Second Sunday of Great Lent
Commemoration of Gregory Palamas, archbishop of Thessalonica
Martyr Sabinos of Egypt; Venerable Christodoulos the wonderworker of Patmos
**Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great**
Thought for Today: “True fasting lies is rejecting evil, holding one’s tongue, suppressing one’s hatred, and banishing one’s lust, evil words, lying, and betrayal of vows.”
– St. Basil the Great
March is Women’s Month
“Throughout March, in addition to the many other ways they serve our community, women will serve as Epistle Readers, Ushers and will hold the bowls for the antidoron (blessed bread).”
Resurrectional Apolytikion – Tone 5
Let us believers praise and worship the Word; coeternal 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.
Apolytikion for St. Gregory Palamas – Tone 8
O Star of Orthodoxy, support of the Church and its teacher, O comeliness of ascetics, and incontestable champion of those who speak in theology, Gregory the wonder-worker, the pride of Thessalonica and preacher of grace, implore thou constantly for the salvation of our souls.
Kontakion for Sundays in 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.
EPISTLE and GOSPEL READINGS
The Epistle
Thou, O Lord, shalt preserve us and keep us from this generation.
Save me, O Lord, for the godly man hath disappeared.
The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews. (1:10-2:3)
In the beginning, you O Lord, didst found the earth, and the heavens are the works of Thy hands; they will perish; but Thou remainest; and they will all grow old like a garment, and like a mantle Thou wilt roll them up, and they shall be changed; but Thou art the same, and Thy years will never end.” But to what angel has He ever said, “Sit on 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.
The 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!”
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.
First Archpastoral Visit: Archimandrite Jeremy, the Archiepiscopal Vicar for Toledo and the Midwest, will be making his first visit to All Saints at the end of this month. He will serve Great Vespers on Saturday (3/29) at 5pm, followed by a Lenten meal at 6:00 and an Ask Abouna session from 7-8pm. Ask Abouna questions must be submitted ahead of time, and may be placed in the designated basket on the memorial table or emailed to Fr. Peter Jon (“Ask Abouna” in the subject line) by Saturday (3/22). Archimandrite Jeremy will answer as many questions as possible during the hour provided.
Sunday, (3/30), Archimandrite Jeremy will serve Orthros and Divine Liturgy, joining us for the Sunday Meal afterwards. Then, he will speak from 1-2pm on “The Joyful Challenges of Rapid Parish Growth.”
Confession: Every Orthodox Christian, age 7 and up, should come for confession during the season of repentance — Great Lent. There are six weeks of Lent, followed by Holy Week. The sixth week of Lent is when those preparing for Baptism and Chrismation will make their lifetime confessions – this is the time I have reserved for them. During Holy Week there are 18 services, much Paschal preparation, and very little time for anything else. Therefore, I am asking everyone to come for confession during the first five weeks of Great Lent. I will be available to hear confessions for ONE HOUR prior to services on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and by appointment throughout the week. Please email or text me to reserve your spot. Thank you. – Fr Peter Jon
House Blessings: Father Peter Jon has either blessed — or is scheduled to bless — the homes of all who have requested a house blessing. So, if you have not had your house blessed, or scheduled a blessing, and you would like to do so, please reach out to Father Peter ASAP to get on his schedule. He does not want to inadvertently overlook anyone.
Online Lenten Retreat for All Mothers presented by Fr. Peter Jon (Sponsored by St. Emmelia Ministries). Monday, March 17 from 3-5pm. Please wear green and email Khouria Kristina for a link to the event.
This Week
Today, Sunday: Choir will practice, 12:30 to 1:30 pm; Parish Council will meet following Divine; Lenten Vespers, 5:00 pm at St. Barnabas; homilist Father Dragan Petrovic.
Monday, March 17: 3rd Hour Prayers at 9:00 am.
Tuesday, March 18: Presanctified Liturgy at 9:00am.
Wednesday, March 19: Presanctified Liturgy at 6:00 pm; teaching and Soup Supper.
Thursday, March 20: 6th Hour Prayers at 12:00 noon.
Friday, March 21: Presanctified Liturgy at 9:00am; Akathist to the Theotokos with Compline at 6:00 pm.
Saturday, March 22: Bible Study, 9:00 am at the Webb’s home; Great Vespers at 5:00 pm, Ask Abouna to follow. Jr. and Teen SOYO at 6:30 pm.
Sunday, March 23: Matins at 9:00 am, Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am; Lenten Vespers, 5:00 pm at Holy Trinity; homilist Father Jeremy Davis.
Great Feast of the Annunciation! On Tuesday, March 25, we will celebrate the Divine Liturgy for the Feast at 6:00pm, followed by a parish-wide fish dinner. An evening liturgy on the date of the Feast is unusual, but is prescribed for the Annunciation, since it falls within the Great Lenten Fast. In other words, our feasting is limited to one meal following the evening liturgy in order that we may honor both the Great Fast and the Great Feast.
Family News
Name Day Celebration: David Patterson, St. Patrick the Enlightener of Ireland (17th); Mezy Alexander, Hannah Noor Gillquist, Shirley Richardson, Evelynn Wakefield; Great Martyr Photini (26th).
Birthday Celebration: Adam Shahadey (16th); Kh. Kristina Gillquist (18th); Marah Polit (19th); Rachael Ann Schuck (19th); Lilly Blair (20th); Saraquel Hsu (21st); George Tabbal (21st); Ghada Labban (21st); Marco Pressley (22nd).
Prayer List: Kh. Parasheva; Hal (rehab); Scott (terminal heart condition) and his wife Jackie; Jim and Lisa; Taylor;Durlin family; Fr. Athanasius; Fr. Jerome; Fr. Basil; Fr. Matthew; Marvin; Nectaria;Shu-Mei,Charlie;Shirley; Jim;Jan; Don and Dee; those suffering the effect of Hurricanes; those suffering the war in Ukraine, and the Middle East; Peace talks; our nation and all nations’ leaders; those suffering the effect of wild fires in California; schools: children, youth and personnel across the nation; Mary Ann; Emma; Bob & Bonnie Thelen; Josiah; Jack; Christopher; Wadia; Jayci; Patricia; Kitsa; Apthrodite; Kim; Kristy; Vicki;Kenzie; Dusty; Cari; Betsy; Josh; Allison; Dn. Lawrence, Marcia; Missy; Andrew; Isaac; Leanne; Heather; Nancy; Sharon Catherine; Neumann Seraphim; Michael, Olga, Eileen, Soren, Kathy; Lexi, Ross, Vivian; Theo; Jeremy; Elias; Waded; Seraphima; Lilly’s family; Jennifer; Christy; John; Stanley; Macrina with child; Anna and child born to her; Allen; Linda; Allison and children; Kip; Hermione with child, Erica with child; Taylor with child; Penny with child; Dixxe with child; Megan with child; Evan; Catherine with child; Victoria with child; Whitney and children; Domnica; Mary.
Memory Eternal: Mike; Donald; child Houston; Debbie.
Lenten Wednesday Meals: Please see the sign-up sheet on the door to the fellowship hall. Thank you in advance for your contributions to this blessed time of breaking bread together!
All Saints’ Sunday Meal:
Today, Sunday: 3rd Sunday Host Hostetler – Rogers; Lead Hostess Nina Rogers.
Next week: 4th Sunday Host Robertson – Yeager; Lead Hostess Rhonda Perpetua Webb.
Giving Opportunities:
Food Pantry: Thank you for the generous support.Our in-houseFood Pantry is available to parish members as well as families and individuals in the community of Bloomington. Donations of nonperishable items of pasta, marinara sauce, peanut butter, canned chicken and Tuna, canned vegetables, canned fruit and soups are always a great blessing.
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.