All Saints Weekly Bulletin

^{Sunday, December 15th}

^11th Sunday of Luke

9:00am Orthros 10:00am Divine Liturgy

Epistle Reading

St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 1:8-18

TIMOTHY, my son, do not be ashamed then of testifying to our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel in the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not in virtue of our works but in virtue of his own purpose and the grace which he gave us in Christ Jesus ages ago, and now has manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. For this gospel I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, and therefore I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. Follow the pattern of the sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus; guard the truth that has been entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, and among them Phygelos and Hermogenes. May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphoros, for he often refreshed me; he was not ashamed of my chains, but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me eagerly and found me - may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that Day and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesos.

Gospel Reading

Luke 14:16-24

The Lord said this parable: "A man once gave a great banquet, and invited many; and at the time of the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, 'Come; for all is now ready.' But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I go out and see it; I pray you, have me excused.' And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I must go to examine them; I pray you, have me excused.' And another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.' So the servant came and reported this to his master. Then the householder in anger said to his servant, 'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and maimed and blind and lame.' And the servant said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and there is still room.' And the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges, and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet. For many are called, but few are chosen.'"

Weekly Calendar

Sun. Dec. 15: 11^th Sunday of Luke (Wine & Oil Allowed)

9:00am Orthros 10:00am Divine Liturgy

Mon. Dec. 16: Haggai the Prophet (Strict Fast)

           8:00pm The Way Catechism Class (via Zoom)

Tues. Dec. 17: St. Dionysios of Zakynthos (Strict Fast)

        6:00pm Scripture Talk (via Zoom)

Wed. Dec. 18: St. Sebastian the Martyr (Strict Fast)

Thurs. Dec. 19: St. Boniface the Merciful (Strict Fast)

Fri. Dec. 20: St. Ignatius the God-Bearer (Wine & Oil Allowed)

Sat. Dec. 21: St. Juliana of Nicomedia (Wine & Oil Allowed)

11:00am – 5:00pm All Saints Knit-a-Thon

5:00pm Great Vespers

5:30pm Tea & Cocoa Night

Sun. Dec. 22: Sunday Before the Nativity (Wine & Oil Allowed)

9:00am Orthros 10:00am Divine Liturgy

Sunday School Christmas Program

Parish Announcements

The Way Catechism Class – Mondays @ 8pm via Zoom

The Way is a class for those seeking to enter the Orthodox Church and for those who are Orthodox looking to learn more about their Faith. The Zoom link is on the parish calendar, or contact Fr. Theofanis to learn more.

Scripture Talk – Tuesdays @ 6pm (via Zoom)

Scripture Talk is a virtual Bible study ministry offered by the Orthodox Christian Network (OCN) that meets every Tuesday, 6pm to 7pm CST.

Each week, a different Orthodox priest from around the country is invited to help guide the discussion. The Zoom link can be found on the parish calendar.

All Saints Knit-A-Thon – Sat. Dec. 21^st, 11am – 5pm

Please join our Sunday School students for our Knit-A-Thon on Sat. December 21, from 11am-5pm in our Parish Hall to support the Peoria Friendship House. No experience is needed; materials and guidance will be provided. All ages are welcome. Come help us craft items that will benefit individuals in need as winter approaches. Donations of supplies or pre-made hats, blankets, and scarves, or monetary donations to the Peoria Friendship House are also welcome. Vespers will take place at 5pm, and will be followed by a Tea & Cocoa Night at 5:30pm.

Sunday School Christmas Program– Sun. Dec. 22^nd following Divine Liturgy

Our Sunday School Christmas Program will take place on Sunday, Dec. 22 following the Divine Liturgy. It will be a beautiful program full of Christmas carols and hymns. All of our students are welcome to participate! We also invite our parishioners to bring a Lenten food item for a Coffee Hour Potluck in honor of the Sunday School students.

All Saints Christmas Lunch – Sun. Jan. 12^th @ Grecian Gardens (1pm Salad Bar, 2pm Lunch)

Please join us for our annual Christmas Lunch on Sunday, January 12th, 2025, at Grecian Gardens in Chillicothe. This year, we'll celebrate both Christmas and the start of the new year with a lunch gathering instead of dinner. The festivities begin at 1 PM with a salad bar, followed by a 2 PM lunch featuring favorites like Prime Rib, Greek Chicken, and Orange Roughy Fish. Seniors receive a $10 discount, and there's a special kids' menu for those under 12. Each meal includes dessert and soft drinks. A cash bar will also be available. Kindly RSVP to Tatiana at 630-706-1775 or at the following link: 

Wisdom of the Fathers

Devils take great delight in fullness, and drunkenness and bodily comfort. Fasting possesses great power and it works glorious things. To fast is to banquet with angels.

St. Athanasios the Great

Fasting is the path to Bethlehem, for it is by self-emptying that we meet the One Who emptied Himself for our sake.

St. Isaac the Syrian