Sunday, March 12, 2017
Second Sunday of Great Lent
Commemoration of Gregory Palamas, archbishop of Thessalonica
Venerable Theophanes the Confessor of Sigriane; Gregory the Dialogist, pope of Rome; Venerable Simeon the New Theologian; Righteous Phineas, grandson of Aaron the High Priest
Visitors, you are always welcome here. Parishioners, we miss you when you are not with us. For those on Spring Break, we pray for your time of refreshing and safety.
Nourishment of the Soul: “It was revealed to Abba Anthony in his desert that there was one who was his equal in the city. He was a doctor by profession and whatever he had beyond his needs he gave to the poor, and every day he sang the Holy, Holy, Holy with the angels.”
Food for Hungry People Program: During Great Lent, we are encouraged to donate to this fund (enclosed letter). Coin Boxes are available in the hallway. Make checks payable to All Saints, and we will send one check after Holy Pascha.
Coffee Hour Foods: Contributors this Sunday are those whose last names start with Be -F. Fasting foods are served during Great Lent.
March is Women’s Month, so today Rhonda will read the Epistle, and Nina, Hannah, Ava and Heidi will usher.
Tonight at 5:00: Lenten Vespers at Sts. Constantine and Elena in Indianapolis, W. 16th Street. Next Sunday, March 19: Lenten Vespers will be at St. John the Forerunner in Indianapolis, S. Blaine Ave.
On Wednesday, March 15th, the topic for O101 is St John of the Ladder: His Life and Teachings.
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.
Parish Council meets today (Sunday) instead of the 19th.
THIS WEEK
Tuesday, March 14: Bible Study at Kh. Marilyn’s home at 7:00
Wednesday, March 15: Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts at 6:00 – O101 follows.
Thursday, March 16: Mitchell Fellowship at the Haney’s 10:00 – Noon
Thursday, March 16: Bible Study at Becky’s home with Kh. Marilyn leading – 3-5:00 pm
Friday March 17: Akathist Hymn to the Mother of God at 6:00
Saturday, March 18: Retreat with Nathan Hoppe starting at 2:00
Saturday, March 18: Great Vespers at 5:00
Sunday, March 19: Matins at 9:00; Divine Liturgy at 10:00; – Choir Practice follows Divine Liturgy
Nathan Hoppe, missionary to Albania, will present a slide show and a Mission Albania update during coffee hour.
LOOKING AHEAD
March 12,19, 26 & April 2: The choir will practice Pascha music and Lenten music.
Saturday, March 18: OCLife Indianapolis will hold a prayer service for mothers in crisis and unborn babies in danger from 10-11am as part of the 40 Days for Life campaign. While most of us will not travel to Indy Saturday, let us prayerfully remember them wherever we are that morning.
March 25: The Annunciation Liturgy on Saturday morning.
FAMILY NOTES
Birthday Greetings: Amber S (13th); Adam S (16th); Kh. Kristina (18th)
Name Day Blessings: Nolan A (St. Gregory Palamas –12th); Daniel M (St.Symeon, the New Theologian – 12th); Patricia F (13th); David P (St. Patrick, the Enlightener of Ireland – 17th)
Memory Eternal: Edgar; Norma; Florence; Mat. Juliana Schmemann; Kevin Speier, Stephanie; Kristina (Feb.28th)
Prayer List: Hal and Alex John ; “For the suffering Christians of Syria, Palestine, Iraq, & all of the Middle East, and for those suffering in Ukraine.”; Fr. Steven Rudy (cancer); Finley (infant girl child with stroke and spasms-Improved); Subdn. Daniel (back to work); Fr. Basil; Fr. Philip; Grant (Leukemia); Chris; Doug & Dorothy Barrett; Eileen; the Tabbals; Mary Ann & Jen; Dee and Don; Kh.Kristina; Betsy and Hannah; Leslie (paralysis); Jasmine; Deborah & Thomas; James; Becky H; Tom; Annie; Catherine; Janett; Julian; Kh. Mary Sue Walker; Vicki; Hoppes & Jesse Brandow (Missionaries); Vivian; Natalie; Senior Saints; Patricia; Nicetas; Barb; Shirley; Metropolitan Paul, Archbishop John; Fr. John Koen; Archpriest George; Adrian; Heather; Susan; Gabriella & Matt; Sara; Shelley; Geni; Emily D; Emma; Nancy; Neal; Bob R; Leanne; Beth; Lillian; Julie; Roger; Virginia; Marilyn; Eric; Cheryl; Lori; Pam; Debbie; Natasha; Michael & Shelley: Gabriel; Mary; Janet; Kelly; Matushka Raisa; Marty; Charles; Mary; Marvin, Alice; Katie; Ruth; Steve; Romaine; Derek, Claire & Micah; Tim; Sharon; Sherri; Dianna; Michael and Diane; Aaron; Brent; Jennifer; Brigid; Ethan; Lena, Dean; Gayle; Thomas; Amy; Heidi; Gene & Connie, Caleb D; Megan & Colin; Bill & Sandy; Sabrina.
Today’s Epistle and Gospel Readings
Prokeimenon: “O Lord, Thou wilt preserve us and keep us from this generation!”
Verse: “Save me, O Lord, for the godly man hath disappeared.” Psalm 11:7,1
Epistle: The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews. (1:10-2:3)
“In the beginning, Thou, O Lord, didst found the earth, and the heavens are the work of Thy hands; they will perish, but Thou remainest; they will all grow old like a garment, like a mantle Thou wilt roll them up, and they will be changed. But Thou art the same, and Thy years will never end.” But to what angel has He ever said, “Sit at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies a stool for thy feet”? Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation? Therefore, we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For if the message, declared by angels, was valid and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard Him.
Gospel: The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark. (2:1-12)
At that time, when Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that He was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, not even about the door; and He was preaching the Word to them. And they came, bringing to Jesus a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had made an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now, some of the scribes were sitting there, reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak thus? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” And immediately Jesus, perceiving in His spirit that they thus reasoned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you reason thus in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your pallet and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” – He said to the paralytic – “I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home.” And he rose, and immediately took up the pallet and went out before them all. So that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
Divine Liturgy Variables
Resurrectional Apolytikion – Tone 5
Let us believers praise and worship the Word; co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit, born of the Virgin for our salvation. For, He took pleasure in ascending the Cross in the flesh to suffer death; and to raise the dead by His glorious Resurrection.
Kontakion for Annunciation and Great Lent – 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.
Spiritual Food
‘Whoever hammers a lump of iron, first decides what he is going to make of it, a scythe, a sword, or an axe. Even so we ought to make up our minds what kind of virtue we want to forge or we labor in vain.’ – Abba Anthony- The Sayings of the Desert Father
The Seven Capital Virtues are as follows:
Humility – Humility is the virtue that counters pride. As pride leads to other sin, true humility clears a path for holiness. Pride is a sin based on undue and inappropriate appreciation of one’s self worth. Conversely, the virtue of humility is about modest behavior, selflessness and the giving of respect.
Liberality – Liberality, or generosity, is the virtue that is counter to greed – the sin of immoderate desire for earthly things. The virtue of liberality is focused not merely on the appropriate concern regarding one’s earthly things, but furthermore on generosity and a willingness to give, freely and without request for commendation.
Chastity – Chastity is the counter-virtue to the sin of lust. Chastity embraces moral wholesomeness and purity, and in both thought and action treats God’s gift of sexuality with due reverence and respect.
Meekness – Meekness, or patience, is the virtue that counters the sin of unjust anger, also called wrath or rage. Where the sin of wrath is about quick temper and unnecessary vengeance, the virtue of meekness focuses on patiently seeking appropriate resolution to conflicts, and on the ability to forgive and show mercy.
Temperance – The virtue of temperance or abstinence counters the sin of gluttony. To be gluttonous is to over-indulge. On the opposite hand, the virtue of temperance is centered on self-control and moderation.
Kindness – Kindness, or brotherly love or love for one’s neighbor, is the virtue which counters the sin of envy. Envy, in contradiction to God’s law of love, is manifest in a person’s sorrow and distress over the good fortune of another person. Conversely, kindness and brotherly love is manifest in the unprejudiced, compassionate and charitable concern for others.
Diligence – Diligence, or persistence, is the virtue which acts as a counter to the sin of sloth. Sloth, as a capital sin, refers to laziness in matters of Faith. Diligence in matters of the spiritual life, combats laziness. This virtue is manifest in appropriately zealous attitudes toward living and sharing the Faith.