Sunday, December 11, 2016
Sunday of Forefathers (Ancestors) of Christ
Venerable Daniel the Stylite; Luke the New Stylite of Chalcedon;
Nikon “the dry” of the Kiev Caves; Venerable Leontios of Achaia; Martyr Barsabbas of Persia
Visitors are welcome at each service or social event at All Saints.
Nourishment of the Soul: “A great mystery has been performed through Mary, a mystery that exceeds all understanding and knowledge. The Mother of God (the Theotokos) has received tremendous powers, in virtue of which she is greater than all the saints we honor.” — St. Basil of Seleucia
Orthodoxy 101: “Sacred Objects” is the theme of Fr. Peter Jon’s class on Wednesday, December 14th after Daily Vespers, around 7:00.
Christmas Tree in Social Hall: Each year gift cards are placed on the Christmas Tree. These may be cards from variety stores, grocery stores, restaurants, or gas stations. Share the joy of the Nativity of Christ by donating to brighten the season for others. Father Peter Jon will distribute them as they arrive. There has been a tremendous outpouring of love so far this December.
Coffee Hour Foods: Contributors this Sunday are those whose last names start with Be-F (This is a small group). Also if everyone pitched in at clean up, even busing their own table, then one or two would not be left with all the kitchen work.
St. Lucia, portrayed by Pola Mullis, arrives with her crown of lights and rolls again this Sunday. The actual Feast Day is December 13th, but we celebrate on the Sunday closest to the day. We have an ongoing list of the ages of our young girls so the next oldest one is selected each year, just in case you have wondered.
If you plan to be away from Bloomington during December, you can offer your tithes and offerings online at www.allsaintsbloomington.org.
Today is Choir and Chanter Appreciation Sunday.
THIS WEEK
The Nativity Fast continues with prayers, fasting, and almsgiving.
Wednesday, December 14: Daily Vespers at 6:00 – O101 at 7:00
Thursday, December 15: Bible Study at Becky’s home 3:00 – 5:00
Saturday, December 17: Great Vespers at 5:00
Sunday, December 18: Matins at 9:00; Divine Liturgy at 10:00 – Parish Council meeting
LOOKING AHEAD
CHRISTMAS SERVICES
Friday, December 23: Royal Hours at 9:00 a.m. followed by a brief Typika
Saturday, December 24: Good news! We will have a baptismal liturgy on Christmas Eve morning at 9:00 a.m. instead of vespers. Perhaps the first time ever at All Saints, and it should be beautiful !
Saturday, December 24: Christmas Eve Orthros (Matins) at 9:00 p.m. with Divine Liturgy following around 10:00 p.m. A light break- the- fast menu will be served afterward.
Women’s Bible Study: None will be scheduled again, after this week, until February.
FAMILY NOTES
Name Day Blessings: St. Herman on Dec. 13th [Wyatt C; Aaron H] St. Lucia on Dec. 13th [Lucia T]; Prophet Daniel on Dec. 17th [Subdn. Daniel B; Daniel R]
Memory Eternal:; Phil (11/2); 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.” Subdn. Daniel (surgery – 15th); Fr. Basil; Fr. Philip; Grant (Leukemia); Chris; Doug & Dorothy Barrett, Subdn. Daniel’s brother and sister-in-law; Eileen & Olga; the Tabbals; Mary Ann; Dee and Don; Kh.Kristina; Betsy and Hannah; Leslie (paralysis); Jasmine; Deborah & Thomas; Iva; James; Alex John; 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 surgery last Friday; Katie; Ruth; Steve; Romaine; Derek, Claire & Micah; Tim; Sharon; Sherri; Dianna; Michael and Diane; Aaron; Brent; Jennifer; Brigid; Dennis; Ethan; Lena, Dean; Gayle; Thomas; Amy; Heidi; Gene & Connie, Caleb D; Megan & Colin; Bill & Sandy.
Today’s Epistle and Gospel Readings
Prokeimenon: “Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the God of our Fathers.”
Verse:”For Thou art just in all that Thou hast done to us.”Daniel 3: 26-27 OSB
Epistle: The Reading from St. Paul’s Epistle to the Colossians. (3:4-11)
(For the Holy Forefathers)
Brethren, when Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you will also appear with Him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idol worship; for the sake of such things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience; therein you also once walked, when you lived in these things. But now you also put them all away: anger, malice, blasphemy, and filthy language out of your mouths. Do not lie to one another, having put off the old man with his works; and having put on the new man who is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of his Creator, where there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bond, or free; but Christ is all, and in all.
Gospel: The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (14:16-24)
(For the Holy Forefathers)
The Lord spoke this parable: “A man once gave a great banquet, and invited many; and at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come; for all is now ready.’ But, one by one, they all began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it; I pray you, have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them; I pray you, have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ So the servant came and reported this to his master. Then the householder in anger said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and maimed and blind and lame.’ And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges, and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Divine Liturgy Variables
Resurrectional Apolytikion – Tone 8
From the heights Thou didst descend, O Compassionate One, and Thou didst submit to the three-day burial, that Thou might deliver us from passion; Thou art our life and our Resurrection, O Lord, glory to Thee.
Apolytikion for the Forefathers – Tone 2
Thou hast justified by faith the ancient Forefathers, and through them Thou hast gone before and betrothed unto Thyself the Church of the Gentiles. Let the saints, therefore, take pride in glory; for from their seed sprouted forth a noble fruit, and she it was who gave birth to Thee without seed. Wherefore, by their pleadings, O Christ God, save our souls.
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 with the message; with the angels and shepherds give Glory to Him, who by His own will was born as a new babe. He Who from Eternity is God.
(Words may vary.)
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.