Hymn to the Holy Prophet Habbakuk  (His day is December 2)  -  "Divinely eloquent Habakkuk, you announced to the world the coming forth of God from the south, from the Virgin. Standing on the divine watch, you received a report from the radiant angel: “You proclaimed the Resurrection of Christ to the world!” Therefore in gladness we cry out to you: “Rejoice, splendid adornment of the prophets!”    (Kontakian Tone 8)

O Lord, who didst send down Thy Most Holy Spirit upon Thine apostles at the third hour:  Take Him not from us, O Good One, but renew Him in us who pray to Thee.  (Prayer from lthe Liturgy of St. Basil.)

Troparion - Tone 4 - In truth you were revealed to your flock as a rule of faith, an image of humility and a teacher of abstinence; your humility exalted you; your poverty enriched you. Hierarch Father Nicholas, entreat Christ our God that our souls may be saved.

Great Vespers for Sunday Divine Liturgy - Why did God Himself come? He would come because He cared. Apostle John expressed the great reason for His coming in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Divine Liturgy Sunday  -  "I have come not to call the righteous but sinners" (Matthew 9:13). The Gospel is bad news before it is good news. The bad news is that we have failed, we have sinned. The good news is that there is a Savior Who forgives and accepts but not before we renounce our self-righteousness to accept His righteousness and mercy. (Anthony M. Coniaris)

St. Andrew/St. Nicholas Vespers sponsored by the New Jersey District FOCA.  Meeting will be at 3:00 p.m., Vespers Service at 4:30 p.m. and a light supper will follow. 

Kontakion 3  -  "With power from on high, do Thou strengthen me, who am afflicted in body and soul, O good Lady, and vouchsafe me Thy visitation and provident care, dispelling the gloom of despondency and sorrow which enfold me, that saved by Thee I may unceasingly cry out  to God: Alleluia!"   

Great Vespers for Sunday Divine Liturgy - 5:00 p.m.

Sunday Divine Liturgy  -  “I have come as light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.” (John 12:46) Looking forward to the coming of the Messiah, the Prophet Isaiah said, “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death, light has dawned” (Matthew 4:16). Jesus is that light, “The true light that enlightens every man” (John 1:19).

Sunday of the Fathers comes between December 18 and 24 each year. This year it is on December 22. Every year on the Sunday before Christmas we hear the gospel lesson of the genealogies – the list of the generations of the earthly ancestors of Jesus Christ.  "Jesus, my Savior, thank You that You did not come to judge me, or condemn me, or chastise me. You came to save me, forgive me, accept me, and rejoice in my return to the Father. Be my Savior now that You may be my Savior when you come to judge the living and the dead. Amen." (Anthony M. Coniaris)

The “Winter Pascha.” Jesus lay as an infant in the cavern in the reign of Caesar Augustus that He might lay in the tomb under Pontius Pilate. He was hounded by Herod that He might be caught by Caiaphas. He was buried in baptism that He might descent into death through the Cross. He was worshipped by wise men that the whole of creation might adore Him in His triumph over death. The Pascha of His Cross was prepared by the Pascha of His Coming. The Pascha of His Resurrection was begun by the Pascha of His Incarnation. The Pascha of His Glorification was foretold by the Pascha of His Baptism. This is what Christians celebrate each year in what Father Alexander Schmemann was the first to call “the Winter Pascha.”

Come, let us worship God, our King!  Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and our God! Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and our God!  Come, let us worship and fall down before Him!

Christ is Born!   Glorify Him!

“I behold a strange, most glorious mystery!   Heaven – the cave!  The cherubic throne – the Virgin!  The manger – the place where Christ lay, the uncontainable God whom we magnify in song!”    (Hymn to the Theotokos)

Protomartyr Stephen was the first one of the seven chosen by the apostles to minister to the poor. He had been educated under the renowned rabbinical teacher, Gamaliel, as was his relative, Saul, who came to be known as the Apostle Paul. He spoke of God’s works and the transgressions of the Israelites. He denounced them for the murder of Jesus. They drove him from the city and stoned him. His last words were, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them. Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” His relative, Saul, whom Jesus had not yet converted, stood by, and at a distance the Theotokos and John the Theologian witnessed the first martyrdom for Christianity.

A Voice Was Heard In Rama, Rachel Weeping For Her Children for they are no more. This refers to the murder of thousands of young children (males under the age of two) who lived in and around Bethlehem just after the birth of Christ. King Herod had heard about the birth of Christ from the Wise Men from the east, and in an attempt to kill Jesus, kills all of the male children in the area. This happened about a year after the birth of Jesus.

Make glad, O ye righteous; Greatly rejoice, O ye heavens; Ye mountains dance for joy. Christ is born; and like the cherubim the Virgin makes a throne, Carrying at her bosom God the Word made flesh. Shepherds glorify the new-born Child. Magi offer the Master gifts. Angels sing praises, saying: “O Lord past understanding, glory to Thee” (Praises at Matins).

You heard me when I called, O God of my righteousness.  You strengthened my heart when I was in distress; have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.  (Psalm 4:1-2)