina Rocknage (Jan 19), Kristina Vukalo (Jan 20), Rita Vorkapich (Jan 22), Popadija Andreja (Jan 24), Kobe Petrovich (Jan 24), Sophia Mummert (Jan 28), Jane Svitchan (Jan 29), Maxim Reznitchenko (Jan 29), Ashtyn Isadora Cruz (Jan 30)
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CIRCUMCISION OF THE LORD
We will celebrate the Feast of the Circumcision of the Lord on Friday, January 14 with Divine Liturgy beginning at 9:00 am
SENIORS MEETING CANCELLED
The St Nicholas Seniors Christmas luncheon/meeting, schedule for Tuesday, January 11 at Leeds, has been cancelled.
MOTHERS CLUB CHRISTMAS PARTY (TODAY)
Mother’s Club members please join us at our Annual Christmas Party today, January 9th at 12 noon at Gilligan’s Restaurant. Please bring a $10 gift to participate in the grab bag gift exchange. We will also be electing officers and have a few open seats, contact Tracy Petrovich, Paula Werner or Nikki Lewis if interested.
DEADLINE IS APPROACHING
If you are not receiving envelopes and wish to, receiving envelopes and no longer wish to, or you need to make an address change, please inform the office by January 16!
KOLO SRPSKIH SESTARA/CIRCLE OF SERBIAN SISTERS MEETING
The KSS will be holding their next meeting Sunday, January 16, after Liturgy, in the Library. All members are encouraged to attend.
ST NICHOLAS SENIORS 2022 DUES
JoAnn Filepas is collecting 2022 dues for the St Nicholas Seniors. Please mail your dues to her at (7054 Red Top Road, Harrisburg 17111). Dues are $5 for the year.
SERBIAN/AMERICAN CLUB 2022 DUES
Peggy Radanovic will be seated in the church hall after Liturgy on Sundays to collect 2022 dues. Dues remain at $5 for the year.
KSS/CIRCLE OF SERBIAN SISTERS 2022 DUES
Jovanka Shaffer will be seated in the church hall after Liturgy on Sundays to collect 2022 dues. Dues remain at $5 for the year.
MOTHERS CLUB 2022 DUES
Mothers Club dues for 2022 are due. Please submit $5 to Popadija Andreja. The Mothers Club primary mission is to support our Sunday School and children. If you are not a member and would like to join, please also contact Popadija Andreja.
SOTAYA ČEVAPI SALE
Our SOTAYA Group is once again selling frozen packs of cevapi at $15/pack (32 pieces). To order see Dn. Bojan Gligorevic, Matthew Hoover, or call the office at 717.939.3872.
SPECIAL THANKS TO GOD
The family of Georgianne Herigan and her sister and brothers would like to thank everyone for their cards, donations and condolences after her recent passing. They were greatly appreciated.
2022 PARISH COUNCIL NOMINATIONS
The following positions for the Parish Council are open for nominations for the Annual Assembly in February:
I Vice President—responsible for helping to manage Church events.
II Vice President—responsible for the operation of the Church buildings and grounds.
Treasurer—responsible for managing Church expenses
Financial Secretary—responsible for managing Church income.
Member at Large—responsible for assisting II VP in operation of buildings and grounds.
All those who are interested in serving on the Council are required to the following:
1) Regularly attend services.
2) Regularly participate in the Holy Mysteries of Confession and Communion.
3) Regularly offer of their Time, Talents and Treasures to the Church.
Please notify Fr. Christopher by calling 717.939.0251, emailing at fr.chris@stnicholassteelton.org if you are interested in serving our parish in this way.
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Sunday, January 9
Sunday after the Nativity of our Lord, Jesus Christ
On the Sunday after the Birth of Christ, we commemorate the Holy and Righteous Joseph the Betrothed, James the Brother of God, and David the Prophet and King. Verses To Joseph. I honor Joseph the betrothed of the Virgin, As her sole elected guardian. To James. You were not only a carpenter's child, but the brother of the Lord, Who built all things by His word, blessed one. To David. Who will I declare, as a witness before the Lord, David being found of His own heart? David the Prophet and King was the son of Jesse. He was taught the Law of the Lord by the Prophet Nathan from Gibeah, who prophesied for forty years, which was 999 years before the advent of Christ. Nathan foreknew that David wanted to transgress the Law of the Lord, and commit adultery with Bathsheba. As he made haste to go and tell him of his future sin, he was hindered in this by the envious devil in the following manner. By the road he found a dead man who had been murdered lying naked, and he remained there to bury him. During that time, David committed the sin. Knowing this, Nathan returned to his home weeping and in sorrow. When David killed Uriah, the husband of Bathsheba, the Lord sent the Prophet Nathan to him in order to rebuke him. David repented and wept much for these two sins, and after he grew very old he died and was buried with his fathers. Regarding Joseph the Betrothed and his son James the Brother of God, everyone knows, as we learn of them in the divine Scriptures. Their Synaxis takes place in the Great Church, and in the apostolic Temple of the Holy Apostle James the Brother of God, within the revered home of the Most Holy Theotokos in Chalkoprateia. Apolytikion in the Second Tone Proclaim the wonder, O Joseph, to David, the ancestor of God: you saw a Virgin great with Child, you gave glory with the shepherds, you venerated with the Magi, you received the news from the angel. Pray to Christ God to save our souls. Kontakion in the Third Tone Today godly David is filled with joy; Joseph and James offer praise. The glorious crown of their kinship with Christ fills them with great joy. They sing praises to the One ineffably born on earth, and they cry out: O Compassionate One, save those who honor You.
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January Charity
International Orthodox Christian Charities
IOCC
IOCC is a humanitarian aid agency of Orthodox Christians. Established in 1992 by the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA), it works in cooperation with the Orthodox Church and on behalf of Orthodox Christians. In carrying out its mission, offering emergency relief and development programs to those in need worldwide, without discrimination, and strengthening the capacity of the Orthodox Church to so respond, IOCC applies the highest profession standards and renders itself fully accountable to the public and its donors. Since its inception, IOCC has administered more than $580 million in humanitarian relief, sustainable development and self-help programs worldwide.
Approximately 92% of all money donated directly helps those facing dire situations and every dollar given helps secure $7 in support from various sources. All assistance is provided solely on the basis of need and benefits orphans, refugees and displaced persons, the elderly, school children, families and people with disabilities. Over the course of their history, IOCC has been able to assist people in 50 countries with priority currently in the Balkans (Bosnia, Herzegovina, Kosovo, Serbia, Montenegro), Cameroon, Ethiopia, Georgia, Greece, Haiti, Iraq, Jerusalem, West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon, Romania, Syria, Uganda, and the United States. Since the need for help is great, IOCC continually works to expand its programs to other areas. Visit www.iocc.org for additional information.
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