+
Be assured that God does not need anything of ours. Rather, we stand in need of all things from Him. Thus our thanksgiving adds nothing to Him but causes us to be nearer to Him…For this reason, even the awesome Mysteries, so full of that great salvation, which are celebrated at every communion, are called a sacrifice of thanksgiving because they are the commemoration of the many benefits that He has given us. They signify the very sum of God’s care for us…What is equal to the Gift that has taken place for our sake? That which was more precious to Him than all things, even His only-begotten Son, Him God gave for us His enemies; and not only gave but after giving, did even set Him before us as Food! It is because God does everything for our good that He seeks our thanksgiving….But let us be thankful not for our own blessings alone but also for those of others; for in this way we shall be able both to destroy our envy and to strengthen our love and make it more genuine. Since it is not possible for you to go on envying the blessings of others, on behalf of whom you give thanks to the Lord. Therefore, as you know, the priest also commands us to give thanks for the world, for the former things, for the things that are now, for what has been done to us before, for what shall befall us hereafter…For thanksgiving is the thing that both frees us from the earth and transports us into heaven, for it makes us angels instead of men. Why? Because the angels too form a choir and give thanks to God for His good things bestowed on us, saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill towards men.” – St. John Chrysostom
Sermon:
Church Announcements:
- Thanks to all those who helped out for the Thanksgiving meal.
- The next St. Verena Men’s Meeting will be on December 8th.
- Winter Retreats
- High School, December 26th – 28th. Sign up here.
- Jr. High, December 26th -28th. Sign up here.
- Thanksgiving Liturgy, Thursday 8:00-10:00am
- Winter Warm Project.
- Help is needed to make blankets for the homeless. We’ll start at 10am on Saturday.
This Week’s Schedule:
- Monday:
- Midnight Praises: 8:00-9:30pm
- Midnight Praises: 8:00-9:30pm
- Tuesday:
- Bible Study: 7:00 pm (In-Person & Facebook)
- Wednesday:
- Liturgy: 8:00-10:00am
- Liturgy: 8:00-10:00am
- Thursday:
- Liturgy: 8:00-10:00am
- GYP Meeting: 7:00-9:00pm
- Liturgy: 8:00-10:00am
- Friday:
- Liturgy: 8:00-10:00am
- Deacon Meeting: 6:30-7:30pm
- Youth Meeting: 8:00-9:00pm
- Saturday:
- Hymns: 5:00-6:00pm
- Sunday School: 6:00-7:00pm
- Vespers: 7:00-7:30pm
- Midnight Praises: 7:30-9:30am
- Sunday:
- Liturgy: 8:00-11:30am