First Sunday of Great Lent (Sunday of Orthodoxy)
Venerable Zachariah the recluse and Artemon, bishop of Seleucia
Thought for Today: “When you want to say something to your children, tell it to the Panagia and She will bring it to pass.” – St. Porphyrois of Kavsokalyvia
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 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 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. Wherefore, with thankfulness we cry aloud to thee: Thou hast verily filled all with joy, since Thou didst come, O our Savior, to save the world.
Kontakion for Sunday Sundays in Great Lent (and Akathist Saturday) – 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.
EPISTLE and GOSPEL READINGS
The Epistle
Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the God of our fathers. For Thou art just in all that Thou hast done for us.
The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul 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 the time would fail me if I 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, put foreign enemies 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 attested by their faith, did not receive what was promise, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
The Gospel
The Reading 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.”
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.
OCF Donation Drive: A heartfelt Thank you, for donations made for ‘New Hope for Families’.
THIS WEEK
Today, Sunday: Great Vespers with Artoklosia for the Annunciation to the Most-Holy Theotokos at 5:00 pm.
Sunday of Orthodoxy service at Holy Trinity 5:00 pm; Homilist Bishop Daniel.
Monday, March 25: Matins at 9:00 am, Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am; for the Annunciation.
There is a festal family meal after Divine Liturgy. The Church will provide fish; others are invited to bring Lenten sides such as vegetables, salad, bread, and desserts.
Tuesday, March 26: 3rd Hour Prayers at 9:00 am; OCF dinner and discussion, 6:30pm at the Webb’s home.
Wednesday, March 27: 6th Hour Prayers at12:00 noon; Presanctified Liturgy at 6:00 pm (followed by teaching).
Thursday, March 28: 3rd Hour Prayers at9:00 am.
Friday, March 29: Presanctified Liturgy at 9:00 am; Akathist Service at 6:00 pm.
Saturday, March 30: 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 31: Matins at9:00 am,Divine Liturgy at10:00 am.
FAMILY NEWS
Names Day Celebration: Gabriella Crandell, Randel Storm, Archangel Gabriel; John Alexander, St. John Climacus.
Birthday Celebration: Ross Caton (25th); Tristan Rigsby (26th); Darryl Jones, Nina Rogers (29th).
Memory Eternal: Fr. Jorge, Steve, Sarah, Patriarch Neophytos (Bulgarian Patriarchate).
Prayer List: Charlie;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.
An excellent documentary film titled, “Sacred Alaska” will be shown at the Old National Public Theater in Evansville, IN on Sunday, April 14. There are two showings: 1:30pm and 4:30pm. RSVP to attend at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScHNi0RtUGRhKV-ShNT-Sb0pX9_3JjQxlmz5ujOzyqoxViyTA/viewform?fbclid=IwAR0MjjZQnzpuO-O21X9EWpqtL3tMbp_d3GaRxa2CouwGQWnICGD-Tdhh-os
For a list of upcoming screenings around the U.S.: simon@sacredalaskafilm.com
To view the trailer: https://vimeo.com/704200740
Coffee Hour Host: Rhonda Webb with Parishioners S-Z.
Next week Host: 5th Sunday all are encouraged to participate in donating towards Coffee Hour.
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.
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.