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
Christ is born, Glorify Him!
Thought for Today: “Beloved Christians! Nothing is more pleasant, lovelier, and sweeter to us sinners than the Gospel. More welcome than bread to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, freedom to captives and those in prison, is the Gospel to sinners who understand their misfortune.” – St. Tikhon of Zadonsk
Resurrectional Apolytikion – Tone 2
When Thou didst submit Thyself unto death, O Thou deathless and immortal One, then Thou didst destroy hades 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 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 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.
EPISTLE and GOSPEL READINGS
THE EPISTLE
God is wondrous in His saints. Bless God in the congregations.
The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul 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.
THE GOSPEL
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (2:13-23)
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.”
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.
This Week
Monday, December 30 3rd Hour Prayers at 9:00 am.
Tuesday, December 31: Vesperal Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great at 5:00pm (followed by New Year’s Eve Pitch-in and Game Night)
Wednesday, January 1: Great Vespers at 6:00pm; followed by teaching and meal
Thursday, January 2: Divine Liturgy for St. Seraphim of Sarov at 9:00 am.
Friday, January 3: Great (Royal) Hours of Theophany at 9:00 am.
Saturday, January 4: Bible Study 9:00 am at Webb’s home; Baby Shower for Rachael Schuck, 12:00pm to 2:00 pm; Great Vespers at 5:00 pm; SOYO Christmas Pageant” following Great Vespers.
Sunday, January 5: Matins at 9:00 am; Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am; The Great Blessing of the Waters. Great Vespers of Theophany with Litia/Artoklosia at 5:00pm
Save the Date! SOYO Christmas Pageant: Saturday, January 4th, Junior & Teen SOYO will perform their Nativity Pageant after Great Vespers. All are invited to the SOYO Christmas party following the play. The Church will provide trays of chicken and meatless tenders. Please bring something to share that does not have artificial dyes or sweeteners, and please label anything homemade that contains nuts, dairy, or egg. Thank you!
Please Note:
On Monday, Jan. 6, Orthros begins at 9:00am and the Divine Liturgy for Theophany with the Outdoor Blessing of the Waters
Looking Ahead
Saturday, January 11: Ladies Christmas party at Johanna Hsu’s home. Please, RSVP at mrsarcfide@gmail.com.
Sunday, January 19: All Saints parish annual meeting
Family News
Names Day: Will Gidney, Jonathan Hsu St. Basil (1st); Linda Barrett, Leanne Bissell, Neuman Jones, Seraphim Cook St. Seraphim (2nd);Juliana Barber Juliana the merciful (2nd); Johanna Hsu, Emily Wood Emilia (3rd);Jennifer Rigsby, Genevieve Maschino, Alice Van Cleave St. Genevieve (3rd).
Birthday Celebration: Nancy Jones (31st); Molly Alexander (31st); Lena Tabbel (1st); Hayden Busby (2nd); Emily Wood (3rd).
Anniversary Celebration: Darryl & Namcy Jones (4th).
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, 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: Archbishop Peter; Mo. Apollinaria; Yvonne; David; Jeremy; Christopher.
All Saints’ Sunday Meal: 5th Sunday,all are encouraged to participate in Sunday meal.
Next Week: 1st Sunday Host A- Gil, with Melissa Barbarick as lead Hostess.
Giving Opportunities:
Food Pantry: Thank you for the generous support.Our in-houseFood 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.
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.
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.