Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Church

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1 Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Church THE WEEKLY CHURCH BULLETIN Rev. Fr. Andrew G. Karamitos, Economos Rev. Deacon Zacharias Zaharis & Rev. Deacon Antonios Calash 525 Church Road Elgin, Illinois Phone: Visit us at: Archdiocese: In case of emergency, please call: Sunday, March 4, 2018 Today s Readings 2nd Sunday of Lent Epistle: Hebrews 1:10-14;2:1-3 Orthros and Divine Liturgy 8:00 am Gospel: Mark 2:1-12 USHERS ON DUTY: George Kyriazis (Early Duty), Peter Cappas, Matina Caribacas, Bob Giannaris, Nikki Limberis, George Raysakis, Emmanouil Mathioudis & Georgia Scott COMMUNION ANNOUNCEMENT While we pray and work for the reconciliation and unity of all the world s Christians, the reality remains that there is still no intercommunion between our Orthodox Churches and the Churches in the West. This means that only Baptized, Chrismated, and observant Orthodox faithful receive Communion in our Churches. At the same time, we warmly welcome all non-orthodox to join us in prayer and celebration, and humbly offer to all present the Antidoro bread of fellowship at the end of the service. We offer this important symbol instead of the Gifts, in the words of the Apostle Paul, Till we all come to the unity of the Faith (Eph. 4.13). O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance. Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God. The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 1:10-14; 2:1-3 "IN THE BEGINNING, Thou, Lord, didst found the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of thy hands; they will perish, but thou remainest; they will all grow old like a garment, like a mantle thou wilt roll them up, and they will be changed. But thou art the same, and thy years will never end." But to what angel has he ever said, "Sit at my right hand, till I make thy enemies a stool for thy feet?" Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation? Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For if the message declared by angels was valid and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard him.

2 Σῶσον, Κύριε τὸν λαὸν σου καὶ εὐλόγησον τὴν κληρονομίαν σου. Στίχ. Πρὸς σἐ, Κύριε, κεκράξομαι ὁ Θεός μου. Πρὸς Ἑβραίους 1:10-14, 2:1-3 τὸ ἀνάγνωσμα είναι απο Κατʼ ἀρχάς, Κύριε, τὴν γῆν ἐθεμελίωσας, καὶ ἔργα τῶν χειρῶν σού εἰσιν οἱ οὐρανοί αὐτοὶ ἀπολοῦνται, σὺ δὲ διαμένεις καὶ πάντες ὡς ἱμάτιον παλαιωθήσονται, καὶ ὡσεὶ περιβόλαιον ἑλίξεις αὐτοὺς, καὶ ἀλλαγήσονται σὺ δὲ ὁ αὐτὸς εἶ, καὶ τὰ ἔτη σου οὐκ ἐκλείψουσιν. Πρὸς τίνα δὲ τῶν ἀγγέλων εἴρηκέν ποτε, Κάθου ἐκ δεξιῶν μου, ἕως ἂν θῶ τοὺς ἐχθρούς σου ὑποπόδιον τῶν ποδῶν σου; Οὐχὶ πάντες εἰσὶν λειτουργικὰ πνεύματα, εἰς διακονίαν ἀποστελλόμενα διὰ τοὺς μέλλοντας κληρονομεῖν σωτηρίαν; Διὰ τοῦτο δεῖ περισσοτέρως ἡμᾶς προσέχειν τοῖς ἀκουσθεῖσιν, μήποτε παραρρυῶμεν. Εἰ γὰρ ὁ διʼ ἀγγέλων λαληθεὶς λόγος ἐγένετο βέβαιος, καὶ πᾶσα παράβασις καὶ παρακοὴ ἔλαβεν ἔνδικον μισθαποδοσίαν, πῶς ἡμεῖς ἐκφευξόμεθα τηλικαύτης ἀμελήσαντες σωτηρίας; Ἥτις, ἀρχὴν λαβοῦσα λαλεῖσθαι διὰ τοῦ κυρίου, ὑπὸ τῶν ἀκουσάντων εἰς ἡμᾶς ἐβεβαιώθη. The Gospel According to Mark 2:1-12 At that time, Jesus entered Capernaum and it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, not even about the door; and he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and when they had made an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven." Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, "Why does this man speak thus? It is a blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you question thus in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your pallet and walk? But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins"-he said to the paralytic-"i say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home." And he rose, and immediately took up the pallet and went out before them all; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!" Ἐκ τοῦ Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 2:1-12 Εὐαγγελίου τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, εἰσῆλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἰς εἰς Καπερναοὺμ δι ἡμερῶν καὶ ἠκούσθη ὅτι εἰς οἶκόν ἐστι. καὶ εὐθέως συνήχθησαν πολλοί, ὥστε μηκέτι χωρεῖν μηδὲ τὰ πρὸς τὴν θύραν καὶ ἐλάλει αὐτοῖς τὸν λόγον. καὶ ἔρχονται πρὸς αὐτὸν παραλυτικὸν φέροντες, αἰρόμενον ὑπὸ τεσσάρων καὶ μὴ δυνάμενοι προσεγγίσαι αὐτῷ διὰ τὸν ὄχλον, ἀπεστέγασαν τὴν στέγην ὅπου ἦν, καὶ ἐξορύξαντες χαλῶσι τὸν κράβαττον, ἐφ ᾧ ὁ παραλυτικὸς κατέκειτο. ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ Ιησοῦς τὴν πίστιν αὐτῶν λέγει τῷ παραλυτικῷ τέκνον, ἀφέωνταί σοι αἱ ἁμαρτίαι σου. ἦσαν δέ τινες τῶν γραμματέων ἐκεῖ καθήμενοι καὶ διαλογιζόμενοι ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν τί οὗτος οὕτω λαλεῖ βλασφημίας; τίς δύναται ἀφιέναι ἁμαρτίας εἰ μὴ εἷς ὁ Θεός; καὶ εὐθέως ἐπιγνοὺς ὁ Ιησοῦς τῷ πνεύματι αὐτοῦ ὅτι οὕτως αὐτοὶ διαλογίζονται ἐν ἑαυτοῖς, εἶπεν αὐτοῖς τί ταῦτα διαλογίζεσθε ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν; τί ἐστιν εὐκοπώτερον, εἰπεῖν τῷ παραλυτικῷ, ἀφέωνταί σου αἱ ἁμαρτίαι, ἢ εἰπεῖν, ἔγειρε καὶ ἆρον τὸν κράβαττόν σου καὶ περιπάτει; ἵνα δὲ εἰδῆτε ὅτι ἐξουσίαν ἔχει ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἀφιέναι ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἁμαρτίας - λέγει τῷ παραλυτικῷ σοὶ λέγω, ἔγειρε καὶ ἆρον τὸν κράβαττόν σου καὶ ὕπαγε εἰς τὸν οἶκόν σου. καὶ ἠγέρθη εὐθέως, καὶ ἄρας τὸν κράβαττον ἐξῆλθεν ἐναντίον πάντων, ὥστε ἐξίστασθαι πάντας καὶ δοξάζειν τὸν Θεὸν λέγοντας ὅτι οὐδέποτε οὕτως εἴδομεν.

3 Resurrectional Apolytikion Plagal of the Second Tone Angelic powers were above Thy tomb, and they that guarded Thee became as dead. And Mary stood by the grave seeking Thine immaculate Body. Thou hast despoiled Hades and wast not tried thereby. Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst grant us life. O Thou Who didst arise from the dead, Lord, glory be to Thee. Ἀγγελικαὶ Δυνάμεις ἐπὶ τὸ μνῆμά σου, καὶ οἱ φυλάσσοντες ἀπενεκρώθησαν, καὶ ἵστατο Μαρία ἐν τῷ τάφῳ, ζητοῦσα τὸ ἄχραντόν σου σῶμα. Ἐσκύλευσας τὸν ᾍδην, μὴ πειρασθεὶς ὑπ' αὐτοῦ, ὑπήντησας τῇ Παρθένῳ, δωρούμενος τὴν ζωήν, ὁ ἀναστὰς ἐκ των νεκρῶν, Κύριε δόξα σοι. Seasonal Kontakion 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!" Τὴ ὑπερμάχω στρατηγῶ τὰ νικητήρια, ὡς λυτρωθεῖσα τῶν δεινῶν εὐχαριστήρια, ἀναγράφω σοὶ ἡ Πόλις σου Θεοτόκε, Ἀλλ' ὡς ἔχουσα τὸ κράτος ἀπροσμάχητον, ἐκ παντοίων μὲ κινδύνων ἐλευθέρωσον, ἵνα κράζω σοί, Χαῖρε νύμφη ἀνύμφευτε. St. Sophia Apolytikion Like a most fruitful olive tree you did blossom forth. In the folds of the Lord, Sophia most pious, and to Christ you did bring sweetest fruit. The tender sprouts of your womb, through Divine martyrdom, Agape along with Hope, and Faith, the God-minded, with whom do we entreat for all of us. Ως ελαία κατάκαρπος ανεβλάστησας, εν ταις αυλαίς του Κυρίου Σοφία Μάρτυς σεμνή, και προσήγαγες Χριστώ καρπόν ηδύτατον, τους της νηδύος σου βλαστούς δι αγώνων ευαγών, Αγάπη τε και Ελπίδα, συν την θεόφρονη Πίστη μεδ ων δυσώπει υπέρ πάντων ημών. Stewardship Commitment Prayer Lord Jesus Christ, you call us to follow you as disciples. Help us to respond wholeheartedly. INCREASING OUR STEWARDSHIP AWARENESS Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy. Always remember Real charity doesn t care if it is tax deductible or not. Financial Snapshot Operational Budget for 2018 is $559,900 As of March 4, 163 Stewards have pledged $185,580 We have received $98,3599

4 A warm welcome to all those visiting St. Sophia today. We are happy that you have come to worship with us and hope your experience was prayerful and uplifting. We invite you to join our family by becoming a steward of Christ s Holy Church. Please introduce yourself to Fr. Andrew after Divine Liturgy Church Humor If the devil is knocking at your front door, let Jesus answer it. Timely Thought People go through three conversations: their head, their heart and their pocketbook. THE CHURCH STAFF Our Administrative Assistant: Vivian Baxter stsophiasec@aol.com Our Youth Director: Natalie Wians YMDIRNatalie@aol.com Office Hours: Monday Friday 9 am - 3 pm WORSHIP SERVICES THIS WEEK Wednesday, March 7th Pre-Sanctified Liturgy 9 am Friday, March 9th Akathist Hymn 7 pm Sunday, March 11 Veneration of the Holy Cross Orthros & Divine Liturgy - 8 am ACTIVITIES THIS WEEK 3/5 Golden Circle 11 am Philoptochos Lenten Cooking Demonstration & Meeting 6:30 pm 3/7 Hope Fellowship & Worship at Pre- Sanctified Liturgy 9 am 3/8 Choir Practice 7 pm 3/9 Jr GOYA Worship at Salutations & Fellowship at Alexander s 7 pm 3/10 Greek School - 9 am 3/11- Church School Crosses Procession During Church GOYA Board Meeting - After Church SAINTS WE CELEBRATE TODAY Gerasimos of Jordan Paul & his sister Juliana and their companions Daniel, Prince of Moscow Memorials and Artoklasia Services must be scheduled at least one week prior by calling the Church Office at MARCH COFFEE HOUR HOSTS 3/4 Philoptochos Lenten Pot Luck 3/11 The Blazakis, Konstantinidis & Karas Families 3/18 Available 3/25 Greek School Luncheon We are seeking hosts for March 18 & May 13 & May 27 coffee hours. Questions? Want to host a coffee hour? Please call Kathy Katrakis at

5 SUNDAY CHURCH SCHOOL Sunday School meets immediately following Holy Communion. A reminder that it is important for your child to regularly attend Sunday Church School. We are still taking registrations for Adult Classes Sessions 2 & 3. Please register as soon as possible. YOUTH MINISTRIES March Activities: Fri. 3/2-3/4 Metropolis Winter Camp (grades 6 11) at St. Iakovos Retreat Center; Wed. 3/7 HOPE Fellowship Worship in Presanctified Liturgy 9 am; Fri. 3/9 Jr. GOYA Worship at Salutations & Fellowship after at Alexander s Cafe 7 pm; Sun. 3/11 Sr. GOYA Executive Board Meeting After Church School; Wed. 3/14 HOPE Fellowship 9:30-11 am; Wed. 3/14 All Youth & Family Worship at Presanctified Liturgy & Youth Hosted Dinner 6 pm; Fri. 03/16 Sr. GOYA Worship at Salutations & Fellowship after at Alexander s Cafe 7 PM; Wed. 3/21 HOPE Fellowship Worship in Presanctified Liturgy 9 AM; Fri. 3/23-Sat. 3/24 Jr. & Sr. GOYA Overnight St. Sophia (See flyer for details) 6:45 PM; Wed. 3/28 HOPE Fellowship SEBA Park (See Bloomz invite for details) 9:30-11 AM; Wed. 3/28 All Youth & Family Worship at Presanctified Liturgy & Youth Hosted Dinner 6 pm Sat. 3/31 All Youth & Family Worship at Divine Liturgy & Lazarakia Making after Liturgy 9 am Orthos You may call/text Natalie Wians at ymdirnatalie@aol.com CHOIR The March choir practices are 3/8, 3/22 & 3/29 at 7 pm. For those interested in joining us, please see George St Georges. You may also call or text him at PHILOPTOCHOS The next Philoptochos Ladies meeting will be March 5 at 7 pm. We invite all ladies to join and participate in their philanthropic endeavors. PARISH COUNCIL The next Parish Council meeting will be March 19 at 6:30 pm. GOLDEN CIRCLE OF FRIENDS The Golden Circle will meet March 5 at 11 am. Please bring a Lenten dish to pass. All ages are welcome to join us for a morning of fellowship and camaraderie. PERICLES GREEK SCHOOL Pericles Greek School meets every Saturday from 9 am to 12:30 pm. Our school is staffed by Greek/American bilingual teachers, experienced in teaching the Greek language. Students are placed in levels based on language experience and knowledge. Please call the Church office for information, registration forms or to schedule a visit. HOPE BOOKSTORE & ICON STORE: Looking for unique gifts? Excellent items are available in our Book and Spiritual Icon store, located in the Community Center. Please visit our store today! We offer prayer & best wishes to the following who celebrate their Birthday this week: Helen Dimeas, Zack George Gounaris, Taylor Henderson, Thalia Karas, Anastasia Karlos, Kourtney Koskotas, Stella Koulis, Holly Magdalin, Elianna Pagonis, Jon Panagiotopoulos, Mina Panas, Bess Pappas, Alexandros Sampanidis, Panagiotis Sampanidis, Georgia Sarris, Russell Scott, Lillian Stezskal, Isabel Welch, Kosmas Yithouklas and Penelope Zaharias We offer prayer & best wishes to the following who celebrate their Anniversary this week: Mr. Nick and Mrs. Elaine Candilas Mr. Dennis and Mrs. Angeline Keys Mr. Dan and Mrs. Sieglinde Savas May God grant them many more years of God s Blessings, Health and Happiness!