Fifth Sunday of Great Lent
Commemoration of Our Righteous Mother Mary of Egypt; Martyr Mark, Bishop of Arethusa, Martyr Cyril The Deacon of Heliopolis and those with them; Martyrs Jonah and Barachisios of Persia and those with them; Eustachios the Confessor, Bishop of Bithynia
Visitors, you are welcome at all services.
Let us pray to the Lord: “For the suffering Christians of Syria, Palestine, Iraq, & all of the Middle East, and for those suffering in the Ukraine.”
Nourishment of the Soul: “Strive as well as you can to enter deeply with the heart into the church reading and singing and to imprint these on the tablets of the heart.” — Abbot Nazarius
Urgent CHOIR PRACTICE follows today’s Liturgy. It is vital that all who plan to sing at Pascha attend. This is the last practice; many practices have been poorly attended due to weather, spring break, and illness. Let’s practice so the Glory of the Lord will shine forth as we celebrate the Resurrection of Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ.
Sunday School for those in Grades One through 12 will meet after Divine Liturgy.
Communion: 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.
Communion Line: The choir goes first in both lines so members may continue ministering through music during communion. Little Lambs Sunday School follows. The ushers then assist each row from front to back. Those in the overflow behind the choir may follow adjacent rows.
THIS WEEK
Tuesday, March 31: Skate Night at Western Skateland 6:30-8:30
Wednesday, April 1: Presanctified Liturgy at 6:00 followed by Orthodoxy 101 at 7:45.
Father Peter Jon and Sharon Katherine Kolasinski as presenters – “The Passion in Pictures: Icons of Salvation”.
Friday, April 3: Akathist for St. Lazarus at 6:00
Saturday, April 4: St. Lazarus Liturgy at 10:00 followed by workday to prepare for Holy Week
Saturday, April 4: Great Vespers at 5:00
Sunday, April 5: Palm Sunday Matins at 8:50; Divine Liturgy of St. Basil at 10:00
Sunday, April 5: 1st Bridegroom Service at 5:00 p.m. initiating Holy Week
LOOKING AHEAD
April 5: Palm Sunday
Holy Week: If anyone wants to learn to bake prosphora (holy bread), see Subdeacon Daniel who will plan a time during Holy Week.
April 6-13: Holy Week and Holy Pascha Eve – Consult the calendar or the newsletter.
ALL SAINTS FAMILY NEWS
Happy Birthday: Nina Rogers (29th); Darryl Jones (29th); Irene Vlachos-Weber (3rd); Sadie Sremanak (3rd)
Blessed Name Day: Molly Alexander (St. Mary of Egypt – 1st); Zane Nevils (St. Nicetas, the Confessor – 3rd); Polina Mullis (St. Appolinaria – 4th)
Memory Eternal: Peter (4th); Fr.Thomas Hopko (18th); Phyllis Walker (21st)
Prayer List: Julian; Fr. Gordon & Kh. Mary Sue Walker (both in ill health); Deacon Seraphim (surgery scheduled); Vicki Gans; Kh. Marilyn; Paoli victims Melissa & Children; Jean Foley & Laham family (lung cancer – friends of Lloyd & Barbara George); Bill Bauer; Hoppe & Moore Families (OCMC Missionaries); Dye Family; Vivian Orfanos; Fr. Athanasius Wilson; Natalie; Senior Saints; Ioana; Patricia; Marianne (Stephanie’s friend); Dee Haney; Galina; John G; Nicetas; Barb; Shirley; Metropolitan Paul, Archbishop John; Kh. Loretta; Fr. John Koen; Archpriests Roman, George & Stephen; Krystal & Jason; Adrian, Catherine & Marah; Heather (Charles’ daughter); Susan; Gabriella & Matt; Sara; Shelley; Fr. Moses Berry; Geni; Frank & Becky Hrisomalos; Those with child: (Kh. Kristina, Mary, Kathleen; Brooke (Theckla); Elizabeth, and Gabriella); Noah; Emily D; Emma; Kim; Nancy; Neal; Lyuda; Bob R; Alex; John; Leanne; Beth; Lillian; Julie; Roger; Virginia McCallister; Marilyn; Eric; Cheryl; Lori; Pam; Debbie; Natasha; Michael & Shelley: Gabriel; Mary; Doug; Janet; Kelly; Matushka Raisa; John C; Marty; Charles; Eileen; Mary; Marvin, Alice; Katie; Deborah; Ruth; Steve; Kevin; Romaine; Derek, Claire & Micah; Tim; Preston; Sharon; Sherri; Dianna; Michael and Diane; Aaron; Brent; Jennifer; Brigid; Caleb; Dennis & Joyce; Ethan; Lena, Dean; Gayle; Thomas; Amy; Heidi; Gene & Connie; Cathi
Today’s Epistle and Gospel Readings
Prokeimenon: “Make your vows and pay them to the Lord our God.”
Verse: “God is known in Judah; His Name is great in Israel!” Psalm 75:10,1
Epistle: The Reading is from Saint Paul’s Epistle to the Hebrews. (9:11-14)
BRETHREN, Christ having appeared a High Priest of the good things to come, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; neither through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, entered in once for all into the holy place, having found eternal redemption. For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of bulls and goats and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Gospel: The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark. (10:32-45)
AT THAT TIME, Jesus took His twelve Disciples, and began to tell them what was to happen to Him, saying. “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles. And they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit upon Him, and kill Him; and after three days He will rise.” And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to Him, and said to Him, “Teacher, we would that Thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.” And Jesus said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” and they said to Him, “Grant us to sit, one at Thy right hand and one at Thy left, in Thy glory.” But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” And they said to Him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized. But to sit at My right hand or at My left is not Mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. And Jesus called them to Him and said to them., “You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be servant of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
Divine Liturgy Variables
Resurrectional Apolytikion – Tone 1
While the stone was sealed by the Jews, and the soldiers were guarding Thy most pure body, Thou didst arise on the third day, O Savior, granting life to the world. For which cause the heavenly powers cried aloud unto Thee, O Giver of Life. Glory to Thy Resurrection, O Christ; Glory to Thy Kingdom,; Glory to Thy Providence, O Thou Who alone art the lover of mankind.
Apolytikion for St. 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 for Ordinary Sundays – Tone 2
O Undisputed intercessor of Christians, O Mediatrix who is unrejected by the Creator; turn not away from the voice of our petitions, though we be sinners. Come to us with aid in time, who cry unto thee in faith, for thou art good. Hasten to us with intercessions, O Theotokos, who didst ever intercede for those who honor thee.
Megalynarian (instead of It Is Truly Meet)
All of creation rejoices in thee, O Full of Grace, the assembly of angels and the race of man. O sanctified Temple and Spiritual Paradise, the glory of virgins, from whom God was incarnate, and became a child, Our God before the ages. He made thy body into a throne, and He made thy womb more spacious than the heavens. All of Creation rejoices in Thee, O Full of Grace, glory to Thee.