ST. GREGORY S DIVINE SERVICES FOR THE WEEK

Transcription

1 ST. GREGORY S DIVINE SERVICES FOR THE WEEK Wednesday, March 14 Venerable father Benedict of Nursia 6:40 P.M. 9 th Hour and Typica 7:00 P.M. Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts Friday, March 16 Martyr Sabinas of Egypt 11:00 A.M. Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts 7:00 P.M. Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos Saturday, March 17 Akathistos Saturday 5:00 P.M. Vigil Divine Liturgy Supplications will be offered for +Anita Kornosky, given by husband Robert Kornosky Sunday, March 18 Fifth Sunday of the Great Fast Our venerable mother Mary of Egypt 9:10 A.M. Third Hour 9:30 A.M. Divine Liturgy The Epistle Reading will be Hebrews 9:11-14 and the Gospel will be Mark 10: Supplications will be offered for +Andrea Bereznak, given by Jim & Debra Mayher. Following the Divine Liturgy, please join us in the Church hall for refreshments and Christian fellowship. 4:00 P.M. Lenten Deanery Vespers at St. John s Cathedral, Munhall, PA ADVICE TO HUSBANDS Have no concern for money. Love your wife more than you love your own life. Never be at odds, but be true. Prefer her company at home above being out. Esteem and admire her publicly, and advise her patiently. Pray together, go to church, and discuss the readings and prayers. If your marriage is like this, your perfection will rival the holiest of monks. - St. John Chrysostom

2 TO CONQUER THE ENEMY IS TO CONQUER OURSELVES In the days of Saul and David, it was when the Israelites fell into sin that the Lord allowed the Philistines to oppress them. In order to regain their ascendancy over their enemies, the people were ordered to fast. The Israelites understood that there was no use for them to try to win their freedom by taking up arms; they first had to rid themselves of their sins. So they began to discipline themselves and to conquer the desire of the flesh to be able to conquer their opponents. When they fasted their oppressors gave way before them, when they indulged all their appetites the enemy held them in subjection. It is the same with us today. We have our own struggles and conflicts, and we can win by using the same tactics. The Israelites were attacked by human beings; we are attacked by spiritual enemies. We can conquer by bringing our lives into line with God s will for us; then our enemies will give way before us. It is not their power but our lack of self-discipline that makes a threat to us, and we shall weaken them by overcoming ourselves. We must ask God s help in this warfare, because our only means of conquering the enemy is to conquer ourselves. - By St. Leo the Great Easter Spring Beauty Basket St. Gregory s Women are sponsoring an Easter Spring Beauty Basket, winning ticket will be selected on St. Thomas Sunday, April 8 th. This basket includes: Hand and Stone Gift Card, Mindful Brewing Gift Card, Joico Shampoo and Conditioner, Joico Hairspray and Mousse, Vosges Chocolate, Red and White wine, Peeps, OPI nail Polishes, Hempz Body lotion, and more. We are asking that each parishioner participate by taking tickets to sell to friends and family, and of course a chance or three themselves. Tickets are $5 each or 3 for $10. For more information please see our ticket sellers following the Divine Liturgy in the Church vestibule. Announcements Today: Fourth Sunday of the Great Fast We celebrate the Fourth Sunday of the Great Fast on which we honor our venerable father John of the Ladder (Climacus), the author of the work, The Ladder of Divine Ascent. This Sunday s theme is St. John s witness to the real spiritual struggle needed for entrance into God s Kingdom. It also is encouragement for the faithful to keep the goal of their Lenten efforts, for according to the Lord, only he who endures to the end will be saved (Mt 24:13). Today: Re-Igniting the Reformation Following the Sunday Divine Liturgy, please join us in the Church hall for our Library Lenten Speaker, Rev. Steve P. Carlson of Ruthfred Lutheran Church in Bethel Park. Last year the 500 Years of the Reformation has been observed with a number of ecumenical events worldwide and even here in Southwestern Pennsylvania. To understand the Reformation, Pastor Steve will offer a presentation Re-Igniting the Reformation. Our Sympathies Our prayers and sympathies are extended to the family and friends of +Helen Utlak who was buried on Saturday, March 10 th. May the Lord commit her soul to the place where the just repose, and may her memory be eternal Vičnaja Pamjat! Next Saturday & Sunday: Order of Confession Next Saturday & Sunday, March 17-18, we will welcome to St. Gregory s Very Rev. Brian J. Welding of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh. Fr. Brian will be here to administer the Sacrament of Confession. As part of our spiritual preparation for Pascha-Easter, make sure to receive this Healing Sacrament of our Holy Church. St. Gregory Easter Kolbasa Sale Our parish will again offer kolbasa for sale this Easter season and we are asking parishioners to buy some of this traditional Easter food personally and also to sell some to friends, neighbors, colleagues and members of other parishes. Sign-up sheets are available in the Church narthex for placing orders or the kolbasa can be ordered on the St. Gregory home page ( The price is $6.00 per pound and orders will be available for pickup during Palm Sunday weekend, March 24 th and March 25 th. Thanks to all St. Gregory parishioners for your continued support of this important fundraiser. Haven t Seen Someone in a While? Give them a call. See how they are doing. Let them know that you not only miss them but also care enough to see if everything is okay. A kind word can go a long way.

3 Single Seniors Luncheon After taking a break for the winter months, the first Single Seniors Luncheon for 2018 will be at DeLallo s Restaurant (91 Fort Couch R). We will be meeting at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 21 st. If you plan on attending, please call Elaine Richardson at Our Single Seniors Ministry of St. Gregory s is for men and women who have never married or have lost a spouse through death, divorce, or separation. As a group it is our goal to provide spiritual, emotional, and mental support for one another. Please come and join us for this luncheon. Lenten Project: House of St. Joseph As our Parish Lenten Project, this year we are reaching out to assist the Sisters of St. Joseph with their outreach ministry Casa San Jose-House of St. Joseph. A wish list is available in the Mother of God Chapel. Since 2013, the Sisters of St. Joseph have been operating this center for Latino immigrants that serves as a base of support for English language learners, helping them to access services especially, services for children, youth, and families. Donations for this wonderful program are being gathered in the Mother of God Chapel. Willow Branches As we continue the second half of our Lenten journey, please remember that we will be in need of willow branches for the blessing of palms and willow branches on Palm Sunday (March 25 th ). With the weather getting warmer we should prepare them now and store them downstairs in the Church hall. If you are able to obtain budded willow branches, please contact the parish office. Children s Story Time St. Gregory s Library Ministry invites all the children for Story Time in the Church hall on Thursday, March 29 th at 10:30 a.m. The Storytime is for pre-k 1st grade, and will consist of stories, a craft, and snack. Siblings are welcome. Please bring your children and their friends for this fun event. Please call the parish office ( ) or let Trisha Krofcheck ( ) know if your child will attend to help in planning. Collection- May God bless you The total for Sunday, March 4 th, 2018 was $ (Envelopes: $ ; Loose: $146.00; Candles: $26.00; Debt: $305.00; Chocolate Crosses: $20.00; Cooke Recipe Book: $15.00; Easter Lilies: $195.00; Initial Offering: $5.00). Sincere thanks to all of you for your kindness and generosity! Why is St. John called of the Ladder What is this Ladder? Being a monk at the monastery of St. Catherine on Mount Sinai, our venerable father John wrote a book outlining the stages of the spiritual life. He based his entire work on the image of a ladder of thirty rungs, stretching from earth to heaven. Each rung described a step in the pursuit of virtue and the spiritual life. Since it was first written, The Ladder of Divine Ascent has been an essential part of the formation of monastics, and a mainstay of ascetic spirituality. However, the Ladder is not just for monks and nuns because all Christians are called to make an ascent to the heights of heaven. For this reason the Church places the commemoration of Saint John and his Ladder on the Fourth Sunday of the Great Fast, as the faithful continue their ascent with the Lord to Golgotha and through Golgotha to His Heavenly Kingdom. The 30 Steps of the Ladder of Divine Ascent: - Steps 1 4: renouncement of the world and obedience to a spiritual father - Steps 5 7: penitence and affliction as paths to true joy - Steps 8 17: the defeat of vices and acquisition of virtue - Steps 18 26: avoidance of the traps of asceticism (laziness, pride, mental stagnation) - Steps 27 29: acquisition of stillness or peace of the soul, of prayer, and of dispassion - Step 30: the union of faith, hope, and love St. Gregory s Prayer List Kindly remember in your prayers our parishioners and friends who struggle with sickness, pain, hardship, or any special need: John Sember, Pat Tichi, William Christoff, Stephen Morovich, Michael Olixa and Theresa Lokes If you would like to add your name or the name of a loved one to this list, please contact the parish office via phone or . In the Church vestibule, you are invited to add the names of the sick and any other intentions you would like to be remembered in our Prayer Intention book.

4

5

6