Sunday of the Last Judgment (Meat Fare)
Hieromartyr Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna; Venerable Gorgonia, sister of Gregory the Theologia
Thought for Today: “At the Last Judgment I will not be asked whether I satisfactorily practised asceticism, nor how many bows I made before the divine altar: I will be asked whether I fed the hungry, clothed the naked, visited the sick, and the prisoner in his jail. That is all I will be asked.”
– St Maria of Paris
EPISTLE and GOSPEL READINGS
The Epistle
The Lord is my strength and my song. The Lord chastened me sorely
The Reading from the First Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians. (8:8-9:2)
Brethren, food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. Only take care, lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone sees you—a man of knowledge—at table in an idol’s temple, might he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so, by your knowledge this weak man is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of my brother’s falling, I will never eat meat, lest I cause my brother to fall. Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
The Gospel
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (25:31-46)
The Lord said, “When the Son of man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. Before Him will be gathered all the nations, and He will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and He will place the sheep at His right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the King will say to those at His right hand, ‘Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed Me, I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you visited Me, I was in prison and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see Thee hungry and feed Thee, or thirsty and give Thee drink? And when did we see Thee a stranger and welcome Thee, or naked and clothe Thee? And when did we see Thee sick or in prison and visit Thee?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ Then He will say to those at his left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave Me no food, I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome Me, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see Thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to Thee?’ Then He will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to Me.’ And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
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.
Kontakion for Sunday of Last Judgement – Tone 1
When Thou comest, O God, to earth with glory, and all creatures tremble before Thee, and the river of fire floweth before the Altar, and the books are opened and sins revealed, deliver me then from that unquenchable fire, and make me worthy to stand at Thy right hand, O righteous Judge.
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.
House Blessings: Father Peter Jon has either blessed — or is scheduled to bless — the homes of all who have requested a house blessing. So, if you have not had your house house blessed, or scheduled a blessing, and you would like to do so, please reach out to Father Peter ASAP to get on his schedule. He does not want to inadvertently overlook anyone.
This Week
Monday, February 24: 3rd Hour Prayers at 9:00 am.
Tuesday, February25: Divine Liturgy at 9:00 am; Tarasius of Constantinople.
Wednesday, February 26: Daily Vespers at 6:00 pm; teaching to follow, with a meal this weeks entrée is “Mediterranean”
Thursday, February 27: Divine Liturgy at 9:00 am; Procopius of Decapolis.
Friday, February 28: Divine Liturgy at 9:00 am; Basil the Confessor. Saints Barbara and John Orthodox Homeschool Co-op meets from 1:00 am-2:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall.
Saturday, March 1: Bible Study 9:00 am at the Webb’s home; Great Vespers at 5:00 pm. Ask Abouna to follow; Junior and Teen SOYO at 6:30 pm.
Sunday, March 2: Matins at 9:00 am, Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am; Forgiveness Vespers at 5:00pm.
Family News
Names Days: Mezy Alexander, Shirley Richardson, Hannah Gillquist, Evelyn Wakefield; St Photini (26th).
Birthday Celebration: Chris Stroguiludis (27th); Poppy Lewis (27th); Mezy Alexander (28th); Adrian Polit (28th); Nina Gillquist (1st).
Looking Ahead
Clean Week (first week of Great Lent)
Monday, March 3: Great Canon of St Andrew of Crete at 6:00pm.
Tuesday, March 4: Great Canon of St Andrew of Crete at 6:00pm.
Wednesday, March 5: Presanctified Liturgy at 6:00 pm; teaching and Soup Supper.
Thursday, March 6: Great Canon of St Andrew of Crete at 6:00pm.
Friday, March 7: Akathist to the Theotokos with Compline at 6:00 pm.
Prayer List: Hal (in Hospice) Scott (terminal heart condition) and his wife Jackie; Jim and Lisa; Tammera; Taylor;Durlin family; Fr. Athanasius; Fr. Jerome; Fr. Basil; 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; those suffering the effect of wild fires in California; schools: children, youth and personnel across the nation; Mary Ann; Emma; Bob & Bonnie Thelen; Josiah; Jack; Christopher; Wadia; Jayci; Patricia; Kitsa; Apthrodite; Kim; Kristy; Vicki;Kenzie; Dusty; Cari; Betsy; Josh; Allison; Dn. Lawrence, Marcia; Missy; Andrew; Isaac; Leanne; Heather; Nancy; Sharon Catherine; Neumann Seraphim; Michael, Olga, Eileen, Soren, Kathy; Lexi, Ross, Vivian; Theo; Jeremy; Elias; Waded; Seraphima; Lilly’s family; Jennifer; Christy; John; Stanley; Macrina with child; Anna and child born to her; Allen; Linda; Allison and children; Kip; Hermione 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 and children; Domnica; Mary.
Memory Eternal: Archbishop Anastasios; Archimandrite Ambrose; Theodore; Mike; Donald; child Houston; Debbie.
All Saints’ Sunday Meal: We have a change in Sunday meal rotation.
1st Sunday – A thru Coats; 2nd Sunday – Coffman thru Holland
3rd Sunday– Hostetler thru Rogers; 4th Sunday – Robertson thru Yeager
We are asking EVERYONE to take part in providing food for our Sunday Meal; whether you are a member, catechumen or inquirer, if you attend regularly, please plan to bring something substantial to share on your designated week. We also need your help cleaning up…many hands make light work! Questions? see Rhonda Webb, Wendy Carter, Nina Rogers, or Melissa Barbarick.
Today, Sunday: 4th Sunday Host Robertson- Yeager; Meatfare. Lead Hostess Rhonda Webb
Next week: 1st Sunday Host A- Coats; Cheesefare. Lead Hostess Martha Barbarick.
Special Events Calendar: To schedule a special event at the Church (bridal shower, baby shower, birthday party, etc.), please email Nina Rogers at alsntssec@bluemarble.net with your request.
Great Lent special service lists are available along with a fasting calendar, and monthly church event guidelines in the Narthex and at the library sign-out.
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.
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.