December 29 – January 6

Sunday, December 29, 2013

 Sunday after the Nativity of Christ

Commemoration of Joseph the Betrothed,

David the Prophet and King,

and James the brother of the Lord

The fourteen thousand infants slain by Herod in Bethlehem; George, bishop of Nicomedia; Venerable Markellos of the monastery of the “Unsleeping Ones”; commemorations of all Orthodox Christians who died from hunger, thirst, the sword and freezing 

It is our greatest joy to receive visitors,

who come seeking to know, serve,

and worship God together with us at All Saints. 

Nourishment of the Soul: “”The Lord was born in a cave to show that the whole world is one dark cave, which He alone can illumine. The Lord was born in Bethlehem – and Bethlehem means ‘the House of Bread’ to show that He is the only Bread of Life worthy of true men.” – St. Nicholai of Zica

 Communion: 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.

 

Communion Line: The choir goes first in both lines so members may continue ministering through music during communion. Little Lambs follow. The ushers then assist each row from front to back.  Those seated in the over-flow may follow an adjacent row.

Confession: Confessions are heard Wednesday and Saturday evenings half an hour before services or by appointment during the week.

Noah Shahadey has been cast in the Cardinal Stage Company production of “Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory”. The shows will be held at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater December 20 – January 4. There are 14 different show times to choose from. Visit cardinalstage.org for more information or see Missy Shahadey.

Offering and Pledge Envelopes for 2014 are in the narthex, arranged alphabetically. If you do not find yours there, ask Marcia.

THIS WEEK

Wednesday, January 1:  9:00 a.m. Divine LiturgyCircumcision of our Lord

Wednesday, January 1: NO evening Vespers

Thursday, January 2: Building Committee Meeting at 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, January 4: Great Vespers at 5:00

Sunday, January 5: Matins at 8:50; Divine Liturgy at 10:00

Monday, January 6: 9:00 a.m. TheophanyLiturgy and Blessing of the waters

 

PLANNING AHEAD 

February 1-2: His Grace Bishop ANTHONY will make his first arch-pastoral visit here.

 

Happy Birthday: Adriana Calinescu (30th); Nancy Jones (31st); Molly Alexander (31st); Lina Tabbal (1st)

Many Years on your Anniversary: Darryl & Nancy Jones (4th)

 

Memory Eternal: Kh. Katherine (Nov.29th); Roy (7th); Jimmy; Dick; Judy; Erma (Dec.)

Prayer List: Alex (Albert) Alexander; Vicki; Metropolitan Paul, Archbishop John, Mother Pelagia and her nuns and orphans, Danica D’Onofrio; Kh. Loretta Wilson; Chad & Connie; Beth; Jeffry Ellis; Lillian Miller; Dee; Julie; Roger; Stephanie; Virginia McCallister; Dolly Seek; Marilyn; Eric; Marna; Cheryl; Lori; Pam; Debbie; Natasha; Ioana; Geni Gritton; Michael & Shelley: Leanne; Jill Patterson; Gabriel; Mary; Alex; Doug; Janet; Kelly; Pete; Phillip; Patricia; Matushka Raisa; John C; Marty; John; Charles; Fr. John Koen; Archpriests Alexander and Roman; Eileen; Mary; Marvin, Alice; Katie; Bob R; Deborah; Ruth; Steve; Kevin; Romaine; Steven; Mary; Derek, Claire & Micah; Tim; Preston; Sharon; Sherri; Dianna; Victor; Aaron; Brent; Christy; Jennifer; Brigid; Caleb. 

Today’s Epistle and Gospel Readings

 

Prokeimenon: “God is wondrous in His saints.”

Verse: “In the churches, bless ye God!” Psalm 67: 35, 27

Epistle: The Reading is from St. Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians. (1:11-19).

Brethren, I make known to you that the Gospel which was preached by me, is not according to man; for neither did I receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me by revelation of Jesus Christ.  For you have heard of my manner of life in time past in  Judaism, how I persecuted the Church of God beyond measure and destroyed it; and I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age within my nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

But when it pleased God, who separated me, even from my mother’s womb, and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the nations, immediately I did not confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and again I returned to Damascus.  Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Peter, and remained with him fifteen days.  But I saw none of the other apostles, except James, the Lord’s brother.

Gospel: The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according St. Matthew. (2:13-23)

When the wise men had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the Child and His mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the Child, to destroy Him.”  And he rose and took the Child and His mother by night, and departed to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod.  This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt have I called My Son.”  Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, was in a furious rage, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region, who were two years old or under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the wise men.  Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they were no more.”  But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Rise, take the Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the Child’s life are dead.”  And he rose and took the Child and His mother, and went to the land of Israel.  But when he heard that Archelaus reigned over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee.  And he went and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”