Theophany, January 6, is considered one of the greatest feast days of the Orthodox church. It commemorates the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River by John the Baptist and the revelation of the Holy Trinity to the world. The Father spoke saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” The Holy Spirit was seen in the form of a dove, hovering over the waters and Jesus Christ our Savior was baptized by John. And John said, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

January is the start of the new year and the beginning of our goals for the year. One of your goals for the coming year should be a daily reading of the Bible, and it is helpful that you use the Orthodox Study Bible. On the back pages you can find information concerning the importance of reading and understanding the bible. His Eminence Metropolitan Kallistos (Ware) of Diokleia (UK), wrote “that we are never to forget that what we find in the Bible is not an ideology, not a philosophical theory, but a historical faith. He ends his message with the following paragraph. “At the high point of his spiritual crisis, wrestling with himself alone in the garden, Saint Augustine heard a child’s voice crying out, “Take up and read, take up and read.” He took up his bible and read; and what he read altered his entire life.” Let us do the same: Take up and read.

It may be time in our lives to do what Metroploitan Kallistos instructs us with his story of St. Augustine, take up and read. Every week on Saturday a list of reading chapters will be listed for the following week. All the readings will be from the New Testament in the New King James Version as found in the Orthodox Study Bible. Notes referring to the reading for the day are listed on the bottom of the page containing the reading. These notes may help you in your study. The following readings are for the week starting: January 1 Matthew 1; January 2 Matthew 2; January 3 Matthew 3; January 4 Matthew 4; and January 5 Matthew 5. Bible reading will continue on January 8 with Matthew 6 “Take up and read.”

May God bless all of you this new year with peace and love and may you return His goodness with thanksgiving each and every day.  

Happy Birthday to all those celebrating their birthday in January. Among those are: Stephen Fabian, January 3;  Bob Czech, January 8;  Ken Baron on January 11;  Joseph Pecoraro, January 13;  Barbara Kary, January 18;  Nicholas Alexander Silvestre, January 22;  and Chris Baron on January 23.  We wish all of you a very Happy Birthday and may God grant you all Many Years!

Helen Baron, our coordinator for the food pantry, wants to thank everyone for their generous support in supplying food and money throughout the Holiday season. Many grateful families and individuals, who otherwise would have had an empty table, sat down to a wonderful dinner due to the help provided by those who care. However, the need is persistent so please continue your support and help re-stock the now empty shelves. Thank you for your help.