Fourth Sunday of Great Lent
Commemoration of John Climacus, Author of “The Ladder”
New Hieromartyr Zachariah, Metropolitan of Corinth; Sophronios, Bishop of Irkutsk
**Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great**
Great Lent Our season of prayer, fasting, repentance, and almsgiving
March is Women’s Month The ladies and girls of the church will serve on Sundays during Divine Liturgy by reading the reading of the Epistle and holding wooden bowls of prosphora bread during Holy Communion.
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.
Apolytikion of St. John Climacus – Tone 8
The barren wilderness thou didst make fertile with the streams of thy tears; and by thy deep sighing thou hast given fruit through thy struggles a hundredfold. Accordingly, thou hast become a star for the universe, sparkling with miracles. Therefore, O righteous Father John Climacus, intercede with Christ God to save our souls.
Kontakion for Sundays in 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.
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 Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia
EPISTLE and GOSPEL READINGS
The Epistle
The Lord will give strength to his people. Bring to the Lord, O sons of God, bring to the Lord honor and glory.
The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews. (6:13-20)
Brethren, when God made a promise to Abraham, since He had no greater by whom to swear, He swore to Himself, saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiplying you.” And thus Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise. Men indeed swear by a greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when God, desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of His purpose, He interposed it with an oath, so that through two unchangeable things—in which it is impossible that God should prove false—we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a Forerunner on our behalf, having become a High Priest “forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”
The Gospel
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark. (9:17-31)
At that time, a man came to Jesus, kneeling down and saying unto him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a dumb spirit. And wherever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked Thy Disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” And Jesus answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to Me.” And they brought the boy to Him; and when the spirit saw Jesus, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, “How long has he had this?” And he said, “From childhood. And it has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if Thou canst do anything, have pity on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You dumb and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again.” And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse; so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when Jesus had entered the house, His Disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” And Jesus said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting.” They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And Jesus would not have anyone know it; for He was teaching His Disciples, saying to them, “The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him; and after He is killed, He will rise on the third day.”
New Items in the Bookstore in 2026 The Jesus We Missed, Fr. Patrick Reardon; Akathist of Thanksgiving; Ukrainian-made wood crosses; Great Lent, Fr. Alexander Schmemann; Jesus Prayer Desktop Plaques; Moved by Compassion: Exploring the Core of Orthodox Christian Spiritual Life by John D. Jones; Orthodox Faith, Worship, Life – a catechism; The Orthodox Way, Bp. Kallistos Ware; The Ultimate Building Project: The Human Person, Paul Karos; A variety of Orthodox crosses, silver, stainless and wood.
Looking Ahead
April 3 Canon of St. Lazarus at 6:00 pm.
April 4 Lazarus Saturday Baptisms, Chrismations and Liturgy. Luncheon. Indoor Parish Workday.
April 5 Palm Sunday, the Entrance of Christ into Jerusalem. Bridegroom service at 5:00 pm.
This Week
Today, Sunday Lenten Choir practice 1:00-2:00pm. Sunday Vespers at 5:00 pm; St. George, Terre Haute; homilist Fr. John Miller, pastor of Joy of All Who Sorrow.
Monday, March 23 3rd Hour Prayers at 9:00 am.
Tuesday, March 24 3rd Hour Prayers at 9:00am.
Wednesday, March 25 Divine Liturgy at 6:00 pm, for the Annunciation. “Festal meal to follow. The church is providing fish. All sides are needed. Please list your contribution on the sign-up in the hallway.
Thursday, March 26 The Life of St. Mary of Egypt, and Full Canon of St Andrew of Crete 6:00 pm.
Friday, March 27 Presanctified Liturgy at 9:00 am; Full Akathist to the Theotokos at 6:00 pm.
Saturday, March 28 Outdoor Parish Workday 10:00 am All Saints . Great Vespers at 5:00 pm ‘Ask Abouna’ to follow.
Sunday, March 29 Matins at 9:00 am; Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am, St. Mary of Egypt. Sunday Lenten Vespers at 5:00 pm; st. Nicholas, Indianapolis; homilist Fr. John Koon, pastor of Holy Apostles.
Family News
Names Day Celebration John Alexander, Bear Schulz, St. John Climacus (22ND); Nancy Jones, Violet Lewis, lydia (23rd); Gabriella Crandall, Randel Storm, Thomas Dyer, Archangel Gabriel (26th).
Birthday Celebrations Marco Pressley (22nd); Marija Krupoves (23rd) Ross Caton (25th); Tristan Rigsby (26th).
Prayer List Dee and Don; Nancy; Tom; Wendy; Dnsa. Robyn; Mary Ann; Rita; Michael, Olga, Jone; Sadie and the child she bears; Heather; Hal; Kh. Paraskeva; David; Taylor; Fr. Athanasius; Fr. Jerome; Fr. Basil; Fr. Matthew; Rdr. David; Marvin; Nectaria, Charlie, Shirley; Jim; Patricia; ; Jan; those suffering from the war in Ukraine and the Middle East; our Nation; all school children, and personnel across the nation; Emma; Josiah; Jack; Christopher; Wadia; Kitsa; Apthrodite; Kim; Vicki; Kenzie; Dusty; Cari; Josh; Allison; Dn. Lawrence, Marcia; Missy; Andrew; Isaac; Audra and the child she bears; Nancy; Sharon Catherine; Neumann Seraphim; Eileen, Soren, Kathy; Lexi, Ross, Vivian; Theo; Jeremy; Elias; Leanne Seraphima; Lilly’s family; Sarah; Jennifer; Christy; John; Bruce; Stanley; Allen; Linda; Allison and children; Evan; Anastasia and family; Mary and family; Anna and the child she bears, Mary and the child she bears; Williams family; Victoria and the child she bears; Susie; Rhonda.
Memory Eternal David, Baran, Sophie, Fr. Andrew, Fr. Christopher, Galyna, Thomas, Albina, Jeanette (Aaliyah Aunt), Fr. Vladimir, Hilda, Sam, Norma, Metropolitan Demitrios of Xanthos, Kip, Tammy.
House blessings will continue throughout Great Lent. Father will contact you to schedule a time.
Giving Opportunities We appreciate and welcome your ongoing support.
Benevolence Fund Donations are used to support families in need of help with rent and utilities payments.
Food Pantry Our In-house Food Pantry is available to parish members as well as families and individuals in the community of Bloomington. Donations of nonperishable items of pasta, marinara sauce, peanut butter, canned chicken and Tuna, canned vegetables, canned fruit and soups are always a great blessing.
Mission Donations We send monthly support to two missionary units in Albania, the Hoppe family and Hannah Valentine.
All Saints’ Sunday Meal
To best serve our growing congregation, we ask everyone who is able bring a food donation to share at the meal. If you are unable to bring a dish, please enjoy the meal and fellowship, help with cleanup is always needed. Place your donations ready to be served on the serving buffet prior to Holy Communion. After the meal, remove your containers and clean up any church items you used. Thank you.
The Prayer of Saint Ephraim the Syrian (to be prayed by all with your morning and evening prayers at home)
O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of laziness faint-heartedness, lust of power, and idle talk.
But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to Your servant.
Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own sins and not to judge my brother, for blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages. Amen
Donations to the church are being made online to www.allsaintsbloomington.org and by U.S. mail. Many thanks to all who continue supporting All Saints.