OUR SERVICES
Saturday 5:00PM Vespers
Bible Study and Potluck: Following Vespers every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month
Sunday 9:00AM: Orthros
Sunday 10:00AM: Divine Liturgy
Address:375 Fleming Ave., Ormond Beach, FL 32174All services in English
UPCOMING EVENTS
December 8, 11:30AM: Ladies Guild Tea Party
December 22, 6:00PM: Children's Christmas Program
December 25, 9:00AM: Orthros and Divine Liturgy
Feast of the Nativity of Christ
January 6: Feast of the Theophany of Our Lord
February 2: Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple
March 11: Great and Holy Lent begins
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
When we argue and fight over liturgical music, God is no longer present in our thoughts: we have become servants of the idol of ‘religiosity’ rather than Jesus Christ. We cannot improve our Church music if we are convinced we are doing it the ‘right way.’ When we are open to change, then God will lead us to what is better. -- His Eminence, Metropolitan JOSEPH
The Holy Forefathers
The Church prepares its children for the Feast of the Lord’s Nativity with a special fasting period. Its purpose is to increase the vitality of our prayer and worship, to deepen our faith and to discipline the flesh. Simply, it serves to draw us nearer to Christ.
This season casts light on the long period of waiting and preparation for the coming of the Savior. It therefore takes us back to OLD TESTAMENT times and focuses our attention on the great people of faith who waited for the coming of the Messiah. Two Sundays are especially set aside for this theme: The Second Sunday before the Nativity and the Sunday before the Birth.
The icon on our bulletin depicts the HOLY FOREFATHERS, commemorated on the Sunday before the Nativity. On this day we remember the Old Testament patriarchs, prophets, and fathers of Israel, from Adam himself through Abraham and Moses, and down through the Prophets Isaiah and Elijah, even to the Forerunner, St. John the Baptist. The names of all are too numerous to mention. We are reminded of the historical era that preceded the promised Savior.
The idea is to stress the fact that we are not about to celebrate some myth, legend or story that has come down to us, rather that we observe a historical intervention of the Almighty into human history. This coming of Jesus Christ was foretold, it was awaited, it was prayed for, it was expected, it occurred.
As for the Sunday of Genealogy, tracing the ancestors of Christ, this, too, is a time to look back. It provides a historical perspective to the Event we are about to celebrate. Thus, we come to see that the fasting period before the Nativity has great significance indeed. Looking back at the Forefathers, then at the Ancestors, we finally look ahead to the awesome Birth of the Lord.
The Orthodox Weekly Bulletin - Cliffwood, NJ
Community Christmas Card
December 16th is the deadline to get your name on the Holy Cross community Christmas card. This card goes out to our entire church mailing list. The cost is $15. Please see Marge Homa to get on the card.
Bible Study Discussion Board is now active
The Saturday Bible studies we have after Vespers are now going to have study notes posted on our discussion board and you can participate by registering on the website. Follow the links below to become part of the Bible Study Discussion forum.
Bible Study Discussion Forum Register new user account
Antiochian Women Announce 2019 Project: "Building A New Cathedral"
When Metropolitan JOSEPH told us of his inspiration to build a new and beautiful cathedral on the grounds of the Village, we all immediately understood why this is such a wonderful vision. Not only does the building of a new cathedral give form to Metropolitan PHILIP's metaphor of a beating heart in the center of our Archdiocese, but a new and inspiring cathedral will also satisfy several practical and pressing needs. This vision of Metropolitan JOSEPH is one that I'm sure the Antiochian Women will be eager to help bring into reality.
Donate to Holy Cross
Make ready, O Bethlehem, for Eden hath been opened for all. Prepare, O Ephratha, for the tree of life hath blossomed forth in the cave from the Virgin; for her womb did appear as a spiritual paradise in which is planted the divine Plant, whereof eating we shall live and not die as Adam. Christ shall be born, raising the image that fell of old.
Beloved in Christ,
Greetings to you in the Name of our Great God and Savior, Jesus Christ!
We begin again our spiritual preparation for the Nativity of Our Lord. Over the next forty days, we will increase our prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. We will strive to reconcile ourselves to God and neighbor. We will work to make ourselves ready to behold the great mystery of the Word of God, begotten of the Father before all ages, born in the flesh from a humble Virgin, surrounded by dumb beasts in a cave, wondered at by shepherds, adored by Magi, and glorified by the Heavenly Hosts.
At the closing of our spiritual labors, we will come to the celebration of the Forefeast of the Nativity and chant the above-quoted troparion, which gives us a beautiful image of our preparation during the fast. Bethlehem is called to make herself ready for “Eden hath been opened for all.” Ephratha is called to prepare herself for “the tree of life hath blossomed forth.” The hymn continues to describe Christ, the Incarnate Word, as a “Divine Plant” planted in the womb of the Virgin to be offered as food to the faithful. When we partake of the Divine Plant, we are promised that “we shall live and not die as Adam.”
This rich and beautiful imagery shows that while our first parents fell by eating the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge, we are now able to partake of the Fruit – the Body and Blood of Our Lord, Jesus Christ – of the Tree of Life – the Wood of the Precious and Life-giving Cross – because the Virgin has now given birth to the Word of God, the Divine Plant.
When we think of these poetic images offered by the Church, we must remember for a plant to grow, it needs soil that has been prepared, it needs water, and it needs light.
For us to receive the Divine Plant, let us spend these days tilling the soil of our hearts through fasting and repentance, watering our souls with works of mercy and reconciliation, and placing ourselves in the Light through prayer and attendance at divine services. By these, we shall partake of the Holy Mysteries unto life everlasting.
Fervently beseeching the Lord to grant us a pure and holy time of the Advent Fast and a glorious celebration of the Nativity, I remain,
Your Father in Christ,
+Metropolitan JOSEPH, Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of all North America
"Seeing Thy strange and all-glorious nativity which took place in the cave, let us all the more spurn the vanities of the world, for the divine Mind appeared on earth as a humble man, that He might lead up to the heavens those who cry out to Him: Alleluia! "
