Sunday, March 10, 2024

Sunday of the Last Judgment (Meat Fare)

 Martyr Kodratos of Corinth and his five companions; Anastasia the patrician of Alexandria

Thought for Today“As rain raises the seed, so the church service strengthens the soul in virtue. – St. Ephraim the Syrian

March is Women’s Month

The ladies of the parish will serve by reading the Epistle and ushering during the month of March.  

VARIABLE for CHOIR and PARISH

Resurrectional Apolytikion – Tone 7

Thou didst shatter death by Thy Cross, Thou didst open paradise to the thief; Thou didst turn the sadness of the ointment-bearing women into joy. And didst bid Thine Apostles proclaim a warning, that Thou hast risen O Christ, granting to the world the Great Mercy.

Kontakion for Sunday of Last Judgement – Tone 4

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

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.

EPISTLE and GOSPEL READINGS 

The Epistle

The Lord is my strength and my song. The Lord has chastened me sorely.

The Reading from the First Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians. (8:8-13; 9: 1-2)

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 became 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 of 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 brother’s falling, I will never eat meat, lest I cause my brother to fall.

The Gospel

The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (25:31-46)

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.”

OCF Donation DriveDonations for ‘New Hope for Families’ may be brought to the church through March 24th. Items requested are listed on the Fellowship Hall door, in the electronic bulletin attachment, or by contacting Maria Greanias @ 219-508-6534.

Real Break Greece: Eirene Stavropoulos is participating in “Real Break” through OCF and is asking for our support. You all can donate directly through this link and it will go straight to Eirene. https://orthodoxchristianfellowship.givingfuel.com/crowd/real-break-greece-2024/fundraiser/15269 

THIS WEEK 

Monday, March 116th Hour Prayers at 12 noon.

Tuesday, March 12: Divine Liturgy at 9:00 am.

Wednesday, March 136th Hour Prayers at 12 noon; Daily Vespers at 6:00 pm (followed by Orthodoxy 101).

Thursday, March 14Divine Liturgy at 9:00 am.

FridayMarch 15:  Divine Liturgy at 9:00 am.

Saturday, March 16: Bible Study at the Webb’s home, 9:00 am; Great Vespers at 5:00 pm; (followed by Ask Abouna); Jr. SOYO at 3:30pm; SOYO at 6:30pm.

 Sunday, March 17Matins at9:00 am,Divine Liturgy at10:00 am. Forgiveness Sunday (Cheesefare) Vespers at 5:00 pm.

FAMILY NEWS 

Names Day CelebrationDaniel Mullis, St. Symeon (12th).

Birthday CelebrationPaulina Schulz (11th);Ryan Shanahan (12th);Adam Shahadey (16th).

Memory EternalFr. Jorge, Steve, Sarah.

Prayer ListMichael, Olga, Eileen, Soren, Kathy;Jan; Don and Dee; those suffering the war of Ukraine, and the Middle East; Peace talks; our nation and all nations’ leaders; schools: children, youth and personnel across the nation; Mat. Raisa; Mary Ann; Emma (Mary Ann’s granddaughter); Bob & Bonnie Thelen;  Wes (infant with brittle bone disorder); Wes’s grandfather; Megan (lymphoma); Mark (CHF) and (caregiver) Barbara;Josiah; Vicki;Vicki’s granddaughter; Steve Crandall; Fr. Athanasius; Jack; Christopher; Fr. Jerome; Fr. Basil; Catherine; Wadia; Jayci; Patricia; Marvin; Alice; Kitsa; Apthrodite; Kim; Kristy; Dusty; Cari; Betsy; Josh; Allison; Andrew (Texas/military); Isaac (Germany/military); Leanne; Heather; Nancy; Sharon Catherine; Lexi, Ross and Vivian; Theo; Doug; Dee; Jeremy; Dn. Lawrence, Marcia; Elias; Waded; Seraphima; Lilly’s family; Jennifer; Christy; Megan; John; Stanley; Macrina;; Anne; Allen; Linda; Mary Barger; Allison and children; Nino with child, Kip, Erica with child, Stephanie with child, Mary with child, Meaghan with child, Alexis with child.

Giving Opportunities:

Our In-House Food PantryThank you for the generous support to theFood Pantry. The pantry is available to parish members as well as families and individuals in the greater Bloomington community. Donations of nonperishable items of pasta, marinara sauce, peanut butter, canned chicken and Tuna, canned vegetables, canned fruit and soups are always welcome.

Mission Donations: We send monthly support to two missionary units in Albania, the Hoppe family and Hannah Valentine. We welcome and encourage you to contribute to their ongoing support. 

Benevolence FundDonations may be made to this fund throughout the year, and are mainly used to support families in need of help with rent and utilities payments.

 Coffee Hour Host: Wendy Elizabeth Carter with Parishioners C-G.

Next week HostNina Rogers with Parishioners H-R.

Donations to the church are being made online at www.allsaintsbloomington.org and by U.S mail.  Many thanks to all who continue supporting All Saints.