St. Nicholas Orthodox Church Monthly Newsletter

Transcription

1 St. Nicholas Orthodox Church Monthly Newsletter Diocese of Toledo-Orthodox Church in America 2143 S. Center Road Burton, Michigan Served by: Fr. Matthew-Peter Butrie Deacon Kerry Luke Gonser Website: Church Office: Services: Sunday Wednesday- 9:30 am Divine Liturgy replaced by 10 am Lenten Hours during Lent Adult Class 11 am Saturday 5 pm Vespers followed by Confessions Holydays: Vespers & Liturgy as announced But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God; wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. St. Jude 1:20 MARCH 2018 St. Ammonas Without [love], as the Apostle says, even if we spoke with the languages of the Angels, and had all the right faith, and moved mountains, and gave all we have to the poor, and gave the body to martyrdom, we would gain nothing. But perhaps you would say, and how can one give all that one has to the poor, if one doesn t have love, for mercy is love? Mercy is not perfect love, but only a part of love. Many show mercy to others, and others they wrong, to others they show hospitality, against others they remember evil, some they shelter, others they abuse, have compassion on strangers, and hate their own. Therefore this is not love, it is not, for love does not hate anyone, does not reprove anyone, does not condemn anyone, does not grieve anyone, does not denigrate anyone, neither believer, nor non-believer, nor stranger, nor sinner, nor fornicator, nor the impure, but rather it loves even more the sinners, and the weak, and the careless, and is in pain for them, and grieves, and cries, and suffers with the wicked and sinner more than with the righteous, imitating Christ, Who called the sinners and ate and drank with them. For this, showing what the love for others is, He taught saying: Be good and have pity, like our Father Who is in heaven! And even as He sends rain over the evil and the good, and makes the sun rise over the righteous and unrighteous, so the one who truly has love loves all, has mercy on all, and prays for all.

2 FROM FATHER S DESK Dear faithful and friends of St. Nicholas, We are now in the blessed season of Lent, the Lenten springtime when we further orient ourselves to the Lord Jesus. How can we keep Lent well? Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are the three basic Christian and Lenten necessities. But, knowing that we will not make a maximum effort, some of us may feel frustrated, lost, and without guidance when facing the Lenten season. Other may simply ignore it. DO WHAT YOU CAN Great Lent should never be ignored. The only realistic Lenten guideline is this: do the best you can. The essentials of Great Lent are prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Intensify your prayer. Fast as fully as possible. Give to others, asking nothing in return. Know as well that all of your fasting, praying, and almsgiving must be exercised in secret. The only real goal and purpose of Great Lent is to enter into a deeper love for God and for those around us. CERTAIN WEEKS Another concrete yet traditional step towards a fuller Lenten participation is to keep certain Lenten weeks in a more careful and strict way than others. For example, the third week of Great Lent, in addition to Holy Week, can be set aside for a greater and more concentrated Lenten effort. Very practically speaking, everyone can keep certain weeks, or at least one week, in a very special way. We can only try it and see! WHAT TO DO Here are some concrete guidelines for taking Great Lent more seriously: + unplug from our digital devices for a period of time each day and fill that time with family, spiritual reading, prayer, etc. Make the commitment of time to come to our Lenten retreat on March 3 at St. George Church. Fr. Josiah Trenham will speak to us about the Church as a spiritual hospital for the healing of our sins. + Keep useless talking to a minimum. Do only necessary business, good works, and acts of charity. + In the name of Jesus Christ, forgive all who have offended you and seek forgiveness from those whom you have offended. If it will not be embarrassing or misinterpreted as an act of self-righteousness, express yourself as concretely as possible. Visit, make a phone call, etc. + Set aside and give a sizable portion of your resources for others: the parish, the poor, a social or educational agency. Tell no one what you have done. Do not advertise what you are doing. + Fast. Eat no meat, as the basic minimum. Suit your fast to your work, but avoid luxury. Tell no one. Do not advertise or discuss your fasting and avoid judging the fasting of others. + Pray at home at least at 1 fixed time each day; use even a brief rule of prayer & keep it faithfully. + Read the scriptures in the same way: follow the church s calendar or read a chapter a day. + Read the life of one of the saints of the day. + Be faithful to Christ's Gospel in every word, action, and thought - even the smallest. + Participate in all the weekly Lenten services especially the Presanctified Liturgy, Vespers, and the Divine Liturgy, confessing seriously and receiving Holy Communion often. PEACE AND JOY If we do these things, not in a spirit of gloomy self-denial or irritated self-pity, we will gain an awareness of genuine peace and joy in communion with God and those around us. With love in Christ,

3 Third Hour Schedule March April May 4 Lucy 1 Calvin 6 Lucy 11 Calvin 8 No Hours 13 Calvin 18 Angelo 15 Lucy 20 Angelo 25 Lucy 22 Calvin 27 Lucy 29 Angelo If you are unable to make your assigned reading date, you must find a replacement. Reader Schedule March April May 4 Angelo 1 Angelo 6 Angelo 11 Amir 8 Amir 13 Johnny 18 Johnny 15 Johnny 20 Taras 25 Taras 22 Taras 27 Amir 29 Amir If you are unable to make your assigned reading date, you must find a replacement. MEMORIAL (SOUL) SATURDAYS From early times the Church dedicated Saturday to the souls. It is primarily the day of those who have fallen asleep. Christians always took care, with memorial services and charitable acts done especially on Saturdays, to stay close to their dead and ask God for their repose and salvation. The next Memorial (Soul) Saturday (Zadušnica) we will celebrate at St. Nicholas is March 17. A Trisagion will be served on each Souls Saturday at 4:45 pm, prior to Vespers. Please fill out the enclosed sheet with the names of your departed (first names only) and return them to Fr. Matthew as soon as possible. COIN BOXES Each Lent, we collect coins to help support the OCA Missions here in the US and around the world. Boxes are found on the tables in the church hall. Please be generous. PAN-ORTHODOX YOUTH RETREAT MARCH 9, 10 & 11 AT DORMITION MONASTERY Please see Matushka Lisa to make your reservation and to obtain a registration form. March April May HOPE IN A BOX Baby Items, Wipes & Formula Deodorant Bar & Hand Soap LAZARUS SATURDAY will be celebrated with a Pan-Orthodox Liturgy on Saturday, March 31 st at 9:30 am, at St. Mary Magdalene followed by a Lenten breakfast. Bring the family and join in the celebration. MEMORY ETERNAL CHRIST IS RISEN! Peter Sutak, nephew of Rose & John Goodman, fell asleep in the Lord last Sunday, February 11 and was buried from Swartz Funeral Home on February 17 at St. Nicholas Cemetery. May God grant him rest among the saints. Bog da go prosti! MEMORY ETERNAL CHRIST IS RISEN! Mitra Tsotsos, sister of Angelo Panoff, fell asleep in the Lord on Monday, February 12 in Windsor, Ontario and was buried from St. Nicholas Macedonian Orthodox Church, Windsor on February 16. May God grant her rest among the saints! LENT/EASTER ROLLS & STUFFED CABBAGE SALE St. Michael Byzantine Catholic Church (2333 N. Elms Rd., Flushing) will again offer baked nut, poppy seed, apricot & prune rolls ($10 each) on Wednesdays (2-6 pm) beginning February 28-March 28. Stuffed cabbage orders are now being taken (2 lb. container-$12). Pick-up is Wednesday March 21 (2-6 pm). You can freeze them to have after Pascha. Stuffed cabbage orders: stmichaelbyz@aol.com or

4 BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES BIRTHDAYS 3 Petro Ahejew 7 Johnny Kantor Amir Abu-Aita 10 James Leonard Allen 12 Zeid Helal Katarina Jonascu 14 Megan Krigner 15 Ryan Broadfoot John Popoff Theodore Wilhelm 18 Jim Grossi Allison Borkovich Lena Vassiliou 19 Joseph Oginsky Sr. 20 Sandra Ahejew Mary Batzos 24 Marie Todorovsky 26 Scott Adkisson WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES 5 John & Fanny Popoff (1967) 10 Stojan & Mira Prusac (1957) 26 Gregory & Danni Burns (2003) NAMESDAYS 2 Chad Conover 7 Eugene Akkerman 9 Vivian Binelli 10 Leonid Rabkina 17 Alexis Nedanis 20 Svetlana Shchukina 23 Lydia Nicoloff Lydia Dorohov 25 Angela Bakousidis Angelo (Vangel) Panoff Angelo Popoff Angelo Young Austin Angelo Selmi Evangelos Stavridid 26 Gabriel Paul 27 Robert Elieff Robert Naumoff Robert Russell Robert Steiner VISITATION TO THE SICK Fr. Matthew brings Holy Communion to the shut-ins on Mondays. If you would like to be added to this list, please contact the office. Presently, those receiving weekly visits are: Nick Maxim, Gloria Zelenko, Fred Oginsky, and Helen Ashmun. Monthly Fr. Matthew visits Larry Bladecki (Bay City) and Peter and Olga Samaras (Caro). Rememeber these persons in prayer: Larry Bladecki Deacon John Bocek Anna Branoff Linda Branoff Gladys Edwards Paul Ellis Susan Goodman Jo Ann Havens Bill Haw Goldie Johnson Mary Karayanis Nick Karayanis Macy Lemmen Fred Oginsky Ron Salhany Peter Samaras Olga Samaras Bill Tadrick Wendy Tadrick Gloria Zelenko To aid in your outreach, here is a listing of the addresses and phone numbers of our Homebound: Helen Ashmun 4436 Beecher Rd. Flint, MI Larry Bladecki th Street Bay City, MI Nick & Marge Butrie 30 E. Bertsch St. #12 Lansford, PA Gladys Edwards 2 Harbor Dr. St. Clair, MO Paul Ellis 2360 Stonebridge Dr. Flint, MI Goldie Johnson 3215 W. Mount Hope Ave. Apt. 142 Lansing, MI Nick Maxim Belsay Rd. Grand Blanc, MI Pete & Olga Samaras 1285 Cleaver Rd. Caro, MI Gloria Zelenko 5370 E. Baldwin Rd. #503 Grand Blanc, MI 48439

5 1. Flowers for the Cross-Third Sunday of Lent -$ Palms-Palm Strips-$70 3. Palms-Fan Palms-$60 4. Flowers for the Cross-Good Friday-$ Flowers for the Priest s Cross-Pascha-$30 6. Priest Ornamented Paschal Candle-$ large ornamented Paschal Candles for the Altar-$90 each large candles for the Holy Grave-$30 each 9. Flowers for the Holy Tomb (Epitaphios)-Market Value 10. Incense- ½ lb $30 ½ lb $ Rose Water-$ Eggs for Pasch (14 dozen)-market Value 13. Red Dye for Eggs-30 packets-$50 Please contact the parish office at as soon as possible if you would like to donate one of the items listed above for Holy week and Pascha Youth Lenten Retreat March 9, 10, & 11 Events Mar. 9-6 pm Arrivals Mar Speakers and Fun Events Mar Liturgy, Lunch, Departure Call or Matushka Lisa to make your reservation (810) or stnicholasburtonmi@gmail.com

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8 For the Repose of: (first names only please print) Requested by: 2018

9 $36.00 Single Space for 6 months $50.00 Double Space for 6 months $65.00 Triple Space for 6 months

10 Flowers for Great Friday & Pascha The offering for Lilies (3 plants per pot) will be $30, Hyacinths (3 bulbs per pot) $20, Hydrangeas (Medium) $25, Daffodils (4 bulbs per pot) $15 & Large Boston Ferns (10 ) will be $30. Please fill out the form below as soon as possible. There are a limited number of plants available. We will be ordering 12 Lilies, 4 Daffodils, 4 Hyacinths, 4 Hydrangeas and 4 ferns. Donations will be taken on a first come, first served basis. Please return the form to the office or put it in the collection basket on Sunday. The names of those honored or memorialized will be published on a later date. I wish to donate: (How many) (How many) (How many) (How many) (How many) Triple Lilies ($30.00) 12 available Large Hyacinth arrangement ($20.00) 4 available Medium Hydrangeas ($25.00) 4 available Large Daffodils ($15.00) 4 available Large Boston Ferns ($30.00) 4 available In honor of (for the living) Or, in memory of (departed) Your Name: Amount: $

11 MARCH 2018 St. Nicholas Orthodox Church 2143 S. Center Rd. Burton, MI Website: Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Fast Dairy & Fish Permitted (no meat) Wine & Oil Permitted (no meat) Fish Permitted (no other meat) 1 North End Soup Kitchen 9 am 1 pm am Lenten Retreat at St George 5 pm Vespers at St George Lenten Retreat w/ Fr Josiah Trenham 4 2 nd Sun. of Lent St. Gregory Palamas 5 Father in Toledo 6:30 pm Compline 6 No Book Club 7 10 am Lenten Hours 6 pm Presanctified & Lenten potluck Martyrs of Sebaste 10 Memorial Saturday 4:45 pm Trisagion 5 pm Vespers Teen Retreat at the Dormition Monastery 11 3 rd Sun. of Lent Veneration of the Cross Daylight SavingsTime 12 Communion calls in Bay City & Caro 6:30 pm Compline 13 Father in Toledo No Book Club 14 9 am Lenten Hours 6 pm Combined Assumption & Lenten potluck Memorial Saturday 4:45 pm Trisagion 5 pm Vespers 18 4 th Sun. of Lent St. John Climacus 19 6:30 pm Compline 20 Father in Toledo No Book Club am Lenten Hours 6 pm Presanctified & Lenten potluck Akathistos Sat. with Akathist Hymn 5 pm Vespers 25 5 th Sun. of Lent Annunciation St. Mary of Egypt Fish Dinner 26 Synaxis of the Archangel Gabriel 6:30 pm Compline 27 Father in Toledo No Book Club am Lenten Hours 6 pm Combined St. George & Lenten potluck Lazarus Saturday 9:30 am Liturgy at St. Mary Magdelene & Lenten breakfast 5 pm Vespers with Litya

12 APRIL 2018 St. Nicholas Orthodox Church 2143 S. Center Rd. Burton, MI Website: Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat PALM SUNDAY 2 Last Confessions before Pascha HOLY MONDAY 9 am Presanctified 6:30 pm Bridegroom Matins 3 HOLY TUESDAY 9 am Presanctified 6:30 pm Bridegroom Matins 4 HOLY WEDNESDAY 9 am Presanctified 6:30 pm Holy Unction 5 HOLY THURSDAY 9 am Vesperal Liturgy 6:30 pm Passion Matins 6 HOLY FRIDAY 9 am Royal Hours 3 pm Vespers 6:30 pm Jerusalem Matins 7 HOLY SATURDAY 10 am Vesperal Liturgy 12 pm Simple Blessing 10:30 pm Nocturnes 11 pm Procession/ Matins/Divine Liturgy 8 Fast Free PASCHA 11 am Paschal Vespers 9 Fast Free BRIGHT MONDAY 9:30 am Divine Liturgy Paschal Brunch 10 Fast Free BRIGHT TUESDAY Communion calls in Bay City & Caro 11 Fast Free BRIGHT WEDNESDAY Father in Toledo 6 pm Vesperal Liturgy location to be determined 12 Fast Free BRIGHT THURSDAY 13 Fast Free BRIGHT FRIDAY 10:30 am Liturgy at Assumption 14 Fast Free BRIGHT SATURDAY 6 pm Vespers 15 St. Thomas Sunday 2 pm St. Nicholas Cemetery :30 pm Parish Council meeting 18 9:30 am Liturgy 11 am Adult Ed pm Vespers 22 Myrrhbearing Women :30 am Liturgy 11 am Adult Ed 5 pm Vespers 29 Sunday of the Paralytic 30 Fast Dairy Permitted (no meat) Wine & Oil Permitted (no meat) Fish Permitted (no other meat)