PARISH
PHONE: (201) 568-8840 V. Rev. Joseph Allen, Pastor
FAX: (201) 568-6933 Dn. Peter Boulukos, Assistant
St. Anthony’s web page: http://www.stanthonysorthodox.org
Antiochian Archdiocese web page: http://www.antiochian.org
FOURTH SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT
Epistle: Hebrews 6:13-20 St. John Climakos
Gospel: Mark -30
Tone: Four
THE EPISTLE
Prokeimenon: The Lord will give strength to his people.
Bring to the Lord, O sons of God, bring to the Lord honor and glory.
The reading is from
BRETHREN, when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore to himself, saying, "Surely I will bless you and multiply you." And thus Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise. Men indeed swear by a greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he interposed with an oath, so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God should prove false, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
THE EUCHARISTIC OFFERINGS
The Holy Oblations are offered at the Offertory of the Great Entrance today for the health and welfare of those living members, and for those departed this life in Christ, of the Tsoukaris Family.
The Coffee and Reception in the Church Hall is offered today by the Tsoukaris Family. NOTE: Please do not wait to sign up for offering the Coffee Reception held every Sunday after Liturgy. The chart is posted in the hall, as well as the list of responsibilities and items needed.
PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Today there will be a Memorial Service for the late servant of God +STYLIANOS (Stellios) TSOUKARIS (Five Years), husband of our parishioner Johanna Tsoukaris. MEMORY ETERNAL!
2. LENTEN SCHEDULE.
A. This Wednesday, April 13th, is our fifth PRESANCTIFIED LITURGY, beginning at .
1. We PREPARE to receive the Presanctified Gifts through Abstinence (fasting) and prayer. A small snack is allowed after school, but please eat lightly after .
2. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL HOLY WEEK TO RECEIVE THE SACRAMENT OF REPENTANCE! Confessions are heard before and after the Presanctified Liturgies, and every parent, teen, and child should plan to receive this sacrament during Lent.
B. This Friday, April 15th is the fifth AKATHIST HYMN to Our Lady, the Blessed Theotokos and Virgin Mary, beginning at .
1. Please remember that Confessions are scheduled only BEFORE this service.
2. After the Akathist Hymn this Friday, we will continue our Spring Adult Educational Program. This year’s program is based on the GOSPEL OF ST. LUKE, an award winning presentation which you will not want to miss. Lenten REFRESHMENTS will be prepared by the Ladies’ Guild. We thank them once again for their dedication.
3. NEXT SUNDAY, APRIL 17th, we are honored to welcome to St. Anthony’s His Grace Bishop THOMAS (Joseph). Bishop THOMAS is one of the three new bishops recently consecrated to serve in our new Self-ruled Archdiocese. He currently lives in
4. Also next Sunday, our Fellowship sponsors our Annual COMMUNION BREAKFAST. All parishioners, including all TEENS and CHURCH SCHOOL STUDENTS should be present to welcome and greet the new Bishop to our parish.
5. GREETING A BISHOP IN THE ORTHODOX TRADITION: When addressing a bishop (Hierarch), he is called “Your Grace.” If it is our Archbishop, he is called “Your Eminence.” Thus, when greeting Bishop THOMAS, and receiving his blessing, we address him as “Your Grace,” (while when referring to him, we say “HIS Grace.” The proper way to greet any Orthodox Hierarch is to kiss his hand, since by his hand ordination and consecration guarantees the continuance of the Church (“Laying on of hands”).
6.
A. We thank our Church School Director Nike Bach and the entire staff for preparing the “Bishop’s Program” next week.
B. PARENTS: please remember that the Church School EGG HUNT is scheduled to follow the Liturgy on
7. FOOD FOR THE HUNGRY CAMPAIGN. All parishioners throughout the Archdiocese should have received, or soon will receive, their FFHP Packets. This is part of our Lenten “discipline,” that is to do the “works of charity” during this season! You may return these envelopes at any time to the Church. (Please remember, these are NOT your weekly stewardship pledge to our parish!).
8. The Ladies’ Guild will again be decorating Ukrainian/Russian Easter Eggs on Tuesday, April 12th at . More to follow.
9. Friday, April 22nd, our Annual Lenten Supper prepared and hosted by our TEEN SOYO. Let us plan to be here and support our kids. This will follow the Small Compline Service at .
10. HOLY WEEK FLOWERS: As we enter deeper into the second half of Great Lent, we begin to plan for HOLY and PASSION WEEK, that period from PALM SUNDAY to HOLY PASCHA, when Our Lord entered
11. Today, Father Joseph, during the Homily time, will discuss the date of Easter, and other “difference” between the Eastern Christian and Western Christian Traditions. This as a result of two factors about which many of our parishioners have been asking: The great distance between the two Easter dates, and the recent death of Pope John Paul II. This will be done in the fashion of one of our Fall Adult Education Sessions, and you will be allowed to ask questions, since we look upon these times as a type of “community discussions.”
12. The deadline for the May/June issue of The Desert News is today,
13. The Outreach Committee is searching for those in need of rides to church and volunteers willing to drive these parishioners to church. Please speak with Thelma Dacales, Betty Gakos, or Jim Vagias.
14. DON’T FORGET TO BUY YOUR SCRIP! With the Easter celebration coming up soon, we should all support our Church and use the scrip to do your grocery shopping. It costs you nothing, and the church makes 5% of your purchases. See Betty Gakos for more information.
