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

Sunday Bulletin 01/10/21

Sunday after the Theophany

WEEKLY LITURGICAL SCHEDULE

Sunday, January 10    

8:30 AM          Matins

9:30 AM          Divine Liturgy

11:30 AM        Procession and Lake Blessing

Monday, January 11  

7:30 AM          Morning Prayer

8:30 AM          Divine Liturgy            +Tom Ham & Dorothy Ham from Gary Edginton

Wednesday, January 13   

7:30 AM          Morning Prayer

8:30 AM          Divine Liturgy           

Thursday, January 14 

7:30 AM          Morning Prayer

8:30 AM          Photina Walk

7:00 PM          Evening Prayer

7:30 PM          Divine Liturgy            +Ed & Lorraine Orenyak from R&J Lichack

Friday, January 15     

7:30 AM          Morning Prayer

4:00 PM          Compline

Saturday, January 16

8:30 AM          Divine Liturgy           

5:00 PM          Ventura County Divine Liturgy

6:30 PM          Vespers

Sunday, January 17    

8:30 AM          Matins

9:30 AM          Divine Liturgy: Sunday of Zacchaeus                   

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: $4,300.00; Candles: $30.50; Online: $575.00; Church Improvements: $150.00; Ventura County Outreach collection: $15.00; First Offering: $15.00

Total: $5,070.50 / Attendance 53

UPCOMING

Fr. Nathan’s upcoming series for God With Us Online, Partakers of the Divine Nature: A Patristic Study of Deification, begins Wednesday, January 13th. 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.

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

“The people who sat in darkness saw a great light.” The Unapproachable Light of Christ showed himself to us. Is Our Lord showing you that you may be called to the priesthood, diaconate, or religious life?  Contact the Vocations Office at 206-329-9219 or email: vocations@ephx.org

Sunday Bulletin 01/03/21

Sunday before the Theophany

WEEKLY LITURGICAL SCHEDULE

Sunday, January 3      

8:30 AM          Matins

9:30 AM          Divine Liturgy

Monday, January 4    

7:30 AM          Morning Prayer

8:30 AM          Divine Liturgy            Zuzula Family from Maryann Zuzula

Tuesday, January 5    

8:30 AM          Royal Hours

7:00 PM          Vespers-Liturgy and Great Blessing of Water          

Wednesday, January 6 – Theophany of Our Lord     

7:30 AM          Matins

7:00 PM          Ventura County Divine Liturgy                 

Thursday, January 7   

7:30 AM          Morning Prayer

7:00 PM          Evening Prayer

7:30 PM          Divine Liturgy            Julia Dyckman from Chris&Julie Harr

Friday, January 8       

7:30 AM          Morning Prayer

4:00 PM          Compline

Saturday, January 9   

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

5:00 PM          Ventura County Divine Liturgy

6:30 PM          Vespers

Sunday, January 10 – Sunday after Theophany     

8:30 AM          Matins

9:30 AM          Divine Liturgy 

11:30 AM        Procession and Lake Blessing

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: $2,290.00; Candles: $72.10; Online: $75.00; Church Improvements: $310.00; Holy Days: $80.00; Ventura County Outreach collection: $12.50; Christmas: $4,240.00; Gift Shop: $8.00; First Offering: $5.00

Total: $7,092.60 / Attendance 43

UPCOMING

  • The Vesper-Liturgy for Theophany, along with the blessing of Jordan water will begin at 7pm on Tuesday, January 5. 
  • Mason Jars with Jordan water will be available after the blessing.  Feel free to also bring your own water to be blessed.  Please make sure your own water is placed by the baptismal font before the blessing.
  • You will be contacted about the availability of scheduling a house blessing after the feast.
  • We will have a small social by the fire pit after the Theophany liturgy.  Feel free to bring food or drink to share.
  • After the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, January 10, we will process down to either the LA River or the lake at the Sepulveda Basil Wildlife Reserve and bless the water there.   

Theophany-January 6

Christ is Baptized!   In the Jordan!

In the early church, many of the feast days that we now celebrate in December and January were all celebrated together on January 6th. That is why this feast day is called “Theophany” or “the revelation of God” in Greek.  (“Epiphany,” the name used by our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters means simply “Revelation”.)  All these feasts shed light on an aspect of God and His Kingdom, so they are rightly celebrated near each other.  The Nativity of Our Lord (later moved to December 24/25) reveals that God became man and was born of a woman.  The journey of the Magi to and from “the East” reveals this God-Man to the nations, especially Arabia, Persia and Ethiopia, out of which we have many great saints (later moved to Dec. 25).  The Baptism of Our Lord in the Jordan was kept on January 6th and celebrated the revelation of the three Persons on the Trinity; The Father is revealed in the “voice from heaven”, the Son in Jesus Christ baptized by John, and the Holy Spirt that descended in the “form of a dove.”  All of these feasts encourage us to a certain discontentment with our current understanding of, and closeness to Christ, and drive us to be more curious and be seekers of a more intense relationship with Him.    

Troparion of the Feast:  At your baptism in the Jordan, O Lord, worship of the Trinity was revealed; for the Father’s voice bore witness to you, calling you his beloved Son, and the Spirit in the form of a dove confirmed the truth of these words.  O Christ God, you appeared and enlightened the world.  Glory to you!

 

“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

Theophany- January 6

Christ is Baptized!   In the Jordan!
In the early church, many of the feast days that we now celebrate in December and January were all celebrated together on January 6th.  That’s why this feast day is called “Theophany” or “the revelation of God” in Greek.  (“Epiphany,” the name used by our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters means simply “Revelation”.)  All these feasts shed light on an aspect of God and His Kingdom, so they are rightly celebrated near each other.  The Nativity of Our Lord (later moved to December 24/25) reveals that God became man and was born of a woman.  The journey of the Magi to and from “the East” reveals this God-Man to the nations, especially Arabia, Persia and Ethiopia, out of which we have many great saints (later moved to Dec. 25).  The Baptism of Our Lord in the Jordan was kept on January 6th and celebrated the revelation of the three Persons on the Trinity; The Father is revealed in the “voice from heaven”, the Son in Jesus Christ baptized by John, and the Holy Spirt that descended in the “form of a dove.”  All of these feasts encourage us to a certain discontentment with our current understanding of, and closeness to Christ, and drive us to be more curious and seekers of a more intense relationship with Him.    
Troparion of the Feast:  At your baptism in the Jordan, O Lord, worship of the Trinity was revealed; for the Father’s voice bore witness to you, calling you his beloved Son, and the Spirit in the form of a dove confirmed the truth of these words.  O Christ God, you appeared and enlightened the world.  Glory to you!
-The Vesper-Liturgy for Theophany, along with the blessing of Jordan water will begin at 7pm on Tuesday, January 5. 
-Mason Jars with Jordan water will be available after the blessing.  Feel free to also bring your own water to be blessed.  Please make sure your own water is placed by the baptismal font before the blessing.
-You will be contacted about the availability of scheduling a house blessing after the feast.
-We will have a small social by the firepit after the Theophany liturgy.  Feel free to bring food or drink to share.
-After the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, January 10, we will process down to either the LA River or the lake at the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve and bless the water there.   

Sunday Bulletin 12/27/20

Christ is Born!  Glorify Him!

Christos Razdajetsja!  Slavite Jeho!

Merry Christmas!

Sunday after the Nativity

 

WEEKLY LITURGICAL SCHEDULE

Sunday, Dec. 27         

8:30 AM          Matins

9:30 AM          Divine Liturgy

Wednesday, Dec. 30  

7:30 AM          Morning Prayer

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

4:00 PM          Evening Prayer

Thursday, Dec. 31      

7:30 AM          Morning Prayer

8:30 AM          Photina Walk

6:30 PM          Vespers

7:30 PM          Divine Liturgy            Daniel McCarthy from Kay Wiskuchan

Friday, Jan.  01          

7:30 AM          Morning Prayer

4:00 PM          Compline

Saturday, Jan. 02        

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

5:00 PM          Divine Liturgy in Ventura County

6:30 PM          Vespers

Sunday, Jan. 03          

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: $1,915.00; Candles: $45.00; Online: $285.00; Church Improvements: $100.00; Property Rental: $205.00; Ventura County Outreach collection: $15.00

Total: $2,565.00 / Attendance 50

 

Circumcision of Our Lord – January 1

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 Sava 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.                                                                                   

From www.oca.org/saints/