Sunday, February 26, 2017
Sunday of Forgiveness (Cheese Fare)
Porphyrios, bishop of Gaza; Great-martyr Photeini the Samaritan Woman and those with her; Martyr Theoklitos and those with him; New Martyr John of Constantinople
Visitors, you are always welcome here. Parishioners, we miss you when you are not with us.
Nourishment of the Soul: “If our thoughts are peaceful, calm, meek, and kind, then that is what our life is like.” – Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica
Notes from the Choir: The choir will approach the chalice, first in line followed by the children in the pre-school class. If you want to sing at Pascha, plan now to practice every Sunday in March and one in April.
There will be a Basket Collection today supporting the Antiochian Women’s Annual Project. “Strengthening the Ministries of our Church.” This theme is a distillation of the sweeping vision which Metropolitan Joseph shared…at the summer meetings in July, 2016. His Eminence spoke with farsighted boldness and passion about the many challenges and opportunities which lay before our God-protected Archdiocese. His vision is of a vigorous Church actively proclaiming our faith in Jesus Christ and lovingly ministering to the broken world around us. This is already a description of the ministries in many of our parishes, but to keep moving forward while broadening our active ministries, we must reinforce and strengthen our foundations.
Camp Fund: $640 ,raised last Sunday, was divided among our 7 campers: Ava, Lilly Molly, Nina, Christian, Gregory and Nicholas .
Note from Camp Family: We so appreciate the support of our church family! The kids love their time at camp and look forward to it every year! As parents, we love that our kids look forward to being around other Orthodox Christians, and learning more about our loving and merciful God, our faith, and church traditions.
Stories are told around the dinner table year round! My children have been astonished that our priests and bishops, who spend time at camp and visit the camp, are real people to look to in their faith! We, as parents, can only pray that their experiences with these godly individuals carry them into and through their adult years.
All in all, camp touches the campers and their families at home! What a joy!
Sincerely, all our thanks and love! The Alexander family
Orthodoxy 101 on Wednesday, March 1st: Fr. Peter Jon presents Confession: Who, Why, and How?
Myrrh Bearers meet at noon in the nave to plan upcoming events.
Plan to attend FORGIVENESS VESPERS TONIGHT AT 5:00.
THIS WEEK
GREAT LENT BEGINS TOMORROW!
Monday, February 27: Canon of St. Andrew at 6:00
Tuesday, February 28: Canon of St. Andrew at 6:00
Wednesday, March 1: Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts at 6:00 – O101 follows.
Thursday, March 2: Bible Study at Becky’s home with Kh. Marilyn leading 3-5p.m.
Thursday, March 2: Canon of St. Andrew at 6:00
Friday March 3: Akathist Hymn (Akathiston) to the Mother of God at 6:00
Saturday, March 4: OCF – YES Event & Great Vespers at 5:00
Sunday, March 5: Sunday of Orthodoxy Matins at 9:00; Divine Liturgy at 10:00
Choir Practice following Divine Liturgy
Sunday, March 5: Sunday of Orthodoxy Great Vespers at 5:00 pm – Holy Trinity in Carmel
LOOKING AHEAD
March is Women’s month in the Archdiocese.
March 5,12,19,26 & April 2: Choir practices for Pascha music and Lenten music.
March 18: OCMC Missionary Nathan Hoppe will offer a retreat on Orthodoxy and Missions. He will present a slide show and Mission Albania update during coffee hour on Sunday the 19th.
FAMILY NOTES
Birthday Greetings: Christopher S (27th); Mezy A ( 28th); Mary B (28th); Adrian P(28th); Nina G (1st); Deacon Lawrence (3rd)
Name Day Blessings: Mezy A (26th – St. Photini); Lilly B (26th – St. Photini); Hannah Noor G (26th – St. Photini (Noor); Shirley R (26th – St. Photini)
Memory Eternal: Edgar; Norma; Florence; Mat. Juliana Schmemann; Kevin (youngest son of Fr. Nicholas Speier, Santa Barbara), Stephanie
Prayer List: Please keep Hal (at home following successful surgery) and Alex (continuing issues) in your special prayers. “For the suffering Christians of Syria, Palestine, Iraq, & all of the Middle East, and for those suffering in Ukraine.” Alex John; Fr. Steven Rudy (cancer); Finley (infant girl child with stroke and spasms); Subdn. Daniel; Fr. Basil; Fr. Philip; Grant (Leukemia); Chris; Doug & Dorothy Barrett; Eileen; the Tabbals; Mary Ann & Jen; Dee and Don; Kh.Kristina; Betsy and Hannah; Leslie (paralysis); Jasmine; Deborah & Thomas; James; Becky H; Tom; Annie; Catherine; Janett; Julian; Kh. Mary Sue Walker; Vicki; Hoppes & Jesse Brandow (Missionaries); Vivian; Natalie; Senior Saints; Patricia; Nicetas; Barb; Shirley; Metropolitan Paul, Archbishop John; Fr. John Koen; Archpriest George; Adrian; Heather; Susan; Gabriella & Matt; Sara; Shelley; Geni; Emily D; Emma; Nancy; Neal; Bob R; Leanne; Beth; Lillian; Julie; Roger; Virginia; Marilyn; Eric; Cheryl; Lori; Pam; Debbie; Natasha; Michael & Shelley: Gabriel; Mary; Janet; Kelly; Matushka Raisa; Marty; Charles; Mary; Marvin, Alice; Katie; Ruth; Steve; Romaine; Derek, Claire & Micah; Tim; Sharon; Sherri; Dianna; Michael and Diane; Aaron; Brent; Jennifer; Brigid; Ethan; Lena, Dean; Gayle; Thomas; Amy; Heidi; Gene & Connie, Caleb D; Megan & Colin; Bill & Sandy; Sabrina.
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.
Today’s Epistle and Gospel Readings
Prokeimenon: “ Sing praises to our God, sing praises. Sing praises to our King, sing praises!”
Verse: “O clap your hands, all ye nations!” Psalm 46:6, 1
Epistle: The Reading is from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans. (13:11-14:4)
Brethren, salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not for disputes over opinions. One believes he may eat anything, while the weak man eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains pass judgment on him who eats; for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Master is able to make him stand.
Gospel: The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (6:14-21)
The Lord said to His Disciples: If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father Who is in secret; and your Father Who sees in secret will reward you. Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
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 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.