Today’s Readings:
Epistle: Ephesians 5:9-19
Gospel: Luke 18:18-27
Schedule of Services:
Saturday, December 9th, Great Vespers at 4pm.
Sunday, December 10th, Divine Liturgy at 10am. Hours begin at 9:40am.
Announcements:
-Thank you to the Cordascos for hosting coffee hour last week. And many thanks to the Petronkos for hosting today.
-There is a Sisterhood meeting today.
-A big thank you to all who contributed gifts to the seminarian families and much appreciation to Brendan for delivering them to St. Tikhon’s. Thank you!
-A sign up sheet is located on the freezer for our December 24th “Holy Supper” meal at 3:30pm. Please consider bringing a dish to share. The meal will be followed by Great Compline and Matins for the Feast of the Nativity. Please plan to attend.
-Please text Robert Fisher at (609) 306-4714 if you would like to visit or are able to bring him to church. His address is 47 Lincoln Ave., Lambertville, NJ.
-Please consider donating to the Building Preservation/Rectory Fund. Sign up is located on the bulletin board. All donations are appreciated.
-Don’t forget the needy. Shop Rite gift cards or non-perishable foods are greatly appreciated.
-2024 Church Calendars are now available. Please take one.
-The next Church Council meeting will be on December 10.
-The next Church School for children will be on December 10 and 17.
-St. Tikhon’s will be holding a Community Christmas concert this year. The concert will be held at the music center (above the bookstore) on Friday, December 15th at 7pm. Brendan Allatta will be singing for this performance.
Prayers for:
Departed: Paul
Living: Elena, Janis, David, Robert, Karen, Steven, Archpriest Paul, Melissa, Stephen, Michele, Janet, Teresa, Irina, Victor; Metropolitan Onuphry and the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church; the suffering people and innocent victims of the Ukrainian/Russian war and those being persecuted; the suffering people of Yemen, Syria and Turkey; and the suffering victims of the war in Israel and Palestine.
Words for the Day
St. Pimen the Great said: Depart from every man who loves to quarrel.
(Ancient Paterikon, 11.59)
A brother asked an elder: If I see my brother fall into sin, is good to hide him? The Elder answered: When, out of love, we hide the sin of our brother, then God also hides our sins; but when we show our brother's sin before others, then God also makes our sins known to people.
(Ancient Patericon, 9.9)
If you have the sinful habit of judging your neighbor, then whenever you judge someone make three prostrations that day with this prayer: "Save, O Lord, and have mercy on him (whom I have judged) and by his prayers, have mercy on me, a sinner." Do this every time you judge someone. If you do this, God will see your sincerity and will deliver you from this sinful habit forever. And if you never judge anyone, then God will never judge you. In this way you will even receive salvation.
(Priest-confessor Sergei Pravdolubov)
Next Week’s Readings:
Epistle: Ephesians 6:10-17. Brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic
powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
Gospel: Luke 17:12-19. At that time, as Jesus entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”