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Christ Is Born - Glorify Him

Nativity Troparion: Your nativity, O Christ our God, has shone to the world the Light of Wisdom! For by it, those who worshipped the stars, were taught by a star to adore You, the Sun of Righteousness, and to know You, the Orient from on high. O Lord, glory to You!

Christ Is Born - Glorify Him

Christmas Eve Supper And Vigil Service

St. Luke Parish held it's annual 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 which began the Holy Supper.

One of our young ladies 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.

The parishioners sang the Troparion and Kontakion for the feast of the Nativity.

Place setting were prepared with honey, galic and wine. Each of these are symbolic. Honey is placed on the forehead of everyone with the words, "May we all love one another as the bee loves honey." After this everyone takes a piece of garlic and ate it saying,"May God Spare us from all Evil."

Following the service everyone enjoyed the lenten meal and fellowship.

The evening culminated in the Christmas Vigil Service.

St. Luke's Annual Christmas Pageant

The Church School children presented a Christmas program after Liturgy. The congregation sang Christmas songs while the children recreated the story of Christmas. Dressed as Mary and Joseph, Jennifer and James sat near Baby Jesus while a flock of angels and the guiding star looked on.

All the children sang to Saint Nicholas and they presented him with gifts for PASS. (Pregnancy Aid for the South Suburbs).

Saint Nicholas visited the classrooms and distributed gifts to all the children.

Take another close look at Saint Nicholas. Does he look familiar? He must be closely related to Father Andrew.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

As part of their committment of service to the parish, this Sunday following Liturgy our youth group began decorating the church for Christmas. Here we see them putting up the Christmas Tree. Afterwards refreshments and fellowship were shared.

Children's Sermon on St. Nicholas

The Children's sermon this month was about St. Nicholas. Fr. Andrew has a book of twenty stories about St. Nicholas. Each year he tells one of the stories to the children to celebrate the feast of St. Nicholas. This year he told the story about how St. Nicholas defended persecuted Christians.