ST. ANNE SUNDAY BULLETIN

Transcription

1 ST. ANNE SUNDAY BULLETIN WELCOME VISITORS! This week s events TODAY: 8:30 am Pysanky (Ukrainian Egg Painting) All ages welcome! 9:00 am Adult Education 9:40 am Hours 10:00 am Divine Liturgy 7:00 pm Bridegroom Matins Palm Sunday is the celebration of the triumphant entrance of Christ into the royal city of Jerusalem. He rode on a colt for which He Himself had sent, and He permitted the people to hail Him publicly as a king. A large crowd met Him in a manner befitting royalty, waving palm branches and placing their garments in His path. They greeted Him with these words: "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel! (John 12:13). For a full schedule of this week s services through Pascha, please see the Fellowship & Faith section NE ELLIOTT CIRCLE CORVALLIS OR Thank you for worshipping with us today! We invite you to sign our guest book and to be our guest for a warm, friendly meal downstairs following Divine Liturgy. Only baptized Orthodox Christians are permitted to participate in Communion; however, you are welcome to receive a blessing from the clergy and partake of the blessed bread given at the end of the service. We pray Our Lord Jesus Christ will guard and guide your life now and always. SERVICES (all services in English): Saturday: Vigil 5:30 pm Sunday: Third and Sixth Hours 9:40am Divine Liturgy 10:00am For other services and more information, please visit us at or call (541)

2 Philippians 4:4-9 (Epistle) Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, Today s Readings from the Scripture whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. John 12:1-18 (Gospel) Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. Continued on page 4 A NOTE ON CHURCH ORDER ST. ANNE, THE GRANDMOTHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST According to the current practice of the Orthodox Church in our diocese during Great Lent, those wanting to receive Communion at the Presanctified Liturgy should begin their fasting preparations no later than sometime during the noon hour on the day of the liturgy. As is the case when receiving the Eucharist on Sunday, proper preparation should also entail: 1) added prayers; 2) recent Confession; and 3) being in an ongoing state of repentance. If any baptized Orthodox Christian over the age of seven is unable to prepare for Communion in this manner for any reason whatsoever (aside from pregnant or nursing mothers, the very sick and those under the dietary care of a physician), please contact Fr. Stephen for guidance and direction before approaching the chalice. Anyone who is not prepared for Communion or who is not Orthodox is invited to receive the blessed bread (antidoron) at the conclusion of the service instead. Please remember as well that it is the expectation of the Church that all devout Orthodox Christians will go to Confession at least once during the 40-day period of Lent. Did you miss a week? Want to see past bulletins? Go see them all at our website:

3 Member News Namesdays, Birthdays, & Anniversaries Birthdays: April 3: Lexi (Anne) Salama Jim (James) Wilson April 5: Nina Buchovecky Prayer Requests Please pray for the healing of body, mind, and spirit of Mother Ambrosia, Barbara, Ryan, Donna, Mary, Claudia, Diane, Cindy, Sara, Nicholas, and Greg. Please pray for the health of parishioners Salwa (Catherine) Aswad, Danny Edelman, Kathy Sherman, Lorna (Anne) Sebastian, and Ron (Aidan) Smith. Do you have any photos, news, or requests you d like to see in the bulletin? Please submit them to Kyrie at kyrie.mead@gmail.com by noon on Wednesday for inclusion in the following week s bulletin. Thank you!

4 Scripture Readings, continued There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon s son, who would betray Him, said, Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. But Jesus said, Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always. Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus. The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD! The King of Israel! Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, Sitting on a donkey s colt. His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him. Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness. For this reason the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign. Troparion (Tone 4): When we were buried with You in Baptism, O Christ God, We were made worthy of eternal life by Your Resurrection! Now we praise You and sing: Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is He that comes in the Name of the Lord! Today s Hymns Troparion (Tone 1): By raising Lazarus from the dead before Your passion, You did confirm the universal Ressurection, O Christ God! Like the children with the palms of victory, We cry out to You, O Vanquisher of death; Hosanna in the Highest! Blessed is He that comes in the Name of the Lord! Kontakion (Tone 4): Sitting on Your throne in heaven, Carried on a foal of the earth, O Christ God! Accept the praise of angels and the congs of children who sing: Blessed is He that comes to recall Adam!

5 FELLOWSHIP AND FAITH Monday 9:00 am Hours 9:30 am Presanctified Liturgy 6:30 pm Bridegroom Matins Tuesday 9:00 am Hours 9:30 am Presanctified Liturgy 6:30 pm Bridegroom Matins Week Services Schedule Wednesday 9:00 am Hours 9:30 am Presanctified Liturgy 6:30 pm Thursday Matins Thursday 10:00 am Vesperal Liturgy for the Last Supper 6:30 pm Passion Gospels Friday 8:30 am Royal Hours 3:00 pm Burial Shroud Vespers & Lamentations VIGIL BEGINS AT TOMB 6:30 pm Praises and Candlelight Procession PSALM SLEEPOVER for Church Youth Saturday 9:00 am Reception of Dirk, Tyler and Alicia 11:00 am Vesperal Liturgy 11:30 pm Paschal Vigil, Divine Liturgy, & Banquet HOLY PASCHA 1:00 pm Agape Vespers, Potluck, & Easter Egg Hunt HOLY WEEK, AN EXPLANATION: Great Lent and Week are two separate fasts, and two separate celebrations. Great Lent ends on Friday of the fifth week (the day before Lazarus Saturday). Week begins immediately thereafter. Let's explore the meaning of each of the solemn days of Passion Week. Lazarus Saturday: Lazarus Saturday is the day which begins Week. It commemorates the raising of our Lord's friend Lazarus, who had been in the tomb four days. This act confirmed the universal resurrection from the dead that all of us will experience at our Lord's Second Coming. This miracle led many to faith, but it also led to the chief priest's and Pharisees' decision to kill Jesus (John 11:47-57). Palm Sunday (The Entrance of our Lord into Jerusalem): Our Lord enters Jerusalem and is proclaimed king - but in an earthly sense, as many people of His time were seeking a political Messiah. Our Lord is King, of course, but of a different type - the eternal King prophesied by Zechariah the Prophet. We use palms on this day to show that we too accept Jesus as the true King and Messiah of the Jews, Who we are willing to follow - even to the cross.

6 Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday: The first thing that must be said about these services, and most of the other services of Week, is that they are "sung" in anticipation. Each service is rotated ahead twelve hours. The evening service, therefore, is actually the service of the next morning, while the morning services of Thursday and Saturday are actually the services of the coming evening. PSALM SLEEPOVER A youth overnighter at church on Friday! Youth will be sharing a meal together immediately following the Praises and Candlelight Procession. We will participate in the vigil at the tomb of Christ by reading the Psalms together! The fellowship hall will become our sleeping room, so bring a sleeping bag, pad, pillow, pajamas, toiletries, and clothes for the Saturday morning service. We had a great time last year and look forward to honoring Christ with our reading and fellowship! Understanding that, let's turn to the Services of Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (celebrated Palm Sunday, Monday and Tuesday evening). The services of these days are known as the Bridegroom or Nymphios Orthros Services. At the first service of Palm Sunday evening, the priest carries the icon of Christ the Bridegroom in procession, and we sing the "Hymn of the Bridegroom." We behold Christ as the Bridegroom of the Church, bearing the marks of His suffering, yet preparing a marriage Feast for us in God's Kingdom. Each of these Bridegroom Orthros services has a particular theme. On Monday, the Blessed Joseph, the son of Jacob the Patriarch, is commemorated. Joseph is often seen as a Type of Christ. Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, thrown into a pit, and sold into slavery by them. In the same way, our Lord was rejected, betrayed by His own, and sold into the slavery of death. The Gospel reading for the day is about the barren fig tree, which Christ cursed and withered because it bore no fruit. The fig tree is a parable of those who have heard God's word, but who fail to bear the fruit of obedience. Originally the withering of the fig tree was a testimony against those Jews who rejected God's word and His Messiah. However, it is also a warning to all people, in all times, of the importance

7 of not only hearing the God's word, but putting it into action. The Parable of the Ten Virgins is read on Tuesday. It tells the story of the five virgins who filled their lamps in preparation for receiving the bridegroom while the other five allowed their lamps to go out, and hence were shut out of the marriage feast. This parable is a warning that we must always be prepared to receive our Lord when He comes again. The theme of the day is reinforced by the expostelarion hymn we sing: "I see Thy Bridal Chamber adorned, O my Savior, but have no wedding garment that I may enter. O Giver of Light, enlighten the vesture of my soul, and save me." The theme of Wednesday is repentance and forgiveness. We remember the sinful woman, Kassiane, who anointed our Lord in anticipation of His death. Her repentance and love of Christ is the theme of the wonderful "Hymn of Kassiane" which is chanted on this night, reminding us one more time, before "it is too late," that we too may be forgiven if we repent. Great and Thursday: On Thursday we turn to the last events of our Lord and His Passion. Thursday morning begins with a Vesperal Divine Liturgy commemorating the Mystical Supper. As previously mentioned, this is actually Thursday evening's service celebrated in the morning in anticipation. Everyone who is able should make an effort to receive Communion at this service as it was at the Mystical Supper that our Lord instituted the Eucharist. At this Liturgy a second Host is consecrated and kept in the Tabernacle. It is from this Host that Communion is distributed to the shut-ins and the sick throughout the coming year. Thursday evening actually begins the services of Great and Friday. The service of the Twelve Passion Gospels commemorates the solemn time of our Lord's Crucifixion. After the reading of the fifth Gospel, the holy cross is carried around the church in procession, and Christ's body is nailed to the cross in the center of the church. Great and Friday: This is a day of strict fast. As little as possible should be eaten on this day. It is the only day in the entire year that no Divine Liturgy of any kind can be celebrated. In the morning we celebrate the Royal Hours. These solemn hours are observed as we read the various accounts and hymns concerning the crucifixion. In the afternoon we celebrate the Vesper service of the taking down of Christ's body from the cross. During the Gospel reading, our Lord's body is taken off the cross and wrapped in a new, white linen sheet. This act commemorates the removal of Christ's body from the cross by Joseph of Arimathea (John 19:38-42). Later in the service, the Epitaphios, or winding-sheet, with Christ's body on it is carried in procession and placed in the recently decorated tomb. In the evening the Lamentations Orthros service is sung. This service begins in a solemn manner, but by the end of the service we are already anticipating the Resurrection of our Lord. Remember again, that the Friday evening Orthros is actually the first service of Saturday, the day in which we commemorate our Lord's body resting in the tomb while His all-pure soul descends into Hades to free the faithful of the Old Covenant.

8 Great and Saturday: This day is a day of hope and waiting. In the morning we celebrate a Vesperal Divine Liturgy which commemorates Christ's victory over death. Bright vestments are worn as we anticipate Christ's Resurrection. Laurel leaves are strewn throughout the church during the service, because in the ancient world laurel leaves were a sign of victory. As the leaves are strewn, the choir chants "Arise O God and Judge the earth, for to Thee belong all the nations." The Old Testament story of Jonah in the belly of the whale is read at this service because Jonah is seen in the Church as a Type of Christ. As Jonah was three days in the belly of the great fish, and was then safely deposited back onto land, so our Lord was three days in the tomb before His glorious Resurrection. The Vesperal Divine Liturgy of Saturday concludes the services of Week, and brings us to the eve of Great and Pascha. St. Anne Summer Days-Get it on your calendar now!!! St. Anne kids are invited to participate in St. Anne Summer Days: 3 days of camping in Charlottesville. All kids are invited to come and stay for the duration; however, younglings are welcome to come for the day and go home in the evening if needed. Summer Days will end with a family bar-b-q on Saturday in Charlottesville. All participating families are encouraged to come and hear the many tales of the week gone by! There will be registration paperwork later in spring for those who will be participating. Who: St. Anne kids (and friends), ages 5-18 When: August (Summer Days will begin Wednesday evening the 15 th, ) Where: Charlottesville Cost: free, however donations will be accepted Food: food will be included in Summer Days, and will incorporate dietary needs. College age kids: Interested in helping run Summer Days? We would LOVE to have your help. Please let us know if you are interested in being a Summer Days counselor for any or all of Summer Days. Parents of young kids: Please feel free to create a schedule that works best for you and your kids. You are welcome to join us for any part of Summer Days, just let us know what will work for you!

9

10