Parish Bulletin – March 17, 2013

SUNDAY OF THE EXPULSION OF ADAM FROM PARADISE

VEN. ALEKSY THE MAN OF GOD, ST. PATRICK ENLIGHTENER OF IRELAND

TONE 8

Romans 13:11-14:4
Matthew 6:14-21

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Choir Director: Veronika


 

Welcome

We welcome you to the Orthodox Church. Please feel at ease and free to participate in the singing. As a visitor you are welcome to come forward at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy and venerate the Cross offered by the priest. Additionally you may receive the blessed bread (Antidoron) that is offered at that time. If you have questions or would like further information, the priest or one of the members of the parish will be pleased to help.

A word to our visitors on Holy Communion

The Orthodox Church does not practice open Communion. Therefore, only members of Canonical Orthodox Churches exercising jurisdiction in America may approach the Chalice for Holy Communion. The Orthodox do not regard Holy Communion solely as an act of personal piety, but also as an expression of union with the Orthodox Church’s faith, doctrine, and discipline. Orthodox visitors wishing to receive Holy Communion should make their intention known to the priest in advance — ask any member of the parish for help in relaying your intention to the priest. Orthodox Christians should prepare themselves to receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion through recent Confession, prayers of preparation for Holy Communion, and fasting (at minimum, from midnight before receiving).

“Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in a an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord.” – I Corinthians 11:27


TROPARIA AND KONTAKIA

Kontakion from the Triodion, in Tone VI:

O Master, Guide to wisdom, / Giver of prudent counsel, / Instructor of the foolish and Champion of the poor, / make firm my heart and grant it understanding. / O Word of the Father, / give me words, for see, I shall not stop my lips from crying out to Thee: / I am fallen, //in Thy compassion have mercy on me.

 


Opportunities to give:

➢ Food donations to the Ashland Food Project

Announcements:

  • Please sign up for coffee fellowship/kitchen cleanup.
  • Please, do your utmost to be here tonight for Forgiveness Vespers. This marks the beginning of our Lenten Journey together, and the exchange of mutual forgiveness is how we enter into the Fast. “First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” (Matt 5:24)
  • The first week of Great Lent is of utmost importance. Abide by the Fast, and come to as many services as you can this week. There are plenty to choose from for you with difficult work schedules.
  • There will be no Lenten Potluck after the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts on Wednesday night this week. Make sure that you prepare for Communion the way that you normally would, if you plan to partake of the Mysteries in the Lenten Liturgies.
  • Unless you are ill, please do not dip the antidoron (blessed bread) in the wine after taking Communion.
  • The Parish Council will convene after Liturgy today. It will be a closed meeting.
  • Next Sunday is the “Sunday of Orthodoxy.” Please bring icons from home for procession at the end of Divine Liturgy. (If you have no icons, you can use some from the church.)

 

Confession after services or by appointment!

Other Activities Next Week:

  • Saturday, 3.00 PM – Choir practice

 


Clean Week Schedule

Sunday, March 17

6.00 PM                      Forgiveness Vespers

Monday, March 18

7.00 AM                     Lenten Matins

6.00 PM                      Great Compline, Canon of St. Andrew of Crete

Tuesday, March 19

7.00 AM                     Lenten Matins

6.00 PM                      Great Compline, Canon of St. Andrew of Crete

Wednesday, March 20

7.00 AM                     Lenten Matins

6.00 PM                      Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts (no Lenten potluck the first week of Lent)

Thursday, March 21

7.00 AM                     Lenten Matins

6.00 PM                      Great Compline, Canon of St. Andrew of Crete

Friday, March 22

7.00 AM                     Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, followed by a Moleben to St. Theodore Stratelates

Saturday, March 23

6.00 PM                      Great Vespers

Sunday, March 24

9.00 AM                     Divine Liturgy (Sunday of Orthodoxy, bring your favorite icon from home)

Monday, March 25

7.00 AM                     Vesperal Liturgy (Feast of the Annunciation)

 


Sunday of Forgiveness

Beloved brethren! We have already reached the very gates of the holy fast! They are even now about to open before us! Already, according to the typicon of the Holy Church, we hear the instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ read to us today in the Holy Gospels about the correct way to begin the podvig of fasting. “For if ye forgive men their trespasses”, says the Gospel reading for today, “your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Mt. 6:14–15). The holy Church greets us with this announcement at the gates of the fast! This is the requirement the Church offers us on the very threshold of the spiritual chamber of repentance. We intend to prove our repentance for various sinful distractions through various deprivations and wearing out of the body. The Gospels requires mercy from us before sacrifice, so that the sacrifice would be pleasing to God. All who wish to begin this discipline of fasting and prayer, all who wish to reap abundant fruits of your repentance! Hear the word of God, hear God’s commandment, and let go, forgive your neighbors their sins against you. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Amen.

– St. Ignatius Brianchaninov


The Purpose of our Fast

Fasting, prayer, alms, and every other good Christian deed is good in itself, but the purpose of the Christian life consists not only in the fulfillment of one or another of them. The true purpose of our Christian life is the acquisition of the Holy Spirit of God. But fasting, prayer, alms and every good deed done for the sake of Christ is a means to the attainment of the Holy Spirit. Note that only good deeds done for the sake of Christ bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Everything else that is not done for the sake of Christ, even if it is good, does not bring us a reward in the life to come, not does it bring the grace of God in this life. This is why our Lord Jesus Christ said, “Whoever gathereth not with me scattereth” (Matt. 12:30).

 

– St. Seraphim of Sarov

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