Sunday, December 17, 2017
Sunday of Forefathers (Ancestors) of Christ
Prophet Daniel and the Three Holy Youths Ananias, Azarias and Mishael;
Dionysios of Zakynthos, the wonderworker; New Martyrs Paisios the hieromonk
and his disciple Habakkuk the deacon of Belgrade
Visitors are honored guests at All Saints.
Nourishment of the Soul: “Since we have come to know the present life in detail, let us, in addition, remember the things of heaven as well. Having tasted of earthly foods, let us now have an appetite for the Divine. Having been satisfied by the ephemeral material light, let us yearn for the Son of Righteousness. Let us be moved by powerful nostalgia for the Jerusalem on high, and let us strive to see it as our mother and homeland. Let us spend the rest of our lives guided by the hope for heavenly blessedness, that we may, therefore, be able to enjoy also eternal good things.” – St. Syncletica of Alexandria
Social Hour: Scheduled contributors this Sunday are those whose last names begin with G-H. Fasting Foods are served during social hour until Christmas Eve.
Summer Camp Registration started December 11th. Visit antiochian.org for the link!
Offering Envelope Books: Each year we offer new books for your donations to the church. This year we will do the same, but will not assign a NUMBER on the book to you. We are noticing that possibly some of you will not need a new book, but could continue to use previous books. However, it will be good to sign your name on the sheet by the book you take, so we will have record of it. Just a note to say that the date stamped on the envelope does not have to correspond to the date used. Your enclosed check or cash will be accounted for on the date you drop it into the offering plate! Select yours in the narthex.
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.
THIS WEEK
Wednesday, December 20: Daily Vespers at 6:00
Thursday, December 21: St. John Fellowship meets at the Haney’s home 10:00 – Noon
Friday, December 22: Royal Hours of the Nativity and Typika are served starting at 9am
Saturday, December 23: Great Vespers at 5:00
Sunday Morning, December 24: Matins at 9:00; Divine Liturgy at 10:00
Sunday Evening, December 24: Festal Orthros and Festal Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great beginning at 9:00; Break-the-Fast light meal follows.
FAMILY NOTES
Birthday Blessings: Fr. Peter Jon (18th); Laura C (20th); Nicholas A (21st); Griffin F (21st) Alexandra S (22nd); Nicholas S (22nd); Alex of blessed memory on his birthday – 21st)
Name Day Remembrance: Subdn. Daniel B (Prophet Daniel – 17th); Daniel R (Prophet Daniel – 17th); Vanden L (St. Ignatius – 20th)
Memory Eternal: Chester Przybyla (November 14th); William Bardonner (December 1st); Wilber Field (December 5th); Walter Romanyshak (9th)
Please Note that the Prayer List, printed here, will be emptied on December 31st.
Please contact Marcia if you want names added in January. Father keeps another list at the altar.
Prayer List: Amal; Maria; Vivian; Walter; Becky; Greg; Emilija; Adrian (Olga’s brother); Bosa; Cathy;”For the suffering Christians of Egypt, Syria, Palestine, Iraq, & all of the Middle East, and for those suffering in Ukraine and victims of recent hurricanes, earthquakes, and attacks; Fr. Steven Rudy (cancer); Finley (infant girl); Fr. Basil; Fr. Philip; Grant (Leukemia); Chris; Doug & Dorothy Barrett; Eileen; Dee and Don; Kh. Kristina; Mary Ann & Jen; Betsy and Hannah; Leslie (paralysis); Jasmine; Deborah & Thomas; James; Tom; Annie; Catherine; Janett; Julian; Vicki; Hoppes & Jesse Brandow (Missionaries); Natalie; Senior Saints; Patricia; Nicetas; Barb; Shirley; Metropolitan Paul, Archbishop John; Fr. John Koen; Archpriest George; Heather; Susan; Gabriella & Matt; Sara; Shelley; 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 C; Brigid; Ethan; Lena, Dean; Gayle; Thomas; Amy; Heidi; Gene & Connie, Caleb D; Megan & Colin; Bill & Sandy; Sabrina; Christy; Pete; Phil & Barb; Tammy K; Jennifer A.
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 for us.” Daniel 3:26,27
Epistle: The Reading is from St. Paul’s Epistle to the Colossians. (3:4-11)
Brethren, when Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these, the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience. In these you once walked, when you lived in them. But now put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and foul talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old nature with its practices and have put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator. Here there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free man, but Christ is all, and in all.
Gospel: The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (14:16-24)
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 3
Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad, for the Lord hath done a mighty act with His own arm. He hath trampled down death by death, and become the first-born from the dead. He hath delivered us from the depths of Hades, granting the world the Great Mercy.
Apolytikion of 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 it was she 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, at 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.