Sunday, January 28, 2018
Sunday of the Pharisee and Publican
God-bearing Fathers Ephraim and Isaac the Syrians; Venerable Palladios of Antioch;
Martyr Charita; Venerable Theodosios of Totma in Vologda

Nourishment of the Soul: “The fear of God makes a person wise. What is the fear of God? Not that one should be afraid of God, but that one should be afraid to sadden someone or harm someone. We should do no wrong nor make accusations against anyone. This is wisdom. After all this, God will illumine you as to what you should do in your life.” – St. Sophia of Kleisoura

Today begins the Lenten triodion. It is called the triodion because the canons appointed for Matins during this period are composed of three odes each. Essentially, this marks the beginning of the pre-Lenten period, lasting three weeks and leading us into the Great Fast, Holy Week, and Holy Pascha.

Today is the Chili Fundraiser Cook-off! We encourage each person to donate $5.00 for the meal; however, to reach the goal of $600 for the Women’s Care Center, OC for Life hopes some will donate more. A variety of chili recipes is expected! YUM! (Thanks to all who have prepared the meal!)

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.

Myrrh Bearers meet today.

THIS WEEK

Please note that during the Triodion and Great Lent, Matins
will begin 10 minutes earlier than usual at 8:50.

Wednesday, January 31: Daily Vespers at 6:00
Thursday, February 1: Bible Study at Becky’s home – 3:00 – 5:00
Thursday February 1: Liturgy of the Presentation at 6:00
Saturday, February 3: Great Vespers at 5:00 – Orthodoxy 101 follows.
Sunday, February 4: Matins at 8:50; Divine Liturgy at 10:00

LOOKING AHEAD

…Thursdays through March 29th (excluding Feb. 1st & 22nd): Bible Study on the Gospel of John at the Webb’s home – 7:00-8:30 at 3960 E. Fenbrook Lane, Bloomington, IN 47401; 314-313-275; webbrk1@gmail.com.
…Orthodoxy 101 resumes on Saturdays in February after Great Vespers.
…Bible Study at Becky’s is planned for only February 1st and 22nd.
…Meat Fare (Feb. 11th); Cheese Fare – Judgment Sunday (Feb. 18th)
…February 19th: Great Lent begins with the Canon of St. Andrew, Presanctified Liturgy, and Akathist to the Mother of God in the first week!
… Sunday of Orthodoxy (Feb.25th)
…March 3-4th: Myrrh Bearers Retreat with Mother Nektaria Veloff of St Paul Skete, Grand Junction, Tennessee. Details coming soon!

FAMILY NOTES

Birthday Blessings: Michael S (30th); Dee H (March 2nd); Karen T (3rd)
Name Day Remembrance: Rhonda W (St. Perpetua – 1st); Shannon R (St. Bridgid of Ireland – 1st); Amber S (St. Anna the Prophetess – 3rd)
Memory Eternal: Jack (9th); Alexis (15th)
Prayer List: Marvin & Alice; Cathy; Kh. Kristina; Sitto; Elias; Waded; Neva; Bill; Lonnie; Fr. George R.; Iva Lee; Jennifer A’s family; Jeri R.; Rigsby family.

Today’s Epistle and Gospel Readings

Prokeimenon: “Make your vows to the Lord our God, and perform them.”
Verse: “God is known in Judah; His Name is great in Israel.” Psalm 75:11,1

Epistle: The Reading is from St. Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy. (3:10-15)
(For Sunday of the Pharisee and Publican)

Timothy my son, you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions, and my sufferings; and what befell me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra. What persecutions I endured; yet from them all, the Lord rescued me. Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Gospel: The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (18:10-14)
(For Sunday of the Pharisee and Publican)

The Lord spoke this parable: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank Thee that I am not like other men, extortionists, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to Heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Divine Liturgy Variables

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.

Kontakion of the Presentation of Christ – Tone 1
Thou, O Christ God, Who by Thy Birth, didst sanctify the Virgin’s womb, and, as is meet, didst bless Simeon’s arms, and didst also come to save us; preserve Thy fold in wars, and confirm them whom Thou didst love, for Thou alone art the Lover of mankind.