January 2026 Announcements

Visit of Bishop Gerasim on January 11:

We are excited to announce that His Grace, the Right Reverend Gerasim, Bishop of Ft. Worth is tentatively scheduled to visit St. Barbara’s on January 11, 2026.  We are especially happy that his early visit will take place during the Christmas/Theophany Season. The timing will allow for the singing of festal hymns and the freedom to serve a wide variety of foods at the post-liturgical reception.    

The faithful will greet His Grace that day at 9:30 am, at the front doors of the Church. As emphasized in the past, when Orthodox Christians receive a hierarch into their midst, they maintain a balance of formalities along with knowing that the bishop is a beloved father in Christ.  We certainly offer great respect and proper protocol.  We do so, however, with love, knowing that His Grace is one of us. Together we strive to, “work out our salvation with fear and trembling,” as told to us by St. Paul.  With these things in mind, we look forward to Bishop Gerasim’s visit and to the celebratory reception that will follow the Divine Liturgy.

HIERARCHICAL RECEPTION:

In light of Theophany, the reception on January 11 may include all foods. The main dish is being planned, taking into consideration His Grace’s dietary requirements. Additional dishes and desserts will be needed.  A sign-up sheet will be posted in the Church Hall after Christmas. Please see Matushka Christine for more information. In addition, we will be planning a cleaning party, as well as special choir and altar-server rehearsals.  As is customary, His Grace will be accompanied by at least one deacon, as well as subdeacons from the Cathedral.  We will see everyone on January 11. Please arrive prior to 9:30 am. Thank you.    

Parish Meeting:  February 16

The Annual Parish Meeting will be convened during Coffee Hour on Sunday, February 16.  We apologize for the later date than in previous years.  The following events observed in rapid succession led us to see February 16 as a logical and more workable date: Theophany (Jan. 6), Bishop’s visit (Jan. 11), Chili and Cornbread Competition (Jan. 25), North Carolina Pastoral Conference (Feb. 3-6), and Super Bowl Sunday (Feb. 8).  We invite all members and catechumens to join us for the Parish Meeting in February.  Thank you.   

Chili and Cornbread Competition January 25:

We are excited also to announce the date for our Annual Chili and Cornbread Competition, January 25.  Usually, the cold weather at the start of the year enhances our appreciation for the diverse Chili entries, but this year may prove unusual in that regard.  A sign-up sheet is currently available in the Church Hall.  1st, 2nd and 3rd place medals and prizes always add to the competitive nature of the event.  Please see Mrs. Lynn Powers our Chili Contessa, for more information. 

2026 Orthodox Calendars and Rubrics:

The 2026 Wall Calendars are in!  Happily, they arrived on Christmas Eve.  The cost, $5.00 each, is a bargain and well worth it.  Each day of each month is color coded to indicate Fasts, Feasts, and daily commemorations.  After Bishop Gerasim’s visit the calendars will be placed on the table in the Church along the side wall with a basket for calendar contributions.  Thank you and if you have any questions, please see Fr. Basil.    

November 2025 Announcements

Lecture on Education

The lecture Education in Place with Dr. Mark Tarpley will take place Saturday, November 22, 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm, with a brief intermission. Please don’t forget to register at https://TrinityHall.us/talks so that adequate preparations may be made for seating and refreshments.  You may also see Mark or Fr. Basil to register in person. Thank you.

Fall Clothing Drive:  Men’s Night Shelter

The Fall Clothing Drive for the Ft. Worth Men’s Shelter has been a tremendous success over the past few years.  This year we have been conducting a similar effort, ongoing through October and November. Cold weather is here, and there will be a great need for larger size NEW men’s T-Shirts, underwear and socks.  Gently used sweaters and coats can also be received by the Shelter.  Cash donations may be given through the Church, to be used to purchase – by designated parishioners – necessary items at nearby stores.  While Carol Guarnieri is “on the mend,” please see Mrs. Lynn Powers for more information and look for the collection box in the parish hall.  We thank Lynn and everyone in advance for your kind generosity.

Nativity and New Years Services

On Tuesday morning, December 23, from 9 am to 10:30 am, we will celebrate the Royal Hours of the Nativity Feast.  The Christmas Eve Service will begin at 5:00 pm on Wednesday, December 24, with Divine Liturgy for Christmas on Thursday, December 25, at 10:00 am.  Holy Supper will follow the Christmas Eve Service. Registration is required for Holy Supper as seating is limited.

In addition, Liturgy will be celebrated Sunday, December 28 for the 4th Day of the Nativity and the Feast of the 20,000 Martyrs of Nicomedia.  On Wednesday, December 31, Vespers will be celebrated at 7 pm, with Divine Liturgy on January 1 at 10:00 am, for the Feast of the Circumcision of our Lord, the Feast of St. Basil the Great, as well as for Civil New Years Day.

Christmas Eve Holy Supper Notes

Since the late 1980's St. Barbara's has hosted a Christmas Eve Holy Supper in the parish hall.  Over the years it has been enjoyed by both members and friends of the parish. The Holy Supper is primarily a Slavic tradition, a quiet, family style, candlelight dinner, consisting of prayers, Christmas carols and 12 traditional, symbolic Lenten dishes, focusing our attention on Christ.  It comes at the end of a 40-day Nativity Fast and may be understood as a last ascetic effort -- observed in a community context -- prior to the celebration of the Nativity Liturgy. 

After a several year hiatus, this year St. Barbara's will once again host Christmas Eve Holy Supper.  Early on -- in our old facility -- when space was quite limited, 50 participants was a challenging figure, but not uncommon.  Since then, Holy Supper attendance has grown to approximately 85 people on regular basis.  Even though our current facility is quite large – comparably speaking – seating space remains a consideration, as well as preparations related to specialty foods.  Thus -- as is our custom -- we have begun to take reservations for the Holy Supper, to be observed on Wednesday night, December 24, at approximately 6:15 pm, following a 5:00 pm Nativity Eve Service.      

As we have done in the past, a donation is being asked to help defray the cost of the meal:  $12 for adults, $7 for teens, 12 and under are free.  If the suggested donation proves difficult, please see Fr. Basil.   We would like to have a count of those attending Holy Supper by Wednesday, December 17 so that the proper amount of food may be prepared.  Thank you.

Poinsettias

At this time, we are accepting monetary donations for Christmas flowers, specifically poinsettias.  Our goal is a minimum of $500 to cover flowers and decorations for the Church and hall.  A box will be located on the candle table for these specific contributions, or you may simply place your check in the collection basket with a "flowers" notation on the memo line, or cash in the envelopes in the hall.  For cash donations it would be helpful to write your name and the designation "flowers," on the envelopes.  Thank you in advance for your generosity.     

Greeters Needed

For the next two months we will have need of further greeters to list on the Sunday schedule.  If you are able to help with this important ministry, please see Fr. Basil.  Two months should suffice, but we would like to invite people to continue, if possible, even after this interim period.   Thank you for your kind consideration.

Coffee Hour Invitation

We are very blessed at St. Barbara’s to have now six dedicated teams of families and individuals who donate their time and talents to insure a delicious selection of food and drinks for Sunday Coffee Hours. If you would like to be part of such an effort, please see Matushka Christine, Fr. Basil or any member of a current team. They will pass the information along. Thank you in advance for your prayerful consideration.

Summary of Student Visit

On Thursday, November 6, St. Barbara’s hosted 57 senior students from nearby Christo Rey College Prep High School on Altamesa.  The field trip is a yearly tradition and the visit could not have gone better.  A fifty-minute presentation on Orthodox Christianity was followed by a twenty-minute Q & A.  Light refreshments were served as well, during a short break.  Dr. Joseph Font is always the main coordinator for the event and has been very gracious, allowing St. Barbara’s to introduce students to the general history, beliefs and worship of Orthodoxy.  We always look forward to the group’s visit. Dr. Font is already anticipating another visit next year.