Saturday, December 19, 2015

Bulletin for 20 December 2015--The Genealogy of the Lord


SAINT JOSEPH THE BETROTHED
Melkite-Greek Catholic CHURCH
725 W. Mt. Hope Ave, Lansing, MI 48910                             517-575-6264
FMailing Address:  921 Westover Circle, Lansing, MI 48917E
Website:  www.MelkiteChurch.org            Facebook:  www.facebook.com/MelkiteChurchLansing
Rev. Father James K. Graham, Pastor                                    frjamie@earthlink.net
Rev. Protodeacon Joseph Daratony                                                              248-719-5169
Phone or email Fr James with items for the bulletin by Thursday night.
Vespers Stichon for the Sunday of the Genealogy of Christ (Tone 1)
Heaven, give heed, and Earth, lend your ear:  the Son of the Father, the Word Himself is coming!
He shall be born of a maiden undefiled.  Because she consented and gave birth without pain through the assistance
of the Holy Spirit, make ready, Bethlehem, and you, Eden, open your gates, for He Who Is
shall become what He had not been:  the Maker of creation shall become the  Dispenser of great mercy to the world.
20 December 2015—The Genealogy of Christ.  Holy Hieromartyr Ignatios the God-Bearer.  (Tone 5)
Readings    Apostolos:  Hebrews 11:9-10, 32-40                                                                                Gospel:  Matthew 1:1-15
10:30 am    Orthros (Morning Prayer)
11 am          Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom for the health and salvation of Ralph Farhat, Laina Graham, Ruth Zarka, Violet Albertson, Ina Samra, Leila Abdallah, Mona, Zaina, Gary, Charlotte, Lucy, Fares Eid, Maroun Daher, Dennis Flint, Eleanora, Max, Angel, Simone, Mikayla Slocum, Raymond Rashid, Bonita Saba, Griffin Barna, Jim Covello, David Georges, Robert Kuri, Isaac Salim, Iva Butler, Alessandra, BJ & Liz, Cam, Janice, Jeanne, Wayne, Kelsey, Kathleen Edwards, Edgar & Katherine, Kamal & Eugenie, Clay, Michael, Elaine & Eva-Genevieve Scarborough, Antonio, Elias Haggar, Marie Dahdouh, Dn. Joe & Marge Daratony, Fr Charles Aboody, Fr Joseph Haggar, Fr Damon Geiger, Fr James Babcock, Fr Basil Samra, Fr Michael Skrocki, Fr Maximos; in memory of Awatef Chahine (Al-Bassa Cultural Community), Maarouf Khouri (George Snyder), Elias Atallah (Marie Albert), Nickolas Nakfoor (Ann Rashid), Louis Zarka (Ray & Linda Lauerman), Lucille Panella, Jeanette Rose, and Gary Watkins.
23 December, Wednesday, 1 pm—Royal Hours of Christmas.
24 December, Thursday, 6 pm—Great Feast of the Nativity in the Flesh of Our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ.  Combined Vespers and Divine Liturgy of St Basil the Great.
                     Old Testament Readings At Vespers:
                     Genesis 1:1-13 (in Arabic)
Numbers 24:2-3, 5-9, 17-18
Micah 4:6-7, 5:1-3
Isaiah 11:1-10 (in Arabic)
Baruch 3:35-4:2
Daniel 2:31-36, 44-45
Isaiah 9:6-7
Isaiah 7:10-16, 8:1-4, 9-10 (in Arabic)
New Testament readings at the Divine Liturgy:
Apostolos:  Hebrews 1:1-12, 2:1-3                                                                                     Gospel:  Luke 2:1-20
27 December 2015—Sunday after the Nativity.  Holy and Just Joseph, Spouse of the Theotokos; Holy Apostle James, Brother of the Lord; King and Prophet David; Holy Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen, Holy Father Theodore the Confessor.  (Tone 6)
Readings    Apostolos:  Acts 6:8-7:5, 47-60                                                                                        Gospel:  Matthew 2:13-23
10:30 am    Baptism and Chrismation of Marita GeorgeOrthros (Morning Prayer)
11 am          Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom in memory of Awatef Chahine (40-Day Memorial by her Family), Maarouf Khouri (George Snyder), Elias Atallah (Marie Albert), Nickolas Nakfoor (Beatrice Skory), Louis Zarka (Ghassan, Jeanette & Joe Khalil), Deacon Michael McCarthy, and Clay Scarborough.
Music for Today
1.       Troparion of the Resurrection in Tone 5, Liturgikon, page 189.
2.       Troparion of the Forefathers, in Tone 2.
3.       Troparion of the Preparation, in Tone 4.
4.       Troparion of St Joseph, in Tone 4, page 30A.
5.       Kontakion of the Forefathers, in Tone 1.
Our Offerings to the Lord
The collection taken in the Liturgy is part of our worship.  We offer the Lord our lives, our prayers, our gifts of bread and wine, and our financial gifts.  Last Sunday, about 85 people attended the Liturgy.  Our offering totalled $1611 in the ordinary collection, $170 for stole offerings, $270 for Christmas flowers, and $17 for candles.  Not everyone can make an equal gift, but everyone can make an equal sacrifice.  Please make a generous sacrifice to support your church in proportion to the many blessings God has given you.
Make Your Prayer Offering for Christmas Flowers
The Divine Liturgy for the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) will be offered for the intentions of those who make an offering to help pay for our Christmas flowers.  Please use the envelope enclosed with this bulletin to make your offering.  Write the names of the living and the departed for whom you want us to pray.  Enclose your offering and write “Christmas Flowers” on the envelope, and place it in the collection basket.
Enjoy NAMY’s Meatless Spaghetti Lunch Today
After Liturgy today, take a break from Christmas cooking and other preparations and enjoy a meatless spaghetti lunch prepared and served by St Joseph’s NAMY.  The menu will feature pasta and sauce, salad, and garlic bread, with a drink.  No set price—just donate whatever amount you think is right.  Thanks for your generous support.
Schedule of Christmas Services
The Great Feast of the Nativity of the Lord is Friday 25 December.  We will have services on Wednesday 23 December and Thursday 24 December, but no Liturgy will be celebrated on Christmas Day.
¯ Wednesday 23 December at 1 pm—The Royal Hours of Christmas.  Psalms, prayers, and Scripture readings.
¯ Thursday 24 December at 6 pm—Vespers-Divine Liturgy of the Nativity.
(Our only Christmas Liturgy.)
 
Fr James Will Take His After-Christmas Vacation
In accordance with the regulations of our Diocese, Fr James will be away from 28 Dec. through 8 January.  In his absence, Fr Elie Eid from St Michael’s parish in Plymouth will serve the Divine Liturgy on Saturday 2 January at 5 pm, and our celebration of the Great Feast of Theophany will be moved to Sunday 10 January, with the Great Blessing of Water at the end of Orthros.  House blessings will begin on 10 January.
 
Divine Liturgy Will Move to Saturday 2 January
Fr Elie Eid from St Michael’s parish in Plymouth will serve the Divine Liturgy on Saturday 2 January at 5 pm, while Fr James is away.  There will be no services on Sunday morning 3 January.
Parish Council Sets Recommended Donations for Weddings, Baptism, Funerals
The Parish Pastoral Council has established standard offerings for Weddings, Baptisms, Funerals, Memorial Services, and the use of the parish hall for mercy meals.  The Council recommends an offering to the church (not to the priest) of $250 for Weddings, Baptisms, and Funerals of active, contributing parishioners.  For those who are not active, contributing parishioners, the recommended offering is $500.  The recommended offering for Memorial Services is $100 to the church.  For use of the parish hall for mercy meals, the Council recommends an offering of $150 to cover supplies, setup, cleanup, etc.  Note that these are not fees; the Church cannot charge for services.  No one will be refused the services of the Church if they are unable to pay.


Next Year’s Offering Envelopes Now Available

Your offering envelopes for 2016 are now available.  Your envelope number will be the same as it was this year.  Please see Cassie Larrieux in the parish hall after the Liturgy to pick up your box of envelopes for next year.

Calendars for 2016 Highlight History of Melkites in America

Our church calendars for 2016 have arrived.  They will be distributed in the parish hall after the Liturgy.  Only one calendar per household, please.  If you would like to make a donation for your calendar, it will be gratefully accepted in support of our parish.  We again thank Woody’s Mediterranean Deli for generously sponsoring our calendars.  This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the Melkite Diocese in the USA—our Golden Jubilee.  In support of the Jubilee, this year’s calendar features stories and photos from our Melkite-Greek Catholic Church history in the USA, from the first immigrants to the latest ordinations of three married priests.

Bishop’s Appeal Will End Soon; You Still Have Time to Make Your Gift

As we prepare our hearts and our homes to receive the greatest gift in human history—the Nativity of Christ our God—let us not forget our Melkite Church through which Christ comes to our families and loved ones.  Please give a special end-of-year, tax-deductible gift to the Melkite Church to support all the vital works of our Church in America, and to help our suffering and persecuted brothers and sisters.  Extra donation envelopes are available in the narthex.  Please do not mail your contributions.  Instead, give them to Fr James to mail for you.  You will save 49 cents and he will be able to track participation by St Joseph’s parishioners.  God bless you for your generosity.  Last year, we did not meet our $2500 parish goal.  This year, let us be more generous and beat that goal.

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