https://youtu.be/TBZYmZanZSE

First day of the Forefeast of the Nativity of Christ

Sunday before the Nativity of Christ (The Genealogy)

New-martyr John the Tailor of Thasos; Daniel II, Archbishop of Serbia

Nourishment of the Soul:…”Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; His kingdom will never end.”

Saying goodbye to Father Seraphim and to Khouria Paraskeva

We cannot overstate our heartfelt gratitude for all that Father Seraphim and Khouria  Paraskeva have added to our Parish life during their time in Bloomington. Their absence will leave a gaping, Moslener-shaped hole in our hearts, and they know very well we welcome them back as often as the Lord allows. Father and Khouria remain in our prayers, and we know they keep us in theirs! 

May God grant them many years!

Love, Father Peter Jon, Khouria Kristina  & Family

Gillquist Family Update: The family continues a very straightforward recovery from COVID-19.  Thanks to all who have dropped off food or offered prayers and well-wishes. Father’s quarantine will end this coming Wednesday, and he looks forward to serving The Hours of Christmas on Thursday and Christmas Matins/Liturgy on Friday morning. He has trimmed the normal service schedule due to post-Covid fatigue which can linger. He will share his schedule for January after quarantine.

A Program to View: Dr. Debbie Craton, interviewed Fr. Seraphim recently for her local television program where they discussed adult depression during the Covid pandemic. The episode can be viewed online at https://vimeo.com/491177911. The program has a fairly wide following locally in Bedford, but the online program actually can be viewed from anywhere. Dr. John wanted to share with our parishioners about Fr. Seraphim’s contribution to the program and about Debbie’s deep appreciation of our dear priest’s participation.

THIS WEEK

Please note the changes to the week’s services, previously publicized.

Wednesday, December 23: Live-Streamed  Reader Vespers at 6:00; no teaching will follow. 

Christmas Eve Morning, December 24: Royal Hours at 9:00; there will be no Vesperal Liturgy

Christmas Day, December 25: Festal Matins of Christmas at 9:00 am;  Festal Divine Liturgy follows.

Saturday, December 26: Live-Streamed  Great Vespers at 5:00: SOYO at 6:00 – 8:00

Sunday, December 27: Live-Streamed  Matins at 9:00; Divine Liturgy at 10:00

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 during this blessed Advent season.  We remember our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Who was born in a cave, because there was no room for Him at the Inn. Due to the importance of this work, I am extending the “Baby Drive“ until the Great Feast of Theophany on January 6, 2021.

 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 place your donated items on the table in the fellowship hall designated for that purpose.
Thank you in advance for your generosity, and God bless you. – Fr. Peter Jon

Perhaps you are wondering! ….Lifetouch Church Directories is now operational after being closed during the pandemic, abd we now expect to receive the pictorial directories by the end of January. 

FAMILY NEWS

Annual Gift Card Drive: Please, place gift cards (or cash in an envelope) on the small tree at the back of the nave. They will be distributed to families who need a special gift of love at this time of the year. (Cards and cash do not remain on the tree after Liturgy, but are put in a secure space.)

Anniversary Celebration: Glen & Wendy C (17th);Phil & Deborah C (23rd); Robert & Nina R (26th)

Happy Birthday: Laura C (20th); Griffin F (21st); Alexandra S (22nd); Nicholas S (22nd); Jonathan H (22nd); Amanda A (26th)

Name Day Blessings: Juliana B (St. Juliana of Nicomedia – 21st); Chris S(Christmas Day)

EPISTLE and GOSPEL READINGS

The Reading is from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews. (11:9-10, 32-40)

 (For the Sunday before the Nativity)

Blessed are Thou, O Lord, the God of our fathers.

For Thou art justified in all that Thou hast done for us.

Brethren, by faith Abraham sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, and put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated—of whom the world was not worthy—wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (1:1-25)

 (For the Sunday before the Nativity: “The Genealogy”)

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.  Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Aram, and Aram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king.  And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asa, and Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amon, and Amon the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.  And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, Who is called Christ.  So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ were fourteen generations.  Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way.  When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.  But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call His Name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”  All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and His Name shall be called Emmanuel” (which means, God with us).  When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him; he took his wife, but knew her not until she had borne a son; and he called His Name Jesus.

Divine Liturgy Variables for Choir and Parish

Apolytikion  of the Forefeast of the Nativity – Tone 4

Be thou ready, Bethlehem, Eden hath opened unto all. * Ephratha, prepare thyself, for now, behold, the Tree of Life * hath blossomed forth in the cave from the holy Virgin. * Her womb hath proved a true spiritual Paradise, * wherein the divine and saving Tree is found, * and as we eat thereof we shall all live, * and shall not die as did Adam. * For Christ is born now to raise the image that had fallen aforetime.

Apolytikion  of the Sunday before the Nativity – Tone

Great are the accomplishments of faith; for the three holy youths rejoiced in the fountain of flames as though at waters of rest. And the Prophet Daniel appeared a shepherd to the lions as though they were sheep. Wherefore, by their prayers, O Christ God, save our souls.

Kontakion of the Preparation of Christ’s Nativity – Tone 3

The Virgin cometh today to the cave to give birth, ineffably to bring forth the Word Eternal. Therefore, rejoice, O earth, at the message, with the angels and shepherds give glory to Him Who shall appear by His own will as a young child, He Who is from eternity God.

OTHER NEWS

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);

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.

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.

Father Seraphim will serve as Fr. Peter Jon and family quarantine.

Sunday of the Forefathers (Ancestors) of Christ

Herman of Alaska, Enlightener of the Aleuts

Martyrs Eustratios, Auxentios, Eugene, Mardarios, and Orestes at Sebastia;

Virgin-martyr Lucia of Syracuse; Hieromartyr Gabriel, patriarch of Serbia

Nourishment of the Soul: “Know that the Lord made His Holy One wondrous; The Lord will hear me when I cry to Him.” –  Psalm 4:4

Annual Gift Card Drive: Please, place gift cards (or cash in an envelope) on the small tree at the back of the nave. They will be distributed to families who need a special gift of love at this time of the year. (Cards and cash do not remain on the tree after Liturgy, but are put in a secure space.)

Fall Catechism Classes: Classes will be held in the church and also live-streamed each Wednesday evening after daily vespers. This week’s class on the Life of the Theotokos will be presented by April Blair.

Today, Santa Lucia, adorned with her crown of candles and carrying her tray of individually wrapped buns, will bless us with her appearance in the nave following the Divine Liturgy.

DECEMBER HIGHLIGHTS

Nativity Fast until  December 24

Saying Goodbye to the Mosleners – December 20

Christmas Eve Morning, December 24th

Royal Hours at 9:00

Vesperal Liturgy at 10:00

Christmas Day, December 25th

Festal Matins at 9:00 am; Festal Divine Liturgy at 10:00

Let us all keep praying for  Father Peter Jon and his family as they quarantine

after Father’s diagnosis of Covid.

THIS WEEK

Wednesday, December 16: Live-Streamed  Daily Vespers at 6:00; O101 follows.

Saturday, December 19: Live-Streamed  Great Vespers at 5:00: SOYO at 6:00 – 8:00

Sunday, December 20: Live-Streamed  Matins at 9:00; Divine Liturgy at 10:00

EPISTLE and GOSPEL READINGS

The Reading is from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Colossians. (3:4-11)

 (For the Holy Forefathers)

Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the God of our Fathers.

For Thou art just in all that Thou hast done for us.

Brethren, when Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.  Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.  On account of these, the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience.  In these you once walked, when you lived in them.  But now put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and foul talk from your mouth.  Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old nature with its practices and have put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator.  Here there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free man, but Christ is all, and in all.

The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (14:16-24)

(For the Holy Forefathers)

The Lord spoke this parable: “A man once gave a great banquet, and invited many; and at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come; for all is now ready.’  But, one by one, they all began to make excuses.  The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it; I pray you, have me excused.’  And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them; I pray you, have me excused.’  And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’  So the servant came and reported this to his master.  Then the householder in anger said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and maimed and blind and lame.’  And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’  And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges, and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.  For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’  For many are called, but few are chosen.”

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.

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 2

When Thou didst submit Thyself unto death, O Thou deathless and immortal One, then Thou didst destroy hell with Thy Godly power.  And when Thou didst raise the dead from beneath the earth, all the powers of Heaven did cry aloud unto Thee; O Christ, Thou giver of life, glory to Thee.

Apolytikion  of the Forefathers – Tone 2

Thou hast justified by faith the ancient Forefathers, and through them Thou hast gone before and betrothed unto Thyself the Church of the Gentiles. Let the saints, therefore, take pride in glory; for from their seed sprouted forth a noble fruit, and it was she who gave birth to Thee without seed. Wherefore, by their pleadings, O Christ God, save our souls.

Apolytikion  of St. Herman of Alaska – Tone 1

Blessed ascetic of the northern wilds and gracious intercessor for the whole world, teacher of the Orthodox Faith, good instructor of piety, adornment of Alaska and joy of all America, holy Father Herman, pray to Christ God that He save our souls.

Kontakion of the Preparation of Christ’s Nativity – Tone 3

The Virgin cometh today to the cave to give birth, ineffably to bring forth the Word Eternal. Therefore, rejoice, O earth, at the message, with the angels and shepherds give glory to Him Who shall appear by His own will as a young child, He Who is from eternity God.

FAMILY NEWS

Aunt Ruth’s Toffee is ready for pick up in the social hall. It is labeled with the name of each one who ordered it. Checks written to Vicki Gans can be placed on Marcia’s desk.

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.

Happy Birthday: Fr. Peter Jon (18th)

Name Day Blessings: Lucia T(St. Lucia – 13th); Aaron H (St. Herman – 13th); Wyatt C (St. Herman – 13th) ; Daniel R ( Prophet Daniel – 17th); Elijah G (St. Boniface – 19th)

Memory Eternal: Archbishop David of Alaska

Prayer List: Gillquist family; Sandy;Becky;Immimk family with Covid;Fr. Dragan; Heidi; Fr. Jerome; Fr. Seraphim Aldea; 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

SAFETY PRACTICES

…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.

…If you wish to attend Sunday Matins & Divine Liturgy, please respond in the positive to the email from Fr. Peter that you will find in your inbox. Ex. Smith -2 (Family name – number)

… …Everyone is welcome to attend all non-Sunday services without signing up. Face masks and safety precautions are in place.

…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.

https://youtu.be/beiJq8tdy8w

THIS MESSAGE FROM SAINT NICHOLAS MAY TAKE A COUPLE OF MINUTES TO APPEAR ON YOUR SCREEN.