Newsletter January 10, 2025

Baptizing the World, Part One

St. John the Baptist called for the baptism of repentance, which was a sign of a change in the baptized person’s behavior and taking a new path, well pleasing to God and in accordance with the divine commandments. Would the Baptist have called for this water baptism if this practice was unknown and unfamiliar to his contemporaries? Christ came and accepted John’s baptism, to teach us “to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15). He also asked his disciples to baptize those to whom they preached in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).

Baptism by water was no longer a mere sign, but became, in Christ, a spiritual rebirth, divine sonship for the baptized, forgiveness of sins, a garment of incorruption, etc. It was no longer a symbol or image of a deeper meaning, but a real act bearing divine grace. In other words, Christianity adopted a familiar practice, gave it a completely new meaning, and arranged a special ritual for its completion, commensurate with the faith.

Read the entire article: https://www.antiochian.org/regulararticle/2300

In this time after the Feast of Theophany and before Great Lent (1/6 – 3/2) we bring the Holy Water newly blessed during Theophany services to each of our homes and celebrate the service of the Theophany Home Blessing. I would love to celebrate it at everyone’s home (catechumens included!) this year.

As I am still working a secular job, weekday evenings are the prefered time. Please contact me via phone or email to schedule a time. Also, while I appreciate everyone’s hospitality, I would ask that there be no food. We can celebrate the service and then have a visit over a cup of tea (or other refreshment).

For the celebration of the service, I simply need a small space near your icons. I will bring everything required with me. If you would like to light a candle and carry it around during the blessing that would be great. The service is simple: we will say the few prayers and a litany, and then we will walk through the home and bless each room with the Holy Water.

Genesis Class
St James Church
Saturdays 9:30am–11:00am
January 18–April 5, 2025

We will begin with a brief review of what we covered in the fall 2024 course (Genesis 1–11). We will then turn our attention to the patriarchs & matriarchs (Genesis 12–30) and the Joseph narrative (Genesis 31-50).

Per usual, people who are interested in participating in this class should email me so I can send them PDFs of the course readings (JEL1451@gmail.com). All are welcome.

Please remember that our full calendar continues to be available at our parish web site. Here is a link:
https://stjfc.org/Pages/Calendar/calendar.php

Full schedule:
https://stjfc.org/Pages/Ministries/Prosphora/Docs/prosphora sched 2025 web.pdf

Full schedule:
https://stjfc.org/Pages/Ministries/Altar/Docs/epistle readers for 2025.pdf

Epistle: ST. PAUL’S LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS 4:7-13

BRETHREN, grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it is said, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” (in saying, “He ascended, ” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is he who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

Gospel: MATTHEW 4:12-17

At that time, when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth he went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

The God of the Unexpected

Fr. Lawrence Farley

The point is this: our God is a God of the unexpected. That is what the Hebrew Scriptures mean when they describe Him as “the living God”—that is, He is a God who freely acts, who chooses what He will do in the earth and how He will respond to us. He is not the God of the Deists who having made the world sits back and simply watches how things will unfold. The living God works in our midst in the realm of history. In the words of the Psalmist, “He does whatever He pleases in heaven or on earth” (Psalm 115:3). And a lot of what He does is unexpected.

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What does all this mean for us today? Simply that the God with whom we have to do is a God of the unexpected. He may answer our prayers as we hope and expect—or He may not. He may choose do something which we did not and could never foresee, but Paul has taught us that whatever He does works together with all things for our good (Romans 8:28). What is required of us is humility, the humility to accept all that comes from God’s hand without rebelling against it.

Read the entire article: https://catalog.obitel-minsk.com/blog/2024/12/father-nathanael-of-pskov-pechersk-monastery