Sunday, Jan. 02 – Sunday before Theophany
8:30 AM Matins
9:30 AM Divine Liturgy
Monday, Jan. 03 – Malachi, Prophet
No Services
Tuesday, Jan. 04 – Synaxis of the 70 Holy Apostles
8:30 AM Morning Prayer
4:00 PM Evening Prayer
Wednesday, Jan. 05 – Vigil of Theophany
8:30 AM Morning Prayer
6:30 PM Vesperal-Divine Liturgy & Great Blessing of Water (holyday of obligation)
8:30 PM Fire-pit Social
Thursday, Jan. 06 – Theophany of Our Lord
8:30 AM Matins
4:00 PM Evening Prayer
Friday, Jan. 07 – Synaxis of John the Baptist
8:30 AM Morning Prayer
4:00 PM Compline
Saturday, Jan. 08 – Saturday after Theophany
5:00 PM Ventura County Divine Liturgy
6:30 PM Vespers
Sunday, Jan. 09 – Sunday after Theophany
8:30 AM Matins
9:30 AM Divine Liturgy
Please remember the following people in your prayers: Estella Biedenbender, Ken Bosak, Fletes Family: Alicia, Frankie, Layla, Lupita & Veronica, Victoria Flores, Larry Goodwin, Holly Garlow, Michelle Grana, Virginia Harrington, Jeanne Hart, Michael Hefferon, Nicole Hefferon, Rob Hooper, Chris Johnson, Mary-Jo Koman-Keogh, Patricia Kurczak, Irene Lehman, Elizabeth & John Mallas, Dylan Mancia, Toni Martin, Marg Mauro, Juan Gabriel Martinez, Pedro Medina, Mina family: Mila, Diana, Rev. John & Mike, Shannon O’Neill, Denise Painter, Austin Pearce, Tanya Petach, Casandra Porch, Nicholas, Rodriguez Diane Romano, Paul Saucedo, Kathleen Savko, Robert Stamer, Leanne Steuer, Mary Washko, Dina & Matthew Wiggins, Carmen Zambrano, Lana Zimmerman, Patrick Zimmerman, Fr. Chris Zugger and all those who serve in the Armed Forces
Collection: $1,504.44; Candles: $33.00; Online: $205.00; VC Outreach: $360.00; Christmas: $3,975.00
Total: $6,077.44 / Attendance- PSM: 12/24: 40; 12/25: 47; 12/26: 70 VCO: 51
On the eighth day after His Nativity, our Lord Jesus Christ was circumcised in accordance with the Old Testament Law. All male infants underwent circumcision as a sign of God’s Covenant with the holy Forefather Abraham and his descendants [Genesis 17:10-14, Leviticus 12:3].
After this ritual, the Divine Infant was given the name Jesus, as the Archangel Gabriel declared on the day of the Annunciation to the Most Holy Theotokos [Luke 1:31-33, 2:21]. The Fathers of the Church explain that the Lord, the Creator of the Law, underwent circumcision in order to give people an example of how faithfully the divine ordinances ought to be fulfilled. The Lord was circumcised so that later no one would doubt that He had truly assumed human flesh, and that His Incarnation was not merely an illusion, as certain heretics had taught.
In the New Testament, the ritual of circumcision gave way to the Mystery of Baptism, which it prefigured [Colossians 2:11-12]. Accounts of the Feast of the Circumcision of the Lord continue in the Eastern Church right up through the fourth century. The Canon of the Feast was written by Saint Stephen of the Saint Savva Monastery.
In addition to circumcision, which the Lord accepted as a sign of God’s Covenant with mankind, He also received the Name Jesus [Savior] on the eighth day after His Nativity as an indication of His service, the work of the salvation of the world [Matthew 1:21; Mark 9:38-39, 16:17; Luke 10:17; Acts 3:6, 16; Philippians 2:9-10]. These two events — the Lord’s Circumcision and Naming — remind Christians that they have entered into a New Covenant with God and “are circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ” [Colossians 2:11]. The very name “Christian” is a sign of mankind’s entrance into a New Covenant with God.
-Published by the OCA
“He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.” Answering God’s call for your life is the way for us to genuinely respond to our baptism. Are you thinking about whether you may be called to ordination, consecrated or monastic life? Contact the Vocations Office at 206-329-9219 or email: vocations@ephx.org
Orthodoxy & Heterodoxy: The History of the Ecumenical Councils Webinar
God With Us Online is hosting a series of live webinars on the history of the Ecumenical councils. Rev. Christiaan Kappes will relay the breathtaking story of the battle of the Holy Fathers of the Ecumenical Councils to preserve the integrity of the faith against heresy in the decisive first centuries of Church history. Wednesdays: January 12-26, February 9-16 from 8:00-9:00 PM ET. Register online: godwithusonline.org/events/orthodoxy-heterodoxy
Saturday, January 1 –
