The Sunday before the Nativity of Christ (The Genealogy)
Great-martyr Anastasia the deliverer from potions and her teacher the Martyr Chrysogonos
Visitors, you are always welcome at All Saints.
Nourishment of the Soul: “Prayer is a branch (of the tree) of meekness, and freedom from anger. Prayer is an expression of joy and thankfulness. Prayer is a remedy against sorrow and depression.” — St. Nilus of Sinai
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.
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: There is still time to place Gift cards on the tree in the social hall. You may, however, place cash in an envelope.
Christmas Troparion: Included in today’s bulletin is a copy of the troparion (hymn) that will be sung on Christmas Eve. Let us all lift our voices in praise together.
Offering Envelopes: After Christmas the 2014 books of envelopes will be ready for you to pick up. If you want to be included and did not receive any for 2013, please tell Marcia.
PREPARATIONS FOR CHRISTMAS EVE
POINTSETTIAS: Donations of poinsettias are needed for decorating the church. Please bring yours on Sunday and leave them in the hallway. They will be placed before Tuesday evening.
BREAK the FAST LIGHT MEAL: Trays of cold cuts and cheese with bread will be provided. Please feel welcome to add your favorites to the meal.
SERVICES on Christmas Eve Day, 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 meal follows the Divine Liturgy.
THIS WEEK, FOLLOWING CHRISTMAS
Saturday, December 28: Great Vespers at 5:00
Sunday, December 29: Matins at 8:50; Divine Liturgy at 10:00
Blessed Name Day: Chris Stroguiludis (25th)
Many Years on your Anniversary: Bob & Nina Rogers (26th)
Memory Eternal: Cleo (13th); John (13th); Kh. Katherine (Nov.29th); Roy (7th); Jimmy; Dick; Judy; Erma (Dec.)
Prayer List: Alex (Albert) Alexander; Vicki; Metropolitan Paul, Archbishop John, Mother Pelagia and her nuns and orphans, Danica D’Onofrio; Kh. Loretta Wilson; Chad & Connie; Beth; Jeffry Ellis; Lillian Miller; Dee; Julie; Roger; Stephanie; Virginia McCallister; 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; Caleb.
Today’s Epistle and Gospel Readings
Prokeimenon: “Blessed are Thou, O Lord, the God of our Fathers!”
Verse: “For Thou art just in all that Thou hast done to us!” Daniel 3:26-27 (OSB)
Epistle: The Reading is from St. Paul’s Epistle to the Hebrews. (11:9-10, 32-40)
Brethren, by faith Abraham sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. For he expected a city which has foundations, whose Builder and Maker is God.
And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and all the prophets—who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, and turned to flight armies of the aliens. Women received their dead by resurrection, and others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. And others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted, they were slain with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, being destitute, afflicted, tormented (of whom the world was not worthy) wandering in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, having obtained a witness through their faith, did not receive the promise, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
Gospel: The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (1:1-25)
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.