Sunday, December 04, 2016
Great-martyr Barbara of Syria
Venerable John of Damascus
Martyr Juliana; New-hieromartyr Seraphim, bishop of Phanarion in Greece
Visitors are welcome at each service or social event at All Saints.
Nourishment of the Soul: “We prepare to receive Christ at Christmas by opening our hearts and souls to His salvation—not by mastering laws—but by true repentance.” – Fr Philip LeMasters
Orthodoxy 101: Dr. John Craton will present Christ in the Old Testament on Wednesday, December 7th after Daily Vespers around 7:00.
If you plan to be away from Bloomington during December, you can offer your tithes online at www.allsaintsbloomington.org.
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.
Saturday, December 10: Dee Haney and her daughters will host a Pre-Christmas party, at her home in Mitchell. Plan to arrive at 11:00 and stay until around 2:00 for food, fellowship and fun. If you need directions, contact April (sblair215@ gmail.com) or arrive at All Saints around 10:00 to carpool or caravan.
Coffee Hour Foods: The parish council is reviewing and considering the best way to organize coffee hour food donations going forward. In the meantime, please continue to bring food to share according to your alphabetically assigned Sunday each month. See April Blair with any questions. Coffee Hour contributors this Sunday are those whose last names start with A-Ba.
THIS WEEK
The Nativity Fast continues with prayers, fasting, and almsgiving.
Wednesday, December 7: Daily Vespers at 6:00 – O101 at 7:00
Thursday, December 8: Bedford-Mitchell Fellowship at the Haney Home from 10 am -Noon
Saturday, December 10: Women’s Pre-Christmas Open House at the Haney’s – 11:00-2:00
Saturday, December 10: Great Vespers at 5:00
Sunday, December 11: Matins at 9:00; Divine Liturgy at 10:00 – St. Lucia arrives with her crown of lights (Pola M)
LOOKING AHEAD
Christmas Services: Friday, December 23-Royal Hours at 9:00 followed by a brief Typika; Saturday, December 24th – Great Vespers 9:00 am – Christmas 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: The next one this month is at Becky’s home on December 15. None will be scheduled again until February.
FAMILY NOTES
Birthday Greetings: Zane N (10th)
Name Day Blessings: Abe L (St. John of Damascus – 4th); Barbara B (4th); Nicholas A (6th); Nicholas S (6th)
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.” Fr. Basil; Fr. Philip: Grant (Leukemia); Chris; Shalayna (gall bladder surgery); 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; 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: “God is wondrous in His saints.”
Verse: “In the churches bless ye God!” Psalm 67:35,27
Epistle: The Reading from St. Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians. (3:23-4:5)
(For St. Barbara)
Brethren, before faith came, we were preserved under the Law, enclosed within, until the faith would afterward be revealed. The Law then was our tutor leading us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is no male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to promise.
Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ much from the bond-servant, though he is lord of all; but he is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the rudiments of the world: But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order to redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
Gospel: The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (13:10-17)
At that time, Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And there was a woman who had had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. And when Jesus saw her, He called her and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your infirmity.” And He laid His hands upon her, and immediately she was made straight, and she praised God. But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, “There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrite! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the manger, and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” As Jesus said this, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by Him.
Divine Liturgy Variables
Resurrectional Apolytikion – Tone 7
Thou didst shatter death by Thy Cross; Thou didst open paradise to the thief; Thou didst turn the sadness of the ointment-bearing women into joy. And didst bid Thine Apostles proclaim a warning, that Thou hast risen, O Christ, granting to the world the Great Mercy.
Apolytikion for St. Barbara – Tone 4
Let us honor the all-revered Saint Barbara; for she demolished the gins of the adversary, and escaped from them like a sparrow by the help and weapon of the Cross.
Apolytikion for St. John of Damascus – Tone 3
Ye faithful, come let us honor with songs of praise * the comely sounding and sweet-spoken nightingale, * who doth adorn and captivate the Church of Christ with his sweet songs: * John, the all-wise Damascene, * let us honor resplendently, * the divine and eloquent, * and the chief of hymnographers; * who verily was filled to the utmost * with every divine and earthly wisdom.
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.