Sunday, December 27, 2015
Proto-Martyr Stephen the Archdeacon
Sunday After the Nativity of Christ
Commemoration of Joseph the Betrothed, David the Prophet and King,
and James the Brother of the Lord
At All Saints, we warmly welcome our visitors as honored guests.
Nourishment of the Soul: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
(John 1:1,14)
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.
Today during Matins, Ezekiel Daniel Crandall will be baptized! He is the infant son of Matthew and Gabriella and grandson of Subdn. Daniel & Linda Barrett.
Bookstore: Get your Icon Calendars for 2016 now as the new year draws near. A new item is All Saints, long sleeved pullovers in black.
Happy Birthday: Adriana C (30th); Molly A (31st); Nancy J (31st); Stephanie D (Jan. 1st); Lina T (Jan. 1st)
Memory Eternal: Infant Athena (25th); Dr. Frank (2nd); Steve (6th); Marilyn (16th)
THIS WEEK
There is a dispensation from fasting until Epiphany.
Wednesday, December 30: Daily Vespers at 6:00
Thursday, December 31: Evening Liturgy on New Year’s Eve – Feast of the Circumcision of Christ and Commemoration of St. Basil the Great at 6:00 pm
Saturday, January 2: Great Vespers at 5:00
Sunday, January 3: Matins at 9:00; Divine Liturgy at 10:00
LOOKING AHEAD
January 5: Evening Liturgy on the Eve of Theophany with Caleb Lewis’s Chrismation and the Blessing of the Waters
- House Blessings will be scheduled after Theophany.
- January 26: Gathering in the Gazebo (in the social hall)– Myrrh Bearers will play games!
- February 1 & 2: Patronal Visit by Bishop ANTHONY
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.”
Prayer List: Archpriest Athanasius; James; Alex John; Jason; Steve D; Dee; Becky H.; Amal; Alexis T. ;Tom; Jake; Annie; Catherine; Janett; Jill; Kh. Kristina; Angie; Julian; Kh. Mary Sue Walker; Vicki; Hoppes in Albania, Jesse Brandow in Guatemala (OCMC Missionaries); Vivian; Natalie; Senior Saints; Patricia; Dee H.; John G; Nicetas; Barb; Shirley; Metropolitan Paul, Archbishop John; Kh. Loretta; Fr. John Koen; Archpriests George & Stephen; Adrian; Heather; Susan; Gabriella & Matt; Sara; Shelley; Geni; Those with child: Megan. Ashley, Rachel B.; Emily D; Emma; Kim; Nancy; Neal; Lyuda; Bob R; Leanne; Beth; Lillian; Julie; Roger; Virginia; Marilyn; Eric; Cheryl; Lori; Pam; Debbie; Natasha; Michael & Shelley: Gabriel; Mary; Doug; Janet; Kelly; Matushka Raisa; John C; Marty; Charles; 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; Dennis & Joyce; Ethan; Lena, Dean; Gayle; Thomas; Amy; Heidi; Gene & Connie
Today’s Epistle and Gospel Readings
Prokeimenon: “His sound has gone forth into all the earth.”
Verse: “The heavens declare the glory of God!” Psalm 18:4,1
Epistle: The Reading is from the Acts of the Holy Apostles. (6:8-15; 7:1-5, 47-60)
In those days, Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Then arose some of those who were of the synagogue, which was called the synagogue of the Libertines, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, and they disputed with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. Then they secretly instigated men, who said: “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him to the Sanhedrin, and set up false witnesses who said: “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the Law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and will change the customs which Moses handed down to us.” And gazing at him, all who sat in the Sanhedrin saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
And the chief priest said: “Are these things so?” And he said: “Men, brethren and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, and said to him: ‘Depart from your land and from your kindred and go into the land which I will show you.’ Then he departed from the land of the Chaldeans, and lived in Haran. And after his father died, God removed him from there into this land in which you are now living; yet he gave him no inheritance in it not even a foot-step.”
“But Solomon built a house for Him. Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made with hands; as the prophet says: ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What house will you build for me? says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? Did not my hand make all these things?’ You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, Whom you have now become betrayers and murderers, you who received the Law as it was ordained by angels, and did not keep it.”
Now when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart and they ground their teeth against him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said: “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed upon him with one accord. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him; and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called upon the Lord and said: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And he knelt down and cried with a loud voice: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Gospel: The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (2:13-23)
When the wise men had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the Child and His mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the Child, to destroy Him.” And he rose and took the Child and His mother by night, and departed to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt have I called My Son.” Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, was in a furious rage, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region, who were two years old or under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they were no more.” But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Rise, take the Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the Child’s life are dead.” And he rose and took the Child and His mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus reigned over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. And he went and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”
Divine Liturgy Variables
2nd Antiphon
Save us, O Son of God, Who wast born of a Virgin, who sing to Thee. Alleluia.
Resurrectional Apolytikion – Tone 5
Let us believers praise and worship the Word; co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit, born of the Virgin for our salvation. For, He took pleasure in ascending the Cross in the flesh to suffer death; and to raise the dead by His glorious Resurrection.
Apolytikion for the Nativity – Tone 4
Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, has shown to the world the Light of Wisdom; for by it those who followed the star, were led by a star to adore Thee; the son of righteousness and to know Thee the Orient from on High, O Lord, glory to Thee.
Apolytikion of the Sunday after the Nativity – Tone 2
Proclaim, O Joseph, to David, the grandparent of God, the amazing wonders; for thou hast seen a Virgin great with child; for with the shepherds thou didst give glory, with the Magi thou didst worship, and by the angel it was revealed to thee. Wherefore, plead thou with Christ God to save our souls.
Apolytikion of St. Stephen – Tone 4
The crown of the Kingdom hath adorned the brow of thy head because of the contests that thou hast endured for Christ God, thou first of the martyred Saints, for when thou hadst censured the Jews’ madness, thou sawest Christ thy Savior standing at the right hand of the Father. O Stephen, ever pray him for us, that He would save our souls.
Kontakion of Christ’s Nativity – Tone 3
The Virgin brings forth today, the Omnipotent One, and the earth offers a cave to the Unapproachable One. Angels give glory with shepherds, and the magi journey with the star; when for our sakes was born as a new babe; He Who is from eternity God.