Orthros - Sunday 8:450am
Divine Liturgy- Sunday 10:00am
Of these Martyrs, Saint Claudius died when his arms and legs were severed; Saint Diodore was burned alive; Saints Victor, Victorinus, and Nicephorus were crushed to death by a large boulder; Saint Serapion was burned alive; Saint Pappias was cast into the sea. According to some accounts, they contested in Corinth under Decius in 251; according to others, in Diospolis in Egypt under Numerian in 284.
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.
Ninth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 20:19-31
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them: "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them: "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him: "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them: "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe."
Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said: "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.
Prokeimenon. 1st Tone. 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.
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."
In giving birth, you remained a virgin, and in your dormition, you did not forsake this world, O Theotokos. For as the Mother of Life, you have yourself passed into life. And by your prayers deliver our souls from death.
Dear Parishioners of our Beloved Assumption,
Greetings in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
William Shakespeare penned “beware the Ides of March” in his play Julius Caesar. This line was said by a “soothsayer” to Caesar as a warning. The Ides of March (March 15th) was the day that Julius Caesar was assassinated by 60 senators who believed this act would restore the great republic of Rome. They were wrong and the Ides of March became a defining moment in Roman History manifesting in years of tyranny and unrest.
Christianity is full of moments that had a secular or pre-Christian context that were transformed/transcended by defining moments. The Nativity of Lord, Christmas, transformed the Winter Solstice on December 25th; Pascha, the Lord’s Resurrection, transcended Passover; Pentecost, as a Christian observance of the giving of the Holy Spirit, transcended the Jewish Pentecost of the giving of the 10 Commandments to Moses; etc., etc., etc.
I believe that the Ides of March will take on a new meaning for our Parish of the Assumption. It is this Ides of March that we will hold a Special General Assembly in which the Parish Council will present a final fellowship hall building plan and ask for a motion to build. This moment is one that will transform our parish allowing for greater ministries of fellowship, education and hospitality. It, in fact, may be the single most important event of this generation with regards to the future growth of our parish as a whole.
During these past 5 years, so many wonderful people have experienced so many moments of spiritual growth through catechism, bible study, confessions, summer camp, pastoral counseling, and the list goes on. It is these moments of spiritual growth that have built a strong foundation for our parish and will cumulatively lead to a renewed commitment in our parish home thus creating a center of ministry for future generations and a beacon for all who encounter His Church.
It is through this that the Ides of March will for us ever be remembered as a glorious defining moment!
In His Service,
Rev. Father Jon Boukis
Proistamenos
“Attract, Serve, Illuminate”
Bible Study is an opportunity for us to apply the Scriptures to our everyday lives. The Bible is the “Good News” that enriches our faith and deepens our understanding of every issue that we face. This can only be done through obtaining the mind of the Holy Fathers. Let the scripture come alive in your life today!!!
The Wednesday Orthodox Bible Study will meet on Wednesday Evenings via ZOOM Teleconference (check calendar or email for link) from 6:00pm-7:30pm (please check calendar to verify times). Make a commitment to learning His Word!
Preparations have begun for a Holy Land Pilgrimage in January 2021!!!
The trip will be 10-11 days including travel days with an earliest departure of Monday, January 11 and latest return of Saturday, January 30. Full details will be available for the March 2020 Beacon!
Did you know that the Assumption recycles? There is a blue recycling bin in the social hall and another in the classrooms area. Please recycle clean and empty plastic, glass and metal bottles/containers as well as paper. Dirty plates, styrofoam, and plastic bags are not recyclable.
Are you already Kroger shopper?
Your current shopping could be benefitting the Assumption!
Kroger Community Rewards® makes fund-raising easy...all you have to do is shop at Kroger and swipe your Plus Card!
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TO USE THE KROGER COMMUNITY REWARDS PROGRAM:
· Go to www.krogercommunityrewards.com and register your Kroger Plus Card (if you are already registered, click “Sign In” instead of “Create an Account.”)
· Sign up for a Kroger Rewards Account by entering zip code, clicking on favorite store, entering your email address and creating a password, agreeing to the terms and conditions
· You will then get a message to check your email inbox and click on the link within the body of the email.
· Click on My Account and use your email address and password to proceed to the next step.
· Click on Edit Kroger Community Rewards information and input your Kroger Plus card number. If you use your phone number at the register instead of a card, call 800-576-4377, select option 4 to get your Kroger Plus card number.
· Update or confirm your information.
· Enter “Assumption” or our NPO number of AT066 and select us from the list and click on confirm.
· If enrollment is complete, you will see Assumption’s name on the right side of your information page.
· That’s it!!! Use your registered Kroger Plus card or phone number at the register and our parish benefits!!!
By registering online, coupons can be electronically attached to your Plus Card. Not only do you help the Church, but you save money. Talk to everyone you know about registering to benefit our parish!!!
Sunday School (cancelled)
Greek School (cancelled)
9:30AM Orthros
10:00AM Divine Liturgy
12:00PM Orthodox Bible Study (cancelled)
6:00PM Bible Study
9:00AM Orthros for Saturday of Lazarus
10:00AM Divine Liturgy for Saturday of Lazarus
11:30AM Youth Confessions, Grounds Clean-up, Palm Folding and Church Decorating (cancelled)
Sunday School (cancelled)
Greek School (cancelled)
Philoptochos Meeting (cancelled)
9:30AM Orthros
10:00AM Divine Liturgy for Palm Sunday
12:00PM Palm Sunday Fish Luncheon (cancelled)
12:00PM No Bible Study
7:00PM Bridegroom Service
7:00PM Bridegroom Service
7:00PM Bridegroom Service
4:00PM Holy Unction Service
7:00PM Bridegroom Service
8:00AM Vesperal Divine Liturgy
7:00PM Service of the 12 Passion Gospels
9:30AM Epitaphios (Kouvouklion) Preparation (cancelled)
3:00PM Apokathelosis (Unnailing) Service
7:00PM Lamentations Service
10:00AM Vesperal Divine Liturgy
10:30AM Daughters of Penelope Meeting (cancelled)
11:00PM Resurrection Orthros and Divine Liturgy
Greek School (cancelled)
11:00AM Great and Holy Pascha Agape Vespers
12:00PM Pascha Celebration and Egg Hunt (cancelled)