MYRRH BEARERS’ LENTEN RETREAT with MOTHER NEKTARIA of ST. PAUL SKETE*
Saturday March 3
• 1:00 – 5:00 – Women’s Retreat with Mother Nektaria.
• 5:00 – Great Vespers followed by a Lenten meal – All are welcome.
• 6:30 – Mother Nektaria will speak to the entire All Saints Community.
Sunday March 4
• 12:00 – 1:00 – Mother Nektaria will speak about the monastic life

Sunday, February 25, 2018
First Sunday of Great Lent (Sunday of Orthodoxy)
Tarasios the confessor, archbishop of Constantinople; Hieromartyr Reginos, bishop of Skopelos;
Hieromartyr Markellos, bishop of Apamea in Syria; Martyr Alexander of Markianopolis

**Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great**

Nourishment of the Soul: “Bringing one soul close to God by repentance is much better, in the eyes of God, than all other offerings, for there is nothing in the world better for God than the human soul, for everything in the world will perish except the soul because it is eternal.” – St. John Climacus

Myrrh Bearers meet today around noon.

Lest we forget that Almsgiving is part of the Lenten Fast: The Food for Hungry People Campaign has begun. Pick up a coin box in the hallway, if you want to support the program in this way. Or, make a donation during Great Lent, and the church will send one check after Holy Pascha.

This morning on the Sunday of Orthodoxy, we encourage you and especially the children to bring an icon to carry during the procession.

Tonight: St. George in Fishers is hosting the Sunday of Orthodoxy Lenten Vespers at 5:00. Bishop Gregory is the guest homilist. A fellowship meal follows.

MYRRH BEARERS’ LENTEN RETREAT with MOTHER NEKTARIA of ST. PAUL SKETE*
Saturday March 3
• 1:00 – 5:00 – Women’s Retreat with Mother Nektaria.
• 5:00 – Great Vespers followed by a Lenten meal – All are welcome.
• 6:30 – Mother Nektaria will speak to the entire All Saints Community.
Sunday March 4
• 12:00 – 1:00 – Mother Nektaria will speak about the monastic life

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.

Social Hour: Scheduled contributors this Sunday are those whose last names start with I-Z; however you may contribute whenever you find it convenient. The Lenten Fast will be observed.

THIS WEEK

Wednesday, February 28: Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts 6:00, followed by light meal- teaching
Thursday, March 1: Bible Study at Becky’s 3:00-5:00
Thursday, March 1: Bible Study at the Webb’s home7:00-8:30
Friday, March 2: Little Compline and Akathist Hymn at 6:00
Saturday, March 3-4th: Mother Nektaria is our special guest*
Saturday, March 3: Great Vespers at 5:00 – Orthodoxy 101 with Mother Nektaria presenting.
Sunday, March 4: Matins at 8:50; Divine Liturgy at 10:00 (We will have guests from First Methodist Church.)
Sunday Evening, 4: Lenten Vespers at St. George in Terre Haute at 5pm; Dn. Joseph Olas, presenter*

LOOKING AHEAD

…*Lenten Vespers, sponsored by the Central Indiana Orthodox Presbyter’s Council, will be at a different church each Sunday evening at 5:00 with a fellowship meal provided. This year’s theme is “The Orthodox Christian Family”.
…Women’s Month: In our parish, women of all ages will be reading the Epistle, passing the collection trays, and serving as ushers.
…Choir News: If you want to sing at Pascha with the choir, plan now to meet 3 to 4 Sundays in March.
… Bible Study: Gospel of John at the Webb’s home – Thursdays through March 29th – 7:00-8:30 at 3960 E. Fenbrook Lane, Bloomington, IN 47401; 314-313-275; webbrk1@gmail.com.

FAMILY NOTES

Birthday Blessings: Christopher S (27th); Mezy A (28th); Mary B (28th); Adrian P (28th); Nina G (March 1st); Deacon Lawrence (3rd)

Name Day Celebration: St. Photeini on Feb. 26th – Mezy Alexander; Lilly Blair; Hannah Gillquist; Shirley Richardson;

Memory Eternal: Alexis (15th); Norman (Marija’s brother-in-law);Victims in Florida school tragedy

Prayer List: Paul; Caden, Dylan,& Maddie; Marvin & Alice; Cathy; Kh. Kristina; Sitto; Elias; Waded; Neva; Bill; Lonnie; Fr. George; Iva Lee; Adrian T; Nancy & Shalayna; Jennifer A’s family; Rigsby family; those suffering in the drug crisis in the USA

Today’s Epistle and Gospel Readings

Prokeimenon: “Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the God of our fathers.”
Verse: “For Thou art just in all that Thou hast done for us.” Daniel 3:26,27

Epistle: The Reading is from St. Paul’s Letter to the Hebrews. (11:24-26, 32-40)

Brethren, by faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets; who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, and put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated—of whom the world was not worthy—wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Gospel: The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. John. (1:43-51)

At that time, Jesus decided to go to Galilee. And He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, “We have found Him of Whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” Nathanael said to Jesus, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God! Thou art the King of Israel!” Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these.” And Jesus said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.”

Divine Liturgy Variables
(Words my vary from those printed here.)

Resurrectional Apolytikion – Tone 5
Let us believers praise and worship the Word; co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit, born of the Virgin for our salvation. For, He took pleasure in ascending the Cross in the flesh to suffer death; and to raise the dead by His glorious Resurrection.

Apolytikion of the First Sunday of Great Lent – Tone 2
Thy pure image do we venerate, O good One, asking forgiveness of our sins, O Christ our God; for by Thine own will Thou didst ascend the Cross in Thy body, to save Thy creatures from the bondage of the enemy. Thou hast verily filled all with joy, since Thou didst come, O our Savior, to save the world.

Kontakion for the Annunciation (and Great Lent) – Tone 8
To thee, the Champion Leader, do I offer thanks of victory, O Theotokos, thou who hast delivered me from terror; but as thou that hast that power invincible, O Theotokos, thou alone can set me free: from all forms of danger free me and deliver me, that I may cry unto thee: Hail, O Bride without Bridegroom.

St. Basil’s Megalynarion (instead of “It is truly meet…”)
In thee rejoiceth, O full of grace, all creation: the angelic hosts, and the race of men, O hallowed Temple and noetic paradise, glory of Virgins, of whom God was incarnate and became a little child, even our God Who is before all the ages; for He made thy womb a throne, and thy body He made more spacious than the heavens. In thee rejoiceth, O full of grace, all creation; and it glorifieth thee.

Confession of Faith on Sunday of Orthodoxy

As the prophets beheld, as the Apostles have taught,…as the Church has received…as the teachers have dogmatized,…as the Universe has agreed,…as Grace has shown forth,… as Truth has revealed,…as falsehood has been dissolved,…as Wisdom has presented, …as Christ awarded,…thus we declare,…thus we assert,…thus we preach Christ our true God, and honor as Saints in words, in writings, in thoughts, in sacrifices, in churches, in Holy Icons; on the one hand worshipping and reverencing Christ as God and Lord; and on the other hand honoring as true servants of the same Lord of all and accordingly offering them veneration.

(LOUDER) This is the Faith of the Apostles, this is the Faith of the Fathers, this is the Faith of the Orthodox, this is the Faith which has established the Universe.

Sunday, February 18, 2018
Sunday of Forgiveness (Cheese Fare)
Leo the Great, pope of Rome; Agapitos the Confessor, bishop of Synnada in Phrygia;
Venerable Colman, bishop of Lindisfarne

Nourishment of the Soul: “He who loves God will certainly love his neighbor as well.”
St. Maximos, the Confessor

Parish Council meets today around noon.

Summer Youth Camp: Parents, please let Marcia know your plans for camp so the church can also plan for that important event. So far, 7 campers are registering for an enriching experience in their young lives.

Women’s Month: In our parish, women of all ages will be reading the Epistle, passing the collection trays, and serving as ushers. Please contact Rhonda Webb or Marcia to be added to the schedule for March 4, 11, 18 or 25th. We have a reader for March 18th.

Myrrh Bearers’ Fundraiser last Sunday: Thank you for your donation of $595.

Lest we forget that Almsgiving is part of the Lenten Fast: The Food for Hungry People Campaign has begun. Pick up a coin box in the hallway, if you want to support the program in this way. Or, make a donation during Great Lent, and the church will send one check after Holy Pascha.

Kontakion for Forgiveness Sunday – Tone 6
O Thou Who guidest to wisdom, and givest understanding and intelligence, the Instructor of the ignorant, and Helper of the poor, strengthen my heart and grant it understanding, O Master. Give me word, O Word of the Father; for behold, I shall not refrain my lips from crying to Thee, O merciful One, have mercy upon me who am fallen.

Saturday of Souls Divine Liturgy begins at 9:00.

A list of your departed ones should be sent to Fr. Peter Jon by Friday evening, February 9th.

Sunday, February 11, 2018
Sunday of the Last Judgment (Meat Fare)
Hieromartyr Blaise, bishop of Sebastia and companions; Theodora the empress;
New-martyr George of Serbia; Vsevolod, prince and wonderworker of Pskov

Nourishment of the Soul: “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” – 1 Corinthians 10:31

All Saints Taco Bar – Today!
Annual Fundraiser for Myrrh Bearers
Please be generous in your donations
All money provides assistance to youth camper fund
and/or to other benevolent works by our women’s group

Meat Fare Letter from His Eminence The Most Reverend Metropolitan JOSEPH is enclosed in today’s printed bulletin. It initiates the Food for Hungry Program for 2018.Coin boxes are in the hallway.

Summer Youth Camp: Parents, please let Marcia know your plans for camp so the church can also plan for that important event. So far, 7 campers are registering for an enriching experience in their young lives.

*Women’s Month: The month of March, designated as Antiochian Women Month by His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph, is a time when the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Women of North America encourage their sisters in Christ to participate in the Liturgy and minister in their parishes and their communities. In our parish, women of all ages will be reading the Epistle, passing the collection trays, and serving as ushers. Please contact Rhonda Webb or Marcia to be added to the schedule for March 4, 11, 18 or 25th. We have a reader for March 18th.

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.

THIS WEEK

Please note that Matins
now begins 10 minutes earlier than usual at 8:50.

Tuesday, February 13: OCF at the Webb’s home 6:00 – 8:00
Wednesday, February 14: Daily Vespers at 6:00
Thursday, February 15: St. John Fellowship at the Haneys in Mitchell 10:00-Noon
Thursday, February 15: Bible Study at the Webb’s home 7:00-8:30
Saturday, February 17: Great Vespers at 5:00 – Orthodoxy 101 follows: “The Church and Human Sexuality” – Dr. John Craton, presenter
Sunday, February 18: Matins at 8:50; Divine Liturgy at 10:00 – Cheese Fare
Sunday, February 18: Forgiveness Vespers at 5:00
Monday, February 19: Great Lent begins.

LOOKING AHEAD

…Thursdays through March 29th (excluding February 22nd): Bible Study on the Gospel of John at the Webb’s home – 7:00-8:30 at 3960 E. Fenbrook Lane, Bloomington, IN 47401; 314-313-275; webbrk1@gmail.com.
…February 19th: Great Lent begins with the Canon of St. Andrew on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday; Presanctified Liturgy on Wednesday, and Little Compline & Akathist to the Mother of God on Friday.
…Bible Study at Becky’s is planned for February 22nd, and will continue with the usual schedule in March.
… Sunday of Orthodoxy (Feb.25th) – St. George in Fishers: Sunday Evening Lenten Great Vespers schedule begins.
…March is Women’s Month*
…March 3-4th: Myrrh Bearers Retreat with Mother Nektaria Veloff of St Paul Skete, Grand Junction, Tennessee. Details will be published as we approach the end of February!

FAMILY NOTES

Birthday Blessings: Tabitha B (6th); Deb D (12th); Jan G (13th); Alicia B (16th); Ben S (16th)
Name Day Remembrance: Marcia B (St. Priscilla -13th)
Memory Eternal: Jack (9th); Alexis (15th)
Prayer List: Marvin & Alice; Cathy; Kh. Kristina; Sitto; Elias; Waded; Neva; Bill; Lonnie; Fr. George R.; Iva Lee; Jennifer A’s family; Rigsby family; those suffering in the drug crisis in the USA

Today’s Epistle and Gospel Readings

Prokeimenon: “The Lord is my strength and my song.”
Verse: “The Lord chastising hath chastised me, but He hath not delivered me over to death.”
Psalm 117:14,18

Epistle: The Reading is from St. Paul’s First Letter the Corinthians. (8:8-9:2)
(For Sunday of the Last Judgment)

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 any one 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.

Gospel: The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (25:31-46)
(For Sunday of the Last Judgment)

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.”

Divine Liturgy Variables

Resurrectional Apolytikion – Tone 3
Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad, for the Lord hath done a mighty act with His own arm. He hath trampled down death by death, and become the first-born from the dead. He hath delivered us from the depths of Hades, granting the world the Great Mercy.

Kontakion for the Sunday of Last Judgment – 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.