March is Women’s Month.
First Sunday of Great Lent
(Sunday of Orthodoxy)
Venerable-confessor James the New, bishop of Catania;
Thomas, patriarch of Constantinople; New-martyr Michael
Bring your icons from home or choose one from the wall in the nave to participate in the Procession of Icons around the church for the Sunday of Orthodoxy, following “Blessed be the Name of the Lord” in Divine Liturgy.
Confession of Faith on the Sunday of Orthodoxy
(Join in reciting with the clergy at the end of the service)
As the prophets beheld, as the Apostles have taught,…as the Church has received…as the teachers have dogmatized,…as the Universe has agreed,…as Grace has shown forth,… as Truth has revealed,…as falsehood has been dissolved,…as Wisdom has presented, …as Christ awarded,…thus we declare,…thus we assert,…thus we preach Christ our true God, and honor as Saints in words, in writings, in thoughts, in sacrifices, in churches, in Holy Icons; on the one hand worshipping and reverencing Christ as God and Lord; and on the other hand honoring as true servants of the same Lord of all and accordingly offering them veneration.
(LOUDER) This is the Faith of the Apostles, this is the Faith of the Fathers, this is the Faith of the Orthodox, this is the Faith which has established the Universe.
The Lenten Food for Hungry People and Outreach Fund begins at the Archdiocesan level to meet needs across the United States and beyond. Just note FFHP on your donation to All Saints. We send one check at the end of Great Lent. The All Saints benevolent fund is for families in need on a local level.
Join us live-stream or in person for Orthodoxy 101 each Wednesday following the evening service. Classes will be half an hour and will be presented in the nave.
THIS WEEK
Wednesday, March 24: Great Vespers on the Eve of Annunciation at 6:00 – O 101 follows.
Thursday, March 25: Festal Matins at 9:00; Divine Liturgy – Feast of the Annunciation at 10:00
Friday, March 26: Little Compline with the Akathist Hymn at 6:00
Saturday, March 27: Great Vespers at 5:00: SOYO at 6:00 – 8:00
Sunday, March 28: Matins at 9:00; Divine Liturgy at 10:00 – Parish Council meets.
OCMC mission donations are still being received.
The missionaries we regularly support are the Hoppe family in Albania and the Moore family in South Korea. Checks should be payable to All Saints. You may also donate to OCMC online at http://www.ocmc.org. Last week about $1,200 was raised. Thank you.
EPISTLE and GOSPEL READINGS
The Reading is from St. Paul’s Epistle to the Hebrews. (11:24-26, 32-40)
Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
For Thou art just in all that Thou hast done for us.
Brethren, by faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of the Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the recompense of reward. And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Sampson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and all the prophets, who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, and turned to flight armies of the aliens. Women received their dead by resurrection, and others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. And others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted, they were slain with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, being destitute, afflicted, tormented (of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, having obtained a witness through their faith, did not receive the promise, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. John. (1:43-51)
At that time, Jesus decided to go to Galilee. And He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, “We have found Him of Whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” Nathanael said to Jesus, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God! Thou art the King of Israel!” Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these.” And Jesus said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.”
Divine Liturgy Variables for Choir and Parish
Resurrectional Apolytikion – Tone 8
From the heights Thou didst descend, O Compassionate One, and Thou didst submit to the three-day burial, that Thou might deliver us from passion; Thou art our life and our Resurrection, O Lord, glory to Thee.
Apolytikion of the First Sunday of Great Lent – Tone 2
Thy pure image do we venerate, O good One, asking forgiveness of our sins, O Christ our God; for by Thine own will Thou didst ascend the Cross in Thy body, to save Thy creatures from the bondage of the enemy. Wherefore, with thankfulness we cry aloud to thee: Thou hast verily filled all with joy, since Thou didst come, O our Savior, to save the world.
Kontakion for Sunday 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.
Megalynarion at St. Basil’s Liturgy
In thee rejoiceth, O full of grace, all creation: the angelic hosts, and the race of men, O hallowed Temple and noetic paradise, glory of Virgins, of whom God was incarnate and became a little child, even our God Who is before all the ages; for He made thy womb a throne, and thy body He made more spacious than the heavens. In thee rejoiceth, O full of grace, all creation; and it glorifieth thee.
Looking Ahead
Lenten Sunday Evening (5pm) Vespers are sponsored by the Presbyters Council of Central Indiana.
March 28 – Saint Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church
April 4 – Holy Trinity Orthodox Church
April 11 – Joy of All Who Sorrow Orthodox Church
April 18 – Sts Constantine and Elena Orthodox Church
FAMILY NEWS
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.
Donations to the church are being made online at www.allsaintsbloomington.org and by U.S. mail. Thank you for continuing to support the church.
Happy Birthday: Saraqael H (21st); Georges T (21st); Ghada L (21st); Heidi-S (21st); Tristan R (26th); Matthew C (26th)
Name Day Blessings: Galina Mc (23rd); Gabriella C ( Archangel Gabriel – 26th); Gabe S (Archangel Gabriel (26th)
Memory Eternal: Tom; Faye; Frank; Chris; Ardelle; George; James; Joma; Fr. Jon Stephen; Clarence (Heather’s father); Our Beloved Bara
Prayer List: Ben; Galina; JakeImmimk; Ingrid Temple Heidi; Fr. Jerome; our nation and our nation’s leaders at all levels of government; world-wide pandemic; nursing home residents and caregivers; schools, school children, youth and personnel across the nation. Bonnie Thelen (awaiting kidney transplant); Wadia; Jayci; Dee, Patricia, Marvin A, Benedict, Judith Ann, Cleo, Michael; Olga, Eileen; Kitsa W; Aphrodite and son Angelos in Greece; Violet; Kim; Dusty; Betsy; Allison; Robin & Janet; Mary Ann; Vicki; Mat. Raisa; Isaac – in Air Force; Andrew (National Guard); Fr. Marc; Fr. George; George; Catherine (not in this parish); Leanne; Heather; Nancy; Sharon Catherine; Alice & Marvin; Kh. Kristina; Bonnie; Emma; Patricia; Mary & Robert; Shirley; Rose; Lexi, Ross & Vivian; Theo; Doug Barrett; Jeremy; Charles; Grayson; Marcia & Deacon; Nick; Bruce; Joanna & Demetrios; Ashlee W; Paul; Cathy; Sitto; Elias; Waded; Neva; Bill; Lonnie; Nancy & Shalana; Seraphima; Lilly’s family; Jennifer & Regina; those suffering in the drug crisis, with fire devastation, flood damage, aftermath of extreme cold and snow, and earthquake damage; those suffering in the Middle East.
Food Pantry: Please do not donate damaged, dented or expired items. Thank you.