March 30, 2008 Church Bulletin
Sunday, March 30, 2008
THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT
FEAST OF THE ADORATION OF THE HOLY CROSS
Today's Celebrants: V. Rev. Fr. Timothy Ferguson;
Rt. Rev. Fr. Constantine Yanney; Rev. Dn. Elias Hamaty
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) THIRD ANTIPHON - Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship the footstool of His feet: Save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance: Shepherd them and bear them up unto eternity. O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance. Give victory to those who battle evil, and with your cross protect us all.
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) TROPARION OF THE RESURRECTION - Tone 3: Let the Heavens rejoice and let the earth be glad, for the Lord hath done a mighty act with His own hand. He has trampled death by His death and has become the first born from the dead. He has delivered us from the depths of Hades, granting to the people of the world His Great Mercy.
4) TROPARION OF THE HOLY CROSS - Tone 1: O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance. Give victory to those who battle evil, and with your cross protect us all.
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: O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
To you, O Lord, have I cried, O my God.
EPISTLE: The reading is from St. Paul to the Hebrews.
(Chapters 4:14-16; 5:1-6.)
BRETHREN, since we have a high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was.
So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, "Thou art my son, today I have begotten thee"; as he says also in another place, "Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek."
THE HOLY GOSPEL LESSON ACCORDING TO ST. MARK (Chapters 8:34 to end; 9:1.)
The Lord said: "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." And Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power."
Special note: Except for those who are elderly and/or disabled, please remain standing during Holy Communion.
NEXT WEEK'S HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT: Hebrews 6:13-20; Mark 9:17-30.
LOOKING FOR DELICIOUS LENTEN DISHES AND RECIPES? - Look no further, the Adult Fellowship's new and revised cookbook, The Door to Arabic Cooking, is available for $10 at the church office, at the bookstore or by calling John Ayoub at 781.326.6755 and includes all your favorite recipes..
BOOK DISCUSSION AND FELLOWSHIP SPONSORED BY THE FELLOWSHIP OF
ST. JOHN THE DIVINE HERE AT ST. GEORGE - This Lent, resurrect your passion for reading and join us for a book discussion and fellowship here at St. George, Boston, on Friday, April 4th at 8:15PM. following the Akathist service at 7:00PM (Please note change of location and time). Adults of all ages are welcome. Wounded by Love - The Life and the Wisdom of Elder Porphyrios will be the topic of discussion. --Plagued by suffering and hardship, a Greek monk priest learns how to live out the Christian faith through prayer and contemplation of his pain and suffering- Reading the entire book is not mandatory to attend the discussion. The book is available at Holy Cross Seminary (holycrossbookstore.com), Skete.com, Uncutmountainsupply.com and Amazon.com. Refreshments to be served. Donation: $5. RSVP to Danielle Kayal, deekayal@yahoo.com.
EVELYN ABDALAH MENCONI MEMORIAL CULTURAL SERIES - The fourth Evelyn Abdalah Menconi Memorial Cultural Series will be held on Thursday, April 24th beginning with a Reception at 5:30PM at the Boston Public Library, Rabb Lecture Hall, Copley Square. Program begins at 6:30PM Watch for further details. (See flyer on our bulletin board.)
This Weeks LENTEN Services
Monday Compline Service @ St. Mary, Cambridge - 7p.m.
Tuesday Arabic Compline at 7p.m.
Wednesday PreSanctified Divine Liturgy at 6:30 p.m.
Friday Akathist Hymn at 7 p.m.
Saturday Great Vespers at 5:30 p.m.
"Let us not, O Lord, be strangers
outside your house"
FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE PROGRAM - Food for Hungry People boxes are available at the church narthex and were sent home with each Church School child. Please be generous when feeding the boxes. Boxes should be returned to the church by Palm Sunday, April 20th. Gift certificates to local supermarkets are also being accepted. May God bless you for your generosity.
"Hearing Paul Together"
All are warmly invited to an ecumenical service of preaching and prayer celebrating our common Christian heritage in the writings of Saint Paul.
Tuesday, April 8th, at 7 pm, at the Paulist Center,
5 Park St., Boston. Preachers will be;
* Fr. Antony Hughes; St. Mary's Orthodox Church
* Ms. Laura Everett; Associate Director of the Massachusetts Council of Churches;
* Rev. Jeb Streit; St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral,
For more information and directions, go to www.paulist.org/boston, or call 617-742-446