Feasts of Circumcision of Christ & Basil the Great
New-martyr Peter of the Peloponnesos
Christ is Born, Glorify Him!
Thought for Today: “God keeps us not that we are worthy, but because He is very merciful.
+ Elder Arsenie Papaciac of Romania +
VARIABLE for CHOIR and PARISH
Resurrectional Apolytikion Tone – 4
Having learned the joyful message of the Resurrection from the angel the women disciples of the Lord cast from them their parental condemnation. And proudly broke the news to the Disciples, saying: Death hath been spoiled; Christ God is risen, granting the world Great Mercy.
Apolytikion of Circumcision of Christ Tone – 1
Our human form hast Thou taken on Thyself without change, * O greatly-compassionate Master, though being God by nature; * fulfilling the Law, Thou willingly * receivest circumcision in the flesh, * that Thou mightest end the shadow and roll away * the veil of our sinful passions. * Glory be to Thy goodness unto us. * Glory be to Thy compassion. * Glory, O Word, to Thine inexpressible condescension.
Apolytikion of St. Basil the Great Tone -1
Thy sound hath gone forth into all the earth, which hath received thy word. Thereby thou hast divinely taught the Faith; thou hast made manifest the nature of all things that be; thou hast adorned the ways of man. O namesake of the royal priesthood, our righteous Father Basil, intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved.
Kontakion of Circumcision of Christ Tone – 3
Now the Lord of all that is * doth undergo circumcision, * in His goodness cutting off * the sins and failings of mortals. * He this day doth give salvation * unto the whole world; * and the hierarch and bright daystar of the Creator * now rejoiceth in the highest, * Basil the wise and * divine initiate of Christ
EPISTLE and GOSPEL READINGS
The Epistle
My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
Hear this, all ye people.
The reading from the Epistle of St. Paul Epistle to the Colossians. (2:8-12)
Brethren, see to it that no one makes a prey of you by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ. For in Him the whole fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily, and you have come to fullness of life in Him, Who is the head of all rule and authority. In Him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of flesh in the circumcision of Christ; and you were buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God, Who raised Him from the dead.
The Gospel
The reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (2:20-21, 40-52)
And it came to pass that the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. And at the end of eight days, when He was circumcised, He was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon Him. Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. And when He was twelve years old, they went up according to custom; and when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing Him to be in the company they went a day’s journey, and they sought Him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances; and when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. After three days they found Him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions; and all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers. And when they saw Him they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why hast Thou treated us so? Behold, Thy father and I have been looking for Thee anxiously.” And Jesus said to them, “How is it that you sought Me? Did you not know that I must be in My Father’s house?” And they did not understand the saying which He spoke to them. And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and His mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man.
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.
Special Parish Council meeting today Sunday, January 1st, regarding the nomination of a new Metropolitan Archbishop.
Looking Ahead:
Special Convention: Father Peter Jon travels to Texas for the Special Convention to nominate a new Metropolitan Archbishop January 11-14.
All-parish Annual Meeting: Sunday, January 22
Giving Opportunities:
SOYO and Junior SOYO are collecting toothbrushes, toothpaste, mini-deodorants, hand sanitizers, socks, nail files, soaps, and dental floss to be packaged and sent to IOCC (International Orthodox Christian Charities). These will then be used in disaster relief efforts as-needed. Please place your items in the decorated box in the fellowship hall.
The Giving Tree Thank you to all who filled the tree with gift cards many times over! Many families are being blessed with groceries and gas thanks to your love and generosity.
The Benevolence Fund Thank you to all who generously responded to our plea for the 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.
Our In-House Food Pantry needs canned meats, tuna, salmon, smoked oysters, sardines, chicken, black and pinto beans, spaghetti sauce and peanut butter. We have an abundance of pasta.
Hats and Gloves Thank you for your incredible response to this need. We have collected an immense number of hats and gloves and will deliver them to be distributed shortly.
THIS WEEK
Wednesday, January 4: Daily Vespers at 6:00 pm; followed by Ask Abouna. Orthodoxy 101 will resume the first Wednesday in February.
Thursday, January 5: Hours of Theophany at9:00 am; Vesperal Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great at 3:00 pm.
Friday, January 6: Theophany; Matins at 9:00 am; Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am; Blessing of the waters, at 11:30 am.
Saturday, January 7: Great Vespers at 5:00pm; Jr SOYO at 3:30pm; Teen SOYO at 6:00pm.
Sunday, January 8: Matins at 9:00 am, Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am.
FAMILY NEWS
Birthday Celebrations: Emily Wood (3rd);Sami Koutares (5th); John Alexander (5th); Coran Robertson (5th); Alex Koutares (6th); Ian Yeager (7th).
Names Day Celebration: William Gidney Basil Konnersman, Basil the Great (1st); Linda Barrett, Leanne Bissell, Neuman Jones Seraphim of Saraov (2nd); Juliana Barber Juliana of Lazarevo (2nd); Johanna Hsu, Emily Wood Rightous Emilia (3rd); Jennifer Rigsby Genevieve of
Paris (3rd); Micah Finchum Prophet Micah (5th); John Labban, John Alexander, Brian Owens John the Baptist (7th).
Anniversary Celebrations: Darryl and Nancy Jones (4th).
Memory Eternal: Archpriest Anthony (Gabriel); Drew; Robert.
Prayer List: Michael, Olga, Eileen, Soren, Kathy; Toni;Jan; Don and Dee; those suffering the war of Ukraine; Peace talks; our nation and all nations’ leaders; schools: school children, youth and personnel across the nation; Mat. Raisa; Mary Ann; Emma (Mary Ann’s granddaughter); Bob & Bonnie Thelen; Wes (infant with brittle bone disorder); Megan (lymphoma); Mark (CHF) and (caregiver) Barbara; Wes’s grandfather;Josiah; Vicki;Vicki’s granddaughter;Arianna; Vician; Linda; Steve Crandall; Fr.Athanasius; Fr. Gabriel;Jack;Christopher; Nancy; Fr. Jerome; Mother Nektaria; Catherine; Wadia; Jayci; Patricia, Marvin, Alice; Kitsa; Apthrodite and Angelos; Kim; Kristy, Dusty, Cari; Betsy, Josh; Allison; Andrew and Isaac (Korea/military); Leanne; Heather; Nancy; Sharon Catherine; Lexi, Ross and Vivian; Theo; Doug; Jeremy; Marcia & Deacon; Elias; Waded; Seraphima; Lilly’s family; Jennifer; Christy; Megan; Nelson; Rhea and John; Stanley; Anna with child (Coran’s friend); Malory with child (Reed’s sister);, Megan with child; Brigida with child; Paulina with child; Anne; Allen; Linda; Marilyn; Mary Barger; Norma; Allison and children .
Coffee Hour Host: Melissa Barbarick’s Team with Parishioner’s A-B.
Next week Host: Wendy Carter’s Team with Parishioners C-G.
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.