Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost & Sixth Sunday of Luke
Martyrs Marcian and Martyrios the Notaries
Martyrs Valerios and Chrysaphios;
Tabitha the merciful, raised from the dead by the apostle Peter
Welcome Archimandrite Jeremy & Deacons of the Diocese of Toledo and the Midwest. We are overjoyed to have you with us!
Resurrectional Apolytiokion – Tone 4
Having learned the joyful proclamation of the Resurrection from the Angel, and having cast off the ancestral condemnation, the women disciples of the Lord spake to the Apostles exultantly: Death is despoiled and Christ God is risen, granting great mercy to the world.
Apolytikion of SS> Marcian & Martyrios -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.
Ordinary Kontakion – Tone 2
O undisputed intercessor of Christians, the Mediatrix, who is unrejected by the Creator. Turn not away to the voice of our petitions, though we be sinners. Come to us with aid in time, who cry unto thee in faith, for thou art good. Hasten to us with intercession, O Theotokos who doest ever intercede for those who honor thee.
EPISTLE and GOSPEL READINGS
The Epistle
O Lord, how magnified are Thy works. In wisdom hast Thou made them all.
Bless the Lord, O my soul.
The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Galatians. (2:16-20)
Brethren, you know that a man is not justified by works of the Law but through faith in Jesus Christ. Even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the Law, because by works of the Law shall no one be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we ourselves were found to be sinners, is Christ then an agent of sin? Certainly not! But if I build up again those things which I tore down, then I prove myself a transgressor. For I through the Law died to the Law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ Who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me.
The Gospel
The Reading 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.
Thought for Today “We should give thanks to God, as it is said: “In everything give thanks” (I Thess. 5:18). Closely linked to this phrase is another of St. Paul’s injunctions: “Pray without ceasing” (I Thess. 5:17), that is, be mindful of God at all times, in all places, and in every circumstance. For no matter what you do, you should keep in mind the Creator of all things. When you see the light, do not forget Him who gave it to you; when you see the sky, the earth, the sea and all that is in them, marvel at these things and glorify their Creator; when you put on clothing, acknowledge whose gift it is and praise Him who in His providence has given you life. In short, if everything you do becomes for you an occasion for glorifying God, you will be praying unceasingly. And in this way your soul will always rejoice, as St. Paul commends (cf. I Thess. 5:16).- St. Peter of Damaskos
Approaching the Holy Chalice As we approach the Holy Chalice, we fold our arms, right over left. This is both a posture of submission and confession of Christ’s victory over death. Newly-illumined people who have been received through Holy Baptism and Chrismation bear their lit candles and receive first for three Divine Liturgies, then Little Lambs and babes-in-arms to follow. If you are not Orthodox, or are Orthodox but have not prepared, we invite you to receive a blessing from Fr. Peter and partake of the blessed bread in the wooden bowls held by the Altar servers at the front of the church.
October is Youth Month. If you are age 9+ and a strong reader, please see Khouria Kristina to inquire about reading the Epistle with dynamis!
Fall Decor: The Fall decor purchased for the Festival will remain available for everyone’s enjoyment through the Harvest Party and into November. Anyone wishing to take home a bale, a pumpkin, or a mum is welcome to do so on or after November 15, the first day of the Nativity fast.
Harvest Party Saturday: This year’s event, coordinated by Martha Broderick, is now a Teen & Tween SOYO fundraiser. Donations will be combined with those from the chili sale at the festival to support IOCC relief efforts in Gaza.
3:00-4:30 – Kids and young-at-heart, BYOP (Bring Your Own Pumpkin – carving tools will be provided) for pumpkin carving and painting, supervised by Emmelia Koons and Irene Cobb
6:00-6:30 – chili dinner and dessert fundraiser
6:30-7:30 – trick-or-treating for those interested
7:30-8:30 – hang out fireside
8:30-9:00 – candlelight prayers in the cemetery
If you would like to contribute, chili toppings, tortilla chips, fruit, seasonal pies and whipped cream, fizzy drinks, and cider are welcome.
Attention Moms: You are invited to register for quarterly Moms’ Teas, sponsored by St. Emmelia Ministries under the Department of Homeschooling. Simply visit the Department page under Antiochian.org to learn of this and many other supports available to families of all ages, stages, and approaches to education throughout the year. Upcoming dates include:
October 27, 2026 – Holy Days, Holidays, and Homeschooling
January 1, 2027 – Burnout and the Winter Slog
March 30, 2027 – Rest as a Fast
July 27, 2027 – Feast of St. Panteleimon/Be Renewed
Looking Ahead
SOYO Service Project for the month of November SOYO will be collecting non-perishable food items for the Smithville Food Pantry. Donation box will be in the Narthex.
Nativity Fast begins November 15
Family News
Names Day Celebration Dee Haney, Tabitha (25th); Sarah Lewis, Kelsey Thomas, Cheryl Killion, Olga of Alaska (27th).
Birthday Celebrations Ezekiel Crandall (27th); Abigail Joy Cowan (28th); Ava Rigsby (30th); Jonathon Blair (31st).
In preparation of the Harvest party Wednesday, October 28 during catechism: teens and tweens will be dipping caramel apples.
This Week
Monday, October 26 Third Hour Prayers at 9:00 am.
Tuesday, October 27 Divine Liturgy at 9:00 am; St. Olga of Alaska. OCF dinner and discussion.
Wednesday, October 28 Daily Vespers at 6:00 pm; Catechumen and Inquirers class to follow Fellowship Meal. Main dish will be provided; side dishes are needed. Contact Juliana Schulz for suggestions of sides at 812-360-5975 or Jennifer.schulz3ttj@gmail.com.
Thursday, October 29 3rd Hour Prayers at 9:00 am.
Friday, October 30 Divine Liturgy at 9:00 am; OC Life Akathist to the Protection of the Theotokos at 6:00 pm.
Saturday, October 31 Bible Study at 10:00am at the Webbs home, 3960 E. Fenbrook Lane, webbrk1@gmail.com. Great Vespers at 5:00 pm; Ask Abouna. Harvest party a freewill offering fundraiser for the IOCC.
Our teens and tweens are recreating their Festival chili bar which brought in more than $500.
Sunday, November 1 Matins 9:00am, Divine Liturgy at 10:00am. Daylight savings time ends
Prayer List Mark Gregg (advanced pancreatic cancer); Neal; Dn. Lucian; Dee and Don; Nancy; Mary Ann; Rita; Michael, Olga, Jone; Rachel; Hal; Kh. Paraskeva; Fr. Basil; Fr. Matthew; Marvin; Nectaria, Jim; Patricia; Charlie; Shirley; those suffering the ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East; the persecutions in Nigeria, Lebanon and throughout the world; our Nation; all school children, and personnel across the nation; Emma; Josiah; Jack; Christopher; Wadia; Kitsa; Apthrodite; Kim; Vicki; Kenzie; Dusty; Cari; Josh; Allison; Dn. Lawrence, Marcia; Missy; Andrew; Isaac; Neumann Seraphim; Eileen, Soren, Kathy; Lexi, Ross; Theo; Jeremy; Elias; Leanne Seraphima; Lilly and family; Jennifer; Christy; John; Bruce; Stanley; Allen; Linda; Allison and children; Evan; Anastasia and family; Mary and family; Williams family; Susie; Gertrude and the child she bears; Kh. Tabitha and the child she bears; Agnes and the child she bears; Cyprianna; Nancy; Nina; Peter and family; Seraphima; Vince; Angelina; Dinah; Natalie, son Van and family; Potamitis family; Landino family; Sarah; Paulo; Perry; Anna and the child she bear; Brandon and Sarah (grief for loss of infant Abel); Grace Anna and the child she bears; Emmelia and the child she bears.
Memory Eternal Rita; Dorothy; Penny; James; Ruth; Priest. Jerome; Gary; Linda; Demisha; Archpriest Athanasius.
All Saints’ Sunday Meal We are hosting our first Deacon Welcome today after Divine Liturgy. On this day, please bring only the items you have signed up for rather than your usual Sunday meal offerings.
Parents, please emphasize the importance of your children attending and engaging in their catechism classes. Their peers treasure them and so do their teachers. Growing in the Faith requires the commitment of everybody.
Child Supervision This is a reminder that children must not be left unsupervised in the nursery or on Church property, especially during services. All Saints does not have hall monitors or playground supervisors, and we want all of our children kept safe at all times. You are responsible for the safety & supervision of your children. If a child is corrected by an adult, it is expected that they will respond respectfully.
Giving Opportunities We appreciate and welcome your ongoing support.
Benevolence Fund Donations are used to support families in need of help with rent and utilities payments.
Food Pantry Our In-house food pantry is available to parish members as well as families and individuals in the community of Bloomington. Donations of nonperishable items of pasta, marinara sauce, peanut butter, canned chicken and tuna, canned vegetables; canned fruit and soups are always a great blessing.
Mission Donations We send monthly support to Hannah Valentine, an Orthodox missionary in Albania.
Donations to the church are being made online to www.allsaintsbloomington.org and by U.S. mail. Many thanks to all who continue supporting All Saints.