Advent / Nativity Fast

This is a joyous fast in anticipation of the Nativity of Christ.
In the weeks between now and December 24, we prepare ourselves to celebrate the birth in the flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ. Give careful consideration to prepare for confession, participate in almsgiving, and apply the Church’s prescription for fasting.

You will find great articles and suggestions on making this Advent and Christmas season truly enriching by perusing the resources on our Archdiocese Website’s special Nativity page: [Click Here].

CONFESSION:
Every Christian feels a natural yearning of the heart towards God, a true desire to taste the sweetness of communion, of being with Him as He created us to be. This longed-for inner peace comes to us through the Mystery of Repentance, Holy Confession.

Booklets to assist you in preparing for confession are available on the Parishioners’ table or by visiting [Confession Guide].

Confession Schedule:
Unscheduled: 1. Following Wednesday Paraklesis and Saturday Vesper services 2. With Fr. Elias on Wednesdays 10 am – 12:45 pm
Scheduled: Use the link in the bulletin to sign-up for an appointment with Fr. Michael or contact the Church office Tuesdays-Fridays between the hours of 10 am -1 pm.

PARAKLESIS:
Having trouble catching the Christmas spirit? It can be tough to pause long enough to contemplate the coming of the Savior when we can’t keep our to-do lists under a page! Do yourself a favor and come to church on the Wednesday nights leading up to Christmas to be immersed in the beauty of the Church’s preparation for His coming. The Paraklesis is a service of supplication for the welfare of the living. It is addressed to the Most Holy Theotokos, or a Saint, whose intercessions are sought through the chanting of a supplicatory canon and other hymns. The most popular Paraklesis Service is that in which the supplicatory canon and other hymns are addressed to the Most Holy Theotokos.

During the Nativity fast, we have the opportunity to pray the Advent Paraklesis service. Join us each Wednesday at 6:00 pm from November 15 – December 20. [Note: On Wednesday, November 22, the Thanksgiving Akathist service will be held.]

ALMSGIVING:
We have listed opportunities to assist you in ministering to those in need. Please visit [ALMSGIVING] to learn more about each one listed below. If making an almsgiving donation for one or more of the following opportunities, please give by check, cash, or Venmo. Be certain to include the specific name of the almsgiving opportunity in the memo.

Clothing the Needy –

Camelot Community & Ridge Park Charter Academy Winter Clothing Drive
Project Mexico Santa’s Helpers: Victor (grade 8)

Feeding the Hungry – Meijer Simply Give Food Drive
Engaging in Service – Foster Care Christmas Store

FASTING:
You are urged to keep the fast or fast in some way in preparation for the coming of the Lord.

The Nativity Fast is one of the four Canonical Fasting Seasons in the Church year. This is a joyous fast in anticipation of the Nativity of Christ. That is the reason it is less strict than other fasting periods. The fast is divided into two periods. The 1st period is November 15th through December 19th when the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, fish, wine, and oil) is observed. There is dispensation given for wine and oil on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Similarly, fish, wine, and oil are permitted on Saturdays and Sundays. The 2nd period is December 20th through 24th when the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, fish, wine, and oil) is observed. There is dispensation given for wine and oil only on Saturday and Sunday during this period. Here are the guidelines:

Meat	Dairy	Fish	Wine	Oil
beef, chicken, pork, turkey, elk, veal, lamb, deer, rabbit, buffalo, and so forth	milk, eggs, cheese, butter, yogurt, cream, and so forth	fish with a backbone (not including shrimp, octopus, shellfish, squid, or other seafood.	(some include all types of alcohol in this category)	(some include all types of oil in this category)
Abstain.	Abstain.	Permitted only on Saturdays and Sundays before December 20. (some permit fish Tuesdays and Thursdays also)	Permitted only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, & Sundays before December 20.	Permitted only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, & Sundays before December 20.

Abstinence includes refraining from the food and drink mentioned above, as well as from smoking. The Eucharistic Fast means abstaining from at least the previous midnight for communing at a morning Liturgy.

The Purpose of Fasting
The purpose of fasting is to focus on the things that are above, the Kingdom of God. It is a means of putting on virtue in reality, here and now. Through it we are freed from dependence on worldly things. We fast faithfully and in secret, not judging others, and not holding ourselves up as an example.

Fasting in itself is not a means of pleasing God. Fasting is not a punishment for our sins. Nor is fasting a means of suffering and pain to be undertaken as some kind of atonement. Christ already redeemed us on His Cross. Salvation is a gift from God that is not bought by our hunger or thirst.

We fast to be delivered from carnal passions so that God’s gift of Salvation may bear fruit in us.

We fast and turn our eyes toward God in His Holy Church. Fasting and prayer go together.

Fasting is not irrelevant. Fasting is not obsolete, and it is not something for someone else. Fasting is from God, for us, right here and right now.

Most of all, we should not devour each other. We ask God to “set a watch and keep the door of our lips.”

PRAYER:
It is time to prepare your prayer list for those you want to be remembered on Christmas. Complete the form at [Prayer List]. The DEADLINE date for this submission is Sunday, December 10, 2023.

Every family is invited to donate toward the necessary items used during this special liturgical season – Poinsettias, Icon Flowers, Iconostasis Decorations, etc. If you would like to contribute, please do so at [Donate ].

ADVENT WREATH:
Advent Wreaths are a wonderful tradition that brings great focus and meaning to this season of preparation for the birth of our Savior. To learn how to make an Advent wreath visit: [Wreath]