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PEACE AND GRACE
The Martyrdom of St. Barnabas, One of the Seventy Apostles (December 24, 2023 / Kiak 14, 1740)
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for
“God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”1 Peter 5:5
SERVICES THIS WEEK
Monday:
Preparation for Baptism Class: 8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. (Zoom Meeting)
Tuesday:
Midnight Praise: (College Winter Break)
Wednesday:
Divine Liturgy: 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
College Women’s Book Club: (College Winter Break)
Thursday:
Women’s Christmas Fellowship Night: 6:00 p.m. (at St. Basil’s)
College Coptic Club Meeting: No Meeting (College Winter Break)!
Friday:
Bible Study: 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. - Nativity Series (Final Talk) with Fr. Kyrillos Ibrahim -Sermon on the Mount Matt. Ch. 7
Saturday:
Saturday Youth Camp:
Elementary School Bible Study & Activities: 5:00 pm - 7:00 p.m.
Nativity Hymn Lessons 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Vespers Raising of Incense: 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Kiahk (Nativity) Praises 8:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Sunday:
Divine Liturgy: 8:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m. (With Bishop Kyrillos)
Agape Meal immediately after the liturgy
Beginner & Intermediate Hymn Classes: 11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Sunday School Classes: 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Congratulations to Stephan Castro!
Congratulations to Stephan Castro for joining the Coptic Orthodox Church. May the Lord Jesus Christ bless your journey towards unity with the Father through the guidance of His Holy Spirit!
Visit of Bishop Kyrillos This Sunday!
His Grace Bishop Kyrillos will be visiting St. Basil’s on Sunday, December 24, 2023. Be sure to attend to receive his blessings and to meet him after the liturgy.
If you have a son whom you with to receive the honor and blessing of being ordained a chanter-deacon in the church (or if you are an adult who wishes to do so), please read the following.
If there is a child, they need to be a at least 6 or 7 years old and able to stand by themselves in a focused manner.
Be committed to bringing the child to church on Sunday and on time.
Provide the name of the child (or adult) to Fr. Michael Maximous (949-378-0350) by Wednesday, 12/20/23. At a minimum, the child/adult should know the following four hymns. Click Here to practice them in English. If they know them in Coptic, that would be great too!
Alleluia, This Is The Day
Amen Amen Amen, Your Death O Lord
May Their Holy Blessings
As It Was
Come to Vespers on 12/23/23 to be tested after Vespers
If you have a daughter that wishes to be blessed as a deaconess, please observe the above and bring the child prior to the end of matins on 12/24/23 (prior to 8:15 AM). Deaconesses are blessed first.
St. Basil’s Bible Study: Friday Nights (7-8:30pm)
Nativity Series (Final Talk) -the Sermon on the Mount
During the Nativity Fast, we will explore the greatest sermon ever given: The Sermon on the Mount (Mattew 5-7). There will be guest speakers to please come in person!
Dec. 21 | St. Basil’s Women’s Christmas Fellowship Night!
Mark the date! December 21, 2023 (6:00 PM) at St Basil’s Church! There will be food, fellowship, and a spiritual talk! Also, the very popular secret Santa activity will return this year too!
Please don’t forget:
To sign up for the Potluck by Clicking Here
To wear your ugly Christmas sweater
To bring a $15-$20 gift for the gift exchange
Mark your calendars for 2:00PM - 6:00 PM , on January 14th for St. Basil’s annual banquet in celebration of St. Basil’s annual commemoration for a wonderful night with family and friends! Tickets are available at St. Basil’s website by clicking here!
This will be a formal dinner with presentations on the past accomplishments of our church and goals for the future. There will also be fundraising events such as a silent auction and raffle giveaways and other presentations! Contact Silvia Guirguis for more information at (858) 248-0708.
Consider donating/preparing items for the silent auction, such as:
Gift Baskets: either prepare them or sponsor the preparation of a basket!
Service Vouchers: tutoring, limousine rides, boat rides, fishing, babysitting, etc.
Entertainment tickets: sports events, movies, etc.
Black Friday items: iPads, computers, etc.
Got an old car you are thinking of selling? Why not have it be a highlight of the auction?
AGAPE MEAL AFTER THE LITURGY!
Hello St. Basil’s family! We’re happy to continue our weekly Agape meal, but we can’t do it without your help!
You can help in the following ways:
Sign up to bring food (Please refrain from excessive sweets).
Sign up for the coffee cart: set up and clean up the coffee cart on Sunday morning.
Hall clean up following the Agape meal.
Please CLICK HERE to sign up.
We also need help with coffee so please sign up!
God bless your efforts!
Used Clothing Drive!
Keeping in mind these colder evenings, we will be gathering some used (but usable) blankets, jackets, socks and other clothing that might be lonely and unused in the closet. A bin is located on the first floor next to the stairs until January. We will be distributing these to our brothers and sisters who have need of them on the streets this season. May God bless you all. (If the bin is full, kindly place your item on the floor next to the bin.)
PREPARATION FOR BAPTISM (CATECHISM) CLASSES
Join us on ONLINE on Monday nights at 8:00 PM for Baptism preparation classes. Visit www.stbasil.net/baptism for more information. 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.
DIOCESE EVENTS
PROFESSIONAL NETWORK
As a reminder, the Professionals LinkedIn group is an easy way to connect and network with fellow members of our community.
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 and visit our Welcome Portal.
FAMILY HOME VISITS
Father Michael is offering home visits for anyone who is interested. It’s a wonderful practice to have a priest visit your home at least once a year. Please reach out to him directly to schedule a visit!
Phone: 949-378-0350
Email: FrMichael@stbasil.net
St. Basil’s YouTube Channel
Have you subscribed to St. Basil’s YouTube Channel yet? if not, do so soon! Check out liturgies, important talks and more is to come!
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.