FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT - SUNDAY OF ST. JOHN CLIMACUS
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ACOLYTES:
PANGARI:
CHURCH GREETERS:
LIBRARY GREETERS:
PROSFORA: Georgia Christides
EPISTLE READING: St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 6:13-20
GOSPEL: Mark 9:17-31 (Greek text, p. 192, black books)
LITURGY: 9:30 a.m.
Eighth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 20:11-18
At that time, Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him." Saying this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?" Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, "Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, "Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God." Mary Magdalene went and said to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and she told them that He had said these things to her.
Prokeimenon. Plagal 4th Tone. 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 Hebrews 6:13-20.
BRETHREN, when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore to himself, saying, "Surely I will bless you and multiply you." And thus Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise. Men indeed swear by a greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he interposed with an oath, so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God should prove false, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
Sunday of St. John Climacus
The Reading is from Mark 9:17-31
At that time, a man came to Jesus kneeling and saying: "Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a dumb spirit; and wherever it seizes him it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able." And he answered them, "O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me." And they brought the boy to him; and when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, "How long has he had this?" And he said, "From childhood. And it has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us." And Jesus said to him, "If you can! All things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!" And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You dumb and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again." And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse; so that most of them said, "He is dead." But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" And he said to them, "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting." They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he would not have any one know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, after three days he will rise."
MON. 3/30
7:30 PM – Gamblers Anonymous
SUN. 4/5
9:30 AM – Liturgy
Parishioners who want to watch the video should
(1) login to Facebook and go to our group page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/stsconstantine).
(2) Look for the live stream on that page on Sunday mornings. If you are not already a member of the group, ask to join. As a member, you may also see the live stream automatically on your own facebook feed on Sunday mornings (if you follow the group).
During the course of our health emergency, parishioners are encouraged to keep Lent even though attendance at church services is being limited at this time. A live stream of our Sunday Liturgy can be viewed from the church's facebook page. If you are not a member of our facebook group, please ask to join: https://www.facebook.com/groups/stsconstantine/
We are also exploring other ways of bringing the service to you while you are confined at home. We do send updates out via email during the week. If you haven't gotten an email from us lately, it may be because we don't have an updated email address for you. You can contact the office at office@stsconstantine.com or by phone at (216) 932-3300 to keep your contact information current.
Parishioners can also take advantage of the following online aids:
- Spend time at the appropriate moments to participate in the services via video. You can find online services at https://www.goarch.org/live-broadcasts
- Those with newer AppleTV devices, Roku, or Amazon Fire can find the Archdiocesan channel: https://www.goarch.org/tv
- Utilize the Archdiocesan Online Chapel for texts of services, daily readings, and lives of the Saints: https://www.goarch.org/chapel
- Utilize the various service texts available on AGES Initiatives: http://www.agesinitiatives.com/dcs/public/dcs/servicesindex.html, singing or reading the hymns.
- Replace the litanies of petitions by saying "Lord, have mercy" three times, and replace the Priest's exclamations or blessings with "Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God have mercy on us and save us. Amen."
- There are many edifying bible studies and educational podcasts available via Ancient Faith Ministries ( https://www.ancientfaith.com/ ) or Orthodox Christian Network ( http://myocn.net )
- Fr. Stavros Akrotirianakis offers a wonderful daily message through his “Prayer Team” ministry. Sign up using the following link: https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin
All Orthodox Education activities have been suspended until further notice. E-ministry will continue to greatest degree possible. Contact Maria at orthodox_education@stsconstantine.com with any questions or suggestions.
Camp Nazareth will be offering two virtual cabin talks for our GOYAns over the next week. The first, "Feeding your Faith, Not your Fear" will be held on Thursday, March 26th at 7 pm with Deacon George Athanasiou and Dr. Peter Gagianas. The second, "Air High-fives, Just Don't Cut It" will be held Tuesday, March 31 at 7 pm, with Fr. Alexey Petrides and Dr. Andrew and Anna Abboud. Contact Ted at tcherpas@stsconstantine.com for information on how to participate.
All in-person youth ministry has been suspended until further notice. E-ministry will continue to greatest degree possible. Contact Ted with any questions or suggestions.
Activities for March/April 2020
Prayer Team - join the prayer team and keep others in your daily prayers. (Prayer Requests - If you have any prayer requests for our prayer team, or if you have questions about other activities, please send them to peter.poulos@case.edu).
“Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (James 2:18)
Coffee Hosting: For the time being, coffee hours are being cancelled but you can still get on the calendar for hosting coffee and keeping this beautiful tradition of our church going. June 7, July 5, 12, 26, all of August, September, October 11 and October 18, and November 15, 22, and 29 are open. Host coffee in memory of your loved ones or in honor of your family's birthdays, anniversary, or namedays. See Christina Callos to sign up for your Sunday or email: ctcallos@gmail.com
The Lenten Retreat has been rescheduled for Sat. Oct. 3. Fr. Nicholas Louh will be the speaker. Please mark your calendars.
Each week the deadline for entries for the Sunday bulletin will be Wednesday by Noon. Any submissions after that will be included in the bulletin for the following week.
Calling all Chiotes! We are excited to bring Chios to Ohio by hosting the 65th National Chian Convention in Cleveland, Ohio from October 9th-12th. If you are interested in helping, joining a committee, or to learn more please call: Kosta Almiroudis: 216.970.1413, Kelli Almiroudis: 216.798.6150, Despina Matheos: 440.309.6752 or Peggy Kachevas: 440.554.0425.
Help us put Northeast Ohio’s best foot forward as we host the 2020 Clergy-Laity Congress in Cleveland on June 28th to July 3rd. We need plenty of volunteers to help ensure our anticipated 1,500 Greek Orthodox attendees have a great experience in our city.
You can volunteer from several committees, including Commemorative Album, Convention & Hotel Services, IT/AV, Registration, Social Events, Sponsorships, Transportation, Vendors/Exhibit Hall, and Youth Programs.
You can register as a volunteer directly online at www.clergylaity.org/volunteer, or by contacting Ageleke Zapis via email at ageleke@zapis.com
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Cross Press
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Your Apostle among the Rulers, St. Constantine, who once beheld in the sky the image of Your Cross, and who like Paul received his calling not from man, once entrusted the Ruling City into Your hand. We entreat You to restore it in peace forever, at the intercession of the Theotokos, O Lord who loves humanity. (Copyright Fr. Seraphim Dedes, used by permission. All rights reserved)
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Narthex Press