Presentation (Meeting) of Our Lord Jesus Christ

You are always welcome here at All Saints.

Nourishment for the Soul: “What does it mean to take up your cross? It means the willing acceptance, at the hand of Providence, of every means of healing, bitter though it may be, that is offered. Do great catastrophes fall on you? Be obedient to God’s will, as Noah was. Is sacrifice demanded of you? Give yourself into God’s hands with the same faith as Abram had when he went to sacrifice his son. Is your property ruined? Do your children die suddenly? Suffer it all with patience, cleaving to God in your heart, as Job did. Do your friends forsake you, and you find yourself surrounded by enemies? Bear it all without grumbling, and with faith that God’s help is at hand, as the apostles did.” – St. Nikolai Velimirovich (He suffered lengthy imprisonment in Dachau Prison camp in WW2.)

Blessing of your Candles: Place your candles (identified on the bottom) on the memorial table. Father will bless them today (Sunday).

House Blessings:  Please expect a call or  email from Fr. Peter Jon or Fr. Seraphim in the coming days/weeks.

Orthodoxy 102 resumes each Wednesday after Daily Vespers beginning this week on February 5th.

THIS WEEK

Monday, February 3: Compline and Fellowship at the Haneys at 7:00 7

Wednesday, February 5: Daily Vespers at 6:00

Thursday, February 6: Bible Study at Becky’s home 3:00 – 5:00

Saturday, February  8: Great Vespers at 5:00; SOYO 6:00 – 8:00

Sunday, February 9: Matins at 9:00; Divine Liturgy at 10:00  

Today’s Epistle and Gospel Readings

Epistle: The Reading is from St. Paul’s Letter to the Hebrews. (7:7-17)

Brethren, it is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. Here tithes are received by mortal men; there, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him. Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become a priest, not according to a legal requirement concerning bodily descent but by the power of an indestructible life. For it is witnessed of him, “Thou art a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”

Gospel: The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (2:22-40)

In those days, the parents of Jesus brought Him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And inspired by the Spirit he came into the Temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said, “Lord, now lettest thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word; for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Thy people Israel.” And His father and his mother marveled at what was said about Him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed.” And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher; she was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity, and as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God, and spoke of Him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. And when they had performed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon Him.

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 with the choir and preschool going first.

Divine Liturgy Variables for Choir and Parish

Refrain of the Second Antiphon:

Save us, O Son of God, Who wast borne in the arms of righteous Simeon; who sing to Thee. Alleluia.

Resurrectional Apolytikion – Tone 8

From the heights Thou didst descend, O Compassionate One, and Thou didst submit to the three-day burial, that Thou might deliver us from passion; Thou art our life and our Resurrection, O Lord, glory to Thee.

Apolytikion of the Presentation of Christ – Tone 1

Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, full of grace, for from thee arose the Sun of justice, Christ our God, lighting those who are in darkness. Rejoice and be glad, O righteous elder, carrying in thine arms the Deliverer of our souls, Who granteth us Resurrection.

Kontakion of the Presentation of Christ – Tone 1

Thou, O Christ God, Who by Thy Birth, didst sanctify the Virgin’s womb, and, as is meet, didst bless Simeon’s arms, and didst also come to save us; preserve Thy fold in wars, and confirm them whom Thou didst love, for Thou alone art the Lover of mankind.

Megalynarion of the Presentation – Tone 3

In the shadow and letter of the Law, let us the faithful contemplate a prefiguring: Every male child that openeth the womb is holy unto God. Therefore, do we magnify the first-born Word, the Son of the Father Who is without beginning, the first-born Child of a Mother who hath not known wedlock.

Koinonikon (Communion Hymn) of the Feast – Tone 8

I will receive the cup of salvation and call upon the Name of the Lord. Alleluia.

LOOKING AHEAD

• Monthly Men’s Fellowship meetings begin on February 11th at the church – 7pm. Contact Father Seraphim for more information.

• Pre-Lenten Retreat February 21-22 with Fr. John Oliver, noted author and speaker.
• Details follow.

• May 1,2,3 : Rives Junction,  Holy Dormition Monastery Pilgrimage: Rhonda is the contact person.

FAMILY NEWS

• Benevolence Opportunity: If you have a loveseat, comfortable chairs or twin mattress set in good condition that you would like to donate to a good cause, please contact Fr Peter Jon.
• Coffee Hour: Parishioners whose last names begin with A-B will serve and clean today.
• The Pantry is OVERFLOWING:  Thanks a bunch, but we have no more storage space at this time!

Anniversary Remembrance: Fr. Peter Jon’s Ordination to the Holy Priesthood (2nd)

Birthday Greetings: Dee H  (2nd); Karen T (3rd); Nolan A (4th)

Name Day Blessings: Amber S (Anna the Prophetess – 3rd)

Memory Eternal: Lois; Fr. Patrick Kinder (14th); Jill Patterson; Darlene; Lotfy Hanna

Prayer List: Allison (Hal’s great-niece); Doris Finchum; Mary Ann; Vicki; Johanna and infant Jonathan; Mat. Raisa; Kaylie and infant Oliver; Rebekah with child; Amanda (Hermione with child; Isaac in Air Force; Fr. Marc; Kh.Vanessa & Anthony Kinder; Fr. George; Fr. Basil & Kh. Cana; Judith; George; Dee; Dusty; Catherine (not in this parish); Michael & Olga;  Eileen; Leanne; 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; those suffering in the drug crisis, with fire devastation in Australia, with flood damage, and earthquake damage in Puerto Rico; those suffering in the Middle East.

Lenten Retreat: We are pleased to have Fr. John Oliver join us for a Pre-Lenten retreat on Friday, February 21 at 7:00 pm and Saturday, February 22 at noon, following a Divine Liturgy for the Saturday of the Souls. There is no charge, and lunch will be provided.  Please feel free to invite friends and family. 

 Fr. John Oliver is the priest of St Elizabeth Orthodox Christian Church, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He is the author of numerous articles and essays, and of Touching Heaven: Discovering Orthodox Christianity on the Island of Valaam, published by Ancient Faith Press,  and Giver of Life: The Holy Spirit in the Orthodox Christian Tradition which is published  by Paraclete Press. 

 He will be speaking to us on the topic of his upcoming book:  The Nourishing Dark: Dealing with Difficult Emotions in the Light of Christ,  which will be coming out this summer. A graduate of St Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, he joined the faculty as instructor in Old and New Testament and American Religious History.  He and his wife Lara have three daughters and two sons. 

Follow Fr. John on his podcast, Hearts and Minds  on Ancient Faith radio https://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/hearts_and_minds.