Sunday before the Nativity of Christ (The Genealogy)
Martyrs Boniface and Aglaïs of Rome; Boniface the merciful, Bishop of Ferentino in Tuscany;
Martyrs Eutychios and Thessalonica and their companions
Thought for Today: “Upon awakening from sleep – an image of the awakening from the dead, which awaits all – direct your thoughts to God, offering up to Him the first-thoughts of your mind, which has not yet become imprinted with any vain impressions whatsoever.”
+ St. Ignatius Brianchaninov
Welcome: Today Naomi (Ruth) Burhoe, Melissa (Martha) Barbarick and son Casey (Sergius) are being chrismated. Abigail, infant daughter of Catherine and Lance Cowan, is being baptized. May God grant them many years!
Tornado Relief: Due to the generosity of the All Saints faithful, we were able to send $3,500 for tornado relief in Kentucky.
Warm Mittens, gloves, hats and scarves can find their first home in the big box in the hallway. Cathy Alexander will then take them during the cold winter months to local schools for distribution to needy children. Please donate as you are able.
St. Nicholas Tree: Continuing our local tradition, we encourage you to place gift cards on a small tree in the fellowship hall. Fr. Peter Jon will then give the cards to families who need help during this Christmas season. Cards from Kroger, Sam’s/Walmart and other local merchants as well as gas cards are always helpful. God loves a cheerful giver!
Annual Calendar: The calendar details are being updated now.If your information was not on this year’s calendar or was incorrect, please email Marcia at lbald3368@aol.com or leave a note on her desk. We print dates for anniversaries, birthdays, and name days.
THIS WEEK
Wednesday, December 22: Daily Vespersat 6:00; Ask Abouna. O101 will resume in early 2022.
Friday, December 24: Royal Hours of Christmas at 9am – Christmas Eve Day
Friday, December 24: Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil at 4pm – Christmas Eve Day
Saturday, December 25: Matins and Divine Liturgy at 9am – Christmas Day; (There will be no Great Vespers or SOYO Saturday evening)
Sunday, December 26: Matins at 9:00; Divine Liturgy at 10:00
EPISTLE and GOSPEL READINGS
The Reading is from St. Paul’s Epistle to the Hebrews. (11:9-10, 32-40)
(For the Sunday before the Nativity)
Blessed are Thou, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
For Thou art just in all that Thou hast done to us.
Brethren, by faith Abraham sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, and put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated—of whom the world was not worthy—wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. 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.
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.
DIVINE LITURGY VARIABLES for CHOIR and PARISH
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 of 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 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!
FAMILY NEWS
Teen SOYO Diaper Drive nears the finish line at Christmas!
The Nativity Fast: Tomorrow, December 20, as we enter the five-day Forefestal period of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, we observe the traditional fasting discipline: no meat, poultry, eggs, dairy, fish, wine and oil. Katalysis (allowance) for wine and oil is made only on Saturday and Sunday.
Anniversary Blessings: Phil & Deborah C (23rd)
Birthday Celebrations: Laura C(20th); Griffin F (21st); Jonathan H (22nd); Alexandra S (22nd); Nicholas S (22nd)
Name Day Blessings: Elijah G (St. Boniface – 19th); Juliana B (St. Juliana – 21st); Chris S (Christmas Day)
Memory Eternal: Lois; Richard; Barb; Catherine ‘Amy’ McCormick; Bobby (Max’s uncle); Tate
Prayer List: Adrian and Marah Polit;Jake Immimk (hospitalized); Fr. Athanasius Wilson; Jack;Christopher; Tornado victims; Covid-19 resurgence; refugees and immigrants; our nation and nation’s leaders at all levels of government; schools: school children, youth and personnel across the nation; Nancy; April; Don; Vicki; Mat. Raisa;; Ingrid, Fr. Jerome; Catherine;Awanda; Anastasia with child; Bonnie Thelen; Wadia; Jayci; Dee, Patricia, Marvin, Alice; Michael; Olga; Eileen; Soren; Kitsa; Apthrodite and Angelos; Kim; Dusty, Cari; Betsy, Josh; Allison; Andrew and Isaac ( Korea/military); Leanne; Heather; Nancy; Sharon Catherine; Emma; Lexi, Ross and Vivian; Theo; Doug; Jeremy; Marcia & Deacon; Elias; Waded; Seraphima; Lilly’s family; Jennifer; Christy