ST. GREGORY S DIVINE SERVICES FOR THE WEEK

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1 ST. GREGORY S DIVINE SERVICES FOR THE WEEK Wednesday, March 7 Mid-Lent/Hieromartyrs of Cherson 6:40 P.M. 9 th Hour and Typica 7:00 P.M. Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts Friday, March 9 Forty Martys of Sebaste 11:00 A.M. Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts 7:00 P.M. Moleben to the Holy and Life-giving Cross Saturday, March 10 Fourth All Souls Saturday 4:40 P.M. Panachida with the reading of the Hramoty (Prayers for the Departed) 5:00 P.M. Vigil Divine Liturgy Supplications will be offered for +Stephen & +Pauline Kupec, given by Dr. Pat Kupec Sunday, March 11 Fourth Sunday of the Great Fast/St. John Climacus 9:10 A.M. Third Hour 9:30 A.M. Divine Liturgy The Epistle Reading will be Heb 6:13-20 and the Gospel will be Mark 9: Following the Divine Liturgy, please join us in the Church hall for refreshments and Christian fellowship. 4:00 P.M. Lenten Deanery Vespers at Holy Spirit Church, Pittsburgh-Oakland, PA It is necessary, most of all, for one who is fasting to curb anger, to accustom himself to meekness and condescension, to have a contrite heart, to repulse impure thoughts and desires, to examine his conscience, to put his mind to the test, and to verify what good has been done by us in this or any other week, and which deficiency we have corrected in ourselves in the present week. This is true fasting. - Saint John Chrysostom

2 Library Ministry Notes The Library Ministry would like to extend a heartfelt and sincere Thank You to Anne and Rachel Hast for sharing their experiences in Honduras at the One World Surgery Center for our 6 th Speakers Platform this past Sunday, February 25 th. Their selfless expression of how one can put his/her Christian faith into practice concretely is inspiring, especially during this season of the Great Fast. As we all know, the focus of the Great Lenten Fast is praying, fasting, and performing good works (almsgiving). Do you feel that you are moving forward and accomplishing those things, or do you feel that you should or could do more to prepare for Pascha/Easter? If you would like additional support, please explore the library before or after attending liturgy or other Lenten services. The Library Ministry has chosen various books that you can check out and take home with you. They are on display on top of the book cases and are identified as Lenten Readings. If a member of the Library Ministry is not available when you are there, please sign your name to the card that is inside of the book(s) you are taking and leave the card(s) in the library. Next Sunday: Re-Igniting the Reformation As part of our Lenten journey we will welcome, next Sunday, March 11 th, to St. Gregory s 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 visit our community and offer a presentation following the Divine Liturgy as our next Library Lenten Speaker. The Rev. Steven Carlson is the senior pastor at Ruthfred Lutheran Church in Bethel Park, where he has been ministering for the past nine years. Before coming to Pittsburgh, he ministered in Wisconsin and Minnesota. He is married to Jennifer, and they have three children, Ben (freshman at Grove City College), Sadie (15 yr), and Sam (12 yr). They homeschool their children. This past summer, the Carlson s celebrated 25 years of marriage and ministry. Prior to parish ministry, Pastor Carlson ministered on college and university campuses in the Upper Midwest. He was ordained into ministry in the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations (AFLC). Pastor Carlson has a deep love for the Church, and a passion for Biblical Studies and for sharing the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Announcements Today: Third Sunday of the Great Fast On this Third Sunday of the Great Fast, we honor and venerate the Holy and Lifegiving Cross of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In the beginning of the Vigil Divine Liturgy on Saturday evening, the Cross adorned with flowers will be brought out in procession and placed on the Tetrapod in the center of the Church. Following the Divine Liturgy, please come forward to venerate the Cross of Our Lord as we continue our journey of the Great Fast. As part of our Sunday celebration, we will have a Cross Procession in our neighborhood. This Cross Procession will be led by our ECF students. Come as we proclaim: We bow to Your Cross, O Lord and we glorify Your Holy Resurrection! Tuesday: Chant Group Rehearsal On Tuesday evening, March 6 th, starting at 6:30 p.m., we will have our Chant Group rehearsal in Church. Join us on Tuesday evening as together we practice our liturgical chant during this Great Fast. Next Sunday: Daylight Savings Just a reminder that Daylight savings time will begin next Sunday, March 11 th. Don t forget to set your clocks forward one hour Saturday evening before you go to sleep. 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. 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,p and mental support for one another. Please come and join us for this luncheon.

3 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 reach Mid-Lent, 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. Collection- May God bless you The total for Sunday, February 25 th, 2018 was $ (Envelopes: $ ; Loose: $44.00; Candles: $51.00; Debt: $ ; BCW: $36.00; Chocolate Crosses: $20.00; Altar Candle: $80.00; Cooke Recipe Book: $30.00; Superbowl Pool Fundraiser: $10.00). ***In memory of +Georgianna Chekan: $ Sincere thanks to all of you for your kindness and generosity! St. Gregory s Prayer List Kindly remember in your prayers our parishioners and friends who struggle with sickness, pain, hardship, or any special need: Helen Utlak, 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. Third Sunday of the Great Fast Veneration of the Cross Today we have reached the midpoint of the Great Fast- Lent; we have travelled half of our path to the Holy Pascha of Our Lord. Having come to the center of Lent, we piously venerate the Life-giving Cross of Christ. In the Synaxarion for today we read that since the Cross is the Tree of Life, and this tree was planted in the center of the Garden of Eden, in the same way the holy fathers placed the Tree of the Cross in the middle of Great Lent, reminding us of Adam s fall. At the same time we are delivered from the fall through the tree, for partaking of it we no longer die, but inherit life. The Cross of Christ is dear to us because without it there is no Resurrection. And only he, who is ready to be crucified with Christ, can become an heir in the resurrection in Christ. We glorify the Cross of Our Lord today because, having been watered with the Savior s Blood, the Cross is no longer a tool of death but the Tree of Life. Saint Theophan the Recluse writes that where there is a Christian, there is the cross, and where there is no cross, there is no Christian. Today, at the half-point of the Great Fast-Lent, let us examine ourselves: do we crucify the sins of our flesh, do we carry the cross in our hearts, is there in our souls a denial of self and of worldly passions? If not - neither is there a Christian there. 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.

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