+ Tuesday, December 25^th 2007 +

Feast of the Nativity of Christ

(Christmas)

+

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‘Christ is Born! Glorify Him!’

“Christ is born, glorify Him. Christ has come from the Heavens, receive Him. Christ is on earth, elevate Him. Sing unto the Lord, all the earth; and ye nations, praise Him with joy; for He has been glorified.”

+ The Epistle +

Verse: Let all the earth worship Thee, and sing to Thee,

Shout with joy to God, all the earth.

The Reading is from the Letter of St. Paul the Apostle to the Galatians

(Chapter 4:4-7)

Brethren, when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

+ The Holy Gospel +

The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew

(Chapter 2:1-12)

When 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 priests 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 worshiped Him. And when they had 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.

Ø Upcoming services

The Feast of Circumcision in the Flesh of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the Feast of St. Basil the Great.

Monday, December 31, 07 6:00 p.m. Great Vespers

Tuesday January 1^st, 2008 9:45 a.m. Matins

11:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Feast of the Divine Epiphany of our Lord and God Jesus Christ

Friday, January 4, 2008 9:00 a.m. The Great Hours of Epiphany

Saturday, January 5, 2008 6:00 p.m. The Great Vespers

Sunday January 6, 2008 8:45 a.m. Matins

10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great and the Great Blessing of the Water

Join us with family and friends

On Monday, December 31^st 2007

for a memorable

New Year’s Eve Gala!

At St. Elias Banquet Centre

Featuring

The Stevens & Kennedy Band

Accompanied by

DJ Nick

Enjoy an elegant atmosphere, and delicious dinner.

Cocktails at 7:00 p.m. & Dinner at 8:00 p.m.

Ticket Price: Adult: $100.00, children 12 years and under $40.00 (Includes Child Care Services), for more information please contact the Cathedral’s Office @ 738-2222

Where is Bethlehem?

Jesus was born In Bethlehem of Judea.

Where is Bethlehem? Did the Son of God come to be born in a tiny hamlet in far-away Palestine? Or was He born there that He might come to be born somewhere far closer?

If Christmas is the time that God chose to come close to us, then Bethlehem must be somewhere very close to us. Where is Bethlehem?

It is not far at all. Bethlehem is your heart and mine! This is where Jesus came to be born. This is where He wants to be born. This is where He wants to live to bring us new life- the very life of God.

If Christ a thousand times in Bethlehem be born and not in your heart and mine, then we have missed the whole meaning of Christmas.

Where is Bethlehem?

“Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and sup with him” (Rev. 3:20). There is Bethlehem.

Where is Bethlehem?

“I am the vine, you are the branches, He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). There is Bethlehem.

Where is Bethlehem?

“He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me and I in him” (John 6:56). There is Bethlehem.

Where is Bethlehem?

“it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me,” said Paul for whom Bethlehem was within.

Where is Bethlehem?

“Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and He shall dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and He their God” (Rev. 21:30). There is Bethlehem.

Invite the Lord Jesus to come and sit on the throne of your heart as King, and Bethlehem will be within You!

And when it is, then the Peace and the Joy of Christmas will be with you all year long. “And you shall call his name Immanuel, which being interpreted means God with us.” God in us! Bethlehem!

The success of the original space shuttle Columbia caused millions of people around the world to reflect on how far America has come in space exploration. But perhaps astronaut James Irwin in the fourth moon walk, in 1971, put it in perspective best when he said,

“I can’t describe to you the thrill of looking out into space and seeing it as only a handful of men have ever seen it,” Irwin explain. “of seeing the sun and stars in the most brilliant, breathtaking colors mankind has ever witnessed. And then to look in another direction, and there hanging like a multicolored, luminous giant marble was the earth. I could hardly contain myself”.

“ I came to a stop, Moon dust settled down on my boots and chills ran up and down my spine. I thought, WOW! This is the greatest miracle in the history of the human race. Man is walking on the moon! Then God spoke to my heart, ‘No, Jim. It isn’t really. The greatest miracle in the history of mankind is not that man walked on the moon, it’s that God walk on the earth and lives in you.’” … in the Bethlehem of your soul and mine!

Joy To the World! The Lord Has Come!

Let earth receive her king.

And heaven and nature sing.

And heaven and nature sing.

And heaven and nature sing

Prayer

“O holy Child of Bethlehem

Descend to us, we pray; cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; oh, come to us, abide with us, our Lord, Immanuel!”

Join us with family and friends

On Monday, December 31^st 2007

for a memorable

New Year’s Eve Gala!

At St. Elias Banquet Centre

Featuring

The Stevens & Kennedy Band

Accompanied by

DJ Nick

Enjoy an elegant atmosphere, and delicious dinner.

Cocktails at 7:00 p.m. & Dinner at 8:00 p.m.

Ticket Price: Adult: $100.00, children 12 years and under $40.00 (Includes Child Care Services), for more information please contact the Cathedral’s Office @ 738-2222