Brothers and Sisters,
We are right in the middle of our Annual Budget Campaign. It’s important to remember that this effort is different from our Capital Campaign. The Capital Campaign is how we raise money for our new temple; the Budget Campaign is how we raise money to pay the bills in the coming year. Of course, if you have questions, our Finance Folks, Arun J., Jennifer R., and Ray W., are standing by to provide you with answers. Also, please know that we need to get all the 2024 Commitments in by Sunday, November 26, so we can make any necessary adjustments to the budget before we begin the New Year.
Our Calendar
The Nativity Fast
The Nativity Fast will begin this Wednesday, November 15. This fasting season 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. Many American Christians ask for a blessing and take a day off from the fast on Thanksgiving Day, but, if you need to modify the fast in any way, please check with your spiritual father as soon as possible.
Daily Services
Monday November 13--Friday, November 17: Orthros 5am; Vespers 5pm (in general, if you plan on attending the in-person services, it’s always a good idea to check the day before and make sure the regular schedule will be observed).
Also, Seth Hart and friends will be at the online chanter’s stand, offering the First, Third, Sixth, and Ninth Hours this week: 1st hour: 6:45 a.m.; 3rd hour: 8:45 a.m.; 6th hour: 11:45 a.m. 9th hour: 3:45 p.m.
Fr. Andrew, Seth Hart, and Matthew Groh and many other folks continue to broadcast daily readings from spiritual books online. They are now reading “On the Human Condition” by St Basil the Great. The schedule is as follows: M-F at 12pm.
Also, our online team will now be reading the Daily Synaxarion on Discord. Just look for this channel: #synaxarion
Tuesday, November 14
Orthodoxy 101 7pm - You can also access the group on Discord
Wednesday, November 15
The Nativity Paraclesis 7pm
Thursday, November 16
The Bible Study, Old Testament Edition 7pm - You can access this group on Discord
Saturday, November 18
St Thomas School 10am
Great Vespers 6pm
Sunday, November 19 The Ninth Sunday of St Luke
Orthros 8am
Church School 8:15am
Divine Liturgy 10am
Fellowship Hour Noon
St Thomas School
On Saturday, November 18, Matt G. will be leading discussion the chapter of Volume IV entitled, “The Divine Liturgy” (pgs 101-129). Online access is available on Discord; like to participate online, you still need to sign-up ahead of time. Just send an email to remote.meetings@theforerunner.org by Thursday, November 16, to reserve your spot.
Coming Up
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 15,22,29 and December 6,13,20—so all of us should be able to make at least one of them. So please go ahead and note on you calendar the services in which you will be able to participate.
Starting this coming Sunday, November 19, there will be a St Nicholas Box in the narthex. Please bring a new, unwrapped toy to place in the box. All the toys we collect will be donated to Blue Santa on The Feast of St Nicholas, December 6.
During the Fast, the women of our parish will again undertake daily Psalter readings. Misty W. is organizing this, so if you would like to be included in this work, please contact her.
We will celebrate the Feast of the Entrance of the Mother of God on Tuesday, November 21. On Monday, November 20, we will offer Great Vespers at 7pm, and on Tuesday, the day of the feast, we will serve Orthros at 5am and Divine Liturgy at 7am. Praying with the Most Holy Theotokos would be a wonderful way to begin the Thanksgiving holiday.
The Archdiocese expects us all to make our confession at least once during Nativity Lent. In our community, confession is offered on Saturday evenings after Great Vespers, or just about any other time by appointment. We will not be hearing confessions on Christmas Eve, Sunday, December 24, but, between now and the end of December, all you need to do is show up on Saturday night or contact one of our priests to arrange a specific time to participate in this Holy Mystery.
Our Moment of Grace and Courtesy
Every week, our offering bowl is full of checks that adults place there--and we are grateful for each and every one of those checks. But the bowl should also be rattling with the change and overflowing with the bills that children and young people place there--because that's how we are going to teach them about generosity and stewardship. So, parents and grandparents, if you aren't already doing so, please provide your children and young people with money that they can place in the offering bowl; it's an important part of their participation in the Divine Liturgy, and it's how they are going to learn about the joys of giving.
an unworthy priest
aidan