Sunday, Jan. 09 – Sunday after Theophany
8:30 AM Matins
9:30 AM Divine Liturgy
Monday, Jan. 10 – Gregory of Nyssa, Bishop
8:30 AM Morning Prayer
4:00 PM Evening Prayer
Tuesday, Jan. 11 – Theodosius, Venerable
8:30 AM Morning Prayer
4:00 PM Evening Prayer
Wednesday, Jan. 12 – Tatiana, Martyr
8:30 AM Morning Prayer
6:30 PM Divine Liturgy +Fr. Conon Timoney
7:30 PM Fire-pit Social
Thursday, Jan. 13 – Hermolaus and Stratonicus, Martyrs
8:30 AM Matins
4:00 PM Evening Prayer
Friday, Jan. 14 – Venerable Fathers of Sinai and Raitho
8:30 AM Morning Prayer
4:00 PM Compline
Saturday, Jan. 15 – Paul and John, Venerables
5:00 PM Ventura County Divine Liturgy
6:30 PM Vespers
Sunday, Jan. 16 – 34th Sunday after Pentecost
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: $3,718.00; Candles: $30.10; Online: $330.00; VC Outreach: $60.00; Holydays: $100.00; Church Improvements: $135.00; Parish Socials: $49.00; Initial Offering: $15.00
Total: $4,437.10 / Attendance- PSM: 65
We’ve all heard the stats…humans are about 60% water (babies at birth are about 78% water, adult women about 55-60% and adult men about 60-65%) and the earth is about 71% water. Water can kill, or sustain life. The church has acknowledged the obvious importance of water and uses it to manifest the cleansing, grave, vital, and sustaining reality of the Church and Christ.
At the blessing of the Jordan water on Theophany, the priest asks our Lord to make the blessed water “a source of incorruption, a gift of sanctification, a deliverance from sins, an averting of diseases, unapproachable by hostile powers, filled with angelic strength. That all who draw from it and partake of it may have it for cleansing of souls and bodies, for healing of passions, for sanctification of homes, for every suitable purpose”.
So it’s important to acknowledge this great gift by actually using the water. Too many of us put the Jordan water we bring home in our icon corner and never touch it again. One beautiful tradition is to have a sip (or just a drip off an immersed fingertip) first thing in the morning so that holy water is the first thing we consume each day. We can also use it to trace a sign of the cross on our children, phones, steering wheel, front door, TV, pillow, gifts, and on our children’s media devices, backpacks, seats at table, and beds.
And there is even a traditional prayer to say before having that sip of holy water in the morning:
O Lord, my God, may I receive your holy water for the remission of my sins, the enlightenment of my mind, the strengthening of my soul and body, and the conquering of my passions and infirmities, according to your mercy that has no bounds, and through the prayers of your most pure Mother and all the saints. Amen.
Father Michael
We have begun a new project that makes daily prayer easier and more comprehensive. You will find daily posts featuring the saint, icon, troparion, kontakion, epistle and Gospel of the day on our parish website and social media. Daily posts are published on the website (byzantinela.com/daily-devotionals/) at 4pm the previous day (the liturgical day begins at sundown the previous day) and our parish Facebook (“Byzantine Catholic Proto-Cathedral of St. Mary” @ProtoCathedralSO) and Instagram (@st_marys_protocathedral) accounts at 6am.
“The people who sat in darkness saw a great light.” The Unapproachable Light of Christ showed himself to us. Our Lord may be calling you to the priesthood, diaconate, or religious life. If this may be the case, contact the Vocations Office at 206-329-9219 or email: vocations@ephx.org
Saturday, January 8 –
