Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Forefeast of the Conception of the Theotokos; Venerable Patapios of Thebes; Sophronios, bishop of Cyprus
Nativity Fast
Behold the Joyous Season of Preparation for the Incarnation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Thought for Today: “What words, O Mother of God and Virgin, can describe your divinely radiant beauty? Your qualities cannot be circumscribed by thought or words, for they transcend our minds and speech. But it is possible to sing your praises if you- in your charity- so permit. In you, all graces are to be found. You are the perfection of nobility in all its forms- the living portrait of every virtue and kindness.” – St. Gregory Palamas
Resurrectional Apolytikion – Tone 7
Thou didst shatter death by Thy Cross, Thou didst open paradise to the thief; Thou didst turn the sadness of the ointment-bearing women into joy. And didst bid Thine Apostles proclaim a warning, that Thou hast risen O Christ, granting to the world the Great Mercy.
Kontakion of 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 the shepherds give glory to Him. Who shall appear by His own will as a young child, He who is from eternity God.
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.
EPISTLE and GOSPEL READINGS
The Epistle
The Lord will give strength to His people. Bring to the Lord, O sons of God, bring to the Lord honor and glory.
The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Ephesians. (2:14-22)
Brethren, Christ is our peace, Who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that He might create in Himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the Cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end. And He came and preached peace to you, who were far off, and peace to those who were near; for through Him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in Whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in Whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
The Gospel
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (13:10-17)
At that time, Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And there was a woman who had had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. And when Jesus saw her, He called her and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your infirmity.” And He laid His hands upon her, and immediately she was made straight, and she praised God. But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, “There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrite! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the manger, and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” As Jesus said this, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by Him.
Email address, phone numbers, mailing address, birthday, name-day, and anniversary. I am working on updating our information. If there have been any changes to your personal information, or if you have noticed that a celebration day was missed, please send me an email with the appropriate information at alsntssec@bluemarble.net.
Thank you, Nina Rogers (Church Secretary)
Saint Nicholos Tree: Please consider bringing a gift card to place on the St. Nicholas Tree (the small tree in the fellowship hall) between now and December 22. Gas cards, grocery cards, and general gift cards are helpful to families in need.
Cold-weather Clothing Drive: There will be a large box in the hall for the collection of children’s hats, gloves, socks and underclothes (size 3T to kids 14) until December 30th.
This Week
Today, Sunday: Chanter/choir appreciation day.
Monday, December 9: 3rd Hour Prayers at 9:00 am; conception of the Theotokos.
Tuesday, December 10: Divine Liturgy at 9:00 am; OCF dinner and discussion at 6:30 pm at the Webb’s home.
Wednesday, December 11: 6th Hour Prayers at 12:00 noon; Daily Vespers at 6:00 pm, teaching to follow with the church providing beans & rice towards the meal.
Thursday, December 12: Divine Liturgy at 9:00 am; Saint Mardarije of Libertyville.
Friday, December 13: Divine Liturgy at 9:00 am; Saint Herman of Alaska and Spyridon the Wonderworker.
Saturday, December 14: Bible Study 9:00 am at Storm’s home; Great Vespers at 5:00 pm;
Ask Abouna to follow; Junior and Teen SOYO at 6:30 pm.
Sunday, December 15: Matins at 9:00 am, Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am; visit from Saint Lucia during Sunday meal. Parish council will meet following Divine Liturgy.
Looking Ahead
December 24: Hours of Christmas at 9:00 am; Christmas Eve Liturgy of St. Basil the Great at 5:00 pm.
December 25: Matins (Orthros) at 9:00 am; Divine Liturgy of the Nativity of Christ at 10:00 am.
Family News
Names Day: Subdn. Dan Barrett, Daniel Yeager, Daniel the Stylite; Jeremy Coffman, Spyridon the wonderworker; Jeff Hall, St. Mardarije; Aaron Hsu, Herman Holland, Eric Crandall, Herman of Alaska; Lucia Toadere, St. Lucia.
Birthday Celebration: Heather Sherrod (10th); David Beebe (10th); Rhonda Webb (11th); Jeff Hall (13th); Herman Holland (13th).
Prayer List: Tammera; Taylor and infant Houston(congenital heart defect);Dymphna and childborn to her; Audrey Kassiani; Durlin family; Fr. Matthew; Marvin; Nectaria;Shu-Mei,Charlie;Shirley; Jim;Jan; Don and Dee; those suffering the effect of Hurricanes; those suffering the war in Ukraine, and the Middle East; Peace talks; our nation and all nations’ leaders; schools: children, youth and personnel across the nation; Mary Ann; Emma; Bob & Bonnie Thelen; Megan; Josiah; Fr. Athanasius; Jack; Christopher; Fr. Jerome; Fr. Basil; Catherine; Wadia; Jayci; Patricia; Kitsa; Apthrodite; Kim; Kristy; Vicki;Kenzie; Dusty; Cari; Betsy; Josh; Allison; Andrew; Isaac; Leanne; Heather; Nancy; Sharon Catherine; Neumann Seraphim; Michael, Olga, Eileen, Soren, Kathy; Lexi, Ross, Vivian; Theo; Jeremy; Dn. Lawrence, Marcia; Missy; Elias; Waded; Seraphima; Lilly’s family; Jennifer; Christy; John; Stanley; Macrina with child; Ann and child born to her; Kayla and child born to her Allen; Linda; Allison and children; Kip; Anna with child; Amanda with child, Engy with child, Erica with child; Taylor with child; Penny with child; Dixxe with child; Megan with child; Evan; Catherine with child; Victoria with child.
Memory Eternal: Crystal, Gene; Gilbert; Elizabeth; Archbishop Peter; Beverly; Mo. Apollinaria.
All Saints’ Sunday Meal: 2nd Sunday host Gillquist – Leflore with Elizabeth Carter as lead Hostess.
Next Week: 3rd Sunday host Lewis- Schneider with Nina Rogers as lead Hostess.
Giving Opportunities:
Food Pantry: Thank you for the generous support.Our in-houseFood 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 two missionary units in Albania, the Hoppe family and Hannah Valentine. We welcome and encourage you to contribute to their ongoing support.
Benevolence Fund: Donations may be made to this fund throughout the year, and are mainly used to support families in need of help with rent and utilities payments.
Donations to the church are being made online at www.allsaintsbloomington.org and by U.S mail. Many thanks to all who continue supporting All Saints.