Weekly Bulletin 25th December 2022

The Departure of the Righteous Gideon, One of the Judges of Israel. 25th December - 16th Keiahk

On this day, of the year 1349 B.C., the righteous Gideon, one of the Judges of Israel, departed. He was from the tribe of Manasseh and his father’s name was “Joash”. The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor.” (Judges 6:13) Gideon said to him, “O my Lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of Midianites.”

Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?” So he said to Him, “O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh and I am the least in my Father’s house.” The Lord said to him, “Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man.” Then Gideon said to Him, “If now I have found favor in Your sight, then show me a sign that it is You Who talk with me. Do not depart from here, I pray, until I come to You and bring out my offering and set it before You.” He said, “I will wait until you come back.” Then Gideon went in and prepared his offerings and brought them out to Him and presented them. And they were accepted. (Judges 6:11-21)

The Lord then commanded him to destroy the idols and their altars and to build an altar for the Lord and to offer the sacrifices and burn them with the wood, of which the idols were made. He did so as the Lord commanded him. (Judges 6:25-31)

When God commanded him to fight the Midianites, he asked Him to show him a sign to encourage him and said, “Look, I shall put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor; if there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that You will save Israel by my hand as You have said.” And it was so.

Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me, but let me speak just once more; Let me test, I pray, just once more with the fleece. Let it now be dry only on the fleece, but on all the ground let there be dew.” And God did so that night. (Judges 6:33-40)

Then Gideon and all the people who were with him rose up early and encamped opposite the camp of the Midianites. The Lord said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ Now therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the people saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and afraid, let him turn and depart at once from Mount Gilead.’” Twenty-two thousand of the people returned and ten thousand remained.

But the Lord said to Gideon, “The people are still too many. Bring them down to the water and I will test them for you there. Then it will be, that of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ the same shall go with you; and of whomever I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ the same shall not go.”

So he brought the people down to the water. And the Lord said to Gideon, “Everyone who laps from the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set apart by himself; likewise everyone who gets down on his knees to drink.” The number of those who lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, was three hundred men, but all the rest of the people got down on their knees to drink water. Then the Lord said to Gideon, “By the three hundred men who lapped, I will save you and deliver the Midianites into your hand.” (Judges 7:1-7) With this number of people Gideon overcame the Midianites and the people with him captured the loots and gave them to Gideon and they put him in charge of them. The Lord God was with Gideon in all that he did. He departed and was buried in the tomb of his father. His prayers be with us all. Amen.

The Departure of St. John, Bishop of El-Borollos Who Gathered the Biographies of the Saints (The Synaxarion). 28th December - 19th Keiahk

On this day St. John, Bishop of El-Borollos, departed. He came from a wealthy family and from priestly ancestors. His parents were charitable and gave generously to the poor. When they died, St. John took the money they left and built a hostel for strangers. He gathered the sick, served them himself, and offered them what they needed. Once a monk visited him and saw his good deeds, he praised him and praised monasticism in his presence, showing him its honor. The saint was attracted to the monastic life and he had a deep love in his heart for it. After the monk departed, the saint distributed his wealth among the poor and went into the wilderness of «Shiheet» (Scetis). He became a monk under the guidance of St. Daniel the archpriest of the wilderness. St. John was known for his zeal for worship and for his great asceticism. He lived alone in a secluded building. Satan and his soldiers envied his good deeds, and they gathered against him and painfully beat him. He was sick for so many days, after which the Lord Christ healed him. He regained his strength and overcame the devil. God then called him to become a bishop of Borollos. At this time, there were some heresies and he made a great effort to eradicate them, and converted the heretics to the Orthodox Faith. Also in his time, a monk from upper Egypt claimed that he could reveal certain things which were imparted to him by the Archangel Michael, and he misled many by his deception. St. John saw that the monk›s deeds were from the devil. He commanded that the monk be beaten until he confessed his sins and he drove him out of the country. Another claimed that Habakkuk, the prophet, appeared and revealed hidden things to him and, as a result, he was followed by many. St. John drove him out of the country, after he had exposed his deception. He also put an end to the use of several bad books. Every time this saint went up to the sanctuary (Hekal) to serve the divine liturgy, his face and all his body were flushed red, as though he came out of a fiery furnace, and his tears poured heavily on his cheeks, for he was beholding the heavenly hosts on the altar. Three times when he placed his finger in the chalice to make the sign of the Cross during the fraction

prayer, he found that the cup was as hot as fire. Furthermore, in his days, some infidels were partaking of the Holy Mysteries without having fasted. The saint rebuked them, but since they did not hearken to him, he excommunicated them and forbade them from the fellowship of the church. When they disobeyed his order, he entreated God, so fire came down from heaven, and the fire burned their leader. Fear fell upon the rest and they repented. When the Lord wanted to repose him from the toil of this world, He sent to him St. Antony and St. Macarius to tell him of the day of his departure. He called his people and commended them then departed in peace. His prayers be with us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen.

The Departure of the Upright Haggai the Prophet. 29th December - 20th Keiahk

On this day, the upright Haggai, the Prophet, departed. This righteous man was a descendant of Aaron, the priest, and from the tribe of Levi. He was one of the twelve minor prophets. When King Nebuchadnezzar captured the Jews of Jerusalem and took them to Babylon, the parents of this prophet were among them, and he was born in exile. This prophet returned to Jerusalem along with Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah and the rest of the people of Israel. He prophesied in the second year of the reign of Darius, King of Persia, who reigned in the year 3484 of the world and that was 15 years after the return of the people of Israel from the Babylonian exile.

This prophet directed his prophecies by the command of God to Zerubbabel, then to Joshua the son of Jehozidak, the high priest. He incited the Jews to complete the rebuilding of the temple of Solomon, the son of David. They had started rebuilding the temple after they returned from captivity, then they abandoned it to build their own homes. The prophet rebuked them saying, “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses and this temple to be in ruins? Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Consider your ways! You have sown much, and bring in little; you eat, but do not have enough; you drink, but you are not filled with drink; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages, earns wages to put into a bag of holes.’” (Haggai 1:4-6)

Those who were upright amongst the people of Israel feared the threats of the Lord and built the house of the Lord as they were supposed to. Haggai the prophet had announced to the people after they finished building it, that the Lord was pleased by that.

This prophet lived more than 70 years, and he was 430 years before the advent of our Lord Christ. He departed in peace and was buried in the tomb of the priests in Jerusalem. His prayers be with us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen.

The Martyrdom of St. Barnabas, One of the Seventy Apostles. 30th December - 21st Keiahk

On this day also, St. Barnabas, one of the seventy apostles, was martyred. He was from the tribe of Levi. His ancestors left Judea long before he was born and moved to the island of Cyprus. His name was Joses. Our Lord, to Whom is the glory,

gave him the name “Barnabas”, which means son of “encouragement” or “consolation”, when He called him to become an apostle. He received the gift of the Holy Spirit in the upper room with the disciples. He preached the gospel with them and witnessed to the Name of Christ. He had a field which he sold and brought the price and placed it at the feet of the apostles. (Acts 4:36-37) The apostles honored him for his many virtues and for his honesty. When St. Paul believed in the Lord Christ, St. Barnabas presented him to the rest of the disciples in Jerusalem, three years after his conversion. St. Barnabas told the apostles how the Lord appeared to St. Paul near Damascus and attested to his zeal before them. The apostles accepted St. Paul in their fellowship. The Holy Spirit said to the disciples, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” (Acts 13:2) St. Paul and St. Barnabas travelled together to many countries preaching the Name of the Lord Christ. When they entered Lystra and St. Paul healed the man who was crippled from his mother’s womb (Acts 14:8-18), the people of Lystra thought that they were gods, and they brought oxen and garlands to the gates intending to sacrifice them at the feet of the apostles. St. Paul and St. Barnabas forbade them and rejected the glory of men. They tore their clothes saying that they were men with the same nature as they. After they travelled together to many cities, they were separated from each other. St. Barnabas took with him St. Mark and went to Cyprus. They preached there and converted many people to the faith of the Lord Christ and baptized them. The Jews resented them. So they falsely accused them before the governor. They seized St. Barnabas and brutally beat him, then they stoned him and finally burnt his body with fire. Thus, his strife was completed and he received the crown of martyrdom. After the people had left, St. Mark came and carried the body, wrapped it, and placed it in a cave in Cyprus. St. Mark then went to Alexandria to preach there. The prayers of these two apostles be with us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen.

The Commemoration of the Archangel Gabriel. 30th December - 22nd Keiahk

This day marks the commemoration of the honorable archangel Gabriel, the announcer, the consecration of his church in Caesaria and the appearance of many miracles in it. He was the angel who was sent to the Virgin Mary to announce her with the glorious birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. He came to her and said, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you.” (Luke 1:28) He also announced the birth of John the Baptist to Zacharias. (Luke 1: 11-22)

As much as this announcement has of great joy and gladness, we should also rejoice in his feast and pray intently with supplications, asking for his intercession before God, to preserve us from being ensnared by the devil and to grant us salvation from our sins. The intercession of this honored angel be with us. Amen.

+ The Advent Fasting:

Friday 25th November the Advent Fasting started. It continues for 43 days and ends by the Feast of Holy Nativity at 7th January. It is allowed to eat fish during this fasting except on Wednesdays and Fridays and usually we abstain from food until 3pm. For those who got health reasons they can consult their father of confession. The Advent Fasting is a preparation for the Feast of Incarnation of our Lord. We fast 40 days taking an example of the Lord’s Fasting and from Moses Fasting for 40 days before receiving the Law and Commandments. We fast also extra three days in commemoration of the days fasted by people during the time of St Abraam the 62th Pope of Alexandria for the miracle of moving the mountain. The blessed month of Keiahk falls during the Advent days in which we sing and read all about the Incarnation of the Lord. Let us all pursue fasting in humility and repentance and offer our hearts to be holy sanctuary for our Lord the Child of the Manager the Incarnated Lord.

+ Doxologies of Keiahk

Doxologies and Praises of the blessed month of Keiahk started at St. Mary’s church Saturday 10th December 7 - 11 pm. During the week it will be held on Monday & Thursday every week 6:30 - 9 pm.

Meditations on the Holy Bible reading 3rd Sunday of Kiahk Luke 1:39-56

my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour (47) One, cannot but praise the blessed St Mary the virgin … one find himself with his tongue rushing in praise of her and his heart is alight asking for her intercession and prayers for us … she is the “full of grace” who indeed deserved to carry God (the word) Himself and He became Man from her … she has became a throne of God … truly she became an open door to heavens … from this (door) the Lord has come for the salvation of Adam and all his offspring (of mankind) … before this throne and the Lord is seated on it, St John the Baptist bowed and leaped for joy while is just a babe in his mother’s womb … he leaped for joy just as David leaped for joy and danced in happiness before the Lord’s Ark of Covenant (2 Samuel 6:14) … the virgin (Mary) became (like) the Ark made of acacia wood overlayed with pure gold, inside and out (Exodus 25:11) which carry in it the fullness of Divinity (God the logos) … indeed she is Jacob’s ladder, set up on earth and reached heavens, with the Angels ascending and descending on it (Genesis 28:12) … this which connected the heavenly with earthly … she is also, the closed gate in the east seen by Ezekiel from it the Lord (God of Israel) has entered, no man shall enter by it and it shall be shut (Ezekiel 44:2), an indication and sign of the everlasting virginity of the virgin (Mary) … here we pause and meditate on this virgin saint who when heard that her relative Elizabeth has conceived a child in her old age, she forgot herself … she who has received the annunciation from the Angel, that she will be the mother of God (theotokos) … she went to serve St Elizabeth … thus, truly she deserved to be the mother of all humanity’s Saviour. + and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth

How great and magnificent is the visitor who enters for peace … for serving … she went in a hurry to the hills of Hebron, the city of the priests and with her came peace … magnificent peace … as soon as Elizabeth heard (the greeting of peace), the babe in her womb leaped for joy … indeed blessed are the peace makers (Matthew 5:9). The bible tells about Jethro’s visit to Moses his son on law (Exodus 18:7-12) … a visit of peace … a visit of serving … Jethro found Moses well engaged in solving and attending to his people’s problems from morning to night … judging between the people and explaining the statutes of God … Jethro offered a valuable advise … to delegate some of the work to able men who fear God and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of

tens (Exodus 18:21), to judge among the people and bring to Moses only the hard cases. History tells us about one those visitors of peace is an Egyptian trader called Frumentius who went to the lands of Aksum (modern day Ethiopia) for trading and visiting … at the shores of Ethiopia their ship went off course and the local inhabitants killed all the passengers except Frumentius and one of his colleagues who escaped in fear and knelt under a tree paying … when discovered by the locals, they took them to their king, as a gift to keep, who in turn felt they were honest and entrusted them as teachers for his sons … this was an opportunity to preach Christianity in the land of Ethiopia … after some time Frumentius asked to return to his land of Alexandria … where he related to Pope Athanasius the apostolic, his experiences in Ethiopia … asking to ordain a bishop to look after their affairs … St Athanasius could not find any one better than him so he ordained himasa bishop for Ethiopia in the year 318 AD and sent him back where the Ethiopian were very joyful with his arrival … and they called him Abon Salama (which means the preacher of light).

One of those visitors (of peace) which the church treasure is saint Mar Jacob El-Braady … who lived late sixth century AD, which is a very difficult period for the Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt and in Antioch because of the persecutions after the council of Chalcedon and the exile of St Dioscorus I … this saint was ordained a bishop of Odesa … but he could not stay in his bishopric because of the great persecution of all Orthodox people which made many bishops flee to the desert of the monasteries … this saint disguised as a beggar … fron this comes the name “ElBraady” which means wearer of a saddle (in Arabic) or rags) … he travelled across Syria and Egypt from one end to the other re-assuring the believers and ordaining priests for the churches who lost their priests to martyrdom and co-ordaining bishops for the vacant seats … this saint had a lot of efforts in keeping the Orthodox faith during this difficult period … this is why the western researchers call the Christians of Egypt and Syria “the Jacobite’s” in reference to this saint.

One of the visitors (of peace) which our church cherishes … is St Mar Severus of Antioch who came to our land escaping the great persecution late sixth century and lived and died in Egypt … another is Pope Abram Ben Zareaa who was a Patriarch of Alexandria and during his reign the miracle of relocating the mountain of mokattam … and the monk Simon the Syrian who came

with members of his family to visit the tomb of St Severus and resided in Egypt and became a monk in one of our monasteries and was chosen later as a Pstriarch of the Alexandrian throne in the year 684 AD and 42nd Pope of the Alexandrian popes. All have come as visitors of peace and in their hearts is peace and joy … they spread peace among those who surrounded them and were true servants (of the Lord) offering their lives as an offertory on the altar of love and loving those they served because of their love to The Christ the King … how beautiful are the visits of the saints. St Anthony the great visited St Paula the hermit and first of the anchorites … they spent all day speaking of God’s greatness … and in the evening a crow came with a full loaf of bread and not half as he did always … meditate on the visit of Elijah to the widow of Sidon ( 1 Kings 17) … and the visit of Elisha to the Shunammite woman (2 Kings 4) … the visits of saints bestows peace and house with blessings … is your house among the houses the Lord Jesus visits?? Is it a house where the saints feel comfortable?? If Jesus knoked on yur door today … would He be able to enter and rest as Her rested in the house of Martha, Mary and their brother Lazarus?? If St Mary the virgin entered your house today … will she find the same peace and joy she found in Elizabeth and Zachariah’s house?? And you … are you a visitor of peace?? Or visitors of squabbles?? Is your visits to others bring peace and joy and leave behind joyful memories?? Or, it lights up fires and fills others’ hearts with sadness and misery?? Which kind of a visitor are you?? Learn to be a visiting servant … maker of peace … and a source of joy and happiness (in Christ) + as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy Nothing brings peace and fills the hearts with joy like the Word of God … just as the tails of the saints but nothing brings more misery and fills ones with pain like gossiping about others and their faults … Moses sent twelve men to spy out the land of the Canaan (Exodus 13) … the men returned carrying from the goodness of the land … truly it is a land of milk and honey … but the men tell of what they saw in 2 different ways … ten of them spoke of the giants (Amalekites) who dwell in the land and their fortified towns … and two, Joshua son of Nun and Kaleb son of Jephunneh (Numbers 14:38) spoke to the people about God’s true promises … If the LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us (Numbers 14:8) … their protection has departed from them and the Lord is with us and will fulfil His promises )Numbers 14:9-10(

… huge difference between the 2 mentions … one talk creates fear, fright and panic … and the other talk fills the heart with peace and assurances. Amnon son of David attacked Absalom’s sister Tamar (2 Samuel 13) … Absalom wanted to take revenge against Amnon, so he did a great celebration and invited Amnon and all the king’s sons … during the celebration Absalom commanded his servants to murder Amnon … and all the other sons fled … a messenger came and told the king that all his sons we killed and the king was greatly provoked … later news came; only Amnon was killed … indeed how provoking is false and exaggerated news

Beloved … how do you speak with others?? Is your speech makes peace?? Or it causes troubles, fear and anxiety … are you precise with your word?? Do you choose your words carefully?? Are you the type who exaggerate in his talk? Do you know that the same topic can be delivered in 2 different ways?? One way is peaceful and gives comfort and joy and the other is troublesome and can cause problems … how many problems … how many arguments started with talks which it’s owners didn’t deliver it in a precise and accurate way … were not careful in choosing their words … do you know; some time silence is better than speech which creates disagreements? Do you know; the word “I don’t know” is better than delivering wrong and inaccurate news or unsure of it … do you know; it is wise not to be engaged in an argument which does not concern you, even if it was un-intended?? Do you many can be troubled with words you might think does not trouble anyone?? If peaceful talk requires wisdom and discernment … the best sign of wisdom is silence and least of talk!

King Solomon says in Proverbs 17:28 (Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive) … Beloved, learn to say word of peace … words of benefit … and learn to keep your lips shut … learn that your words be for building up and not demolishing down … many simple words words, brings back peace and comfort to the hearts … gain for yourself the tongue of our lady The virgin (Mary) … a tongue pronouncing peace … also, pronouncing praises to God … make your words a source of peace … not a source of division … a source of joy … not a cause for distress … A source to glorify God’s name … Make your tongue praise God and say “For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And Holy is His name” Luke 1:49.

Selection of Short Stories His Holiness Pope Tawadros II

(9) A Hermit’s Trial

By leo Tolstoy (Russian Writer and Philosopher)

One day a hermit saw a falcon in the forest carrying a piece of meat to a nest; he watched it divide up the meat and feed it to a crow’s chick.

The hermit was very surprised when he saw a falcon feeding a strange chick, so he thought to himself: “Even this crow’s chick, God did not allow it to perish. God taught this falcon to feed it. It is clear: God gives all creatures their food, while we are concerned with our own destiny all the time. I will stop caring about my destiny. I will no longer store provisions. God does not abandon any of His creatures, nor will He abandon me.” The hermit did as he said: He sat in the shade of a tree in the forest and did not move. He was only concerned with praying to God. He spent three days and three nights without drinking or eating, and on the third day, he came to the point that he could not raise his hands. Out of his weakness, he slept and dreamed that an old man approached him and said: “Why have you not stored any provisions? You think you are pleasing God while committing an iniquity. God established the world in such a way that every being can obtain what is necessary [to live]. God commanded the falcon to feed the crow’s chick because it would have perished otherwise. As for you, nothing prevents you from working. You want to test God, and that is an iniquity. Return to yourself, and labour as you have done previously.”

The hermit woke up and resumed his life as before. (10)

Swiss Time Bank

A student studying in Switzerland rented a room from a 67-year-old woman who was a teacher before she retired, and now receives a good pension and goes to work twice a week. Her job was to take care of an 87-year-old elderly man. The young man expressed his appreciation of what she does, and asked her if she worked to earn money. She told him that she did not work for money, but to gain time which she deposits for herself in the time-saving bank or the time bank. By doing so, she deposits time so that she may utilize it when she needs it after advancing in age, or in case she experiences an accident and needs someone to help her.

The student said that this is the first time he heard about this “time bank.” So he asked her for more information about it. She told him that the Swiss government had established this bank as a social security [program] for people, where everyone who wanted to participate in it would open a time account, in which case the time that is spent in social service is deposited, especially service to the elderly and the sick who have no one to care for or help from their families. Those who join must be in good health, capable of giving and communicating

with others, have endurance, and are willing to provide services with satisfaction and sincerity. When a person needs help, the bank sends them a volunteer from those who have joined the bank to serve, and time is deducted from their account. The services provided by the volunteer take place either in a hospital or at home, such as accompanying the needy for shopping, walking, or cleaning homes.

One day, the woman fell while cleaning her window and broke her ankle and had to stay in bed for several days. The student wanted to apply for an emergency leave to help her, but she told him that she did not need his help because she had submitted a request to withdraw from her balance in the bank and that they would send her someone to help. A helper was appointed by the bank who came to take care of her, talk to her, accompany her, and fulfill some of her needs from the market. The bank also sent her a nurse when needed. After the fracture was healed, she went back to work twice a week to make up for the time she lost in the bank. This is how the time bank works. The Swiss people support and promote that bank because they experienced its benefits in the society.

In short, this bank was founded to exchange or barter social services instead of exchanging money. Service became a topic of interest. This is a very beautiful and useful idea that can be applied in every society, but it requires discipline, a sense of responsibility, and sincerity in performing the work, with a diligent administration that is protective of people and the society.

(11) “Bring to Me”

By Salah Jahin (Egyptian Poet)

“What should I bring you when I come?”

“Bring me a pillow to put my head on, and sleep!

“Bring me a heart that gets angry, but calms down quickly!

“Bring me an hour of peace of mind, and some joy even if it costs little!

“Bring me locks to shut down the door of sorrow!

“Bring me a million hugs full of love!

“Bring me with you some patience!

“Bring me comfort to the mind!

“Bring me safety, and a smile full of peace.”

“Actually, it is better to just bring me to live my life from the beginning, and bring back all our loved ones: and bring the neighbourhood and friendship: and bring a pure heart that does not darken, and beautiful eyes that do not envy, and to break bread without betrayal!”

“Oh, what a wonder”

have family trip during Christmas (Monday 26Dec-2022) to Queenscliff Ferry and Rye Beach. All details and booking in the link below. Hurry up as places are limited.

Construction

The new Building is expected to be ready within 12 months. church services are continuing as normal as in the Timetable inside the Bulletin. You can donate monthly contribution using Direct Debit forms available in the church or downladed from church website. Cost of building works is around $12,000000. Your support and donations will be blessing and very appreaciated.

of New Buildings started Thursday 28th April