Holy Annunciation Orthodox Church
The Fisherman’s Net
Volume 8 Issue 10 December 2016
A special thank you to all of you who have, and continue, to sponsor The Fisherman’s Net May God Grant You Many Years
Church Council John Parker- President
Tedd Tripp- VP
Roy Peckham- Treasurer
Beverly Parker- Secretary
Andrew Mihaly-Financial Secretary
Trustees:
Carol Bodwalk
John Buckeye
Ann DeMelfi
JoAnn Hanna
Mary Maholick
Nikki Ann Roll
Karen Price
Thomas Macri
Christ is Born! Glorify Him!
The Creator, when He saw man perishing, whom He had made with His own hands, bowed the heavens and came down; and from the divine and pure Virgin did He take all man’s substance, being made truly flesh: for He has been glorified. (Matins, Ode 1)
Nativity Sermon
By St. Isaac the Syrian (d. AD 700)
This Christmas night bestowed peace on the whole world;
So let no one threaten;
This is the night of the Most Gentle One -
Let no one be cruel;
This is the night of the Humble One -
Let no one be proud.
Now is the day of joy -
Let us not revenge;
Now is the day of Good Will -
Let us not be mean.
In this Day of Peace -
Let us not be conquered by anger.
Today the Bountiful impoverished Himself for our sake;
So, rich one, invite the poor to your table.
Today we receive a Gift for which we did not ask;
So let us give alms to those who implore and beg us.
This present Day cast open the heavenly doors to our prayers;
Let us open our door to those who ask our forgiveness.
Today the DIVINE BEING took upon Himself the seal of our humanity,
In order for humanity to be decorated by the Seal of DIVINITY.
PARISH HAPPENINGS
Birthdays in December-Mike Hanna- December 6
Macrina Demko- December 7
Stephanie Sponenberg- December 7
Lonnie Polli-December 9
Mary Berbick- December 18
Anthony Oliveri-December 22
Lisa Popko- December 23
Carol Bodwalk- December 29
Barbara Silvetti- December 29
Anniversaries in December-Joshua and Heather Hottenstein-Dec. 29
Remember in your Prayers: Archbishop Nikon, Bishop Herman, Priest Emilian, Priest John, Priest Nicholas, Priest James, Priest John, Mary, Roland, David, Cayden, Kathryn, Larraine, Jennifer, Rose, Effie, Christina, Donna, Emalee, John, Christine, Matthew, Ivy Elizabeth, Yvette, Tyler, David, Marie, Jenny, Paul, Paul, Annie, Erin, Clare, John, Dianne, Joe, Bryce, Luke, Melanie, Amailia, Stavro, Thomas, Ethan, Benjamin, Emmitt, Mary, Jack, James, Alaina, Jewel, Kyle, William, Donna, Ron, Elizabeth, Christina, Missy, Bob, Carol, Leadeth, Linda, Korey, Cathy, Maggie, Tom, Mike, Artem, Jane, Linda, Laura, Antonina, Elaine, Cali, Mariah, James, John, Barbara, Tom, George, David, Charlie, Joseph, Heather, Leyla, Nick, Jean, Andy, Nicole, Ally, Reagan, Tara, Sam, Ray, Diane, Nicholas, Bill, Julia, Hannah, Edward, Rick, Roy, Mary, Michael, Taylor, Pamela, Jillian, Jean, Jesse, Kurt, Nancy, Theodore, John, Finley, Michael, Paula, Nathan, Noah, Nikki Ann, Matthew, Diane
Church Council
The Annual Meeting date was held on Sunday, November 20 following Divine Liturgy. The 2016 of Officers were elected: President – John Parker; Vice-President – Tedd Tripp; Treasurer – Roy Peckham; Financial Secretary – Andrew Mihaly; Secretary – Beverly Parker. Elected to Board of Directors were Carol Bodwalk, John Buckeye, JoAnn Martz Hanna, Randee Linsinbigler, Thomas Macri, Jack Olivieri, Lisa Popko, Karen Price. Thank you to Nikki Ann Roll, Ann DeMelfi, and Mary Maholick for their years of dedication to our parish by serving on the board. Your work is appreciated. The 2016 budget of $135,500 was approved. We will be decorating the church for St. Nicholas Day and Nativity following Fellowship Hour on Sunday, December 4. Please volunteer your time to help beautify our church for the season.
The next monthly council meeting will be Monday, December 19, 6:30 P.M. Everyone is welcome to attend.
HALO
Thank you to all who participated in our Christmas Card project. We are thankful for Jean Husak and Gloria Kundrat who volunteered to organize this annual fundraiser. Our organization has been saving for many years to purchase an icon but are still short of the amount of money we need to accomplish this. We can make this happen with your continued support.
HALO will hold a brief meeting on Sunday, December 11 following Fellowship Hour.
Church School News
December
Christmas Cookie Sale
Sunday, December 11
Bakers are needed for our annual cookie sale. If you can bake, please let Heather Tripp or Matushka Catherine know. They need to be at the church by Saturday, December 10 at 10 am.
Plates of cookies will be for sale at coffee hour.
$5 \ plate
Church School
Christmas Program
Sunday, December 18
Join us for our annual program during coffee hour.
There will be no church school December 25 and January 1.
Parish recipe
Punjabi Cabbage
- 1 onion, roughly chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
- 1 inch piece of ginger, chopped (OR add ground ginger later—this is the cheaper option)
Heat 4 TBSP coconut oilin a 6 quart stainless steel pan on medium heat, and fry the onion mixture until SOFT and beginning to brown.
Add the following and stir for 1 minute:
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
Stir in a whole head of cabbage, chopped or shredded, until all the leaves are coated with the turmeric. While the cabbage may seem like a lot now, it will cook down in almost no time. Turn the heat down to low, and add the following:
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 TBSP unsalted butter
Stir the spices into the cabbage, partially cover and cook on low for 3-5 minutes. And that’s it! (
- WrittenWorksoftheEarlyApostolicChurch
on Tuesday 7-9 pm - November 29 Session: The Epistles of St. Ignatius
- December 6Session: The Epistles of St. Ignatius
- December 13 Session: The Eppistle of St. Polycarp to the Philippians
- December 20 Session: The Didache
Winter recess will continue January
“Remember, God is love. Do as much kindness as you can to save yourself by this kindness. Be modest, as God bestows Mercy upon His humble servants. Repent your sins and don’t wait for “tomorrow”, as it is the trap of the Devil. Love each other, as loveless man cannot inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.”--MONK GABRIEL
PREPARING FOR CHRISTMAS ORTHODOX STYLE
By Archbishop Mark (Adapted from His Pastor Letter)
As we continue the Nativity Fast and we seek to prepare ourselves for the Great Feast by making room in the manger of our hearts, let us take a personal inventory of where we are in our spiritual journey as well as the ministry entrusted to us.
Do I set aside quality time to commune with the Lord through morning and evening prayer?
Do I approach prayer as a dutiful son, fulfilling an obligation, or is it quality time with Someone with Whom I have a loving relationship?
Do I dedicate time to reading, studying and meditating on the Holy Scripture?
Am I at peace with my family, brother clergy, parishioners and others, as much as it is within my power, or do I carry grudges?
Do I adequately prepare for Holy Confession and go as frequently as I would instruct others?
Do I adequately prepare to receive the Holy Mysteries?
Am I faithful in offering thanks after receiving the Holy Mysteries?
Am I prepared mentally, physically and spiritually to worship at Divine Services?
Am I fully engaged in the fasts of the Church, seeking to abstain from fleshly appetites and sin, and not simply food?
Do I rejoice when my brothers and sisters are doing well and pray for them when they stumble or suffer for doing well? Or do I rejoice when they stumble and begrudge the good they enjoy?
Do I seek that which builds up the Body of Christ or that which tears it down? Let us remember the Scriptural imperative: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Eph. 4: 29ff)
Have I maintained the vision of being the Lord’s ambassador to the surrounding community by making disciples of all people or have I abrogated my calling.
Hopefully, these probing questions will make us pause from the numerous distractions and encourage us to reexamine our priorities. As the Lord ‘from the heights of His Glory did humble Himself, so may He bear us in our humility; as He did deign to lie in a manger in a cave, so may He also deign to come into the manager of our mute souls and corrupt bodies.’ Have a Blessed Feast!
WHAT DOES CHRISTMAS MEAN?
CHRISTMAS MEANS THAT:
He descended that we might ascend (John 6:38, 14:3).
He became poor that we might become rich (2 Cor. 8:9, Jas 2:5).
He was born that we might be born again (John 1:14; 3:2,7).
He became a servant that we might become sons (Phil 2:7, Gal 4:6).
He had no home that we might have a home in Heaven (Mt 8:20; John14).
He was hungry that we might be fed (Mt. 4:2; John 6:50).
He was thirsty that we might be satisfied (John 19:26).
He was stripped that we might be clothed (Matt 27:28; Gal 3:27).
He was forsaken that we might not be forsaken (Matt 27:26; 28:20).
He was sad that we might become glad (Isa 53:3; Phil 4:4).
He was bound that we might go free (Matt 27:2; John 8:32-36).
He was made sin that we might be made righteous (2 Cor 5:21).
He died that we might live (John 5:24, 25).
He came down that we might be caught up (1 Thess 4:16, 17).
The Nativity of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ - Troparion & Kontakion
Troparion — Tone 4
Your Nativity, O Christ our God, / Has shone to the world the Light of wisdom! / For by it, those who worshipped the stars, / Were taught by a Star to adore You, / The Sun of Righteousness, / And to know You, the Orient from on High. / O Lord, glory to You!
Kontakion — Tone 3
Today the Virgin gives birth to the Transcendent One, / And the earth offers a cave to the Unapproachable One! / Angels with shepherds glorify Him! / The wise men journey with a star! / Since for our sake the Eternal God was born as a Little Child!