Sunday before the Nativity of Christ (The Genealogy)
Great-martyr Anastasia the deliverer from potions and her teacher the Martyr Chrysogonos
Reminder for this Sunday; Baptisms at 9:00 am, Divine Liturgy & Chrismations at 10:00 am.
Nativity Fast
Behold the Joyous Season of Preparation for the Incarnation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Thought for Today: “The more we pray for each other, the more love unites us. – St. Gregory Palamas
EPISTLE and GOSPEL READINGS
THE EPISTLE
Blessed are Thou, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
For Thou art justified in all that Thou hast done for us.
The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews. (11:9-10, 32-40)
Brethren, by faith Abraham sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, and put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated—of whom the world was not worthy—wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
THE GOSPEL
The Reading 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.
Resurrectional Apolytikion – Tone 1
While the stone was sealed by the Jews, and the soldiers were guarding Thy most pure body, Thou didst arise on the third day, O Savior, granting life to the world. For which cause the heavenly powers cried aloud unto Thee, O giver of life. Glory to Thy Resurrection, O Christ, glory to Thy kingdom, glory to Thy providence, O Thou Who alone art the lover of mankind.
Apolytikion of 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 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 a shepherd to the lions as though they were sheep. Wherefore, by their prayers, 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 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.
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: Neighborhood Caroling. Please contact Thomas Andrew at (812) 929-1766 to RSVP.
Monday, December 23: 3rd Hour Prayers at 9:00 am.
Tuesday, December 24: Hours of Christmas at 9:00 am; Christmas Eve Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil the Great at 5:00 pm.
Wednesday, December 25: Matins (Orthros) at 9:00 am; Divine Liturgy of the Nativity of Christ at 10:00 am.
Thursday, December 26: 3rd Hour Prayers at 9:00 am.
Friday, December 27: Divine Liturgy for St. Stephen the Protomartyr at 9:00 am.
Saturday, December 28: Bible Study 9:00 am at Webb’s home; Great Vespers at 5:00 pm.
Ask Abouna to follow; Junior and Teen SOYO at 6:30 pm.
Sunday, December 29: Matins at 9:00 am, Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am.
Family News
Names Day: Chris Stroguiludis, Christ Jesus (25th); Stephen Berck, Protomartyr Stephen (27th).
Birthday Celebration: Jonathon Hsu (22nd); Stephen Berck (27th).
Anniversary Celebration: Phil & Debra Campbell (23rd).
Prayer List: Tammera; Taylor and infant Houston (congenital heart defect); 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 and child born to her, Erica with child; Taylor with child; Penny with child; Dixxe with child; Megan with child; Evan; Catherine with child; Victoria with child; Whitney with children
Memory Eternal: Crystal, Gene; Gilbert; Elizabeth; Archbishop Peter; Beverly; Mo. Apollinaria.
All Saints’ Sunday Meal: 4th Sunday host Schuck – Yeager with Rhonda Webb as lead Hostess.
Next Week: 5th Sunday everyone is Welcome to contribute to the meal.
Giving Opportunities:
Food Pantry: Thank you for the generous support. Our in-house Food 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.