e are now
in the second half of Great Lent. A good time to
refocus our hearts, minds and spirits on what it is that we
are doing. Here is a story to help us do that.
A father, who was a member of
a local parish, tells the following story. “One rainy
afternoon I was driving along one of the main streets of
town, taking those extra precautions necessary when the
roads are wet and slick.
Suddenly, my daughter, Katina,
spoke up from her relaxed position in her seat. ‘Dad,
I'm thinking of something.’
This announcement usually meant she had been pondering some
fact for a while, and was now ready to expound all that her
six-year-old mind had discovered. I was eager to hear.
‘What are you thinking?’ I
asked. ‘The rain,’ she began, ‘is like sin, and the
windshield wipers are like God wiping our sins away.’
After the chill bumps raced up
my arms I was able to respond. That's really good, Katina.’
Then my curiosity broke in. How far would this little girl
take this reflection?
So I asked, ‘Do you notice how
the rain keeps on coming? What does that tell you?’
Katina didn't hesitate one
moment with her answer: ‘We keep on sinning, and God just
keeps on forgiving us so long as we say we’re sorry, change
direction and start fresh.’
We haven’t had much rain lately
in this part of Florida. But the next time it does rain, and
you turn on the windshield wipers, think about what the
little six year old said. It’s a big part of the message of
Great Lent.
Think about what it means for
you, for your life, for the need to repent, and turn your
heart and mind and spirit to the Lord. Seek His forgiveness,
change the way you deal with others. Turn to the Lord. Place
your life in the loving arms of Christ. Seek Him everywhere,
and especially in His house, the Church. Come to Church.
Worship the Lord. Participate in the Sacramental Life. Learn
His will for you. Practice love and forgiveness.
Today, the 4th Sunday of Lent, we remember of St. John of
the Ladder. He taught us to keep climbing toward God, to let
go of our failures, weaknesses, pride, and all manner of
sins, and keep climbing to God. St. Paul put it well for us:
“Do not be conformed to this world but be
transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove
what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and
perfect” (Romans 12:2).
. Service
Hours: Sundays and Feast Days: Orthros at 9:30 am; Divine
Liturgy at 10:00 am
Evening Services as Announced
Saints: St. John of the Ladder, Titus,
Wonderworker (9th c.); Theodora, Virgin Martyr; the
brother Maryrs Aidesios and Amphion (+306); Panagiotes,
Martyr; Gregory of Nikomedia (b. 1240); Polycarp,
Martyr.
4th
SUNDAY OF LENT- ST. JOHN OF THE LADDER
GOSPEL ENTRANCE AND OTHER HYMNS
DIVINE LITURGY OF SAINT BASIL
Dismissal Hymn of the Resurrection -
Plagal 4th Tone
(Sing in Greek before the Entrance)
("Ex ypsous katelthes").Hymnal, 89.
(Sing in English after the
Entrance) ("From on high did you descend"). (Same).
Dismissal Hymn of St. John of the Ladder
The leaders
sing in Greek “Tes ton dakryon sou
rhoes”
(Read)
Your abundant tears / made the wilderness to sprout and
bloom, / and your deep sighs of love / made your labors
fruitful / a hundredfold; / you became a shining star /
showering miracles upon the world. / Holy Father John, /
pray to Christ God / that He may save our souls.
Dismissal Hymn of the Presentation of
Christ (See paper in the pews)
Kontakion of Lent: Sing
in Greek and English “Tee Ypermacho. .
.” Hymnal, 98
Turn to pp. 26-27
of the Hymnal, for
“Holy God . . . .”
EPISTLE – Hebrews
6:13-20 (4th Lent- St. John of the Ladder)
rethren, 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 for ever after the order
of Melchizedek.
GOSPEL – Mark
9:17-31 (4th Lent - St. John of the Ladder)
t that time, a
man came to Jesus kneeling and saying: "Teacher, I brought
my son to you, for he has a dumb spirit; and wherever it
seizes him it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his
teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast
it out, and they were not able." And he answered them, "O
faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long
am I to bear with you? Bring him to me." And they brought
the boy to him; and when the spirit saw him, immediately it
convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled
about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father,
"How long has he had this?" And he said, "From childhood.
And it has often cast him into the fire and into the water,
to destroy him; but if you can do anything, have pity on us
and help us." And Jesus said to him, "If you can! All things
are possible to him who believes." Immediately the father of
the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!"
And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he
rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You dumb and deaf
spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him
again." And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it
came out, and the boy was like a corpse; so that most of
them said, "He is dead." But Jesus took him by the hand and
lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the
house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not
cast it out?" And he said to them, "This kind cannot be
driven out by anything but prayer and fasting." They went on
from there and passed through Galilee. And he would not have
any one know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying
to them, "The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of
men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, after
three days he will rise."
ONE TRAY TODAY FOR STEWARDSHIP AND FOR VISITORS’
OFFERINGS
FOR THE
RECORD: March 26 –
Attendance 48; Stewardship $529; Candles $106; Visitors’
Offering $69; Adamis Philanthropic Fund $185 Additional for
Lenten Flowers $250. Phil & Colleen Skaroulis donated $100
to the Building Fund in honor of their daughter Lorraine’s
Baptism last Saturday. Thank you for your support!
TRISAGION:
Connie Mourgides and Helen Nicolelis have asked us to pray
for the rest of the soul of their late sister Katy
Calligeros on the second anniversary of her passing. Join in
the Trisagion prayers for the rest of her soul.
Eternal Memory!
telephone Directory:
You can help this project by soliciting advertising
for the Directory. Can you solicit two business
ads? Can you solicit one business ad? If you can’t solicit –
can you be a Booster? Be a Booster for $25. Call Cathy
at 684-4082 to help!
MANY THANKS
to Nikolai and Nanka Kastelan for donating the flowers
for the service of the Adoration of the Holy Cross last
Sunday, given for blessings and health for their children
and grandchildren. Many blessings!
Health Lecture TODAY - FOLLOWING THE LITURGY
Come hear Karen
Gidden of the Hernando County Health Department speak to
us on the topic “Action Time To Heart Alert Sign.” A
light lunch will be served. Don’t miss this life-saving
presentation! Sponsored by St. Katherine’s Ladies
Society of our church.
THE AKATHIST
HYMN TO THE THEOTOKOS flowers Friday, April 7, are being
offered by Paul & Venice Cosmadelis, in memory of their
sister Gloria. Please bring a Lenten dish for the Lenten
Covered Dish Supper after the service.
NEEDED: EASTER FOOD BASKET DONATIONS:
The pantry in the Parish Hall is slowly filling up – But
there is still more space for your donation! Please bring
some canned and boxed foods to feed the hungry!
EASTER FOOD BOXES WILL BE PREPARED
FOLLOWING THE POT-LUCK SUPPER ON FRIDAY APRIL 7 FOR
DISTRIBUTION THE FOLLOWING WEEK. COME AND HELP!
