December 15, 2013
Hieromartyr Eleutherios, bishop of Illyria &
Sunday of the Forefathers (Ancestors) of Christ
Martyr Anthia, mother of Eleutherios; Venerable Paul of Latra;
Stephen, bishop-confessor of Surozh; Venerable Tryphon of Pechenga
Visitors, you are always welcome at All Saints.
Nourishment of the Soul: ” Go… into the church, and a spiritual dew will envelop your soul. The stillness there moves you to awe, and teaches you how to live spiritually. It elevates your thoughts and prevents you from remembering things or matters belonging to the present life. It transports you from earth to heaven. And if there is such great gain from simply being in church when no service is going on, then how much benefit will people derive from being present…when the holy Apostles proclaim the Gospel, Christ stands in our midst, God the Father receives the Mysteries that are performed and the Holy Spirit gives His own joy.” — St. John Chrysostom
The Nativity Fast is divided into two periods. The first period is November 15 through December 19 when the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, eggs, dairy, fish, wine and oil) is observed with katalysis for wine and oil on Tuesday and Thursday, and for fish, wine and oil on Saturday and Sunday. The second period is December 20 through 24 when the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, eggs, dairy, fish, wine and oil) is observed Monday through Friday, but with katalysis for wine and oil on Saturday and Sunday. [Katalysis is Greek, meaning “relaxation”.]
Communion: 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.
Communion Line: The choir goes first in both lines so members may continue ministering through music during communion. Little Lambs follow. The ushers then assist each row from front to back. Those seated in the over-flow may follow an adjacent row.
Confession: Confessions are heard Wednesday and Saturday evenings half an hour before services or by appointment during the week.
Aunt Ruth’s Toffee: Vicki Gans is delivering orders for Christmas candies today.
Noah Shahadey has been cast in the Cardinal Stage Company production of “Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory”. The shows will be held at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater December 20 – January 4. There are 14 different show times to choose from. Visit cardinalstage.org for more information or see Missy Shahadey.
Christmas Cheer: Gift cards are still needed to decorate the tree in the social hall. Cards may be of any denomination and for stores that those in need would usually visit – Walmart, Kmart, Kroger, Marsh, College Mall, Big Lots, Dollar General, Speedway for example.
Orthodoxy 101, Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.: “Iconography/Iconology” will be presented by Sharon Kolasinski and Father Peter Jon
Welcome Santa Lucia with her tray of cookies, gowned in white, and wearing the lighted crown, during social hour. (Look on the back cover of your church calendar for last year’s St. Lucia)
The Parish Council meets in Father’s office during social hour.
THIS WEEK
Wednesday, December 18: Vespers at 6:00 followed by Orthodoxy 101
Saturday, December 21: Great Vespers at 5:00 and 40-day memorial for Lonnie Tatlock
Sunday, December 22: Baptisms and Chrismations at 9:00; Divine Liturgy at 10:00
LOOKING AHEAD to Christmas Eve, TUESDAY, December 24th
Royal Hours at 9:00 a.m.
Vesperal Liturgy follows around 10:00 a.m.
Orthros (Matins) of Christmas at 9:00 p.m.
Nativity Liturgy follows around 10:00 p.m.
Break the Fast light pitch-in meal follows the Divine Liturgy.
Memory Eternal: Lonnie Tatlock (13th); Cleo (13th); John (13th); Kh. Katherine (Nov.29th); Roy (7th)
Prayer List: Vivian Orfanos; Danica D’Onofrio; Kh. Loretta Wilson; Chad & Connie; Beth; Jeffry Ellis; Vicki; Lillian Miller; Dee; Julie; Roger; Stephanie; Virginia McCallister; Abducted Bishops Met. Paul and Mar Gregorios; Dolly Seek; Marilyn; Eric; Marna; Cheryl; Lori; Pam; Debbie; Natasha; Ioana; Geni Gritton; Michael & Shelley: Leanne; Jill Patterson; Gabriel; Mary; Alex; Doug; Janet; Kelly; Pete; Phillip; Patricia; Matushka Raisa; John C; Marty; John; Charles; Fr. John Koen; Archpriests Alexander and Roman; Eileen; Mary; Marvin, Alice; Katie; Bob R; Deborah; Ruth; Steve; Kevin; Romaine; Steven; Mary; Derek, Claire & Micah; Tim; Preston; Sharon; Sherri; Dianna; Victor; Aaron; Brent; Christy; Jennifer; Brigid.
Today’s Epistle and Gospel Readings
Prokeimenon: “How magnified are Thy works, O LORD!
In Wisdom hast Thou made them all.”
Verse: “Bless the LORD, O my soul!” Psalm 103:26, 1
Epistle: The Reading is from St. Paul’s Epistle to the Colossians. (3:4-11)
Brethren, when Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you will also appear with Him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idol worship; for the sake of such things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience; wherein you also once walked, when you lived in these things. But now you also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, and filthy language out of your mouths. Do not lie to one another, having put off the old man with his works; and having put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of his Creator, where there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bond, or free; but Christ is all, and in all.
Gospel: The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (14:16-24)
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.”