The Voice. Parish Newsletter: Febreuary March 2016 Saint Elia the Prophet Orthodox Church A Parish of the Orthodox Church in America

Transcription

1 The Voice Parish Newsletter: Febreuary March 2016 Saint Elia the Prophet Orthodox Church A Parish of the Orthodox Church in America His Beatitude Tikhon, Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America & Canada His Grace, Alexander, Bishop, Bulgarian Diocese of Toledo Archpriest Father Don Anthony Freude, Parish Rector Reverend Protodeacon Joel Mark Chupp - Attached Office: (330) PARISH COUNCIL President: Subdeacon Terrence A. Bilas Vice President: Michele Lambo Secretary: Reader Aaron Gray Treasurer: Mr. Tom Ritzman Communications Officer: Mr. Joseph Turner Members: Veronica Bilas, Mary Marcin, Sue Ellen Turscak CHOIR DIRECTOR: Subdeacon Terrence Bilas Assistant Directors: Anastasia Bohush, Florence Lambo CHURCH SCHOOL Coordinator: Popadia Donna Freude Staff: Reader Aaron Gray, Joseph Turner SISTERHOOD OF ST. JULIANA President: Kathy Gray Vice President: Sandy Graham Secretary: Anastasia Bohush Treasurer: Mary Magensky WORKERS - ST. ELIZABETH THE NEW MARTYR Coordinators: Reader Aaron Gray, Veronica Bilas

2 HOURS & EPISTLE READERS: FEBRUARY - MARCH Sunday, February 7 Sunday, March 6 Hours: Sue Ellen Turscak Hours: Reader Aaron Gray Epistle: Sue Ellen Turscak Epistle: Reader Aaron Gray Sunday, February 14 Sunday, March 13 Hours: Reader Michael Luc Hours: Florence Lambo Epistle: Reader Michael Luc Epistle: Rebeccah Di Puccio Sunday, February 21 Sunday, March 20 Hours: Bud Graham Hours: Joseph Turner Epistle: Bud Graham Epistle: Joseph Turner Sunday, February 28 Sunday, March 27 Hours: Subd. Terrence Bilas Hours Sandy Graham Epistle: Anastasia Bohush Epistle: Sandy Graham REMEMBER THOSE SERVING THE ARMED FORCES Anthony Freude, son of Fr. Don and Popadia Donna Freude Egor Cravcenco, son of Serghei and Ludmila Cravcenco REMEMBER OUR SICK AND SHUT-INS Mickey Stokich Leonora Evancho Bessie Alexandrovich Larissa Freude Call/ Fr. Don for any contact info Anastasia Haymon Joseph Boyle, (Kathy Grays brother) Joseph Boyle (Kathy Gray s father) Mary Beth Boyle (Kathy Gray s mother) William Di Puccio, Sr. (father of Bill Di Puccio) Phyllis George (sister of Rose Marie Vronick) Connie Pysell Ted & Lisa Nastoff PRAYERS FOR MOTHER WITH CHILD Popadia Laura Bilas

3 SCHEDULE OF DIVINE SERVICES FEBRUARY MEETING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IN THE TEMPLE Monday, February 1 6:00 pm Vesperal Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom THE HYMN OF SIMEON Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy Word; for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people, a Light to enlighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel 36 th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST Tone 3 Afterfeast of the Meeting of Our Lord in the Temple Saturday, February 6 5:00 pm Great Vespers, Litija & Confessions Sunday, February 7 9:45 am Hours: Sue Ellen Turscak 10:00 am Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom Epistle Reader: Sue Ellen Turscak EPISTLE: 1 Timothy 1:15-17 GOSPEL: Matthew 15: th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST Tone 4 SUNDAY OF ZACCHAEUS Valentine s Day Saturday, February 13 5:00 pm Great Vespers & Confessions Sunday, February 14 9:45 am Hours: Reader Michael Luc 10:00 am Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom Epistle Reader: Reader Michael Luc EPISTLE: 1 Timothy 4:9-15 GOSPEL: Luke 19:1-10

4 Intro to Great Lent... THERE IS MORE TO LENT THAN FASTING, and there is more to fasting than food. This principle lies at the heart of the Lenten Triodion, the main hymnbook of Orthodox Lent. For the Orthodox Church, Lent is without doubt the richest and most distinctive season of the ecclesiastical year. The Lenten Services, the spiritual lessons of the Triodion, and the biblical readings for the season invite us to simplify our lives and to immerse ourselves in the bright sadness of repentance. Orthodox Lent begins seven weeks before Pascha, when Orthodox Christians celebrate the Lord s Resurrection. But before Lent begins, it is announced in advance. This preparation for Lent is made above all through the Lenten Triodion, which makes its appearance in the liturgical life of the Church three weeks prior to Lent, on the Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee The Triodion is full of warnings against pride and hypocrisy the ultimate spiritual sins to which religious folk are susceptible. Its hymns teach us the true nature and purpose of fasting and of Lent itself. -Archimandrite Vassilios Papavassilou BEGINNING OF THE LENTEN TRIODION 1 st Pre-Lenten Sunday SUNDAY OF THE PUBLICAN AND PHARISEE Tone 5 Saturday, February 20 5:00 pm Great Vespers and Confessions Sunday, February 21 9:45 am Hours: Bud Graham 10:00 am Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom Epistle Reader: Bud Graham EPISTLE: 2 Timothy 3:10-15 GOSPEL: Luke 18: nd Pre-Lenten Sunday SUNDAY OF THE PRODIGAL SON - Tone 6 Saturday, Februart 27 5 PM Great Vespers & Confessions

5 Sunday, February 28 9:45 am Hours Subdeacon Terrence Bilas 10:00 am Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom Epistle Reader Anastasia Bohush EPISTLE: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 GOSPEL: Luke 15:11-32 MARCH MEMORIAL SATURDAY, SATURDAY OF MEATFARE Friday, March 4 6:00 Vespers & General Panakhida for Faithful Departed 3 rd Pre-Lenten Sunday MEATFARE SUNDAY - The Last Judgment Tone 7 Saturday, March 5 5:00 pm Great Vespers and Confessions Sunday, March 6 9:45 am Hours Reader Aaron Gray 10:00 am Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom Epistle Reader Reader Aaron Gray EPISTLE: 1 Cor. 8:8-9:2 GOSPEL: Matt. 25: th Pre-Lenten Sunday CHEESEFARE SUNDAY Tone 3 The Expulsion of Adam from Paradise. Saturday, March 12-5:00 pm Great Vespers & Confessions Sunday, March 13 9:45 am Hours Florence Lambo 10:00 am Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom Epistle Reader Rebeccah Di Puccio EPISTLE: Rom. 13:11-14:4 GOSPEL: Matt. 6: :00 pm Vespers and Mutual Forgiveness Service

6 GREAT LENT FIRST WEEK OF GREAT LENT Monday, March 14 6:00 pm Great Canon of Repentance of St Andrew of Crete 1 st Section Tuesday, March 15 6:00 pm Great Canon of Repentance of St Andrew of Crete 2 nd Section Wednesday, March 16 6:00 pm Great Canon of Repentance of St Andrew of Crete 3 rd Section Thursday, March 17 6:00 pm Great Canon of Repentance of St Andrew of Crete 4 th Section Friday, March 18 6:00 pm Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts Blessing of the Boiled Wheat in remembrance of St Theodore of Tyre. *COVERED DISH* SECOND WEEK OF GREAT LENT FIRST SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT Tone 1 SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY Saturday, March 19 5:00 pm Great Vespers & Confessions Sunday, March 20 9:45 am Hours Joseph Turner 10:00 am Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great Epistle Reader Joseph Turner EPISTLE: Heb.11:24-26,32-12:2 GOSPEL: John 1: :00 pm - Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers at Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church, Mogadore Wednesday, March 23 6:00 pm Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts THE ANNUNCIATION OF OUR MOST-HOLY LADY, THE THEOTOKOS AND EVER-VIRGIN MARY Thursday, March 24 7:00 pm Great Vespers of the Annunciation at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church

7 Friday, March 25 6:00 pm Vesperal Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom at St. Elia Orthodox Church THIRD WEEK OF GREAT LENT SECOND SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT Tone 2 St. Gregory Palamas Saturday, March 26 5:00 pm Great Vespers & Confessions Sunday, March 27 9:45 am Hours Sandy Graham 10:00 am Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great Epistle Reader Sandy Graham EPISTLE: Hebrews 1:10-2:3; Hebrews 7:26-8:2 GOSPEL: Mark 2:1-12; John 10:9-16 5:00 PM Lenten Mission Vespers at Saint George Antiochian Orthodox Church Wednesday, March 30 6:00 pm Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts Friday, April 1 6:00 pm Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts *Lenten Covered Dish*

8 AKRON AREA LENTEN MISSION VESPERS Sunday, March 20-5:00 pm Sunday of Orthodoxy St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, Mogadore, Ohio Thursday, March 24 7:00 pm Annunciation Vespers Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church Sunday, March 27-5:00 pm St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church Sunday, April 3-5:00 pm St. Elia the Prophet Orthodox Church Sunday, April 10-5:00 pm St. Thomas Eastern Orthodox Church Sunday, April 17 5:00 pm Presentation of Our Lord Orthodox Church UNIVERSAL PANAKHIDA On Friday evening, March 4, we will celebrate the Vespers of Meatfare Saturday, a Memorial Saturday, and offer a Panakhida for all the faithful departed. Father Don has the list of names from prior services. However, if you have names to add or if you have never given the names of your deceased loved ones, please give them to Father Don before the Friday evening Panakhida so that they can be prayed for during the Memorial Service.. SERVICE OF MUTUAL FORGIVENESS On Forgiveness Sunday evening, March 13, we will gather together as a Parish Family for the Mutual Forgiveness Service at 5:00 pm. In asking each other for forgiveness, we prepare to enter Great Lent and prepare to make a good Confession during this holy season.

9 SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY Our Greater Akron Community will gather together on the Sunday of Orthodoxy evening, March 20, 2016, for Vespers of the Sunday of Orthodoxy at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Mogadore, Ohio at 5:00 pm. Our Sunday of Orthodoxy speaker is Father Silviu Bunta. Father Bunta is a professor of Old Testament Studies at the University of Dayton and a Priest of our Bulgarian Diocese of Toledo. He earned his PhD at Marquette University under the mentorship of our Bishop Alexander CHURCH SCHOOL Church School is held on Sunday Mornings in the Church Hall following Holy Communion. While the children are in Church School, a Questions & Answers (Q & A) session is held for adults in the Church following Divine Liturgy. Please remember that our children s time in Church School is very precious. Due to our shared facilities, please do not go into the Church Hall during class time. ANNUAL MEETING The Annual Meeting of St. Elia the Prophet Orthodox Church was held following the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, January 24 th, We thank all who attended and participated in the important past-year assessment and next year planning session for our parish. The 2016 Parish Council and Officers of the Sisterhood of St. Juliana were installed. The following were elected to serve on the 2016 Parish Council: Subdeacon Terrence Bilas, Veronica Bilas; Reader Aaron Gray; Michele Lambo; Mary Marcin; Tom Ritzman; Joseph Turner; Sue Ellen Turszak. The Officers of the Sisterhood of St. Juliana: President: Kathy Gray; Vice President: Sandy Graham; Secretary: Anastasia Bohush; Treasurer: Mary Magensky.

10 2016 MEMBERSHIP / PLEDGE CARDS Please fill out your membership pledge card for 2016 This form shall be used to document membership in accordance with section 5 of the Bylaws of St. Elia the Prophet Orthodox Church. It will be maintained on file in the Church office. Membership numbers established by completed forms shall be used to establish voting eligibility, meeting quorums, and membership totals for both internal and external (Diocesan/OCA) uses on a yearly basis. Contact information will be used to maintain communication for Church purposes. Your 2016 Pledge will enable the Council to establish a Budget for the year. Please fill out the forms and give to Fr. Don by the end of February CHURCH OFFERING ENVELOPES Your Offering Envelops for 2016 are available on the front pew. Please pick your box up along with your Membership Pledge Card. THE MEETING AND PRESENTATION OF OUR LORD IN THE TEMPLE Forty days after Christ was born, He was presented to God in the Jerusalem Temple according to the Mosaic Law. At this time as well, His mother underwent the ritual purification, and offered the sacrifices as prescribed in the Law. The, forty days after Christmas, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Presentation called the MEETING (or Presentation or Reception) of the Lord. The meeting of Christ by the Elder Simeon and the prophetess Anna (Luke 2:22-36) is the main event of the Feast of Christ s presentation in the Temple. It was revealed to Simeon by the

11 Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord s Christ (Luke 2:26), and inspired by the same Spirit, he came to the Temple where he met the new-born Messiah, took Him in his arms and said the words which are now chanted each evening at the end of the Orthodox Vesper service: Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace according to Thy word; for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation which Thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for the revelation to the Gentiles, and for the glory of Thy people Israel (Luke 2:29-31). At this time as well Simeon predicted that Jesus would be the sign which is spoken against and that He would cause the fall and rising of many in Israel. He also foretold Mary s sufferings because of her Son. (Luke 22:34-35) Anna also was present and, giving thanks to God she spoke of Jesus to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. (Luke 2:38) In the service of the Feast of the Meeting of the Lord, the fact emphasized is that Christ, the Son and Word of God through Whom the world was created, now is held as an infant in Simeon s hands; this same Son of God, the Giver of the Law, now himself fulfills the Law, carried in arms as a human child.

12 Let the door of heaven open today, for the Eternal Word of the Father, without giving up His Divinity, has been Incarnate of the Virgin in time. And as a babe of forty days He is voluntarily brought by His mother to the Temple, according to the Law. And the elder Simeon takes Him in his arms and cries out: Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, O Lord, Who has come to save the human race glory to Thee. (Vespers verses) The celebration of the meeting of the Lord in the Church is not merely a historical commemoration. Inspired by the same Holy Spirit as Simeon, and led by the same Spirit into the Church of the Messiah, the members of the Church also can claim their own meeting with the Lord, and so also can witness that they too can depart in peace since their eyes have seen the salvation of God in the person of His Christ. By Thy Nativity, Thou dids t sanctify the Virgin s womb. And didst bless Simeon s hands, O Christ our God. Now Thou hast come and save us through love. Grant peace to all Orthodox Christians. O only lover of man. (Kontakion). Vesperal Divine Liturgy celebrated on Monday February 1 st at 6:00 pm Great Lent A Time of Renewal On Monday, March 14 we begin the holy season of Great Lent. It is a very valuable season of the Church Year and the appointed time for our

13 spiritual renewal. In truth, it is a Gift from God. Great Lent is an excellent time to put aside all those things that make us displeasing to ourselves, to others and to God. Someone once suggested an item called a spiritual wastebasket. The wastebasket is a very valuable piece of equipment. A generous use of this item is important for efficiency in an office or a home or wherever needed. Possibly, a wise and generous use of a spiritual wastebasket could also be the secret for spiritual efficiency & blessedness. Many of our lives are encumbered with things that should go into this type of wastebasket. The Epistle to the Hebrews enjoins in this advice when it says, We too, then, should throw off everything that hinders us, especially the sin that clings so easily, and keep running steadily in the race we have started. (Hebrews 12). Past sins and errors belong in the wastebasket. We all sin and make mistakes. Because we are human we have erasers on pencils, and deletes on computers. Old grudges, festering anger, old resentments, are only a few of the items we should discard. St. Paul s life is an example of past sins, errors and omissions. We know his past and how he persecuted the early Christians and how it took the drastic action of God knocking him off his horse, and blinding him to convince him to change his life. Because of his experience he gives us sound advice: All I can say is that I forget the past and I strain ahead for what is still to come. I am

14 racing for the finish, for the prize to which God calls us upwards to receive in Jesus Christ. (Philippians 3:13) Great Lent is a call to repentance. Repentance is a second regeneration from God says St. Isaac the Syrian, and also an incomparably great gift and grace from God Who restores that which is fallen. So, let us repent and forgive one another. Let us take a deep breath and pray: Lord, help us to forgive, give us repentance that is worthy of Thy forgiveness. The Sacrament of Confession As a Parish Family we gather again to prepare ourselves for the celebration of the great and glorious Feast of Pascha. One of the primary ways we prepare ourselves is by receiving the Sacrament of Confession. The Sacrament of Confession recognizes the Presence of Christ forgiving His people. Confessions are held each Saturday evening following Vespers, or by request to Fr. Don.

15 Saint Theodore and the Boiled Wheat On the First Saturday of Great Lent, March 19, we remember the miracle of St Theodore and the boiled wheat. Fifty years after the death of St Theodore, the emperor Julian the Apostate ( ), wanting to commit an outrage upon the Christians, commanded the city-commander of Constantinople during the first week of Great Lent to sprinkle all the food provisions in the marketplaces with the blood offered to idols. St Theodore appeared in a dream to Archbishop Eudoxius, ordering him to inform all the Christians that no one should buy anything at the marketplaces, but rather to eat cooked wheat with honey (kolyva). In memory of this occurrence, the Orthodox Church annually celebrates the holy Great Martyr Theodore the Recruit on the first Saturday of Great Lent. On Friday evening, at the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts following the prayer at the ambo, kolyva (boiled wheat) is blessed and distributed to the faithful. The celebration of the Great Martyr Theodore on the first Saturday of Great Lent was set by the Patriarch Nectarius of Constantinople ( ). The Troparion to St Theodore is quite similar to the Troparion for the Prophet Daniel and the Three Holy Youths (December

16 17, Sunday Before Nativity). The Kontakion to St Theodore, who suffered martyrdom by fire, reminds us that he also had faith as his breastplate (see Thessalonians 5:8). Tone 2 Troparion (Theodore the Recruit) Great are the accomplishments of faith. The holy martyr Theodore rejoiced in the flames as though in the still waters of rest. Consumed in the fire, he was offered up as a sacrifice to the Trinity. So by his prayers, O Christ God, save our souls! FEAST OF THE ANNUNCIATION FRIDAY, MARCH 25 The glorious Feast of the Annunciation of the Mother of God is celebrated on March 25. It was because of Mary s yes to the Angel Gabriel that Christ was able to come among us in the flesh and lead us from the desert of sin to the Crucifixion and Resurrection. On this feast we celebrate the Incarnation the conception in Mary s womb at the announcement of the angel and the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit. Like the Gospel narrative of the Evangelist Luke (1:26-38), the Church s Divine Services and the Icon of the Annunciation is permeated with a deep inner joy. It is the joy of the Old Testament promise being fulfilled through the Incarnation the coming in the flesh of the Redeemer of the world: Today is the beginning of our salvation and the revelation of an Eternal Mystery: the Son of God becomes the Son of a Virgin and Gabriel announces the Good News of this grace. Therefore, let us join him crying out to the Mother of God: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you. The JOY of this Feast is rendered so deeply in the Holy Icon. Gabriel, the Archangel, is depicted in a swift motion: he has

17 just descended from heaven and his look is the look of a diligent servant intent on carrying out the task given him by his Master. His legs are wide apart as though he were running. In his left hand he holds a staff, the symbol of a messenger. His right hand, with a strong movement, is stretched toward the Virgin Mary he communicates to her the glad tidings from his Master, the Mystery of the Divine Providence. The Mother of God, the Theotokos, is depicted in this Icon holding yarn in her hands showing her simplicity of life as a woman of her times. In various Icons, she is depicted in different ways: in one Icon, she appears surprised, somewhat afraid; in another, she looks perplexed, expressing prudence, not accepting at once this out of the ordinary greeting; and still in another, she is making a gesture of acceptance and submission to the archangel s greeting as she utters those words that will open for us the Gates of Heaven: Let it be done to me according to Your word. The Icons emphasize one or another of these moments of the event. However, all express the fundamental meaning of the Annunciation. The message they proclaim is that God s will is done and a whole new reality is now made known through the servant of God, Mary, the Virgin Mother our SALVATION has been ushered in. The Vesperal Divine Liturgy for the Feast of Annunciation will be celebrated on Friday evening, March 25 at 6:00 pm.

18 COCA CABARET DINNER DANCE Benefitting the Seminarian Scholarship Fund February 14, 2016 St. Nicholas Church, Mogadore, Ohio 5 pm Cocktails 6 pm Dinner 7 pm Dancing Tickets: Adults $15, Students $10, children 6 and under free Contact Michele Lambo Deadline is February 7 Welcome to St. Elia the Prophet Orthodox Church! St. Elia the Prophet Orthodox Church of Akron, Ohio, is the spiritual home of a close-knit parish family of people from many different backgrounds and walks of life, all seeking to live a vital Orthodox Christian way of life. The full cycle of liturgical worship in the English language, a parish choir, Christian education programs for children and adults, service activities, fellowship and fun are all part of our rich parish life. St. Elia opens its doors and gives a warm WELCOME to ALL!