February 28, 2010 Church Bulletin

Sunday, February 28, 2010

SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT

ST. GREGORY PALAMAS

VARIATION IN TODAY’S DIVINE LITURGY 

At the entrance (Service Book page 97):

1. TROPARION OF THE RESURRECTION – Tone 5:  Let all us believers give praise and worship to the Word, of one essence with the Father and with the Spirit and who is eternal.  Who was born of the Virgin for our salvation.  For He did willingly ascend in the flesh to be hung from the Cross and to suffer pain and death, and to lift up the dead by His glorious Resurrection.

2. THE ENTRANCE HYMN:  O Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ.  O son of God, who art risen from the dead save us who sing unto thee:  Alleluia.

3. Repeat #1 above.

4. TROPARION FOR ST. GREGORY PALAMAS – Tone 8:  O light of orthodoxy! O pillar of strength and teacher of the church! Glory of monks and nuns, and invincible protector of theologians! O preacher of grace and pride of Thessalonica! O wonderworker, Gregory, pray without ceasing for the salvation of our souls.

5. TROPARION OF ST. GEORGE – Tone 4:  As deliverer of captives and defender of the poor, healer of the infirm, champion of kings, victorious, Great Martyr George, intercede with Christ our God for our soul’s salvation.

6. KONTAKION FOR THE SUNDAYS IN LENT – Tone 8:  Verily, I thy servant, O Theotokos, inscribe unto thee the banners of conquest, O defending soldier; I offer thanks to thee as a deliverer from tribulation, and since thine is the might unconquerable, deliver me, O deliver me from oppression, that I may sing unto thee:  Rejoice, O bride without bridegroom.

Prokeimenon:  You, O Lord, shall keep us and preserve us.

                                Save me, O Lord, for the godly man has failed.

EPISTLE:  The reading is from St. Paul to the Hebrews. (Chapters 1:10-14; 2:1-3.)

"In the beginning, you 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, till I make thy 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 HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. (Chapter 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 him a paralytic carried by four men.  And when they could not get near him 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, "My son, your sins are forgiven."  Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning 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 questioned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you question 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!"

Special note:  Except for those who are elderly and/or disabled, please remain standing during Holy Communion.

NEXT WEEK’S HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT: Hebrews 6:13-20; Mark 9:17-31.