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Wisdom

St.Anna's Conception of the Mother of God

“Be glad, O barren woman who does not bear; break forth and cry out, you who are not in travail, for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married woman,” says the Lord. (Isaiah 54:1)

    On December 9, the Church commemorates the conception of the Virgin Mary. This is another story that is nowhere recorded in the Old or New Testaments, but it was known to the early Christians, and it is also to be found in the Gospel of James.
    Mary’s mother, Anna, was barren, but God heard her prayer and gave her a daughter in the person of Mary, whom Anna vowed to dedicate completely to God. The birth of significant people by barren women is a miracle we encounter several times in the Scriptures. Isaac, the son of Abraham, was conceived by the barren Sarah (Gen 18; 20); the Prophet Samuel was conceived by the barren Hannah (1 Kg. [1 Sam.]), and John the Baptist was conceived by the barren Elizabeth (Luke 1).
    This serves as a reminder of our own spiritual barrenness and, notwithstanding this sterility in virtue, the possibility of yielding the fruits of repentance, however late it is. The barren women of the Bible put their trust in God and prayed fervently with faith and hope. So too should we not despair of our own lack of spiritual fruit, but rather pray all the more ardently that God may help us nurture the seed of repentance. Just as the holiest of men and women came forth from barren wombs, so can the greatest fruit of repentance spring forth from a single mustard seed (Matt 13:32).
    With but one talent of grace, we can increase in virtue and holiness, if we turn to God in faith and repentance. The barren Sarah became the mother of many nations; the barren Anna became the mother of the woman who would give birth to the salvation of the human race; and all who lack virtue can become holy. Even the greatest sinner can become the greatest saint.

Vassilios Papavassiliou, Meditations for Advent: Preparing for Christ’s Birth, pp. 45-47.

Upcoming Events
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Weekday Services

Weekday Vespers is on Tuesday, December 10th at 6:00 p.m.  We have a weekday Divine Liturgy on Wednesday morning (December 11th) at 9:00 a.m. (Hours at 8:40 AM), and this Friday, December 13th we will sing the Akathist Hymn for the Nativity of Christ at 6:00 p.m.


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Youth Group - December 14th

The December Youth Group meeting is Saturday, December 14th at 2:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Please note that there is only one Youth Group meeting this month.


Other Announcements
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Giving Opportunities

We have several Nativity Fast giving opportunities - Please help donate to Eastside HUB See the list near the containers in the hallway to the Fellowship Hall. Donations can be made online or in the basket for the Veteran’s grocery gift cards. Donations to the Good Samaritan Fund always are welcome and needed. On Sunday, December 15th, Church School children will be soliciting for donations to help provide livestock to families in poverty here in the US and around the globe.


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Confession

As always, fasting seasons are a good time to catch up on confession and get back in the habit if it has dropped off. (Per our bishop and guidelines confession should be on a regular basis, more or less monthly.) Father is available after all Vespers services and the Akathist services as well. He is also available by appointment before those services or at other times during the week.


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Reminder: Volunteers

Please help and join one of our primary volunteer teams: Fellowship Hour, Cleaning, and Service Duty (Candle Room / Usher). Sign-up sheets are on the display case across from the restrooms, outside the fellowship hall. 

Note: It will be assumed everyone is staying on their current teams - new sign-ups will be added to the current teams or extra teams will be added if we have enough volunteers. See Juliana Peck or Madrecita Emilia if you desire to make changes.


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Council Openings

We have an opening for Treasurer and a general Council Member. Each position is for a 3-year term. Serving on the council requires one to be in good standing as defined by our by-laws as well as a blessing from Father. Please see Fr. Dn. James or Ruth Kendall to nominate yourself or another (best to ask Father before nominating another as well.)


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Reminder: Classes

We will have Church School and Foundations Class (Catechism) at 11:30 a.m.  Please allow teachers and children to go first in the fellowship meal line.

All are welcome to Foundations Class. Catechumens should be striving to attend every class. Our high-school aged students are strongly encouraged to attend as well.  Download The Orthodox Way of Life class text book if you have not already.


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Reminder: Communion

Those who partake in communion should line up on the sides, next to the windows. Those in line on the choir side will commune from either chalice (Dn. James or Fr. Silouan). Those on the confession side will go strictly to that side’s chalice (Dn. Nicholas). There are a few who will come up the middle aisle due to age or health related reasons. No one else should. We are aiming to keep the middle aisle free as the “exit.”


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Reminder: Opt-in Email

Father Silouan uses an opt-in email service to send out his communications (such as the Weekend Update) to the parish.  This is a different service than the parish Listserv.

To sign up, click on “The Latest” in the menu above.  Then click on "Email Signup" which is the first item in the drop-down menu.


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Reminder: Online Tithes & Offerings

Don’t forget you can give tithes and offerings online, including designated funds. There are two ways to do this.  First, you can use the green "Give" button on Father Silouan's "Weekend Update" emails.  Second, you can use the menu on this page.  Click on "The Latest," then click on "Church Connect."  Finally click on the blue "Give Online" button.


Reader Schedule

 

Date Matins Epistle
Dec 15 Skomorucha Bergwall
Dec 22 Plumley Wales
Dec 29 Skomorucha Stultz

 

Service Schedule

 

Date Coffee Hour Service Duty Church Cleaners
Dec 8

Em. Peck / Jac. Peck/ Tice / David P. / Jul. Peck / A. Herninko

Telep / Baldychev

D. Peck / Long Sisters / Crozier

Dec 15

Riley / Hojnicki / Neal / Roberts / Flynn / Reed

Bunitsky / Morjana Clause / Whalen
Dec 22

Long / Hill / Stoyanova / Kiflemariam

Riley / Riley Skomorucha / Plummer
Dec 29

M. Tsegay / B. Gabriel / Didonato / Plumley / Plummer

Stultz / Najemy S. Peck

 

Adult Altar Servers

 

Date Servers
Dec 15 Davis / Moses
Dec 22 Burns / Davis
Dec 29 Dorsey / Moses
Jan 5 Bergwall / Burns
Jan 12 Davis / Dorsey
Jan 19 Bergwall - Moses
Jan 26 Burns - Dorsey

 

News from the Orthodox Church in America

Thursday, 12 Dec 2024

His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon to present at the OCA Office of Pastoral Li...
19 hours ago

Clergy Wives Zoom retreat “On Pain and Suffering” to be held December 14
12 Dec 2024 at 2:04am


Wednesday, 11 Dec 2024

OCA to Take Third Annual Collection for the Diocese of Alaska
11 Dec 2024 at 4:07am


Tuesday, 10 Dec 2024

Metropolitan Tikhon sends letter of support to Patriarch John X
10 Dec 2024 at 3:57pm


Monday, 9 Dec 2024

His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon Celebrates Feast of St. Nicholas the Wonder...
9 Dec 2024 at 6:34am


Sunday, 8 Dec 2024

The Holy Synod of Bishops Announces the Upcoming Retirement of His Eminence A...
8 Dec 2024 at 6:35am


Saturday, 7 Dec 2024

Metropolitan Tikhon Announces Significant Leadership Appointments in the New ...
7 Dec 2024 at 5:29am


Tuesday, 26 Nov 2024

Matushka Olga’s Relics Uncovered in Kwethluk, AK
26 Nov 2024 at 9:37am


Monday, 25 Nov 2024



Friday, 15 Nov 2024

Five Retreats for Widows of Clergy Available Online
15 Nov 2024 at 4:17pm


A Look Ahead
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This Week's Schedule

Tuesday, December 10th

Weekday Vespers

at 6:00 p.m.

Men's Group

at 6:45 p.m.

 

Wednesday, December 11th

Hours

at 8:40 a.m.

Weekday Divine Liturgy

at 9:00 a.m.

 

Thursday, December 12th

Parish Council

at 6:30 p.m.

 

Friday, December 13th

Akathist for the Nativity of Our Lord

at 6:00 p.m.

 

Saturday, December 14th

Youth Group

at 2:30 p.m.

†††

Great Vespers

(livestreamed)

at 5:00 p.m.

followed by

Confessions

 

Sunday, December 15th

Matins

at 8:00 a.m.

Divine Liturgy

at 9:00 a.m.

(livestreamed)

followed by

Fellowship

followed by

Church School

and

Foundations Class

†††

Faith, Hope and Love Caroling

at 3:00 p.m.

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Important Dates

Wednesday, December 25th

Great Feast: Nativity of our

Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

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The Mission of The Orthodox Church in America, the local autocephalous Orthodox Christian Church, is to be faithful in fulfilling the commandment of Christ to “Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…”

Learn More >

St. Michael's is part of the Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania, which is presided over by The Most Reverend Mark (Maymon), Archbishop of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania. Our mission is bringing the joy of Christ's resurrection to those who have never heard the Good News, and to strengthen and encourage the faithful who reside within Wilmington and the local area. 

More Information >

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The Holy Scripture is a collection of books written over multiple centuries by those inspired by God to do so. It is the primary witness to the Orthodox Christian faith, within Holy Tradition and often described as its highest point. It was written by the prophets and apostles in human language, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and collected, edited, and canonized by the Church.

Daily Readings >

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Holiness or sainthood is a gift (charisma) given by God to man, through the Holy Spirit. Man's effort to become a participant in the life of divine holiness is indispensable, but sanctification itself is the work of the Holy Trinity, especially through the sanctifying power of Jesus Christ, who was incarnate, suffered crucifixion, and rose from the dead, in order to lead us to the life of holiness, through the communion with the Holy Spirit.

Today's Saints >

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St. Michael the Archangel Orthodox Church
Wilmington, Delaware
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