Happy Birthday to all those celebrating their birthday in November. Among those are Matthew Kary on November 14; Jonas James Czech on November 16; Simeon Graffeo and Juliana Kary, November 19; Mat. Lana Chaykivsky on Nov. 24; Ben Kalemba on Nov. 27 and Mirek Szestawicky on November 28. A very happy birthday to everyone celebrating their birthday in November and May God grant you all Many Years!
Many thanks to all those who reliably donate to our food pantry. Helen Baron, our Food Pantry Coordinator would like to remind everyone that Thanksgiving and Christmas donations are now being collected to fill our baskets for our less fortunate neighbors. Your help is greatly appreciated.
The Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is coming…..
Forty days before Christmas, the Church begins to prepare for the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord. This time of preparation is called “Advent,” meaning the coming or arrival of someone or something. During this time we should try to improve our way of living, and we should be sure to allow more time for prayer and preparation for the coming feast. We start our journey to the feast with St. Matthew the Evangelist, who wrote a Gospel on the life of Jesus. He is remembered on Nov. 16. Our journey next takes us to the feast day of The Prophet Obadiah, who rebuked God’s unfaithful people for their pride and wicked deeds, saying that on the Lord’s Day, the Day of Judgment, they will be rewarded according to their deeds. His day is on Nov. 19.
Feast of the Presentation of the Theotokos in the temple comes on November 21. Mary was the daughter of Joachim and Anna. Mary’s parents had been childless for many years. They had always been faithful to God and trusted in Him. When they were already very old, God promised them a child. They were so grateful to God that they promised to dedicate their child to Him. So, when Mary was only three years old, they brought her to the Temple. There she was cared for by the women of the Temple and spent her young life learning about God, praying and serving in the Temple. She had found favor with God and later would become the Mother of our Lord.
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)
Prepare yourself before the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ on December 25. The first activity that should be squeezed into your busy schedule is attendance of church services and confession with our priest followed by communion the following Divine Liturgy. Be aware that the beginning of Advent starts on Sunday, November 15. Your shopping, cleaning, and baking will all fit in.