SS.

kosmas & damianos Orthodox Church (goa)

703 W. Center Street, Rochester, MN (507) 282-1529 http://www.rochesterorthodoxchurch.org

frmark@rochesterorthodoxchurch.org Rev. Fr. Mark Muoz, Proistamenos

/APOLYTIKIA FOR TODAY

, , , , , , , . Let us worship the Word, O you faithful, praising Him that with the Father and the Spirit is cobeginningless God, Who was born of a pure Virgin that we all be saved; for He was pleased to ascend the cross in the flesh that He assumed, accepting thus to endure death. And by His glorious rising, He also willed to resurrect the dead. , , . . Today is the prelude of God's pleasure and the proclamation of man's salvation. The Virgin is clearly made manifest in the temple of God and foretells Christ to all. Let us also cry out to her with mighty voice, "Hail, fulfillment of the Creator's dispensation." , ' , , ' , , . O God of our Fathers, ever dealing with us according to Thy gentleness: take not Thy mercy from us, but by their entreaties guide our life in peace.
/KONTAKION FOR TODAY , , , , , , , . Today, the most pure temple of the Savior, the precious bridal chamber and Virgin, the sacred treasure of God, enters the house of the Lord, bringing the grace of the Divine Spirit. The Angels of God praise her. She is the heavenly tabernacle.

13th Sunday of luke

St. Clement of Rome, St. Peter of Archbishop of Alexandria

November 24th, 2013 **NATIVITY FAST**

Todays scripture readings

Epistle reading

St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 3:23-29; 4:1-5 Prokeimenon. Mode 4. Psalm 67.35,26 God is wonderful among his saints. Verse: Bless God in the congregations. BRETHREN, before faith came, we were confined under the law, kept under restraint until faith should be revealed. So that the law was our custodian until Christ came, that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a custodian; for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no better than a slave, though he is the owner of all the estate; but he is under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father. So with us; when we were children, we were slaves to the elemental spirits of the universe. But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

Gospel pericope

Gospel of Luke 18:18-27 At that time, a ruler came to Jesus and asked him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.' " And he said, "All these I have observed from my youth." And when Jesus heard it, he said to him, "One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." But when he heard this he became sad, for he was very rich. Jesus looking at him said, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." Those who heard it said, "Then who can be saved?" But he said, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."

Announcements
Liturgical/Program Schedule: TODAY: Name Day Luncheon after Divine Liturgy, please plan on attending! Mon. Nov. 25th: St. Katherine the Great Martyr, Orthros/Divine Liturgy 8:30am Mon. Nov. 25th: AC/DC Adult Religious Ed, 6pm Thurs. Fri. Nov. 28th-29th: Thanksgiving Holiday, office closed
Todays Memorial:

Mr. George Thomas- 6 months

Parish Council Elections to take place Dec. 8th: Please be advised that the following stewards in good standing are candidates for the Parish Council elections to take place on Sunday, Dec. 8th after the Divine Liturgy: Aaron Biedermann, Denise Mangouras, Terri Mettler, Andru Peters, and Jacob Petersen. Three (3) of these parishioners will be elected to the Council. Holiday Bake sale: Philoptochos is now taking orders for the Annual Holy Anargyroi Bake Sale. Share order forms with family, friends and co-workers! Please complete and submit your order forms by December 1st, so the ladies can prepare the pastries and cookies for delivery on December 15th after Divine Liturgy. Communion Wine: We recently ordered a case of nama/communion wine and are asking for donations to offset the $150 expenditure to the parish. Either one donor or a combination of gifts would be greatly appreciated! Please see Fr. Mark if you would like to provide this offering. Thank you in advance!
HOW TO RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNIONOnly Orthodox Christians (i.e. the Orthodox Church
does not observe open communion) in good standing are encouraged to receive Holy Communion frequently, provided they have prepared themselves spiritually, mentally and physically. They must be on time for the Divine Liturgy, and be in a Christ-like, humble state of mind. They should be in a confession relationship with their priest or spiritual father, have observed the fasts of the Church, and they should have self-examined their conscience. On the day of receiving Holy Communion, it is not proper to eat or drink anything before coming to church. When you approach to receive Holy Communion, state your Christian (baptismal) name clearly, and hold the red communion cloth to your chin. After receiving, wipe your lips on the cloth, step back carefully, hand the cloth to the next person and make the sign of the Cross as you step away. Please do not be in a rush while communing! Please take special care not to bump the Holy Chalice.

Todays commemorations
The Hieromartyr Clement, Bishop of Rome Clement was born in Rome of royal lineage and was a contemporary of the holy apostles. His mother and two brothers, traveling on the sea, were carried by a storm to different places. His father then went to find his wife and two sons and he, too, became lost. Clement, being twenty-four years old, then set out for the east to seek his parents and brothers. In Alexandria, he made the acquaintance of the Apostle Barnabas and, afterward, joined the Apostle Peter whom his two brothers, Faustinus and Faustinian, were already following. By God's providence, the Apostle Peter came upon Clement's mother as an aged beggar woman, and then found his father as well. Thus, the whole family was united, and all returned to Rome as Christians. Clement did not separate himself from the great apostle, who appointed him as bishop before his death. After Peter's martyrdom, Linus was Bishop of Rome, then Cletus-both of them for a short time-and then Clement. Clement governed the Church of God with flaming zeal, and from day to day brought a great number of unbelievers to the Christian Faith. In addition, he ordered seven scribes to write the lives of the Christian martyrs who were suffering at that time for their Lord. The Emperor Trajan banished him to Cherson, where Clement found about two thousand exiled Christians. All were occupied with the difficult job of hewing stones in a waterless land. The Christians received Clement with great joy and he was a living source of comfort to them. By his prayer, he brought forth water from the ground and converted so many of the unbelieving natives to Christianity that, in one year, seventy-five churches were built there. To prevent his spreading the Christian Faith even more, the authorities condemned Clement to death, and drowned him in the sea with a stone around his neck in the year 101. His miracle-working relics were removed from the sea only in the time of Saints Cyril and Methodius. The Hieromartyr Peter, Archbishop of Alexandria Peter was a disciple and successor of St. Theonas, Archbishop of Alexandria, and was for a time a teacher at Origen's famous school of philosophy. He ascended the archiepiscopal throne in the year 299, and died a martyr's death in 311, beside the grave of the Holy Apostle Mark. He governed the Church in a most difficult era, when assaults were being made against the faithful by unbelievers from without, and by heretics from within. During his time, 670 Christians suffered in Alexandria. Often, whole families were led to the scaffold and executed. At the same time, the ungodly Arius was confusing the faithful with his false teaching. St. Peter cut him off from the Church and anathematized him, both in this world and in the next. The Lord Himself visited this great and wonderful saint in prison.

Guidelines for the Nativity Fast

We are well aware that our Holy Church provides the faithful with a period of spiritual preparation in anticipation of the Lords Holy Nativity. This period begins on November 15th every year with the commencement of the Nativity Fast. As this fast is a modified one I thought it helpful to remind us all exactly what is prescribed: From Nov. 15th-Dec. 12th (St. Spyridon) the following is observed: Fish/wine/oil are allowed every day except Wednesdays and Fridays which are observed as strict fast days (no meat, fish, dairy, wine, oil). From Dec. 12th-Dec. 25th the following is observed: A strict fast is observed every day except Saturdays and Sundays. From. Dec. 25th-Jan. 4th: NO FASTING ON ANY DAY! +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Pearls from the Desert

In order for one to understand the Saints and Fathers of the [Orthodox] Church, it is not sufficient to

merely read them. The Saints spoke and wrote after having lived the mysteries of God. They personally experienced the mysteries. In order for one to understand them, he too must have progressed to a certain degree of initiation into the mysteries of God by personally tasting, smelling, and seeing. You can read the books of the Saints and become very well versed in them with a cerebral knowledge without even minutely tasting that which the Saints tasted who wrote these books through their personal experience. In order to understand the Saints essentially, not intellectually, you must have the proper experience for all that they say; you must have tasted, at least in part, of the same things as they. You must have lived in the fervent environment of Orthodoxy; you must grow in it -Alexandar Kalomiros

Are you able to lend a helping hand?

Our parish has a Priest Discretionary Fund which Father use s to help those individuals that come to him with legitimate needs both from within and outside the parish family. Cash is rarely, if ever, distributed; rather gift cards to local grocery stores, gas stations, and retail stores are procured based on the circumstances and the individual need. We rely on private donations from parishioners to keep this account flush with funds. The Christmas season is the only time of the year where a general plea for this cause is made. Please consider making a donation with checks payable to Holy Anargyroi with Discretionary Fund in the memo. THANK YOU in advance! +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Christmas Home-Bound Pastoral Visits

If you have a loved one who is unable to come to Church and feel they would like a visit from Father during this holy season please call him asap to make the necessary arrangements. Please do not procrastinate as his schedule is filling in quickly!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Reasons to Fast
By Fr. Alexander Lebedeff
God Himself established fasting. In the Old Testament, preparation for a special holy occasion included fasting and prayer. The New Testament often mentions fasting. Our Lord fasted Himself for 40 days before going out to preach. Fasting is clearly not optional inasmuch as Our Lord said, regarding fasting When you fast (Matt. 6:16), rather than If you fast. Our Lord, speaking of His disciples, said that after His departure, they would fast: when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then they shall fast. Our Lord also said that we can overcome the devil only through prayer and fasting. When His disciples reported to Him that they had been unable to cast out a demon, Our Lord explained to them that this kind [the devil and his foul spirits] goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. If we are given but two weapons--prayer and fasting-- in our battle against the demonic powers, we should not cast one of these weapons aside and ignore it. What soldier who knows only two weapons work against a particular enemy would throw one away?

Christmas Toy Drive

This year our parish will partner with the Salvation Army to provide Christmas presents for those families in need. Please bring your unwrapped gifts for teenagers or children newborn through 4yrs, clothing or toys are preferred. Place gifts in the large Christmas box located in the narthex of the church. The last of day for drop off will be Sunday. Dec. 15th. FYI, gifts will be secured in locked office during the week in order to prevent the disappearance of some gifts. Thank you for participating in this important drive!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A Dog is better than I because he loves and does not judge.- Abba Xanthios
The dog is not gifted with a share of reason; but with him instinct has the power of reason. The dog has learnt by nature the secret of elaborate inferences, which sages of the world, after long years of study, have hardly been able to disentangle. When the dog is on the track of game, if he sees it divide in different directions, he examines these different paths, and speech alone fails him to announce his reasoning. The creature, he says, is gone here or there or in another direction. It is neither here nor there; it is therefore in the third direction. And thus, neglecting the false tracks, he discovers the true one. What more is done by those who, gravely occupied in demonstrating theories, trace lines upon the dust and reject two propositions to show that the third is the true one? But the dog is said to smell the first, the second, and the third. If he started off on the third without smelling, he would reason. As it is, there is no syllogism.- St. Basil the Great

STEWARDSHIP CORNER One day, a person complained to his priest that the Church and Christianity is one continual give, give, give. To which the priest replied, Thank you very much for the finest definition of Christianity I have ever heard. Youre right, Christianity is all about a constant give, give, give. God giving His only Son to the world to show His unconditional love. His Son Jesus giving His life on the cross to forgive our sins and destroy death. Then our Lords disciples giving all they had to make sure Gods Good News of love was preached to all people everywhere. They not only gave away their homes and businesses, but even gave up their lives as martyrs in gratitude to God!