HOLY CROSS UPDATE, January 15, 2016

Dear friends in Christ,

Christ is born! Glorify Him!

As we continue our celebration of the Nativity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ over these twelve days of Christmas, I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas!

This is our third Christmas since Holy Cross parish was received into the Orthodox Church. How time flies!

We don't celebrate Christmas during Advent, but rather we prepare for it. Christmas is the best time of the year, and the celebration continues on into next week. Monday, January 18 (NS) is the twelfth day of Christmas, with the Feast of Epiphany on Tuesday, January 19. In the Eastern Rite the Baptism of Christ is celebrated on Epiphany (called Theophany in the East), but in the Western Rite the coming of the Wise Men or Magi is commemorated, with the Baptism of Christ commemorated on the Second Sunday after Epiphany. We will celebrate the Feast of Epiphany with the Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist on Tuesday, January 19, at 12:10 PM. I'll be looking forward to seeing you there.

A new website for our ROCOR Western Rite Communities is up, and it is outstanding! Although the website is not yet complete and will be a work in progress for some time, it is already packed with helpful information that you can use for personal edification and education, and to share with others as an outreach with the fulness of the Orthodox Catholic Faith. On the home page you will find a question and answer catechism written by St. Philaret (Drozdov) of Moscow and first published in 1830. On the home page you will also find an Ordo Calendar for the year 2016. I hope that you will visit this new website and share it with others. Please be sure to check back often as it is still a work in progress. Here is the link:

http://rocor-wr.org/

Today is the Feast Day of St. Seraphim of Sarov. St. Seraphim is one of the most beloved saints in the history of the Church. Our bishop, Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral), has delivered a sermon on the life of St. Seraphim of Sarov that I know you will find both inspiring and helpful in your Christian life. Please take a few minutes to read it.  Here is the link:

http://www.pravmir.com/st-seraphim-reminds-orthodox-people-meaning-lives/

Please remember those most in need and bring a food donation with you to church this Sunday for our parish food bins. The weather is frigid in our area. As I write this the "Real Feel" in Omaha is only 3 degrees because of the wind chill. The high on Sunday is forecast to be only 4 degrees in Omaha. Many people will have to choose between heat and food. We can help to lift some of the burden this winter. Thank you!

There will be no Christian Education this Sunday. Christian Ed will resume on Sunday, January 31 at 8:45 AM.

Next week we will celebrate the Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist three times: Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday. That means that if we are properly prepared we can receive the Blessed Sacrament of Holy Communion three times this week. What a blessing!

We will celebrate the Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist for the Feast of Epiphany on Tuesday, January 19, at 12:10 PM. 

Our normal mid-week celebration of the Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist will be on Wednesday at 12:10 PM.

Receiving Holy Communion in the midst of the week will change your week. Making it a habit will change your life. Our Lord Jesus Christ bids us to come to Him: "Come unto Me, all ye that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you (St. Matthew 11:28).

Sunday Matins is at 9:15 AM, followed by the Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist, commonly called the Divine Liturgy or Holy Mass, at 10:00 AM, with fellowship and refreshments after the Liturgy. This coming Sunday is the Second Sunday after Christmas and the last Sunday of our Christmas celebration. Come and share in the Christmas joy.

The Orthodox Church is the oldest Church in the world. The Orthodox Church is the original Church founded by Jesus Christ Himself. These are indisputable facts of history.  We are an unchanging Church with an unchanging message for an ever-changing world. Visitors are always welcome. We are a faithful and friendly church, and we have a place for you. I hope to see you on Sunday!

blessings,

Father+

Fr. Victor Novak+

Rector

Holy Cross Orthodox Church

7545 Main Street

Ralston, Nebraska 68127

www.holycrossomaha.net

(402) 573-6558

Christ is Born! Glorify Him! Merry Christmas!

Dear friends in Christ,

Christ is Born! Glorify Him!

We had a joyous celebration of the Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist for the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ at Holy Cross Orthodox Church. All of the members and friends of our parish, both near and far, were in my thoughts and prayers at the altar of God. 

May God grant you a joyous Christmas and a blessed Christmas season. The celebration of Christmas will continue this Sunday. Matins is at 9:15 AM, followed by the Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist (Holy Mass) at 10:00 AM. Holy Cross is a Western Rite parish of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. 

"Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel" (Is. 7:14). "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" (Is. 9:6). O come, let us adore Him!

Merry Christmas!

Fr. Victor+

Fr. Victor Novak

Rector

HOLY CROSS ORTHODOX CHURCH

7545 Main Street

Ralston, Nebraska 68127

www.holycrossomaha.net

(402) 573-6558

NATIVITY SERVICES - Wednesday, January 6th, at 6:30 PM

We will celebrate a Solemn Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist for the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ according to the ancient Christian (Julian) Calendar on Wednesday evening, January 6th at 6:30 PM,

At

HOLY CROSS ORTHODOX CHURCH

A Western Rite parish of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia

7545 Main Street

Ralston, Nebraska 68127

www.holycrossomaha.net

(402) 573-6558

A Christmas party in the parish hall will follow the Liturgy. 

Already celebrated Christmas? Christmas is the best time of the year! Who can get enough of Christmas? Come and celebrate the birth of Christ without commercialism. Wise men still seek Him. Christ is born. Glorify Him! Merry Christmas!

Visitors are always welcome. We are a faithful and friendly congregation, and we have a place for you!

JOY TO THE WORLD!

Although Holy Cross parish observes the ancient Christian calendar, the Julian Calendar, and will be celebrating the Nativity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ on January 7th, I want to greet all of my readers who are celebrating the Nativity of Christ today with the words, Christ is born. Glorify Him! Merry Christmas!

Sadly, Christmas Services had to be cancelled across Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa last night because of the unexpected winter storm that struck the midlands. There is good news though. Vast numbers of Orthodox Christians all across the world will gather to celebrate the birth of Christ on January 7th.

Whether or not you have celebrated Christmas today, you are invited to worship with us.  Christmas is the Good News that God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son for our salvation. Who can get enough of Christmas joy?  I know that I cannot. It is the most wonderful time of the year!

This Sunday is the Third Sunday in Advent - Rose Sunday - at Holy Cross Orthodox Church. Christian Education is at 8:45 AM, followed by Matins at 9:15 AM, with the Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist at 10:00 AM. Fellowship and refreshments follow the Liturgy.

A Solemn celebration of the Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist (The Divine Liturgy or Holy Mass) for the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ will be celebrated on Wednesday evening, January 6th, at 6:30 PM. A Christmas party will follow in the parish hall. Everyone is always welcome!

May God grant you every grace and blessing,

Fr. Victor+

HOLY CROSS ORTHODOX CHURCH

7545 Main Street

Ralston, Nebraska 68127

www.holycrossomaha.net

(402) 573-6558

TONIGHT'S FESTIVAL HAS BEEN CANCELLED

A Festival of Lessons and Carols scheduled for Thursday evening, December 24, has been cancelled due to the winter storm. We are planning to reschedule the Festival and I will keep the readers of Fr. Novak's Blog informed. Stay safe and warm. May God grant you every grace and blessing. 

A FESTIVAL OF LESSONS AND CAROLS, Thursday, December 24, at 7:00 PM

A Festival of 

Lessons and Carols

Thursday Evening, December 24, at 7:00 PM

at

HOLY CROSS

ORTHODOX CHURCH

7545 Main Street

Ralston, Nebraska 68127

www.holycrossomaha.net

(402) 573-6558

“Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God” - Isaiah 40:3

“When the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” - Galatians 4:4-5 

A Festival of Lessons and Carols is a beautiful English tradition that was first held in the Chapel of King’s College, Cambridge in December 1918, just after the end of the First World War. 

It quickly spread throughout the English speaking world and was first broadcast over the radio in 1928. Sometime in the early 1930s the BBC began broadcasting the Festival on its overseas programs. Since 1963 it has been filmed periodically for television.

We want to thank the Schola Cantorum of Holy Cross Orthodox Church under the direction of Victoria H. for their hard work in preparing for this Festival. 

Everyone is invited to stand and join in singing the Processional Hymn and the Carols. You may sit during the reading of the Lessons with the exception of the final Lesson. Please stand for the reading from the Gospel according to St. John.

Refreshments in our parish hall will follow the Festival of Lessons and Carols. The public is warmly invited to attend. Visitors are always welcome.

We wish everyone a spiritually profitable Advent, and a blessed and merry Christmas.

ORDER OF SERVICE

ORGAN PRELUDE

Victoria H., Organist

PROCESSIONAL HYMN: Once In David’s Royal City

OPENING PRAYER: Fr. Victor Novak

CAROL: O Little Town of Bethlehem

FIRST LESSON: Genesis 3:8-15, 17-19

CAROL: Break Forth, O Beauteous Heav’nly Light

SECOND LESSON: Genesis 22:15-18

CAROL: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

THIRD LESSON: Isaiah 9:2, 6-7

CAROL: Silent Night

FOURTH LESSON: Isaiah 11:1-4, 6-9

CAROL: It Came Upon A Midnight Clear

FIFTH LESSON: St. Luke 1:26-35, 38

CAROL: Sing of Mary

SIXTH LESSON: St. Luke 2:1, 3-7

CAROL: What Child Is This?

SEVENTH LESSON: St. Luke 2:8-16

CAROL: The First Nowell

EIGHTH LESSON: St. Matthew 2:1-12

CAROL: We Three Kings

OFFERING: Fr. Victor Novak

NINETH LESSON: St. John 1:1-14 (STAND)

CAROL: O Come All Ye Faithful

BLESSING: Fr. Victor Novak

Thank you for joining us for this Festival of Lessons and Carols. Everyone is invited to remain for Refreshments in our parish hall.

JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!

HOLY CROSS UPDATE

Dear friends in Christ,

This Update contains a lot of important information. Please read it over carefully. Thank you!

CHURCH DECORATING

Sunday, December 20

We will be putting up a Christmas tree and decorating the church and parish hall this Sunday during fellowship and refreshment time after Services. This is always a joyful time at Holy Cross parish. A big thank you to Subdeacon Michael and Tari C. who generously provide the church with a Christmas tree and evergreen hangings each year. Everyone is invited to bring poinsettias this Sunday to decorate the church. Let us make the House of God beautiful for this Holy Season!

FESTIVAL OF LESSONS AND CAROLS

Thursday evening, December 24, at 7:00 PM

We will have an Advent Festival of Lessons and Carols on Thursday evening, December 24th, at 7:00 PM. This will be the first time that we have kept this beautiful English tradition at Holy Cross parish and I am very excited about it. Everyone loves to hear the Christmas story from the Holy Scriptures and to sing Christmas carols, so I am sure that the Festival of Lessons and Carols will become an annual favorite. 

The lessons begin in Genesis 3, the first prophecy promising a Redeemer that God gave man immediately after the fall, and continues with Messianic prophecies from the Old Testament, and then the Christmas story as told in the Gospel according to Sts. Matthew, Luke and John. The lessons or readings from Holy Scripture alternate with Christmas carols such as O Little Town of Bethlehem, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Silent Night, What Child is This?, O Come All Ye Faithful, and more, for a total of nine lessons and ten carols.

There is no sermon preached in this Festival because none is needed. The lessons and carols proclaim the Message of Christmas clearly and joyfully. If you have family or friends who wonder about the real meaning of Christmas you will want to bring them to this Festival of Lessons and Carols. They will be blessed, inspired, and will have a wonderful time.

After the Festival we will have refreshments in our parish hall. Members of our church family are asked to bring holiday refreshments to share. Visitors are our guests and do not have to bring a thing. This will be a joyful evening and everyone will leave knowing that Jesus is the reason for the Advent and Christmas seasons and will understand the true meaning of Christmas, so please be sure to invite family and friends. O Come All Ye Faithful!

PARISH FOOD BINS

A big thank you to everyone who contributed to our parish food bins and to Paul N. who delivered our most recent donation of food to the Open Door Mission. By the grace of God we were able to contribute another 374 pounds of much needed food to feed those most in need. Our food bins are now empty, but the needs are great. I would like us to be able to make one more delivery of food to the Open Door Mission before the end of the year and we have only two Sundays remaining in 2015. As we look forward to time with family and friends and to joyful dinners, let us not forget those who struggle to feed themselves and their children. Let us redouble our efforts, increase our giving of food, and refill our parish food bins so another delivery can be made before the year ends. Thank you!

YEAR END GIVING

Everyone receives gifts at Christmas time, but the One whose Birth we are celebrating is often forgotten. We are coming to the end of the year and this is a wonderful time to make a special offering to Holy Cross parish. Donations to churches are tax deductible so instead of giving your money in taxes why not make a special offering to Holy Cross parish so that we may more effectively advance the Work of Christ’s Church. Thank you!

ADULT CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

Our parish librarian, Ben J., has begun a new series of Christian Ed classes on the theme of Advent and Christmas. This is his third Advent season teaching on this topic, and I look forward to it every year. Ben is a life-long Christian with a Master Degree in history. Believe me, you will learn a lot in this class and will be edified as well. Class begins on Sunday morning at 8:45 AM. I hope to see you there!

WEDNESDAY SERVICES

No Services on December 23 and 30

The Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist will not be celebrated on Wednesday, December 23, or Wednesday, December 30. The Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist will be celebrated on Wednesday, January 6th, at 6:30 PM for the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Our regular Wednesday midday Mass will resume on Wednesday, January13, at 12:10 PM. 

THE WONDERWORKER

Have you read the Advent issue of The Wonderworker? The Wonderworker is the official publication of the ROCOR Western Rite Orthodox Communities. You can download it for free from the ROCOR Western Rite Facebook page, the Holy Cross Parish Facebook page, or from the ROCOR Western Rite website. I hope that you will take time to read it so you can keep up with what is happening in the ROCOR Western Rite Communities.

CHRISTMAS

Christmas isn't a birthday party, - it is a Mass. Let us keep Christ in Christmas and the Mass in Christmas. Christmas without Mass is not Christmas. We will celebrate a Solemn Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist, a Solemn Mass, for the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ - Christmas - on Wednesday evening, January 6th (Christmas Eve according to the ancient Christian Calendar), at 6:30 PM. After Mass, a celebration will follow in the parish hall. By being on the Old Calendar we are blessed to be able to celebrate Christmas without commercialism, and to focus on the reason for the season and the true meaning of Christmas. All Christians in Great Britain and the American Colonies used the Old Calendar until the year 1752. When we united with the ancient Orthodox Church we returned to the ancient Calendar of our forefathers. Please be sure to invite family and friends to our Christmas Mass on Wednesday evening, January 6th, at 6:30 PM. Joy to the World!

SUNDAY SERVICES

Christian Education is at 8:45 AM, followed by Matins (Morning Prayer) at 9:15 AM, with the Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist at 10:00 AM. Fellowship and refreshments follow Services in our parish hall. The Orthodox Church welcomes you. We are a faithful, friendly and active parish, and we have a place for you. I hope to see you on Sunday!

May God grant you every grace and blessing in this Advent Season,

Father+

Fr. Victor Novak

Rector

HOLY CROSS ORTHODOX CHURCH

7545 Main Street

Ralston, Nebraska 68127

www.holycrossomaha.net

(402) 573-6558