Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost
The Holy Prophet Nahum; Venerable Philaret The Almsgiver of Amnia;
Martyr Ananias the Persian; Theoklitos, Archbishop of Lakedaemonias
Visitors, you are always welcome at All Saints.
Today we welcome Fr. Radoslav as guest celebrant.
Nourishment of the Soul: “You look into a mirror so that you may know what is in your face, whether there are any blemishes in it, and having seen blemishes, you cleanse them. Let the immaculate life of Christ be a mirror to your soul. Does it desire the same things that Christ desires? And does it do what Christ did when He lived on earth? And in it you will see what is contrary to the life of Christ, and you will cleanse it all like blemishes with repentance and contrition of heart.” — St. Tikhon of Zadonsk
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”.]
Aunt Ruth’s Toffee: Vicki Gans is taking orders for Christmas candies to be delivered December 15th.
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.Thank you, the Morfas family and all those participating in the recent Thanksgiving feast. Axios!
Thank you for your continued respect at the reading of the Prayers after Communion during the final dismissal line.
December 6: St. Nicholas Party: Plan now to attend this annual event. The Akathist to St. Nicholas will be at 6:00 followed by the celebration at 7:00. St. Nicholas will appear to tell us his story. Bring your friends and neighbors. Cookies are needed. –Please note that gift cards will be needed to decorate the tree. They may be of any denomination and to stores that those in need would usually visit – Walmart, Kmart, Kroger, Marsh, College Mall, Big Lots, Dollar General, Speedway for example. (Marcia will need some youth actors for an impromptu play. Please contact her, or she may enlist you at the last minute!)
THIS WEEK
Wednesday, December 4: Services are cancelled.
Friday, December 6: Akathist to St. Nicholas at 6 p.m. followed by the celebration at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 7: Great Vespers at 5:00 with 40-Day Memorial for Ginny Kapellas
Sunday, December 8: Matins at 8:50; Divine Liturgy at 10:00
LOOKING AHEAD
December 12: Bedford-Mitchell Fellowship is the second Thursday in December
December 14: Women will attend the open house at Dee Haney’s in Mitchell, 11:30-2:30
Happy Birthday: Gregory Gillquist (2nd); Micah Finchum (5th); Geni Gritton (5th); Michael Ewing (6th)
Blessed Name Day: Abraham Leininger (4th – St. John of Damascus)
Memory Eternal: Betty; Daniel (October 25th); Ginny Kapellas (25th); Bill Haynes (29th); Lonnie Tatlock (13th); Cleo (Rdr. Tikhon’s grandmother 13th); John (13th); Kh. Katherine (Nov.29th)
Prayer List: 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; Roy; 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.
Building Fund is open for donations.
Today’s Epistle and Gospel Readings
Prokeimenon: “O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance.”
Verse: “Unto Thee, O Lord, will I cry, O my God!” Psalm 27: 9, 1
Epistle: The Reading is from St. Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians. (2:4-10)
Brethren, God, Who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and made us sit with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God—not because of works, lest any man should boast. For, we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Gospel: The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (22:2-14)
The Lord spoke this parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a marriage feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the marriage feast; but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, Behold I have made ready my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves are killed, and everything is ready;’ come to the marriage feast.’ But they made light of it and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. The king was angry and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the thoroughfares, and invite to the marriage feast as many as you find.’ And those servants went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found. Both bad and good; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.
“But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment; and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and cast him into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.’ For many are called but few are chosen.”
Alternative GOSPEL for today
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (18:35-43)
At that time, when Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging; and hearing a multitude going by, he inquired what this meant. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” And he cried, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped, and commanded him to be brought to him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me receive my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.