Sunday, Dec. 13 – Sunday of the Forefathers
8:30 AM Matins
9:30 AM Divine Liturgy
Monday, Dec. 14
7:30 AM Morning Prayer
8:30 AM Divine Liturgy +Blanch Falcon from Sheila Falcon
4:00 PM Evening Prayer
Tuesday, Dec. 15
7:30 AM Morning Prayer
8:30 AM Divine Liturgy +John Bosak Sr. from George Bosak
4:00 PM Evening Prayer
Wednesday, Dec. 16
7:30 AM Morning Prayer
7:00 PM Evening Prayer
7:30 PM Divine Liturgy Intentions of Jerome Parrot
Thursday, Dec. 17
7:30 AM Morning Prayer
8:30 AM Photina Walk
7:00 PM Evening Prayer
7:30 PM Emmanuel Moleben
Friday, Dec. 18
7:30 AM Morning Prayer
4:00 PM Compline
Saturday, Dec. 19
8:30 AM Divine Liturgy +Mary Daly from Becky Pfundstein
6:30 PM Vespers
Sunday, Dec. 20 – Sunday of the Ancestors / Sunday Before Christmas
8:30 AM Matins
9:30 AM Divine Liturgy
Please remember the following people in your prayers: Estella Biedenbender, Ken Bosak, Julie Carlin, Fletes Family: Alicia, Frankie, Layla, Lupita & Veronica, Victoria Flores, Larry Goodwin, Holly Garlow, Michelle Grana, Virginia Harrington, Jeanne Hart, Michael Hefferon, Rob Hooper, Chris Johnson, 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, 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: $3760.00; Candles: $52.45; Online: $400.00; Church Improvements: $240.00; Christmas: $20.00; Retired Religious: $2120.00; Holy Days: $40.00; Flowers: $50.00; Ventura County Outreach collection: $65.00
Total: $6,747.45 / Attendance 59
St. Herman of Alaska (1756-1836), missionary to the Alaskan peoples, founded Orthodoxy among the Natives of Alaska. His celebration takes place on Dec. 13th. His celebration has become central to Orthodox Christians throughout North America during the Winter Paschal Season, perhaps because he so fully offers an image of the incarnation unto the Natives who had never experienced the incarnate Lord. St. Herman was a great miracle worker, but most importantly, he emulated the humility of our Lord, what we refer to as kenosis, or self-emptying. Compare our Lord’s life to these words concerning St. Herman (taken from our monthly book, The Winter Pascha). Fr. Thomas Hopko writes,
By American standards, Saint Herman of Alaska, like the Lord Jesus Christ Himself was a miserable failure. He made no name for himself. He was not in the public eye. He wielded no power. He owned no property…He had no worldly prestige. He played no roles in human affairs. He partook of no carnal pleasures. He made no money. He died in obscurity among outcast people. Yet today, more than a hundred years after his death his icon is venerated in thousands of churches and his name is honored by millions of people whom he is still trying to teach to see the kingdom of God…which has been brought to the world by the King who was born in a cavern and killed on a cross. The example of this man is crucial to the celebration of Christmas—especially in America (p. 47-48).
This Thursday morning, at 8:30 am, Fr. Michael and I imitated this holy Saint, and of course the proto-type, Christ our Lord, by prayerfully picking up trash on Sepulveda Boulevard. We would like to invite you and your family to join us (Thursday mornings at 8:30 am) as we humbly seek the kingdom through the lowly actions of the holy Saints who went before us. St. Herman of Alaska, pray to God for us!
O joyful North Star of the Church of Christ,
Guiding all men to the heavenly kingdom.
O Teacher and Apostle of the true faith,
Intercessor and defender of the oppressed.
Adornment of the Orthodox Church in America,
Blessed Father Herman of Alaska,
Pray to the Lord Jesus Christ for the salvation of our souls
–Troparion of the Feast of St. Herman
By Fr. Nathan Symeon
Fr. Michael and Fr. Nathan will be choosing monthly readings, for our edification as a community. For those who are interested, we will purchase a limited number of texts accessible at our bookstore. Join “Slack” for any questions or ideas you would like to discuss from our texts, or grab a priest in person to discuss your experience with our chosen texts. Fr. Nathan chose this month’s text; let him know what you think about it.
December Book: THE WINTER PASCHA
“When the winter begins to make way into the Northern World, the Church of Christ begins to celebrate ‘a splendid three-day Pascha.’ Thus, Father Thomas Hopko begins the first of forty meditations for the season of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany, ending with the feast of the Meeting of the Lord in the Temple on the fortieth day after Christ’s birth. In the style of his popular book for the paschal fasting season, The Lenten Spring, the author again draws on the biblical readings and liturgical hymns and verses of the season to illumine the way for believers to follow the Church’s days of preparation and celebration for the Coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, in human flesh. Many references are made to the writings of the saints and Church Fathers, as well as to contemporary Christian teachers and spiritual guides. All those who love the Lord’s Coming will find comfort and strength, as well as enlightenment and instruction, for having passed through the Winter Pascha with this book as their companion.”
Friday, December 11 –
