Sunday Bulletin 2/7/21

Sunday of Meatfare

WEEKLY LITURGICAL SCHEDULE

Sunday, Feb. 07 – Meatfare Sunday         

8:30 AM          Matins

9:30 AM          Divine Liturgy

Monday, Feb. 08 – Theodore, Great-Martyr         

7:30 AM          Morning Prayer

8:30 AM          Divine Liturgy            +Lori McGeever from Mary Horey

Tuesday, Feb. 09 – Nicephor, Martyr         

7:30 AM          Morning Prayer

8:30 AM          Divine Liturgy            +John Bosak from Helen Bosak

4:00 PM          Evening Prayer

Wednesday, Feb. 10 – Charalampus, Martyr   

7:30 AM          Morning Prayer

4:00 PM          Evening Prayer

Thursday, Feb. 11 – Blase, Bishop-Martyr       

7:30 AM          Morning Prayer

7:30 PM          Divine Liturgy            +John Bosak from Helen Bosak

Friday, February 12 – Meletius, Archbishop    

7:30 AM          Morning Prayer

4:00 PM          Compline

Saturday, Feb. 13 – All Holy Ascetical Fathers and Mothers        

8:30 AM          Divine Liturgy            +John Bosak from Helen Bosak

5:00 PM          Ventura County Divine Liturgy

6:30 PM          Vespers

Sunday, Feb. 14 – Cheesefare Sunday          

8:30 AM          Matins

9:30 AM          Divine Liturgy

11:30 AM        Forgiveness Vespers

PRAYER REQUESTS

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, 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

WEEKLY DEPOSIT

Collection: $1,541.00; Candles: $58.25; Online: $375.00; Ventura County Outreach: $50.00

Total: $2,024.25 / Attendance 73

 

Lenton Liturgy and Bible Study

Join Fr. Nathan Wednesdays during lent in Camarillo for Presanctified Liturgy followed by a Bible study on the Epistles of Peter. Presanticified begins at 5:30pm at the home of Hope and Justin Schnier. See flyer for all the details.

EASING IN

The three-fold apparatus that empowers the Christian to navigate the complexities of the Great Fast, and arrive eager and prepared at the Resurrection, consists of prayer, fasting, and alms-giving (Matthew 6).  

Prayer reflects the Christian’s vision of the Beauty of God, true self-awareness of a failure to live according to the invitation of this Beauty, and a request that the Beautiful One heal the blemishes that are causing this disparity.  

Alms-giving acknowledges the human tendency of this awareness to enable a self-absorption that deceives the Christian into forgetting that he progresses with the community around him, and goes astray without them.  

Fasting allows the Christian’s body to accompany his mind and soul in the awareness of this needed growth by aligning the pleas and anticipation of his prayer with the yearning and tempering of his appetite.  

In other words, during the Great Fast, our prayer reflects our need for God, and so our bodies and our relationships should fall in sync with our prayer.  If we alter our conversation with Our Lord (Presanctified Divine Liturgy, prostrations, prayer of St. Ephrem etc.) but not our relationship with others or our appetites, we will experience a wrenching and imbalance in our spiritual lives.  

Blessed Cheesefare Week!  Byzantine Catholics traditionally ease into the fast this week by beginning to pray, give and eat differently this week so that the first week of the Great Fast (next week!) doesn’t catch us off guard.                                            -Fr. Michael

   

“Whatever you did for the least of my brethren, you did it for me.” Our vocation is about being Christ to others and seeing Christ in others with as much faith, hope and love as possible. Is God calling you to this life through an increase in prayer as a monk, nun, or member of the clergy? To find out more, contact the Vocations Office at 206-329-9219 or email: vocations@ephx.org

Readings for Sat. 6t of Feb.: Thirty-Fifth Week After Pentecost: MEATFAIR WEEK: 1ST ALL SOULS SATURDAY

1 Corinthians 10:23-28

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

Do All to the Glory of God

23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 26 For “the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 28 (But if some one says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then out of consideration for the man who informed you, and for conscience’ sake—

 

1 Thessalonians 4:13-17

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

The Coming of the Lord

13 But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.[a] 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first; 17 then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord.[b]

Luke 21:8-9

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

8 And he said, “Take heed that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. 9 And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified; for this must first take place, but the end will not be at once.”

Luke 21:25-27

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

The Coming of the Son of Man

25 “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth distress of nations in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 men fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

Luke 21:33-36

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Exhortation to Watch

34 “But take heed to yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a snare; 35 for it will come upon all who dwell upon the face of the whole earth. 36 But watch at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of man.”

John 5:24-30

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

24 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me, has eternal life; he does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself, 27 and has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of man. 28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come forth, those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment.

Witnesses to Jesus

30 “I can do nothing on my own authority; as I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.

 

 

6 Our venerable Father Bucolus, bishop of Smyrna, lived in the days of Saint John the Theologian, by whom he was appointed bishop before Saint Polycarp the martyr. (2nd century)

 

The holy martyr Silvanus, bishop of Emesa, and his companions. (313) 25

Readings for Wed. 3rd of Feb.: Thirty-Fifth Week After Pentecost: MEATFAIR WEEK

1 John 3:21-4:6

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

21 Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 All who keep his commandments abide in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit which he has given us.

Testing the Spirits

4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits[a] to see whether they are of God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit which confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit which does not confess Jesus is not of God. This is the spirit of antichrist, of which you heard that it was coming, and now it is in the world already. 4 Little children, you are of God, and have overcome them; for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are of the world, therefore what they say is of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are of God. Whoever knows God listens to us, and he who is not of God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

 

 

 

 

3 The Synaxis of the holy prophet Simeon and the prophetess Anna, who, the one a righteous and devout old man and the other a widow and prophetess, were worthy to hail the infant Jesus as the Messiah and Savior, the blessed hope and redemption of Israel. All we know of them is given in the second chapter of the Gospel according to holy evangelist Luke.

 

Consider these words from The Way of the Pilgrim:

“The trouble is that we live far from ourselves and have but little wish to get any nearer to ourselves. Indeed we are running away all the time to avoid coming face to face with our real selves, and we barter the truth for trifles.”

I recall being in seminary, every day we would wake up and pray, then study the holy texts, then have conversation about what we learned, and then pray again. This is the stuff of a scrumptious recipe for growing in our relationship with Christ, right?

Well, I also recall taking trips to St. Macrina, where our Byzantine Sisters hosted days of silence—two days of no conversation and one loaf of bread. How much did I really know God? There I was silent in prayer, secluded from the conversation with men and women, ready to experience the divine energies, but it was silent so how could I? There was no one to fill my mind with the delusion of a deep relationship. The silence was deafening. My thoughts flooded my mind, my cravings were always knocking at the door of my stomach, so why not walk around, see something new, find something to stimulate my brain? As much as I thought I wanted to, I did not want to be alone. I did not want to think over my life’s failures. Yes, I mostly wanted God. But here is the thing, when we are alone we are faced with the reality of the stability and separation we feel from God. Ironically, it is only in inner stillness (hesychasm) that we really have the opportunity to get to know ourselves and what our relationships with God are really about: sobriety at its peak. It is only when we remove the obstacles of our thoughts, our cravings, our constant need for entertainment and the companionship of others that we come most close to God. Yes, communal prayer, fellowship, and reading are necessary, but silence alone gives us the clearest understanding of ourselves and the true depths, or shallowness, of our relationship with God.

Try it out and tell us what your experience was like, or if you have any thoughts about this, either in person, or for more discussion with the community book club webpage. Go to Byzantinela.com, click on the drop down tab, and click Byzantine Catholic Bookclub.

      –Fr. Nathan Symeon

Sunday Bulletin 01/31/21

Sunday of the Prodigal Son

WEEKLY LITURGICAL SCHEDULE

Sunday, January 31  –  Sunday of the Prodigal Son    

8:30 AM          Matins

9:30 AM          Divine Liturgy

Monday, February 1  –  Tryphon, Martyr 

7:30 AM          Morning Prayer

6:30 PM          Vespers

7:30 PM          Divine Liturgy            +JPII Institute at CSUN from Mary Horey

Tuesday, February 2  –  Meeting of Our Lord with Simeon and Anna   

7:30 AM          Matins

4:00 PM          Evening Prayer

Wednesday, February 3  –  Synaxis of the Holy Prophets Simeon and Anna  

7:30 AM          Morning Prayer

8:30 AM          Divine Liturgy            +Rev. Ferdinand C. Falque from Jerome Parrot

4:00 PM          Evening Prayer

Thursday, February 4  –  Isidore, Venerable      

7:30 AM          Morning Prayer

8:30 AM          Photina Walk

7:00 PM          Evening Prayer

7:30 PM          Divine Liturgy            +John Bosak from George Bosak

Friday, February 5  –  Agatha, Martyr   

7:30 AM          Morning Prayer

4:00 PM          Compline

Saturday, February 6  –  First All Souls Saturday  

8:30 AM          Divine Liturgy & Panachida

5:00 PM          Ventura County Divine Liturgy

6:30 PM          Vespers

Sunday, February 7  –  Meatfare Sunday     

8:30 AM          Matins

9:30 AM          Divine Liturgy

PRAYER REQUESTS

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

WEEKLY DEPOSIT

Collection: $1,085.00; Candles: $34.00; Online: $95.00; Ventura County Outreach: $68.00; Church Improvements: $50.00; Holy Days: $20.00; Initial Offering: $5.00

Total: $1,447.00 / Attendance 56

Consider these words from The Way of the Pilgrim:

“The trouble is that we live far from ourselves and have but little wish to get any nearer to ourselves. Indeed we are running away all the time to avoid coming face to face with our real selves, and we barter the truth for trifles.”

I recall being in seminary, every day we would wake up and pray, then study the holy texts, then have conversation about what we learned, and then pray again. This is the stuff of a scrumptious recipe for growing in our relationship with Christ, right?

Well, I also recall taking trips to St. Macrina, where our Byzantine Sisters hosted days of silence—two days of no conversation and one loaf of bread. How much did I really know God? There I was silent in prayer, secluded from the conversation with men and women, ready to experience the divine energies, but it was silent so how could I? There was no one to fill my mind with the delusion of a deep relationship. The silence was deafening. My thoughts flooded my mind, my cravings were always knocking at the door of my stomach, so why not walk around, see something new, find something to stimulate my brain? As much as I thought I wanted to, I did not want to be alone. I did not want to think over my life’s failures. Yes, I mostly wanted God. But here is the thing, when we are alone we are faced with the reality of the stability and separation we feel from God. Ironically, it is only in inner stillness (hesychasm) that we really have the opportunity to get to know ourselves and what our relationships with God are really about: sobriety at its peak. It is only when we remove the obstacles of our thoughts, our cravings, our constant need for entertainment and the companionship of others that we come most close to God. Yes, communal prayer, fellowship, and reading are necessary, but silence alone gives us the clearest understanding of ourselves and the true depths, or shallowness, of our relationship with God.

Try it out and tell us what your experience was like, or if you have any thoughts about this, either in person, or for more discussion with the community book club webpage. Go to Byzantinela.com, click on the drop down tab, and click Byzantine Catholic Bookclub.

      –Fr. Nathan Symeon

    

“All that is mine is yours.” The merciful Father welcomed the Prodigal Son and showed love to his brother when he questioned that profound love which gave all that was his to his children. Would you like to share that love of the Father by considering a vocation to the priesthood, diaconate, religious or monastic life? If so, contact the Vocations Office at 206-329-9219 or email: vocations@ephx.org

Sunday Bulletin 01/24/21

Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee

WEEKLY LITURGICAL SCHEDULE

Sunday, January 24  – Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee

8:30 AM          Matins

9:30 AM          Divine Liturgy

Monday, January 25  

7:30 AM          Morning Prayer

8:30 AM          Divine Liturgy            +Richard Parrot from Jerome Parrot

Wednesday, January 27   

7:30 AM          Morning Prayer

8:30 AM          Divine Liturgy            +Warren&Rita Snyder from R&J Lichalic

4:00 PM          Evening Prayer

Thursday, January 28 

7:30 AM          Morning Prayer

8:30 AM          Photina Walk

7:00 PM          Evening Prayer

7:30 PM          Divine Liturgy            +John Bosak from George Bosak

Friday, January 29     

7:30 AM          Morning Prayer

4:00 PM          Vespers

Saturday, January 30 

7:30 AM          Matins

8:30 AM          Divine Liturgy: The Three Holy Hierarchs             Gary and Angela Edgington

5:00 PM          Ventura County Divine Liturgy

6:30 PM          Vespers

Sunday, January 31 –  Sunday of the Prodigal Son

8:30 AM          Matins

9:30 AM          Divine Liturgy

PRAYER REQUESTS

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

WEEKLY DEPOSIT

Collection: $805.00; Candles: $17.00; Online: $75.00; Ventura County Outreach collection: $115.00

Total: $1,012.00 / Attendance 25

UPCOMING

  • House Blessings: So that you can get to know him better, Father Nathan will be doing this year’s house blessings.  Please speak with him, or email him at frnathansymeon@gmail.com to schedule.  If you would rather not have a priest visit during the pandemic, we will be providing booklets you can use to bless your own home. 
  • All-Souls Saturdays: Please hand or email Father Michael (pastor@ByzantineLA.com) the first names of any deceased family members you would like remembered at this year’s All-Souls Saturday Divine Liturgies.  The first All-Souls Saturday is February 6th!!!

 

 Lives of the Saints for Kids:  Three Holy Hierarchs

The devil is very good at taking things that are good and beautiful and twisting them into something evil and ugly.  God though, is even better at untwisting them to reveal the original goodness and beauty that He gave them.  Such is the case with a feast that we will celebrate on this coming Saturday (1/30).  Basil the Great was given the gift of explaining both the life of God and the life that God wishes us to live.  Gregory the Theologian had a deep and abiding relationship with God that was revealed in his teachings.  John Chrysostom moved hearts and minds with his comforting and convicting preaching.  They were of one mind in teaching about Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ.  All three lived about 300 years after Jesus, and played very important roles in the growth of the Church.  Many years later, the devil succeeded in beginning to harm the good and unified work they did by convincing people to take the good they saw in these three great hierarchs (bishops), and use it as a weapon against each other.  People took their eyes off Christ, the subject of these men’s zealous labor, and focused on the men themselves.  They began to argue over which of the three men was the greatest.  Our Lord healed this evil competition by sending these three Holy Hierarchs in a dream to the bishop of a town near where they had lived.  They told this bishop “There are no divisions among us, and no opposition to one another”.  A feast day was then established so that we can celebrate all three on the same day.  This is why we still love to celebrate the feast of the Three Holy Hierarchs.      

    

“O God, be merciful to me a sinner.” The Publican prayed simply for mercy, and our Byzantine prayer services begin with these simple words. Do you want to receive and share this mercy by giving your life to prayer as a religious, monastic, priest or deacon?  Contact the Vocations Office at 206-329-9219 or email: vocations@ephx.org

Lives of the Saints for Kids: Three Holy Hierarchs

The devil is very good at taking things that are good and beautiful, and twisting them into something evil and ugly.  God though, is even better at untwisting them to reveal the original goodness and beauty that He gave them.  Such is the case with a feast that we will celebrate on this coming Saturday (1/30). 

Basil the Great was given the gift of explaining the both the life of God, and the life that God wishes us to live.  Gregory the Theologian had a deep and abiding relationship with God that was revealed in his teachings.  John Chrysostom moved hearts and minds with his comforting and convicting preaching.  They were of one mind in teaching about Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ.  All three lived about 300 years after Jesus, and played very important roles in the growth of the Church. 

Many years later, the devil succeeded in beginning to harm the good and unified work they did by convincing people to take the good they saw in these three great hierarchs (bishops), and use it as a weapon against each other.  People took their eyes off of Christ, the subject of these men’s zealous labor, and focused on the men themselves.  They began to argue over which of the three was the greatest.  Our Lord healed this evil competition by sending these three Holy Hierarchs in a dream to the bishop of a town near where they had lived.  They told this bishop “There are no divisions among us, and no opposition to one another”.  A feast day was then established so that we can celebrate all three on the same day.  This is why we still love to celebrate the feast of the Three Holy Hierarchs.  

Photina Walks

One of the signs of a healthy parish is a confidence in the gifts God has given its members, and a desire to share these gifts with the wider world.  Another sign is a desire to improve the human lives of those who live within a parish’s circle of influence.  A third sign is an understanding of the power of prayer, and its very real influence on the world and souls.  We are trying to engage with all three of these signs of parish health by doing weekly “Photina Walks” on Thursday mornings.  (Father Nathan will soon be leading a similar outreach on Fridays in Ventura County.)  
Thursdays begin with Morning Prayer at 7:30am.  At 8:30am, we grab trash bags, trash grabbers and our prayer beads.  We walk a new path every week and pray the Jesus Prayer while we walk.  We also pick up trash while praying, as well as making ourselves available to talk with anyone who may want to engage. 
We’ve put this ministry under the patronage of the Holy Martyr Photina.  Saint Photina is also known as the Samaritan Woman at the Well.  Saint Photina (John 4), after meeting Christ and allowing him to provide her with “Living Water”, went into the town and brought all of its citizens out to Christ.  This is our goal, to be witnesses to the Byzantine Catholic Church’s trust in God and the power of prayer, thanksgiving for His gifts, and a real concern for the lives of those who live and work near us, even if they aren’t members of our parish.   

Sunday Bulletin 01/17/21

Sunday of Zacchaeus

WEEKLY LITURGICAL SCHEDULE

Sunday, January 17    

8:30 AM          Matins

9:30 AM          Divine Liturgy

Monday, January 18  

7:30 AM          Morning Prayer

8:30 AM          Divine Liturgy            +Richard Parrot from Jerome Parrot

Wednesday, January 20   

7:30 AM          Morning Prayer

8:30 AM          Divine Liturgy            +John Bosak from George Bosak       

4:00 PM          Evening Prayer

Thursday, January 21 

7:30 AM          Morning Prayer

8:30 AM          Photina Walk

7:00 PM          Evening Prayer

7:30 PM          Divine Liturgy            +Joseph& Anne Reich from R&J Lichalic

Friday, January 22     

7:30 AM          Morning Prayer

4:00 PM          Compline

Saturday, January 23 

8:30 AM          Divine Liturgy            Spiritual Awakening of parishioners of Sts. Cyril and Methodius from Gary Edgington

5:00 PM          Ventura County Divine Liturgy

6:30 PM          Vespers

Sunday, January 24    

8:30 AM          Matins

9:30 AM          Divine Liturgy: Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee

PRAYER REQUESTS

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

WEEKLY DEPOSIT

Collection: $955.00; Candles: $33.75; Online: $435.00; Church Improvements: $100.00; Ventura County Outreach collection: $30.00; Holy Days: $200.00

Total: $1,753.75 / Attendance 46

UPCOMING

Fr. Nathan’s series for God With Us Online, Partakers of the Divine Nature: A Patristic Study of Deification, continues Wednesday, January 20th. It is an excellent opportunity for the faithful to continue their celebration of Theophany and explore the process by which each individual and the whole Church are transformed into the mystical body of Christ. Flyers for the series can be found on the bulletin boards.

PHOTINA WALKS

One of the signs of a healthy parish is a confidence in the gifts God has given its members, and a desire to share these gifts with the wider world.  Another sign is a desire to improve the human lives of those who live within a parish’s circle of influence.  A third sign is an understanding of the power of prayer, and its very real influence on the world and souls.  We are trying to engage with all three of these signs of parish health by doing weekly “Photina Walks” on Thursday mornings.  (Father Nathan will soon be leading a similar outreach on Fridays in Ventura County.)  

Thursdays begin with Morning Prayer at 7:30am.  At 8:30am, we grab trash bags, trash grabbers and our prayer beads.  We walk a new path every week and pray the Jesus Prayer while we walk.  We also pick up trash while praying, as well as making ourselves available to talk with anyone who may want to engage. 

We’ve put this ministry under the patronage of the Holy Martyr Photina.  Saint Photina is also known as the Samaritan Woman at the Well.  Saint Photina (John 4), after meeting Christ and allowing him to provide her with “Living Water” went into the town and brought all of its citizens out to Christ.  This is our goal, to be witnesses to the Byzantine Catholic Church’s trust in God and the power of prayer, thanksgiving for His gifts, and a real concern for the lives of those who live and work near us, even if they are not members of our parish. 

    

 “Today salvation has come to this house.” Our Great God and Savior has come to save the world. Have you experienced His salvation in your “house”? Would you like to share this life with the world through a calling to holy orders, religious or monastic life?  Contact the Vocations Office at 206-329-9219 or email: vocations@ephx.org

PROSKOMEDIA: Preparing the Gifts

The Proskomedia takes place before the public Divine Liturgy begins. The practical purpose of the Proskomedia is to prepare the bread and wine to be offered and sanctified at the Anaphora of the Liturgy. But there are other wonderful layers of meaning that are expressed in the Proskomedia. One major theme is the unity of all things in Christ. The Apostle Paul tells us that the eternal plan of God was “to bring all things in the heavens and on earth under Christ’s headship.” Eph. 1:10. The uniting of all in Christ, is expressed and brought about in the Divine Liturgy. This is clearly shown in how the prosphora (bread for offering) is prepared in the Prothesis Rite. Traditionally, five loaves are prepared.

The first loaf is called the Lamb. At the Epiclesis (invocation of the Holy Spirit), the bread and wine are changed into the true Body and Blood of Christ. From the second loaf, a triangle is cut to commemorate and honor the holy Theotokos. It is placed at the “right hand” of the Lamb. The third loaf is for commemorating the nine groups of Heavenly Powers (seraphim, cherubim, archangels, angels, etc), and also various groups of saints. For this purpose nine particles are cut from this loaf. With the fourth loaf, different groups of people who are living are called to mind: hierarchs and clergy, our fellow church members, and those who are in special need. A particle of bread is cut for each category and for individuals who are being remembered. Particles from the fifth loaf are to commemorate all the departed: departed clergy, family and parish members, those who died long ago, and those who have recently died. We pray for their blessed repose.

All of these cut particles from the four prosphora are placed around the Lamb, Jesus Christ. They are placed on a raised plate called the diskos.

The diskos’ round shape symbolizes that Christ reconciles “to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross”.

In Christ all are brought into unity: God and all creation, angels and human beings, men and women, people of all ethnicities, rich and poor, those who are alive and even those who have died. By Fr. Anthony Hernandez