Living Spiritually in a Chaotic World
Discovering Prayer at the Heart of Daily Life

What:
An Advent Retreat

Who:
With Fr. Christopher (Savage)
monk of New Skete Monastery, Cambridge, New York

Where:
St. Nicholas Orthodox Church
2210 S.W. Dolph Court / www.stnicholaspdx.org

When:
Friday, December 4th at 7:00 – 8:30 pm
Saturday, December 5th from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm

Cost:
Suggested donation: $10 (includes Lenten lunch)

We will investigate the chaos that is part of human experience from the very beginning, but which has the possibility of being used creatively in a manner that transforms. A truly contemplative spirituality will have to deal with that, regardless whether one is a monk or a lay person. Biblical themes, patristic wisdom and iconography will be used to explore the topic, with an introduction to formal practices that help provide a practical understanding of unceasing prayer.

Third Sunday of The Nativity Fast

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times didst give the law
In cloud and majesty, and awe.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse’s stem,
From every foe deliver them
That trust Thy mighty power to save
And give them victory o’er the grave.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

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Today: Matins, Liturgy, Classes, Pot-Luck Brunch; Presentation — “Mt. Athos, A Personal Journey”

Tuesday: 6:00 pm Vespers, Quietude & Confessions

Thursday: 6:00 pm Vespers; 7:00 pm Choir

Friday: 7:00 pm Advent Retreat w/ Fr. Christopher from New Skete — “A Rule of Prayer, Reading and Quietude”

Saturday: 9:30 am Advent Retreat Continues; 6:00 pm Vespers, Litia & Reception

Sunday: 8:30 am Matins; 9:30 am Liturgy & Festal Brunch

We will have special receptacles for HUGS beginning next Sunday. Hats, undies, gloves and socks for those in need will be collected through Christmas weekend.

First Sunday of The Nativity Fast

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.

O come, O Wisdom from on high,
Who orders all things mightily,
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

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The Nativity Fast begins today, in preparation for witnessing the Incarnation of the Lord. Fr. Thomas Hopko has a good overview of the whole Nativity season on Ancient Faith Radio: http://ancientfaith.com/podcasts/hopko/the_nativity_fast

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Today: Matins, Liturgy, Classes, Brunch, BP Screening; 2:00 pm IOCC Metro Committee; 3:00 pm St. Francis Dining Hall (IOCC Advent offering boxes will be available after Liturgy today.)

Monday: 7:15 pm Church History Class

Tuesday: 6:00 pm Vespers & Advent Quietude

Thursday: 6:00 pm Vespers; 7:00 pm Choir

Friday: 6:00 pm Festal Vesperal Divine Liturgy (Entrance of the Theotokos)

Saturday: 5:00 pm Inquirers’ Class; 6:00 pm Vespers

Sunday: 8:45 am Baptism; 9:30 am Liturgy, Classes, Brunch, Parish Council

Looking Ahead:
Wednesday 11/25: 7:00 pm Akathist of Thanksgiving

Thursday, 11/26: 9:30 am Thanksgiving Day Divine Liturgy

Saturday, 11/28 9:00 am Parish-Wide Work Party

Sunday, 11/29 Following Liturgy: Presentation — “Mt. Athos, A Personal Journey”

Friday & Saturday, 12/4 & 5: Advent Retreat w/ Fr. Christopher from New Skete — “A Rule of Prayer, Reading and Quietude”

Saturday: 12/5: 6:00 pm St. Nicholas Festal Vespers & Reception

Sunday: 12/6: St. Nicholas Festal Divine Liturgy & Brunch
(HUGS Christmas Collection begins)

Today: 8:30 am Matins; 9:30 am Liturgy, Classes & Special IOCC Benefit Italian Luncheon

Tuesday: 6:00 pm Vespers

Thursday: 6:00 pm Vespers & Choir

Saturday: 5:00 pm Inquirers’ Class; 6:00 pm Vespers; 7:00 pm Friday Fellowship

Sunday: 8:30 am Matins; 9:30 am Liturgy, Classes & Brunch

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The Synaxis of the Chief of the Heavenly Hosts, Archangel Michael (Who is Like God?) and the Other Heavenly Bodiless Powers: Archangels Gabriel (The Man of God), Raphael (The Healing of God), Uriel (The Fire of God), Selaphiel, Jehudiel, Barachiel, and Jeremiel (the names of the latter four are not found in the Bible) was established at the beginning of the fourth century at the Council of Laodicea, which met mid-4th century. The 35th Canon of the Council of Laodicea condemned and denounced as heretical the worship of angels as gods and rulers of the world, but affirmed their proper veneration. They are mentioned over 250 times in the Bible.

…And of all things, visible and invisible… (Nicene Symbol of Faith) The Bodiless Powers of Heaven (and Below) are spiritual but not supernatural. God alone is super-natural. Angelic (and Demonic) Powers are part of creation and therefore of nature, i.e., “natural.”

The Choirs of the Bodiless Powers of Heaven (According to Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite):

First Choir which has no direct dealings with humans, but are absorbed in unending love and adoration of God:
Seraphim (Isaiah 6:2-6)
Cherubim (Ezekiel 1:10)
Thrones (Colossians 1:16)

Second Choir (which are described as stewards and governors of space, stars, planets):
Dominions (Ephesians 1:21)
Virtues /Authorities (1 Corinthians 15:26)
Powers (Ephesians (1:21)

Third Choir (which have at least some level of interaction with humans and animals):
Principalities (Romans 8:38 & Ephesians 1:21)
Archangels (1 Thessalonians 4:16 & Jude 9)
Angels (passim throughout the Bible)

St. John of Damascus wrote that the angels are intelligent essences in perpetual motion, bodiless, ministering to God, immortal in nature, endowed with free will, having power either to abide or to progress in goodness or to turn towards evil. (Exposition of the Orthodox Faith, Book 2)

Today: Matins, Divine Liturgy, Classes, Brunch

Monday: 7:15 pm Church History Class

Tuesday: 6:00 pm Vespers

Thursday: 6:00 pm Vespers; 7:00 pm Choir

Saturday: 4:00 St. Elizabeth Ministry POLST / Advance Directive Workshop; 5:00 pm Inquirers’ Class; 6:00 pm Vespers & Panikhida

Sunday: 8:30 am Matins; 9:30 am Divine Liturgy, Classes, Brunch

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Listen to theologian Jaroslav Pelikan on NPR’s Speaking of Faith: http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/2009/pelikan/index.shtml

For many modern Americans, the very idea of reciting an unchanging creed, composed centuries ago, is troublesome. But, Jaroslav Pelikan, who died in 2006, was a scholar who devoted his life to exploring the vitality of ancient theology and creeds. He insisted that even modern pluralists need strong statements of belief.

Dr. Pelikan was a great scholar of church history — one of his first major works was the translation of the entire Collected Works of Martin Luther in English. Late in life, he converted to Eastern Orthodoxy.

There is another interview with him posted here: http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/pelikan/