Brothers and Sisters,
Merry Christmas!
It’s a light week in terms of Adult Educational Opportunities—only St Thomas School will be in session. But during this last week of 2023, why not make a commitment for 2024 and decide to join one of the three groups that meets on a regular basis throughout the year? There’s Orthodoxy 101 on Tuesday night; there’s The Bible Study on Thursday nights, and there’s St Thomas School on Saturday afternoons. That’s in addition to the special sessions we offer during the fall and spring, so please consider making 2024 the year when you get involved in learning as much as you can about the Faith.
Our Calendar
Fasting Days
December 25th through January 4th is fast-free (Wha-Hoo!).
Daily Services
Wednesday December 27—Friday, December 29: Orthros 5am; Vespers 5pm (please check the schedule of festal services; also, there will not be any daily, in-person services on Monday evening or Tuesday. 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).
Seth Hart and friends will be at the online chanter’s stand, offering the First, Third, Sixth, and Ninth Hours this week: 1st hour & 3rd hour: 8:30 a.m.; 6th hour & 9th hour: 3:30 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 “The Hidden Man of the Heart” by Elder Zacharias. 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
Saturday, December 30
St Thomas School 4pm
Great Vespers 6pm
Sunday, December 31
Sunday After Nativity
Orthros 8am
Divine Liturgy 10am
Fellowship Hour Noon (coffee only)
Great Vespers for the Feast of the Circumcision no later than 1pm
Monday, January 1
The Feast of The Circumcision
Orthros 6am
Divine Liturgy 8am
No Fellowship Hour or Coffee
St Thomas School
On Saturday, December 30, Father Deacon Michael Coleman will be leading discussion the chapter of Volume IV entitled, “The Divine Liturgy” (pgs 196-214). 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, December 28, to reserve your spot.
Coming Up
Since the Feast of the Circumcision falls on a Monday this year, we will use the same arrangement we used for Nativity: on Sunday, December 31, we will follow the regular schedule, but we will have a brief, coffee only, Fellowship Hour, and then we will offer Great Vespers for the Circumcision no later than 1pm. The following morning, Monday, January 1, we will offer Orthros at 6am and Divine Liturgy at 8am.
This year, the Great Feast of Theophany falls on a Saturday. So, on Friday, January 5, we will offer the Royal Hours for the feast at noon and Great Vespers for the feast at 5pm. On Saturday, January 6, we will serve Orthros at 6am and Divine Liturgy and the Blessing of the Water at 8am. House Blessings will begin that afternoon. We will also join other Orthodox communities in the area on Sunday, January 14, for the Outdoor Blessing of the Waters at Twin Lakes Park at 1pm.
At the conclusion of the email edition of the newsletter, you’ll find the schedule for our 2024 House Blessings. Please read through the schedule, and, if your name is not on the list, please contact Father Aidan right away. If your name is on the list, put that date in your phone or write it on your calendar or magnetize it to the refrigerator—or do all three. That way, you won’t be surprised when a guy in a black dress shows up at the door with a Holy Water Sprinkler.
Our 2024 Annual Community Meeting will be on Sunday, February 11. All the information for that meeting—the agenda, the reports, the candidates for parish council—can all be found in the email edition of this newsletter.
Our Moment of Grace and Courtesy
We need to remember not to over-load the candle trays that are just inside the door to the nave. The ushers will let you know when the trays are full, but you can always go up to the iconostasis and place your candle in one of those trays. Just wait for a time when the deacon and priest are both inside the altar, and then go ahead and light your candle and offer your prayers.
an unworthy priest
aidan