St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America Diocese of Los Angeles and the West

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1 St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America Diocese of Los Angeles and the West Mailing Address: 4718 Horsehaven, Post Falls, Idaho Church Phone: (208) Fr. Basil Caldaroni: (208) frbasil@caldaroni.net Church Website: Send announcements to bulletin@stjohnorthodox.org March 17, 2013 Forgiveness Sunday As we begin the Great Fast, the Church reminds us of Adam s expulsion from Paradise. God commanded Adam to fast (Gen. 2:16), but he did not obey. Because of their disobedience, Adam and Eve were cast out of Eden and lost the life of blessedness, knowledge of God, and communion with Him, for which they were created. Both they and their descendents became heirs of death and corruption. Let us consider the benefits of fasting, the consequences of disobedience, and recall our fallen state. Today we are invited to cleanse ourselves of evil through fasting and obedience to God. Our fasting should not be a negative thing, a mere abstention from certain foods. It is an opportunity to free ourselves from the sinful desires and urges of our fallen nature, and to nourish our souls with prayer, repentance, to participate in church services, and partake of the life-giving Mysteries of Christ. At Forgiveness Vespers we sing: Let us begin the time of fasting in light, preparing ourselves for spiritual efforts. Let us purify our soul, let us purify our body. As we abstain from food, let us abstain from all passion and enjoy the virtues of the spirit... THE SYNAXARION On March 17 in the Holy Orthodox Church we commemorate our Venerable Father Alexios the Man of God; Theosteriktos the Confessor of the Pelecete Monastery; Patrick, bishop of Armagh and enlightener of Ireland; and Venerable Makarios of Kalyazin. On this day, we make remembrance of the exile of the first-fashioned, Adam, from the Paradise of delight.

2 Verses Let the world mourn bitterly along with ages past; As, by sweet eating, it hath fallen along with those who had fallen. It is the Sunday of Forgiveness, known also as Cheese Fare Sunday. Today s lesson from the Holy Gospel teaches us about forgiveness and fasting, and how both are crucial to our own return to Paradise. The divine Fathers also set the anniversary of the exile of Adam from the Paradise of bliss on this day, at the entrance of Great Lent, to show us by deed as well as word how great is the benefit that accrues to man from fasting and repenting; and, on the contrary, how great the harm that comes from destructive gluttony and from disobedience to the divine commandments. The sin of gluttony resulted in Adam and Eve s banishment from Paradise, because they disobeyed God by eating from the tree which He had forbidden them. The Church reminds us of this event to encourage us to return to that ancient glory and primeval happiness by means of fasting and obedience to God and His commandments. By Thine ineffable compassion, O Christ our God, make us worthy of the delight of Paradise and have mercy on us, as Thou art alone the Lover of mankind. Amen. ANNOUNCEMENTS Congratulations and Many Blessed Years! Baptism of Daniella Bartlett ) Please join us in congratulating Daniella Emily Bartlett (son of Jed & Tatiana Bartlett) who was baptized yesterday morning. May God grant her and her family many, many blessed years. Donations Needed for Post Falls Food Bank - For the months of February and March, the Sisterhood has adopted the Post Falls Food Bank as our humanitarian outreach project. Please consider donating regularly to this worthy community organization by depositing some of the items listed below in the provided receptacle in the hall: Cereal, Diapers, Formula, Toiletries (toothpaste, shampoo, etc.), Toilet Paper, Laundry Detergent, Canned & Boxed Foods. Senior Brown Bags containing the following are given out to needy seniors each week. Feel free to donate single items, or put together your own bagful: peanut butter (small jar), canned fruit, canned vegetable, tuna, boxed dinner such as hamburger helper. Optional additional rice, beans, pasta and crackers. The Tools of Spiritual Warfare by Joy Corey, Introduction by Fr. Thomas Hopko Fr. Hopko's Introduction describes Joy's book as a powerfully dynamic description of how we can participate in Christ's victory over the devil, darkness, disease and death. She describes in detail the many tools (eleven in number) that Christ provides for us to be not victims but "overcomers," describing in detail what St. Paul calls, "the whole armor of God." Pick up your copy today at the St. John s Bookstore!

3 RESURRECTIONAL APOLYTIKION IN TONE EIGHT 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. KONTAKION FOR FORGIVENESS SUNDAY IN TONE SIX O Thou Who guidest to wisdom, and givest understanding and intelligence, the Instructor of the ignorant, and Helper of the poor, strengthen my heart and grant it understanding, O Master. Give me word, O Word of the Father; for behold, I shall not refrain my lips from crying to Thee, O merciful One, have mercy upon me who am fallen. THE EPISTLE (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.

4 FORGIVENESS THEOTOKION IN TONE TWO O righteous one, Mother of the most-high God, defend all those who take refuge in faith in thy precious protection; for we sinners, bowed by the multitude of sins, have no other constant intercessor with God in tribulations and sorrows, save thee. Wherefore, we bow to thee, adoring. Save thou thy servants from every distress. THE CEREMONY OF MUTUAL FORGIVENESS As the choir very slowly and in low voice sings the above theotokion, the exchange of mutual forgiveness may now take place, beginning with the clergy. The priest stands next to the analogion as the faithful venerate the icon of the Theotokos. One by one the faithful bow before the priest, who also does the same before each of the faithful, each saying to one another, Forgive me, a sinner. The response is, God forgives. The faithful then receive his blessing and kiss his hand. The faithful also ask forgiveness from each other in the same manner, exchanging among themselves the kiss of peace. His Eminence, Archbishop JOSEPH's 2013 Great Lent Message Beloved in Christ: Let us begin the season of fasting with rejoicing, giving ourselves to spiritual strife, purifying soul and body, fasting from passions, as we fast from foods, faring on the virtues of the Spirit, which, if we continue to long for, we shall all be worthy to behold the most solemn Passion of Christ, and the holy Passover, rejoicing with spiritual joy. From Forgiveness Vespers These beautiful words, which we hear during Forgiveness Vespers, give us an eloquent description of the very nature of the Holy season of Great Lent. Great Lent is a time of increased prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Fasting is not just about food, it is about fasting from the passions and cleansing our souls and by abstaining from certain foods, we cleanse our bodies at the same time. Thus, turning to a simpler way of life, we allow ourselves more time to spend in prayer, especially by attending the beautiful Lenten services that our rich Orthodox Tradition provides for us during this Holy Season. As we approach Forgiveness Sunday, I urge all of us to whole-heatedly forgive one another and to enter this holy season with purity of heart and at peace with all men, for as St. Nicholai of Zica says, God the Holy Spirit has many abodes in this vast universe, but a pure heart is the place in which He most delights to dwell. Beloved in Christ, I bow before each of you, asking for your forgiveness for any of my words, deeds, or thoughts that have in any way hurt or offended you. May God forgive us all, and may He grant all of us a blessed Lenten Season. Assuring you of my constant love, prayers and support, I remain, Yours in Christ, + Archbishop Joseph

5 ANNOUNCEMENTS Potluck Lunch for Cheesefare Today will be a potluck rather than our normal lunch following the Divine Liturgy. Please bring your favorite dairy or cheese dishes to share. The regularly scheduled lunch team will be on clean-up. This is a great way to clean out your refrigerator as we prepare for the beginning of the Great Fast! St. Herman of Alaska Scholarship Fund St. Herman's Scholarship Fund has been established to help students who wish to pursue, or are currently pursuing, full time study in an institution of learning (two or four year college or university) or a vocational institute. Each year one or more students, depending upon funding in the scholarship account, will be selected to receive a stipend. In order to be eligible for the stipend, a student should be a member in good standing at St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church in Post Falls or at Christ the Savior Orthodox Church in Spokane or at Holy Myrrhbearers Orthodox Church in Bonners Ferry, and a full time student at a high school or college with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4 point scale. Academic excellence, financial need and church /community service will be taken into account in the awarding of the stipend. Please see Fr. Basil or Barbara Garbinski for an application. June 10, 2013 is the deadline. Celebration Luncheon to Honor Mileva Paljic Please mark your calendars for Sunday, April 7th, when we will be honoring Mileva Paljic, age 88, with a luncheon. Fr. Basil will be reading her life's story which is very, very interesting and shouldn't be missed!

6 SCHEDULE OF SERVICES & EVENTS Saturday, March 16 Baptism of Daniella Emily Bartlett 10:00am; Great Vespers 6:00pm Sunday, March 17 Forgiveness Sunday (Cheese Fare) - Orthros 9:00am; Divine Liturgy 10:00am; Forgiveness Vespers following Liturgy; Potluck Lunch following Monday, March 18 Great Compline with Canon of St. Andrew of Crete 7:00pm Tuesday, March 19 Great Compline with Canon of St. Andrew of Crete 7:00pm Wednesday, March 20 Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts + Lenten Meal 7:00pm Thursday, March 21 Great Compline with Canon of St. Andrew of Crete 7:00pm Friday, March 22 Small Compline with Akathist Hymn 7:00pm Saturday, March 23 Great Vespers 6:00pm Sunday, March 24 Sunday of Orthodoxy - Orthros 9:00am; Divine Liturgy 10:00am; Sunday School and Lunch following EPISTLE READERS Mar 17 - Ellena Schaefer Mar 24 Tabitha Townsend Mar 31 Bryne Rush ALTAR SERVERS Mar 17 Cherubim Mar 24 Seraphim Mar 31 - Cherubim LUNCHEON & CLEANUP Mar 17 - Team 1: Cheesefare Potluck - Molly Tsalaky, Gus & Helen Vlahos, Dale Ayoub, Ken & Nanette Sanman Mar 24 - Team 2: Joy Corey, Morey Ranson, John & Piama Holmen, Adam & Mary Claire Roth, Jeff & Jenny Tecca Mar 31 - Team 3: Barbara Garbinski, Norman O'Daniel, Joey Molloy, Shirley, Helen Weddle PRAYERS FOR THE LIVING: Jaxon (Karen Kare s niece s son), Heather (friend of the Peterson s), Bellah family (friends of Olingers), Joanne (Michelle Fellegy's aunt), Lori (Tim Peterson s grandmother much improved Glory to God!), Cindy (Tiffani Gallatin s mother), David and Suzanne Sanman (Ken s parents), Alana Gruss and her unborn child (friend of Kelly Peterson), John Sandford (Mark Sanford s father), Dale and his family (friend of the Nolan s), Del Polikretis (Helen Vlahos brother in law), Chet Sapalio (Fr. Basil s cousin), Damion (Tim Peterson's cousin). PRAYERS FOR THE DEPARTED: Patriarch IGNATIUS IV, Patriarch MAXIM of Bulgaria, Fr. Polycarp, Fr. Anthony, Fr. Fadi Haddad, Fr. Peter Gilquist, Dcn. Howard Shannon, Maxwell Young (Steve Wood s Step dad), Stan Bellah, Kathleen (friend of Fellegy s), Shane (friend of Isaac Schaefer), Carolyn (Bartimaeus aunt), Mike Bolek (friend of Owen and Bryne), Bob (Tim Peterson s grandfather), Mary Ann (Barbara Garbinski's sister-in-law), Paula Sanford (Mark's mother), James (grandfather of Bryne Rush), Paul Truebenbach, Mike Kerr, Shirley Jenkin, Diantha Ebert