Brothers and Sisters,
Greetings in the Name of the Lord.
Thanks to everyone who has already filled out their 2023 Stewardship Commitment on REALM. If you haven’t done that yet, please go ahead and take a moment and get it done right now. Just click on this link-- https://onrealm.org/sjtf/give/2023pledge --and fill out an online 2023 Commitment Card through REALM, our stewardship App. We need all the cards returned/filled out right away, so the parish council can make any necessary adjustments to the budget.
Our Calendar
Fasting Days
Wednesday, November 9, and Friday, November 11
Daily Services
Monday, November 7 to Friday, November 11
Orthros 5am
Vespers 5pm
It’s generally a good idea to check the day before to make sure that the service will be offered; sometimes pastoral situations require a change of plans, and the service cannot be offered on that particular day).
The Hours
Seth Hart will be at the online chanter’s stand offering the Hours and stream them to Zoom. The schedule is below:
First Hour, 6:45 a.m.
Third Hour, 8:45 a.m.
Sixth Hour, 11:45 a.m.
Ninth Hour, 3:45 p.m.
Please see the emailed newsletter for login information.
St. John Trapeza Readings
Also, Fr. Andrew, Matthew G., and Seth H. continue to broadcast daily readings from spiritual books online. They re currently reading Theosis: The True Purpose of Human Life by Archimandrite George of The Holy Monastery of St. Gregorios of Mount Athos. The schedule is as follows: M-F at 12pm p.m.
If you would like to listen in, use this link to join the Telegram link shared in the emailed version of the newsletter.
Tuesday, November 8
Orthodoxy 101 7pm
Please see the login details in the emailed version of the newsletter to join Zoom meeting
Wednesday, November 9
The Fall Theological Seminar 7pm
Please see the login details in the emailed version of the newsletter to join Zoom meeting
Thursday, November 10
The Bible Study at 7pm
Topic: St. John the Forerunner - Bible Study
Please see the login details in the emailed version of the newsletter to join Zoom meeting
Saturday, November 12
St. Thomas School 4 pm
Great Vespers at 6 pm
Sunday, November 13
The Eighth Sunday of St. Luke
Orthros at 8am
Liturgy 10am
Fellowship Hour Noon
Akathist to the Mother of God of The Inexhaustible Cup Noon
ST THOMAS SCHOOL
On Saturday, November 12, Doctor Chris Speckhard will lead the discussion of pgs 219-244 in Chapter
Twelve in Volume Two, “Man” https://theforerunner.squarespace.com/blog/2021/5/9/orthodox-christianity-vol-iii-ch-2. In order to participate online, send an email to remote.meetings@theforerunner.org by this coming Thursday, November 10; you will also need to keep your camera on during the session.
FALL THEOLOGICAL SEMINAR
This coming Wednesday will be the last session of our Fall Theological Seminar. Remember, we’re focusing on how each aspect of our life together connects to the Divine Liturgy and this Wednesday, here is what we will be discussing
Wednesday, Nov 9 Iconography
We’re also talking about next steps in our building program and we want to hear from everyone. To make that easier, Fredrick L. and Matt H. have created a link that you can share your comments that was shared in the emailed version of this newsletter. Of course, you can also talk to Baker Galloway, Mike Brown, Will Hampton, or Father Aidan Wilcoxson in person or contact any of those folks via email.
COMING UP
THE NATIVITY FAST begins on November 15th and is divided into two periods: (A) November 15th through December 19th when the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, eggs, dairy, fish, wine, and olive oil) is observed on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, with a blessing for wine and olive oil (some also permit fish) on Tuesday and Thursday, and for fish, wine, and olive oil on Saturday and Sunday, and (B) the period of the Forefeast, December 20th through 24th, when the traditional fasting discipline is observed Monday through Friday, with a blessing for wine and olive oil on Saturday and Sunday. The eve of the feast, December 24th is a strict fast day. December 25th through January 4th is fast-free. If you need to modify the fast in any way, please check with your spiritual father as soon as possible.
During the Nativity Fast, we always offer the Nativity Paraclesis on Wednesday evenings at 7pm. This year, there will be six of those services—on November 16,23,30 and December 7,14,21—so all of us should be able to make at least one of them. Also, this year, since these services follow our Fall Theological Seminar, we’re going to be using them to pray for discernment as we move forward with our Building Program. So please go ahead and note on you calendar the services in which you will be able to participate.
And, finally, at the conclusion of this week’s edition of The Happy Priest is the schedule for 2023 House Blessings—yes, it will be here before you know it! So, please read through the list and make sure that your name appears on it; if the date that you’ve been assigned works, then please log that date into your phone and write it on all your calendars. If you have been left off the list, or if the date that you’ve been assigned will not work, then please get in touch with Father Aidan Wilcoxson as soon as possible.
OUR MOMENT OF GRACE AND COURTESY
As we observed in one of the early presentations in our Fall Theological Seminar, the playground is one of the most lovely features on our property. However, it has always been our custom to stay off the playground while the Divine Liturgy is being offered. If very young children need to get outside and move around a bit, then there is plenty of room to do that without accessing the playground. Let’s keep that special area as a blessing that we partake of after the Divine Liturgy has concluded.
Things That Make Priests Happy
Celebrating a 44 th anniversary with Khouria Cynthia; hearing about Bear H.’sChristmas tree; celebrating the Feast of St Raphael; running into Donna and Rick B. as they were preparing to tackle Costco; talking with Sophia B. about ballet and with Ella M. about cauliflower pizza; hearing about Olivia C.’s promotion; reading Rowan Williams on The Philokalia; offering the services for St Winifred of Holywell; seeing the proposed renderings for the temple and the chapel; watching a big white egret fly across the road.
an unworthy priest,
aidan
The Happy Priest is a publication of Life At A Dead Run Media, which is a subsidiary of One Take Productions. Our IT Guy is Father Deacon Gerasimos Juliano; our Webmasters are Lily Halsey and Seth Hart; our Keeper of Lists is Father Andrew Wilson; our Roving Reporter is Ike Graham; in preparation for Thanksgiving, we are perfecting our Cherpumple recipe, and our Spiritual Advisor is Elder Galaction of the Holy Mountain.