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On Christmas Day 25 December

George Michael Elchisco (1) In memory of Mother, Father, and Aunt Peg. Julia Guzy (2) In fond memories of sisters-in-law, Mary, and Rita. Sandy Martin (2) Christmas Blessings & health to family and friends. Janice Timko (4) In Blessed & loving memory of my precious parents, Sophia & Peter Monak, and grandparents, Andrew & Julia Millie on the Nativity of Christ Vechnaya Pamyat! Christmas blessings to Norm, Bill, Jean and Family, and to the Greg Twarek Family; In blessed & loving memory of the Millie, Monak, Flewelling, Poggiali, and Timko Families on the Nativity of Christ Vechnaya Pamyat! Christmas blessings to my family: Ruthe, Harry, Dorothy, Lew, Philip, Rebecca and grandchildren Mnohaya Leta! Natalie Twarek (2) Christ is Born! Nativity Blessings to all our family and friends; In loving memory of our parents, grandparents, godparents, and all departed family and friends.

On The Sunday After Christmas 29 December

Marguerite Bird (1) Sandy Martin (1) Natalie Twarek (3) For the health of Norm, Chase, Jim and Linda; Safe travel for family and friends; Special Intention. Laura Kovach (3) For the health of Gary, Mary Ann, and Norm; Safe travel for family; Birthday blessings to Jim.

Attendance and Collection 12/25/2013 Total Attendance: 41: 22 parishioners, 8 children, Inquirers: 0, Guests: 11; Christmas Collection: $1,214.00

12/29/2013 Total Attendance: 33: 22 parishioners, 6 children, Inquirers: 0, Guests: 5; Sunday Collection: $1,036.00; Bookstore: $45.00; Transfer from the Festival Account: $582.00

Let us pray for Our Sick and Shut-ins:

Diane Tryon continuing treatments at home Miss Taylor Wilhite student at Danbury with leukemia recovering at home Michael Monak (nephew of Jean & Basil Glovinsky) walking with a crutch but continuing to heal. Joann Carrender now homebound for healing and restored health (friend of Sandy Martin) Many Marasek receiving chemotherapy for a brain tumor (relative of Anne Butcher) Archpriest Alexander Atty in treatment for cancer on the liver (close friend of Ron Royhab) Archpriest Paul White in Rehab and continuing treatment after a massive stroke (Matushka Tanya Nelkos dad) Stella MacDonald homebound and continuing with out-patient treatment Norman Glovinsky - for healing and restored health; Now at Otterbein, Assisted Living, Room 211 (tel. 419-798-0177) Thomas Parker for healing and restored health (dad of Pam Gartin) Dennis Milano receiving chemotherapy for cancer (prognosis: Good) brother-in-law of Wayne & Heidi Golob Peter Poggiali recuperating from successful surgery to remove brain tumor Rebecca Poggiali for continued healing and restoration of good health Archpriest Emilian Hutynan preparing for hip replacement surgery in early January George Michael Elchisco for healing and restored health Metropolitan Paul of Aleppo kidnapped in Syria; we pray for his safe return Mar Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim Syriac Orthodox Bishop kidnapped in Syria; we pray for his safe return Christi Soski for continued good health Chase Cortez PCHS freshman diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma James Mitnik deployed to Afghanistan Rose Foster preparing for heart surgery (cousin of Natalie Twarek) Louis Escobar recuperating from a mild heart attack (friend and seminary classmate of Father David) Charlie (age 6) in treatment for a heart condition Cindy Mavroidis for healing and restored health Karen Milano Showing signs of consciousness and now responding to the doctors (Heidi Golobs sister) Robert Kane now recuperating at home while under treatment for pulmonary embolisms (dear friend of Father David) William Ward for healing and restored health Demetria Stratigakos recuperating from surgery for healing and restored health (granddaughter of Lois Waggoner) Candice Casimiro sister of a dear friend of Father David for healing

Please remember to update Father David on the condition of those for whom you have requested prayers so that we can keep this prayer list current.

Behold! The Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world!

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Today we Commemorate -

The Martyrs Theopemptus, Theonas, and the Venerable Syncletica

They are all commemorated on 5 January

The Holy Martyrs Theopemptus and Theonas suffered in Nicomedia in the year 303.

St Theopemptus was bishop in Nicomedia in the time of Diocletian. Speaking out against idolatry, he defended the faith in Christ. Because of this, he became one of the first victims of the Diocletian persecution.

The saint refused to obey the emperors order to worship an idol of Apollo. St Theopemptus was thrown into a red-hot furnace, but by the power of God he remained alive. The emperor came to the furnace by night with a detachment of soldiers, and there he saw the saint alive and

praying to God. Ascribing the miracle to magic, Diocletian thought to exhaust St Theopemptus by depriving him of food and drink for twenty-two days, but the martyr was preserved by the will of God.

The emperor brought the famous sorcerer Theonas to overcome Bishop Theopemptus supposed magical power. Theonas prepared a poison for St Theopemptus, put it into a little cake, and offered it to him to eat. The poison did no harm at all to St Theopemptus. Then Theonas tried an even stronger poison on the martyr. Seeing that St Theopemptus remained unharmed, he came to believe in Christ. They threw him into prison together with the holy bishop, who taught and baptized him, giving him the name Synesios (which means full of understanding).

At dawn Diocletian summoned St Theopemptus, and again tried to turn him to pagan impiety. Seeing that the bishop remained firm in his faith, he subjected him to many grievous tortures, after which the saint was beheaded. The holy martyr Theonas refused to offer sacrifice to idols, so he was buried alive in a deep ditch. This occurred at Nicomedia in the year 303.

Saint Syncletica was a native of Alexandria, the daughter of rich parents. She was very beautiful, but from a young age she thought only about things pleasing to God. Loving the purity of virginity, she refused to marry anyone, and spent all her time in fasting and prayer.

After the death of her parents, she distributed her inheritance to the poor. She left the city together with her younger sister, and lived in a crypt for the rest of her life.

News of her ascetic deeds quickly spread throughout the vicinity, and many devout women and girls came to live under her guidance. During the course of her ascetic life the saint zealously instructed the sisters by word and by deed.

In her eightieth year she was struck by an intense and grievous illness. The nun bore her ordeal with true Christian endurance, and the time of her death was revealed to her in a vision. After giving final instructions to her nuns, she surrendered her soul to God around the year 350.

Holy Theophany House Blessings

I will begin House Blessings for anyone who would like me to bless their home or apartment on Tuesday, 7 January, and I would like to complete them by 31 January. Please see me during the coffee hour after the Sunday Divine Liturgy or give me a call at the rectory: 419-798-4591 to make an appointment. Thanks, Fr. David

2014 Annual Meeting First Notice!

On Sunday, 26 January at 12 Noon, Holy Assumption Church will hold its Annual Meeting. All members, 18 years of age and older who have met the minimum canonical requirement of Holy Confession to the rector of the parish and the reception of Holy Communion once in the last twelve months and have met the minimum stewardship requirements are able to participate in this meeting, and are expected to do so. Only members in Good Standing may be nominated and elected to the parish council. Please plan on attending. A light potluck luncheon will take place before the meeting.

Parish Council Meeting Thursday, 9 January at 6:30PM

We will hold the final meeting of the 2013 Parish Council, Tuesday evening at 6:30PM. At this meeting we will do a final review of the year just ended. In addition, we will use this time to wrap up any items that we may have missed at our last meeting and do a review of the Open items and items on the Ten Year Plan. Please mark your calendars for this final gathering of the 2013 Council. We will have a wine and cheese reception at the end of the meeting.

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The members of St. Joseph Catholic Church, 802 Barclay Street, Marblehead, will host a Christmas/Theophany Concert on Sunday, 5 January 2014 at 3PM. Come and sing and listen to the sounds of Christmas as we celebrate the Great Feast of Holy Theophany (Epiphany) and close the Christmas Season. The choir is under the direction of Ronald Ossovicki. This free concert is open to all. Refreshments and fellowship will follow in the church hall.

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