FORGIVENESS SUNDAY MARCH 17th, 2013 (CHEESEFARE) Sts. Raphael, Nicholas and Irene Greek Orthodox Church Rev. Fr. Barnabas Powell, Proistamenos Jimmy Smith, Psaltis 3074 Bethelview Road Cumming GA 30040 (770) 781-5250 cell (770) 861-3544 www.stsrni.org We are an intentional Orthodox Christian Community for North Georgia!
WORSHIP Eighth Gospel/Tone Plagal Fourth 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. 40 Day Blessing - Liv Varitek is being presented today for her 40-day blessing by her parents Catherine & Jason Varitek. Schedule for the Week 18 th, Clean Monday Beginning of Great Lent - 7 p.m. Great Compline 19 th, Clean Tuesday - 7 p.m. Great Compline 20 th, Clean Wednesday - 6:30 p.m. Pre-sanctified Liturgy 21 st, Clean Thursday - 7 p.m. Great Compline 22 nd, Clean Friday - 7 p.m. Salutations to the Theotokos 23 rd, Saturday 3 rd Saturday of Souls - 8:30 a.m. Orthros/9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy 5 p.m. Great Vespers Parish Council On Duty Today - Kosta Bozzuto, Harald Hagen 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
TODAY WE REMEMBER FORGIVENESS SUNDAY (CHEESEFARE) Reading: The Holy Fathers have appointed the commemoration of Adam's exile from the Paradise of delight here, on the eve of the holy Forty-day Fast, demonstrating to us not by simple words, but by actual deeds, how beneficial fasting is for man, and how harmful and destructive are insatiety and the transgressing of the divine commandments. For the first commandment that God gave to man was that of fasting, which the first-fashioned received but did not keep; and not only did they not become gods, as they had imagined, but they lost even that blessed life which they had, and they fell into corruption and death, and transmitted these and innumerable other evils to all of mankind. The God-bearing Fathers set these things before us today, that by bringing to mind what we have fallen from, and what we have suffered because of the insatiety and disobedience of the first-fashioned, we might be diligent to return again to that ancient bliss and glory by means of fasting and obedience to all the divine commands. Taking occasion from today's Gospel (Matt. 6:14-21) to begin the Fast unencumbered by enmity, we also ask forgiveness this day, first from God, then from one another and all creation. Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone: You descended from on high, O compassionate One, and condescended to be buried for three days, so that from the passions You might set us free. Our life and resurrection, O Lord, glory be to You. Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal of the Second Tone O Master, Prudence, Guide of Wisdom, Instruction to the foolish and Defender of the poor, strengthen my heart and grant it discernment. Give me words, Word of the Father, for behold, I shall not keep my lips from crying out to You, "O Merciful One, have mercy on me who has fallen." We Also Remember Alexis the Man of God St. Patrick, the Enlightener of Ireland Marinos the Martyr Theocteristos the Confessor Please pray for those faithful who are currently in need of our most fervent intercessions: Andrew, Angie, Bill, Bill, Carrie, Demetra, Dina, Donna, Efthymios, 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
Epistle Reading The Reading is from St. Paul s Letter to the Romans 13:11-14; 14:1-4 The Reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 3:10-15 Prokeimenon. Mode 3. Psalm 46.6,1 Sing praises to our God, sing praises. Verse: Clap your hands, all you nations. Brethren, salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not for disputes over opinions. One believes he may eat anything, while the weak man eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains pass judgment on him who eats; for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for God is able to make him stand. Α Ω Ἀδελφοί, νῦν ἐγγύτερον ἡμῶν ἡ σωτηρία ἢ ὅτε ἐπιστεύσαμεν. Ἡ νὺξ προέκοψεν, ἡ δὲ ἡμέρα ἤγγικεν ἀποθώμεθα οὖν τὰ ἔργα τοῦ σκότους, καί ἐνδυσώμεθα τὰ ὅπλα τοῦ φωτός. Ὡς ἐν ἡμέρᾳ, εὐσχημόνως περιπατήσωμεν, μὴ κώμοις καὶ μέθαις, μὴ κοίταις καὶ ἀσελγείαις, μὴ ἔριδι καὶ ζήλῳ. Ἀλλʼ ἐνδύσασθε τὸν κύριον Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν, καὶ τῆς σαρκὸς πρόνοιαν μὴ ποιεῖσθε, εἰς ἐπιθυμίας. Τὸν δὲ ἀσθενοῦντα τῇ πίστει προσλαμβάνεσθε, μὴ εἰς διακρίσεις διαλογισμῶν. Ὃς μὲν πιστεύει φαγεῖν πάντα, ὁ δὲ ἀσθενῶν λάχανα ἐσθίει. Ὁ ἐσθίων τὸν μὴ ἐσθίοντα μὴ ἐξουθενείτω, καὶ ὁ μὴ ἐσθίων τὸν ἐσθίοντα μὴ κρινέτω ὁ θεὸς γὰρ αὐτὸν προσελάβετο. Σὺ τίς εἶ ὁ κρίνων ἀλλότριον οἰκέτην; Τῷ ἰδίῳ κυρίῳ στήκει ἢ πίπτει. Σταθήσεται δέ δυνατὸς γάρ ἐστιν ὁ θεὸς στῆσαι αὐτόν.
Gospel Reading The Reading is from Matthew 6:14-21 The Lord said, "If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. "And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Α Ω Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος Εὰν γὰρ ἀφῆτε τοῖς ἀνθρώποις τὰ παραπτώματα αὐτῶν, ἀφήσει καὶ ὑμῖν ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ὁ οὐράνιος ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ἀφῆτε τοῖς ἀνθρώποις τὰ παραπτώματα αὐτῶν, οὐδὲ ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ἀφήσει τὰ παραπτώματα ὑμῶν. Οταν δὲ νηστεύητε, μὴ γίνεσθε ὥσπερ οἱ ὑποκριταὶ σκυθρωποί ἀφανίζουσι γὰρ τὰ πρόσωπα αὐτῶν ὅπως φανῶσι τοῖς ἀνθρώποις νηστεύοντες ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ἀπέχουσι τὸν μισθὸν αὐτῶν.σὺ δὲ νηστεύων ἄλειψαί σου τὴν κεφαλὴν καὶ τὸ πρόσωπόν σου νίψαι,ὅπως μὴ φανῇς τοῖς ἀνθρώποις νηστεύων, ἀλλὰ τῷ πατρί σου τῷ ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ, καὶ ὁ πατήρ σου ὁ βλέπων ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ ἀποδώσει σοι ἐν τῷ φανερῷ. Μὴ θησαυρίζετε ὑμῖν θησαυροὺς ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ὅπου σὴς καὶ βρῶσις ἀ φανίζει, καὶ ὅπου κλέπται διορύσσουσι καὶ κλέπτουσι θησαυρίζετε δὲ ὑμῖν θησαυροὺς ἐν οὐρανῷ, ὅπου οὔτε σὴς οὔτε βρῶσις ἀφανίζει, καὶ ὅπου κλέπται οὐ διορύσσουσιν οὐδὲ κλέπτουσιν ὅπου γάρ ἐστιν ὁ θησαυρὸς ὑμῶν, ἐκεῖ ἔσται καὶ ἡ καρδία ὑμῶν.
ANNOUNCEMENTS Wisdom from the Fathers" "Godliness is perfection that is never complete. St. Philotheos of Sinai BIBLE STUDY CLASSES Wednesday, March 20th - 10 a.m. Review of Philippians Chapter 2 & beginning Great Lent Conversation on Holy Week Wednesday, March 20th - following 6:30 p.m. Vespers A Step-by-Step Look at the Divine Liturgy Thursday, March 21st - 6:30 p.m. Review of Philippians Chapter 2 & beginning 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 email 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) 781-5250. SCHEDULE OF SERVICES FOR LENT MARCH 17 th, Sunday Forgiveness Sunday (Cheesefare) 8:45 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy followed by Forgiveness Sunday Vespers 18 th, Clean Monday Beginning of Great Lent 7 p.m. Great Compline 19 th, Clean Tuesday 7 p.m. Great Compline 20 th, Clean Wednesday 6:30 p.m. Pre-sanctified Liturgy 21 st, Clean Thursday 7 p.m. Great Compline 22 nd, Clean Friday 7 p.m. Salutations to the Theotokos 23 rd, Saturday 3 rd Saturday of Souls 8:30 a.m. Orthros/9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy 5 p.m. Great Vespers
SCHEDULE OF SERVICES FOR LENT MARCH 24 th, Sunday Sunday of Orthodoxy 8:45 a.m. Orthros/10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy Greek School Presentation/Procession of Icons 6 p.m. Great Vespers for the Feast of the Annunciation at the Cathedral, Atlanta 25 th, Feast of the ANNUNCIATION @ Cathedral in Atlanta 8:00 a.m. Orthros/9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy 27 th, Wednesday 6:30 p.m. Pre-sanctified Liturgy 29 th, Friday 7 p.m. Salutations to the Theotokos 31 st, Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas 8:45 a.m. Orthros/10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy APRIL 3rd, Wednesday 6:30 p.m. Pre-sanctified Liturgy 5 th, Friday 7 p.m. Salutations to the Theotokos 7 th, Sunday of The Holy Cross 8:45 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy followed by Procession of Holy Cross with flowers 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
ANNOUNCEMENTS Saturday of Souls March 23rd 8:30 Orthros 9:30 Divine Liturgy Please complete & return the form below to Father Barnabas or Father Paul for names to be memorialized during the Saturday of Souls services. If anyone can make koliva for the service on March 23rd, please contact Ginny in the church office. Thank you. Prosforo Baking Tuesday, April 9th, 2013 Contact Stamatia Hagen for more information at mamma2maria@aol.com or 770-315-4530 All hands are welcome!
ANNOUNCEMENTS Sunday School Sunday School students will be dismissed after receiving the Eucharist. (Teens will be in new youth room, 6th-8th grade in the Blue House.) This Sunday the teens will stay in the sanctuary for the forgiveness service. 3&4 year olds through 8th grade will be dismissed after Eucharist. Next Sunday is Sunday of Orthodoxy. Bring an icon for the procession. Sunday School is supporting Project Mexico for Lent. Donation boxes went home last week. Fasting, extra church services, prayers, bible readings, and almsgiving are being encouraged in Sunday School as part of our "Lenten journey". To help us, Pascha Passports will be handed out next week along with instructions. 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 770-826-1212 or myakunda@yahoo.com GOYA TONIGHT, March 17th - 5 p.m. Rap Session with Fr. Barnabas at the home of Eleni Athenson - 7440 Craigleith Dr., Duluth 30097 RSVP 630-336-1562 or julesathenson@yahoo.com 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 (770/232-5147) &/or visits. If you know of someone who would like a visit, please contact Helen McCart at 678-947-4771 or the Church Office.
ANNOUNCEMENTS PHILOPTOCHOS 2013 Membership Drive has begun. ALL are welcome to join. Philoptochos is not just a ladies organization anymore! GENERAL Meeting - Tuesday, March 26th, 6:30 p.m. - Blue House SPRING BAKE SALE Philoptochos is taking orders for baklava ($25/9x12 tray) and galatoboureko ($20/9x12 tray) for delivery week of March 24th. Please contact Ginny Kostulakos at officeadmin@stsrni.org or 678-807-7167 to place your orders. THANK YOU LADIES for coming to The Place to help serve lunch on Wednesday, March 9th. The day was very successful & enjoyed. Our next The Place lunch is Wednesday, May 22nd. Helen McCart, Chr. BOOK CLUB Please join us after Saturday Vespers for Food, Fellowship, and Good Conversation! Saturday, March 23rd.Please bring a dish to share for our covered dish supper. For more information, contact Lisa Boston @ myakunda.com or Donna Smith @ missmagnoliasmoxie@gmail.com Sts. RNI Choir Practice Today - SUNDAY - Immediately following Divine Liturgy in the Chapel Contact Marie Chapman for more information. 770-205-7220 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
ANNOUNCEMENTS FELLOWSHIP HOUR Our 2012-2013 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. 2012-13 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, 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 Thank you all for your support of this Ministry. Sts. RNI Bookstore News Your purchases through Amazon helps 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: http://astore.amazon.com/stsrapnicireo-20 For more information or to add items, contact Aftan Romanczak at aromanczak@hotmail.com
To date the 75 families below have returned Stewardship Commitment Cards for 2013. 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 John & Sheila Consos Dan & Alyssa Douglas John & Beth Doulgerakis Quay & Trissie Farr Chris & Liz Foxhall 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 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 Nicolas & Teddie Panos Constantinos & Evelyn Pantazopoulos Lazaros & Christina Papadopoulos Gus Pappas John & Evon Patrick Sts. RNI Philoptochos Gus Plakiotis Ioanna Plakiotis Father & Presvytera Powell Pam Powers Vic & Suzi Pryles Paul & Gigi Ray 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 2013 Parish Council President - John Patrick; Vice President/Assist. Treasurer- Harald Hagen; Recording Secretary - Paul Ray; Corresponding Secretary - Harriet Howell; Treasurer - Vic Pryles; Sophia Bethune, Kosta Bozzuto, Marie Chapman, Quay Farr, Chris Foxhall