March 14
Did You Know?
Faith means to have trust in God
St. Luke Church
Publish Date: 2021-03-14
Bulletin Contents
Hymns of the Day
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Did You Know?
Words from the Saints and our Fathers
Memorial and Trisagion Prayers
Parish News
Saints and Feasts
Wisdom of the Fathers
St. Luke Church
General Information
- Phone:
- (413) 525-4551
- Fax:
- (413) 525-4552
- Street Address:
- 400 Prospect Street
- East Longmeadow, MA 01028
- Mailing Address:
- 400 Prospect Street
- East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Past Bulletins
- Publish Date:
- 2021-03-07
- Publish Date:
- 2021-02-28
- Publish Date:
- 2021-02-21
- Publish Date:
- 2021-02-14
Hymns of the Day
Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Grave Mode
By Your Cross, O Christ our God, You destroyed death. You opened paradise to the thief. You transformed the lament of the Myrrh-bearing women, and You commanded the Apostles to proclaim You are risen, granting the world Your great mercy.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Narthex Press
Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Second Mode
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."
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Narthex Press
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Matins Gospel Reading
Seventh Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 20:1-10
On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first; and stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying, and the napkin, which had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not know the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.
Epistle Reading
Prokeimenon. Plagal Fourth Mode. Psalm 75.11,1.
Make your vows to the Lord our God and perform them.
Verse: God is known in Judah; his name is great in Israel.
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Romans 13:11-14; 14:1-4.
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.
Gospel Reading
Forgiveness Sunday
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."
Did You Know?
Words from the Saints and our Fathers
Words from our Fathers
Don’t lay the blame for what happens to you on other people. Although we have a tendency to attribute our problems to others, to their wickedness and incompetence, in reality they’re nothing other than tools in God’s hands. Tools he avails himself of to construct our salvation.
Saint Makarios of Egypt
Memorial and Trisagion Prayers
Memorial and Trisagion Prayers
Today, we chant a 40 Day Memorial for Demosthenes Dasco, husband of Marion, father of Irene (Lawrence), Demetrios (Sarah), Alexander (Theresa), and Joseph (Meghan), as well as grandfather to twelve beloved grandchildren.
We also chant a 1-Year Memorial for Venetia (Tula) Karamallis, mother of Faith (Joe), Elaine, and George (Nina).
We also chant a 23-Year Trisagion for Panagiotis Kakoulidis, father of Elaine and Kiki, grandfather of Christina.
May their memories be eternal!
Parish News
Parish News
1. This Sunday is the Sunday of Forgiveness. Let us show and receive forgiveness from one another!
2. Great Lent will begin on March 15. We will be be having Holy Unction at 6: 30 pm; the Pre-Sanctified Liturgy will be on Wednesday at 6: 30 pm and the First Salutations on Friday at 6: 30 pm. Kali Tessarakosti!
3. The third Saturday of Souls -- Orthros & Divine Liturgy on March 20 (8:30/9:30); please do not forget to bring kollyva!
4. This year marks the 200th Anniversary of the Greek War of Independence. Parishes throughout the Archdiocese have been asked to help celebrate this auspicious event in the communities.
Our parish will have a short program on Sunday, March 28 after the Divine Liturgy.
We will be having traditional poems read by different generations within our community, as well as hymns and folk songs that date from the 19th century.
Please join us for this event, and let us also support our parishioners who are taking the time to prepare for this event!
5. 2021 Philoptochos Membership Drive - Please send in your generous pledge TODAY.
LET’S NOT KEEP PHILOPTOCHOS A SECRET!
Here is the WHY. WHERE. and HOW…. because of YOUR membership pledge of support it allows our St. Luke Chapter to keep current the Boston Metropolis Philoptochos Contributions.
March 2021- Philoxenia House
We want to share great news about The Philoxenia House. Under the guidance of His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios, renovations took place during the months of January and February 2021. Major improvements consisted of new electrical work, painting, updated personal bathrooms and the purchase of new blinds throughout the house. The kitchen has a newly installed sink, faucet, and hood vent. All eleven bedrooms have received new linens, towels, and decor pieces.
As of January 2021, The Metropolis of Boston Philoptochos Board voted unanimously to sponsor the kitchen and the living room at The Philoxenia House. The Philoptochos recently purchased new window treatments, lamps, pots and pans, a coffee maker, and toaster along with other useful kitchen items.
The first Philoxenia guests of 2021 arrived on Monday, March 2. The Philoxenia House embraces people from Greece, Cyprus, South Africa, Germany, Brazil, Egypt, Russia, Bulgaria, and Romania faithfully throughout the world and America seeking medical care in Boston. The Metropolis of Boston Philoptochos is humbled to support such a wonderful ministry!
Volunteers needed!
Philoptochos KOULOURIA WORKSHOP
Saturday, March 27, 2021 at 10 am
Please contact Melissa Kaitis at 413-537-5054 if you are able to attend. All COVID safety protocols and compliance will be followed for all workshops and events leading up to Easter.
6. Please call the Office to let Paula know you will be coming to Liturgy. Thank you!
7. The schedule for Romeos & Juliets is as follows: March 25, April 22, May 27, June 24, and July 22, at 12 noon. We will be meeting via Zoom video and Zoom call. Please contact Father at frpklostri@gmail.com for the Meeting ID and passcode
Saints and Feasts
March 14
Forgiveness Sunday
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.
March 14
Benedict the Righteous of Nursia
This Saint, whose name means "blessed," was born in 480 in Nursia, a small town about seventy miles northeast of Rome. He struggled in asceticism from his youth in deserted regions, where his example drew many who desired to emulate him. Hence, he ascended Mount Cassino in Campania and built a monastery there. The Rule that he gave his monks, which was inspired by the writings of Saint John Cassian, Saint Basil the Great, and other Fathers, became a pattern for monasticism in the West; because of this, he is often called the first teacher of monks in the West. He reposed in 547.
Wisdom of the Fathers
Here it were well to sigh aloud, and to wail bitterly: for not only do we imitate the hypocrites, but we have even surpassed them.
Homily 20 on Matthew 6, 4th Century
For I know, yea I know many, not merely fasting and making a display of it, but neglecting to fast, and yet wearing the masks of them that fast, and cloaking themselves with an excuse worse than their sin.
Homily 20 on Matthew 6, 4th Century