Sunday of Forgiveness (Cheese Fare)
Venerable Alexios the ‘Man of God;’ Patrick, bishop of Armagh and enlightener of Ireland
Thought for Today: “We sin against God in so many ways when we are cruel, unforgiving and so forth. The servant who receives the forgiveness if his Master and who then refuses to forgive, not only sinned against the other servant, he sinned against his master… If wefail to forgive our brother, our neighbor, then we are sinning against God” + St. John Chrysostom +
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 8
From the heights Thou didst descend, O compassionate One, and Thou didst submit to the three-day burial, that Thou might deliver us from passion; Thou art our life and our Resurrection, O Lord, glory to Thee.
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.
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
Make your vows unto the Lord and perform them.God is known in Judah; His name is great in Israel.
The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans. (13:11-14:4)
Brethern, salvation 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 judgement on him who eats; for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgement on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for God is able to make him stand.
The Gospel
The Reading 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.
OCF Donation Drive: Donations 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
CLEAN WEEK
Today, Sunday: Parish Council will meet following Divine Liturgy; Forgiveness Vespers at 5:00 pm.
Monday, March 18: Great Cannon of St. Andrew of Crete at 6:00 pm.
Tuesday, March 19: Great Cannon of St. Andrew at 6:00 pm.
Wednesday, March 20: Presanctified Liturgy at 6:00 pm (followed by teaching).
Thursday, March 21: Great Cannon of St. Andrew at 6:00 pm.
Friday, March 22: Akathist Service at 6:00 pm.
Saturday, March 23: 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 24: Matins at9:00 am,Divine Liturgy at10:00 am; Sunday of Orthodoxy service at Holy Trinity 5:00 pm; Homilist Bishop Daniel.
FAMILY NEWS
Names Day Celebration: David Patterson,St. Patrick(17th); Shirley Richardson, Mezy Alexander, Hannah Noor Gillquist, St. Photini (26th).
Birthday Celebration: Kh. Kristina (18th);Marah Polit (19th);Lilly Blair (20th); Saraquel Hsu (21st); Ghada Labban (21st); George Tabbal (21st); Marjia Krupoves (23rd).
Memory Eternal: Fr. Jorge, Steve, Sarah, Patriarch Neophytos (Bulgarian Patriarchate).
Prayer List: Shirley;Jim;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; Michael, Olga, Eileen, Soren, Kathy Lexi, Ross and Vivian; Theo; Doug; Dee; Jeremy; Dn. Lawrence, Marcia; Elias; Waded; Seraphima; Lilly’s family; Jennifer; Christy; Megan; John; Stanley; Macrina with child; 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 Pantry: Thank 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 Fund: Donations 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: Nina Rogers with Parishioners H-R (Cheesefare).
Next week Host: Rhonda Webb with Parishioners S-Z.
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.