Sunday, December 23, 2018
Forefeast of & Sunday before the Nativity of Christ
(The Genealogy)
Ten Martyrs of Crete; New-martyr Nicholas; Venerable Nahum of Ochrid
Welcome to All Saints.
Nourishment of the Soul: “Prayer is a branch (of the tree) of meekness, and freedom from anger. Prayer is an expression of joy and thankfulness. Prayer is a remedy against sorrow and depression.” St. Nilus of Sinai
THIS WEEK
The Nativity Fast continues until after Christmas Eve Services.
Monday Morning, December 24: Royal Hours at 9:00
Monday Morning, December 24: St. Basil’s Liturgy at 10:15
Monday Evening, December 24: Christmas Matins (Orthros) at 9:00
Monday Evening, December 24: Nativity Liturgy at 10:00 – A Light Celebratory Meal follows.
Christ is Born! Glorify Him!
Wednesday, December 26: Daily Vespers at 6:00
Friday, December 28: Akathist to the Protection of the Theotokos at 6:00
Saturday, December 29: Great Vespers at 5:00
Sunday, December 30: Matins at 9:00; Divine Liturgy at 10:00 – 6- month memorial for Nicholas Alexander
Monday, December 31: Evening Liturgy at 6:00 – Circumcision of our Lord and St. Basil the Great
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. Approach to the cup starts at the front rows; the choir and preschool go first.
Today’s Epistle and Gospel Readings
Epistle: The Reading is from St. Paul’s Letter 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.
Gospel: The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according 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.
DIVINE LITURGY VARIABLES FOR CHOIR and PARISH
Resurrectional Apolytikion – Tone 5
Let us believers praise and worship the Word; co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit, born of the Virgin for our salvation. For, He took pleasure in ascending the Cross in the flesh to suffer death; and to raise the dead by His glorious Resurrection.
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 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 a shepherd to the lions as though they were sheep. Wherefore, by their prayers, O Christ God, save our souls.
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 shall appear by His own will as a young child, He Who is from eternity God.
Anniversary Blessings: Robert & Nina Rogers (26th)
Happy Birthday: Amanda Alexander (26th); Adriana Calinescu (30th); Molly Alexander (31st);
Nancy Jones (31st)
Blessed Name Day: Christopher Stroguiludis (15th)
Prayer List: Jeremy P; Grayson (9 year old boy-friend of the Blair family);Laura (Friend of John and Debbie C.); Sue (elderly woman-friend of the Baldwins); Nancy Jones; Bruce; Joanna Zaharako; Impey and Tudorica families; Alice & Marvin; Charles; Vicki; Linda’s sister Dee; Mary Ann;Griggs family;Alexander family; Emilija with child (doing well on bed rest); Kristina (Weber) with child; Sharon Catherine; Lillian Purcell; Eileen; Leanne; Ashlee W; Kh. Kristina; Vivian; Paul; Cathy; Sitto; Elias; Waded; Neva; Bill; Lonnie; Fr. George; Fr. Basil; Iva Lee; Nancy & Shalayna; Ty & Hannah (with child); Seraphima; Lilly’s family; Jennifer D; those suffering in the drug crisis, with fire devastation, with flood damage or hurricane damage in the USA; Those suffering in Syria and the Middle East; safety in public places, in our schools and on our southern border; Metropolitan Paul; Archbishop John; our church and our nation.
FAMILY NOTES
Coffee Hour: Scheduled contributors and cleaners for today are those with last names beginning I-Z.
Tithes and Pledges for 2019–please submit yours today on the last day of the drive.
Contribution Envelopes are available in the narthex. If you have unused envelopes at home, you may continue to use them…we keep a record of the number on each booklet, not the date on the individual envelope.
Congratulations to the Stant family as they all are in China for the marriage of their son Zack.
Aunt Ruth’s Toffee for Christmas is now on sale in the bookstore. Make checks payable to Vicki Gans.
An Opportunity to Serve: If you are available to help Alice and Marvin with laundry or other tasks, please contact Nina Rogers who is coordinating this benefit for these beloved family members.
Food Pantry: The shelves are well-filled…thanks: Your usual donations are welcome.
Help fill the gift bag with children’s hats, gloves, mittens, and scarves.
Christmas ‘Giving Tree’ in the social hall. Please support our annual practice of loading the tree with gift cards for Father to distribute to families in our community.
LOOKING AHEAD
…Royal Hours of Theophany: January 4th
…Antiochian Village Summer Camp: Reserve a place for your child now for 2019!
…O101 Topics in Coming Weeks:, Salvation as Participation, Orthodox Worship, A Beautiful Hymn, The Journey Continues,.
…Monthly Crafting Workshop: Everyone is welcome to bring projects, ideas to share, or willingness to learn. Even if you don’t have a craft, or don’t think you are crafty, please join us! We have some very simple crafts that anyone can do – no experience necessary – that we hope to sell at the next Festival on Fairfax. Emily Wood is the coordinator. The next meeting is January 12th at 3:00 in the Social Hall. .