Sunday, December 10, 2017
Twenty-seventh Sunday after Pentecost
Martyrs Menas, Eugraphos & Hermogenes of Alexandria; Venerable Thomas Dephourkinos of Bithynia; Blessed Angelina Brancovich and her son Blessed John, king of Serbia; Joasaph, bishop of Belgorod

Visitors are honored guests at All Saints.

Visit by St. Lucia during social hour today!

Nourishment of the Soul: “Let us turn to the soul and look upon beauty, or rather, listen to it, for you cannot see it since it is invisible. Listen to that beauty. What then is beauty of soul? It is temperance, mildness, almsgiving, love, brotherly kindness, tender affection, obedience to God, the fulfillment of the law, righteousness, contrition of heart. These things are the beauty of the soul.” – St. John Chrysostom

St. Matthew’s Orthodox Church in North Royalton, Ohio caught fire on the morning of November 11th. Fr. Andrew Harmon reports that it may take a year to rebuild. Prayers and monetary donations are greatly appreciated. (Fr. Andrew is well-known to some of the parish as one of the priests who was instrumental in All Saints’ journey from mission to being a church.)

Social Hour: Scheduled contributors this Sunday are those whose last names begin with Be – F.

Offering Envelope Books: Each year we offer new books for your donations to the church. This year we will do the same, but will not assign a NUMBER on the book to you. We are noticing that possibly some of you will not need a new book, but could continue to use previous books. However, it will be good to sign you name on the sheet by the book you take, so we will have record of it. Just a note to say that the date stamped on the envelope does not have to correspond to the date used. Your enclosed check or cash will be accounted for on the date you drop it into the offering plate!

LOOKING AHEAD

 St. John Fellowship meets at the Haney’s home on December 21st.
 Royal Hours of the Nativity and Typika are served on Friday morning, December 22nd.
 Great Vespers and Sunday Matins and Divine Liturgy are served as usual December 23rd and 24th.
 Festal Orthros and Festal Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great are served Sunday night, December 24 commencing at 9:00

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.

Nativity Fast continues until Christmas. Fasting Foods are served during social hour.

THIS WEEK

Wednesday, December 13: Liturgy at 6:00 – St. Herman of Alaska
Thursday, December 14: Bible Study at Becky’s home – 3:00 – 5:00 – This is the last one in 2017.
Saturday, December 16: Great Vespers at 5:00 – Orthodoxy 101 follows and is the last one in 2017.
Sunday, December 17: Matins at 9:00; Divine Liturgy at 10:00 – Parish Council meets.

FAMILY NOTES

Address Change: Geni Gritton has moved to Texas to live near her daughter and son-in-law. Contact information is on the hall bulletin board.

Birthday Blessings: Zane N (10th); Rhonda W (11th)

Name Day Remembrance: Wyatt C; Aaron H; Martin G (St. Herman of Alaska – 13th)

Lucia T (St. Lucia – 13th)

Memory Eternal: Joseph Alexander (October 28th); Chester Przybyla (November 14th); William Bardonner (December 1st); Wilber Field (December 5th)

Please Note that the Prayer List, printed here, will be emptied on December 31st.
Please contact Marcia if you want names added in January. Father keeps another list at the altar.

Prayer List: Amal; Maria; Vivian; Walter; Becky; Greg; Emilija; Adrian (Olga’s brother); Bosa; Cathy;”For the suffering Christians of Egypt, Syria, Palestine, Iraq, & all of the Middle East, and for those suffering in Ukraine and victims of recent hurricanes, earthquakes, and attacks; Fr. Steven Rudy (cancer); Finley (infant girl); Fr. Basil; Fr. Philip; Grant (Leukemia); Chris; Doug & Dorothy Barrett; Eileen; Dee and Don; Kh. Kristina; Mary Ann & Jen; Betsy and Hannah; Leslie (paralysis); Jasmine; Deborah & Thomas; James; Tom; Annie; Catherine; Janett; Julian; Vicki; Hoppes & Jesse Brandow (Missionaries); Natalie; Senior Saints; Patricia; Nicetas; Barb; Shirley; Metropolitan Paul, Archbishop John; Fr. John Koen; Archpriest George; Heather; Susan; Gabriella & Matt; Sara; Shelley; Emily D; Emma; Nancy; Neal; Bob R; Leanne; Beth; Lillian; Julie; Roger; Virginia; Marilyn; Eric; Cheryl; Lori; Pam; Debbie; Natasha; Michael & Shelley: Gabriel; Mary; Janet; Kelly; Matushka Raisa; Marty; Charles; Mary; Marvin, Alice; Katie; Ruth; Steve; Romaine; Derek, Claire & Micah; Tim; Sharon; Sherri; Dianna; Michael and Diane; Aaron; Brent; Jennifer C; Brigid; Ethan; Lena, Dean; Gayle; Thomas; Amy; Heidi; Gene & Connie, Caleb D; Megan & Colin; Bill & Sandy; Sabrina; Christy; Pete; Phil & Barb; Tammy K; Jennifer A.

In January we will include Charitable/Benevolence Fund totals here.

Today’s Epistle and Gospel Readings

Prokeimenon: “The Lord is my strength and my song.”
Verse: “The Lord has chastened me sorely.” Psalm 117:14,18

Epistle: The Reading is from St. Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians. (6:10-17)

Brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand, therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; besides all these, taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Gospel: The Reading is 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.

Divine Liturgy Variables
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 Ss. Menas, Eugraphos & Hermogenes – Tone 8
Since they had slain through their abstinence and struggles * the fiery ragings and fierce motions of the passions, * the staunch Martyrs of Christ God laid hold on the graces * to drive off the pains and illnesses of the sick * and work wonders both while living and after death. * Strange indeed is the miracle: * that these bare bones should pour forth * such overflowing streams of cures. * Glory be to our only God.

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 by His own will was born as a new babe,. He Who from eternity is God.