St. Nicholas Night, December 6 through Dec. 14

COME AT 5:00 FOR GREAT VESPERS ON DECEMBER 6TH AND HEAR THE HYMNS FOR ST. NICHOLAS OF MYRA.

THEN JOIN US IN THE SOCIAL HALL FOR FELLOWSHIP AND AWAIT THE ARRIVAL OF ST. NICHOLAS.  THE PROGRAM IS FULL FOR BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS.

The Enthronement of His Eminence, Bishop Joseph is today.

Axios! Axios! Axios!

 Sunday, December 7, 2014

Twenty-Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

Ambrose, Bishop of Milan; Athenodoros of Mesopotamia;

Venerable Gregory, founder of Gregoriou Monastery on Athos; Venerable Gerasimos.

Visitors, we are blessed by your joining us in worship.

Let us pray to the Lord: “For the suffering Christians of Syria, Palestine, Iraq, & all of the Middle East, and for those suffering in the Ukraine.”

Nourishment of the Soul: “When Gabriel greeted you, O Virgin, he cried out like the righteous David, for in you, O Sacred Ark, was the Master of All incarnate.  You were manifest as more spacious than the heavens, for you bore your Creator! Glory to Him Who dwells in you! Glory to Him Who comes forth from you! Glory to Him Who frees us through your Child!” – Theotokion Hymn

Vicki Gans’ Homemade Toffee. Contact her at 812-679-8197 to place orders for Christmas.

 Boxes for Knitted Caps and Mittens/Gloves will be available throughout the winter to collect your donations for local school children.

Comunion: 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 Sunday School follows. The ushers then assist each row from front to back.  Those in the overflow behind the choir may follow adjacent rows.

Food Needs for the Bissell Family: As Leanne cares for her son Jordan, following his donation of a kidney to Sara, easy to serve soups and dishes would be appreciated for about one or two weeks.  Contact Marcia if you need her address and phone number.  Anything left at the church will be sent if you cannot go.  The only dietary restriction is no high sodium foods, but this does not mean no salt!

Last Call for the Annual Calendar: your dates for anniversaries, birthdays, and name day saints. Lbald3368@aol.com.

Sunday School for those in Grades One through 12 meets after Divine Liturgy.

 FOOD PANTRY: Please bring canned goods and non-perishables for the food pantry.  If you want to bring frozen meat or casseroles, please put them in the freezer in the pantry, but tell Marcia so we’ll know to look there. Thank you.

THIS WEEK

The Nativity Fast continues until Christmas.

Wednesday, December 10:  Daily Vespers at 6:00 – Orthodoxy 101 – “Iconology” with Fr. Peter Jon and Iconographer Sharon Catherine Kolasinski presenting.

Thursday, December 11: Bedford-Mitchell Fellowship 10-noon at the Haney’s in Mitchell

Thursday, December 11: SOYO at 6:00; Compline at 7:30, led by SOYO, but open to all.

Friday, December 12: Evening Liturgy at 6:00 – St. Herman of Alaska

Saturday, December 13: Open House for Women at Dee Haney’s – 11-2:00-All is provided.

You may want to meet at All Saints at 10:20 and carpool to Mitchell.

Saturday, December 13: Great Vespers at 5:00 – Followed by Adult Discussion Group at 7:00

Sunday, December 14: Matins at 8:50; Divine Liturgy at 10:00 – St. Lucia celebration

LOOKING AHEAD (MORE DECEMBER UPDATES ARE AT THE END OF THIS POST.)

 December 13: Hannah Gala at Clear Creek Christian Church 6:00

December 21: Caroling in the neighborhood is a new event this year. Caroling begins at 3:00

Reminder: our online calendar keeps you up to date if you do not have a calendar handy. www.allsaintsbloomington.org.

Blessed Name Day: Wyatt Crandall (13th – St. Herman); Aaron Hsu (13th – St. Herman)

Memory Eternal: James (8th); Jane (12th); Wilma (16th); Nicholas (21st)

Prayer List:  Susan; Zack Hogan; Jordan Bissell; Sara; Metojije; Shelley; Denise; Fr. Moses Berry; Geni; Frank & Becky Hrisomalos; Those with child: Kh. Kristina, Mary, Kathleen; Kh. Marilyn; Galina; John; Noah; Emily D; Emma; Kim; Barb; Shirley; Nancy; Neal; Lyuda; Patricia; Bob R; Alex; Nicetas; John; Leanne; Metropolitan Paul, Archbishop John; Kh. Loretta; Beth; Lillian; Julie; Roger; Virginia McCallister; Marilyn; Eric; Cheryl; Lori; Pam; Debbie; Natasha; Ioana; Michael & Shelley:  Gabriel; Mary; Doug; Janet; Kelly; Matushka Raisa; John C; Marty; Charles; Fr. John Koen; Archpriests Roman, George & Stephen; Eileen; Mary; Marvin, Alice; Katie; Deborah; Ruth; Steve; Kevin; Romaine; Derek, Claire & Micah; Tim; Preston; Sharon; Sherri; Dianna; Michael and Diane; Aaron; Brent; Jennifer; Brigid; Caleb; Korene; Dennis & Joyce; Ethan; Lena, Dean; Gayle; Thomas; Amy; Heidi; Gene & Connie; Cathi

Today’s Epistle and Gospel Readings

 Prokeimenon: “Let Thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us.”

Verse: “Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous!” Psalm 32:22, 1

Epistle: The Reading is from Saint Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians. (5:8-19)

                 Brethren, walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth), proving what is acceptable to the Lord; and have no communion with the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them; for it is a shame even to speak of the things which they do in secret.  But all things when they are exposed are made manifest by the light, for everything that is made manifest is light.  Therefore he says: “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine upon thee.”

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as unwise, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.  And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and chanting in your heart to the Lord.

Gospel: The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (13:10-17)

                 At that time, Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.  And there was a woman who had had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not fully straighten herself.  And when Jesus saw her, he called her and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your infirmity.”  And He laid His hands upon her, and immediately she was made straight, and she praised God.  But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, “There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.”  Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrite! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the manger, and lead it away to water it?  And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?”  As Jesus said this, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by Him.

Divine Liturgy Variables

Resurrectional Apolytikion – Tone 1

While the stone was sealed by the Jews, and the soldiers were guarding Thy most pure body, Thou didst arise on the third day, O Savior, granting life to the world; for which cause the heavenly pow’rs cried aloud unto Thee, O Giver of Life: Glory to Thy Resurrection, O Christ; Glory to Thy Kingdom; Glory to Thy Providence, O Thou Who alone art the lover of mankind!

 Kontakion of the Preparation of Christ’s Nativity – Tone 3

The Virgin cometh today, to the cave to give birth ,ineffably to bring forth the Word eternal, Therefore, rejoice, O earth,  at the message; with the angels and shepherds give glory to Him who shall appear by his own will as a young child; He Who is from eternity, God.

LOOKING AHEAD in DECEMBER

  • Saturday, December 13: Adult Discussion at 6:00 following Great Vespers

  (originally scheduled for December 20th)

Sunday, December 14: St. Lucia graces us with her crown of candles and sweets.

Friday, December 19: Evening Liturgy at 6:00 – St. Ignatius.

Sunday, December 21: Caroling in the neighborhood from 3-5, followed by a warm treat

Wednesday, December 24: Morning Services start at 9 am with Royal Hours of Christmas and followed by Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil.

Wednesday, December 24: Evening Services of Christmas begin at 9 pm with Orthros and followed by the Nativity Liturgy. A light feast concludes the services.

Saturday and Sunday, December 27 and 28: services at usual time with Myrrh Bearers on Sunday.

Wednesday, December 31 – NEW YEAR’S EVE: Evening Liturgy at 6 pm – St. Basil the Great.