Sunday, November 27, 2016
Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost
Great-martyr James the Persian
Venerable Palladios of Thessalonica; Venerable Nathanael of Nitria in Egypt;
James the wonderworker, bishop of Rostov
Visitors are welcome at each service or social event at All Saints.
Nourishment of the Soul: “Share what you have, lest you lose what you have. Spend what you possess on the needs of others in order to keep what you possess. Do not cling to what you own, lest it be taken away from you. Do not hoard your treasures, lest they rot and become worthless. Entrust all your wealth to God, because then it is protected against all who want to steal or destroy it.” – St. John Chrysostom
Orthodoxy 101: Father Peter Jon will present Fr. Thomas Hopko’s CD on C.S. Lewis’s Abolition of Man on Wednesday, November, 30th 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.
Parish Council officers for 2016-2017: President – Father Peter Jon; Chair – Daniel Rigsby; Vice-chair – Barbara Grinder; Secretary – Shirley Richardson; Treasurer – Marcia Baldwin.
Myrrh Bearers meet briefly around 11:50 today.
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.
Bring your friends both young and not so young to St. Nicholas Night on December 3rd. Great Vespers is at 5:00 and the Celebration is from 6:00-7:30 (Cookies and Cider donations are needed)- St. Nicholas appears to capture the imagination of us all. Carols are sung together, and children find their shoes in the hallway have been filled with a gift from the saint. College students also receive a gift on this evening.
THIS WEEK
The Nativity Fast continues with prayers, fasting, and almsgiving.
Wednesday, November 30: Daily Vespers at 6:00 – O101 at 7:00
Thursday, December 1: Bible Study at Becky’s home 3:30 – 5:00 (Note the time change.)
Saturday, December 3: Great Vespers at 5:00 – St. Nicholas Night Celebration at 6:00
Sunday, November 4: Matins at 9:00; Divine Liturgy at 10:00
LOOKING AHEAD
…December 10: Women’s Pre-Christmas party, hosted by Dee Haney and her daughters in Mitchell
FAMILY NOTES
Birthday Greetings: Gregory G (Dec. 2nd)
Name Day Blessings: Happy Name Day to all the Katherines in our midst (Last week on November 23rd): Cathy Alexander, Katie Alexander, Mallory Finchum, Catherine Gillquist, Karen Hrisomalos, Sharon Catherine Kolasinski, Catherine Polit, Kelly Sanderson, and Lina Tabbal.
Memory Eternal: Bruce; Paul; Phil (11/2); Justin (Neumann’s grandfather- 11/18)
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: 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: “O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance.”
Verse: ” Unto Thee, O Lord, will I cry, O my God!” Psalm 27:9,1
Epistle: The Reading from St. Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians. (2:4-10)
Brethren, God, being rich in mercy, through His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead through the trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you are saved), and raised us up together with Him, and made us to sit together with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the coming ages He would show the exceeding riches of His grace, in kindness toward us, in Christ Jesus. For by grace you are saved through faith, and that is not of yourselves: it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Gospel: The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (18:18-27)
At that time, a man came testing Jesus and asking, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery. Do not kill. Do not steal. Do not bear false witness. Honor your father and mother.’” And the man said, “All these I have observed from my youth.” And when Jesus heard it, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the man heard this he became sad, for he was very rich. Jesus, seeing him sad, said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus said, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.”
Divine Liturgy Variables
Resurrectional Apolytikion – Tone 6
When Mary stood at Thy grave, looking for Thy sacred body, angelic powers shone above Thy revered tomb; and the soldiers who were to keep guard became as dead men. Thou led Hades captive and wast not tempted thereby. Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst give life to the world, O Thou, Who art risen from the dead, O Lord, glory to Thee.
Apolytikion of St. James the Persian – Tone 4
Thy Martyr, O Lord, in his courageous contest for Thee * received as the prize the crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our immortal God. * For, since he possessed Thy strength, he cast down the tyrants * and wholly destroyed the demons’ strengthless presumption. * O Christ God, by his prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful
Kontakion of the Preparation of Christ’s Nativity – Tone 3
The Virgin cometh today to the cave to give birth in an ineffable manner to the Word Who is before all the ages. Rejoice, therefore, O universe, when thou hearest it heralded: Glorify Him, with the angels and the shepherds, Who chose to be seen as a new-born babe, the God Who is before all the ages.
(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.