Today marks the feast of the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God. This icon has been the main holy object of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia since the original evacuation of the refugees from the Crimea during the Bolshevik Revolution. The icon resides at the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York where the Synod of Bishops meets annually around this feast day. At St. Vladimir's we will have a moleben to the icon at 6:00 p.m. tonight. God willing the Kursk Icon will visit our parish during Great Lent this coming year. Please learn more about the icon at the links below. Congratulations to all with the feast!

English:

http://stvladimiraami.org/pamphlets/kurskicon.pdf

Russian:

http://stvladimiraami.org/pamphlets/kurskicon_ru.pdf

Please note that the next meeting of our St. Vladimir's Parents' Group has been moved from December 14 to December 21. All other details are the same. More information and RSVP at the link below:

http://goo.gl/forms/fbLW8yKcMr

We present here a short educational offering for both children and adults. Parents are asked to review the children’s portion with their children. It is very important for us to attend the Divine Services on Sundays and whenever else we are able, but in addition it is our spiritual responsibility to educate ourselves and our families in the faith. It is our hope that this mid-week offering will be an aid in this regard. Please contact Fr. Gregory with questions or suggestions.

For Adults: the explanation of last Sunday's Gospel reading by Blessed Theophylact:

http://chrysostompress.org/c_26th_pentecost.html

For Children – an activity based on last Sunday's Gospel reading for various ages:

http://www.antiochian.org/sites/default ... 1-22-b.pdf

December 19 marks the feast of the patron saint and protector of children St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. At St. Vladimir's we will have a Children's Liturgy on this day. Our Youth Choir will sing, young boys will serve as altar servers, young people will ring the bells, work in the kiosk, take up the collection, prepare the meal after the Liturgy, etc. Our young people will do everything associate with this Liturgy! Please take a moment now to sign up your child for the various duties associate with this Liturgy at this link:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/137Tvs8DyJyoluZ-2N0lrWu06RjLDLITO4aGzU92FSQg/edit?usp=sharing

As is our usual practice with our Children's Liturgies, our Church School will meet after the Liturgy on this day and WILL NOT MEET IN THE AFTERNOON.

ALL YOUNG PEOPLE OF THE PARISH ARE URGED TO PREPARE THEMSELVES AND TO PARTAKE OF HOLY COMMUNION ON THIS DAY! Confessions will of course be held on the evening before. As the Liturgy begins at 9:00 a.m. there will be little time for Confession in the morning. Parents – please arrange for your child to confess at the evening service on 12/18/15 or earlier.

Please join us in making winter kits for the local homeless this Saturday (12/12/15) at 3:30 p.m. at St. Vladimir's. We especially encourage our young people to participate in this activity and their parents to help facilitate their participation. It is important for our young people to live their faith - to actively minister to those in need. This is an excellent opportunity to do that. Please join us!

Our Sisterhood Bake Sale is back! This year we are again pleased to offer delicious treats for the holidays to our parish family, friends, and the local community. Please spread the word – the flyer is here and is fully suitable for sharing with others. So please share!

http://stvladimiraami.org/flyers/bakesale2015.pdf

If you would like to help bake (and we know you do) please contact our Head Sister, Ksenia Nikulshina at headsister@stvladimiraami.org

December is shaping up to be a really busy month! Thus, in order to continue our tradition of one all-English cycle of services per month we will serve a Midnight Liturgy on December 12. More information here:

http://stvladimiraami.org/flyers/midnightliturgy.pdf

Please join us! There are not many opportunities for us as Orthodox Christians to struggle physically – here is one and a good one. Participating in the Divine Liturgy is always good, but when we serve at midnight we cannot help but recall the early Christians who also served in the middle of the night to keep safe from the authorities which sought to destroy them. All are welcome!

Our Sisterhood Bake Sale is back! This year we are again pleased to offer delicious treats for the holidays to our parish family, friends, and the local community. Please spread the word – the flyer is here and is fully suitable for sharing with others. So please share!

http://stvladimiraami.org/flyers/bakesale2015.pdf

If you would like to help bake (and we know you do) please contact our Head Sister, Ksenia Nikulshina at headsister@stvladimiraami.org

There will be no adult discussion group tonight as was previously scheduled. We apologize for the inconvenience, but since no one has RSVP'd for the adult group meeting, and there are requests for special services tonight at the time of the adult group, we want to honor those requests for special services. Please contact Fr. Gregory with questions or concerns. We thank you for your understanding in this matter.

Please join us for the next meeting of our Adult Discussion Group this Friday at 7:00 p.m. at Fr. Gregory's in Saline. ALL ARE WELCOME! To RSVP and to learn more please visit the link below:

http://goo.gl/forms/E6V0oh01gh