Sunday before Nativity of Christ
(Sunday of the Genealogy)
Virgin-martyr Juliana of Nicomedia; Martyr Themistokles of Myra in Lycia
The Geneology of Christ according to St. Luke
The Geneology of Christ
The genealogies in the gospels of Saints Matthew and Luke are made to and from Joseph. This is not to give the impression that Jesus came from Joseph’s seed. Both gospels are absolutely clear on this point. Jesus is born from the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit. The point is rather that Joseph is Jesus’ father according to the law, and it is from the father that one’s lawful descent is to be traced. Jesus’ legal father is “Joseph, son of David,” the legal husband of Mary (Mt 1:20).
One other important point is made in listing the human generations which led to the birth of Jesus. This is the fact that God is faithful to His promises even though His chosen people are often not faithful. Among the people from whom Jesus came are both sinners and heathens. In a word, Jesus comes not only from the righteous and holy, but from the wicked and sinful. And He comes not only from Jews, but from Gentiles. The names of the four women specifically mentioned in St. Matthew’s list— Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and the wife of Uriah (Bathsheba)— were noted, not to say notorious, Gentiles, including one of David’s own wives, the mother of Solomon. The point to be seen here is one beautifully made in an early Christian hymn quoted in the Bible in the second letter to Timothy:
If we have died with Him, we shall also live with Him;
If we endure, we shall also reign with Him;
If we deny Him, He also will deny us;
If we are faithless, He remains faithful— for He cannot deny Himself. (2 Tim 2:11-13)
This is the wonderful witness of the genealogies of Jesus: If we are faithless, the Lord God remains faithful— for he cannot deny Himself!
Source: Antiochian Archdiocese Website.
Services and Events This Week
- SUN Dec 14 — SUNDAY LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Dec 17 — EARLY MORNING LITURGY 6:00am LIVE STREAM
- Fri Dec 19 — Men of St. Paisios 7:00pm
- Sat Dec 20 — CANCELLED Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM
No Place to Go on Christmas?
Come and join us at St. Peter’s! Just like Thanksgiving, St. Peter’s will hold a Christmas dinner on December 25 for anyone who needs a place to go on Christmas. Fr. Hans will be there (Presbytera will be in Chicago) and will be your host. Thanksgiving was a great success and Christmas dinner will be too. Dinner starts at 1:00pm. Please sign up in the Social Hall.
Christmas Services Schedule
- Wed Dec 24 — ROYAL HOURS 9:00am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Dec 24 — VESPERAL LITURGY OF ST BASIL THE GREAT 5:00pm LIVE STREAM
- Thu Dec 25 — DIVINE LITURGY OF NATIVITY Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
PLEASE NOTE: General Assembly Meeting January 18, 2026
Our Annual General Assembly meeting will be held on Sunday January 18, 2026 following a shortened Social Hall.
Reports on the state of the parish will be presented. Approval of the 2026 budget is also needed. Copies of the 2026 budget are available in the office for anyone wanting a copy. Please see Georgia to obtain a copy.
2026 Church Calendars
The 2026 Church Calendars are now available. Please only take one per family.
Any questions, please see Georgia in the office.
Updating Our Church Directory
We are updating our church directory for 2026. If you would like to be included in the directory, please see Alexis Johnson. The directory will include your photo, email and phone number only. We will ask for your address to update the church records for mailings only.
Photos can be taken on one of the following Sundays: November 30, December 7 and 21.
You can opt to update the current directory photo or have an updated photo added.
Christmas Fast Instructions
On November 15, we began, with God’s help, the forty-day “Nativity Fast in preparation for the “Feast of the Nativity of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ” on December 25.
The Nativity Fast is divided into two periods. The first period is November 15 through December 19 when the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, eggs, dairy, fish, wine and oil) is observed with katalysis (relaxation) for wine and oil on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and for fish, wine and oil on Saturdays and Sundays.
The second period is December 20 through 24 when the traditional fasting discipline (“strict fast”: no meat, poultry, eggs, dairy, fish, wine and oil) is observed with katalysis (relaxation) for wine and oil only on Saturday and Sunday.
Just starting out? While fasting is not optional for Orthodox Christians, consider easing into to. Start the fast by observing the Wednesday and Friday fast with no meat. Next year try extending that into more days. Start with no meat, and then extend into no meat and dairy and so forth. We fast to the measure of our ability and it may take some training, like a runner working out to run a race.If you have questions, talk to Fr. Hans
Remember to Keep Up With Your Pledge
The bills are the same in the summer as they are in the winter so please do not fall behind on you pledge.
Support always dips in support but our obligations remain the same. Your consistent support is necessary keep our parish on firm and responsible financial footing.
When You Give to the Good Samaritan Mercy Fund, You Fulfill the Law of Christ
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ (Galations 6:2)
St. Paul teaches us that God’s law, to love God and neighbor, is fulfilled when we bear one another’s burdens. The Good Samaritan Mercy fund helps us do that by helping parishioners who because of catastrophic circumstances face problems that we can help them with. This year is proving greater than past years so any donation you can make to our fund enables us to carry those burdens of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
All support is local, within our parish. Donations are approved by Fr. Hans and Ron Franklin our Parish Council President. Donations remain confidential.
St. John Chrysostom says those who can give receive their abundance from God in order to give. When we give from our abundance a double blessing occurs — one to the recipient in need, and another to him who gives.
Visit the DOMSE Website (scroll to the bottom, fill in the form on the left side) to sign up for “The Light” Newsletter and DOMSE emails.
St. Peter Greeters
DECEMBER 2025 – CHURCH GREETERS
- Dec 7 Ray Locklear – Kathy Karlos Moffet – Joe Repya
- Dec 14 Barb and Costa Dionysopoulos – Chris and Taylor Campbell
- Dec 21 Ray Locklear – Joe Repya
- Dec 28 Kathy Karlos Moffet – Chris and Taylor Campbell
JANUARY 2026 – CHURCH GREETERS
- Jan 4 Kathy Karlos Moffet – Joe Repya
- Jan 11 Joe Repya – Tim Morse
- Jan 18 Tim Morse – Joe Repya – John Tomilson
- Jan 25 Joe and Deb Repya – Tim Morse
Can you volunteer? Please call Joe Repya 612-270-4443.
SUNDAY COFFEE HOURS – FALL MONTHS 2025
Please note: A fruit bowl, veggie or hummus tray may be added to a week’s menu.
- December 2025 – Sunday Coffee Hours – Team #3
- Sunday, December 7 – Coffee and bagels
- Sunday, December 14 – Coffee and donuts
- Sunday, December 21 – Coffee and coffee cakes
- Sunday, December 28 – Coffee and bagels
For Special Events/Koliva please contact Barbara Sasen and give her a completed Special Events Form which is found in the lobby of the church.
The Social Hall All Stars are the men and women that make St. Peter’s Social Hall happen. Thank you All Stars!
DECEMBER
- SUN Dec 14 — SUNDAY LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Dec 17 — EARLY MORNING LITURGY 6:00am LIVE STREAM
- Fri Dec 19 — Men of St. Paisios 7:00pm
- Sat Dec 20 — CANCELLED
Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM
- SUN Dec 21 — SUNDAY LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Dec 24 — ROYAL HOURS 9:00am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Dec 24 — VESPERAL LITURGY OF ST BASIL THE GREAT 5:00pm LIVE STREAM
- Thu Dec 25 — DIVINE LITURGY OF NATIVITY Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Fri Dec 26 — DIVINE LITURGY ST STEPHEN THE PROTO-MARTYR 9:00am LIVE STREAM
- Sat Dec 27 — Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM
- SUN Dec 28 — SUNDAY LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Mon Dec 29 — DIVINE LITURGY THE HOLY INNOCENTS 9:00am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Dec 31 — EARLY MORNING LITURGY 6:00am LIVE STREAM
- Fri Jan 01 — DIVINE LITURGY ST BASIL THE GREAT / CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST
- Fri Jan 01 — Men of St. Paisios 7:00pm
- Sat Jan 02 — Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM
- SUN Jan 04 — SUNDAY LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Sun Jan 04 — Cutting of the Vassilopita 11:30AM LIVE STREAM
- Mon Jan 05 — THEOPHANY ROYAL HOURS 9:00am LIVE STREAM
- Mon Jan 05 — THEOPHANY VESPERAL LITURGY OF ST BASIL / BLESSING OF THE WATERS 6:00am LIVE STREAM
- Tue Jan 06 — THEOPHANY DIVINE LITURGY 9:00am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Jan 07 — EARLY MORNING LITURGY – SYNAXIS ST JOHN THE BAPTIST 6:00am LIVE STREAM
- Fri Jan 09 — Men of St. Paisios 7:00pm
- Sat Jan 10 — Parish Council Meeting 10:00am
- Sat Jan 10 — Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM
- SUN Jan 11 — SUNDAY LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Jan 14 — EARLY MORNING LITURGY 6:00am LIVE STREAM
- Fri Jan 16 — DIVINE LITURGY ST ANTHONY THE GREAT 9:00am LIVE STREAM
- Fri Jan 16 — Men of St. Paisios 7:00pm
- Sat Jan 17 — Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM
- SUN Jan 18 — SUNDAY LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Jan 21 — EARLY MORNING LITURGY 6:00am LIVE STREAM
- Fri Jan 23 — Men of St. Paisios 7:00pm
- Sat Jan 24 — Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM
- SUN Jan 25 — SUNDAY LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Jan 21 – Sat Jan 31 — Fr. Hans at DOMSE Clergy Retreat
- Wed Jan 28 — CANCELLED
EARLY MORNING LITURGY 6:00am LIVE STREAM - Fri Jan 30 — Men of St. Paisios 7:00pm
- Sat Jan 31 — CANCELLED
Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM
Wisdom From The Elders
Bodily illness is not an obstacle to purity of heart, provided we give the body what its illness requires, not what gratifies our desire for pleasure. Food is to be taken in so far as it supports our life, but not to the extent of enslaving us to the impulses of desire. To eat moderately and reasonably is to keep the body in health, not to deprive it of holiness. St. John Cassian
hen we feel attacks of self-loving self-pity, we must not pay attention to them nor crawl down from our cross. Let us rather resort to prayer and endure with humility—striving to conquer our will and to stand firmly in the determination to desire God’s will to be done in us. Fr. Jack Sparks
So, blessed is the man who lives in repentance and sees himself “lower than every creature”, because “then he will stand at His right hand in glorious apparel”. Only those adorned with the grace of God will stand at the right hand of the throne of God. Hierotheos Vlakos
One who is capable of forgiving personal offenses will live calmly and peacefully, not feeling bitter against anyone and not sowing any evil, discord, or unrest. And if everyone were to live in this way, that is, willingly and easily forgiving personal offenses, then there would not be any enmity or evil in the world, nor would sin multiply. Archbishop Averky (Taushev)
We must pray that we may be constantly and firmly assured in our hearts that everything we have—both of soul and body, in prosperity and adversity, and all our possessions as well as all the circumstances of our life—come from God, from His Power, and not from nature, or chance, or from ourselves. Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt
An untried man is unpracticed. St. Barsanuphius
Current Prayer List
Donna Eardley (Pateras)
Jack Eardley (Pateras)
Efstrathios Papadopoulos (Pateras)
Vera Pateras Stathes (Pateras)
Maureen (Breitenbach)
Doug (Kucera)
Katrina (Marianthi)
Katherina (Sovjani)
Arsen (Sovjani)
Arion (Sovjani)
David (Sovjani)
Joe (Repya)
Bp. Nicholas
Mary Teresa (Dusckas)
Adam (Krotov)
Ariyon (Sovjani)
Diana (Veraj)
Arjan (Veraj)
Thoma (Sovjani)
Lucia
Ioannes
Stratton (Leopold)
Mary (Copeland)
Robert (Tewis)
Gene (Forderhase)
Ruth (Mudd)
Barbara (Duskas)
Maria (Duskas)
Rachel (Voss)
Ken John (Eaton)
William (Semeretis)
David (Orfanos)
Maria (Orfanos)
William (Long)
George (Chionis 11-1)
Haley
Lydia
Mark (Chionis 11-1)
Katheryn (Chionis 11-1)
Jacob (Chionis 11-1)
Ken (Chionis 11-1)
Maxim (Koco)
George (Tsikistas 8/1)
George (Mourgis 8/1)
Barbara (Sason 8/1)
Arielle (Ghanem 6/1)
Nicholas (Ghanem 6/1)
Christos
Father Demetris
Jamie
Pamela
David
Jessica
Christina (Hildreth)
Dionysios Chapekis)
Nancy (Forderhase)
Kayla (Palantine)
George (3/23 Chapekis)
Penelope (3/23 Chapekis)
Theodora (3/23)
Victor (3/23)
Les (3/23
Lynn (Hurley 1/23)
Linda (Pappas 1/23)
Ekaterina (Chapekis 1/23)
Lee (Hurley 1/23)
Emmanuel (Kalousdis 1/23)
Katherine (Dusckas 1/23)
Vassiliki (Diveris 1/23)
Zena Touma (Contorelli 1/23
Lamia Touma (Contorelli 1/23
Matthew (Contorelli 1/23
Emmanuel (Kaloudis 1/23)
Nicholas
Marlene (Tewis 12/22)
Tina (Johnson 12/22)
Nicholas (De Lorenzo 12/22)
Archpriest Dionysius (Valentine 9/12)
John Presbyter (Jacobse)
Elain Presbytera (Jacobse)
Constantine(Jacobse)
Chrysoula(Jacobse)
Angel (Ghanem 10/22)
Edgar (Chapekis 9/22)
Evthriki (Jacobse 9/22)
Christos (Johnson 8/22)
Jon Paul (Andrew 8/22)
William (Brubaker 8/22)
The People of Ukraine and People of Russia and all those who are suffering in the war
Permanent Prayer List
Kh. Denise (Breitenbach)
Fr. Patrick (Breitenbach)
Bonnie Joseph
Michael (Sovjani)
Maria (Sovjani)
Maria (Sovjani)
Maria (Sovjani)
Katerina (Sovjani)
Frederick (Sovjani)
Arsen (Sovjani)
Irene (Diveris)
Katheryn (Tolkkinen)
Markisia (Long)
Angela (Long)
Marina (Long)
Eleni (Long)
Raphaella (Long)
Joanne (Haley)
Corwin (Dusckas)
Corgette (Troutman)
Irina (Irina)
Lidia (Irina)
Sarina (Ghanem)
Debbie (Breitenbach)
Kathy (Breitenbach)
Hope (Isadore)
John (Long)
Pantelis (Tsikita)
Marisa (Tsikita)
Barbara (Dionysopoulos)
Patricia (Evanoff)
Gabriel (Mankus)
Baby Dani (Repya)
Despina (Diversis)
Fredericos (Diveris)
Herman (Kerr)
Innocent (Kerr)
Nicholas (Kerr)
Paola (Jacobse)
Gregory (Yankopolos)
Pauline (Poulos)
Sergio (Kazakos)
Fran (Hansen)
Nina (Krotov)
Franklin (Pyrrson)
Demetrios (Kuchera)
Theodosios (Palis)
Theodora (Webb)
Robert (Smith)
Presbytera Rosy (in Pakistan)
James (Hord)
Founders, Members, Benefactors and Friends Departed this Life
John (Hansen)
Anatoly (Kurdsjuk)
Thareni (Brooks)
Milan Evanoff
Jean (Sam)
Eleni (Pearson)
Richard (Pearson)
Fr. Stephanos (Shagoury)
Panagiota (Bea Chionis)
Anthony (Mourgis)
Anthony (Mankus)
Constantine (Houpis)
Constantine (Joseph)
Mary (Jarvis)
Panagiota Margarita (Palis)
Maria (Ninos)
Soterios (Ninos)
George (Ninos)
John (Katsigianopoulos)
George (Chionis)
Mary (Spiropoulos)
Gregory (Pappas)
Angela (Coran K
Eugene (Rust)
Robert (Jarvis)
George (Corey)
Patricia (Cotsones)
Seraphim (Zolio)
Apostolos
Raymond (Zeena)
Vassilike (Hord)
Helen (Mitchell)
How should we pray for the sick? Remember them daily. Say their names (first names are sufficient) and ask God to bestow mercy and grace on them.
Add or remove names and print this list for easy reference during your prayer time on the St. Peter website.
Sunday Readings
EPISTLE
For the Sunday before the Nativity
Blessed are Thou, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
For Thou art just in all that Thou hast done to us.
The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews. (11:9-10, 32-40)
Brethren, by faith Abraham sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, and put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated—of whom the world was not worthy—wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
GOSPEL
For the Sunday before the Nativity: “The Genealogy”
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (1:1-25)
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Aram, and Aram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king.
And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asa, and Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amon, and Amon the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.
And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, Who is called Christ.
So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ were fourteen generations. Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.
But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call His Name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and His Name shall be called Emmanuel” (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him; he took his wife, but knew her not until she had borne a son; and he called His Name Jesus.
