St. Joseph Announcements
THANKS TO ALL WHO PROVIDED treats for the Saint Constantine Collegians as they took their final exams! May it be blessed!
CONFESSIONS will be heard during Vigil next Saturday (12/21). Forgive, unless already scheduled, there are no remaining time slots for during Office Hours between now and the Feast of the Nativity.
FASTING, now through December 24: Abstain from meat/fish, dairy, wine, and olive oil. We will break the fast after the Nativity Liturgy on Christmas Eve. 😉
POINSETTIAS: Remember your departed loved ones in the Christmas bulletin – and take home a poinsettia/ arrangement after the Nativity Liturgy on December 24. Please note Nativity Memorial on your envelope or check’s memo line ($30). Names (first names only), up to three per household from pledging members, must be sent by THIS TUESDAY, December 17, to Fr Joseph.
CHRISTMAS SALE AT ORTHODOX STUDIES INSTITUTE - Find out more: https://www.orthodoxstudies.org/courses
NATIVITY OFFERING TO BENEFIT FOCUS / "THE NEST" - a new ministry serving mothers, expectant mothers, and children, providing them a safe and compassionate space filled with the unconditional love of Christ. Your Nativity Envelope donation will provide a much needed refrigerator for the new center. Envelopes available at the candle stand. May God bless your generosity!
NATIVITY SERVICES: TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24
9AM-Noon: Royal Hours of Nativity
6PM: Festal Orthros, Nativity Liturgy to follow.
Afterwards – Share your festive beverages and finger foods in the Hall.
THE FEAST OF ST JOSEPH THE BETROTHED is Sunday, December 29. The faithful of St Thekla Mission will join us for Great Vespers on Saturday (12/28) at 5PM.
Only ONE LITURGY on 12/29: Orthros - 8:30AM, Divine Liturgy - 10AM.
HOUSE BLESSINGS commence on January 6. Signup Sheets available in the hall!
THE ANNUAL PARISH MEETING OF ST JOSEPH CHURCH will be held immediately following the 10AM Liturgy on Sunday, January 19 (children will adjourn for food and supervised fellowship in the Hall).
PARISH COUNCIL NOMINATIONS: Our Annual Parish Meeting is Sunday, January 19. We will elect two members to the Parish Council for three-year terms. The Nominating Committee (Fr Joseph, Joel Seybert, and Darryl Schwark) will receive names until the Feast of St Joseph the Betrothed, December 29. Potential nominees, and those who nominate them, must be voting members in good standing.
NOTE: Nominations must be approved by the Nominating Committee BEFORE the prospective nominee is asked to stand for election.
CURRENT MEMBERS ELIGIBLE FOR ELECTION: Joel Seybert, Ashley Trlica, Rachel Beard, Matt Walton, and Graham Valenta.
Christi Ghiz featured on Ancient Faith Radio! “Christi was on the first-ever episode of Everyday Orthodox and she's back with good news! She recently produced and brought to market a children's (ages 3-92) card game called FEAST DAY FUN! She developed the concept based on a learning game she has been using for over twenty years at church and at home.”
PROSPHORA VOLUNTEERS: Thanks to all who have been signing up! Please consider signing up. The link is in the member’s section.
2025 MEMBERSHIP FORMS are available in the hall or online 
. A new form must be on file each year for members to be in good standing. Our General Fund, which pays the operating expenses of the parish, does not receive money from the archdiocese, festivals, dances, or galas. The members of St. Joseph Church are the sole source of parish income. Occasional fundraising events are for non-budgeted items, building projects, or special ministries. The work and ministry of St. Joseph Church is made possible by tithing and pledging members. May God bless your generosity!
BURIAL: St. Joseph is one of the contributing parishes making possible an Orthodox Cemetery in Houston; we have a section reserved for Orthodox Christians at Forest Park, Westheimer. Please help sustain this ministry by making your arrangements in advance; see Fr. Joseph for information. May God rest the souls of our faithful departed – and grant you and yours long life!
KROGER: If you have a rewards card with Kroger, please add St. Joseph's to your rewards program through the online community rewards! This can only be done at www.krogercommunityrewards.com. Thank you!
DEADLINES: The deadline for Monday’s eblast (other than Sunday pics) is Noon on Friday. The deadline for Sunday's bulletin is Noon on Monday.
PRAYER LIST UPDATES: Names are listed in Health & Wellbeing for a maximum of 40 days. Thank you for your understanding. Should someone's name need to be added to the H&W list (illness, surgery, job transition, etc), please contact Fr Joseph.
Please pray for:
With Child: Justine Dalbey (6/14), Cynthia Nassif (5/31), Katrina Sberna (2/22), Vikki Stewart (2/22), Lauren Barron (1/16), Sarah Peña (1/15)
Homecare/Facility: Nicolae Maxim, Melissa McCutcheon
Health & Wellbeing: Shelby Butts, Serge Rouhana, Amelia Markantonis, Tiffani Clark, Virginia, Ellen Vanderkolk, Gayle Born, Rachel Berry, Marilyn Johnson, Megan Severson, JoAnn Rude, Marilyn Burns, Michelle Naff, Curt Bancroft, Georgia Gerkey, Ray Connell, Rita Connell, Kathy Luckenbach, Rachel Beard, Brinley, Archpriest Michael Pavez, Tim & Ruth Swaty, Markella Pittas, Louisa Schwark, Jennifer Myres, Nouhad Bassila, Chuck Lickteig, Christodoulos Kinalidis, Dick Klein, Jason Scheuer, Michael Goff; Romanos, Yuliana & Thekla; William Jarvis
Supported Ministries: The Saint Constantine School / College, Fellowship of St Moses the Black, International Orthodox Christian Charities, Orthodox Christian Mission Center / the MacDonalds in Albania, Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry, our Church School & College Students, East Spring Branch Food Pantry, Yelena Popovic & Alexandros Potter (SimeonFaith), Monastery of the Life Giving Trinity, Holy Archangels Monastery, St Paraskevi Monastery, FOCUS Houston, First Things Foundation / Seth Levine in Sierra Leone
Military: Noah, Daniel & Anna Birthisel
Inquirers & Catechumens: Bailey Reedy, Steven White, AJ & Brandon Knapp, David Messenger, Dylan Dunkleberger, Gregory Antes, Sterling McCrevey, David Trippon, Scott David, Anthony Walker, Lee Winkelman, Mirian Serrano, Steven Salinas, Mariah Rodriquez; Dan, Danielle, Octavia, Constantine, Bjorn & Maximillian Morgan; Christian Mayeaux, Ben Lewis, Adam Kral, Eric Jocot, Andrew Donahue, Larry Delarosa, Ethan Crouch, Rich & Pamela Bartel, James Barry, Sarah Baca, Conley Carter, James Barry, Wyatt Collins, Kevin Stevens, Charles White, Justin Smith, Wes Bowden, Christi Pramudji, Zoë Hughes; Luis Negrete, Alecia & Cameron Pacheco, Amy & Alex Shevchenko, Brandon Benham, Mary Judah Rudd, Alexis Martinez, Will Jackson, Keyton Cameron; Katie Hire; Daniel Ediae, Elizabeth, Ciaran & Brennan Rilette, Yulian Bolka
Preparing for Baptism (1/5): Sachin Murthy; Colton, Emeleigh, Waylon, Ripp & Josephine Harrington; Raul, Jennifer & Rafael Turcios; David, Sarah, Liliana & Jasmine Peña, and Andrew Demaree
Newly Illumined: Oswald Abundis, Bryson Michael Speer, Jensen Ephrem Thomas, Karrie Anna Higgs, and Finan Jarvis
Departed: Sam Michael Homsey (11/12), Violet Hayek (11/12), Siham Sakran (11/11), Archbishop Peter (11/8)
If you are currently a member of St. Joseph and would like to add an announcement to the bulletin and website, please .