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As Many As Have Been Baptised Into Christ
With the Nativity upon us and the birth of the Infant Jesus, it was fitting that we end 2003 with a baptism. During the Liturgy today, young Jacob was baptised into Christ. God Grant Him Many Years!
Christ Is Born! Glorify Him
We at St. Luke would like to take this opportunity to wish each and everyone a happy and blessed Christmas. Let us all rejoice as God has given us the greatest gift of all. He has given us his only begotten Son that he might save us.
Nativity Eve Lenten Holy Supper
Parishioners who attended the Nativity Eve Lenten Holy Supper were surprised with a new addition on the front lawn. A large icon of the nativity was placed there by Father Andrew.
It has become our custom at St. Luke to have a Lenten Holy Supper on the Eve of the Nativity. This supper is pot luck style with the parishioners bringing different dishes that are non meat and non dairy. Tradition is that there should be twelve different dishes which is symbolic of the tweleve apostles and it should be eaten without pepper or knives. Pepper symbolizes arguments and knives the cutting of friendships. The parishioners gathered by candlelight for a short prayer service performed by Father Andrew and Father Howard which begans the Holy Supper.
One of the children read the following passage from Matthew 2: 1-12. Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him." When Herod the king heard this , he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priest and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:
'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
Are not the least among the rulers of Judah,
For out of you shall come a Ruler
Who will shepherd My people Israel.'"
Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also." When they heard the King, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshipped Him. And when they ahd opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.
Next the Troparion and the Kontakion for the day were sung and followed by a prayer. The priests then placed honey on the forehead of everyone with the words, "May we all love one another as the bee loves honey."
Following this wine was shared by all saying, "Unite us in Faith and Love."
The priests then distributed bread with honey to the parishioners with the words, "Let us love one another." Next everyone takes a piece of garlic and eats it saying,"May God Spare us from all Evil."
After a closing prayer, the service was concluded and all shared in the prepared feast.
To view articles from the Lemont Reporter/Met, "Supper marks beginning of Christmas" please click here
2003 Christmas Pagent
Our annual Christmas pagent got underway with members of our choir posing as carolers singing various Christmas Songs.
As the choir sang "Come Little Children", our little angels made their entrance and set up for their skit.
Our young actors had a chance to perform for us in full costume.
Everyone had a role to play.
Following the skit, St. Nicholas was introduced by Father Andrew and made his appearance.
While St. Nicholas still presented the children with gifts of candy canes, this year the children brought gifts of soup for St. Nicholas to give to those less fortunate.
While St. Nicholas visited with the children, two of our youth who are accomplished fiddlers played the "Carol of the Bells" for us.
A large quantity of soup was collected and will be presented to a local foood pantry.
Also during the festivities, members of our youth organization sponsored a bake sale. The proceeds from the sale will be given to support Father Andrew's upcoming mission to India. Congratulations go out to all those who worked so hard to present such a wonderful Christmas pagent
New Lights For St. Luke
In order to correct the problem with not enough lighting on the front stairs, a pair of light fixtures were installed on each side of the front doors. These were donated by one of our parishioners as a Christmas present. Below we can see a close up of one of the lights. They were selected white to stay consistant with the other light fixtures on the building and the shape of the shade is a match with the shape of the windows on the building.
Children's Sermon On St. Nicholas
Father Andrew gave the children a series of clues and asked them who he was talking about. It didn't take long before the children got the answer, St. Nicholas. Father Andrew spoke to them about the life of St. Nicholas and how generous he was with what he had.
Next Father Andrew had each child remove one shoe and into it he put a bag of golden chocolate coins to remind them of St. Nicholas. He also told them that St. Nicholas would visit on the day of the Church School Christmas Program and that they should each bring cans of soup that St. Nicholas would be collecting for the poor.