MARCH 17 TH, 2013 SUNDAY OF FORGIVENESS HYMNS AFTER THE LITTLE ENTRANCE

Transcription

1 St. Mark Antiochian Orthodox Church Self-ruled Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese, Diocese of the West Sky Park Circle, Irvine, CA (949) Website: Archpriest Michael Laffoon, Priest Patrick Irish Protodeacon George Moubayed, Sub Deacon Athanasius Fakhouri Choir Director Barbara Scholl; Chanters: Dionysius Ingraham, Mark Ellis Theresa Joubran, & Jacob Bahbah Church Office Administrator: Lydia Wakileh Saturday evening Great Vespers 4:00 p.m. (Confessions after) Sunday Schedule: Orthros (Matins) & Confessions 8:45 a.m. Divine Liturgy 10:00 a.m. Church School after Holy Communion MARCH 17 TH, 2013 SUNDAY OF FORGIVENESS HYMNS AFTER THE LITTLE ENTRANCE

2 Troparion of the Resurrection, in the Eighth Tone 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. Troparion of St. Mark in the Fourth Tone: From thy childhood the light of truth enlightened thee, O Mark, and thou didst love the labor of Christ the Savior. Wherefore thou didst follow Peter with zeal and didst serve Paul as a fellow laborer and didst enlighten the world with thy holy Gospel. Kontakion of Cheese Fare Sunday in the Sixth Tone: Teacher of wisdom, Bestower of virtue, who teachest the thoughtless and protectest the poor: Strengthen and enlighten my heart, O Master. Give me word, O Word of the Father, for behold my lips will not be restrained from crying to thee: Have mercy on me, the transgressor, O merciful Lord. Prokeimenon (Psalm46.6, 1) Tone 3: O chant unto our God, chant ye. Clap your hands, all ye nations. The reading from Saint Paul s Letter to the Romans (13:11-14:4) Brethren, now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk becomingly, as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in chambering and licentiousness, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its lusts. But as for the one who is weak in faith, receive him, but not for disputes over opinions. For one believes he may eat anything; but the weak person eats herbs. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat pass judge him who eats; for God has received him. Who are you to be the judge over the servant of stranger? To his own master that he either stands or falls; and he will be made to stand; for God is able to make him stand. Alleluia verses (Psalm 30.1, 2) Tone 3: In Thee, O Lord, have I hoped; let me not be put to shame forever. Be Thou unto me a God to defend me. The Reading from the Gospel according to St. Matthew (6:14-21)

3 The Lord said, If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. "And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also Holy Oblations are given today by Samir, Lucy, Yousef and Rita Billeh and family for churching Rita and her baby boy Mikhail Billeh and for the health and salvation of Vanda, Nicole, Elise and Matthew, by Melad & Wafa Hanna for their son Samir on his 21 st birthday and for the soul of Jack & George, and by Michael & Theresa Joubran for the soul of Theresa s Nephew Hanna Frage departed this life in Jerusalem last week. Memory Eternal! Luncheon is given today by the Mekael and Joubran family in memory of Theresa s nephew Hanna Please remember in your prayers: Paul Anter, June Anter, Genevieve Saba, Maha Kureh, Fr. Alexander Atty, Najwa Moubayed, Eleanor Wackeen, Mary Mansour, and the suffering people of Syria, Egypt, and all the Middle East March is Ladies Month in our Archdiocese. Therefore, members of our Ladies Guild will be assisting in ushering and in reading the Epistles. Ladies ushering this week: Afifa Artoul & Adele Munayyer Epistle reader this week in English: Rania Debbas Ladies ushering next week: Gisele Awayjan & Siham Aldada Epistle readers next week in English: Juliana Turk; in Arabic: Charlotte Khoury. Altar boys serving this week: James Dabbah, Nadim Youseff, Nour Youseff, Matthew Dabbah. Altar boys serving next week: Sammy Khamis, Andrew Azzam, George Bahbah.

4 Quote from the Saints If thou dost not forgive the debt of thy brother, with whom thou art angry for some reason, then thou dost fast in vain. St. Ephraim the Syrian Canned Food Drive As we all know, our country is in the midst of a deep recession. All relief agencies are seeing more needs and at the same time donations are down. In light of this, the ongoing canned food collection of our parish is a small but important way to help. We are in special need of canned meat products. Please try to bring something to go in the collection barrel every week. Good Samaritan Fund Several years ago, St. Mark Church established a fund for assisting those in need, both within our parish and in the general community. From time to time we ask for contributions to the Good Samaritan Fund, and this is one of those times. If you are in need of assistance or you are aware of someone in our parish that needs financial assistance, please speak with Fr. Michael. Church Etiquette: Entering the Sanctuary It should go without saying that all parishioners should plan their day so that they arrive at church before the commencement of the Liturgy. Additionally, if you are an Altar Boy or Usher, you will want to arrive at least 15 minutes early. We all know that the time to arrive to church is before the service starts, but for some unknown reason, it has become custom or rather a bad habit for some to come to church late. If you arrive after the Divine Liturgy begins, enter the church quietly and observe what is happening. If the Epistle or Gospel is being read or the Little or Great Entrance is taking place, or if the Consecration of the Gifts is taking place, wait until it is finished to enter the sanctuary and then, quickly find a seat. If Father is giving the sermon, stay in the back until he has concluded. If in doubt, check with one of the ushers to see if it is a good time to seat yourself. By the way, the best way to avoid this problem is to arrive on time then you don t have to wonder if it s OK to come in or not. A NOTE TO OUR VISTORS Welcome to St. Mark's! We are pleased to have you here with us today. Please be informed that only those Orthodox Christians ( Roum Orthodox ) who are prepared through prayer, fasting, and the sacrament of confession should approach

5 the Chalice for the Eucharist. The Orthodox Church does not practice "open communion" or intercommunion with other churches (non-orthodox). If you have any questions concerning this, please talk to Father Michael before taking communion. Visitors are welcome to venerate the cross at the end of the service and to receive some of the blessed bread, if they so desire. For Orthodox Christians to receive Holy Communion: You must be spiritually prepared and uphold the beliefs and moral teachings of the Church. You must keep the fast (Wednesday & Friday, and other fasting seasons) If married, your marriage must have been consecrated in the Orthodox Church. If (unfortunately) divorced, you must be formally restored to communion by the Church by confession and Episcopal decision. If an Orthodox Christian has left the church, or has been absent from services for a long period, and is returning, he or she must see the priest prior to receiving the sacraments of the Church. American Arabic Educational Foundation Graduating High School Seniors The scholarship requires that the applicant be a graduating high school senior or equivalent, planning to enter either an academic or vocational school the term following the granting of the scholarship, and that the recipient be a resident of one of the following California Counties: Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, or Ventura; be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States; and of Arabic Heritage. College and Graduate Students Applications may be submitted from college and graduate students. The above eligibility and qualifications apply. Applications can be obtained by ing Sondra Murr Love at slove1@socal.rr.com. The applications must be returned no later than June 11, Today The Sunday of Forgiveness. It is the last day to eat cheese, dairy, eggs, etc. Lent begins tomorrow. Focus Feeding at Valencia Inn. See Roger Tierney today to Volunteer.

6 This Week Monday March 18 th, Great Lent begins (Week of Cheese Fare) Great Compline 7:00 p.m. Tuesday March 19 th, 9:00 a.m. Daily Orthros; Great Compline 7:00 p.m. Wednesday March 20 th, 6:30 p.m. Liturgy of Pre-sanctified Gifts followed with Potluck dinner. Thursday March 21 st, 9:00 a.m. Daily Orthros; Great Compline 7:00 p.m. Friday March 22 nd, 7:00 p.m. Little Compline with Akathist (First Madayeh) Friday March 22 nd, Teen SOYO Movie night and Sleep Over, after Akathist Service Next Week Sunday March 24 th, 1 st Sunday of Lent; Ladies Guild Lenten Lunch after church; Sunday night Pan Orthodox Vespers at 6:00 p.m. at St. Paul Greek Church. Monday March 25, 6:30 p.m. Evening Liturgy, Feast of the Annunciation Tuesday March 26 th, 9:00 a.m. Daily Orthros Wednesday March 27 th, 6:30 p.m. Liturgy of Pre-sanctified Gifts followed by a Potluck dinner. Thursday March 28 th, 9:00 a.m. Daily Orthros Thursday evening, Men s Club meeting at 7:00 p.m. Friday March 29 th, 7:00 p.m. Little Compline with Akathist (Second Madayeh) Upcoming Services and Events Wednesday April 3 rd, 6:30 p.m. Liturgy of Pre-sanctified Gifts followed by a Potluck dinner. Friday April 5 th, 7:00 p.m. Little Compline with Akathist (Third Madayeh)

7 Sunday of Forgiveness The Holy Fathers have appointed the commemoration of Adam's exile from the Paradise of delight here, on the eve of the holy Forty-day Fast, demonstrating to us not by simple words, but by actual deeds, how beneficial fasting is for man, and how harmful and destructive are insatiety and the transgressing of the divine commandments. For the first commandment that God gave to man was that of fasting, which the first-fashioned received but did not keep; and not only did they not become gods, as they had imagined, but they lost even that blessed life which they had, and they fell into corruption and death, and transmitted these and innumerable other evils to all of mankind. The God-bearing Fathers set these things before us today, that by bringing to mind what we have fallen from, and what we have suffered because of the insatiety and disobedience of the firstfashioned, we might be diligent to return again to that ancient bliss and glory by means of fasting and obedience to all the divine commands. Taking occasion from today's Gospel (Matt. 6:14-21) to begin the Fast unencumbered by enmity, we also ask forgiveness this day, first from God, then from one another and all creation. BUY SCRIP! Our Ladies Guild buy 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 at the coffee hour. St. Mark 2013 Stewardship Pledge Drive Progress Report Thank you to the 124 Stewards who have made their pledge to St. Mark! Your pledges represent achieving 81% of our goal. For our Stewards who haven t made their pledge commitment and are planning to, please do so now so can reach our budget commitment and close out our pledge drive. Take a few minutes today during Coffee Hour to fill out a pledge form (extra forms are next to our pledge box in the Hall). Thanks everyone! St. Mark Stewardship Committee