Holy Angels Byzantine Catholic Church

December 15, 2019

Sundayof theForefathers;TheHolyHieromartyrEleutherius;OurVenerableFatherPaul ofMountLatros;

OurHolyFatherStephen theConfessor, archbishopofSurozh

Synaxis of the Forefathers

December 15, 2019Schedule of services for the week of December 16 - December 22

Saturday, December 21 TheSaturdaybeforeNativity; TheHolyMartyr Juliana9AM – Divine Liturgy5PM – Great Vespers

Sunday, December 22 SundaybeforeNativity - of theHolyAncestors; TheHolyGreatMartyrAnastasia8:40 AM – Third Hour9AM – Divine Liturgy For all parishioners

We welcome all visitors and guests.Please join us in our hall for refreshments and fellowship after the Divine Liturgy!There is a listing of parishioners availablein the Narthex and the Church Hall. Pleasecheck your family entry in the directory andmake any updates to your information.Please mark your entry with “OK” if thereare no changes. If you are not listed, pleasesee Fr. James for a parish registration form.Next weekend will be the last opportunityto update your information.

Our Food and Hygiene item driveis coming to an end next Sunday! Ourcollection to date is very small. Remember youcan give cash instead of shopping if you wish.Even a few dollars from every person would goa long way in the hands of our bargain hunters.Please help those needy in our communitywho are served by Catholic Charities, as weprepare our hearts for the coming of the Babeof Bethlehem.

Gift Shop:Special items for Christmas gifts are displayed inthe hall. Don’t miss the large handmade icons,tempera on wood, imported with certificate atonly $85. Only 3 remain and these are easilyworth double this amount! Many budget iconsand other items are also available.

We also have a small supply of car magnets“Keep Christ in Christmas" for only $5.

Mark the Date:Parish Work Day on Dec. 21.

Cleaning and Decorating the Church and Hallwill start at 10:30 to 2:00 with lunch included.All types of helpers are needed, from easy dutyto heavy! Help us prepare for the Nativity, aswe joyfully serve our Parish Family.

Please check out the Sunday Social Donorsheet in the hall.We are seeing a possibility ofonly coffee/juice at some socials withoutdonors.We still need once a month “Host.”Please see Janet.

Suggestions for Celebrating Christmas1. Give thanks toGod by attending church.2. Seek peacewith thosewemay be at oddswith.3. Give an anonymous gift to a stranger in need.

GodWith Us ONLINE Upcoming ProgramsLive webinars, free of charge.

Register at EasternCatholic.org/events

THE GIFT OF GOD: Preparing for the Feastof the Nativity by Fr. David AndersonWednesday, December 18 @5:00-6:00 pm PST

BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST: The Mystery ofInitiation & Identity of the People of Godby Fr. Sabastian CarnazzoWednesdays January 8, 15,&22@5:00-6:00pmPST

Teaching LiturgyNext Sunday, the vesting prayers andthe Prothesis (preparation of the breadand wine) will be done at the tetrapodfor all to see and to hear the prayers ofpreparation.

Ethnic Foods preparation this week:Monday - 10AM KolačWednesday - 9AM PirohiFriday - 9AM Holubky Bake

- 12PM Holubky Cool & Box

Prayer before using the InternetLight from light, Only-begotten Son of theFather of lights, who dwellest in lightunapproachable, the beauty of whosecountenance is beyond description and whoseluminous thoughts are beyond the grasp of anycreated mind; O Creator of all form and beauty,which are intended for holiness andcontemplation of Thee: do Thou now guide mewho would use the internet, that by so doing Iwould glorify Thee, and walk in the light Thougivest me, at all times thinking on whatever istrue, honest, just, pure, lovely, and good, to thesole glory of Thy most holy Name, Jesus:through the prayers of the Virgin Mary, ThyMother; of our fathers among the saints Isidoreof Seville and Theophan the Recluse; of theVenerable Eugenius of Aitolia, and Nicodemusthe Hagiorite; and of all the saints. Amen.

This . . . . is . . . . the . . . . way . . . . the . .. . church . . . . sometimes . . . . looks . . . .to . . . . the . . . . pastor . . . . when . . . . he. . . . goes . . . . gives . . . . the . . . . homily.

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Schedule of Service for the Feast of NativityTuesday, December 24 - Vigil of the Nativity

9:00 AM – Royal Hours4:30 PM – Christmas Carols5:00 PM – Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil followed by “God is with us” Great Complines

with LytiaWednesday, December 25 – TheNativity in theFlesh of ourLord,GodandSavior, JesusChrist

7:45 AM – Festal Matins9:00 AM – Divine Liturgy For all parishioners

We confess one and the same individual as perfect Godand perfect man. He is God the Word Which was flesh.For if He was not man, why was Mary chosen? And ifHe is not God, whom does Gabriel call Lord?If He was not man, who was laid in a manger? And if Heis not God, whom did the angels who came down fromheaven glorify?If He was not man, who was wrapped in swaddlingclothes, And if He is not God, in whose honor did the starappear?If He was not man, whom did Simeon hold in his arms?And if He is God, to whom did Simeon say, “now lettestThou Thy servant depart in peace”?If He was not man, whom did Joseph take when he fledinto Egypt? And if He is not God, who fulfilled theprophecy: “Out of Egypt have I called my Son”?If He was not man, whom did John baptize? And if He isnot God, to whom did the Father say: “This is mybeloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased”?If He was not man, who hungered in the desert? And ifHe is not God, unto whom did the angels come andminister?If He was not man, who was invited to the marriage inCana of Galilee? And if He is not God, who turned thewater into wine?If He was not man, who took the loaves in the desert?And if He is not God, who fed the five thousand men andtheir women and children with five loaves and two fish?If He was not man, who slept in the ship? And if He isnot God, who rebuked the waves and the sea?If He was not man, with whom did Simon the Phariseesit at meat? And if He is not God, who forgave the sinsof the harlot?If He was not man, who wore a man’s garment? And ifHe is not God, who healed the woman with the issue ofblood when she touched His garment?If He was not man, who spat on the ground and madeclay? And if He is not God, who gave sight to the eyes ofthe blind man with the clay?

If He was not man, who wept at Lazarus’ grave? And ifHe is not God, who commanded him to come forth outof the grave four days after his death?If He was not man, whom did the Jews arrest in thegarden? And if He is not God, who cast them to theground with the words: “I am He”?If He was not man, who was judged before Pilate? Andif He is not God, who frightened Pilate’s wife in adream?If He was not man, whose garments were stripped fromHim and parted by the soldiers? And if He is not God,why was the sun darkened upon His crucifixion?If He was not man, who was crucified on the cross? Andif He is not God, who shook the foundation of the earth?If He was not man, whose hands and feet were nailed tothe cross? And if He is not God, how did it happen thatthe veil of the temple was rent in twain, the rocks wererent, and the graves were opened?If He was not man, who hung on the cross between thetwo thieves? And if He is not God, how could He say tothe thief: “Today thou shalt be with me in paradise”?If He was not man, who cried out, and gave up the ghost?And if He is not God, whose cry caused many bodies ofthe saints which slept to arise?If He was not man, whom did the women see laid in thegrave? And if He is not God, about whom did the angelsay to them: “He is arisen, He is not here”?If He was not man, whom did Thomas touch when he puthis hands into the prints of the nails? And if He is notGod, who entered through the doors that were shut?If He was not man, who ate at the sea of Tiberias? Andif He is not God, on whose orders were the nets filledwith fishes?If He was not man, whom did the apostles see carried upinto heaven? And if He is not God, who ascended to thejoyful cries of the angels, and to whom did the Fatherproclaim: “sit at My right hand”?If He is not God and man then, indeed, our salvation isfalse, and false are the pronouncements of the prophets.

“OUR SAVIOR, BOTH GOD ANDMAN”By Saint Ephrem the Syrian – 4th Century

ON THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORDBy Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos

The Birth of Christ is a historical event,because it took place at a specific moment inhistory, when Caesar Augustus was Emperorin Rome and Herod was ruler of Judea. TheEvangelists insist on emphasizing thehistoricity of the event, because they want tosay that Christ is a historical person. Thismeans that Christ assumed real human flesh,and the Incarnation was not merely seemingor imagined.

In spite of its historicity, this event remains a mystery. We know that the God-man,perfect God and perfect man, exists, but it remains a mystery how the divine natureunited with human nature in the person of the Logos. Moreover, what happened tothe person of Christ, that the divine nature was united hypostatically with humannature, happened just once. Therefore St. John of Damascus said that Christ is “theonly new thing under the sun.” This means that since the creation of the world andman, nothing new has happened in the world. Everything is repeated [according tothe natural order and rules which govern the universe]. The [successive] birth ofhuman beings is a consequence and result of God’s words: “Let us make man in ourimage and likeness”, and “Be fruitful and multiple; fill the earth and subdue it” (Gen.1:26-28). The only new thing is the God-man Christ.Thus the fact that the event is historical does not remove the mystery, but also themystery does not do away with the historicity. At Christmas we celebrate the birth ofChrist, but at the same time we experience mysteriously in our hearts all the eventsconnected with it, for when we are alive in the Church, we are participating in andexperiencing all the stages of the divine Incarnation.

Byzantine Basics – Greetings / ResponseGreeting Response

Throughout the year:Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!-or-

Christ is among us! He is and shall be!Christmas Season:

Christ is Born! Glorify Him!On January 6 (Theophany):

Christ is Baptized! In the Jordan!Paschal Season (From Pascha to Ascension):

Christ is Risen! Indeed, He is Risen!

The Parenting Vocation: Living the Life of Christby Fr. George Morelli from the March 2006 issue of The Word magazine

Consider Our Lord’s words on the importanceof how children are influenced: “And he said tohis disciples, … woe to him by whom they come!It would be better for him if a millstone werehung round his neck and he were cast into the sea,than that he should cause one of these little onesto sin” (Lk. 17:1-2). Parents and any caretakers ofchildren have one of the most importantvocations in the Church, namely to teach theirchildren about Our Lord Jesus Christ and Hismessage. Teaching may take many forms.The place to start is with those who care for

children themselves. Parents are the primaryteachers of children by the blessed marriage theypossess. One of the blessing prayers said by thepriest in the Holy Mystery of Matrimony is:“Unite them in one mind and one flesh, and grantthem fair children for education in thy faith andfear” (acknowledging the awesome, transcendentGod).If parents and others who teach or care for

children are not keeping a “life in Christ,” howcan children be expected to follow Christ and Histeachings? Psychologists have long emphasizedthe powerful effects of modeling on children(Bandura, 1986). Recently, news media haveeven reported that a gene for imitation has beendiscovered. Children have a propensity to make aneural copy of a behavior modeled and to repeatit (Milner and Goodale, 1996).I remember when I was first in clinical-

pastoral practice. Parents would come to me andpresent a behavioral problem. For example, theirten-year-old was smoking. Inside the shirt pocketor hanging out of the pocketbook of the parentwould be a pack of cigarettes. This was and stillis hypocrisy. It is nearly impossible to change thechild’s behavior. Parents, guardians, and otherswho have children in their care are supremelypowerful models. I have never met one child inmy pastoral or clinical career who bought into theusual “lame” explanations: “Well I can do it, andwhen you get to be my age then you can make upyour own mind,” or “You are not old enoughyet.” Children are bright enough to see rightthrough such explanations.

The Holy Spirit imparts grace in thesacraments. The parents have to bring theirchildren to their parish church where the HolySpirit is sacramentally imparted. If a child is notbrought in to be baptized, the child is not anOrthodox Christian. If the parents do not bringtheir children to attend Divine Liturgy, they do notreceive the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity ofOur Lord Jesus Christ. If the parents bring thechild to church but do not go themselves, childrensee right through such hypocrisy, just as in thecigarette example above. The message is: “Grownups do not have to go to church.” So the child is nolonger getting the grace of Christ. Often thegreatest teaching, or, in this case, scandal, isteaching by what is not done.A child may hear a family conversation about

a nasty neighbor or relative in which a parentsays, “That no good for nothing @#$%^&,” yetin church the child hears preached from the altarour Lord’s words of love, forgiveness, and notholding anger against a brother. If they then seeand hear their mothers or fathers doing just theopposite, does this add to the child’s faith andcommitment to Christ? It destroys it! And wewonder why morality and values are breakingdown in modern times?On the other hand, no one is perfect —

parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers,sisters, bishops, priests, teachers. We all sin andfall short. What a beautiful lesson could be taughtto a child we care for, when we do fall short, if wego to the child and say, for example: “You know,I lost my temper today. It was not right, I amsorry and I will try to do better. This is what Jesuswould want me to do.” No one may speak exactlylike this, using such words. However, using theirown words parents will get across the substanceof the message: I did wrong, I will try to do betterand I want us all as a family to follow our Lord’steachings.Thus, the first and most important lesson in

Orthodox Christian parenting is to live the life inChrist as thoroughly as can be done. Despite ourfailings, we must remember the words of Jesus:“He said to them: The things that are impossiblewith men are possible with God” (Luke 18:27).

Donate to Holy Angels Byzantine Catholic Church when you purchase from smile.amazon.comYes, it’s true!

When you purchase items from smile.amazon.com (same items and low cost as at Amazon.com) 0.5%of your eligible purchases can be donated to our church.To begin shopping (and donating!) go to smile.amazon.com:• You use the same account on Amazon.com and AmazonSmile.com. Your shopping cart, wish list,

wedding or baby registry, and other account settings are also the same.• Just select “Holy Angels Byzantine Catholic Church San Diego” as your charity to receive

donations from eligible purchases before you begin shopping. Amazon will remember yourselection, and then every eligible purchase you make at smile.amazon.com will result in a donation.

• Donations are made by the AmazonSmile Foundation and are not tax deductible by you.

From the Cathechism “Christ our Pascha”Christian Upbringing, Education, and Schooling

The Christian family is not only the mostimportant environment for receiving the giftof new life, it is also the primary sphere of itsdevelopment. As a family raises and formschildren, it develops and educates them in afull array of dimensions.¹ Parents are theprimary, although not the only, educators oftheir children, and no one can deprive themof this responsibility. Christian parents haveboth a right and a duty to raise their childrenin a Christian manner. Therefore, they oughtto seek the best means of fulfilling thisresponsibility effectively. Parents areresponsible for passing on the treasure offaith to their children, and are called to bringtheir children to “the stature of the fullness ofChrist” (see Eph 4:13). The person involvedin raising children possess a high honour:“For if those who make statues and paintportraits of kings enjoy so great an honour,shall not we who adorn the image of the Kingof kings (for a human being is the image ofGod) receive ten thousand blessings, if weeffect a true likeness?”²

1 See Compendium of the Social Doctrine of theChurch, 238-239.

2 John Chrysostom, Homilies on Ephesians, Homily21, 4: PG 62, 156.

Holy Angels Byzantine Catholic Church2235 Galahad Road

San Diego, CA 92123-3931Fr. James Bankston, AdministratorFr. Deacon Jonathan A. Deane

Rectory/Office: 858-277-2511 Social Hall/Ethnic Foods: 858-268-3458Email: PastorHASD@gmail.comWebsite: www.HolyAngelsSanDiego.comFacebook: Holy Angels Byzantine Catholic Church

All those requesting Holy Mysteries must be parishioners for at least six months.

Mysteries of Initiation: Requires Pre-Baptismal instruction. The Mysteries of Initiation arecelebrated on Saturdays or Sundays within the Divine Liturgy. At least one sponsor must be aCatholic and the other a practicing Christian. Both sponsors must present documentation thatthey are in good standing with their church.

Mystery of Crowning:Requires Pre-Marriage instruction. Consult Fr. James at least six months priorto making wedding plans. Marriages cannot be celebrated during the fasting seasons of the Church.

Funerals: Contact Fr. James.

Liturgy, Panachyda and Eternal Lamp Intentions: Schedule with Fr. James. It is “holy andwholesome thought to pray for the dead” (2 Maccabees 12:46) especially on the 9th and 40th days,and on the anniversary of their falling asleep in the Lord.

Holy Mystery of Confession: First Wednesday of the month from 6PM - 7PM. Also availablebefore all services or by appointment. Confessions end 15 minutes prior to services.

Sick calls / Holy Anointing / Hospital Visits: Requested by parishioner, friend, or family.

Please submit all Bulletin announcements to Fr. James for approval by Wednesday of each week.

Last Sunday’s bulletin is available in the Narthex or on our website.

Office Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday from 10:AM - 5PM. Please call ahead to make sureFr. James is on-site. Call anytime in case of an emergency.

Bless, O Lord, the worship and Stewardship of your faithful servants:LastSunday: attendance: 85;AdultTithes: $1370.00;Candles: $208.03; For Freezers: $200.00;RetiredReligiousFund: $480.00; LooseChange: $163.00;ChurchUsageDonation: $450.00; Total: $2871.03

Vocation Icon: This week (December 15): The Bitsko FamilyNext week (December 22): The Huber FamilyPlease sign up in the narthex to host the vocation icon.