Akathist to the Mother of God.  This will be a healing service in front of the icon "Queen of All."   Parish Confessions will follow the service.

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience, forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 1 (Col 3:12-14)

“Through the tender mercy of our God, With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us.” (Luke 1:78) Dayspring from on high is a reference to the Messiah who is coming like the rising sun to bring light to those in darkness.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, and sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God.  And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Col 3:16-17)

Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.    (Eph 6:18)

On Christmas mornings long ago, the church bell’s joyous sound, awakened all the countryside for miles and miles around. And families came from far and near despite the wintry weather, to fill the little country church and worship there together. How wonderful it was to be among that congregation, as friends and neighbors joined their hearts in humble adoration; to feel the warmth and unity of souls in true accord, and hear the lovely story of the birth of Christ the Lord. (Eleanor Leah Woods)

"If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!   (Matt 7:11-12)

CHRIST IS BORN!      GLORIFY HIM! Having given birth to the divine infant without travail, the Most Holy Virgin “wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger” (Luke 2:7). In the stillness of midnight (Wisdom of Solomon 18:14-15), the proclamation of the birth of the Savior of the world was heard by three shepherds watching their flocks by night.

CHRIST IS BORN!   GLORIFY HIM!

But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; 56 and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God."   But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together upon him.  Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him; and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.  And as they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."  And he knelt down and cried with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." And when he had said this, he fell asleep. (Acts 7:55-60)

I behold a strange, most glorious mystery!  Heaven - the cave!  The cherubic Throne - the Virgin!  The manger - the place where Christ lay, the uncontainable God whom we magnify in song!