Sunday, December 20, 2015
Sunday Before the Nativity of Christ (Sunday of the Genealogy)
New Martyr John the Tailor of Thasos; Daniel II, Archbishop of Serbia
At All Saints, we warmly welcome our visitors as honored guests.
Nourishment of the Soul: The soul that is given over to the will of God fears nothing; neither thunder nor thieves nor any such thing. Whatever may come, ‘Such is God’s pleasure,’ she says. If she falls sick she thinks, ‘This means that I need sickness, or God would not have sent it.’ — St. Silouan
Orthodoxy 101 continues on Wednesday, December 23rd after Daily Vespers with Fr. Peter Jon on the topic we hear in our services, “Who for Us and for Our Salvation.”
Gift Cards: There is still time to place on the tree your donation of a gift card for those who need a boost this Christmas. The cards are being distributed to families and individuals who need them between now and Christmas. Thank you for answering this annual call in the name of Christ and in the spirit of St. Nicholas!
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.
Bookstore: Check the bookstore for new icons, books, and Christmas cards.
The Parish Council meets today in Father’s office.
Vicki will have a limited supply of her homemade candies available for purchase today, on Sunday, December 20th.
St. Lucia (Teya Tabbal) with her crown of candles lights the way to the singing of the traditional song during Fellowship hour today.
Marcia needs your phone, address, birth date or name day for new calendars & phone books.
THIS WEEK
Nativity Fast
Wednesday, December 23: Daily Vespers at 6:00; Orthodoxy 101 from 7:00 – 9:00
Thursday, December 24, Christmas Eve
- 9:00 am Royal Hours followed by the Vesperal Liturgy (10:30)
- 9:00 pm Orthros of the Nativity followed by the Christmas Liturgy (10:15)
- Celebration follows the liturgy. (Are there volunteers to set out the food?)
Friday, December 25: Christ is Born! Glorify Him!
Saturday, December 26: Great Vespers at 5:00
Sunday, December 27: Matins at 9:00; Divine Liturgy at 10:00 — Myrrh Bearers meet.
LOOKING AHEAD
- December 31:New Year’s Eve Liturgy to bring in the New Year with Feast of the Circumcision of Christ and Commemoration of St. Basil the Great at 6:00 pm
- Baptism and Chrismation at Epiphany.
Many Years on your Anniversary: Robert & Nina R (26th)
Name Day Blessings: Vanden L (St. Ignatius 20th); Chris S (25th)
Happy Birthday: Laura C (20th); Alex A (21st); Nicholas A (21st); Griffin F (21st); Alexandra S (22nd); Nicholas S (22nd); Amanda A (26th)
Memory Eternal: Nadeem (Nov. 12); Infant Athena (25th); Dr. Frank (2nd); Steve (6th)
Let us pray to the Lord: “For the suffering Christians of Syria, Palestine, Iraq, & all of the Middle East, and for those suffering in the Ukraine.”
Prayer List: Archpriest Athanasius; James; Alex John; Jason; Steve D; Dee; Becky H.; Amal; Alexis T. ;Tom; Jake; Annie; Catherine; Janett; Jill; Kh. Kristina; Angie; Julian; Kh. Mary Sue Walker; Vicki; Hoppes in Albania, Jesse Brandow in Guatemala (OCMC Missionaries); Vivian; Natalie; Senior Saints; Patricia; Dee H.; John G; Nicetas; Barb; Shirley; Metropolitan Paul, Archbishop John; Kh. Loretta; Fr. John Koen; Archpriests George & Stephen; Adrian; Heather; Susan; Gabriella & Matt; Sara; Shelley; Geni; Those with child: Megan. Ashley, Rachel; Emily D; Emma; Kim; Nancy; Neal; Lyuda; Bob R; Leanne; Beth; Lillian; Julie; Roger; Virginia; Marilyn; Eric; Cheryl; Lori; Pam; Debbie; Natasha; Michael & Shelley: Gabriel; Mary; Doug; Janet; Kelly; Matushka Raisa; John C; Marty; Charles; Eileen; Mary; Marvin, Alice; Katie; Deborah; Ruth; Steve; Kevin; Romaine; Derek, Claire & Micah; Tim; Preston; Sharon; Sherri; Dianna; Michael and Diane; Aaron; Brent; Jennifer; Brigid; Caleb; Dennis & Joyce; Ethan; Lena, Dean; Gayle; Thomas; Amy; Heidi; Gene & Connie
Today’s Epistle and Gospel Readings
Prokeimenon: “Blessed art 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
Epistle: The Reading is from Saint 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, Sampson, 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 imprisonments. 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 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, and 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.
Divine Liturgy Variables
Resurrectional Apolytikion – Tone 4
Having learned the joyful message of the Resurrection from the angel, the women disciples of the Lord cast from them their parental condemnation. And proudly broke the news to the Disciples, saying: Death hath been spoiled; Christ God is risen, granting the world Great Mercy.
Apolytikion for the Forefeast of the Nativity – Tone 4
Be thou ready, Bethlehem, Eden hath opened unto all. Ephratha, prepare thyself, for now, behold, the Tree of Life hath blossomed forth in the cave from the holy Virgin. Her womb hath proved a true spiritual Paradise, wherein the divine and saving Tree is found, and as we eat thereof we shall all live, and shall not die as did Adam. For Christ is born now to raise the image that had fallen aforetime.
Apolytikion of the Sunday before the Nativity – Tone 2
Great are the accomplishments of faith; for the three holy youths rejoiced in the fountain of flames as though at waters of rest. And the Prophet Daniel appeared as a shepherd to the lions as though they were sheep. Wherefore, by their pleadings, O Christ God, save our souls.
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 shepherds give glory to Him who shall appear by His own will as a young child, He Who is from eternity God.