Fifth Sunday of Great Lent
Commemoration of our Righteous Mother Mary of Egypt
Venerable Titus the wonderworker; Virgin-martyr Theodora of Palestine
**Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great**
Thought for Today: “I am a man—and the grace, the truth and the righteousness of God are continually working within me. It is God Who at one time cherishes and comforts me, and at another punishes and afflicts me with sorrows for any inward motion of the soul adverse to Him. But the earth is full of men like me. Therefore, in them also God manifest His mercy, truth and righteousness, as in myself. ‘He worketh all in all’.” – St. John of Kronstadt
VARIABLE for CHOIR and PARISH
Resurrectional Apolytikion – Tone 1
While the stone was sealed by the Jews, and the soldiers were guarding Thy most pure body, Thou didst arise on the third day, O Savior, granting life to the world. For which cause the heavenly powers cried aloud unto Thee, O giver of life. Glory to Thy Resurrection, O Christ, glory to Thy kingdom, glory to Thy providence, O Thou Who alone art the lover of mankind.
Apolytikion of St. Mary of Egypt – Tone 8
Through thee, the divine likeness was securely preserved, O mother Mary; for thou didst carry the cross and follow Christ. By example and precept thou didst teach us to ignore the body, because it is perishable, and to attend to the concerns of the undying soul. Therefore, doth thy soul rejoice with the angels.
EPISTLE and GOSPEL READINGS
The Epistle
Make your vows and pay them to the Lord our God.
God is known in Judaea. His Name is great in Israel.
The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews. (9:11-14)
Brethren, Christ having appeared a High Priest of the good things to come, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; neither through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, entered in once for all into the holy place, having found eternal redemption. For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of bulls and goats and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
The Gospel
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark. (10:32-45)
At that time, Jesus took His twelve Disciples, and began to tell them what was to happen to Him, saying, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles. And they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit upon Him, and kill Him; and after three days He will rise.” And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to Him, and said to Him, “Teacher, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire” And Jesus said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And they said to Him, “Grant us to sit, one at Thy right hand and one at Thy left, in Thy glory.” But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” And they said to Him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized. But to sit at My right hand or at My left is not Mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. And Jesus called them to Him and said to them, “You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be servant of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
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.
Metropolitan Saba: AXIOS! He is worthy! His Beatitude Patriarch John X and the Holy Synod of Antioch have elected Metropolitan Saba as the new Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of All North America. We will begin commemorating His Eminence when he is officially enthroned as Metropolitan in the near future.
Confessions: Fr. Peter Jon will hear confessions by appointment between now and Lazarus Saturday. Please email or call him to schedule a time. He would prefer to hear all confessions prior to Holy Week.
Bookstore Update: Thank you so much for your support of our All Saints Bookstore. In order to track purchases and maintain inventory more effectively we ask that when you purchase items you fill out a Purchase Slip and put it in the Payment box along with your cash or check. If you prefer to pay via our website donation app, please indicate “Online” as your method of payment. Then when paying online, Select “Make a Donation” and at the bottom of that page, next to “1 time” there is a blank space where you can type “Bookstore”. Thank you so much for your help.
For questions, or to request items you would like to see in the bookstore, please see Rhonda Webb or email her at webbrk1@gmail.com.
THIS WEEK
Today Sunday: Pascha Choir will practice after Divine Liturgy; Lenten Vespers 5:00 pm at St. Thomas; speaker Father Alexis Miller.
Attention All Saints men 18 years and older: There will be an informal meeting (10-15 Minutes) in the Nave immediately following the dismissal today to discuss the newly-resurrected men’s group. Please See Vasily (Glen) Carter for more information.
Tuesday, April 4: OCF, Dinner & Discussion, 6:30 pm; at the Webb’s home.
Wednesday, April 5: Presanctified Liturgy, at 6:00 pm; followed by Orthodoxy 101.
Friday, April 7: Compline for Lazarus, at 6:00 pm.
Saturday, April 8: Lazarus Saturday; Baptisms at 9:00 am, Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am; We are blessed to receiving quite a number of new members through Baptism and Chrismation; Great Vespers at 5:00 pm; jr. SOYO at 3:30 pm; SOYO at 6:00 pm.
Sunday, April 9: Matins at 9:00 am, Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am, Palm Sunday.
LOOKING AHEAD
Earthquake Fundraiser: Gregory Gillquist will be biking 33 miles on Tuesday, April 4, to raise funds for victims of the earthquakes in the Middle East. Donations may be made through the church website (https://www.allsaintsbloomington.org/make-a-donation/) earmarked “Gregory’s Race for Antioch.” You can watch a short video about Gregory’s fundraiser at https://youtu.be/7wJJMJSqxkw.
Attention all 6-12 year olds! We have the great joy of welcoming Mrs. Becky Hrisomalos, a founding member of our parish, at junior SOYO on Lazarus Saturday (April 8 from 3:30-5pm). Mrs. Hrisomalos will be teaching the kids how to make traditional Mediterranean grape leaves. The rolled leaves will then be served on Holy Pascha. Parents welcome!
Bible Study: at the Webb’s homewill pick up with Romans 11 on April 22, God willing!
FAMILY NEWS
Names Day Celebrations: Molly Alexander, St. Mary of Egypt (2nd); Polina Mullis, St. Appolinaria(4th).
Birthday Celebrations: Wendy Elizabeth Carter (2nd); Brian Owens (2nd); Irene Vlachos Weber (3rd); John Kozak (5th); Jennifer Rigsby (5th); Cora Bidulescu (6th).
Memory Eternal: Nicko; Delores (Dee); Ronald; Jack.
Prayer List: Michael, Olga, Eileen, Soren, Kathy; Toni;Jan; Don and Dee; those suffering the war of Ukraine; Peace talks; our nation and all nations’ leaders; Earthquake victims and relief efforts in Syria and Turkey; schools: school children, youth and personnel across the nation; Mat. Raisa; Mary Ann; Emma (Mary Ann’s granddaughter); Bob & Bonnie Thelen; Wes (infant with brittle bone disorder); Megan (lymphoma); Mark (CHF) and (caregiver) Barbara; Wes’s grandfather;Josiah; Vicki;Vicki’s granddaughter; Arianna; Linda; Steve Crandall; Fr. Athanasius; Fr.Gabriel;Jack;Christopher; Nancy; Fr. Jerome Mother Nektaria; Catherine; Wadia; Jayci; Patricia, Marvin, Alice; Kitsa; Apthrodite and Angelos; Kim; Kristy, Dusty, Cari; Betsy, Josh; Allison; Andrew (Texas/military); Isaac (Germany/military); Leanne; Heather; Nancy; Sharon Catherine; Lexi, Ross and Vivian; Theo; Doug; Jeremy; Marcia & Deacon; Elias; Waded; Seraphima; Lilly’s family; Jennifer; Christy; Megan; John; Stanley; Anna with child (Coran’s friend); Megan with child; Paulina with child; Macrina with child; Emilia with child; Anne; Allen; Linda; Marilyn; Mary Barger; Norma; Allison and children.
Coffee Hour Host: Rhonda Webb with Parishioners S-Z.
Next week Host: Melissa Barbarick with Parishioners A-B.
Giving Opportunities:
Earthquake Relief: His Eminence Antonios, our Patriarch Vicar has requested the Antiochian Women to focus 2023 NAB fund raising project on relief effort in Turkey and Syria. Thank you for all the prayers and donations.
The 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. Thank you for your ongoing generosity.
Our In-House Food Pantry needs canned vegetables, soups, meats, tuna, salmon, smoked oysters, sardines, chicken, spaghetti sauce, pasta. We have an abundance peanut butter.
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.