Sunday,  December 1, 2024

23th Sunday after Pentocost​

 

TO OUR VISITORS

Welcome! We hope your time with us is healing and worshipful. Please note that, although we have much respect for other Christian traditions, Holy Communion is reserved for properly prepared members of the Orthodox faith. Everyone is invited to partake of the blessed bread after the conclusion of the Liturgy. May God’s blessing be upon you!

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Hymns in Today’s Liturgy

Resurrectional Apolytikion (Tone 6)

When Mary stood at Thy grave, looking for Thy sacred body, angelic powers shone above Thy revered tomb; and the soldiers who were to keep guard became as dead men. Thou led Hades captive and wast not tempted thereby. Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst give life to the world, O Thou, Who art risen from the dead, O Lord, glory to Thee.

 

Apolytikion of Mary of Egypt (Tone 8)

Through thee, the divine likeness was securely preserved, O mother Mary; for thou didst carry the cross and follow Christ. By example and precept thou didst teach us to ignore the body, because it is perishable, and to attend to the concerns of the undying soul. Therefore, doth thy soul rejoice with the angels. Kontakion of the

 

Preparation of the Nativity (Tone 3)

On this day the Virgin cometh to the cave to give birth to God the Word ineffably, Who was before all the ages. Dance for joy, O earth, on hearing the gladsome tidings; with the Angels and the shepherds now glorify Him Who is willing to be gazed on as a young Child Who before the ages is God.

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​THE EPISTLE

Ephesians 2:4–10

Brethren, God, Who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and made us sit with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God — not because of works, lest any man should boast. For, we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

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THE GOSPEL

Luke 18:35–43

At that time, when Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging; and hearing a multitude going by, he inquired what this meant. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” And he cried, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped, and commanded him to be brought to him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me receive my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God

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UPCOMING AT ST MARY OF EGYPT

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Monday

Book Study 19:00  @ Online

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Tuesday

Adult Education 19:00 @ St. Mary

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Wednesday

Divine Liturgy for Thanksgiving18:30 @ St. George

 

Friday

Divine Liturgy for St. Nicholas 09:00 @ St. Mary

 

Saturday

Ladies of St. Mary 10:00 @ Joy of All Who Sorrow

Community Cookie Bake 13:00 @ St. Mary

Christmas Concert 19:00 @ Holy Trinity

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Sunday

Orthros & Divine Liturgy 09:00 @ St. Mary

Parish Council 11:45 @ St.Mary

​​​​Christian Education 12:00 @ St. Mary​

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Nativity Fast: The Nativity Fast has begun. From Fr. Jeremy: “Traditionally, we fast strictly from meat, dairy, fish, and alcohol on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays; but during this first period of the Nativity Fast, fish and alcohol (in moderation) are allowed on all other days of the week.”

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St. Nicholas Activities: Next weekend, we will have several activities to commemorate our father among the Saints, Nicholas of Myra. Friday morning, we will have Matins & Divine Liturgy for his feast day at 09:00; on Saturday, we will have our annual cookie baking activity for the parish and neighborhood kids (with a possible visit from St. Nicholas). Sunday, during coffee hour, St. Nicholas will come and pay a visit to the children of our humble parish. Parents, please bring an extra pair of shoes next Sunday so they may receive a gift from St. Nicholas.

 

Ladies of St. Mary: This Saturday, the Ladies of St. Mary will be having an outing to the Old Town Christmas Market at our sister parish of Joy of All who Sorrow, located at 16th and Delaware in Indianapolis. The plan is to meet at our church at 10:00, then carpool up to Joy for the event. For questions, contact Kendra Blanchard at (317)833-0266 or wanda88201@hotmail.com.

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70½ or older?: If you're 70½ or older, you may be required to take a mandatory distribution from  your retirement IRA; if so, there are tax advantages to having some or all of it come directly to St. Mary to fulfill one's 2025 pledge. Check with your IRA administrator for details.

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Coffee Hour: Coffee Hour is our time of fellowship after the Liturgy. This week, group A (led by Kendra Blanchard) will oversee coffee hour. Next week, group B (led by Bobbi Cornelius) will be in charge.

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​​Christian Education: Christian Education classes are held after coffee hour. The adult class meets in the front classroom, the SOYO class (ages 11–18) in the first room at the foot of the stairs in the basement, and the younger class (ages 3–10) in the back classroom.

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COMMUNITY OUTREACH

 

Community Dinner:  Yesterday, we served a home-cooked traditional Thanksgiving meal for those people in our community. We will be having our next community dinner 2024‑12‑13 16:00–19:00. We will be serving chili with fixings, vegetable soup, cornbread, fruit, and dessert. As always, we need people to volunteer to help with set-up, serving, and cleanup on that day. For questions, contact Amal at  amal@stmaryegypt.org.

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Community Box Pantry: Thanks to everyone who recently donated items for the pantry. We are now restocked; however, since we have seen such a high demand with this ministry, please continue to bring non-perishable, unexpired items to be used in the pantry so we can maintain supplies for those in need. As you are able and your budget allows, please remember those in need as you do your grocery shopping; there are always special deals at the grocery stores. Also, if you have things in your pantry that you are not going to use, please consider sharing them. Please place your donated items on the black shelf in the narthex. There will be a big sign over the bookshelf saying, “Food Pantry Donations”. There will also be a donation box for money if people would rather donate money instead of shopping. Remember all donated items must be non-perishable, unexpired, and unopened. Also, no dented cans please. If you have questions, please contact Amal.

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PARISH PRAYER REQUESTS

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Living:  Archpriest Athanasius; Archpriest Zachariah; Priest Gabriel; Sdn. Alexander; Sdn. Mark; Abraham; Amber; Amy; Andrea; Basil; Bonnie; Connie; Deborah; Demetrios; Elen; Ezra; Hannah; Joanna; Katya; Larry; Lee; Natalia; Robert; Robert; Roye; Tanya; Thomas; Wanda; Dylan (01‑03)

 

Departed: Archbishop Peter (12‑18); Archpriest Joseph (12‑05); Jack (12‑01); Esther (12‑20); Siham (12‑21)

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​Please notify Charles  of any new prayer requests by Wednesday for inclusion in the bulletin.

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SYNAXARION
 

On 1 December, in the Holy Orthodox Church, we commemorate the holy and glorious Prophet Nahum.

Longing doth draw me to anoint with the myrrh of discourse

Nahum the Elkoshite, who hath yielded up his spirit.

On the first, Nahum was conveyed out of life.

Nahum was born of the tribe of Simeon in a place called Elkosh on the far side of the Jordan. He lived about seven hundred years before Christ and prophesied the destruction of Nineveh about two hundred years after the Prophet Jonah had warned the Ninevites. Because of Jonah’s preaching, the Ninevites had repented, and God had spared them and not destroyed them. In time, however, they forgot God’s mercy and again became corrupt. The Prophet Nahum prophesied their destruction, and since there was no repentance, God did not spare them. The entire city was destroyed by earthquake, flood and fire, so that its location is no longer known. The Prophet Nahum lived for forty-five years and entered into rest in the Lord, leaving us a small book of his true prophecies.

On this day, we also commemorate the Venerable Philaret the Almsgiver of Amnia; and Martyr Ananias the Persian. By the intercessions of Thy saints, O Christ God, have mercy upon us. Amen.