THE EPISTLE

Prokeimenon: Make your vows to the Lord, our God and perform them.

God is known in Judah, his name is great in Israel.

The reading is from Saint Paul’s Letter to Ephesians.

BRETHREN, I, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.

THE EUCHARISTIC OFFERINGS

The Holy Oblations are offered at the Offertory of the Great Entrance today for the health and welfare of those living members, and for those departed this life in Christ, of the Agouras, Perich-Filler, Marcopul, and Andrews Families.

PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. TODAY IS OUR ANNUAL PARISH MEETING. This meeting stands in the middle of our Golden Jubilee Celebration as we both review what we have done, and as we now look forward toward June, 2007. This period we have called Jubilee Focus.

2. When the final blessing of the Liturgy is given and we reverence the Cross, we will proceed immediately to the Church Hall for the meeting. WE NEED EVERYONE IN THE CHURCH HALL THIS MORNING. A quorum is necessary for any decisions we make. There will be a brief Coffee Hour; please do not hesitate when called to gather for the meeting!

3. Immediately at the conclusion of the Annual Parish Meeting, the new Parish Council will meet to elect the new officers for 2007. PARISH COUNCIL MEMBERS MUST REMAIN FOR THIS MEETING.

4. CHRISTMAS SCRIP! Don’t forget to purchase your food scrip. Everybody food shops for the holidays; we personally lose nothing, and St. Anthony’s gains something! (5%) when we use the scrip in our shopping. Please see Betty Gakos for the scrip.

5. Once again, as we reflect on our Festival and learn of its great success, we thank our chairpersons John Gakos and Lois Dedes, all our Booth and Function Chairs, and all those that worked so diligently to make it the great success it was. This year we were especially pleased with our Raffle, which realized for our efforts, $6,500.00! The other profits are not yet final, since some still are actively collecting and paying bills.

6. This Tuesday, December 5^th there will be a Parish Council Meeting in the multi-purpose room of the North Complex, 8:00 PM SHARP! Please be on time.

7. Next SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9^th our annual ST. NICHOLAS SUPPER is offered by our TEEN SOYO and Church School for the entire parish. We begin at 6:00 PM and look forward to our entire parish being together on this beautiful evening offered by our kids.

8. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17^th.

A. Our ANNUAL CHRISTMAS SHOW will be presented after Liturgy in the Church Hall by our Church School students. It is a day for which our children have been preparing for months. Parents, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, etc. will be here to enjoy their presentation.

B. St. Ignatius Sunday is also celebrated on this day. Throughout our Archdiocese this “Philanthropic arm” of the church celebrates its patron saint (December 20^th) by sharing its good news, i.e. doing the work of Our Lord through the Church, in reading the Epistle, taking the stewardship collection, and presenting the homily. At St. Anthony’s the Order members help the Church School by presenting the Christmas Reception which accompanies the program.

9. Christmas 2006. The Nativity of Our Lord this year will be celebrated on Sunday Evening, December 24^th, Eve of the Feast day, Christmas. Thus we will follow the schedule as prescribed:

A. Sunday Morning, December 24^th, “Genealogy Sunday” (also know as “The Sunday Before Christmas”), regular Eucharistic Liturgy.

B. Sunday Evening, December 24/25, the CHRISTMAS TABLEAU begins at 8:00 PM with choir, Teens and Church School presenting our “living Ikon” of the Nativity and Visit of the Magi.

C. The Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom will follow the Tableau. This is the Christmas Liturgy for December 25^th, since the evening is the beginning of the new day. There are no services on Monday morning, since this is the Liturgy for that day. Please be in Church at 7:45 PM on Sunday Evening. A brief “Egg Nog and Cookie” reception follows.

10. CHRISTMAS WISHES. As is our custom at St. Anthony’s, we can wish each other a “Blessed Christmas and New Year” through our participation in our Christmas Wishes Program. Instead of sending Christmas Cards to each other within the parish, you an sign the Giant Christmas Card placed in the Narthex of the Church. A contribution, not less than you would pay for sending personal cards, plus postage, etc. can be given to Eve Meyer. In turn, all those names will be published in the Christmas Bulletin, December 24/25/ Please see Eve as soon as possible; please do not wait. The deadline is Sunday, December 17, 2006.

11. Choir Practice Schedule: Wednesdays, December 6^th(Men Only), December 13^th and 20^th (Everyone). These rehearsals which begin at 7:30 PM. Please save Saturday, January 13^th at Noon for a two hour full rehearsal with everyone. All choir members are needed at these rehearsals. Contact Stratos if you cannot make these rehearsals.

12. St. Anthony’s Annual FOOD DRIVE is presently proceeding, and will continue until December 24^th. Please bring your contributions of dry goods, canned goods, etc. and deposit them in the appropriate receptacles which are placed throughout the Church and Church School.

13. Today is the deadline for the January/February issue of The Desert News . Anyone with information they'd like to include should contact Arlene Assile or Carol Giffen.

14. HOLY OBLATIONS (OFFERINGS) BOOK. The new pages of the Holy Oblations Book will soon be published in order to receive the names of our family members. They will be inserted during the month of December. NEW COMMEMORATIONS BEGIN January 7, 2007. Our loved ones should be commemorated on Names Days, Birthdays, Anniversaries, and also when we remember our beloved departed ones. PLEASE RECORD THESE NAMES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY – DO NOT WRITE. And remember: we must schedule Memorial Services by speaking directly with Father Joseph or Secretary, Genny Mandalakis.

15. Ladies’ Night Out Cookie Swap, Friday, December 8^th, at Betty Gakos’ home. Please RSVP by today, December 3^rd. (973)228-5373. (See flyer for more information and directions.)

16. Church School Parents. Musical director, Stratos Mandalakis, requests that church school parents allow students to stay for a brief rehearsal after church school today during the Annual Meeting to prepare for next month’s Christmas show.

17. Play Practice for those who have a part in the Christmas play there will be play practice on December 7^th and 12^th at 7:30 PM. Please speak to directors Tamara Tarby or Barbara Lockhart if you will not be able to attend.

18. The Women’s Guild wishes to thank everyone who was so generous in their donations towards the Holiday Project of Backpacks for the Homeless. We were able to fill 25 backpacks.

December 3, 2006

THE EPISTLE