V. REV. DANIEL D. RESSETAR, PASTOR EMERITUS V. REV. DR. MICHAEL G. KOVACH, ASSOCIATE

Transcription

1 CHRIST THE SAVIOUR ORTHODOX CHURCH A PARISH OF THE OCA DIOCESE OF EASTERN PA HIS GRACE, BISHOP TIKHON OF PHILADELPHIA 5501 OLD LOCUST LANE, HARRISBURG, PA OFFICE: HALL: FAX: WEB: CTSOCAHBG@AOL.COM REV. STEPHEN VERNAK, PASTOR SVERNAK@HOTMAIL.COM V. REV. DANIEL D. RESSETAR, PASTOR EMERITUS V. REV. DR. MICHAEL G. KOVACH, ASSOCIATE Celebrating 49 years of Proclaiming the Truth of Orthodox Christianity SUNDAY MARCH 25, 2012 FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT Tone 8. THE ANNUNCIATION OF OUR MOST HOLY LADY, THEOTOKOS AND EVER-VIRGIN MARY. St. John Climacus (of The Ladder). Epistle: Hebrews 6:13-20 Gospel: Mark 9:17-31 Hebrews 2:11-18 Luke 1:24-38 UPCOMING SERVICES AND EVENTS: Mar 25, Sun: Annunciation, St. John Climacus. Adult Ed -8:30am; Divine Liturgy with St. Tikhon s Seminary Choir -9:30am; Church School -11am; Parish Fish Dinner -11:15am, Mission Vespers (Mechanicsburg) - 4pm Hour Readers: (3 rd ) Joseph Russian (6 th ) Chet Lubecki Altar Servers All welcome Mar 26, Mon: Nut Roll Set-up -9am Mar 27, Tue: Nut Roll Baking -8am; Nut Roll Bagging & Clean up -6pm Mar 28, Wed: Nut Roll Baking -8am; Bible Study (33 N 2 nd St) - noon; Pan-Orthodox Pre-Sanctified Liturgy -6:30pm; Nut Roll Bagging & Clean up following Pre-Sanctified Mar 29, Thu: Hieromartyr Mark. Canon of St. Andrew -6:30pm Mar 30, Fri: Akathist -6:30pm Mar 31, Sat: Repose St. Innocent, Apostle to America. Nut Roll pick up -9am to noon; Community Maintenance Day 9am; Vespers & Confession -6pm Apr 1, Sun: Adult Ed -8:30am; Divine Liturgy -9:30am; Church School -11am; Fellowship - 11:15am; Mission Vespers (Mt. Carmel) -4pm Hour Readers: (3 rd ) Bill Kuchta (6 th ) Scott Staller Altar Servers All welcome ANCIENTFAITHRADIO.COM - 24 hour Orthodox Internet Radio OrthodoxyinAmerica.org (Traveling or Going on Vacation?) check it out! WELCOME TO OUR VISITORS!!! Please join us for fellowship in the church hall and sign our guest book in the vestibule. If you are interested in becoming a part of our community please ask to speak to Fr. Stephen. Please note: Only those faithful who are Orthodox Christians and have properly prepared themselves by fasting (from all food and drink from midnight), prayer, and recent confession; and who were present for the reading of the Epistle and Gospel, should approach to receive the Eucharist.

2 PARISH PRAYER LIST: Please remember the following persons during your daily morning and evening prayers. Names will be listed for 2 weeks unless requested. Submit names to the office by Wednesday for inclusion. Ailing: Gina Rosso (niece of Bill Kuchta); Robert Rester & Taylor Samuel (Jessica Drebot s friends); Salwa Shunnara; Scott Blazek (Troy s brother); Carrie Faust, Lynn Wheeler, Emily Campbell, Landon Payne (friends and family of Jerry & Ann Cole); Diane Broskey, Joseph Salvador(Libby s niece & nephew); Barbara Lee Pickering (niece of Gloria Maliniak); Saba Ghebressellassie; Irene Priggin s (Christine s mother); Lou DiNafo (Moe's son-in-law); Joan Sysak; Francis Friel (infant son of Lorrie Pawlush's friend); Theodore Demopolous (Samantha s father); Diane Chambers and Marlene Kalenak (Anna Doray's daughter and neice); Infant Elizabeth Ruzanka; Jamie Krempasky & Irene Pagel (George's great niece, daughter and friend); Keturah Faust (J. Barns and L. Shuga s friend); Matthew Kocsis; Pauline Lapinsky, & John Fatich (Janet Kuzupas siblings); Christine and Joseph, and Steven Demchak (Sue s sister and brothers) Health & well-being: Matthew & Viviana Sysak; Janet Smith, Carl Leighton, & Amy Brown (friends and co-worker of Chet Lubecki); Ron Hancher, Sr; Cathy Rusynyk Geppert, (Nick & Wilma Sutovich s friend); Rene Symcak (Dave Hancher s wife); Betty and Jeff Wevodau (Joanne's mother-inlaw and brother-in-law); infants Cole John & Gabriella and their parents John and Amanda Schilling; Alexandra Wurster (Bill Kuchta s sister); Lowell Lundberg, Christine Kihm, Addison Holl & Van Milbrand (friends of Larry Smith s); Margaret & Cecilia Hunt, (Aunt & Cousin of L. Smith); Elizabeth & Paul Pellegrini; Becky Voras (friend of Lydia Mantle); Robin Kuzupas; Addison, Judy & Greg (family of Christine Priggins); Dr. Joseph & Barbara Norato; Mattie Martin; Myron Starinshak (Libby s brother); Willard Brown; Thomas Ridenour & Christian Ridenour (son & grandson of Suzanne Mioff); Tom & Bernadine Antolick (Mary Ellen Osuch s sister & brother-in-law); Archpriest Alexander Atty; Home-bound & in Care Facilities: Betty Danko; Agnes Risser; Millicent Russell; Shirley Sass; Nicholas Essis; Military: Stephanie King; Jessica Shingara; Kevin Leonhard; Matthew Pylypciw; Steven Heberle; Thomas Shingara; Sponsored Seminarian: Fr. Ian & M. Priscilla Shipley and family; OCMC Missionary: Christina Semon; Catechumen(s): Dana Watt; John & Sharon Shingara; Jonathan Dunnavent; Expectant Mother(s): Rebecca Lange; Natalie Schilling Murphy; Pelegia Adams and the children to be born of them; Newly Departed: Stephen Kudrikoff (cousin of Mat. Ressetar) Mar 16; Alice Kelly (Kathy Kuchwara's cousin) - Mar 11; Joseph Graham (Tatiana s father-in-law) March 4; Michael Drobish (Harry Sysak's friend) - Feb 9; Luis Baez Feb 28 th ; John Daiz (Manny s Uncle) Feb 29; Anniversaries of Those Departed: Paul Litiaho, father of Nadzia Schilling, Mar th ; Albera M Gardner, aunt of Matthew Fisher, Mar th ; Nicholas Panko, John Pylypciw's friend, March 27 3 rd ; Helen Slavich, wife of Henry & mother of Maryanne English, Mar th ; Robert Stadulis, Paul Pellegrini s nephew, Mar 28-4 th ; Maria Paluch, mother of John & Martin, Mar 29-7 th; Jeanne Bruder, sister of Gloria Maliniak, Mar th ; John Pusey, M. Tatiana Kreta s brother-inlaw, Mar 30 3 rd ; V. Rev. Andrew Shuga, father of Larissa, Mar th ; Bernice Lewis, Aunt of Jerry Cole, Mar 31-1 st ; Richard Kalenak, brother of Anna Doray, Mar 31-7 th ; Candle Offerings: For information on how to purchase commemoration candles, please go to the candle desk or speak with one of the vestrymen. Please note: offerings must be in the office by Wednesday for inclusion. Seven Day Votive is offered in Health & Salvation of Fr. Dan on his 85 th birthday, from his family Many Years: Please submit to ctsocahbg@aol.com by the preceding Wednesday. Birthdays: Dorothy Fedetz Mar 25; David (DJ) Pawlush Mar 26; Fr. Daniel Ressetar Mar 27; Douglas Cain Mar 27; Sean Cameron Mar 27;

3 PARISH NEWS AND EVENTS: Please welcome: The St. Tikhon Seminary Men s Choir who are visiting our parish today and will be singing the responses at the Divine Liturgy. This annual visit is anticipated by all. Parish Fish Dinner: TODAY following Divine Liturgy. Cost is $10 for adults & children under 12 are free. Please note proceeds raised will be donated to the Seminary Housing Project. The menu will consist of Haddock (fish sticks for younger children) rice pilaf, stir fry vegetables, and dessert. Pascha Breads: Will be available for sale starting TODAY until all are sold. The price is $5 for Plain and $6 for Raisin. Any leftovers will be sold on a first come first serve basis during nut roll pick-up Saturday, March 31. Any questions please contact or see Josh DiFlorio ( ) or John Dotsey ( ). Calendar Updates: This week the parish will be full of activity, CTS will host the Pan-Orthodox Pre-Sanctified Liturgy on Wednesday, Canon of St. Andrew on Thursday and Akathist on Friday. Plus there will be nut roll baking throughout the week; and community maintenance is this Saturday. We need to get the grounds ready for Pascha! May God give everyone strength! Annual Lenten Soup Sales: Every Sunday during Lent (except March 25) our Men s Club will be providing soup and bread at fellowship. There is a "free will" offering & proceeds will be donated to The Smile Train (a nonprofit organization which helps provide cleft lip and cleft palate surgery to children in need). Ham Raffle Tickets: Are available in the vestibule to pick up, those not picked up by Sunday Mar 25 th will be mailed. Please help us save on the cost of mailing. Extra tickets are available in the office. SALES DESK: Special thanks to Anna Doray for the donation of 3 dozen Pysanki eggs and egg holders to be sold at the Sales Desk. Also to Effie Spaseff who also donated some Pysanki (many decorated by Mary Lou Klippa) for sale. Seminarian Support: Our parish is once again offering a half scholarship to Fr. Ian and M. Priscilla Shipley and family for this academic year. We are given the challenge to raise $3, in support of his tuition. Please make checks payable to Christ the Saviour and write Seminarian Support on the memo line. Thank you for your continued generosity! Fellowship Hour Schedule: Parishioners are asked to help by bringing at least 48 servings of baked goods and to serve them during their assigned fellowship hour. Please check the dates below and mark your calendar accordingly. The complete list through next May 2012 is available at the parish hall. If you are unable to be at church on your scheduled date contact Nadzia Schilling at Mar 25:* Marianne Wood Sandy Wood Vicky Henry April 1:* Kathy Kuchwara Effie Spaseff Marie Spaseff April 8: * Chet Lubecki Nora Lubecki Christine Priggins *Great Lent, we ask that you provide baked goods made without eggs or dairy products. LAST SUNDAY LITURGY ATTENDANCE: 148

4 EVENTS AROUND OUR ORTHODOX COMMUNITY Volunteer Opportunity: Agia Sophia Coffee House & Bookstore is seeking parishioners to volunteer. Please see Joanne Wevodau at with any inquiries. Service Trip Support: Skye Hisiro will attend a two-week service trip to South Africa in mid-may sponsored by the Honors Program at West Chester University. To help support this trip, Karns Foods is offering a voucher program during the week of March 26 - April 1. They will donate 5% of your total purchase toward the trip. Just hand the voucher at checkout to the cashier. Note: Any Karns store (not just the one in Harrisburg) should accept it. If you have any problems or questions please see Carl Hisiro. Vouchers can be found at the back of the church near the candle stand. Children's Orthodox Book Signing: Sheena Hisiro will be holding three upcoming book signings for a new children s book she illustrated called "Josiah and Julia Go to Church." The book is a young child's guide to church etiquette and was written by Kelly Ramke Lardin. Our church is featured in the book as well as at least a few other familiar faces. The book signings will be held Saturday, Apr. 28, and Tuesday, May 1, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Agia Sophia Bookstore and Coffee Shop and on Sunday, April 29 at our church during Fellowship hour. Please visit her website at Saint Tikhon s Summer Camp: Registration is now open for St. Tikhon s summer camp which will be held July 1 st thru 7 th. Registration forms must be postmarked by May 31 st. For forms please go to or inform the church office and they will be able to print the forms for you.

5 SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR SUNDAY MARCH 25, 2012 Hebrews 6:13-20 (Epistle) Brethren, when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, 14 saying, Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you. 15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. 16 For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. 17 Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, 18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. 19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, 20 where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 2:11-18 (Epistle, Theotokos) Brethren, both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 saying: I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You. 13 And again: I will put My trust in Him. And again: Here am I and the children whom God has given Me. 14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. 17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted. Mark 9:17-31 (Gospel) At that time, one of the crowd answered and said, Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. 18 And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not. 19 He answered him and said, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me. 20 Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth. 21 So He asked his father, How long has this been happening to him? And he said, From childhood. 22 And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us. 23 Jesus said to him, If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes. Continued:

6 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help my unbelief! 25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it: Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more! 26 Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, He is dead. 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. 28 And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, Why could we not cast it out? 29 So He said to them, This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting. 30 Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know it. 31 For He taught His disciples and said to them, The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise the third day. Luke 1:24-38 (Gospel, Theotokos) At that time, Elizabeth the wife of Zachariah conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, 25 Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people. 26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin s name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women! 29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end. 34 Then Mary said to the angel, How can this be, since I do not know a man? 35 And the angel answered and said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible. 38 Then Mary said, Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word. And the angel departed from her. GLORY TO THEE O LORD, GLORY TO THEE!