Sunday, October 22, 2017

Sunday, October 22, 2017
Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
Averkios the wonderworker, equal-to-the-apostles and bishop of Hierapolis;
The Seven Holy Youths (“Seven Sleepers”) martyred in Ephesus; Bishop Eulalios

We warmly welcome all who are visiting today.

Nourishment of the Soul: “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8

Eliot Woodward, infant son of Phil and Lisa, was baptized today and will receive his first communion!

Parishioner in the News: The City of Bloomington Commission on Hispanic and Latin Affairs selected Dr. John Labban, M.D. as recipient of Outstanding Community Organization: Women’s Health. Congratulations, Dr. John, from your church family as well!

Coffee Hour: Scheduled contributors this Sunday are those whose last names start with I-Z; however you may contribute whenever you find it convenient.

The class Orthodoxy 101 has moved from Wednesday to 6:00pm each Saturday, following Great Vespers.

Festival Reflection: Fr. Peter Jon welcomes everyone to email him with suggestions about future festivals: what ran smoothly and what could use improvement. Do you have an idea for an addition to next year’s festival? Overall this year’s festival was a great success and we want to continue to fine-tune and build on this annual invitational event.

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.

Parish Council meets today around noon.

THIS WEEK
During Youth Month, our youth will read the epistle each Sunday and usher.

Wednesday, October 25: Daily Vespers at 6:00
Thursday, October 26: Bible Study at Becky’s home 3:00 – 5:00
Friday, October 27: Akathist to the Protection of the Theotokos at 6:00
Saturday, October 28: Memorial for Ioana Frecus of blessed memory 4:50 before Great Vespers
Saturday, October 28: Great Vespers at 5:00; Orthodoxy 101 follows.
Sunday, October 29: Matins at 9:00; Divine Liturgy at 10:00; Myrrh Bearers meet.

LOOKING AHEAD

November 5: Daylight Savings ends.
November 12: Annual Parish Business Meeting
November 12: Nativity Fast & Dedication of the St. Matthew Mosaic
November 23: Thanksgiving Feast at All Saints

FAMILY NOTES

Anniversary Memories: Don & Dee H (23rd); Rachel & Luke B (24th); Cathy A & Alex of blessed memory (25th)
Birthday Blessings: Brian Curl (23rd); Ezekiel Crandall (27th)
Name Day Remembrance: James, the Lord’s Brother (23rd): James F; Ezekiel C; James T; St. Demetrios (26th): Marvin P
Memory Eternal: Steven (16th); Bp. ANTOUN (3rd); John (3rd); Fr. George Rados (15th); Michael Thelen (15th)

Prayer List: Becky; Greg; Wilber; Emilija; Adrian (Olga’s brother); Bosa; Cathy;”For the suffering Christians of Egypt, Syria, Palestine, Iraq, & all of the Middle East, and for those suffering in Ukraine and victims of recent hurricanes, earthquakes, and attacks; Fr. Steven Rudy (cancer); Finley (infant girl); Fr. Basil; Fr. Philip; Grant (Leukemia); Chris; Doug & Dorothy Barrett; Eileen; Mary Ann & Jen; Dee and Don; Kh. Kristina; Betsy and Hannah; Leslie (paralysis); Jasmine; Deborah & Thomas; James; Becky H; Tom; Annie; Catherine; Janett; Julian; Vicki; Hoppes & Jesse Brandow (Missionaries); Vivian; Natalie; Senior Saints; Patricia; Nicetas; Barb; Shirley; Metropolitan Paul, Archbishop John; Fr. John Koen; Archpriest George; 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; Ethan; Lena, Dean; Gayle; Thomas; Amy; Heidi; Gene & Connie, Caleb D; Megan & Colin; Bill & Sandy; Sabrina; Christy; Pete; Phil & Barb; Tammy K; Marcia

Today’s Epistle and Gospel Readings

Prokeimenon: “Sing praises to our God, sing praises.”
Verse: “Clap your hands, all ye peoples.” – Psalm 46:6,1

Epistle: The Reading is from St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians. (1:11-19)

Brethren, I would have you know that the Gospel which was preached by me is not man’s gospel. For I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the Church of God violently and tried to destroy it; and I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people; so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. But when He Who had set me apart before I was born, and had called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son to me, in order that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were Apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other Apostles except James the Lord’s brother.

Gospel: The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (8:26-39)

At that time, Jesus arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee. And as He stepped out on land, there met Him a man from the city who had demons; for a long time he had worn no clothes, and he lived not in a house but among the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him, and said with a loud voice, “What hast Thou to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beseech Thee, do not torment me.” For Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. [For many a time it had seized him; he was kept under guard, and bound with chains and fetters, but he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the desert.] Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion”; for many demons had entered him. And they begged Jesus not to command them to depart into the abyss. Now a large herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside; and they begged Jesus to let them enter these. So He gave them leave. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled, and told it in the city and in the country. Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. And those who had seen it told them how he who had been possessed with demons was healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gadarenes asked Jesus to depart from them; for they were seized with great fear; so He got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with Jesus; but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return to your home, and declare all that God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city all that Jesus had done for him.

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 St. Averkios – Tone 4
Thy works of justice did reveal thee to thy community as a canon of faith, the likeness of humility and teacher of abstinence, O Father Bishop Averkios. Wherefore, by humility thou hast achieved exaltation, and by thy meekness wealth. Intercede, therefore, with Christ God to save our souls.

Apolytikion of the Seven Ephesian Youths – Tone 4
Thy Martyrs, O Lord, in their courageous contest for Thee * received as the prize the crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our immortal God. * For since they possessed Thy strength, they cast down the tyrants * and wholly destroyed the demons’ strengthless presumption. * O Christ God, by their prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful.