Sunday, June 24, 2018
Nativity of the Forerunner and Baptist John
New-martyr Panayiotis of Caesarea in Cappadocia

We extend a warm welcome to our visitors.

Nourishment of the Soul: “Be the Shepherd of those who have gone astray, the Guide and Light of unbelievers, the Teacher of the foolish, the Father of orphans, the Helper of the oppressed, the Healer of the sick, the Comforter of the downtrodden. And lead us all to our desired end: to Thee, our Haven and blessed Rest.” – St. Parthenius of Kiev Pechersk

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.

Thomas Przybyla is available to mow lawns, paint, or do any other number of needed jobs around your home this summer. Please call him at (812) 929-1766 with any requests.

Annual Fourth of July Celebration at All Saints: Beginning at 7 PM on Tuesday, July 3, we will celebrate America’s independence with a barbecue at All Saints. Fireworks will commence at 9:45 PM. The church will provide meat, and all are encouraged to bring their favorite side dish. Look for the sign up sheet to be posted in the hall.

Parish Council Meeting and Myrrh Bearers have meetings today: each begins around noon.

THIS WEEK

The Apostle’s Fast continues until June 29th. Fish and Wine are allowed mostly on weekends.
If you have questions, check www.antiochian.org or copies in the rack in the hallway.

Wednesday, June 27: Daily Vespers at 6:00
Thursday, June 28:Bible Study at Becky’s home; 3:00 – 5:00
Thursday, June 28: Evening Liturgy for Ss. Peter & Paul at 6:00
Friday, June 29: Akathist to the Protection of the Theotokos at 6:00
Saturday, June 30: Great Vespers at 5:00
Sunday, July 1: Matins at 9:00; Divine Liturgy at 10:

LOOKING AHEAD

…July 1st: Leanne moves to an apartment in Evergreen Village. A list is being compiled of things she will need as she relocates so we, her church family, can help.
…July 3rd – Fourth of July Celebration, beginning at 7:00 with Fireworks at 9:45
…Mad Hatters Tea Party – July 14 – Ladies, choose your hat for an elegant (or simply funny) tea party at the church.
…Clergy Symposium at Antiochian Village – July 16-20

FAMILY NOTES

Anniversary Blessings: Mark & Shirley R (24th); Fr. Peter Jon & Kh. Kristina (30th)

Memory Eternal: Betty (9th); Pat (20th)

Prayer List: Eileen; Lucia & Cora (Romania); Leeanne; Ashlee W; Kh. Kristina & Anthony; Vivian; Paul; Caden, Dylan & Maddie; Marvin & Alice; Cathy; Sitto; Elias; Waded; Neva; Bill; Lonnie; Fr. George; Iva Lee & Jim; Adrian T; Nancy & Shalayna; Hannah & Ty; Seraphima; Lilly’s family; those suffering in the drug crisis in the USA; safety in public places; Metropolitan Paul; Archbishop John

Today’s Epistle and Gospel Readings

Prokeimenon: “The righteous shall rejoice in the Lord .”
Verse: “O God, hear my voice when I cry unto Thee.” (Psalm 63:11,1)

Epistle: The Reading is from St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans. (13:11-14:4)

Brethren, salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not for disputes over opinions. One believes he may eat anything, while the weak man eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains pass judgment on him who eats; for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for God is able to make him stand.

Gospel: The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (1:1-25, 57-68, 76, 80)

Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things which have been accomplished among us, just as they were delivered to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the truth concerning the things of which you have been informed. In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, it fell to him by lot to enter the Temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth; for he will be great before the Lord, and he shall drink neither wine nor strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things come to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and they wondered at his delay in the temple. And when he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he made signs to them and remained dumb. And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home. After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she hid herself, saying, “Thus the Lord has done to me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.” Now the time came for Elizabeth to be delivered, and she gave birth to a son. And her neighbors and kinsfolk heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they would have named him Zacharias after his father, but his mother said, “Not so; he shall be called John.” And they said to her, “None of your kindred is called by this name.” And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he would have him called. And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all marveled. And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea; and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him. And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people. And you, child, will be called the Prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways.” And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his manifestation to Israel.

Divine Liturgy Variables

Resurrectional Apolytikion – Tone 3
Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad, for the Lord hath done a mighty act with His own arm. He hath trampled down death by death, and become the first-born from the dead. He hath delivered us from the depths of Hades, granting the world the Great Mercy.

Apolytikion of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist – Tone 4
O prophet and Forerunner of Christ God’s coming to us, * all we, who with longing now extol thee, are at a loss to honor thee worthily. * For thy mother’s barrenness and father’s long silence, * by thine all-renowned and hallowed birth, were both ended, * and the Incarnation of the Son of God is preached unto all the world.

Koinonikon (Communion Hymn – Tone 8
In everlasting remembrance shall the righteous be; he shall not be afraid of evil tidings. Alleluia.