Feburary 21, 2010 Church Bulletin
Sunday, February 21, 2010
FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT
ORTHODOXY SUNDAY
VARIATION IN TODAY’S DIVINE LITURGY
At the entrance (Service Book page 97):
1. TROPARION OF THE RESURRECTION – Tone 4: When the women disciples learned the joyful message of the Resurrection from the angel, they cast away parental sin, and proudly told the message to the disciples, proclaiming that death hath been spoiled and Christ, our God, hath risen, granting to the world great mercy.
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 THE SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY – Tone 2: We bow low before your most pure image, O good one, begging you to forgive us our sins, Christ, our God. For you gladly ascended the cross in the flesh, of your own free will, to save us from Satan's snares. For this we thank you Lord, and we cry out to you: By coming to save the world from sin, you have filled all things with joy.
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: Blessed are you, O Lord, God of our Fathers.
For you are righteous in all things you have done for us.
EPISTLE: The reading is from St. Paul to the Hebrews. (Chapter 11:24-26 and 32-40.)
BRETHREN, by faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharoah's daughter, choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, thy were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated, (of whom the world was not worthy), wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN (Chapter 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 him, "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, you are the Son of God! You are 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 he 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."
Special note: Except for those who are elderly and/or disabled, please remain standing during Holy Communion.
NEXT WEEK’S HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT: Hebrews 1:10-14; 2:1-3; Mark 2:1-12.
SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY VESPERS – Today is Orthodoxy Sunday. In celebration, a Pan-Orthodox Vesper Service will take place at St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Church located at 24 Orchardhill Road in Jamaica Plain, MA, at 5PM. Everyone is invited to share in this celebration as we gather together to glorify our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ. Lenten desserts will be served after the Vesper Service.
REMINDER/GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND THE SPRING DELEGATES MEETING for the Antiochian Women, Fellowship of St. John the Divine and Teen SOYO will be held Saturday, March 6, 2010 at St. Mary, Pawtucket. A brief prayer service will begin at 10AM in the Parish Center with meetings immediately following. A luncheon will follow at 12:30PM.
ADULT LENTEN RETREAT AT ST. MICHAEL, COTUIT – St. Michael the Archangel Orthodox Church, 62 Main St., Cotuit, MA, is honored to sponsor an Adult Lenten Retreat, Calling All Cradles and Converts! Our Wonderful Journey To Pascha With a Forgiving Jesus, with Fr. Kyriakos (Kerry) V. Saravelas, Orthodox Priest, Radio Host and Popular Lecturer on Saturday, March 13th beginning with registration at 8:30AM, Divine Liturgy at 9AM with Coffee, Presentations and Lunch to follow. Donation, $20, Retreat & Luncheon. Pre-registration by March 8th is encouraged. For more info contact Lorraine Reiley, 508.240.2412.
SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS and ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS ARE AVAILABLE for the American Lebanese Awareness Association Scholarship Program. Awards to be made in June 2010. Students who are eligible to receive this scholarship must be of Lebanese ancestry, live in the New England Region, and will attend college later this year or to students who are currently enrolled in a full time undergraduate program. All applications must be received via mail on or before April 1, 2010. Please call the church office if you are interested in receiving an application.