Gospel and Epistle Readings

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 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.

Gospel Reading

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."

Saints and Feasts

March 26

Sunday of St. John Climacus

The memory of this Saint is celebrated on March 30, where his biography may be found. He is celebrated today because his book, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, is a sure guide to the ascetic life, written by a great man of prayer experienced in all forms of the monastic polity; it teaches the seeker after salvation how to lay a sound foundation for his struggles, how to detect and war against each of the passions, how to avoid the snares laid by the demons, and how to rise from the rudimental virtues to the heights of Godlike love and humility. It is held in such high esteem that it is universally read in its entirety in monasteries during the Great Fast.

Hospitality Ministry

Thank you to our Greek School students, parents and teachers for sponsoring today's Agape Coffee Fellowship in honor of Greek Independence Day.

Thank you to Valerie and John Rountos for hosting today's Agape Coffee Fellowship.

If you'd like to be a hostess or host, please sign up on the board that is located in our Parish Hall or on line at:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805084DA4AF22A7F94-agape10

Hosting duties include setting up, serving the coffee and cleaning up. We will always pair you with an experienced hostess!

Questions? Please contact Barbara Soldano or Caryn Flannery (philoptochos@agoc.us).

For Agape Fellowship Sponsoring opportunities/availability and guidelines please contact Margot Racano at: office@agoc.us.

Parish News

Greek School Program - Sunday, 3/26

Please join our Greek School students and teachers for a program in honor of March 25th! We celebrate March 25th as a double holiday: a historical and a religious one. It marks the day of Greek Independence of 1821. Also, our Church celebrates the Annunciation by archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary that she should become the mother of Jesus Christ the Son of God. Join us on Sunday, March 26 in the Church Hall shortly after Coffee Hour starts.

First Aid/CPR/AED Course

We are planning a 4-hour course during the month of May at Church. There is no charge. For more information or to sign up, please email Panaiota Constantine at panaiota.constantine@gmail.com.

Feed the Hungry Ministry

Thank you to our March volunteer who wishes to remain anonymous.

Volunteers are needed on the fourth Wednesday of each month to make 60 sandwiches for the Dorothy Day Hospitality House in Danbury. We meet in our parish hall to assemble the sandwiches and deliver them to Dorothy Day, which is only 10 minutes away from our parish. Or you may organize your own Tuesday meetng and leave the sandwiches in the refrigerator and they will be delivered the next day. A detailed shopping list and instructons will be supplied. For more information, please email office@agoc.us.

Michael Kallas Memorial Scholarship Fund

In association with the Ladies Philoptochos Society, we are pleased to announce that applications are being accepted for the 2023 Michael Kallas Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship is available for any graduating High School boy or girl. Applications are available at the church vestibule. Completed applications must be returned to Fevri Gkanatsios, Ladies Philoptochos, by March 31, 2023. Applications received after this date will not be accepted.

Greek Folk Dance

Registration for the Greek Dance Program will continue through April 2th. Registration forms are available in our Church Hall.

The Festival Dance Groups are a part of the Assumption Church’s Youth Ministry. We encourage all young people - Kindergarten to Young Adult, to be a part of our wonderful Dance Troupes and learn the traditional folk dances of Greece. No on line registration.

Dance practices will begin on Thursday, April 27th for the Angeloudia, Kamari, Ellinopoula and Asteria Groups.

Levendia Group will be contacted by instructors of schedule of practices.

For more information, please contact Presbytera Maria Karloutsos at: greekdance@agoc.us

Ladies Philoptochos Society

Lambades/Easter candles: now available for sale after Divine Liturgy in the outer Narthex.

04/04 and 04/05 - Save the date for baking for Pascha: Come, help, and learn how to make traditional Tsourekia/Easter bread and koulourakia/traditional Greek cookies.

04/09/23 - Palm Sunday: We need volunteers on that day to help with hosting a very special coffee hour. Please sign up here: Palm Sunday

Philoptochos Stewardship: You may make online stewardship donations by CLICKING HERE. BE SURE TO CHECK OFF LADIES PHILOPTOCHOS and follow up with an at philoptochos@agoc.us to notify us you have submitted a stewardship offering. You may also mail your offering and your Stewardship Form, available on the church site: https://agoc.us/agoc-organizations/philoptochos/.

Stay connected with us: Facebook Assumption Ladies Philoptochos Danbury

Protomayia Glendi

Spring Dance

We have begun selling tickets for our Church dance and the cost is $90 pp. All tickets must be paid in advance by April 23rd. Grand Raffle Tickets on sale now, ONE winner receives gifts with a combined value of $500! Winner to be announced at the Protomayia Spring Dance, benefits the Assumption General Fund! Winner need not be present to win. Live band, appetizers, buffet, dessert, cash bar. Click on flyer for details!

Special Services

Wednesday, March 29

6:00PM Pre-Sanctified Liturgy

Friday, March 31

6:30PM Salutations to the Most Holy Theotokos

Wednesday, April 5

6:00PM Pre-Sanctified Liturgy

Saturday, April 8

Lazarus Saturday

8:45AM Orthros, 10:00AM Divine Liturgy

Links for Livestreaming Services

Pray with us by subscribing to the Assumption YouTube channel

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9tD5mB_u3GgO1J8ikwIW0g

Or by visiting our Assumption page on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/pg/assumptiongreekorthodoxchurch/videos/?ref=page_internal

Live events will be streamed on both these services on programmed service hours.

Calendar

Month at-a-Glance

March 26 to April 23, 2023

Sunday, March 26

Sunday of St. John Climacus

8:45AM Orthros

10:00AM Divine Liturgy

Wednesday, March 29

6:00PM Pre-Sanctified Liturgy

Friday, March 31

6:30PM Salutations to the Most Holy Theotokos

Saturday, April 1

5th Saturday of Lent: The Akathist Hymn

Sunday, April 2

Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt

8:45AM Orthros

10:00AM Divine Liturgy

Wednesday, April 5

6:00PM Pre-Sanctified Liturgy

Saturday, April 8

Lazarus Saturday

8:45AM Orthros

10:00AM Divine Liturgy

Sunday, April 9

Palm Sunday

8:45AM Orthros

10:00AM Divine Liturgy

7:00PM 1st Bridegroom (Nymphios) Service

Monday, April 10

Holy Monday

7:00PM 2nd Bridegroom (Nymphios) Service

Tuesday, April 11

Holy Tuesday

9:30AM Pre-Sanctified Liturgy

7:00PM 3rd Bridegroom (Nymphios) Service

Wednesday, April 12

Holy Wednesday

4:00PM Holy Unction

7:00PM Holy Unction

Thursday, April 13

Holy Thursday

8:00AM Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil the Great

6:30PM The Holy Passion & Crucifixion Service - 12 Gospel Readings

Friday, April 14

Holy Friday

9:30AM The Great Hours on Holy Friday

3:00PM Vespers and Apokathelosis Service

7:00PM Service of Lamentations (Epitaphios)

Saturday, April 15

Holy Saturday

9:30AM Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil

11:00PM The Canon, Orthros and Divine Liturgy

Sunday, April 16

Great and Holy Pascha

Great and Holy Pascha

12:00PM Agape Vespers

Monday, April 17

Renewal Monday

Tuesday, April 18

Renewal Tuesday: The Commemoration of Saints Raphael, Nicholas, Irene, and the Other Newly-revealed Martyrs of Lesbos

Wednesday, April 19

Renewal Wednesday

Thursday, April 20

Renewal Thursday

7:30PM Parish Council Meeting

Friday, April 21

Renewal Friday: Theotokos of the Life-giving Spring

Saturday, April 22

Renewal Saturday

Sunday, April 23

Thomas Sunday

8:45AM Orthros

10:00AM Divine Liturgy

General Information

Contact Information

Services Schedule

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