our lady of lebanon€¦ · page 1 of 8 the glorious birth of our lord december 25, 2015 our lady...
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The Glorious Birth of our Lord
December 25, 2015
Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church
950 North Grace Street, Lombard, IL 60148 Tel: 630-932-9640 / Fax: 630-932-9463
Rev. Fr. Pierre El Khoury Cell: 713-972-2990
www.ollchicago.org
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.2إنجيل القديس لوقا
وصعد يوسف أيضا من الجليل، من مدينة الناصرة، إلى اليهودية،
التي تدعى بيت لحم، ألنه كان من بيت داود وعشيرته،إلى مدينة داود
ت أيامها لتلد، يبته، وهي حامل. وفيما كانا هناك، تم ليكتتب مع مريم خط
طته، وأضجعته في مذود، فولدت ٱبنها البكر، وقم
يوف. ألنه لم يكن لهما موضع في قاعة الض
The Gospel according to Saint Luke 2 And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
The Wonder of Christmas Many of us miss Christmas. Now we don’t miss the day – but we miss the real meaning of the day – the fact that God came to this earth as a baby and his name was Jesus.
The incarnation of our Lord is the mystery by which God became man. The Word became flesh
and took up residence among us. He "pitched His tent" or "cast His lot" with us. He moved in with us. How God, who is “immortal and eternal”, became “mortal, small and brief”.
In becoming flesh, God accepted the limitations of humanity. He became vulnerable to those natural human weaknesses that accompany our flesh - hunger, thirst, physical weariness, and pain. He experienced the emotional traumas we experience - disappointment, sorrow, hurt, loneliness, and rejection. And His name became Jesus, which means God Saves.
Another word of deep significance in this description of our Lord's incarnation is glory. Human beings can achieve a degree of earthly glory. Often a person receives honor in a blaze of glory, admiration, and appreciation.
But "We have seen his glory" - the glory of God - in Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The only Son - the One who is at the Father's side - He has revealed Him. In Jesus, we have the full revelation of God. No longer is He a faraway, mysterious being, awesome and unapproachable in His glory and majesty. Rather Jesus communicated the love and tenderness of our God through His teachings and His compassion toward sinful, hurting, and desperate people.
In the manger, we discover the heart of God and the meaning of the birth of this child. God became man to save. Isn't that what the birth of Jesus is all about? It's about God meeting us, it’s about God wanting to be a part of our lives every day.
Merry Christmas!
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REMEMBER IT
“She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Luke 2: 7
Deacon’s Corner
"Hark the herald angels sing, glory to the new born King" "Joy to the world, the Lord has come, let earth receive her King" "O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant. O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem. Come and behold Him, born the King of Angels"
For me, there is nothing that depicts the Christmas Season better than Christmas carols. They always put me in a good mood, no matter how challenging the past year has been. Yet all the songs and the gifts have one purpose: to remind us that this celebration is the celebration of the Birth of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Have you ever stopped and thought about the simplicity with which God, our Father, gave us His only-begotten Son? He gave us Jesus as a baby. A small, helpless infant who was born in a stable and laid in a manger. Jesus did not come to us with power and outward splendor. He did not come to us riding down from Heaven on the wings of His angels. He came as a baby, defenseless and in need of our help.
Coming to us as a baby, all He wants is our love. How simple is that and how easy it should be for us to do. After all, who does not love a baby?
Jesus does not want to overwhelm us with His strength. He takes away our fear of His greatness since we don't have the intellect to even comprehend the greatness of God. He made Himself small so that we could understand Him, welcome Him and love Him. And all of this is conveyed by the sign that was given to the shepherds, a child who became Our Lord and everlasting life.
So on this Christmas 2015, let us pray that God will let us see the light that the shepherds and the magi saw, and that what the angels sang that night will be accomplished throughout the world; "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He finds favor".
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Congratulations to Cynthia Daou & Natasha Hanna!
Cynthia and Natasha Graduated last Saturday December 19, 2015 from the
Benedictine University. Cynthia graduated with a Master degree in public Health &
Natasha, with a double major in Finance and Management.
It must be a very proud moment for you. Chasing a dream requires your efforts and
passion. Hard work isn't over when you graduated. It's just a break as you enter the
new battlefields of life. Good luck and May God bless and guide your lives!
Alef Mabrouk!
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New Years Eve Party
Our Lady of Lebanon Church
950 N Grace St
Lombard, IL 60148
Entertainment by DJ Danny
7:00pm Cocktail
8:30pm Dinner
$50 per Person Cash Bar
Kids under 2 Free
Limited Seating
For reservations Call
Elias Masud: 630-991-1111
Or
The Church Office:
630-932-9640
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Mass Celebration (Christmas)
The Glorious Birth of our Lord: Page 76 Anaphora of Saint Peter: 774
Sunday Readings (Christmas)
1st Reading: Titus (2-11-14 & 3:3-7) (Transformation of life in Jesus)
2de Reading: Hebrews: (1:1-12) (Messianic Enthronement) Holy Gospel: Luke 2:1-20 (The Birth of Jesus)
Mass Intentions (Christmas)
Christmas Eve: For Peace in the whole world and for the Children of our Parish
Midnight: for The deceased founders of Our Lady of Lebanon: Joseph and Helen Shaker - The Boden Family - The Dumit Family and The Joseph Allen Family.
Christmas Day: for all the living and deceased of our Parish.
Schedules 5 PM Mass Midnight Mass 11:00 AM Mass
Readers Mona Tarabay (English)
Joumana Pavkov (Arabic) Anthony Shaker (English)
Dr. Ray Daou (Arabic) Cathy Awad (English)
Dr Issam Awad (Arabic)
Ushers Elie Massoud,
Albert Dakhoul Joe Gharib
Richard Gergios
Henry Abboud, Rami Nisralla Sami Tabet
Roni Malkoun
Ed Kneip Tony boumitri
Maroon Lebbos, Robert Tatian
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Mass Celebration (Sunday December 27)
Feast of the Holy Family: Page 76 Anaphora of the Twelve Apostles: 754
Sunday Readings (Sunday December 27)
Reading: Colossians 3:12-17 (The Christian Family) Holy Gospel: Matthew 2:13-18 (The Flight to Egypt)
Mass Intentions (Sunday December 27)
9:30 AM
Zayya Brakhia – Fr. Gaby Brakhia & Joseph Gemayel (Requested by Mr. Tony Gemayel)
11:30 AM
Zayya Brakhia (Requested by Mr. & Mrs. Henry Abboud and the family)
Schedules 9:30 A.M. Mass 11:30 A.M. Mass
Altar Servers Andres Ballines, Leila Nehra Estifan Azzo, Cassandra Chahoud, Yasmina Mulcahey, Ramez Sayegh
Readers Margret Budz Nabil Richard Sayegh (Arabic)
Christina Masud Gergios (English)
Ushers Nabil Zahra
Frank Kermend John Albani, Anwar Azzo,
George Zakhem, Naji Abyiad
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Announcements
Sunday December 27: Feast of the Holy Family (9:30 AM & 11:30 AM)
Friday January 1: Mass - Welcoming the New Year (5:00 PM)
NEW YEAR’S PARTY Our Lady of Lebanon will host a New Year’s Eve Party on Thursday, December 31st in the Shaker Hall from 7 PM to 1 AM! DJ Dani will provide the music. To purchase your tickets, or for more information contact Elie Masud (630-991-1111 / [email protected]), and for the annual holiday raffle tickets please see Tony Kozaili after Mass.
Let us remember
and pray for our Beloved Ones who died during the month of December
Sophie Abraham Emile Ayan Eugene D. Boden George Bohakel Helen Botwin
Helen Cordell Sophie Fahl George L. George Safa Ghandour Gerges Hattar
Rose Halowi Michael Ibrahim Anton Kassis Jamile Maalouf Patrick O’Shea
Genevieve Salem Nicola Shahwan Alice C. Thomas Michelle York Hattie Yorecki
COLLECTION Sunday December 06, 2015: $ 1,833.00
Thank you for your generosity and May God reward you a hundred fold!