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PEACE AND GRACE!
Commemoration of the The Commemoration of St. Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa. (December 6/ Hator 26)
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“But as the soul makes progress, and by a greater and more perfect concentration comes to appreciate what the knowledge of truth is, the more it approaches this vision, and so much the more does it see that the divine nature is invisible. It thus leaves all surface appearances, not only those that can be grasped by the senses but also those that the mind itself seems to see, and it keeps on going deeper until by the operation of the spirit it penetrates the invisible and incomprehensible, and it is there that it sees God. The true vision and the true knowledge of what we seek consists precisely in not seeing, in an awareness that our goal transcends all knowledge and is everywhere cut off from us by the darkness of incomprehensibility. Thus that profound evangelist, John, who penetrated into this luminous darkness, tells us that no man hath seen God at any time (John 1:18), teaching us by this negation that no man - indeed, no created intellect - can attain knowledge of God..”
Saint Gregory of Nyssa
SERVICES & EVENTS THIS WEEK
Wednesday:
Morning Liturgy: 6:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.
FOCUS San Diego: 3:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Saturday:
Children’s Hymns Class: 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Vespers: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Preparation for Baptism (Catuchemen) Class: 6:30 p.m.
Sunday:
Divine Liturgy: 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m
NATIVITY FAST
November 26th marked the beginning of the fast of the Nativity (the Advent) in our Coptic Church. Fasting is not just about changing ingredients; it should be a real spiritual discipline with goals. You are encouraged to take the discipline seriously and to consult with your spiritual father for an appropriate prescription for your fasting period, as well as what spiritual disciplines to partake of during this blessed time. For more information on how and why we fast before nativity, click here.
THE NATIVITY SERIES! (FRIDAY DEC 6)
We excitedly announce our second annual spiritual speaker series. This series of 5 talks examines different perspectives of the Incarnation of Christ and the importance in our lives. Join us on this spiritual journey beginning THIS Friday with Fr. Michael Maximous at 7pm at St. Basil. Food will be served!
DECEMBER 7 || PREPARATION FOR BAPTISM (CATUCHEMEN) CLASSES
Come join us on Saturday nights at 6:30 PM (after the Vespers Prayers) for Baptism preparation classes. These classes are for those interested in becoming members of the Coptic Orthodox Church, for those recently baptized (within the last few years), or simply for anyone else seeking to better understand the basics of the Christian Faith. Together, we will review the importance of baptism and its impact, the Sacraments, the inspiring church history, the Orthodox Creed, the Holy Bible, Orthodox Prayer and Spiritual life, and Church traditions.
Reading material will be provided for those who wish to attend.
COME SEE OUR NEW YOUTH LOUNGE
Thanks to the hard work and efforts of some wonderful and dedicated people (and specifically Ash's sweat and grit), the youth lounge is up and running. Open access at all times for those who want a place to relax, study, or hang out. Take a break at the lounge center, challenge someone to a game of pool or ping pong, or prep for your midterm or final on the conference table. WiFi is also up and running. So if you're a youth, ages 10-95, come over and enjoy the new amenities!
Also, for anyone interested, Coptic Club is still hosting weekly events for all the local San Diego colleges. Please reach out to Julie (818.689.0359) or Bishoy (559.280.2224) for more information.
FAMILY HOME VISITS
Father Michael is offering home visits for anyone who is interested. Please reach out to him directly to schedule a visit.
Phone: 949-378-0350
Email: FrMichaelMaximous@gmail.com
HELP WITH AMAZON SMILE
If you are looking into other ways to support our church, the AmazonSmile Foundation offers an easy way to give while browsing the Amazon shop. It will donate 0.5% of the purchase price from your eligible AmazonSmile purchases, at no cost to you. To shop at AmazonSmile simply go to smile.amazon.com (you may want to add a bookmark to make it easier to return). You will see eligible products marked “Eligible for AmazonSmile donation” on the product detail pages. If you already own an Amazon account you can use the same account for AmazonSmile. On your first visit, please select “Saint Basil American Coptic Orthodox Church” as your charity of choice. Amazon will remember your selection, and then every eligible purchase you make will result in a donation for our church. Thank you so much for your love and support.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Please let us know if you have any upcoming important events for us to share with our fellow congregants. Special events are best shared among our family, and we encourage you to share your special news with us.
FOOD & CLEAN-UP
If you would like to help with food for our weekly Agape Meal please sign up through the links below. For questions please reach out to Erene at erenepasi@gmail.com
Thank you to all who have contributed and helped make the agape meal a special time for everyone. We need as many volunteers as possible to keep the church clean on Sundays after the Divine Liturgy. Please consider this important expression of stewardship.