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Assumption Church
Publish Date: 2020-04-05
Bulletin Contents
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Saints and Feasts
Weekly Bulletin
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Assumption Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (203) 748-2992
  • Fax:
  • (203) 748-7747
  • Street Address:

  • 30 Clapboard Ridge Road

  • Danbury, CT 06811

Contact Information

Proistamenos Father Nikolas Karloutsos


frnikolas@agoc.us

Services Schedule

Services Schedule:
Orthros at 8:45 am - Sundays
Divine Liturgy at 10am - Sundays
 
Weekday Divine Liturgies without Orthros begin with the Doxology at 9:50 am
 
Summer Services Schedule (Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend):
Orthros at 8:30 am - Sundays
Divine Liturgy at 9:30 am - Sundays
 
Summer weekday Divine Liturgies without Orthros begin with the Doxology at 9:20 am

Past Bulletins


Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. First Mode. Psalm 32.22,1.
Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us.
Verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 9:11-14.

BRETHREN, when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt
The Reading is from Mark 10:32-45

At that time, Jesus took his twelve disciples, and he began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles; and they will mock him, and spit upon him, and scourge him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise." And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him, and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." And he said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?" And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" And they said to him, "We are able." And Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant of James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

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Saints and Feasts

05_mary2
April 05

Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt

The memory of this Saint is celebrated on April 1, where her life is recorded. Since the end of the holy Forty Days is drawing nigh, it has been appointed for this day also, so that if we think it hard to practice a little abstinence forty days, we might be roused by the heroism of her who fasted in the wilderness forty-seven years; and also that the great loving-kindness of God, and His readiness to receive the repentant, might be demonstrated in very deed.

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Weekly Bulletin

Virtual Town Hall Sunday, Apr 5, 2020 12:15 PM

Participation Instructions Below NB: Password Now Required for added security!

There are 3 ways to join the Virtual Town Hall.  Whatever way you join the meeting, please have the Meeting ID and Password readily available to enter when/if asked:

Meeting ID: 909 426 243

Password: 352843

1.  Join the Assumption Church Virtual Town Hall on Zoom by clicking the link below:

https://zoom.us/j/909426243?pwd=czE3Q0FxdURkcWs2ckxwNlYxUUxaUT09

OR

2.  One tap mobile (if you have a smartphone and open this email on your smartphone, you can simply tap on the number immediately below to join with voice only):

+16468769923,,909426243# US

OR

3.  Dial from traditional phone the following number and follow the prompts to enter the meeting ID and Password

+1 646 876 9923 US

A message concerning Holy Week and Pascha

First I extend heartfelt gratitude to (and offer prayers for) all the medical health professionals, first responders, scientists, public servants, restaurant owners, food service workers, grocers, delivery personnel, and all who continue to serve others during this time, together with their respective families who so sacrificially remain on the front lines during this time for the protection of our health and wellbeing.  During this period of crisis, and out of love for one another, those of us not in these essential lines of work are called to remain home and to separate ourselves physically from our neighbors and families outside of our homes.  We all play a role in helping to slow the spread of COVID-19.

To be clear, Fr. Nikolas is available by phone any time and is prepared to schedule video conferences for pastoral care needs that may arise, for personal prayers or simply as a listening ear.  In other words, the “office is always open” for pastoral and practical matters.  ALL calls made to the Church (203) 748-2992 are automatically received (and typically answered) in real time on his work cell phone.  And that same cell phone (516) 840-0545 sends and receives SMS/text messages as well.  Please do not hesitate to reach out for spiritual guidance and/or conversation over the coming weeks and months.  We remain physically distant, but are encouraged to connect socially and spiritually to mitigate the adverse effects of isolation and sheltering in place.

In the meantime, naturally, our ability to fully participate in the Divine Services is impeded but thanks to the technology of our time, we continue to offer livestreaming of services on YouTube (https://youtu.be/s-03BEFG_ho) and FaceBook (https://m.facebook.com/assumptiongreekorthodoxchurch/).  All services are archived for later viewing as well.  Everyone is encouraged to access digital copies of the texts of the services from Digital Chant Stand to follow along, available here: http://www.agesinitiatives.com

To be clear, Church doors are to remain locked and no one is permitted entry other than the clergy, chantor(s), altar server(s) and A/V assistants, totaling five people who continue to follow State and Federal regulations as well as CDC recommendations.  We offer the below schedule of services that is subject to change as this is an ever-evolving situation.  Nevertheless, be assured of our ongoing commitment to ministering to each and every one of our Faithful, doing our best to provide for their spiritual health during this unprecedented time.

Worship Calendar at a Glance

  • W 4/8 @ 6:00PM The Sacrament/Service of Holy Unction
  • ST 4/11 @ 8:50AM Orthros & Divine Liturgy @10:00AM - Lazarus Saturday
  • SU 4/12 @ 8:45AM Orthros & Divine Liturgy @10:00AM - Palm Sunday

Holy Week Schedule

***Subject to Change – Note adjusted start times for most services***

  • SU 4/12 @ 6:00PM Nymphios (Bridegroom) Service
  • M 4/13 @ 6:00PM Nymphios (Bridegroom) Service
  • T 4/14 @ 10:00AM Pre-Sanctified Liturgy
  • T 4/14 @ 6:00PM Nymphios (Bridegroom) Service
  • W 4/15 @ 6:00PM Holy Unction
  • TH 4/16 @ 10:00AM Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great
  • TH 4/16 @ 6:00PM The Crucifixion of Our Lord - The Twelve Gospel Lessons
  • F 4/17 @ 1:00PM Reading of the Hours
  • F 4/17 @ 3:00PM The Apokathilosis Service (Removing Christ’s Body from Cross)
  • F 4/17 @ 7:00PM Service of Lamentations
  • ST 4/18 @ 10:00AM Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great - Holy Saturday
  • ST 4/18 @ 7:00PM The Canon of Pascha
  • ST 4/18 @ 8:00PM Resurrection Gospel and Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom
  • SU 4/19 @ 10:00AM Agape Service (Great Vespers)

If you can read any foreign language and would like to participate and assist in advance of our Agape Vespers on Sunday, April 19, 2020 [where the Gospel according to St. John (20:19-25) is read], please contact Fr. Nikolas.  We are looking for willing participants to record themselves (audio only or audio+video) in proclaiming the Good News of the Resurrection all over the universe without discrimination!

Birthdays/Name days/Anniversaries/Special events :

Your Assumption Church Community wants to celebrate with you! Please let us know of any upcoming events in your life so we can (virtually) share the joy! Your submissions will be announced in future weekly bulletins. Email details to: creationcare@agoc.us

Ladies Philoptochos Society News: 

Sending prayers to our beloved ladies and sisters of Philoptochos and all parishioners.  We miss seeing everyone and pray that God is giving us strength and guidance during this pandemic.  Good health and love to all. Some ladies have been busy reaching out to various parishioners to offer support, stay in touch and just "say hello." Other endeavors include making masks and looking at potential donation needs (from national/district/local Philoptochos). 

Our next Philoptochos meeting is tomorrow, Monday, April 6th at 6:30pm. All members will receive a Zoom meeting invitation and last month’s minutes. Please join us!

Link to latest National Ladies Philoptochos Society Newsletter:

https://mailchi.mp/philoptochos.org/philanthropy-witness-april-2020?e=f65be0b376

Link to new Philoptochos promo video:

https://youtu.be/E_Xm0EAyYCU

Youth Ministry:

Virtual Family Activities and Resources link from GOARCH/Y2AM:

https://www.y2am.org/en/athome

Virtual Sunday School link and Weekly Meditations for Orthodox Families from Tending the Garden of our Hearts

https://tending-the-garden.com/virtualsundayschool/

The Sacrament of Repentance and Confession is available by appointment during Great Lent. Please contact Fr. Nikolas at the church office.

Assumption Church 2020 Stewardship Ministry:

In this time of social distancing we'd like to remind our parishioners of the Church's new ability to accept online donations by CLICKING HERE. You will be taken to Assumption Church's secure payment portal through Vanco, a reputable and leading provider of electronic payment and donation processing solutions (https://www.vancopayments.com).  More than 40,000 churches, faith-based groups, nonprofits, schools and educational organizations trust Vanco to simplify administrative processes, organize events and securely complete transactions every day. 

Creation Care: 

Message of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Regarding Covid-19

Brother hierarchs and beloved children in the Lord,

From the Phanar, from the heart of the Queen of Cities, from the City of the Great Church and of Haghia Sophia, we are communicating with each and every one of you – women, men, and children – because of the unprecedented conditions and tribulation that we are facing as a human race as a result of the global threat posed by the pandemic of the new coronavirus, called Covid-19.

The voice of the Church, of the Mother Church, cannot be silent in such times. Our words, then, take the form we have learned through the ages: through the liturgy and through instruction, with encouragement and consolation.

We sincerely thank all those who struggle with self-sacrifice, even neglecting themselves and their families, including:

  • Medical and nursing professionals at the front lines, beside our brothers and sisters who are suffering,
  • Researchers and scientists searching for proper medication and vaccination to deliver us from this virus, but also
  • All those actively working hard to address this pandemic.

Your contribution is invaluable. It is an offering to all of society. It is a sacrifice that deserves every honor and gratitude. All of us thank you and applaud you, not only from the windows of our homes, but everywhere and at all times. Our thoughts and our prayers are with you.

In this struggle, our appointed states, governments and appropriate health authorities have the primary responsibility for planning, confronting and overcoming this crisis. We might describe them as Commanders on the battlefield against an invisible, but now well-known, enemy. An enemy that has turned against humanity.

The burden of the responsibility that they bear on their shoulders, by necessity demands the cooperation of us all. Now is the time of personal and social responsibility.

Therefore, our dear children, we entreat you as your spiritual father to respond faithfully and patiently to all the difficult but necessary measures proposed by our health authorities and nations. Everything is being done for our protection, for our common good, in order to contain the spread of this virus. Our liberation from this distress depends entirely on our own cooperation.

Perhaps some of you have felt that these drastic measures undermine or harm our faith.

However, that which is at stake
is not our faith – it is the faithful.
It is not Christ – it is our Christians.
It is not the divine-man – but human beings.

Our faith is firmly established in the roots of our culture. Our faith is a living faith, and there is no exceptional circumstance that can limit or suppress it. What must be limited and suppressed in these extraordinary circumstances are gatherings and large congregations of people. Let us remain in our homes. Let us be careful and protect those around us. And there, from our homes, strengthened by the power of our spiritual unity, let each and every one of us pray for all humankind.

We will pass through this period like a journey through the desert to reach the Promised Land, where science, by the grace of God, will overcome this virus.

We are certain that, through our prayers as well, science will indeed prevail. So it is good for us to remain united in spirit, as we continue the struggle of repentance and holiness.

We see our neighbors suffering from the consequences of the virus, while others have already fallen and departed from among us. Our Church hopes and prays for the healing of the sick, for the souls of the departed, and for courage and strength to the families of the afflicted.

This trial, too, shall pass. The clouds will clear, and the Sun of Righteousness will eliminate the deadly effect of the virus. But our lives will have changed forever. This trial is an opportunity for us to change for the better. In the direction of establishing love and solidarity.

Beloved children in the Lord, may the blessing of the Lord, through the intercessions of the All-Holy Mother of God, accompany us in our journey, transform our voluntary isolation into genuine communion, and become our prayer and destination to appreciate the meaning of this, so that we may return to that which is true, to that which is pleasing to God!

Have courage! And may God be with us!

HAH Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, The Phanar, March 19, 2020

Link to video of this Message of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Regarding Covid-19

https://www.goarch.org/-/message-ecumenical-patriarch-bartholomew-covid-19

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