TODAY IS THE THIRD Sunday of the Advent Fast. We light the third candle of the Advent Wreath at the end of the Divine Liturgy this morning. Christmas is on Sunday this year. That means that when we light the sixth candle, it will be Christmas!

CATECHISM CLASS resumes this Wednesday, Dec 7 (and Saturday, Dec 10). The classes on the following week, on Dec 14 and Saturday, Dec 17, will be the last two classes offered in 2022. We will resume classes again sometime after Theophany. Our intention in these last two classes of 2022 is to offer a survey of the history of the OCA. Our classes are recorded and uploaded to our St Herman’s website. To view the recordings, click on the Resources tab on our St Herman’s website home page, then scroll down and click on ‘Uploads of Fr Paul’s Sermons/Classes.’

A NOTE FROM OUR CHURCH SCHOOL director (Corinne): I would like to begin building a children’s library for our parish. Especially during this Nativity season and the feast of St. Nicholas, please consider donating funds or good Orthodox books to help nourish and teach our children’s hearts, souls and minds. At the moment there are many great titles available for sale in the church’s bookstore and additional titles could be ordered. Please talk to me, Corinne, if you have any questions.

THE FEAST OF ST NICHOLAS is this Tuesday, Dec 6. St Nicholas is ‘big’ in the Orthodox Church! We know him as the real Santa Claus! This morning, we’ll have a family hour at 9 am and tell some stories of St Nicholas. At the Coffee Hour today, the children will be guided in festal activities and a charitable outreach project, and just maybe there will be a visit from St Nicholas! For the Feast itself this Tuesday, we’ll serve Vigil with Litya on Monday evening, Dec 5, at 6 pm, and Divine Liturgy on Tuesday, Dec 6, at 630 am.

OUR PATRONAL FEAST DAY is next Tuesday, Dec 13. We commemorate the repose of ST HERMAN OF ALASKA, on 13 Dec, 1837, with Vigil (and Litya) on Mon, Dec 12, at 6 pm, and Divine Liturgy on Tues, Dec 13, at 630 am (Hours at 610 am).

ST HERMAN’S BOOK CLUB will meet at the Church on Saturday, Dec 31, at 9 am. Our current book is, On the Spiritual Life by St Theophan the Recluse. Please read through chapter 80 and finish the book. Books are available at St Herman’s Book Store. All are welcome to join us.

CHRISTMAS AT ST HERMAN’S. Our schedule of services for Christmas is now posted on our St Herman’s website. Our PARISH HOLY SUPPER will follow Christmas Vespers on Saturday, Dec 24. Vespers at 330 pm, Holy Supper about 5 pm, Dec 24. Note that we celebrate the Christmas Feast itself with the Vigil for Christmas, starting at 10 pm on Saturday, Dec 24, followed immediately by the Divine Liturgy of St Basil that will begin around 1130 pm on Dec 24.

MEOCCA sponsors the first gathering of mental health providers in the Twin Cities metro area. Come for fellowship, snacks and clinical consultation from 530 pm – 730 pm this Tuesday, Dec 6 [St Nicholas Day; 962 Forest St, N St Paul 55106] RSVP helpful but not required: send to natasha@lakeandvalleyft.com.

THE CHOIR of St Mary’s Cathedral (OCA) sings in concert on Saturday, Dec 10, at 7 pm at the Cathedral. ‘Bear Witness to the Wonder’ features selections of liturgical hymns from the Advent and Nativity seasons, para-liturgical songs and carols. Reception follows in the Parish Hall Dining Room. For more information, talk to Miriam.

WE ARE PLEASED to announce that His Eminence, Archbishop Daniel has blessed the petition of the McCullough family in Pierre, SD to be attached to the altar of St Herman’s as an Orthodox Chapel of St Herman’s in Pierre.

Brethren, whatever God desires to reveal to men is revealed, and whatever He does not desire to reveal remains concealed. Moses, the one who beheld God, could say nothing more about heaven than that in the beginning, God created it. Having said that, he continued to describe in detail the creation of the earth. Why does Moses not speak in detail about the creation of heaven? Because God did not want to reveal any more to him, since the men of his time were neither mature enough nor capable of understanding heavenly matters beyond their senses. Only when many centuries had passed and God’s New Testament had come to men, did God reveal much more of the heavenly world to His faithful and chosen ones. Only Christians began to see the heavens opened. St John the Theologian bears witness to this: ‘After this, I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven (Rev 4.1).’ St Stephen the Protomartyr witnesses: ‘Behold, I see the heavens opened (Ac 7.56).’ The Apostle Paul, who was caught up to the third heaven … and heard unspeakable words (2 Cor 12.2,4),’ speaks of the angelic choirs, about the thrones, dominions, principalities and powers and says ‘All things were created by Him and for Him (Col 1.16).’ His disciple, St Dionysius, describes the celestial hierarchy in as great a detail as Moses describes the earthly world at its creation. This is how the unfathomable wisdom of God wanted it; that which God did not wish to reveal to Moses, He revealed to the apostles and their followers. What could not be told to children is told to mature men. The revelation of mysteries came through spiritual maturity.

Here is a beautiful lesson for us all. Let us be diligent in seeking the truth, still more diligent in purify8ing our hearts, patient in waiting, and unwavering in faith that God will give us everything in due time, in the way and to the measure necessary for our salvation.

St Nikolai Velimirovich The Prologue of Ohrid

for December 3. Vol II, pp. 618-619