Divine Liturgy: Sunday, December 29, 2024
27th Sunday after Pentecost: Sunday of the Holy Forefathers (Tone 2)
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Sunday, December 29, 2024
27th Sunday after Pentecost:
Sunday of the Holy Forefathers (Tone 2)
Fast: Fish, wine, and oil allowed
Priest Micah J. Chisholm, Rector Phone: (989) 324-8773
[www.stsebastianorthodoxchurch.org]
Entrance Hymn: Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, Who rose from the dead O Son of God, save us who sing to Thee: Alleluia!
Resurrectional Troparion – Tone 2: When Thou didst descend to death, O Life Immortal, Thou didst slay hell with the splendor of Thy God-head. And when from the depths Thou didst raise the dead, all the powers of heaven cried out: “O Giver of life, Christ our God, glory to Thee!”
Troparion – Forefathers of Christ – Tone 2: Through faith Thou didst justify the Forefathers, betrothing through them the Church of the gentiles. These saints exult in glory, for from their seed came forth a glorious fruit: she who bore Thee without seed. So by their prayers, O Christ God, have mercy on us!
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit!
Both now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Kontakion – Forefathers of Christ - Tone 6: Ye did not worship the graven image, O thrice-blessed ones, but armed with the immaterial Essence of God, ye were glorified in a trial by fire. From the midst of unbearable flames ye called on God, crying: Hasten, O compassionate One! Speedily come to our aid, for Thou art merciful and able to do as Thou dost will.
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The Prokeimenon (in the 4th Tone): Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is Thy name forever. Verse: For righteous art Thou in all which Thou hast done for us.
Epistle Reading (Colossians 3:4-11 (§257))
Brethren, when Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.
Gospel (St. Luke 14:16-24 (§76))
Jesus spake this parable: "A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, 'Come, for all things are now ready.' But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.' And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.' Still another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.' So that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.' And the servant said, 'Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.' Then the master said to the servant, 'Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.' "
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Hymn to the Theotokos
It is truly meet to bless thee, O Theotokos, ever-blessed and most pure, and the Mother of Our God. More honorable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, without defilement thou gavest birth to God the Word, true Theotokos, we magnify thee.
Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Him in the highest! Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous; praise is meet for the upright.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Pre-Communion Prayer
I believe, O Lord, and I confess that Thou art truly the Christ, the Son of the living God, Who didst come into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. Moreover, I believe that this is truly Thy most Pure Body, and that this is truly Thine Own Precious Blood. Wherefore, I pray Thee: Have mercy on me and forgive me my transgressions, voluntary and involuntary, in word and in deed, in knowledge and in ignorance. And vouchsafe me to partake without condemnation of Thy most pure Mysteries unto the remission of my sins and life everlasting. Amen.
Of Thy Mystical Supper, O Son of God, receive me today as a communicant; for I will not speak of the Mystery to Thine enemies, nor will I give Thee a kiss as did Judas, but like the Thief do I confess Thee: Remember me, O Lord, in Thy Kingdom.
Let not the communion of Thy Holy Mysteries be unto me for judgment, or condemnation, O Lord, but for thehealing of soul and body. Amen.
Polychronion (The Many Years)
Our Great Lord and Father, His Holiness Kyrill, Patriarch of Moscow and All the Rus, Our Lord the Very Most Reverend Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, and their God-protected flock, this land, its civil authorities and armed forces, the God-preserved Lands of Rus, The Rector of this Holy Parish and all Orthodox Christians: Preserve, O Lord, for many years!
We welcome everyone to Saint Sebastian Orthodox Church. Please join us for a time of fellowship following the Divine Liturgy.
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Note: The Parish Council has decided to regularly publish our latest “Operational” financial health status for general awareness. The information will be freshened each month. Here is the 2024 status as of 11/30/24:
Nov. only Yr to Date
Total Operating Income to Date: $ 5,628 $ 65,849
Total Operating Expenses to Date: $ 6,042 * $ 58,063 *
Current Building Fund Balance $ 115,407
* Includes Diocesan Assessment increment
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Please pray for our Catechumens:
Nathan, Claire, Vanessa, Seth, Courtney, John, & Jessica
And also for Ma. Stephanie, and Donald Clewley & Family
If you are interested in learning more about the Orthodox faith,
or are interested in learning how you can become a part of Saint Sebastian Orthodox Christian Church,
please speak to Father Micah.