WHAT`S THE POINT...? With the Nativity Fast (Advent) upon us, what’s the point of this season? The six weeks prior to Christmas (the Nativity of our Lord in the Flesh) is a fasting period that many call Advent. Advent means “coming.” It is that period of time when we find ourselves waiting for the coming of the Messiah, the Anointed One, the Christ. (All three terms mean the same thing.) For this reason, it has a different character than other fasting periods. Although there is an element of preparation involved, it is not the same as the Great Fast that precedes Holy Week and Pascha.
The liturgical preparation is limited to the two Sundays before the Nativity and the five days leading up to the feast. Those two Sundays we are reminded of the Holy Ancestors of God and the Holy Fathers, Patriarchs, and Prophets who played a role in the coming of the Messiah. In the hymns of the Sunday cycle of services, we hear of their great faith and are called to build our own.
For most of us, we are anxious to get to the feast — we want the days to rush by. Our preparation usually consists of shopping and decorating, not to speak of the endless parties that we are invited to attend. Here is where the notion of waiting comes into play. We must discipline ourselves through selfcontrol and patience. We are to read the Scriptures, specifically the prophecies that speak of the coming of the Messiah. We are to turn our focus to a Godly way of life that calls for sacrificing and almsgiving (acts of mercy). Let us think of charity and the giving of our time, talents, and resources to others that may be in need. There is no better way to imitate Christ than to be loving and charitable towards others.
A word to the wise — put Christ back into Christmas. Find the meaning of the feast by understanding the importance of the Son of God taking on human flesh. Remember the real reason for the season is that Jesus, the Son of God, the Messiah, came into the world and dwelt among men, taking on Himself the sins of the world so that we might have life in Him.


Article taken from the Youth Worker Pulse email ministry.


ADVENT “God is with us! Understand O nations and submit yourselves, for God is with us!” (Isaiah 8:9)

You mean it`s not "X-mas" or "gift-mas" or "rusharound-and-go-crazy-mas?"
Wow, you could have fooled me! Every year I start the Christmas countdown
with the best intentions, and each year I find it more and more difficult to keep my focus on the reason for
the season—Christ.

As a forty something youth minister and stepmother of three, I am especially concerned about my own behavior during the Christmas
season. According to Group magazine, parents are the unequivocal single most important influence on their child`s spiritual growth. If I struggle to keep my focus on Christ during the madness of the shopping season, what am I demonstrating to my own children?
The world is a very seductive place in which commercial marketing is frequently challenging our God-given spiritual discernment.
How many times have we found ourselves so consumed by the material aspect of gift-giving that we completely lose focus of the Nativity and our greatest gift, the newborn Jesus?
We need to change our worldly thinking to a more Christian attitude of gratitude. For example in this country, it is traditional to celebrate birthdays by showering the birthday boy or girl with accolades and gifts. So why don`t we apply that same tradition for our Lord and Savior? After all, whose birthday is it anyway?!
So, what are we going to give Jesus for His birthday this year?
I`m not saying that we should stop exchanging gifts. What I am suggesting is that we remember Jesus above all on our Christmas lists. Obviously, the gifts we give to Christ deserve
greater effort than the gifts we give to one another.
Therefore our "shopping" for Jesus will be more creative than in the usual sense. But here is a tremendous opportunity for us to work with
our children in expressing our love for God with a truly giving heart.
Here are some gift suggestions for our Lord and Savior:
How about giving a donation to a local food pantry in someone`s name for
Christmas (adult friends love this)? How about taking the money that we save
on groceries during our fasting and donating it to a food-shelf? How about
making homemade cards or cookies for someone who is sick or shut-in? How about inviting someone into our home for the holiday meal who doesn`t have family nearby? How about giving
an elderly member of the community a ride to and from church for Christmas
services? How about dedicating more of our prayers to being thankful? How
about having the courage to declare "Merry Christmas" or "Christ Is Born," instead of the more `politically correct`
"Happy Holidays."
These are just a few ways to
give the gift of glory to Jesus
Christ. By keeping our perspective
on who Christmas is all about, we help put the holiness back in holiday.
God willing, with each act of kindness we will help spread the news to our children and to our community,
Christ Is Born!
Glorify Him!

SUGGESTIONS FOR ADVENT As we begin the preparatory period for the Nativity of Christ. Consider using the following resources to help your family get ready for the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

• Daily Meditations and Prayers for the Christmas Advent Fast and Epiphany by Presbytera Emily Harakas and Fr. Anthony Coniaris, published by Light and Life Publishing www.light-nlife.
com
• The Winter Pascha by Thomas Hopko, published by St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press www.svspress.com
• How About Advent! An Advent Program for the Orthodox Christian Family by Orthodox Christian Education
Commission www.orthodoxed.org

ENTERING THE ADVENT SEASON OF THE CHURCH The season of preparation for Christmas always begins on Nov. 15, the day after the Feast of the Apostle Philip.
For this reason it is popularly known as St. Philip`s Fast. A simple count of the days between Nov. 15 and Dec. 25 shows that this special period lasts exactly 40 days, the same as Lent.
More recently Christians of the Orthodox Church have begun to call this season by its Latin name, "Advent." The adoption of the word "Advent" by Eastern Orthodox
Christians is inspired by the same reason that prompted the adoption of other Latin theological terms, such as "Sacraments," "Incarnation," and "Trinity." Very simply,these are the recognizable theological terms that have passed into Western languages. They also happen to be
theologically accurate! If the Christian West can adopt Greek terms like "Christology," it seems only fair for the Christian East to adopt Latin terms like "Incarnation."
During the twentieth century there arose the lovely custom of the Advent wreath, both in church buildings and in homes. This wreath lies horizontal and is adorned with four candles. The latter, symbolic of the four millennia covered in Old Testament history, are lit, one at a time, on each Saturday evening preceding the four Sundays of Advent, by way of marking the stages in the season until Christmas. This modern practice has already started in some Orthodox Christian homes, where the longer season requires six candles on the Advent wreath.
Because of its emphasis on repentance, Advent is a season of great seriousness, not a time proper for festivity, much less of partying and secular concerns. Advent is not part of the Christmas holidays, and Christians of earlier times would be shocked at the current habit of treating this as a period of jolly good times and "Christmas cheer," complete with office parties, the trimming of Christmas trees and other domestic adornments, the exchange of gifts, caroling, and even the singing of Christmas music in church.

Adapted from The Origins of Advent by Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon

From the ST. GEORGE, Greenville, SC bulletin


Youth Events The Pan-Orthodox Bible Bowl is Coming! Sat. Dec 5 from 10-2:30 at St. Sophia’s. We will have a practice session TODAY after church from 12:30-2. $5/person for pizza & soda. Bring your thinking caps and have fun with other Orthodox teens!


Outreach Ministry Lenten Lunch & Visits to Elderly Shut-ins after Church next Sunday, Nov 15-please see Dean.
St. Paul’s/St. Barnabas’ Feeding the Homeless Wed., Nov 18, 12-3pm at Anselm of Canterbury in Garden Grove. Sign-ups next door.
Philoptochos Holiday Baking: baklava, galactobouriko, kourambiethes, koulourakia, proceeds benefit St. Innocent’s Orphanage & our own needy families. Order by Dec 1st. For info call Marina at 949-733-2366.

St. Paul’s Agape Outreach needs YOUR help! We serve dinner to the homeless women living at Isaiah House the 4th Monday of each month. Please contact Terry Maroutsos at 949/481-6806 to volunteer to help with this wonderful program.


News & Information Christmas Advent Fast Begins Today! This blessed season is a time for prayer, fasting, almsgiving and repentance in preparation for Christmas!

Please Remember to Bring Lenten Goodies to the Coffee Hour during Advent-no dairy products/eggs.
Church School Regular Sunday Church School Schedule is as follows: (ages 3 through High School), 10am, Divine Liturgy: Families worship in Church together. Students will be ushered for Holy Communion after the Choir, then exit at rear of Church, proceeding to their classes. Class dismissed at 12-12:15pm. Parents PLEASE wait till dismissal before calling for your children!

Child Care is Provided in the St. Efthymia Room 102 of the Education Building from 10am to 12pm on Sundays, for children aged 3yrs. and younger. Supervision ends at 12pm!

St. Paul’s Trip to Wonderworking Icon of Kursk this Thursday, Nov. 19 at 7 pm at our sister Serbian Orthodox Church at 2148 Michelson Dr. in Irvine!

Needed: Laptop Computer for use in the children’s Greek School. If you have one to donate please call Mrs. Katalanos at 714-557-5352.

Festival of Hearts, Nov 21, at the Hyatt Regency in Huntington Beach. For details go to www.stpaulsirvine.org/hearts

The Choir will be selling See's Candy beginning Nov 22 & continuing through Dec 20!

Fall General Assembly, Nov 22 after Liturgy. We encourage all members of St. Paul’s to attend. Light refreshments will be served.

Vesperal Liturgy of Thanksgiving, Wed., Nov. 25 at 7pm.

Student Aid Endowment Fundraiser, Nov 28 at Assumption Church in Long Beach.
St. Paul’s Philoptochos Christmas Card, $20/family. See the signature form in today’s bulletin.

Help us with Church Christmas Decorations! We will need your help on Sat., Dec. 19 to decorate the Church, email Alysha at howdystouty@yahoo.com Needed too are monetary donations. Please consider how you can help beautify our Church!


Greek Language Classes Greek School for Children! Classes include Kindergarten are every Tues/Wed at 4pm and 5:30pm. For info or to register call Mrs. Loula Katalanos at 714-557-5352.

Adult Greek Lessons, all 4 levels from beginners to advanced are in session Mon & Wed at 6pm & 7:30pm. For info or to register please call Mrs. Nina Luke at 714-546-5840.




Education & Spiritual Formation Orthodox Koinonia Bible Study, ages 25+, Thursdays 7:30pm on Epistle of St. James. For info call Dean 949-733-2366.

Women’s Bible Study led by Eve Tibbs, Thursdays from 11:30-12:30pm. Friends, drop-ins and children are always welcome.

Orthodox Christianity 101 Wed evenings at 7pm. Class taught by Fr. Steve, intended both for those wishing to become Orthodox as well as those already Orthodox but wishing to strengthen their knowledge of the faith. Childcare available!

Women’s Study Fellowship, meeting on Mondays at 7-9pm studying St. John.


Great Vespers Every Saturday at 6pm In the Orthodox Church the liturgical day begins in the evening with the setting of the sun. This practice follows the Biblical account of creation: "And there was evening and there was morning, one day" (Gen 1:5).

The Vespers service in the Church always begins with the chanting of the evening psalm: "...the sun knows it's time for setting, You make darkness and it is night...." (Psalm 104: 19-20) This psalm, which glorifies God's creation of the world, is man's very first act of worship, for man first of all meets God as Creator. "Bless the Lord, O my soul, 0 Lord my God, You are very great ...."

The service of Vespers takes us through creation, sin, and salvation in Christ. It leads us to the meditation of God's word and the glorification of his love for men. It instructs us and allows us to praise God for the particular events or persons whose memory is celebrated and made present to us in the Church. It prepares us for the sleep of the night and the dawn of the new day to come. On the eves of the Divine Liturgy, it begins our movement into the most perfect communion with God in the sacramental mysteries.


St. Paul`s Library Please Visit our Library during the Coffee Hour on Sunday!

ParishPay.com Convenient and easy! Set up your stewardship gift electronically by going to parishpay.com

In Our Prayers Myra, Lance, Olga, Vasili, Svitlanna,
Fr. Michael, Kim, Anastasia, Noah, Marian, Donald, Julie, Pita, Luke James, Virginia, Kenny, Tony, Vasileigh, Mihaila, Donna, Chris, David, Michael, Alma-Maria, Jon, Jeanette, Anthony, John, Ezra, Paul, Kimberly, Ted, Pat, Thomas, Lucia, Ron, Howard-Paul, Marie, Darby, Ermione, Andrea, Fred,
Vasilios, Panayotis, Lydia, Pete, Antonia, Susan.


Please call the Church office to have the name of a person in need of prayer added to our prayer list. We’ll keep that person in our prayers and their name on our list for 40 days. At that time we will remove the name unless there is still need and you wish to have the name included for an additional 40 days (and so on as needed). In this way we’ll be better able to keep our prayer list current. Thank you!


St. Paul’s Greek Festival News St. Paul’s Greek Festival News
Visit our Festival Website at www.IrvineGreek fest.com and please Save the Date! A Taste of Greece, St. Paul’s Greek Festival is moving to June: June 25-27, 2010!