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 83854-6668 - Church Phone: (208) 777-1128 Fr. Basil Caldaroni: (208) 818-2646 Email: frbasil@caldaroni.net Church Website: http://www.stjohnorthodox.org Send announcements to bulletin@stjohnorthodox.org March 2, 2014 Forgiveness Sunday Explusion of Adam from Paradise 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 lifegiving 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.... Forgiveness Do we know what we re doing? Fr. Stephen Freeman, Glory to God The first service of Great Lent in the Orthodox Church is Forgiveness Vespers, served on the eve of Monday of the First Week. There is nothing unusual about the service itself other than the rite of forgiveness appended to it. In this, the priest and the faithful ask forgiveness of one another. Often this is done with mutual prostrations. Each asks the forgiveness of the other. The rite can take time, depending on the number in attendance. When it is complete, the long labors of Lent can begin. Fasting without forgiveness would be a hollow activity. Perhaps the most generous words spoken by Christ are those we hear from the Cross: Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. Taken at face value, the words make little sense. Surely, those who crucified Christ knew that they were killing a man. Surely they were even aware that his execution was largely political and unjust. The centurion in charge of the crucifixion is said to have
stated, Surely this man was the Son of God. So how could Christ say, They do not know what they are doing? I believe this goes to the very heart of our lives and actions. We almost never know what we are doing. The greater context, the meaning of anything, is hidden from us. We have children, work at a job, and live our lives, hoping that these have been worthwhile actions. We know that much, even most of what we have done has been tainted with bad intentions and other less-than-worthy motivations. But we never actually grasp the full scope of our actions. Even those good things that we do have a hidden aspect. Did that kind word spoken earlier make a difference? Did that act of charity actually change anything? This hidden aspect of our lives is an inherent part of the human condition. We simply don t know what we re doing. This makes it very hard for us to judge our actions or to weigh them for their value. Christ s words are addressed to the Father on behalf of all of humanity. For it is not just the small number of people in Jerusalem who were consenting to His death. His death is on behalf of all and for all. And this brings us to Forgiveness Sunday. Why do I need to ask forgiveness of others if I have done them no wrong? The simple answer is: You don t know what you have or have not done. But it is commonly understood in Orthodoxy that each person is responsible for the sins of the whole world. Our lives are deeply connected we are never uninvolved in the lives of others. What I have done and what I have not done both effect the lives of the whole world. A child dies on the other side of the world. I may have had no direct hand in the death, and yet I cannot excuse myself as if I have no share in what happens everywhere. The world is as we make it. I once heard a monk say, The person of prayer does not need to go any further than his own heart to find the source of all violence in the world. But none of this is to call us to a morbid guilt. It calls us to Christ and calls us to hear His words. On Forgiveness Sunday each of us asks forgiveness of the others around us. It is both a personal matter and collective. I have failed and need forgiveness. We have failed and need forgiveness. And perhaps the even greater call comes to us to join ourselves with Christ who says: Father, forgive them! Forgive me, we say. God forgives us all, comes the response. It sometimes feels awkward, even embarrassing. Some people begin to weep. Others begin to giggle. Both are part of the human condition within our shame. But the actions of Forgiveness Sunday unite us necessarily to the actions of Christ. By submitting Himself to crucifixion, Christ put Himself in the place of the sinner, the one needing forgiveness. He was displayed naked, nailed on high for all the world to see ( on His shoulders He bore our shame, Isaiah prophesied). In the mild social embarrassment of saying, Forgive me, to another human being, we unite ourselves to the deep, profound healing shame of Christ. And with brazen boldness we confess, God forgives us all! uniting ourselves with the priestly cry of Christ Himself, Father, forgive them! And having read this, and done all that, we still will not know what we have done. But we are not saved by knowing what we do. We are saved by doing what He does.
RESURRECTIONAL APOLYTIKION IN TONE THREE Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad, for the Lord hath done a mighty act with His own arm. He hath trampled down death by death, and became the first-born from the dead. He hath delivered us from the depths of Hades, granting the world the Great Mercy. 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 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 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.
ANNOUNCEMENTS Memory Eternal! Our beloved sister in the Lord, Lucille Horton departed this life on Tuesday morning. Please pray for her soul and for the peace and grace of the Holy Spirit to be with the entire Horton family and all our brothers and sisters who will miss Lucille! Following is the service schedule for Sunday and Monday: Sunday, March 2, 7:00pm - Parastas Memorial Service with Vigil following (Sandpoint). Lakeside Funeral Home in Sandpoint: 301 South Olive Avenue Sandpoint, Idaho Monday March 3: 11:00am Funeral & Burial Service followed by Mercy Meal at St. John Lenten Retreat: Praying the Book of Revelation March 14-16 - Please save the date for a wonderful Lenten Retreat we will be hosting at St. John over the weekend of March 14-16 with Fr. Michael Johnson - "Praying the Book of Revelation." More details and flyer will follow soon. FEEL FREE to invite inquirers, as this topic was chosen in part by Fr. Basil as he feels it will be of interest to many. Fr. Michael Johnson was recently honored and recognized for his 40 years of priestly service to the Holy Orthodox Church. He is one of two priests at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption in Seattle, Washington and oversees their Youth Ministry. He has done extensive study and research on the book of Revelation as it relates to the worship of the Church in both the Old and New Testaments. Registration Open for Camp St Mary of Egypt - Camp will be held this year July 14-19 at Ross Point Camp in Post Falls, ID for campers ages 9-17. In order to secure a spot at camp, campers need to submit all their registration forms along with a $75 deposit as soon as possible. Our facility limits us to 110 campers and we expect to be at capacity this year--registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. (The balance of camp fees is due by April 1st for the Early Bird discount rate of $275, or June 1st for the regular rate of $300). If you need scholarship assistance, please contact your priest as soon as possible, as the Order of St Ignatius scholarship applications must be submitted by March 1. Come join us for a beautiful and blessed week of camp!
ANNOUNCEMENTS Cheesefare Potluck Just a reminder to bring something to share this Sunday for lunch at St. John. It is Cheesefare Sunday. Please bring any cheese, egg, dairy dishes you'd like to share as we clean-out our refrigerators before the fast begins on Monday. Help Needed for Monday As you are aware, the funeral for our sister, Lucille Horton, is going to be celebrated on Monday, March 3, at 11:00 AM. We need the help of any of you who would be able and willing to snow shovel (or snow blow) the pathway that leads from the parking lot of the church building to the gate of the cemetery, There is also drifted snow on the inside of the gate that needs to be cleared before the funeral on Monday. In addition the path to where the grave has been dug needs clearing as well. If any of you can help with this it would be a real blessing. Wednesday Night Lenten Meals after Pre-Sanctified Liturgies - Please see Kelly Peterson for the sign up sheets for the Lenten meals following Presanctified liturgies on Wednesday nights during Lent. Donations will be collected at these meals for the Antiochian Women's Project for 2014, as presented to us by His Eminence Metropolitan Philip: "Help the Orphans of War in in Syria". School Starting this Fall! Alpha/Omega School with a Home Study Haven of St. John Orthodox Church is scheduled to begin September 2014. The program will include K to 3 with a Home Study Haven for those on line. The facilities of St. John will house the school. Fr. Nicholas will serve as Administrator and spiritual advisor. Additional information, web-site and phone number contact will be forth coming. Many Blessed Years! - A strapping young baby boy was born to Katherine & Nick Yurschak early Tuesday morning. His name is "William Alexander," and he was a bit over eight pounds. Many blessed years to the entire family! Pascha Party after Agape Vespers - Reader Mark & Michelle Fellegy would like to invite all of us to their home on Holy Pascha after Agape Vespers (Sunday, April 20) for their traditional Pascha Party. More details will follow as we approach the Feast of Feasts! Bridal Shower for Jordan Schaefer - March 9th at 1pm - Please mark your calendars to join us for a Sisterhood Social and Bridal Shower for Jordan Schaefer on Sunday, March 9th at 1pm at Nanette Sanman's - 902 S. Riverside Harbor Dr. Post Falls. RSVP to Tiffani Gallatin at tiffanigallatin@gmail.com or 208.819.3221. All St. John Women welcome (including young ladies). If you'd like to bring some wine or an appetizer to share, that would be great!
SCHEDULE OF SERVICES & EVENTS Saturday, March 1 Great Vespers 6:00pm Sunday, March 2 Forgiveness Sunday - Cheesefare - Orthros 9:00am; Divine Liturgy with Forgiveness Vespers following 10:00am; Potluck Lunch following. Parastas Memorial Service and Vigil for Lucille Horton in Sandpoint (see announcement for details). 7:00pm Monday, March 3 Burial Service for Lucille Horton, followed by Mercy Meal 11:00am, Great Compline with Canon of St. Andrew of Crete 6:00pm Tuesday, March 4 Great Compline with Canon of St. Andrew of Crete 6:00pm Wednesday, March 5 Pre-Sanctified Liturgy + Lenten Meal 6:00pm Thursday, March 6 Great Compline with Canon of St. Andrew of Crete 6:00pm Friday, March 7 - Spiritual Circle 9:30am, Small Compline with Akathist Hymn 6:00pm Saturday, March 8 Great Vespers 6:00pm Sunday, March 9 Sunday of Orthodoxy - Orthros 9:00am; Divine Liturgy 10:00am; Sunday School and Potluck Lunch following; Pan-Orthodox Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers with Procession of Icons 6:00pm EPISTLE READERS March 2 - Sbdcn. Barnabas March 9 Joy Corey March 16 - Reader Mark Fellegy March 23 Owen Rush LUNCHEON & CLEANUP March 2 Cheesefare Potluck Lunch - Team 1 cleanup: Molly Tsalaky, Gus & Helen Vlahos, Dale Ayoub, Ken & Nanette Sanman, Mike Ingram March 9 Team 2: Joy Corey, Morey Ranson, John & Piama Holmen, Adam & Mary Claire Roth, Jeff & Jenny Tecca March 16 Team 3: Barbara Garbinski, Norman O'Daniel, Shirley Touros, Helen Weddle March 23 Team 4: Owen & Bryne Rush, Fr Basil & Matushka Caldaroni, Tim & Kelly Peterson, Mark & Maureen Sandford PRAYERS FOR THE LIVING: Jenny Dancy s friend, Melissa, Metropolitan Paul Yazigi and Metropolitan Youhanna Ibrahim (hostages in Syria), Mother Pelagia and her nuns asnd orphans. PRAYERS FOR THE DEPARTED: Lucille Horton, Nathan (friend of Owen & Brynn) COMMUNION - Since we understand Communion to mean that we have all things in common, sharing an identical Faith, only those who are members of the Orthodox Church who have prepared themselves through prayer, fasting and recent confession may participate in Holy Communion. (We invite all, however, to partake of the blessed bread which is distributed at the dismissal.) Please see the pastor for inquiries on how to become a member.