March 16, 2008 Church Bulletin
Sunday, March 16, 2008
FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT
ORTHODOXY SUNDAY
Today's Celebrants: V. Rev. Fr. Timothy Ferguson;
Rt. Rev. Fr. Constantine Yanney;
Rev. Dn. Nicholas Belcher; Subdeacon Douglas Howdy;
Subdeacon Khalil Samara; Subdeacon Chadi Saad; Subdeacon James Irving
VARIATION IN TODAY'S DIVINE LITURGY
At the entrance (Service Book page 97):
1) TROPARION OF THE RESURRECTION - Tone 1: Although the stone had been sealed by the Jews, and Thy precious body was guarded by the troops, Thou didst rise on the third day, O Thou Saviour, granting life to the people of the world. Wherefore, heavenly powers acclaimed Thee, crying unto Thee, O Giver of life; Glory to Thy Resurrection, O Redeemer; Glory to Thy Kingdom; Glory to Thy Kindness, O Thou only Lover of mankind.
2) THE ENTRANCE HYMN: O Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ. O son of God, who art risen from the dead save us who sing unto thee: Alleluia.
3) Repeat #1 above.
4) TROPARION FOR THE SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY - Tone 2: We bow low before your most pure image, O good one, begging you to forgive us our sins, Christ, our God. For you gladly ascended the cross in the flesh, of your own free will, to save us from Satan's snares. For this we thank you Lord, and we cry out to you: By coming to save the world from sin, you have filled all things with joy.
5) TROPARION OF ST. GEORGE - Tone 4: As deliverer of captives and defender of the poor, healer of the infirm, champion of kings, victorious, Great Martyr George, intercede with Christ our God for our soul's salvation.
6) KONTAKION FOR THE SUNDAYS IN LENT - Tone 8: Verily, I thy servant, O Theotokos, inscribe unto thee the banners of conquest, O defending soldier; I offer thanks to thee as a deliverer from tribulation, and since thine is the might unconquerable, deliver me, O deliver me from oppression, that I may sing unto thee: Rejoice, O bride without bridegroom.
Prokeimenon: Blessed are you, O Lord, God of our Fathers.
For you are righteous in all things you have done for us.
EPISTLE: The reading is from St. Paul to the Hebrews.
(Chapter 11:24-26 and 32-40.)
BRETHREN, by faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharoah's daughter, choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, thy were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated, (of whom the world was not worthy), wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN
(Chapter 1:43-51.)
At that time, Jesus decided to go to Galilee, and he found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these." And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man."
Special note: Except for those who are elderly and/or disabled, please remain standing during Holy Communion.
NEXT WEEK'S HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT: Hebrews 1:10-2:3; Mark 2:1-12.
MARCH IS ANTIOCHIAN WOMEN'S MONTH
On Sundays during the month of March the ladies will read the epistle, collect the trays and hold the Communion cloth.
The Ladies will host their Annual Lenten Supper on
Friday, April 11, 2008 at 5:00p.m. followed by the Akathist/Medayeh Service at 7:00p.m.