SAINT HERMAN ANTIOCHIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH. Sunday of Forgiveness (Cheesefare) March 13, 2016

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1 THIS WEEK S SERVICES March 13 March 20 Mon. Mar. 14 9:30am: Akathist to the Mother of God, Nurturer of Children followed by Knitting Group from 10:00am-Noon Mon. Mar. 14 6:30pm: Great Compline with Canon of St. Andrew Tues. Mar. 15 6:30pm: Great Compline with Canon of St. Andrew Wed. Mar. 16 6:30pm: Presanctified Liturgy followed by Soup Supper ($3/person or $12/person) Thur. Mar. 17 6:30pm: Great Compline with Canon of St. Andrew Fri. Mar. 18 6:30pm: Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos followed by discussion group at Becky Moore s house Sat. Mar. 19 6:30pm: Great Vespers Sun. Mar. 20 9:00am: Matins Sun. Mar :00am: Divine Liturgy Sun. Mar. 20 5:00pm: Sunday of Orthodoxy Service at St. John Cathedral in Eagle River ***Confessions are heard following Vespers and by appointment*** CHRISTIAN EDUCATION No classes this week. PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS WELCOME to all who are visiting with us today! We hope you will feel at home here and, if you do not already have a church home, will consider becoming a part of the Saint Herman Church community. SOUP SUPPER will follow Presanctified Liturgy on Wednesday night. Cost is $3/person or $12/family. Proceeds will go to Amal Agalawatta s mission trip. SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY VESPERS March 20 at St. John Cathedral in Eagle River at 5:00pm. Bishop DAVID of the OCA will preside. EASTER EGG HUNT FILLERS please bring donations to the parish hall as soon as possible. Contact Mary Beth Feldman if you have any questions. DISCUSSION GROUP AT BECKY MOORE S HOUSE following the Akathist on Friday nights, Becky Moore and Donna Young will host a discussion group for anyone interested See Becky or Donna for more details. SAINT HERMAN ANTIOCHIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America Diocese of Los Angeles and the West PRIMATE and DIOCESAN HIERARCH His Eminence, the Most Reverend Metropolitan JOSEPH Contact Information 6988 N. En Dove Road Wasilla, Alaska Pastor s Phone: (907) priest@sainthermanwasilla.org PASTOR Rev. Fr. Matthew Howell DEACON Rev. Dn. Thomas Ross Sunday of Forgiveness (Cheesefare) March 13, 2016 A NOTE REGARDING HOLY COMMUNION Welcome! In the Orthodox Church, reception of the Holy Eucharist is reserved for baptized, chrismated Orthodox Christians who have prepared by prayer, fasting and a recent confession. If you are visiting from a non- Orthodox church or otherwise are not prepared to commune today, you are welcome to receive some of the unconsecrated, blessed bread which the acolytes are holding. We pray for all to be united in the Body and Blood of Christ! If you would like to learn how you can enter into communion with the Orthodox Church, please speak with our clergy.

2 THE EPISTLE V (For Sunday of Forgiveness) Sing praises to our God, sing praises. Sing praises to our King, sing praises. O clap your hands, all ye nations. The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans. (13:11-14:4) Brethren, salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not for disputes over opinions. One believes he may eat anything, while the weak man eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains pass judgment on him who eats; for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Master is able to make him stand. THE GOSPEL (For Sunday of Forgiveness) The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (6:14-21) The Lord said to His Disciples: 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. 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. SAINTS & FEASTS OF THE DAY Sunday of Forgiveness (Cheese Fare); Translation of the relics of Nikephoros, patriarch of Constantinople; Bishops Poplias and Marios A GOOD WORD VITAMINS FOR THE SOUL "O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, meddling, lust of power and idle talk. But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love to thy servant. Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own sins and not to judge my brother; for Thou art blessed unto ages of ages. Amen." -- St. Ephraim the Syrian "Fasting is an admirable thing, but it is more admirable to forgive insults. Through fasting a man is preparing for charity, but by forgiving insults, a man shows charity. Fasting precedes forgiveness, but fasting alone doesn t not save without forgiveness." -- St. Nicholai of Zica "When fasting is understood in a true, Christian sense and not in a legalistic, pharisaical way, then the forgiving of insults and abstaining from covetousness are a fast, and this the most important fast, or, if you wish, the greatest fruit of fasting. For indeed, there is very little value in abstaining from food without abstinence from the returning of insult for insult and the illusion of earthly riches." -- St. Nicholai of Zica on The Forgiveness Sunday Gospel. (Matt. 6:14-21) "We cannot serve anyone with whom we have animosity. This is why the Gospels stress forgiveness. Our Lord even forgave those who crucified Him, crying out from the cross, 'Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do' (Luke 23:34). If we are to serve the world, we must first be able to forgive everyone and anyone. The slightest amount of unforgiveness or anger towards anyone is enough to keep us from God, for in God there is only love." -- His Eminence, Metropolitan JOSEPH "We must renew our commitment to personal prayer and liturgical participation, to keeping the fasts of the Church, to giving our time and financial resources to the ministries of the Church, and, most especially, to being healed through selfexamination and Confession. -His Eminence, Metropolitan JOSEPH

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5 To the Clergy and Faithful of the Orthodox Parishes in Anchorage, Eagle River, and Wasilla: You are invited to celebrate together "Orthodoxy Sunday Vespers" Celebrating the triumphant restoration of icons to the Church Sunday, March 20, 5pm at Saint John Orthodox Cathedral Monastery Drive in Eagle River 5:00pm Vespers, Potluck following provided by Cathedral parishioners You are invited to bring an icon to hold during the service and have it blessed at the end of the service.

6 Sunday Lenten Pan-Orthodox Vespers All services start at 5:00pm March 20 - Sunday of Orthodoxy - at St. John Cathedral Eagle River (confirmed) March 27 - Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas at Holy Transfiguration Anchorage (tentative) April 3 - Sunday of the Holy Cross - at St. Herman Wasilla (confirmed) April 10 - Sunday of St. John Climacus - at St. Tikhon Anchorage (tentative) April 17 Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt - at St. Innocent Anchorage (confirmed)

7 His Eminence The Most Reverend Metropolitan JOSEPH Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of All North America Beloved in the Lord, Great Fast, 2016 TO BE READ FROM THE PULPIT AND PRINTED IN THE BULLETIN Greetings and blessings to you as we enter this most holy season of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. It is with the greatest joy that I write to you today to inaugurate the 2016 Food for Hungry People campaign. This year marks the 42 nd anniversary of this charitable drive. When reflecting on the past 42 years, I call to mind the countless charitable organizations and individuals that we have helped because of this fund. Through your generosity on the parish level, this drive has grown into a strong witness of our Holy Orthodox faith on this continent and throughout the world. St. John Chrysostom, perhaps the greatest preacher in the history of the Church, once said: Although fasting is more difficult than this, nothing is so strong and powerful to extinguish the fire of our sins as almsgiving. It is greater than all other virtues. It places its lovers by the side of the King Himself, and justly. For the effect of fasting is confined to those who fast, and no other is saved thereby. But almsgiving extends to all, embracing the members of Christ, and actions that extend their effects to many are far greater than those which are confined to one. Through your generosity to the Food for Hungry People campaign, you embrace the world with the love of Christ, saving yourself as you literally save others. During the past few years, we continue to raise funds through various means to help those affected by the war in Syria. Through your contributions to FFHP over the years, we have helped many of the orphanages and other charitable organizations within Syria and throughout our Patriarchate and the entire Middle East, in addition to our domestic charitable contributions. As we continue to witness the horrors of the war in Syria, please make a special effort this year to use FFHP to raise funds and awareness to the tragedy there so we can help those in need even more. We urge you, during this season of prayer, self-discipline, and fasting to be very generous in your contribution to this campaign. As we practice the virtues which cleanse our souls, let us not forget or refrain from what St. John Chrysostom calls the greatest of the virtues, giving to the poor. As important as prayer and fasting are, they are of no avail to us if we fail to give to those in need. Praying that the Holy Spirit will strengthen us as we embark on our journey to Pascha we remain, Your Father in Christ, ANTIOCHIAN ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN ARCHDIOCESE OF NORTH AMERICA +JOSEPH Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of all North America The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch (Acts 11: 26) 358 Mountain Road, P.O. Box 5238, Englewood, NJ (201) T Archdiocese@antiochian.org (201) F

8 Food for Hungry People ND Anniversary Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday MARCH 14 clocks do you have in your home? Deposit.15 for each in your Food for Hungry People Box because "time" is running out for those who are starving. 15 "Put a little love in your heart," get FFHP off to a good start. Put in a dime for all the "loves" in your life. 16 Count the number of Bibles in your home and deposit.35 for each, because Jesus said, "I was hungry and you gave me food." 17 Count the number of soda cans or water bottles in your home. Put in.10 each, because Jesus said, "I was thirsty and you gave me drink." 18 tablets do you own? Deposit.20 each. Tablets can be a means of communication. Let's communicate our love for the hungry. 19 Count the number of steps (inside and outside) of your home. Pay.05 for each step. Help the hungry "step" into a new future. 20 mirrors are in your home? Pay.15 for each. Let your "mirror" reflect the image of one who cares. 21 Count the locks in your home. Pay.20 for each lock. Let's "unlock" the door that gives hope to the hungry. 22 rings do you have? Deposit.15 per ring. This will help us b"ring" food to the hungry! 23 eggs are in your refrigerator? Pay.10 for each. Hungry people have to "scramble" for their food. 24 doors does your home have? Pay.10 for each. Help open a "door" to a better future for the world's hungry. 25 Have everyone in the family deposit all the pennies they have in their pockets or purses. It makes "cents" to help the hungry 26 electrical outlets are in your kitchen and living room? Pay.10 each. You'll get a "charge" out of feeding the hungry. 27 "Button up your overcoat" - so simple to do. They are not only hungry but very cold too. Deposit.20 for each coat in your home. 28 For every cellphone in your home, pay.25. It is "long distance" to hungry areas in most parts of the world. Let's make it a toll free number. 29 extension cords do you have in your home? Pay.20 for each. Let's "extend" a helping hand to those who need it. 30 For each pie or cake in your home, deposit.30. We should never "dessert" the hungry. 31 Ipod s do you own? For every one deposit.25. Let s never tune out the hungry. APRIL 1 For every salt and pepper shaker, pay.20. Let's all "sprinkle" their lives with a little seasoning. 2 For every TV show that was watched today pay.25. TV helps us see around the world, this money will help us feed the hungry around the world. 3 computers do you own? Pay.25 for each. Let s take a byte out of hunger! 4 pictures do you have on your walls? Just "picture" yourself without food & deposit.10 for each picture. 5 Pay.25 for each pair of contacts or eyeglasses you have. This will help us "see" clearly the need of caring for the hungry. 6 Do you have musical instruments in your home? Pay.75 for each. This is a "key" to sharing and caring. 7 cleaning wipes can you find in your home? Pay.05 for each. Let's "erase" hunger from the world. 8 Count your tea or coffee cups and deposit.05 each. Our "cup" runneth over, so let's fill theirs. 9 "I've got my love to keep me warm," that's true, but the hungry have only you. Pay.10 for each blanket in your home. 10 cars are in your family? You can't "Dodge" the hungry, but you can af"ford" to pay.50 for each car. 11 "Day by day," from dawn till night, Hunger knows no hour - nor if it's day or night. Pay.20 for each lamp in your home. 12 cameras do you have? Pay.25 for each. This will help us make all "negatives" positives. 13 Pick up all the loose change laying around the house. Put it in your FFHP Box. This will help make a "change" in the world! 14 Count the scissors you have in your home and pay.25 for each pair. Let's "cut-out" the hunger in hunger-y! 15 members are in your family? Pay.10 for each. The hungry have families to feed also; let's make this a real "family affair!" 16 towels are in your home? If you pay.05 for each towel, this may help us "wipe out" hunger for all people.

9 Food for Hungry People ND Anniversary 17 "Hey Big Spender" drop a coin in the slot - give unto others what they haven't got! Put in a coin or bill of your choice. 18 heads of lettuce are in your refrigerator? Pay.25 for each. "Lettuce" show the hungry that we care. 19 Count the cans in your cupboard. Pay.03 for each. Don't let their cupboards be like "Old Mother Hubbard s!" 20 postage stamps do you normally use in a week? Pay.05 for each. This is a sure way to "stamp out" hunger! 21 sweaters do you have? Pay.05 for each. Sweaters keep you warm. This is one time they won't mind if we "pull the wool over their eyes." 22 chairs are in your home? Pay.10 per chair. We can't just "sit" around when so many people are hungry. 23 cookbooks do you own? Pay.20 for each. We will be able to "cook up" a better recipe for the hungry to live by. 24 eggs are you going to color for Pascha? Pay.05 for each. Let's help "color" their world with love! 25 "Brother can you spare a dime?" or maybe two? The FFHP program really depends on you. Put your dimes in the box. 26 Count your C.D. s. Pay.03 for each. Let's make this a "record- breaking" year for FFHP!!! 27 songs have you listened to today? Pay.05 for each. Let s stay in tune with the hungry. 28 crosses do you have? Pay.15 each. Crosses remind us of Christ's suffering, let's not make the hungry suffer anymore. 29 "A dream is a wish your heart makes," and our dream is for hunger to stop. For the wish that we are wishing, is for FFHP program to go over the top! 30 We pray you have been generous in your almsgiving. "For inasmuch as you have done it unto the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto ME!" MAY 1 PASCHA Christ Is Risen!

10 2015 FFHP Sunday Bulletin Inserts We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give. Winston Churchill The merciful person is he who gives to others what he has himself received from God, whether it be money, food, strength, a helpful word, prayer or anything else that he has through which he can express his compassion for those in need. At the same time he considers himself a debtor since he has received more than he is asked to give. St. Peter of Damascus Prove yourself a god to the unfortunate by imitating the mercy of God. There is nothing so godly in human beings as to do good works. St. Gregory the Theologian Prayer is the test of everything; prayer is also the source of everything; prayer is the force of everything; prayer is also the director of everything. If prayer is right, everything is right. For prayer will not allow anything to go wrong. St. theophany the Recluse God is Love. And if we call upon God in our life as the Holy Fathers teach us, then we are calling upon Love. If we know and believe that He is present everywhere at all times and if we are united with Him in our hearts, He will teach us how to love our neighbor. Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica When giving, give magnanimously with a look of kindness on your face, and give more than what is asked of you. St. Isaac the Syrian You shall surely give him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him; because that for this thing the LORD your God shall bless you in all your works, and in all that you put your hand to. Deuteronomy 15:10 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it. Proverbs 3:27 Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work. Mother Teresa I slept and I dreamed of that life is all joy. I woke and I saw that life is all service, I served and I saw that service is joy. Kahlil Gibran For it is in the giving that we receive. Francis of Assisi If man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered. Proverbs 21:13 He who is kind to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses. Proverbs 28:27 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. Mathew 5:42 When you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. That your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. Mathew 6:3-4 He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy, he will crush the oppressor. Psalms 72:4 Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice. Psalms 112:5 He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward him for what he has done. Proverbs 19:17 He that feeds the hungry also feeds God. Unknown You cannot show a kindness too soon, because you never know how soon it will be too late. Unknown Hunger is one of the world s most pressing problems affecting over 1 billion people. It is an intensely personal problem as well. Behind the grim statistics are children and families loved by God, who are deprived of their right to a full life because they don t have enough to eat. Unknown

11 2015 FFHP Sunday Bulletin Inserts Vigils and fast and acts of mercy are the methods advocated by the saints to attain the spiritual life. But they must not stand alone, not must the Christian put his trust in them. Humility must have faith for its principle, and fasting be combined with charity, that is, feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, clothe the naked. St. Basil the Great Share what you have, lest you lose what you have. Spend what you possess on the needs of others in order to keep what you possess. St. John Chrysostom A holy soul cares for his neighbors, either close at hand or far away. He cares where the homeless will spend the night, how the hungry will be fed, with what the naked will be clothed. He cares and he prays for the salvation of his neighbors: that their hearts may be filled with love towards God, that their minds may be directed towards God, that the wicked may turn from the paths of wickedness, that the hesitant may be confirmed in the Faith, that the firm may persevere, that the departed may behold the Face of God, that the living may be written in the Book of Life in the Kingdom of Light. St. Nicholas Velimirovich It is not right or proper for the rich to keep excess wealth when there are many poor people in need of the means of existence, of necessary clothing and proper dwellings, for we have nothing of our own; everything belongs to God! St. John of Kronstadt Blessed are the merciful for they will receive mercy (Mt 5:7). The merciful is he who gives to others what he himself received from God. Whether it is money, food, strength, a helpful word, a prayer, or anything else that he has through which he can express his compassion for those in need. At the same time he considers himself a debtor, since he has received more than he is asked to give by Christ s grace, both in the present and in the world to come, before the whole of creation he is called merciful, just as God is called merciful. St. Peter of Damascus If you give something to someone who is in need, then let a cheerful face precede your gift, along with kind words and encouragement for his suffering. St. Isaac the Syrian A tree is known by its fruit, a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love. St. Basil the Great Give us this day. Why do we beseech God for bread only today? Because we know that we are not the masters of our lives, but our Creator is. Also that it might startle us from the accumulation of wealth for the uncertain tomorrow, while letting our brothers go hungry today. Feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked. No one gathering more than what is needed, out of the fear of what tomorrow will bring, is able to fulfill these commandments of God. St. Nicholas Velimirovich

12 2015 FFHP Sunday Bulletin Inserts Do you fast? Give me proof of it by your works. If you see a friend being honored, do not envy him. Do not let your mouth fast, but also the eye and the ear and the feet and the hands and all the members of our bodies. Let the hands fast, by being free of avarice. Let the feet fast by ceasing to run after sin. Let the eyes fast, by disciplining them not to glare at that which is sinful. Let the ear fast, by not listening to evil talk and gossip. Let the mouth fast from foul words and unjust criticism. For what good is it if we abstain from birds and fishes, but bite and devour our brothers and sisters? May He who came to the world to save sinners strengthen us to complete the fast with humility, have mercy on us and save us. St. John Chrysostom The bread you do not use is the bread of the hungry. The garment hanging in your wardrobe is the garment of the person who is naked. The shoes you do not wear are the shoes of the one who is barefoot. The money you keep locked away is the money of the poor. The acts of charity you do not perform are the injustices you commit. St. Basil the Great Whoever gives a hand to help his neighbor is helped by God s own hand. St. Isaac the Syrian Do not neglect the Forty Days; it constitutes an imitation of Christ s way of life. St. Ignatius the God-bearer The merciful person is he who gives to others what he himself received from God, whether it be money, or food, or strength, a helpful word, a prayer, or anything else he has through which he can express his compassion for those in need. St. Peter of Damascus Prayer, together with almsgiving, can furnish us with countless good things from above. They can quench the fire of sin in our souls and can give us great freedom. Cornelius had recourse to these two virtues and sent his prayers up to heaven. Because of these two virtues he heard the angel say: Thy prayers and thy alms have gone up and been remembered in the sight of God. St. John Chrysostom There are three things, my brethren, by which Faith stands firm, devotion remains constant, and virtue endures. They are prayer, fasting, and mercy. Prayer knocks at the door, fasting obtains, mercy receives. Prayer, mercy, and fasting: these three are one, and they give life to each other. St. Peter Chrysologus of Ravenna One must inspire the children themselves to good deeds. At first one must guide them into doing good deeds. The most ordinary good deeds in this regard are: almsgiving, compassion, mercifulness, yielding to others, and patience. It is not difficult to train them to do these things. Opportunities for them occur every minute; one has only to use them. St. Theophan the Recluse

13 2016 FFHP Sunday Bulletin Inserts Find out how much God has given you and from it take what you need; the remainder is needed by others. St. Augustine You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give. Kahlil Gibran It is not how much we give but how much love we put into giving. Mother Teresa Share your seed and watch it grow, then you ll know the joy of giving. Share yourself and your whole life, then you ll know the joy of living. Joyce C. Lock We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give. Sir Winston Churchill If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered. Proverbs 21:13 He who is kind to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses. Proverbs 28:27 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. Matthew 5:42 He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward him for what he has done. Proverbs 19:17 When you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. Matthew 6:3-4 He who is generous will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor. Proverbs 22:9 He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy, he will crush the oppressor. Psalm 72:4 Material treasures will serve us for a time and fade away. It is sharing ourselves and our time that creates authentic value; it enriches life with lasting expressions of gratitude and indelible memories. Giving opens our spiritual eyes to the many small blessings before us each moment. Steve Brunkhorst He who oppresses the poor man insults his Maker, but he who is kind to the needy honors Him. Proverbs 14:31 Send your treasures to the heavenly storage room. Deposit your wealth in God s bank, distributing to the poor, the orphans and the widows so that you can receive a million times more in the Second Coming of Christ. Elder Joseph the Hesychast Become a good manager of those things given to you by God. St. John Chrysostom Fasting is wonderful because it tramples our sins like a dirty weed. St. John Chrysostom Prayer for others which is made gently and with deep love is selfless and has great spiritual benefit. St. Porphyrios of Kafsokalyvia