Weekly Calendar

^Sunday^,^{December 10th}

^{10th Sunday of Luke}

9:00am Matins 10:00am Divine Liturgy

Weekly Calendar:

Sun, Dec. 10: 10^th Sunday of Luke (Fish, Oil, Wine Allowed) 9:00am Orthros 10:00am Divine Liturgy

Parish Council Elections following Divine Liturgy

Mon, Dec. 11: St. Daniel the Stylite (Fish, Oil, Wine

Allowed)

Tues, Dec. 12: St. Spyridon the Wonderworker (Wine & Oil Allowed)

9:00am Orthros 10:00am Divine Liturgy

Wed, Dec. 13: St. Lucia the Virgin Martyr (Strict Fast)

6:00pm – The Way Orthodox Catechism Class (via Zoom)

Thurs, Dec. 14: St. Thrysos the Martyr (Strict Fast)

7:00pm – Bible Study (via Zoom)

Fri, Dec. 15: St. Eleutherios the Hieromartyr (Strict Fast)

Sat, Dec. 16: St. Theophania the Empress (Wine & Oil Allowed)

5:00pm – Great Vespers

Sun, Dec. 17: 11^th Sunday of Luke (Wine & Oil Allowed)

9:00am Orthros 10:00am Divine Liturgy

Sunday School Christmas Program following Divine Liturgy

Parish Announcements

Philoptochos Bake Sale – Order by Dec. 12^th , Pick-Up Dec. 16^th

Our Philoptochos Bake Sale will be accepting orders until Dec. 12^th for holiday desserts. To order, call Athena (309-253-8662) or Judy (309-691-3320) betweem 9am-7pm. Dessert pick-up will be at the church on Sat. Dec. 16^th from 10:30am-1:30pm.

Parish Council Elections – Sun. Dec. 10^th Following Divine Liturgy

Our Parish Council Elections will take place today Sunday Dec. 10^th following the Divine Liturgy. For those who are stewards in good standing, you will be able to vote for who joins the parish council, so please make sure to attend!

All Saints Christmas Card – Submit by today Sun. Dec. 10^th

If you would like your name to be included on our Christmas card, please fill out a form by the end of the day today (forms can be picked up at the church, and have also been mailed to parishioner homes. Or you can fill out the form electronically.

The Way Catechism Class – Wednesdays 6pm – 7pm (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.

Bible Study – Thursdays 7pm – 8pm (via Zoom)

Our Bible Study is currently working through the Gospel according to St. Luke. The Zoom link is on the parish calendar, or contact Fr. Theofanis to learn more.

Sunday School

Sunday School is under way! Any children (Pre-school through High School) are welcome to attend class. Sunday School children and teachers come to receive Holy Communion first, and then go downstairs for class. For any questions, please reach out to Trisha Holton (trisha.meier@gmail.com). Our Sunday School Christmas program will be on Sunday, December 17^th!

Saints and Feasts

December 10

10th Sunday of Luke

December 10

Thomas the Righteous of Bithynia

December 08

Patapios the Righteous of Thebes

This Saint was from the Thebaid of Egypt and struggled many years in the wilderness. He departed for Constantinople, and having performed many miracles and healings, he reposed in peace in a mountain cave on the Gulf of Corinth, where his holy relics are found incorrupt to the present day.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

27th Sunday after Pentecost
The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians 6:10-17

Brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand, therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; besides all these, taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Gospel Reading

10th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 13:10-17

At that time, Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her and said to her, "Woman, you are freed from your infirmity." And he laid his hands upon her, and immediately she was made straight, and she praised God. But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the sabbath, said to the people, "There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be healed, and not on the sabbath day." Then the Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?" As he said this, all his adversaries were put to shame; and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.

Wisdom of the Fathers

So great an evil is envy. For not against strangers only, but even against our own, is it ever warring.

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 40 on Matthew 12, 4th Century

And yet here He speaks only; whereas elsewhere in many cases He heals by laying on of hands also. But nevertheless none of these things made them meek; rather, while the man was healed, they by his health became worse. For His desire indeed was to cure them before him, and He tried innumerable ways of healing, both by what He did in their presence, and by what He said: but since their malady after all was incurable, He proceeded to the work.