Christmas Eve Day – December 24th

Christmas Eve Day
9:00 a.m. Baptismal Divine Liturgy
Heidi (Chrismation) & Reed (Baptism)
Social hall welcome of the newly illumined
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9:00 p.m. Christmas Orthros
10:00 p.m. Festal Divine Liturgy
11:30 p.m. Celebration with food provided

(December 25, 2016 celebrated on Christmas Eve)
Festal Divine Liturgy
The Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Nourishment of the Soul: “People in other religions go from door to door to get converts. I’m not asking you to go door to door. I am asking you to go from your door into the Church’s door. Do not be absent from the Feast of the Nativity.”
His Eminence, Metropolitan JOSEPH

Benevolence Fund: Thank you for the outpouring of love this season. More cards and donations have more than replaced the missing cards. (The thief confessed to the sheriff; may our prayers help him turn his life toward our Lord and God, Jesus Christ.

Online Giving at www.allsaintsbloomington.org. has picked up. Try it! It’s easy!

Jesus, Our Lord
He came not to a throne, but to a manger;
He lived not as a king, but as a servant;
He chose not a kingdom, but a cross;
He gave not just a little, but everything.

Receiving the Eucharist: We invite you to receive the Holy Eucharist if you are an Orthodox Christian who has prepared yourself through fasting, prayer, and recent confession. If you are not Orthodox, or are Orthodox but have not prepared, we invite you to receive a piece of the blessed bread in the wooden bowls held by the altar servers at the front of the church.

Enclosed in today’s printed bulletin is the Nativity Greeting from His Eminence, The Most Reverend Metropolitan JOSEPH.

THIS WEEK

Wednesday, December 28: Daily Vespers at 6:00
Saturday, December 31: Great Vespers at 5:00 on New Year’s Eve
Sunday, January 1: Matins at 9:00; Divine Liturgy at 10:00 on New Year’s Day

LOOKING AHEAD
January 6: Feast of Epiphany
February 2: Feast of the Presentation
February 11-12: Bp. ANTHONY’s Annual Pastoral Visit

FAMILY NOTES

Happy Anniversary: Robert & Nina R (26th)

Birthday Greetings: Amanda A (26th); Adriana C (30th); Molly A (31st); Nancy J (31st)

Name Day Blessings: Chris Stroguiludis (25th)

Memory Eternal: Justin (Neumann’s grandfather- 11/18); Phyllis Morgan (11/30)

Prayer List : “For the suffering Christians of Syria, Palestine, Iraq, & all of the Middle East, and for those suffering in Ukraine.” Alex John; Fr. Steven Rudy (cancer); Subdn. Daniel; Fr. Basil; Fr. Philip; Grant (Leukemia); Chris; Doug & Dorothy Barrett; Eileen & Olga & Michael; the Tabbals; Mary Ann; Dee and Don; Kh.Kristina; Betsy and Hannah; Leslie (paralysis); Jasmine; Deborah & Thomas; Iva; James; Becky H.; Alexis T; Tom; Annie; Catherine; Janett; Julian; Kh. Mary Sue Walker; Vicki; Hoppes & Jesse Brandow (OCMC Missionaries); Vivian; Natalie; Senior Saints; Patricia; Nicetas; Barb; Shirley; Metropolitan Paul, Archbishop John; Fr. John Koen; Archpriests George & Stephen; Adrian; Heather; Susan; Gabriella & Matt; Sara; Shelley; Geni; Emily D; Emma; Nancy; Neal; Bob R; Leanne; Beth; Lillian; Julie; Roger; Virginia; Marilyn; Eric; Cheryl; Lori; Pam; Debbie; Natasha; Michael & Shelley: Gabriel; Mary; Janet; Kelly; Matushka Raisa; Marty; Charles; Mary; Marvin, Alice; Katie; Ruth; Steve; Romaine; Derek, Claire & Micah; Tim; Sharon; Sherri; Dianna; Michael and Diane; Aaron; Brent; Jennifer; Brigid; Dennis (struggling with alcoholism and infection); Ethan; Lena, Dean; Gayle; Thomas; Amy; Heidi; Gene & Connie, Caleb D; Megan & Colin; Bill & Sandy.

Today’s Epistle and Gospel Readings

Prokeimenon: “Let all the earth worship Thee, and chant unto Thee.”
Verse:”Shout with jubilation unto the Lord, all the earth!” Psalm 65:3,1

Epistle: The Reading from St. Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians. (4:4-7)

Brethren, when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order to redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba, Father.” Therefore you are no longer a bond-servant, but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Gospel: The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (2:1-12)

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East, and have come to worship Him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet: ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judea, are by no means least among the rulers of Judea; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern My people Israel.’” Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found Him bring me word, that I too may come and worship Him.” When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; and going into the house they saw the child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.