"This is the cause of all evils: the ignorance of the Scriptures. We go into battle without arms, and how ought we to come off safe?" -St. John Chrysostom, Homily IX on Colossians.

In order to help increase the general knowledge of scripture in our parish family we present here for your edification the scripture readings for the coming week. At least one Gospel Reading and one Epistle reading are assigned for each day of the year (although during Great Lent the readings are from the Old Testament). Hearing or reading only those readings appointed for Sunday merely scratches the surface of the great spiritual wealth that the scriptures provide us. Some of the readings are easily understandable – others are less so. As Orthodox Christians we do not make private interpretation of scripture, but rather consult the fathers of the Church for their explanations to aid us in our understanding. Those wishing to have access to such explanations are asked to contact Fr. Gregory or inquire in the kiosk for further reading in this regard. Bibles may also be acquired in the kiosk.

Monday: Hebrews 11:17-23, 27-31 & Mark 12:13-17
Tuesday: I Corinthians 9:19-27 & Luke 3:1-18
Wednesday: Titus 2:11-14, 3:4-7 & Matthew 3:13-17
Thursday: Acts 19:1-8 & John 1:29-34
Friday: James 2:1-13 & Mark 13:1-8
Saturday: Ephesians 6:10-17 & Matthew 4:1-11

Please find below several very nice articles on how to read the scripture from an Orthodox point of view.

By St. Justin (Popovich):

http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/phronema/bible_how.aspx

By Bishop Kalistos (Ware):

http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/phronema/ware_howto.aspx

Please join us for a live broadcast of today's Divine Liturgy beginning at 10:00 a.m. at the following link:

ST. VLADIMIR AUDIO LIVE STREAM
VIDEO LIVE STREAM
Please remember - the stream only broadcasts live services. If you would like to listen to previously recorded and edited services please visit our sound blog:

SOUND OF THE PARISH BLOG
If you would like to view past services please visit our YouTube page:

ST. VLADIMIR YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Our parish Sunday publications are available now at the link below. Find our Prayer List, "Good News", and "Sunday Reading", plus other parish publications!
PARISH PUBLICATIONS

Confession and Communion are the two sacraments we most often partake of as Orthodox Christians and thus it behooves us to learn about these, how to prepare for these, and how to best take advantage of the Grace that our Lord freely gives us in these sacraments. At St. Vladimir’s we have created a special web site for this purpose with much information in this regard. Please find the web site listed below and please contact Fr. Gregory with questions!

CONFESSION AND COMMUNION AT ST. VLADIMIR'S
PRAYERS BEFORE COMMUNION - PARISH PRAYER KIT

Please join us for a live broadcast of tonight's Vigil beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the following links:

ST. VLADIMIR AUDIO LIVE STREAM
VIDEO LIVE STREAM
Please remember - the stream only broadcasts live services. If you would like to listen to previously recorded and edited services please visit our sound blog:
SOUND OF THE PARISH BLOG
If you would like to view past services please visit our YouTube page:

ST. VLADIMIR YOUTUBE CHANNEL

The Pastoral School of the Diocese of Chicago & Mid-America is committed to making high quality Orthodox theological education as accessible to all interested students as possible.

Applications for admission for the spring semester are due February 1, 2022. Classes begin February 14, 2022. Applications and further information on the Pastoral School programs can be found at our web site:

http://orthodoxtheologicalschool.org/

Questions should be directed to the Dean of the Pastoral School, Priest Gregory Joyce:

fr.gregory.joyce@orthodoxtheologicalschool.org

The single best way for us to pray for our friends and loved ones is to arrange for them to be remembered at the Divine Liturgy. We serve approximately 130 Divine Liturgies per year, so your friends or loved ones will be prayed for approximately every three days as a rule at St. Vladimir's. Please visit the page linked below to learn more and to arrange for your friends and loved ones to be commemorated at the Divine Liturgy at St. Vladimir’s:

PRAYERS AT PROSKOMIDE

The Lord has entrusted us with the Pearl of Great Price – the Orthodox Faith. Are we hiding this? Are we keeping it for ourselves? Or are we following the example of the Apostles and working actively to spread our saving faith? If you had the cure for a bodily disease like cancer you would never keep that to yourself – it is obvious that this would be unethical and sinful. But we have the cure for DEATH! And sadly – we mostly keep it to ourselves. And that is even more unethical and sinful that hiding the cure for any bodily disease. Share your faith. Invite a friend, loved one, or neighbor to the Divine Services this coming weekend – and assure them that you will be there to welcome them to St. Vladimir’s. If we would all do this – if we would make just a minimal effort to invite others – we would need to seriously rethink the size of the new church we plan to build because it would be way TOO SMALL. Let’s do that. Let’s make all our plans useless because there are just too many people in our parish family! Success only comes before work in the dictionary – let us get to work spreading our Orthodox Faith by simply inviting others to join us at St. Vladimir’s!

All are welcome at St. Vladimir's! Please join us this Sunday! More information can be found at this link, and we encourage you to share this with family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers!

DIVINE SERVICES FOR SUNDAY, JANUARY 16, 2022
As of August 20, 2021 we recommend (but do not mandate) masking for indoor activities at St. Vladimir’s. Join us!

It is understood and expected that each member of our parish would have at least one duty that they participate in IN ADDITION to attending the Divine Services. This ranges from baking prosphora, to picking sticks in the cemetery, to shoveling snow, and more! If we all do our little part we will equitably care for the parish the Lord has entrusted to us, and we will not kill off those who do these things if no one else does. It is wise for us to preserve the leadership of our parish, but it is also moral for each parish member to do their part. So please pitch in, and if you have not chosen your duty yet please contact our parish Secretary, Marina Edwards. If she doesn’t hear from you she will reach out to you soon. You can email her at info@stvladimiraami.org or see her in church. Thank you diligently following through on this program. More involvement in the parish promotes persistence in being part of the parish family – and it keeps a few people from doing everything. With God’s help we will make our metaphor of “family” even more real in our parish by working together for God’s glory in this way!