Sunday, December 18, 2016
Sunday before the Nativity of Christ (The Genealogy)
Martyrs Sebastian and Zoe of Rome, and those with them
Visitors are welcome at each service or social event at All Saints.
Nourishment of the Soul: “No one, however weak, is denied a share in the victory of the cross. No one is beyond the help of the prayer of Christ. His prayer bought benefit to the multitude that raged against Him. How much more does it bring to those who turn to Him in repentance. ” – St. Leo the Great
Orthodoxy 101: “Icon Study” is the theme of Fr. Peter Jon’s class on Wednesday, December 21st after Daily Vespers, around 7:00. This will be the last O101 for 2016.
Gift cards are still being received after the huge loss during last Monday’s break-in. A parishioner has anonymously replaced $500 of the $1000 gift cards stolen in Monday’s break-in, and challenges anyone to match the gift in the spirit of the Holy Season! Contributions to the benevolence fund are equally helpful and may save you a trip to purchase cards.
Coffee Hour Foods: Contributors this Sunday are those whose last names start with G – H. 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.
If you plan to be away from Bloomington during December, you can offer your tithes and offerings and benevolence offerings online at www.allsaintsbloomington.org.
The Christmas letter from His Grace, Bishop ANTHONY, is included in today’s printed bulletin.
Parish Council meets today in Fr. Peter Jon’s office around Noon.
THIS WEEK
The Nativity Fast continues with prayers, fasting, and almsgiving.
Wednesday, December 21: Daily Vespers at 6:00 – O101 at 7:00
Friday Morning, December 23: Royal Hours at 9:00
Saturday Morning, December 24: Baptismal Liturgy at 9:00 [ Baptism (Reed) & Chrismation (Heidi) ]
Saturday Evening, December 24: Christmas Eve Orthros (Matins) at 9:00 p.m. with Divine Liturgy around 10:00. A light break- the- fast menu will be served afterward.
Sunday, December 25: Christ is Born! Glorify Him! Celebrate with family and friends. No services are planned today at the church.
LOOKING AHEAD
The regular service schedule resumes after Christmas Day with Daily Vespers on Wednesday and Great Vespers on Saturday, New Year’s Eve.
FAMILY NOTES
Birthday Greetings: Fr. Peter Jon (18th); Laura C (20th); Alex John A (21st); Nicholas A (21st); Griffin F (21st); Alexandra S (22nd); Nicholas S (22nd)
Name Day Blessings: Van L (St. Ignatius – 20th)
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.” Fr. Steven Rudy (cancer); Subdn. Daniel (successful knee surgery last Thursday); 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 (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: “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 Hebrews. (11:9-10, 32-40)
Brethren, by faith Abraham sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. For he expected a city which has foundations, whose Builder and Maker is God.
And what more shall I say? for the time would fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Sampson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and all the prophets, who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, and turned to flight armies of the aliens.
Women received their dead by resurrection, and others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. And others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted, they were slain with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, being destitute, afflicted, tormented (of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, having obtained a witness through their faith, did not receive the promise, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
Gospel: The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew. (1:1-25)
(For the Sunday before the Nativity: “The Genealogy”)
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Aram, and Aram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asa, and Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amon, and Amon the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, Who is called Christ. So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ were fourteen generations. Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call His Name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and His Name shall be called Emmanuel” (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him; he took his wife, but knew her not until she had borne a son; and he called His Name Jesus.
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 powers 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.
Apolytikion for the Sunday before the Nativity – Tone 2
Great are the accomplishments of faith; for the three holy youths rejoiced in the fountain of flames as though at waters of rest. And the Prophet Daniel appeared a shepherd to the lions as though they were sheep. Wherefore, by their prayers, 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.