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Sunday, December 11, 2022

Tone 1

26th Sunday after Pentecost (12th of Luke)

Sunday of the Forefathers

Sunday of the Forefathers

Commemorated on December 11

The Sunday that falls between December 11-17 is known as the Sunday of the Holy Forefathers. These are the ancestors of Christ according to the flesh, who lived before the Law and under the Law, especially the Patriarch Abraham, to whom God said, “In thy seed shall all of the nations of the earth be blessed” (Gen. 12:3, 22:18).

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Vespers for the Conception of St. Anne will be Thursday (12/8) at 5 PM with Liturgy, Friday (12/9) at 7:00 AM.

Bible Study will be Saturday (12/310) 3:00-4:30 PM. We'll be look at the stories of the Manger & the Shepherds in Luke 2:1-21.

Looking ahead, I will be at the Seminary Thursday (12/15) returning Saturday (12/17). Fr Christopher will serve Vespers Saturday.

Christmas this year falls on Sunday. This changes our liturgical calendar a bit. See the schedule below.

In Christ,

Fr Gregory

This Week at Ss Cyril & Methodius

Looking Ahead

Monday, December 5

• 5:00 PM: Vespers

Tuesday, December 6 (St Nicholas)

• 7:00 AM: Divine Liturgy

Wednesday, December 7

• 11 AM-3 PM: Office Hours

Thursday, December 8

• 3 PM- 5 PM: Office Hours
• 5:00 PM: Vespers
• 6:00 PM: OCF

Friday, December 9

• 7:00 AM: Divine Liturgy (Conception of St Anne)

Saturday, December 10

• 3-4:30 PM: Bible Study (The Manger & the Shepherds, Luke 2:1-21)
• 4:30 PM: Confessions 
• 5:00 PM: Vespers
• 6:00 PM: Confessions

Sunday, December 11

• 9:00 AM: Hours/Pre-Communion Prayers
• 9:30 AM: Divine Liturgy

Looking Ahead

Wednesday, December 14

• 11 AM-3 PM: Office Hours/Confessions

Thursday, December 15

• Fr Gregory at St Sophia Seminary

Friday, December 16

• Fr Gregory at St Sophia Seminary

Saturday, December 17

• 4:00 PM: Confessions 
• 5:00 PM: Vespers
• 6:00 PM: Confessions

Sunday, December 18 (Sunday before Nativity)

• 9:00 AM: Hours/Pre-Communion Prayers
• 9:30 AM: Divine Liturgy

Hymns After the Small Entrance

Tone 1 Troparion (Resurrection)

When the stone had been sealed by the Jews, while the soldiers were guarding Thy most pure body, Thou didst rise on the third day, O Savior, granting life to the world. The powers of heaven therefore cried to Thee, O Giver of Life: “Glory to Thy Resurrection, O Christ! Glory to Thy Kingdom!//Glory to Thy dispensation, O Thou Who lovest mankind!”

Tone 2 Troparion (Forefathers)

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. Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Tone 6 Kontakion (Forefathers)

You did not worship the graven image, O thrice-blessed ones, but armed with the immaterial Essence of God, you were glorified in a trial by fire. From the midst of unbearable flames you 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!”  

Sunday Readings

Epistle: Colossians 3:4-11

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: Luke 14:16-24 

Then He said to him, “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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Communion Hymn

Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Him in the highest!

Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous; praise befits the just!

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

By the age of 25, about 60% of those baptized as infants will no longer consider themselves members of the Orthodox Church. A parish on a university campus is an important witness not only to the surrounding community but also to high school age and younger parishioner. Establishing a parish on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison helps remind young people that graduating high school doesn't mean "graduating" from the Church. Please consider joining those who have committed their time, treasure and talent in establishing an Orthodox community on the Isthmus. Help us reach your children and grandchildren with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.