After-feast of & Sunday after the Nativity of Christ

Commemoration of Joseph the Betrothed, David the Prophet and King, and James the Brother of God

Nourishment for the Soul: “Help one another with the generosity of the Lord, and despise no one. When you have the opportunity to do good, do not let it go by.” 

St. Polycarp of Smyrna

Pledges for 2020: Please consider increasing your 2019 pledge by $10 each month. There is no need to fill in a new form unless there has been a major change. If you have never made a pledge, please fill in a form, found in the narthex. Thank you.

Offering Envelopes are available in the Narthex: Please record your name beside the number on the envelopes. You may continue using older envelopes if you have them.

THIS WEEK

Tuesday,  December 31: Evening Liturgy – Circumcision of Christ and Basil the Great at 6pm

Wednesday, January 1: Daily Vespers at 6:00

Thursday, January 2: Bible Study at Becky’s home

Friday, January 3: Royal Hours of Theophany at 9:00

Saturday, January 4: Myrrh Bearers Christmas Party at Rhonda’s home at noon

Saturday, January 4: Great Vespers at 5:00; SOYO 6:00-8:00

Sunday, January 5: Matins at 9:00; Divine Liturgy at 10:00 – Eve of Holy Theophany with Great Blessing of the Waters

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

 (For the Sunday after Nativity of Christ)

Epistle: The Reading is from St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians. (1:11-19)

Brethren, I would have you know that the Gospel, which was preached by me, is not man’s gospel.  For I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ.  For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the Church of God violently and tried to destroy it; and I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people; so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers.  But when He who had set me apart before I was born, and had called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son to me, in order that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned to Damascus.  Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and remained with him fifteen days.  But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother.

Gospel: The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (2:13-23)

 (For the Sunday after Nativity of Christ)

When the wise men had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the Child and His mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the Child, to destroy Him.”  And he rose and took the Child and His mother by night, and departed to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod.  This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt have I called My Son.”  Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, was in a furious rage, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region, who were two years old or under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the wise men.  Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they were no more.”  But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Rise, take the Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the Child’s life are dead.”  And he rose and took the Child and His mother, and went to the land of Israel.  But when he heard that Archelaus reigned over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee.  And he went and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”

LOOKING AHEAD

• Portraits for the All Saints Photo Directory! Sign up now as spots are quickly being filled! On Monday, January 20 and Tuesday, January 21, from 2:00 to 9:00 pm each day, we will have Lifetouch photo sessions in preparation for the publication of a new church photo directory. If you attend All Saints, we want to include YOU. You are under no obligation to purchase additional photos, but you will receive a free 8 x 10 photo just for participating!
• Church Photo Directory – Go to https://booknow-lifetouch.appointment-plus.com/b65qnjc2/  to schedule your session now.  Questions?  Contact Rhonda Webb at 314-313-4275 or webbrk1@gmail.com
• Pre-Lenten Retreat February 21-22 with Fr. John Oliver, noted author and speaker . Clear your weekend calendar now and plan to participate. 

FAMILY NEWS

Coffee Hour: Today volunteers are sought to offer donations since no one is scheduled on the fifth Sunday of the month. 

Warm Mittens, Gloves, Hats and Scarves: There has been a great response so far, but please continue your donations as many cold months lie ahead!

The Pantry shelves are full, and that’s a good thing!

Anniversary Blessings: Darryl & Nancy J (4th)

Birthday Greetings: Adriana C (30th); Molly A (31st); Nancy J (31st); Lina T (January 1st); Emily W (3rd); John A (5th)

Name Day Blessings: Fr. Seraphim Moslener (2nd); Linda B (St. Seraphim – 2nd); Leanne B (St. Seraphim – 3rd); Neumann J (St. Seraphim -2nd); Emily W (St. Emilia-3rd); Johanna H (St. Emilia-3rd); Jennifer R (St. Genevieve – 3rd); Genevieve C (3rd)

Prayer List: Johanna and infant Jonathan; Kaylie and infant Oliver; Rebekah with child; Isaac in Air Force; Fr. Marc; Fr. Patrick & Kh. Vanessa; Fr. George; Fr. Basil & Kh. Cana; Judith; George; Dee; Mary Ann; Vicki; Dusty; Catherine (not in this parish); Michael & Olga;  Eileen; Leanne;  Irina; Heather;Nancy; Sharon Catherine; Alice & Marvin; Kh. Kristina; Bonnie; Emma; Patricia; Mary & Robert;Shirley; Rose; Lexi, Ross & Vivian; Theo; Doug Barrett;Jeremy; Charles; Grayson; Cleo; Marcia & Deacon; Nick;Bruce; Joanna & Demetrios;Ashlee W; Paul; Cathy; Sitto; Elias; Waded; Neva; Bill; Lonnie; Nancy & Shalayna; Seraphima; Lilly’s family; Jennifer & Regina; Christy, Isaac & Andrew; those suffering in the drug crisis, with fire devastation, with flood damage, and earthquake damage in the USA; those suffering in Syria and the Middle East.

Divine Liturgy Variables for Choir and Parish

(Words may vary from the printed text.)

Second Antiphon

Refrain: Save us, O Son of God, Who wast born of a Virgin; who sing to Thee. Alleluia.

Resurrectional Apolytikion – Tone 3

Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad, for the Lord hath done a mighty act with His own arm.  He hath trampled down death by death, and become the first-born from the dead. He hath delivered us from the depths of Hades, granting the world the Great Mercy.

Apolytikion of the Nativity of Christ – Tone 4

Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, hath given rise to the light of knowledge in the world; for they that worshipped the stars did learn there from to worship Thee, O Sun of justice, and to know that from the east of the Highest Thou didst come. O Lord, glory to Thee.

Apolytikion of the Sunday after the Nativity – Tone 2

Proclaim, O Joseph, to David, the grandparent of God, the amazing wonders; for thou hast seen a Virgin great with child; for with the shepherds thou didst give glory, with the Magi thou didst worship, and by the angel it was revealed to thee. Wherefore, plead thou with Christ God to save our souls.

Kontakion of the Nativity of Christ – Tone 3

On this day the Virgin beareth the Transcendent in Essence; * to the Unapproachable, * the earth doth offer a small cave; * Angels join in choir with shepherds * in giving glory; * with a star the Magi travel upon their journey; * for our sakes is born a young Child, * He Who existed * before the ages as God.