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St. Basil's Vesperal Liturgy
After the Liturgy on the Feast of the Circumcision of Our Lord and St. Basil, a loaf of bread is blessed with holy water, cut and distributed to the faithful.
A golden coin has been baked into the bread. St. Basil, during his lifetime, helped the poor by giving them bread with coins baked inside.
Justin found the coin in his slice of bread. It is a great honor to find the coin and it means a year of blessings.
God gives blessings so they can be used to help those less fortunate. Justin will have to find a way this year to share these blessings with the poor.
New Year's Celebration
This is the fourth year we have had a New Years party and the third year with a live band. Over 100 adults and children attended. This was the largest attendance so far.
Before the main meal of prime rib, hors d'oeuvres of barbequed meat balls, shrimp and chicken wings were served.
Pete our MD (meat distributor) is sharpening his knife so he can serve the prime rib which he cooked.
Dinner is served. Here Fr. Andrew is getting second helpings while Luba is looking on to make sure all are well fed.
The band is warming up with Katy on the violin, Brian doing vocal, Mark on drums, Nick on piano, George and Pete on guitar, Paul on harmonica and Caye on tamborine.
Fr. Andrew and Deacon Andrew (The Andrew Brothers) and singing, Bye Bye Love.
The brass section (The Hornetts) are showing off their cool shirts.
The brass section, Sara, Joan, Nick , Madeline, Alexander and Emma are rockin!
The Shepard and the Sheepetts from St. Peter and Paul are Rocking Around The Clock.
Time for Karaoke. YMCA is by sung by Pearl with back up singers from SS Peter and Paul. Caye is conducting.
Next years singers warming up.
Christmas Eve Dinner And Vigil Service
For three days we did not have heat in the church and only one circuit of electricity working after a wind storm downed the power lines. Just before the Holy supper when we had prepared to eat in the cold, the Electric company sent workers to fix the power lines. We we able to heat the Church and have lighting for the Holy Supper and Vigil service. Fr. Andrew thanked the men for coming at the nick of time.
Christmas Eve Dinner And Vigil Service
This is the twelfth year for our holy supper at St.Luke . With over 50 in attendance the dinner is catching on. Fr. Andrew explained that this tradition comes out of Eastern Europe and symbolizes an Old Testament Sadder meal.
Fr. Andrew is anointing each attendee with honey with the words: Let us love one another as the bee love the honey.
Proto Deacon Andrew is giving everyone a sip of wine which was blessed at the beginning of the ceremony.
All are now enjoying the many different foods which must not have any meat or dairy products since we are still fasting before the Nativity Vigil. For more information on the Holy Supper see Customs and Traditions under Parish Info.
This is the Litya tray with five loaves of specially baked sweet bread call Artos and wheat, wine and oil. They will be blessed during the Nativity Vigil service. They are symbols of God's abundant blessings and Christ's feeding of the five thousand.
Church School Hosts Christmas Program
The church school Christmas program this year was about the Icon of the Nativity. The children acted out each section of the Icon. Here we see the angels from on high singing Glory to God in the highest.
Now we see shepherds and the animals which gathered around the manger.
This was the finale with Proto deacon Andrew chanting verses the from the Nativity Vigil - God is with Us!
Saint Nicholas Visits The Garden Center
St. Luke has had a ministry to the mentally challenged for 9 years. Every first Monday of the month Fr. Andrew leads a service and fellowship at the Garden Center in Burbank Illinois. Parishioners are always invited to attend and help out. This month St. Nicholas paid a visit.
After Fr. Andrew told a story about St. Nicholas, Golden coins filled with chocolate were given out to remember how St. Nicholas helped the three poor sisters with their dowry.
The clients at the faculty are always happy to see St. Nicolas, this year played by Sub deacon John, on our December Visit. For more information about the ministry look under Ministry's Garden center.
Children's Sermon and Visit From Saint Nicholas
Fr. Anthony gave the children's sermon today. He told the story about how St. Nicholas gave away his wealth to the poor especially to three poor young girls who did not have a dowry. As he ended the story a very special visitor entered St. Lukes.
Every year on the first week of December St. Nicholas pays a visit. He gave the children golden coins which were made of chocolate and then visited the church school class rooms and gave out gifts. He reminded the children that they should help the poor and that giving was far better than receiving.