Sunday, March 11, 2018
Third Sunday of Great Lent
Veneration of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross
Sophronios, patriarch of Jerusalem; Martyrs Thallos and Trophimos of Latakia;
Venerable George of Sinai; Theodora of Arta, the empress; Euthymios, bishop of Novgorod
Nourishment of the Soul: “Great is the power of prayer, and it brings most of all the Spirit of God, and is most easily practiced by everyone. We shall be happy indeed if the Lord God finds us watchful and filled with the gifts of His Holy Spirit.” – St. Seraphim of Sarov
Choir News: Practice for Pascha begins around noon in the nave. Plan also to meet on the 18th and 25th.
Women’s Month: During March, women of all ages will be reading the Epistle, passing the collection trays, and serving as ushers. Tabitha Burchett is our reader.
The Food for Hungry People Campaign: Make a donation to All Saints during Great Lent, and the church will send one check after Holy Pascha.
All Saints Food Pantry is looking rather bare. There is plenty of cereal, green beans and corn; paper products are appreciated but not too many! We suggest frozen or canned meat, pasta and pasta sauce, jars of apple sauce, hot dogs, ketchup, and 16 ounce jars of peanut butter.
Tonight: St. Nicholas on Marsh Road in Indy is hosting Lenten Vespers at 5:00. Fr. David Wey is the guest homilist. A fellowship meal follows.
Social Hour: Scheduled contributors this Sunday are those whose last names start with Be-F; however, all donations are welcome!
Serving Dishes, Left in the Pantry and Kitchen! We appreciate your food donations, but wonder if you have forgotten to take your serving vessels home! Take a look in cabinets or kitchen storeroom.
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.
If you are visiting today, we warmly welcome you and invite you to stay for the fellowship hour that follows Divine Liturgy.
Today in the Divine Liturgy, we begin special prayers for the Catechumens and specifically, “Those preparing for Holy Illumination” (who will be chrismated on Lazarus Saturday).
Important – regarding Fr. Peter Jon’s contact information: As most of you know, Fr. Peter Jon has retired his smart phone in favor of a flip-phone. He can be reached at the same cell phone number and email address that he has used for over a decade. However, please do not assume that he can receive text messages, as his new phone has texting limitations. Fr. Peter Jon wants to make sure your important messages don’t get lost in the texting stratosphere.
THIS WEEK
Tuesday, March 13: Bible Study at Kh. Marilyn’s home at 7:00
Wednesday, March 14: Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts 6:00, followed by light meal & teaching
Thursday, March 15: St. John Fellowship at the Haney’s 10:00 – Noon
Thursday, March 15: Bible Study at Becky’s will NOT meet.
Thursday, March 15: Bible Study at the Webb’s home 7:00-8:30
Friday, March 16: Little Compline and Akathist Hymn at 6:00
Saturday, March 17: Great Vespers at 5:00 – Orthodoxy 101 with Fr. Peter Jon presenting ” The Mystery of Holy Unction.”
Sunday, March 18: Matins at 8:50; Divine Liturgy at 10:00 – Parish Council meets around noon.
Sunday Evening, 18: Lenten Vespers at Joy of All Who Sorrow in Indianapolis at 5pm; Fr. Dragan Petovich, presenter*
LOOKING AHEAD
…*Lenten Vespers, This year’s theme is “The Orthodox Christian Family”.
…Canon of St. Andrew and Life of St. Mary of Egypt – March 22nd at 6:00 (Added to March calendar)
… Bible Study: Gospel of John at the Webb’s home – 7:00-8:30 at 3960 E. Fenbrook Lane, Bloomington, IN 47401; 314-313-275; webbrk1@gmail.com, on Thursdays, but not on March 22nd.
FAMILY NOTES
Birthday Blessings: Rachel L (11th); Anna-Amber S (13th); Adam S (16th)
Name Day Celebration: Daniel M (Simeon the New Theologian – 12th); David P (Patrick Enlightener of Ireland – 17th)
Memory Eternal: Norman (Marija’s brother-in-law); Philip (Marcia’s brother);Victims in Florida school tragedy
Prayer List: Barbara; Paul; Caden, Dylan,& Maddie; Marvin & Alice; Cathy; Kh. Kristina; Sitto; Elias; Waded; Neva; Bill; Lonnie; Fr. George; Iva Lee; Adrian T; Nancy & Shalayna; Jennifer A’s family; Rigsby family; those suffering in the drug crisis in the USA; Safety in our Schools
Today’s Epistle and Gospel Readings
Prokeimenon: “O Lord, save Your people and bless Your inheritance.”
Verse: “To You, O Lord, have I cried, O my God.” Psalm 27:9,1
Epistle: The Reading is from St. Paul’s Letter to the Hebrews. (4:14-5:6)
Brethren, since we have a High Priest, Who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One Who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not exalt Himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by Him Who said to Him, “Thou art My Son, today I have begotten Thee”; as He says also in another place, “Thou art a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”
Gospel: The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark. (8:34-9:1)
The Lord said, “If any man would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for My sake and the Gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” And Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Kingdom of God come with power.”
Divine Liturgy Variables
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.
Apolytikion of the Holy Cross – Tone 1
O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance, granting to Thy people victory over all their adversaries, and by the power of Thy Cross preserving Thine estate.
Kontakion for the Annunciation (and Great Lent) – 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.
The Anti-Trisagion Hymn (Instead of Holy God…)
Before Thy Cross, we bow down in worship, Master, and Thy Holy Resurrection we glorify.
St. Basil’s Megalynarion (instead of “It is truly meet…”)
All of creation rejoices in thee, O full of grace, the assembly of angels and the race of men. 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 thy womb He made more spacious than the heavens. All of creation rejoices in thee, O full of grace, glory to thee!
Koinonikon (Communion Hymn for Third Sunday of Great Lent)
The light of Thy countenance is marked upon us, O Lord. Alleluia.