Fourth Sunday of Great Lent
Commemoration of John Climacus, Author of “The Ladder”
Apostles Aristarchos, Pudens and Trophymos of the Seventy
**Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great**
Thought for Today: “Let us eagerly run our course as men called by our God and King, lest, since our time is short, we be found on the day of our death without fruit and perish of hunger. Let us please the Lord as soldiers please their king; because we are required to give an exact account of our service after the campaign.” + St. John Climacus
VARIABLE for CHOIR and PARISH
Resurrectional Apolytikion – Tone 4
Having learned the joyful message of the Resurrection from the angel the women disciples of the Lord cast from them their parental condemnation. And proudly broke the news to the Disciples, saying: Death hath been spoiled; Christ God is risen, granting the world Great Mercy.
Apolytikion of St. John Climacus – Tone 8
The barren wilderness thou didst make fertile with the streams of thy tears; and by thy deep sighing thou hast given fruit through thy struggles a hundredfold. Accordingly, thou hast become a star for the universe, sparkling with miracles. Therefore, O righteous Father John Climacus, intercede with Christ God to save our souls.
Kontakion for Sundays in Great Lent (and Akathist Saturday) – Tone 8
To thee, the Champion Leader, do I offer thanks of victory, O Theotokos, thou who hast delivered me from terror; but as thou that hast that power invincible, O Theotokos, thou alone can set me free: from all forms of danger free me and deliver me, that I may cry unto thee: Hail, O Bride without Bridegroom.
EPISTLE and GOSPEL READINGS
The Epistle
O Lord, how magnified are Thy works. In wisdom hast Thou made them all.
Bless the Lord, O my soul.
The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews. (6:13-20)
Brethren, when God made a promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater by whom to swear, He swore to Himself, saying, “Surely I will bless you, and multiply you.” And thus Abraham having patiently endured, obtained the promise. Men indeed swear by a greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of His purpose, He interposed with an oath, so that through two immutable things—in which it is impossible for God to lie—we might have changeable things, in which it is impossible that God should prove false, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest “forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”
The Gospel
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark. (9:17-31)
At that time, a man came to Jesus, kneeling down and saying unto him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a dumb spirit. And wherever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked Thy Disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” And Jesus answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to Me.” And they brought the boy to Him; and when the spirit saw Jesus, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, “How long has he had this?” And he said, “From childhood. And it has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if Thou canst do anything, have pity on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You dumb and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again.” And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse; so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when Jesus had entered the house, His Disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” And Jesus said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting.” They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And Jesus would not have anyone know it; for He was teaching His Disciples, saying to them, “The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him; and after He is killed, He will rise on the third day.”
Receiving the Eucharist:We invite you to receive the Holy Eucharist if you are an Orthodox Christian who has prepared yourself through fasting, prayer, and recent confession. If you are not Orthodox, or are Orthodox but have not prepared, we invite you to receive a piece of the blessed bread in the wooden bowls held by the altar servers at the front of the church.
SUNDAY LENTEN VESPERS
Today, April 14: John the Forerunner, speaker Fr. Peter Cox.
Sunday, April 21: St. Mary of Egypt, speaker Fr. Dragan Petrovic.
LOOKING AHEAD
All Saints Work Day Saturday April 20, 10am to 5pm.
We will need White flowers for Pascha decoration, please bring your donated flower to the church on Thursday during Holy Week.
Building Committee Update: The Building Committee met on April 12 and voted unanimously to pursue bids for blueprinting, which is the next phase of the Building Campaign. The Committee will convene monthly and will liaise monthly updates to the parish by way of RESOUND, our newsletter, and the regular bulletin.
THIS WEEK
Today, Sunday: Pascha choir will be practicing today at 1:00 pm for 90 minutes.
Monday, April 15: 3rd Hour Prayers at 9:00 am.
Tuesday, April 16: 3rd Hour Prayers at 9:00 am.
Wednesday, April 17: 6th Hour Prayers at12:00 noon; Presanctified Liturgy at 6:00 pm (followed by teaching).
Thursday, April 18: 3rd Hour Prayers at9:00 am; the Full Great Cannon of St. Andrew with the Reading of the Life of St. Mary of Egypt at 6:00 pm.3rd Hour Prayers at9:00 am; Great Cannon of St. Andrew at 6:00 pm.
Friday, April 19: Presanctified Liturgy at 9:00 am; Full Akathist Service at 6:00 pm.
Saturday, April 20: Bible Study at the Webb’s home, 9:00 am; Great Vespers at 5:00 pm; (followed by Ask Abouna); Jr. SOYO at 3:30pm; SOYO at 6:30pm.
Sunday, April 21: Matins at9:00 am,Divine Liturgy at10:00 am; St. Mary of Egypt.
FAMILY NEWS
Names Day Celebration: John Alexander, St. John Climacus (14th); Amanda Holland St. Hermione (14th); Ayris Finchum, Susan Chattin, St. Anastasia (15th).
Birthday Celebration: Amanda Holland (14th),Stephen Berck (15th); Marvin Piercefield (15th); Gabriella Crandall (20th), John Kozak (20th).
Anniversary Celebration: Daniel and Galina (14th).
Memory Eternal: Fr. Jorge; Steve; Sarah; Patriarch Neophytos (Bulgarian Patriarchate); Doug, infant Athanasius.
Prayer List: Shu-Mei;Charlie;Shirley; Jim;Jan; Don and Dee; those suffering the war in Ukraine, and the Middle East; Peace talks; our nation and all nations’ leaders; schools: children, youth and personnel across the nation; Mat. Raisa; Mary Ann; Emma; Bob & Bonnie Thelen; Megan (lymphoma); Josiah; Fr. Athanasius; Jack; Christopher; Fr. Jerome; Fr. Basil; Catherine; Wadia; Jayci; Patricia; Marvin; Alice; Kitsa; Apthrodite; Kim; Kristy; Vicki;Kenzie; Dusty; Cari; Betsy; Josh; Allison; Andrew; Isaac; Leanne; Heather; Nancy; Sharon Catherine; Michael, Olga, Eileen, Soren, Kathy Lexi, Ross and Vivian; Theo; Jeremy; Dn. Lawrence, Marcia; Elias; Waded; Seraphima; Lilly’s family; Jennifer; Christy; Megan; John; Stanley; Macrina with child; Anne; Allen; Linda; Mary Barger; Allison and children; Nino with child, Kip, Erica with child, Stephanie with child, Mary with child, Meaghan with child, Alexis with child.
An excellent documentary film titled, “Sacred Alaska” will be shown at the Old National Public Theater in Evansville, IN on Sunday, April 14. There are two showings: 1:30pm and 4:30pm. RSVP to attend at:
For a list of upcoming screenings around the U.S.: simon@sacredalaskafilm.com
To view the trailer: https://vimeo.com/704200740
Coffee Hour Host: Wendy Carter with Parishioners C-G.
Next Week Host: Nina Rogers with Parishioner H-R.
Giving Opportunities:
Our In-House Food Pantry: Thank you for the generous support to theFood Pantry. The pantry is available to parish members as well as families and individuals in the greater Bloomington community. Donations of nonperishable items of pasta, marinara sauce, peanut
butter, canned chicken and Tuna, canned vegetables, canned fruit and soups are always welcome.
Mission Donations: We send monthly support to two missionary units in Albania, the Hoppe family and Hannah Valentine. We welcome and encourage you to contribute to their ongoing support.
Benevolence Fund: Donations may be made to this fund throughout the year, and are mainly used to support families in need of help with rent and utilities payments.
Donations to the church are being made online at www.allsaintsbloomington.org and by U.S mail. Many thanks to all who continue supporting All Saints.