PALM SUNDAY. APRIL 8th, Sts. Raphael, Nicholas and Irene Greek Orthodox Church

Transcript

1 PALM SUNDAY APRIL 8th, 2012 Sts. Raphael, Nicholas and Irene Greek Orthodox Church Rev. Fr. Barnabas Powell, Proistamenos Paul Bilson, Psaltis 3074 Bethelview Road Cumming GA (770) cell (770) We are an intentional Orthodox Christian Community for North Georgia!

2 WORSHIP Festal 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 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. Prosforo: Is lovingly offered by the Prosforo Ministry Team Please pray for those faithful who are currently in need of our most fervent intercessions: Albie, Andrew, Archie, Bill, Bill, Carrie, Demetra, Dina, Donna, Efthymios, Elaine, Elizabeth, Christina, Heidi, Igli, James, Jerry, Joe, John, Maria, Michael, Nomiki, Oni, Paul, Peter, Sarah, Taki, Tara and Violeta Schedule for the Week Please refer to Holy Week Schedule on Page 6 Confession Please call the church to make an appointment. Parish Council On Duty - Harald Hagen, Mary Roberts & Harriet Howell Welcoming Ministry - Florence Lytle/Tina Maheras Ushering Men s Club ACOLYTES James Blane, Nathan Frazier, Spiros Kefalas, Dean Pryles, Nicholas Pryles, Mike Manos, Giovanni Ray, Tommy Roberts, Mike Trainor, Connor Walters, Roney Walters, Thomas Miller and Christos Zourzoukis

3 TODAY WE REMEMBER Palm Sunday Reading: On Sunday, five days before the Passover of the Law, the Lord came from Bethany to Jerusalem. Sending two of His disciples to bring Him a foal of an ass, He sat thereon and entered into the city. When the multitude there heard that Jesus was coming, they straightway took up the branches of palm trees in their hands, and went forth to meet Him. Others spread their garments on the ground, and yet others cut branches from the trees and strewed them in the way that Jesus was to pass; and all of them together, especially the children, went before and after Him, crying out: "Hosanna: Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord, the King of Israel" (John 12:13). This is the radiant and glorious festival of our Lord's entry into Jerusalem that we celebrate today. The branches of the palm trees symbolize Christ's victory over the devil and death. The word Hosanna means "Save, I pray," or "Save, now." The foal of an ass, and Jesus' sitting thereon, and the fact that this animal was untamed and considered unclean according to the Law, signified the former uncleanness and wildness of the nations, and their subjection thereafter to the holy Law of the Gospel. Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone: As by baptism we were buried with Thee, O Christ our God, so by Thy Resurrection we were deemed worthy of immortal life; and praising Thee, we cry: Hosanna in the highest; blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord. Kontakion in the Plagal of the Second Tone: In Heaven, He is seated upon a Throne and on earth He rides upon a foal. O Christ our God, accept the praise of the Angels and the hymn of the Children who cry out to You, "Blessed are You who comes to recall Adam." We Also Remember Agavos, Rophos, Asynkritos, Phlegon, Herodion & Hermes of the 70 Apostles Rufus the Obedient of the Kiev Caves Celestine, Pope of Rome Congratulations Congratulations to Maria Hagen on her recent win at the Central Conference District Oratorical Festival. Good luck as you travel to the Metropolis Oratorical Festival at St. Mark G. O. Church in Boca Raton, FL, May 11-13, Thank you to Fr. Paul and Pat Morris for your encouragement, inspiration and coaching of our youth to participate in the Oratorical Festival.

4 Epistle Reading The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter To the Philippians 4:4-9 The Reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 3:10-15 BRETHREN, rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you. Α Ω Ἀδελφοί, χαίρετε ἐν κυρίῳ πάντοτε πάλιν ἐρῶ, χαίρετε. Τὸ ἐπιεικὲς ὑμῶν γνωσθήτω πᾶσιν ἀνθρώποις. Ὁ κύριος ἐγγύς. Μηδὲν μεριμνᾶτε, ἀλλʼ ἐν παντὶ τῇ προσευχῇ καὶ τῇ δεήσει μετὰ εὐχαριστίας τὰ αἰτήματα ὑμῶν γνωριζέσθω πρὸς τὸν θεόν. Καὶ ἡ εἰρήνη τοῦ θεοῦ ἡ ὑπερέχουσα πάντα νοῦν, φρουρήσει τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν καὶ τὰ νοήματα ὑμῶν ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ. Τὸ λοιπόν, ἀδελφοί, ὅσα ἐστὶν ἀληθῆ, ὅσα σεμνά, ὅσα δίκαια, ὅσα ἁγνά, ὅσα προσφιλῆ, ὅσα εὔφημα, εἴ τις ἀρετὴ καὶ εἴ τις ἔπαινος, ταῦτα λογίζεσθε. Ἃ καὶ ἐμάθετε καὶ παρελάβετε καὶ ἠκούσατε καὶ εἴδετε ἐν ἐμοί, ταῦτα πράσσετε καὶ ὁ θεὸς τῆς εἰρήνης ἔσται μεθʼ ὑμῶν.

5 Gospel Reading The Reading is from John 12:1-18 Six days before Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazaros was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; Martha served, and Lazaros was one of those at table with him. Mary took a pound of costly ointment of pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was to betray him), said "Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" This he said, not that he cared for the poor but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box he used to take what was put into it. Jesus said, "Let her alone, let her keep it for the day of my burial. The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me." When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came, not only on account of Jesus but also to see Lazaros, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazaros also to death, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus. The next day a great crowd who had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!" And Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it; as it is written, "Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt!" His disciples did not understand this at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that this had been written of him and had been done to him. The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazaros out of the tomb and raised him from the dead bore witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. Α Ω Πρὸ ἓξ ἡμερῶν τοῦ πάσχα ἦλθεν Ὁ Ιησοῦς εἰς Βηθανίαν, ὅπου ἦν Λάζαρος ὁ τεθνηκώς, ὃν ἤγειρεν ἐκ νεκρῶν. ἐποίησαν οὖν αὐτῷ δεῖπνον ἐκεῖ, καὶ ἡ Μάρθα διηκόνει ὁ δὲ Λάζαρος εἷς ἦν τῶν ἀνακειμένων σὺν αὐτῷ. ἡ οὖν Μαρία, λαβοῦσα λίτραν μύρου νάρδου πιστικῆς πολυτίμου, ἤλειψε τοὺς πόδας τοῦ Ιησοῦ καὶ ἐξέμαξε ταῖς θριξὶν αὐτῆς τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ ἡ δὲ οἰκία ἐπληρώθη ἐκ τῆς ὀσμῆς τοῦ μύρου. λέγει οὖν εἷς ἐκ τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ, Ιούδας Σίμωνος Ισκαριώτης, ὁ μέλλων αὐτὸν παραδιδόναι διατί τοῦτο τὸ μύρον οὐκ ἐπράθη τριακοσίων δηναρίων καὶ ἐδόθη πτωχοῖς; εἶπε δὲ τοῦτο οὐχ ὅτι περὶ τῶν πτωχῶν ἔμελεν αὐτῷ, ἀλλ ὅτι κλέπτης ἦν, καὶ τὸ γλωσσόκομον εἶχε καὶ τὰ βαλλόμενα ἐβάσταζεν. εἶπεν οὖν ὁ Ιησοῦς ἄφες αὐτήν, εἰς τὴν ἡμέραν τοῦ ἐνταφιασμοῦ μου τετήρηκεν αὐτό. τοὺς πτωχοὺς γὰρ πάντοτε ἔχετε μεθ ἑαυτῶν, ἐμὲ δὲ οὐ πάντοτε ἔχετε. Εγνω οὖν ὄχλος πολὺς ἐκ τῶν Ιουδαίων ὅτι ἐκεῖ ἐστι, καὶ ἦλθον οὐ διὰ τὸν Ιησοῦν μόνον, ἀλλ ἵνα καὶ τὸν Λάζαρον ἴδωσιν ὃν ἤγειρεν ἐκ νεκρῶν. ἐβουλεύσαντο δὲ οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς ἵνα καὶ τὸν Λάζαρον ἀποκτείνωσιν,ὅτι πολλοὶ δι αὐτὸν ὑπῆγον τῶν Ιουδαίων καὶ ἐπίστευον εἰς τὸν Ιησοῦν. Τῇ ἐπαύριον ὄχλος πολὺς ὁ ἐλθὼν εἰς τὴν ἑορτήν, ἀκούσαντες ὅτι ἔρχεται Ιησοῦς εἰς Ιεροσόλυμα, ἔλαβον τὰ βαΐα τῶν φοινίκων καὶ ἐξῆλθον εἰς ὑπάντησιν αὐτῷ, καὶ ἔκραζον ὡσαννά, εὐλογημένος ὁ ἐρχόμενος ἐν ὀνόματι Κυρίου, ὁ βασιλεὺς τοῦ Ισραήλ. εὑρὼν δὲ ὁ Ιησοῦς ὀνάριον ἐκάθισεν ἐπ αὐτό, καθώς ἐστι γεγραμμένον μὴ φοβοῦ, θύγατερ Σιών ἰδοὺ ὁ βασιλεύς σου ἔρχεται καθήμενος ἐπὶ πῶλον ὄνου. Ταῦτα δὲ οὐκ ἔγνωσαν οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ τὸ πρῶτον, ἀλλ ὅτε ἐδοξάσθη ὁ Ιησοῦς, τότε ἐμνήσθησαν ὅτι ταῦτα ἦν ἐπ αὐτῷ γεγραμμένα, καὶ ταῦτα ἐποίησαν αὐτῷ. Εμαρτύρει οὖν ὁ ὄχλος ὁ ὢν μετ αὐτοῦ ὅτε τὸν Λάζαρον ἐφώνησεν ἐκ τοῦ μνημείου καὶ ἤγειρεν αὐτὸν ἐκ νεκρῶν. διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ὑπήντησεν αὐτῷ ὁ ὄχλος, ὅτι ἤκουσαν τοῦτο αὐτὸν πεποιηκέναι τὸ σημεῖον

6 HOLY WEEK SERVICES April 8th Sunday 9th Monday Palm Sunday 8:30 a.m. Orthros 9:45 a.m. Divine Liturgy Palm Sunday Lunch 7:00 p.m. Matins of the Bridegroom #1 Holy Monday 7:00 p.m. Matins of the Bridegroom #2 10th Tuesday Holy Tuesday 7:00 p.m. Matins of the Bridegroom #3 11th Wednesday Holy Wednesday 3:00 p.m. Holy Unction 7:00 p.m. Matins with Holy Unction 12th Thursday 13th Friday 14th Saturday 15th Sunday 17th Tuesday Holy Thursday 8:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy of St. Basil 7:00 p.m. Service of the Twelve Gospels & Procession of the Holy Cross Holy & Great Friday 9:00 a.m. Reading of the Royal Hours 3:00 p.m. Service of the Descent from the Cross 7:00 p.m. Service of Lamentations & Procession of Epitaphion Holy & Great Saturday 9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy of St. Basil 11:00 p.m. Matins of the Resurrection 12:00 a.m. Resurrection Service/ Resurrection Divine Liturgy followed by distribution of red eggs Great & Holy Easter 11:00 a.m. Vespers of the Feast of Love (Agape) Bright Tuesday Sts. Raphael, Nicholas & Irene Feast Day 5:00 p.m. Hierarchical Great Vespers Lamb Dinner Celebration follows. JOIN US FOR THE DECORATION OF THE KOUVOUKLION ON HOLY FRIDAY BETWEEN 11 A.M. AND 2:30 P.M. Helping Hands of all ages welcome.

7 ANNOUNCEMENTS STS. RNI GIFT SHOP Come in and see the latest arrivals in our Gift Shop just in time for Pascha. We have icon eggs, pysanky eggs and small stuffed animals holding a wooden cross. Also available are CD s of Pascha, Holy Week and the Akathist Hymn. We hope to have the Gift Shop open 30 minutes prior to each of the Holy Week services. All are welcome to come & browse. JOIN US TODAY FOR THE Annual Palm Sunday Fish Plaki Luncheon We will be hosting our annual Fish Plaki Luncheon after Palm Sunday Services. The menu will include Fish Plaki (baked fish), Rice, Salad, Dessert and Beverage. Mac & Cheese will be available for the children. Ticket prices are Adults $15 and Children 10 to 17-$10; 4 to 9 $7; 3 and under - FREE All proceeds will go towards the future expansion of our Parish. For More information, Contact Paul Ray at paul_ray@comcast.net or Dennis Kostulakos at wordscan49@att.net. WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY The Wednesday morning and evening Bible study classes will resume on April 25th after Bright Week All are invited to attend.

8 ANNOUNCEMENTS PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS 2012 Membership Drive Philoptochos is not just for ladies anymore gentlemen are more than welcome to join and take part in the philanthropic endeavors of the Philoptochos organization. So, ladies & gentlemen, please join (or renew your membership) for See Barbara Alexiou, Membership Chair or any of the Philoptochos Officers (Anne Trainor, Marie Chapman, Ginny Kostulakos, Harriet Howell, Gigi Ray, Margaret Manos) Thank you to all who purchased and/or sold pastries. Our Pascha Bake Sale was a HUGE success. Thank you also to all the bakers without whom we wouldn t have been able to have the bake sale. The Ladies Philoptochos are continuing to collect donations for the specific items needed for Lent and Holy Week and for the MANY flowers to decorate icons and the kouvouklion Please contact Ginny Kostulakos at or wordscan49@att.net to donate. Thank you for your continued support and generosity. GOYA BIBLE STUDY WITH FR. BARNABAS Sunday, April 22nd, 5-6:00 home of Christina Pryles 8750 Colonial Place, Duluth MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE UNTO THE LORD Sts. RNI Choir Contact Marie Chapman for more information or mommystargater@comcast.net

9 ANNOUNCEMENTS Mirophores Needed: Girls ages 5 and above who would like to participate as Mirophores on Good Friday should contact Stamatia Hagen (mamma2maria@aol.com) by Saturday, April 7th. Traditionally, the girls wear all white and place rose petals on the Epitaphio. White baskets and rose petals will be provided. There is a mandatory practice session immediately following Palm Sunday church service April 8th. MEN S BREAKFAST Friday, April 20th, 7-8 a.m. Fagan s Biscuit Barn & Sharon Road All men are invited. Book Club This past Saturday was such a blessing with good food and good conversation. Father pointed out that the neighbors couldn t quite hear every word of our conversation, so we ll try to speak up just a little bit more for their sake the next time we meet. Speaking of which, our next meeting will be April 21st. Please read Chapters 4-6 of Mountain of Silence, take notes and prepare to share your thoughts. In case you missed the conversation, our next book will be Wounded by Love by Elder Porphyrios on sale in the Gift Shop. For more information call Lisa Boston at or myakunda@yahoo.com or Donna Smith at twt100@bellsouth.net. STS. RNI GREEK SCHOOL Adult & Youth Greek School is on hiatus during Great Lent. Please use this time to bring your family to the weekday Lenten services of Pre-Sanctified liturgy on Wednesdays and Salutations on Fridays. Both services begin at 6:30 p.m. Thank you, Hellenic Studies Ministry Team Sunday School Craft Supplies A big THANK YOU to everyone who has brought supplies and given donations for our Sunday School. They are greatly appreciated! Watch out for great crafts coming your way! Lisa Boston

10 ANNOUNCEMENTS Sts. RNI Greek Orthodox Youth of America Honor the memory of a loved one with a luminary to light our procession of the Epitaphion on Holy Friday Free will offering Proceeds to benefit our GOYAN s attending Metropolis events Your Name: In Memory of: (1-2 names per luminary) Please Print clearly and include first and last names Checks payable to: Sts. RNI, note: GOYA Luminary Fundraiser During our Holy Friday Procession luminaries will be arranged in alphabetical order by last name Please return this completed form to: Athena Catapano by Tuesday, April 10 Contact info: athenacatapano@yahoo.com Cell (404) Thank you for your support! GOYA Ministry

11 ANNOUNCEMENTS January-February-March 2012 Income / Expense Summary Month Income Expense Diff +/- January $30, $25, $ 5, February $25, $21, $ 4, March $17, $18, ($ ) Totals $73, $65, $ 8, FELLOWSHIP HOUR Our Fellowship Hour Donation Campaign has begun. 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. For the year, donations have been made by the following families: Andropoulos Birozes Bozzuto Chapman Chihlas Doulgerakis Druffner Hayes Johnson Jordan Kanellos Kefalas Klock Kostulakos Koulouvaris Livaditis Lytle Manos Marvos McCart Melts Milam Miller Moissiades Morris Panos Pappas Patrick Pardinas Philoptochos Pournaras Powell Pryles Ray Sulyma Trainor Willis 2012 PARISH COUNCIL Dennis Kostulakos (President), John Patrick (Vice President), Paul Ray (Secretary), Vic Pryles (Treasurer), David Chapman, Harald Hagen, Harriet Howell, Florence Lytle and Mary Roberts

12 To date the 82 stewards below have returned Stewardship Commitment Cards for Total Pledges to Date: $157, Average Pledge: $1, Nicholas & Varvara Alexiou Jim & Angie Andropoulos Richard & Sophia Bethune Paul & Elaine Bilson Anthony & Mary Birozes Renee Birozes Katherine Blanos Jordan & Lisa Boston Niko & Helen Bouboulis Kosta & Carolyn Bozzuto Talia Bruno Athena Catapano David & Marie Chapman Grace Chihlas Julie Chokos Arthur Costakis Jamie Crossno Dean & Jenny Demos Wesley & Donna Dennison Keith & Mary Druffner Quay & Trissie Farr Chris & Liz Foxhall Dan & Sonia Frazier Paul & Caroline Geertgens Robert & Jennifer Guano Kevin & Allison Hammond Christine Hatcher Michael & Ann Hayes Harriet Howell Mark & Jennie Johnson Eleni Jordan Bill & Mary Kaloudis Jim Kanellos Theodoros & Aphrodite Kazazakis- Levendakis Tasso & Laura Kefalas Jackie Klock Dennis & Ginny Kostulakos Louis & Dianne Koulouvaris Leon & Frances Lopez Archie & Florence Lytle Connie Machoudy Harry & Tina Maheras Kiki Manolakis Emanuel Manos William & Margaret Manos Riley & Elizabeth Marvos Al & Helen McCart Johnny & Becky Melts Bill & Mary Milam Matt & Athena Miller Nik Moissiades Patricia Morris Nick & Teddie Panos Constantinos & Evelyn Pantazopoulos Gus & Albie Pappas John & Evon Patrick Lawson & Susan Plummer Mihai & Heidi Popa Fr. Barnabas & Pres. Connie Powell Pam Powers Vic & Suzi Pryles Paul & Gigi Ray Earl & Marina Raymond David & Mary Roberts Jimmy & Pat Roney Bill & Debbie Sarandis Dina Sarandis Taka & Kathryn Shoji Eric & Donna Smith George & Anna Sofikitis Stamatia (Estelle) Sofikitis Dennis & Laura Sparks Robert & Alexis Sulyma Tohotmos & Carol Tadros Mike & Estelle Theodosion Nikolaos & Eva Thrasivoulou Ed & Anne Trainor James & Jane Vlahos Plutarch & Tina Vamvakias Tim & Diane Walters Steve & Smara Wolff Sam & Katherine Yalanzon Saints Raphael, Nicholas & Irene Greek Orthodox Church Our Vision & Mission Our vision as Saints Raphael, Nicholas & Irene Greek Orthodox Church is to grow as a family in Christ. Our mission as a Greek Orthodox Church is to serve God and neighbor, strengthen the family and reach out to the community.