Forefeast of &
Sunday before the Theophany of Christ
Holy Prophet Malachi; Martyr Gordios of Cappadocia;
Venerable Thomais the Wonderworker of Lesbos; Venerable Genevieve of Paris
Nourishment of the Soul: “The primary lesson for life must be implanted in the soul from the earliest age. The primary lesson for children is to know the eternal God, the One Who gives everlasting life.” – St. Clement of Rome
Christ is Born! Glorify Him!
THIS WEEK
Tuesday Morning, January 5: Royal Hours of Theophany and Typika at 9:00
Wednesday Morning, January 6: Festal Matins/Divine Liturgy of Theophany at 9:00 with the Great Blessing of the Waters
Wednesday, Evening: There will be no Daily Vespers.
Saturday, January 9: Live-Streamed Great Vespers at 5:00: SOYO at 6:00 – 8:00
Sunday, January 10: Live-Streamed Matins at 9:00; Divine Liturgy at 10:00
Sidewalk Alert! With all of the rain we’ve been having, the straw-covered area of the lawn has become quite a muddy mess! Please use the new sidewalks instead of walking across the straw-strewn lawn whenever possible, and avoid tracking mud and straw into the church. If children want access to the playground, please help them learn to enter on the old grassy areas, further from the church entrance. Thank you.
House Blessings will be a bit different this year. Please expect an announcement from Fr. Peter Jon with details in the coming week.
Attendance at All Saints Services: Everyone is now welcome to attend ALL Divine Services without signing up. As our attendance numbers rise again in the near future, the need for a sign-up sheet may return. We will keep you posted. In the meantime, please stay home if you are not feeling well, and we will continue checking temperatures at the door.
FINAL WEEK of Teen SOYO Project: As you know, our teens are collecting much-needed items for young children served by the Women’s Care Center and Hannah House. Items needed are as follows: Diapers, sizes newborn, 1, 5 & 6; Boys pull-ups, size 5 & 6; Girls pull-ups, size 5 & 6; Fragrance-free wipes. Please bring your items to the church by next Sunday, January 10th. Thank you in advance for your generosity. – Fr. Peter Jon
Lifetouch Church Directories have arrived! These are free to those who had their portraits taken in January of 2020. If your data has changed since last January, you may post changes on the hall bulletin board if you choose.
LOOKING FORWARD to JANUARY
14th – St. Nina, Enlightener of Georgia
16th – Chains of St. Peter
17th – St. Anthony the Great
24th – St. Xenia of St. Petersburg
EPISTLE and GOSPEL READINGS
The Reading is from St. Paul’s Second Epistle to St. Timothy. (4:5-8)
(For the Sunday before the Theophany of Christ)
O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance. Unto Thee will I cry, O Lord my God.
Timothy, my son, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing.
The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark. (1:1-8)
(For the Sunday before the Theophany of Christ)
The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” John the Baptizer appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, “After me comes He Who is mightier than I, the strap of Whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
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 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 of the Forefeast of Theophany – Tone 4
Be thou ready, Zabulon; prepare thyself, O Nephthalim. * River Jordan, stay thy course and skip for gladness to receive * the Sovereign Master, Who cometh now to be baptized. * O Adam, be thou glad with our first mother, Eve; * hide not as ye did of old in Paradise. * Seeing you naked, He hath appeared now * to clothe you in the first robe again. * Christ hath appeared, for He truly willeth to renew all creation.
Kontakion of the Forefeast of Theophany – Tone 4
In the running waters of * the Jordan River, * on this day the Lord of all * crieth to John: Be not afraid * and hesitate not to baptize Me, * for I am come to save Adam, the first-formed man.
FAMILY NEWS
Moslener Update: We want to give you the correct mailing address for Fr. Seraphim and Kh. Paraskeva now that they are no longer living near the church with Kh. Marilyn. Fr. Seraphim (Ron) and Kh. Paraskeva (Patricia) . 519 Clydesdale Avenue . Elwood City, PA 16117-2508; moslener.ronald@gmail.com or ammamoz@gmail.com
Anniversary Celebration: Darryl & Nancy J (4th)
Happy Birthday: Emily W (3rd); John A (5th); Charles C (8th); Luke B (9th); Hal S (9th)
Name Day Blessings:Emily W (St. Emilia – 3rd); Johanna H (St. Emilia – 3rd); Jennifer R (St. Genevieve – 3rd); Micah F (Prophet Micah -5th); John A (St. John the Baptist – 7th); John L (St. John the Baptist – 7th); Brian O (St. John the Baptist – 7th)
Prayer List:Fr. Peter Jon; Fr. Athanasius; Fr. Gabriel; Immimk family with Covid;Heidi; Fr. Jerome; our nation and our nation’s leaders at all levels of government; world-wide pandemic; nursing home residents and caregivers; schools, school children, youth and personnel across the nation. The People of Beirut; Bonnie Thelen (awaiting kidney transplant); Wadia; Jayci; Dee, Patricia, Marvin A, Benedict, Judith Ann, Cleo, Michael; Olga, Eileen; Kitsa Wiersteiner; Aphrodite and son Angelos in Greece; Violet; Kim; Dusty; Betsy; Allison; Robin & Janet; Mary Ann; Vicki; Mat. Raisa; Isaac (Covid) – in Air Force; Andrew for education decisions; Fr. Marc; Fr. George; George; Catherine (not in this parish); Leanne; Heather; Nancy; Sharon Catherine; Alice & Marvin; Kh. Kristina; Bonnie; Emma; Patricia; Mary & Robert; Shirley; Rose; Lexi, Ross & Vivian; Theo; Doug Barrett; Jeremy; Charles; Grayson; Marcia & Deacon; Nick; Bruce; Joanna & Demetrios; Ashlee W; Paul; Cathy; Sitto; Elias; Waded; Neva; Bill; Lonnie; Nancy & Shalana; Seraphima; Lilly’s family; Jennifer & Regina; those suffering in the drug crisis, with fire devastation, flood damage, and earthquake damage; those suffering in the Middle East.
Donations to the church are being made online at www.allsaintsbloomington.org and by U.S. mail. Thank you for continuing to support the church.
SAFETY PRACTICES
Coffee Hour Procedures: Safety directives are being followed. Rhonda, serving as chair of the Myrrh Bearers, is the point person. Please contact her to volunteer donations.
…The Monroe County Health Department requires masks to be worn by those worshipping outdoors when social distancing (6 feet apart) cannot be observed. All are still required to wear masks indoors unless a medical condition prevents them from safely doing so, or unless one is a designated chanter/server.
… Attendance at All Saints Services: Everyone is now welcome to attend ALL Divine Services without signing up. As our attendance numbers rise again in the near future, the need for a sign-up sheet may return. We will keep you posted. In the meantime, please stay home if you are not feeling well, and we will continue checking temperatures at the door.
…Teen SOYO gather after Great Vespers each Saturday while respecting social distancing practices.
Donations to the church are being made online at www.allsaintsbloomington.org and by U.S. mail. Thank you for continuing to support the church.