17840 Sky Park Circle Irvine, CA Tel: (949) Fax: (949) Website:

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1 17840 Sky Park Circle Irvine, CA Tel: (949) Fax: (949) Website: Very Rev. Father Michael Laffoon, Pastor Residence phone: (949) Rev Fr. Patrick Irish, Attached Rev. Protodeacon George Moubayed Sub-deacon: Athanasius Fakhouri Choir Director: Barbara Scholl Chanters: Theresa Joubran, Dionysius Ingraham, Mark Ellis, and Jacob Bahbah. Church Office Administrator: Lydia Wakileh PARISH COUNCIL Chairman {15} Penny Skaff (949) Vice Chairman {13} Jimmy Goson (949) Secretary {14} Patrick Wilde (949) Issa Bahbah {15} Treasurer (714) Michael Khoury {14} Assistant Treasurer (714) Nelson Mamey {15} (949) Najib Saadeh {13} (949) Roger Tierney {14} Humanitarian (949) Gisele Awayjan {13} Building Maintenance (951) Malvina Chala {13} Stewardship Drive, Membership (949) [Number in brackets is the member s last year of his or her current term] Church School Director: Eileen Ellis (949) Men s Club President: Austin Turk (949) Ladies Guild Co-Presidents: Vera Bahbah (714) & Afifa Artoul (949) Teen SOYO President: Leilah Rodriguez (949) Pastor s Column Excerpt from If We Confess Our Sins, by Fr. Thomas Hopko In his spiritual diary, Fr. Alexander Elchaninov gives advice about confession. Advice is also found in the writings of Fr. John Kronstadt, and in such books as Unseen Warfare and The Way of the Pilgrim. Christians should read writings of this sort to help them with their confession. Theophan the Recluse advised those preparing for confession to study the Sermon on the Mount (Mt. 5-7) and the first letter of John, together with 1 Corinthians 13 and Romans 12 to 14. These, and other sections of the scriptures, focus sharply on what is expected of Christians in their daily behavior. Fr. Elchaninov writes that confession springs from an awareness of what is holy, it means dying to sin and coming alive again to sanctity. It begins with a searching of the heart. It moves to a sincere contrition of the heart. It expresses itself in the oral confession of sins, accomplished with precision, without veiling the ugliness of sin by vague expression. It is fulfilled in the resolution never to sin again, although realizing that we will fall because we are not God. It is sealed by our subsequent sufferings to remain steadfast in our struggle against sin. Such confession is at the heart of our spiritual efforts, especially during the Lenten spring. Behold, my child, Christ stands here invisibly and receives your confession. Wherefore be not ashamed nor afraid and conceal nothing from me, but tell without hesitation all things which you have done, and so you shall have pardon from our Lord Jesus Christ. Lo, His holy image is before us, and I am but a witness, bearing testimony before Him of the things which you have to say. But if you shall conceal anything you shall have the greater sin. Take heed, therefore, lest having come to the physician, you depart unhealed. (from the service of Confession) 1

2 One of the great victories of the Evil One in the Church herself is the neglect and even avoidance of the sacrament of Holy Confession by so many Orthodox Christians. This Sacrament is for healing, growth in the Life in Christ, the laying down of heavy burdens, and spiritual counsel. Every Orthodox Christian (except for small children) should come to Holy Confession regularly and at least once during the Great Fast. It is for our salvation. Confessions are heard on Saturdays after Vespers, Sundays during Orthros, Monday evenings after Great Compline, Friday evenings after Akathist and by appointment. Fr. Michael THE LENTEN FAST During Great Lent, the rules of the dietary fast are thus: All of Lent and Holy Week we are to abstain from all meat and animal products (including eggs, milk, animal fats, etc.) The only exceptions are shellfish. In addition, Mondays through Fridays, we are to abstain from wine and other alcoholic drinks and olive oil. This is the "letter of the law." It is important for you and your family to participate in the "spirit of the law", working out this Lenten effort within your household in ways pleasing to God and beneficial for the soul. We all must be reminded that the purpose of the dietary fast is to help us to fast from sin and ungodliness! If you have questions regarding Lenten discipline, please see Fr. Michael. SPECIAL SERVICES/EVENTS IN APRIL 2013 Final Week of Lenten weekly services Monday April 22: Great Compline 7:00 p.m. Wednesday April 24: Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts, 6:30 p.m. Thursday April 25: Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts, 6:30 p.m. Friday April 26: Little Compline with Canon of St. Lazarus 7:00 p.m. Saturday April 27: Divine Liturgy, Lazarus Saturday 10:00 a.m. Vespers: 4:00 p.m. Palm Sunday and Holy Week Sunday April 28, Entrance of our Lord and Savior into Jerusalem {Palm Sunday} 8:45 a.m. Orthros, 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy 2 Sunday evening, 7:00 p.m. Bridegroom Orthros Monday April 29, 7:00 p.m. Bridegroom Orthros Tuesday April 30, 7:00 p.m. Bridegroom Orthros Archbishop Joseph presiding Wednesday April 1, 7:00 p.m. Holy Unction Service Thursday Morning May 2: Orthros 9:00 a.m., Holy Thursday Vesperal Divine Liturgy, 10:00 a.m. Thursday Evening May 2: Service of the Twelve Passion Gospels, 7:00 p.m. Friday Morning April 3: Royal Hours, 9:30 a.m. Friday Afternoon May 3: Vespers of the Taking Down of our Lord s Body from the Cross, 3:30 p.m. Friday Evening April 3: Service of Lamentations 7:00 p.m. Saturday morning May 4: Holy Saturday Vesperal Divine Liturgy 10:00 a.m. Saturday night May 4/5: PASCHA Rush, Procession, Orthros and Divine Liturgy 11:00 p.m. Pascha Breakfast following. May 2013 Advanced Calendar May 12, Thomas Sunday and Mother s Day May 19, Ladies Guild Mother/Daughter Tea May 24, Ascension of our Lord Archbishop Joseph s Schedule April 1-2, 2013 Three Holy Hierarchs Mission, Wenatchee, WA April 3-7, 2013 Holy Cross Church, Yakima, WA & Prophet Elias Mission, Ellensburg, WA April 13-14, 2013 St. George Church, San Diego, CA April 19-21, 2013 Church of the Annunciation, Calgary, AB, Canada April 28, 2013 St. Nicholas Cathedral, Los Angeles, CA

3 Palm Sunday April 29, 2013 St. Matthew Church, Torrance, CA Holy Monday Evening Bridegroom Orthros April 30, 2013 St. Mark Church, Irvine, CA Holy Tuesday Evening Bridegroom Orthros WEEKLY SERVICES Wednesday Vespers 6:30 p.m. Saturday Vespers 4:00 p.m. Confessions heard after service. Sunday Orthros 8:45 a.m. Confessions heard from 9:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. Sunday Divine Liturgy 10:00 a.m. Selected Saints of the Month April 3rd SAINT NICETAS THE CONFESSOR Nicetas was born in Bithynia in the city of Caesarea. His father, Filaret, after the death of his spouse, was tonsured a monk while Nicetas remained with his paternal grandmother. After reaching maturity and completing all of his studies, Nicetas entered the Monastery of Medikion, where the Abbot Nicephorus tonsured him a monk. After seven years of hardship and mortification, Patriarch Tarasius ordained him a priest (Heiromonk). Following the deaths of Abbot Nicephorus and Athanasius, the faithful companion of Nicetas, the monastic brotherhood elected him as abbot, against his will. St. Nicetas was a holy example and model of life and asceticism to his brethren for many years. When Leo V, the Armenian, was crowned emperor, after the pious Irene and the rightbelieving Emperors Nicephorus and Michael, the Iconoclastic struggle was again enflamed. The emperor deposed Patriarch Nicephorus and later banished him into exile and, in his place, elevated the heretic Theodotus Cassiteras, a man of impure life. Nicetas was also imprisoned and tortured but he remained steadfast in his Orthodoxy. He was led from prison to prison and suffered hunger, thirst, chills, oppressive heat and ridicule. He did not permit himself to waver. What particularly annoyed him was the laughter and scorn of a certain 3 Nicholas. One night, Nicholas' deceased father appeared to him in a dream and rebuked Nicholas saying:"withdraw from Nicetas, the servant of God." From that moment on Nicholas repented and did not annoy the saint anymore and turned others away from annoying him also. When Leo V, the Armenian, met with a wicked death, the empire was taken over by the Orthodox Emperor Michael, the Stammerer, who liberated all the Orthodox sufferers. Nicetas then withdrew to an isolated place near Constantinople, where in prayer and thanksgiving to God for all, spent the remaining days of his earthly life. During his lifetime he worked many miracles through prayer. When he died his body was translated to his monastery. At the time of the funeral procession, many who were ill and who reached out and touched his body were healed. His relics were placed next to the grave of Nicephorus his spiritual father and Athanasius, his companion. This great hierarch died in the year 824 A.D. April 13 th THE HOLY MARTYR THOMAIS Thomais was born in Alexandria of honorable parents. She was taught piety from her youth. At the age of fifteen, she was married to an honorable man. Her father-in-law was a vile old man and in the absence of his son, attacked his daughter-in-law and desired to seduce her. Becoming terrified, Thomais, in fear reminded her father-in-law of the Law of God and slipped out of his hands. After a prolonged struggle, the father-in-law drew a knife and murdered his daughter-in-law and then cut her in half. At that moment, the punishment of God fell upon him. He was blinded instantly and was unable to find the door from which to leave. Here, in this room, he was apprehended in the act and turned over to the court which sentenced him to death. Thus, Thomais suffered for the Commandment of God regarding spousal fidelity and chastity. After that, many who would be tempted by adulterous passions directed their prayers to St. Thomais and received strong assistance from her. Daniel the great ascetic, translated her relics to the Scete [Monastery] and buried them in the cemetery of the heiromonks [priest-monks]. St. Thomais suffered in the year 476 A.D. April 23 rd SAINT GEORGE, THE HOLY AND GREAT MARTYR

4 This glorious and victorious saint was born in Cappadocia the son of wealthy and virtuous parents. His father suffered for Christ and his mother then moved to Palestine. When George grew up, he entered the military, where in his twentieth year, attained the rank of a Tribune and as such was in the service of the Emperor Diocletian. When Diocletian began the terrible persecution against Christians, George came before him and courageously confessed that he is a Christian. The emperor had him thrown into prison and ordered that his feet be placed in a stockade of wooden hobbles and that a heavy stone be placed on his chest. After that, the emperor commanded that George be tied to a wheel under which was a board with large nails and he was to be rotated until his entire body became as one bloody wound. After that, they buried him in a pit with only his head showing above the ground and there they left him for three days and three nights. Then George was given a deadly poison to drink by some magician. But, through all of these sufferings, George continuously prayed to God and God healed him instantly and saved him from death to the great astonishment of the people. When he resurrected a dead man through his prayer, many then accepted the Faith of Christ. Among these also was Alexandra, the wife of the Emperor Athanasius, the chief pagan priest and the farmers: Glycerius, Valerius, Donatus and Therinus. Finally the emperor ordered George and his wife Alexandra beheaded. Blessed Alexandra died on the scaffold before being beheaded. St. George was beheaded in the year 303 A.D. The miracles which have occurred over the grave of St. George are without number. Numerous are his appearances, either in dreams or openly, to those who have invoked him and implored his help from that time until today. Enflamed with love for Christ the Lord, it was not difficult for this saintly George to leave all for the sake of this love: rank, wealth, imperial honor, his friends and the entire world. For this love, the Lord rewarded him with the wealth of unfading glory in heaven and on earth and eternal life in His kingdom. In addition, the Lord bestowed upon him the power and authority to assist all those in miseries and difficulties who honor him and call upon his name. April 30 th SAINT DONATUS Donatus was bishop of Evira in Albania. He was endowed by God with the great blessing of miracleworking, by which he performed many miracles for the benefit of the people. Donatus changed bitter water into sweet water; brought down rain during a drought; healed the king's daughter of insanity; and resurrected a man from the dead. This deceased man had repaid his debt to a certain creditor. This unscrupulous creditor wanted the debt to be repaid a second time and, wanting to benefit from the death of his debtor, he came to his widow and demanded that the debt be repaid immediately. The widow wept and complained to the bishop. St. Donatus warned the creditor to wait, at least, until the man was buried and then the debt would be discussed. The creditor angrily insisted his own. Then Donatus approached the dead man, touched him and cried out: "Arise brother and see what you have with your creditor!." The dead man rose and with a frightening glance looked at his lender and related to him the time, when and where he had repaid the debt. He also sought from the lender his written receipt. The frightened lender then placed a document into his hands and the enlivened deceased tore it up and again lay down and died. St. Donatus died peacefully in very old age and took up habitation with the Lord in the year 387 A.D. His relics repose in Evira, Albania and, even today, benefit the faithful. Parish & Organizations News Ladies Guild March was Antiochian Women s Month, the ladies read the Epistle, Ushered and served for the 5 weeks of March. They will be working on their Easter Bake Sale and started taking pre-orders for Spinach pies and Falafel. Bake sale will take place on Palm Sunday. On March 16, 2013 they visited St. Andrew Church in Riverside, gathered for Lunch at Mission Inn, in Riverside. Your input is very important to us, please plan to attend the monthly meeting and share your ideas with the ladies. Next meeting will be on Sunday April 7, 2013 and we will be getting ready to organize for Easter Bake Sale, Pascha Breakfast and more! Vera Bahbah 4

5 Ladies Guild President Teen SOYO During the month of March, the St. Mark parish SOYO revamped itself, after participating in larger Orthodox events in the earlier months of this year. March 22 held a movie night and sleep over at the church, watching "I Am", a spiritual documentary. With deep discussions and close friends, the event had a great turnout with about 30 teens partaking in faith and fellowship. For the month of April, Teen SOYO will be participating in St. Paul's Hunger Strike with GOYA, the Greek Orthodox Youth of America. The event is April 20 to 21 at St. Paul in Irvine; it is a 30 hour Orthodox fast for change in developing countries. Please contact any officers for more information. A special thanks to the parents of Teen SOYO members for supporting all our endeavors, especially by bringing your children to the events! It would not be possible without your support. Teens Secretary Josie Goson Men s Club During this month this committee took following actions and held the following functions: On March 6th 2013, the Men s club held their monthly meeting at St Mark Church Hall. It was a very successful meeting. About 23 people attended. A very informative presentation by Dr. Majed Chane was conducted this evening about human heart health and care. All attendees appreciated Dr. Chane s presentation and the valuable information that he shared with us. Everyone enjoyed the variety of drinks brought by Austin Turk and the delicious dinner that was prepared by Elias Nasrawi. The Men s Club has discussed the following: 1. To sponsor the Mother s Day Luncheon on May 12, The date and location of the April meeting was not decided yet. Austin will provide the Men s Club with updates. 3. As part of the Men s Club new program to cherish the sick Men of St. Mark, it was decided by the committee to pay a visit to our brother in Christ Jamal Qutami. The balance in the Men s Club account after all the expenses have been paid is $1, Men s Club Secretary Ghassan Awayjan Jessica Azzam 4/28 Andrew Azzam 4/17 George Bahbah 4/8 Grace Bahbah 4/8 Julie Bahbah 4/11 Malvina Chala 4/2 Matthew Daruty 4/25 Diala Debbas 4/11 Liana Debbas 4/16 Selim Debbas 4/22 Mary Dibs 4/27 Samar Elsayegh 4/30 Elaina Fakhouri 4/11 Fatin Fakhouri 4/11 Ian Fortuna 4/27 Rita Geronikolaou 4/18 Laura Hafez 4/20 Dylan Hagel 4/5 Theresa Joubran 4/1 Juliette Khamis 4/4 Mary Ann Khamis 4/1 Aida Khamis 4/21 Jean Nasrawi 4/26 Jason Nino 4/15 Sammy Nino 4/7 Jeries Qoborsi 4/12 Daniel Qoborsi 2/24 Paul Rodriguez 4/13 Alexander Saadeh 4/17 Michael Saba 4/2 Aaron Scholl 4/11 Jay Skaff 4/8 Sarah Smathers 4/17 Charlie Tarazi 4/7 Carol Tierney 4/24 Stephanie Toubbeh 4/30 Gina Turk 4/26 Michael & Rania Debbas 4/9 5

6 Maurice & Nadia Karkar 4/17 Robert & Linda Mokbel 4/23 Sam & Adel Munayyer 4/29 Marwan & Hanan Saba 4/29 Mufid & Salam Samara 4/27 BUY SCRIP! Our Ladies Guild buys scrip from many and various stores and restaurants (see list included in this bulletin) at a 3 to 10% discount. When you buy the scrip, which is accepted just like cash at the issuing store, the parish benefits. You pay no more for these goods and services and are making a donation to our parish. You can purchase this scrip from Saeda Turk & Kristin Chala at the coffee hour. The Apostle is a monthly newsletter of St. Mark Antiochian Orthodox Church. Parish Organizations are to submit articles by the 15 th of the month to the Church office ( ) Bloopers1- Pick-up the new calendar from the Welcome Center. Please let us know if you have any addictions or corrections 2- Portrait School: 10 AM (Please bring a person that you will be able to shoot that morning PLEDGES CARDS $173,075 TOTAL PLEDGES SLEIMAN & SEHAM ALDADA PAUL & JUNE ANTER SAMIR & AFIFA ARTOUL MICHAEL & MAY ASALY GABRIEL & SAMIRA ATALLAH TAREK & RAWAN AZAR SAMIR & MAYSSA AZZAM ANAHID AZZOUNI 6 ISSA & JULIE BAHBAH JACOB & VERA BAHBAH JOE & SALWA BAHBAH PHILLIP & TARIZE BAHBAH GHASSAN & GENY BAHOU CHRISTOPHER BEDEROV SAMIR & LUCY BILLEH YOUSEF & RITA BILLEH EDWARD & DANA CHADE LEO & IRMA CHADE MALVINA CHALA GEORGE & RANIA CHAMI VLADIMIR & JOANNA CHENDLER RUTH CONN RANDY & MAY DABBAH SUE DABBAH MARWAN & RULA DABIT NOHA DAHER JOE & GOLDIE DARUTY SCOTT & DIANE DARUTY ALICE DE ABDO GEORGE & ROUDAINA DEBBAS KHALIL & MAJIDA DEBBAS LAURIS DEBBAS TONY DEBBAS EDNA DEEB DARLYNE DIBS MARY DIBS JERALD DONOVAN SAMIRA EISSA CHARLOTTE EL-HINN MARK & MEGAN EL-HINN MARK & EILEEN ELLIS SAMI & WISAM FARRAJ MAJED & BUNIA FASHEH KEVIN & SARA FORTUNA ELSA FRECH JAMES J. & CAROLE JO GOSON SANDELLA GOSON KAREEM (KEN) & ADELE HABEEB ANTON & NADIA HADDOUB ESPERENCE HADSHITI NORMAN & WETCKA HAFFTY GEORGE & CHARLOTTE HANNA MELAD & WAFA HANNA

7 RICHARD & VERA JIRJIS SHAWKI & DOHA JIRJIS MICHEL & THERESA JOUBRAN MAURICE & NADIA KARKAR WAEL & LOUISA KASHOU LILIAN KASSICIEH BACHIR & HELENE KASSIR ELIAS & HILDA KHAMIS JULIETTE KHAMIS ANTOUNE & MAYSSOUN KHOURY MICHAEL & CHARLOTTE KHOURY ELYAS & NAJAT KHURY OSAMA & RULA KISHEK SIMON & LOURICE KISHEK DIMITRI & KANDY KORT SAL KUREH EMILIE LAFFOON MICHAEL & DONNA LAFFOON JHONNY & SONIA LIQUETE GLORIA MAMEY NELSON & JERRI MAMEY OLGA MANNEH MARY MANSOUR NABIL & ANNE MANSOUR ROBERT & LINDA MOKBEL DN. GEORGE & NAJWA MOUBAYED MICHEL & ABLA MOUBAYED SAM & ADEL MUNAYYER ELIAS & JEAN NASRAWI ELIZABEH NASSAR JAMIL NASSAR SAMMY & LANA NINO FRED & LORI NOUR KYRA PELACHIK PAUL & SUSAN QAQUNDAH NADER & SUHAIR QOBORSI JACOB QUSHAIR NUHA QUSHAIR JAMAL & TAMMY QUTAMI ROBERT & KIMLA RANNEY CARLOS & RHONDA RODRIGUEZ TONY & PAULA RODRIGUEZ NAJIB & HEBA SAADEH FARAH & SYLVIA SABA SIHAM SABA 7 YACOUB & GENEVIEVE SABA MANUEL & GEORGETTE SALAMEH RAMZI & RANDA SALAMEH MUFID & SALAM SAMARA JAMAL & HIAM SAYEGH STEVEN & BARBARA SCHOLL MILAD & MADONA SHAHEEN FOUAD & PATRICIA SHAKER DON JR & PENNY SKAFF THEODORE & KATHY SKAFF ELIAS & RANIA SLIHEET MARY SOPHIEA FOUAD & RIMA TARAZI DAVE & BRENDA TAX ROGER & CAROL TIERNEY TINA TOMEO GEORGE & MARTHA TOUBBEH ANEES & REHAM TURK ANTON & KEITIE TURK AUSTIN & SAEDA TURK CHARLIE WAKILEH CHRISTOPHER WAKILEH IBRAHIM & LYDIA WAKILEH MICHAEL WAKILEH MATTHEW & SOPHIA WHITACRE ROBERT & THEODORA WHITEHEAD COURTNEY WILDE PATRICK & SUSAN WILDE ADIB & NABILA ZABANEH SAINT MARK ANTIOCHIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH SKY PARK CIRCLE IRVINE, CA APRIL 2013 NEWSLETTER