Weekly Update - Dec 28
+
PEACE AND GRACE
Commemoration of the Martyrdom of St. Barnabas, One of the Seventy Apostles (Dec 30 / Kiak 21)
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:13-14
SERVICES THIS WEEK
Tuesday:
Vespers Prayer: 7:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. (join Zoom here)
Nativity Series (Catholic Epistles): 8:00 p.m. (join Zoom here)
Wednesday:
Vespers Prayer: 7:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. (join Zoom here)
Thursday:
Vespers Prayer: 7:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. (join Zoom here)
Friday:
Vespers Prayer: 7:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. (join Zoom here)
Saturday:
Vespers Raising of Incense Prayers: 5:30 p.m.
Kiahk Praises: 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sunday:
Outdoor Divine Liturgy: 8:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. (registration required)
Sunday School: 12:00 p.m. - 12:45 p.m. (online)
Meeting with Metropolitan Serapion: 6:00 p.m. (register here)
Monday:
Vespers Prayer: 7:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. (join Zoom here)
Preparation for Baptism (Catechism) Class: 8:00 p.m. (online)
NATIVITY FAST STARTED NOV 25
November 25th marked the beginning of the fast of the Nativity (the Advent) in our Coptic Church. We implore our Lord, who completed our salvation by coming down to redeem us from the bondage of sin, to help us to do what is pleasing in His sight during this holy fast and through all the days of our lives. To benefit from this holy time, we have mailed you a famous book titled “On the Incarnation”. Please read this book by St. Athanasius which is a tradition among many to read during the Nativity Fast.
DEC 29 || Nativity Series
We excitedly announce our third annual spiritual speaker series (this year will be on Zoom). This series of six talks will dive into the catholic (universal) epistles of the New Testament. Various guest speakers from among the blessed servants of St. Basil’s will be giving the talks. Click here to join us at 8:00 PM Tuesday nights on this spiritual journey beginning Tuesday, December 1st!
JAN 3 || ONLINE MEETINGS WITH OUR METROPLITAN AND BISHOPS
Register to meet with our Metropolitan and bishops through a Zoom meeting for four consecutive Sunday evenings (December 13th, 20th, 27th and January 3rd). This series is sponsored by all the American Coptic Orthodox parishes in our Diocese. The meetings will start at 6 pm, and you must register in advance by clicking here.
December 13th - H.G. Bishop Abraham - "God (is still) with us"
December 20th - H.G. Bishop Kyrillos - The Theotokias of the Midnight Praise
December 27th - H.G. Bishop Suriel - Topic TBD
January 3rd - H.E. Metropolitan Serapion - Meditation on 2nd Corinthians 4:7-18
JAN 4 || PREPARATION FOR BAPTISM (CATECHISM) CLASSES
Join us on ONLINE on Monday nights at 8:00 PM for Baptism preparation classes. These classes are open for:
Anyone interested in becoming members of the Coptic Orthodox Church,
Those recently baptized (within the last few years), or
Simply anyone else seeking to better understand the basics of the Christian Faith and History.
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. To register for this class, please contact Fr. Michael at 949-378-0350 or FrMichaelMaximous@gmail.com .
ST. ATHANASIUS AND ST. CYRIL THEOLOGICAL SCHOOL (ACTS)
Interested in advancing in Church studies? Consider signing up for a master’s degree program with ACTS! Don’t miss out on the spring semester, apply today! The affordable, entirely online programs are tailored to fit your needs. Click here to learn more about the programs!
OUTDOOR LITURGIES
The State of California has designated San Diego County in the “Purple Tier” which means there have been spikes in Covid-19 infections in the region. Consequently, we will be transitioning back to outdoor liturgies starting Sunday (November 15th). We pray that this temporary situation is short lived and we can return back inside the church soon. Of course, outdoor liturgies will be dependent on the weather (rain, cold, etc..). Updates will be texted to all the beloved Congregation members.
Please continue to register for liturgies as we have been doing for the last few months.
If you would like the blessing of coming early to help set up the tents and chairs, please arrive at 7:45.
Thank you all for your patience and resilience during this process!
Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact Fr. Michael at 949-378-0350.
PROFESSIONAL NETWORK
As a reminder, the Professionals LinkedIn group is an easy way to connect and network with fellow members of our community.
COVID-19 HARDSHIP
If you or anyone you know is suffering from hardships related to this virus, or any distress at all, please contact Fr. Michael at 949-378-0350 or FrMichaelMaximous@gmail.com.
Additionally, the servants of St. Basil have put together a list of spiritual, financial, educational, and employment resources that you may find helpful during the COVID-19. We hope that it is helpful. You can download the PDF here.
ST. BASIL WELCOME PORTAL
Do you know about our Welcome Portal? You can use it to register as a member, update existing contact information, volunteer for a church service, make a donation, contact Father Michael, or provide private comments/questions/suggestions. Try it out:
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.