St. Thomas the Apostle

Christ is in our midst!
Happy New Year!

As we enter into the new year 2024, I would like to take a moment to first and foremost thank you for your involvement in our church, whether it would be the help of the ladies of AURORA who have helped us host the Sunday Coffee Hours, or the people in the Parish Council, or those who have been baking the prosphoras, and many more other people who donated of their time and talent for the benefit of all of us. Words cannot encompass how thankful I am for all of your involvement. 

There are many things that are going to be happening this upcoming week, and in the ones to follow, so please read the following lines carefully. 

First, I remind all of you that this week we are going to celebrate the Great Feast of Theophany (Boboteaza), Saturday, January 6. Therefore, on the Eve of the Feast, Friday, January 5, we will be preparing ourselves through the services of the Royal Hours and Typika (starting from 8 am), and on the same day, in the evening, we will be celebrating the Vesperal Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great (starting at 6 pm), followed by the Blessing of the Water. 

On the day of the Feast itself, we will begin our celebration in the morning, with the service of Matins at 8:45 am, and the Divine Liturgy starting at 10 am, and ending with the Great Blessing of the Water. Likewise, we are also invited to participate at the Pan-Orthodox Blessing of the Water at Wilmore Park Lake #1, for those of you that can make it. Otherwise, the schedule of services at our Church will remain the same as usual (please consult the calendar on our website for more information on that). 

We will also continue our traditional custom of House Blessings, starting from Monday next week. If you would like me to come over and bring the blessing of the Lord from the Jordan, please call or text me at (914) 525-0758 or email me at fr.topris@gmail.com. 

Another important announcement is that we have now posted the new financial pledge (membership) forms for 2024 on our website (CLICK HERE for the link), alongside having printed versions for distribution at the Church. It goes without saying that we continue to need your support and involvement in all the aspects of the church, since this church belongs to all who are part of it, you and me both. We are called to be stewards of what God has entrusted to us, our gifts, or talents, and use them for the benefit of the community, so that like in the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14–30), those gifts might be multiplied, and that we may receive our reward from the Lord. 

Finally, we wanted to let you know that we have received our annual shipment of ecclesiastical calendars for 2024, which are now on sale at our Church’s store (wall calendars only in Romanian, pocket calendars in both English and Romanian). There is only a limited number available, so if you are interested in purchasing one, please be aware of that. 

As always, please make sure to double-check the Google Calendar on our website (https://www.stthomasstl.org) before coming to one of these services or other events, since at times there may be changes or cancellations to the schedule, due to unforeseen circumstances or unexpected events. 

After the Sunday Divine Liturgy, you are of course also invited to join us for the Coffee Hour, generously sponsored by our Church's Aurora Ladies Auxiliary Organization; this week, it will be sponsored by Florica Mixich. Thank you, Ladies, for your help; without your aid, our Church would not be able to organize any of our events.  

We hope to see you this Sunday, as well as at the other services held at our Church!


In Christ, 

Holy Theophany of our Lord Jesus Christ 

8:45 am – Matins 

10:00 am – Divine Liturgy with the Great Blessing of Water 

1:30 pm – Great Blessing of the Water (Wilmore Park Lake 1) - St Louis Clergy Concelebration

5:00 pm – Great Vespers 

6:00 pm – Mystery of Holy Confession 

Sunday after Theophany 
(Beginning of Lord’s ministry) 

Synaxis of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptizer John 

8:45 am – Matins 

10:00 am – Divine Liturgy 

11:30 pm – Sunday School 

8:00 am – Daily Matins 
(Reader's Service) 

6:00 pm – Daily Vespers 
(Reader's Service) 

Therefore, we invite you to pray for our fellow Orthodox Christians as such:

• For the healing of their soul and body: Archpriest Andrew, Archpriest Cristopher, Matushka Irene, Archpriest Miroljub, Hermina, Liberta Marie, Martha, Flori, George, Dianne Elizabeth, Aurica, Flora, Niculina, Antonia, Maria, Florica, Georgeta, Deborah, Tatiana, Constantin Florin, Ioana.

• For the blessed repose of those fallen asleep in the Lord: Priest Daniel, Archpriest William John, Archpriest Michael, Archpriest Michael, Priest Atanasie Tănăsache, Priest Daniel, Matushka Katherine, Diaconeasa Liliana-Elena, Cassiane, Constantin, Rucsandra, John (Kevin), Elena, Constanța,  Catherine, Gregory, John. 

• For the progress in the Orthodox faith of the catechumens at our Church, and in all the Orthodox Churches, and for whom we pray at each and every Divine Liturgy, that they may be numbered among God's chosen flock: Michaela (Jacqueline) and Dymphna (Teresa).
  
  In your mercy, you could also pray for the non-Orthodox Christians who:

• are suffering from various illnesses and afflictions: Diana, Bryan, Alexander, Chanda, Brianna, Haley, Andy, Luigi, Mandy, Dominic, Magdalena.

• have departed from this life: Adrian.