SUNDAY OF THE HOLY CROSS APRIL 7th, 2013

Transcript

1 SUNDAY OF THE HOLY CROSS APRIL 7th, 2013 Sts. Raphael, Nicholas and Irene Greek Orthodox Church Rev. Fr. Barnabas Powell, Proistamenos Jimmy Smith, Psaltis 3074 Bethelview Road Cumming GA (770) cell (770) We are an intentional Orthodox Christian Community for North Georgia!

2 WORSHIP Eleventh Gospel/Tone Third We are so very glad you have joined us today, and we pray you will be inspired and encouraged by your time with us. The Orthodox worship service is an ancient and timeless expression of how people have loved, served and worshipped God for many centuries, but it may be a bit of a different experience for you. Please feel free to use a service book or not and simply allow the words of the service to wash over you. The central act of our worship culminates in people receiving communion. This is a very special time for us all and we have some specific beliefs about our communion together. This is why we never impose this service on those who are not prepared or are not baptized Orthodox. This service may raise questions in your mind. Please feel free to ask Fr. Barnabas or Fr. Paul anything you wish after the service. At the end of the service EVERYONE is invited to come forward and receive a portion of the blessed bread from Fr. Barnabas. No one should leave church hungry! Know you are welcome and we are glad you are here. May God bless you and your family. Apolytikion in honor of Sts. Raphael, Nicholas & Irene Having contended on Lesvos for the sake of Christ God, you have sanctified the island since the discovery of your sacred relics, O blessed ones; wherefore we honor you, O Godbearing Raphael, together with Nicholas and virgin Irene, as our divine protectors and intercessors with the Lord. Schedule for the Week April 10th, Wednesday - 6:30 p.m. Pre-sanctified Liturgy April 12th, Friday - 7 p.m. Salutations to the Theotokos with Fr. Steven Dalber, priest at St. Nektarios parish, Charlotte, NC April 13th, Saturday - Sts. RNI Parish Lenten Retreat with Fr. Steven Dalber, priest at St. Nektarios parish, Charlotte, NC, as guest speaker 5 p.m. Great Vespers Parish Council On Duty Today - Paul Ray, Chris Foxhall, Harriet Howell Ushering Ministry - PC/Parishioners Welcoming Ministry - Tina Maheras ACOLYTES Zachery Bethune, James Blane, Nathan Frazier, Nicholas Pryles, Tommy Roberts, Luke Sulyma, Mike Trainor, Thomas Miller and Christos Zourzoukis SENIOR ACOLYTES Dean Pryles, Mike Manos STS. RNI YOUTH CHOIR Tabitha Bethune, Jessica Catapano, Maria Hagen, Christina Pryles & Laramie Smith

3 TODAY WE REMEMBER SUNDAY OF THE HOLY CROSS Reading: With the help of God, we have almost reached the middle of the course of the Fast, where our strength has been worn down through abstinence, and the full difficulty of the labour set before us becomes apparent. Therefore our holy Mother, the Church of Christ, now brings to our help the all-holy Cross, the joy of the world, the strength of the faithful, the staff of the just, and the hope of sinners, so that by venerating it reverently, we might receive strength and grace to complete the divine struggle of the Fast. Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Third Tone: Let the heavens sing for joy, and let everything on earth be glad. * For with His Arm the Lord has worked power. * He trampled death under foot by means of death; * and He became the firstborn from the dead. * From the maw of Hades He delivered us; * and He granted the world His great mercy. Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone: To you, Theotokos, invincible Defender, having been delivered from peril, I, your city, dedicate the victory festival as a thank offering. In your irresistible might, keep me safe from all trials, that I may call out to you: "Hail, unwedded bride!" We Also Remember The Holy Martyr Calliopius Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow & Enlightener of North America Righteous Father Savvas the New of Kalymnos George, Bishop of Lesvos Please pray for those faithful who are currently in need of our most fervent intercessions: Andrew, Angie, Bill, Bill, Carrie, Demetra, Dina, Donna, Elaine, Elizabeth, Christina, George, Gus, Heidi, Igli, James, Jerry, Joe, Maria, Michael, Oni, Paul, Peter, Staikoula, Taki, Tara, Violeta, John & Sheila Consos, Archie Lytle, Katherine & Sam Yalanzon Visitors Welcome Dina Sarandis resides at The Oaks on Post Road and welcomes visits from fellow parishioners. John & Sheila Consos are now residing in Dunwoody 4355 Georgetown Sq., Unit 442 and would enjoy phone calls (770/ ) &/or visits. If you know of someone who would like a visit, please contact Helen McCart at or the Church Office.

4 Epistle Reading The Reading is from St. Paul s Letter to the Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:1-6 The Reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 3:10-15 Prokeimenon. Mode Plagal 2. Psalm 27.9,1 O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance. Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God. BRETHREN, since we have a high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, "Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee"; as he says also in another place, "Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek." Α Ω Ἀδελφοί, ἔχοντες οὖν ἀρχιερέα μέγαν, διεληλυθότα τοὺς οὐρανούς, Ἰησοῦν τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ θεοῦ, κρατῶμεν τῆς ὁμολογίας. Οὐ γὰρ ἔχομεν ἀρχιερέα μὴ δυνάμενον συμπαθῆσαι ταῖς ἀσθενείαις ἡμῶν, πεπειραμένον δὲ κατὰ πάντα καθʼ ὁμοιότητα, χωρὶς ἁμαρτίας. Προσερχώμεθα οὖν μετὰ παρρησίας τῷ θρόνῳ τῆς χάριτος, ἵνα λάβωμεν ἔλεον, καὶ χάριν εὕρωμεν εἰς εὔκαιρον βοήθειαν. Πᾶς γὰρ ἀρχιερεύς, ἐξ ἀνθρώπων λαμβανόμενος, ὑπὲρ ἀνθρώπων καθίσταται τὰ πρὸς τὸν θεόν, ἵνα προσφέρῃ δῶρά τε καὶ θυσίας ὑπὲρ ἁμαρτιῶν μετριοπαθεῖν δυνάμενος τοῖς ἀγνοοῦσιν καὶ πλανωμένοις, ἐπεὶ καὶ αὐτὸς περίκειται ἀσθένειαν καὶ διὰ ταύτην ὀφείλει, καθὼς περὶ τοῦ λαοῦ, οὕτως καὶ περὶ ἑαυτοῦ, προσφέρειν ὑπὲρ ἁμαρτιῶν. Καὶ οὐχ ἑαυτῷ τις λαμβάνει τὴν τιμήν, ἀλλὰ καλούμενος ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ, καθάπερ καὶ Ἀαρών. Οὕτως καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς οὐχ ἑαυτὸν ἐδόξασεν γενηθῆναι ἀρχιερέα, ἀλλʼ ὁ λαλήσας πρὸς αὐτόν, Υἱός μου εἶ σύ, ἐγὼ σήμερον γεγέννηκά σε. Καθὼς καὶ ἐν ἑτέρῳ λέγει, Σὺ ἱερεὺς εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Μελχισεδέκ.

5 Gospel Reading The Reading is from Mark 8:34-38; 9:1 The Lord said: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power." Α Ω Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος Εἴ τις θέλει ὀπίσω μου ἐλθεῖν, ἀπαρνησάσθω ἑαυτὸν καὶ ἀράτω τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀκολουθείτω μοι. ὃς γὰρ ἂν θέλῃ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ σῶσαι, ἀπολέσει αὐτήν ὃς δ ἂν ἀπολέσῃ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ψυχὴν ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ καὶ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου, οὗτος σώσει αὐτήν. τί γὰρ ὠφελήσει ἄνθρωπον ἐὰν κερδήσῃ τὸν κόσμον ὅλον, καὶ ζημιωθῇ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ; ἢ τί δώσει ἄνθρωπος ἀντάλλαγμα τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ; ὃς γὰρ ἐὰν ἐπαισχυνθῇ με καὶ τοὺς ἐμοὺς λόγους ἐν τῇ γενεᾷ ταύτῃ τῇ μοιχαλίδι καὶ ἁμαρτωλῷ, καὶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐπαισχυνθήσεται αὐτὸν ὅταν ἔλθῃ ἐν τῇ δόξῃ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ μετὰ τῶν ἀγγέλων τῶν ἁγίων. Καὶ ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι εἰσί τινες τῶν ὧδε ἑστηκότων, οἵτινες οὐ μὴ γεύσωνται θανάτου ἕως ἂν ἴδωσι τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐληλυθυῖαν ἐν δυνάμει.

6 ANNOUNCEMENTS BIBLE STUDY CLASSES Wednesday, April 10th - 10 a.m. Great Lent Conversation on Holy Week Wednesday, April 10th - following 6:30 p.m. Pre-Sanctified Liturgy A Step-by-Step Look at the Divine Liturgy Thursday, April 11th - 6:30 p.m. Great Lent Conversation on Holy Week Father Barnabas will be available to hear confession every Wednesday either before or after Vespers and by appointment. Please call or the church office to request a time to meet with Father and avail yourself to this healing divine mystery of the Church. Please call the Church office for more information (770) SCHEDULE OF SERVICES FOR LENT & PASCHA APRIL 10th, Wednesday 6:30 p.m. Pre-sanctified Liturgy 12th, Friday 7 p.m. Salutations to the Theotokos with Fr. John Dalber of St. Nektarios, Charlotte. Lenten Retreat Begins 13 th, Saturday Sts. RNI Lenten Retreat with Fr. John Dalber - 9 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 5 p.m. Great Vespers 14 th, Sunday of St. John Climacus 8:45 a.m. Orthros/10 a.m. Divine Liturgy 17th, Wednesday 6:30 p.m. Pre-sanctified Liturgy 19 th, Friday 7 p.m. Akathist to the Theotokos 21st, Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt 8:45 a.m. Orthros/10 a.m. Divine Liturgy

7 SCHEDULE OF SERVICES FOR LENT & PASCHA APRIL 24th, Wednesday 6:30 p.m. Pre-sanctified Liturgy 26th, Friday 6 p.m. Vespers at Holy Transfiguration Church, Marietta 27th, Saturday - Saturday of Lazarus Service will be at the Holy Transfiguration Church, Marietta 8:30 a.m. Orthros/9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy of St. Basil Followed by making of palm crosses & breakfast Sts. RNI 5 p.m. Great Sts. RNI 28th, Palm Sunday 8:45 am. Orthros/10 a.m. Divine Liturgy 7 p.m. Matins of the Bridegroom #1 29th, Holy Monday 8 a.m. Pre-Sanctified Liturgy 7 p.m. Matins of the Bridegroom #2 30th, Holy Tuesday 8 a.m. Pre-Sanctified Liturgy 7 p.m. Matins of the Bridegroom #3 MAY 1st, Holy Wednesday 8 a.m. Pre-Sanctified Liturgy 3 p.m. Holy Unction 7 p.m. Holy Unction 2nd, Holy Thursday 8 a.m. Divine Liturgy of St. Basil 7 p.m. Service of the Twelve Gospels and Procession of the Holy Cross 3rd, Holy & Great Friday 9 a.m. The Royal Hours 3 p.m. Service of the Descent from the Cross 7 p.m. Service of Lamentations and Procession of Epitaphion 4th-5th, Holy & Great Saturday 9 a.m. Divine Liturgy of St. Basil 11 p.m. Matins of the Resurrection 12 Midnight Resurrection Service/Resurrection Divine Liturgy

8 ANNOUNCEMENTS May 5th, Great and Holy Pascha 12 Noon Agape Vespers Parish-wide Easter egg hunt and Parish Picnic 7th, Bright Tuesday - Sts. Raphael, Nicholas & Irene Feast Day 5 p.m. Hierarchical Great Vespers Lamb Dinner Celebration follows PALM SUNDAY FISH LUNCHEON Sunday, April 28th Tickets Available Today Adults $10 - Children 5-12 $5 - Children 4 & Under Free See Stamatia Hagen or Sophia Bethune (h) PASCHA PICNIC - EASTER SUNDAY, MAY 5th 11 a.m. Easter Egg Hunt 12 noon Agape Service 1 p.m. Potluck Lunch - Each family brings a dish (or 2) to share RSVP to Sophia Bethune (h) Prosforo Baking Tuesday, April 9th, 2013 Contact Stamatia Hagen for more information at mamma2maria@aol.com or All hands are welcome!

9 ANNOUNCEMENTS Sunday School Sunday School students will be dismissed after the procession of the cross. (6th grade through high school will meet together in the Youth Room.) The Pascha Passports have been distributed. "Stamps" for attendance will be given out in Sunday School. For all other services (Akathists, Great Complines, and Pre-Sanctifed Liturgy...), the stamps will be on the table in the narthex. Help your child remember to bring their Passport to every service. Please help Sunday School support Project Mexico this year. To learn more about the orphans and home building trips that need our support, visit In the bookstore, we have some great resources to help educate our children about Great Lent and Holy Week! Coloring books that include posters and stickers (with both Greek and English texts) are available for $9 each. Pascha baskets with Pascha Activity coloring books are available for $25. Visit the bookstore for educational resources this Great Lent! Volunteers are needed to help with Sunday School. Fully prepared lessons are given each Sunday. Your participation is essential. Any questions or concerns, or for more information, contact Lisa Boston at or GOYA Luminary Fund Raiser Help us light the way for the procession on Holy Friday. Make a donation to GOYA for a luminary in memory of your loved one(s). Forms are available in the Narthex. Contact Suzi or suzi@bloominpatios.com

10 ANNOUNCEMENTS PHILOPTOCHOS 2013 Membership Drive has begun. ALL are welcome to join. Philoptochos is not just a ladies organization anymore! EASTER GOODIES Philoptochos is taking orders for 9x12 tray of pastichio for $25/tray. Delivery will be by Sunday, April 28th (Palm Sunday) Contact Helen McCart or filatra3@comcast.net Tsoureki (Easter Bread) orders are also being taken. $10/loaf Delivery will be by Sunday, April 28th (Palm Sunday) Contact Sophia Bethune at (h) or (c) BOOK CLUB Please join us after Saturday Vespers for Food, Fellowship, and Good Conversation! Saturday, April 13th.Please bring a dish to share for our covered dish supper. For more information, contact Lisa myakunda.com or Donna missmagnoliasmoxie@gmail.com Sts. RNI Choir Practice Today - SUNDAY - Immediately following Divine Liturgy in the Chapel Contact Marie Chapman for more information or mommystargater@comcast.net IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES Friday & Saturday, April 12th & 13th - Sts. RNI Parish Lenten Retreat with Fr. Steven Dalber, priest at St. Nektarios parish, Charlotte, NC, as guest speaker Saturday, April 20th - Sts. RNI Parish hosting the Metropolis District Level Oratorial Festival

11 ANNOUNCEMENTS FELLOWSHIP HOUR Our Fellowship Hour Donation Campaign has begun. A suggested donation of $25/family helps cover the cost of the weekly Fellowship Hour. Checks should be made payable to Sts. RNI G.O. Church with Fellowship on the memo line. We hope you have enjoyed the refreshments provided over the past year and will continue to support the Fellowship Committee s efforts to serve you each Sunday Donors Jim & Angie Andropoulos Anthony & Mary Birozes Kosta & Carolyn Bozzuto Grace Chihlas John & Beth Doulgerakis Mariya & Gregory Dunkel Keith & Mary Druffner Chris & Liz Foxhall Jean Gwaltney, Harriet Howell Eleni Jordan Vasilios Kaloudis Jim Kanellos Dennis & Ginny Kostulakos Leon & Frances Lopez Florence & Archie Lytle Bill & Margaret Manos Riley & Elizabeth Marvos Mary & Bill Milam Athena & Matt Miller Nik Moissiades Patricia Morris Nick & Teddie Panos Gus Pappas Fr. Barnabas & Pres. Connie Powell Vic & Suzi Pryles Gigi & Paul Ray Kathy & Taka Shoji Nikolaos & Eva Thrasivoulou Ed & Anne Trainor Arthur Tsiropoulos Sharon Tyre Thank you all for your support of this Ministry. Sts. RNI Bookstore News Your purchases through Amazon help us raise money! We have a new e-store on Amazon for the Sts. RNI Bookstore. This is an Amazon webstore that we put items into categories like books, cds, jewelry, food, etc. and we get paid 10% on all sales through our store. If someone from the church wants to buy something on Amazon, they need to click through our link for us to get credit. Also, if anyone wants a book, cd, etc., not on our list, they need to let us know & we can add it to the site. Use the link: For more information or to add items, contact Aftan Romanczak at aromanczak@hotmail.com

12 To date the 85 families below have returned Stewardship Commitment Cards for Nicholas & Varvara Alexiou Jim & Angie Andropoulos Sarante & Julie Athenson Richard & Sophia Bethune Anthony & Mary Birozes Renee Birozes Katherine Blanos Joseph & Barbara Bonelli-Selwa Jordan & Lisa Boston Helen Bouboulis Kosta & Carolyn Bozzuto Sean & Maria Carney David & Marie Chapman Grace Chihlas Julie Chokos John & Sheila Consos Dan & Alyssa Douglas John & Beth Doulgerakis Quay & Trissie Farr Chris & Liz Foxhall Valerie Galanis Robert & Jennifer Guano Harald & Stamatia Hagen Christine Hatcher Harriet Howell Mark & Jennie Johnson Eleni Jordan Vasilios & Mary Kaloudis James Kanellos Maria Kardomateas Theodoros & Aphrodite Kazazakis-Levendakis Dennis & Ginny Kostulakos Leon & Francis Lopez Archie & Florence Lytle Connie Machoudy Harry & Tina Maheras Bill & Margaret Manos Emanuel Manos Bill & Audrey Marianes Al & Helen McCart John & Becky Melts Bill & Mary Milam Matt & Athena Miller Nikolaos Moissiadis Patricia Morris Peter & Jamie Nunn Nicolas & Teddie Panos Constantinos & Evelyn Pantazopoulos Lazaros & Christina Papadopoulos Gregory Pappas Gus Pappas John & Evon Patrick Sts. RNI Philoptochos Gus Plakiotis Ioanna Plakiotis Mihai & Heidi Popa Father & Presvytera Powell Pam Powers Vic & Suzi Pryles Paul & Gigi Ray Marina Raymond David & Mary Roberts Athan & Cheri Romanczak Andrew & Lorez Roussey Dina Sarandis Taka & Kathy Shoji Eric & Donna Smith Eugenia Smith Estelle Sofikitis George & Anna Sofikitis Dennis & Laura Sparks Koko & Carol Tadros Steven & Thalia Thompson Ed & Anne Trainor Brian & Jennifer Tubbs Sharon Tyre Greg Tzevelekos George Tzortzinakis Plutarch & Tina Vamvakias Rusty & Christine Waldron Tim & Diane Walters Steve & Smara Wolff Sam & Katherine Yalanzon George & Thalia Zazanis-Bruno John & Mildred Zourzoukis