St. Alexis of Wilkes-Barre Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2019-03-10
Bulletin Contents
Welcome
Announcements
Saints and Feasts
Parish Calendar
Prayers, Intersessions and Commemorations
Hymns of the Day
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Wisdom of the Fathers
Reflection
Bulletin Inserts
Eden
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St. Alexis of Wilkes-Barre Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • 860-664-9434
  • Street Address:

  • PO Box 134, 108 E Main St

  • Clinton, CT 06413-0134

Contact Information

Fr Steven Hosking
Rector

frsteve@stalexischurch.org | 860-866-5802 (Message)

Services Schedule

Please see our online calendar for dates and times of Feast Day services.

Past Bulletins


Welcome

Gospel1

Jesus Christ taught us to love and serve all people, regardless of their ethnicity or nationality. To understand that, we need to look no further than to the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Every time we celebrate the Divine Liturgy, it is offered "on behalf of all, and for all." As Orthodox Christians we stand against racism and bigotry. All human beings share one common identity as children of God.

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatian 3:28)

Weekly Services
Tuesdays at 8:30a - Daily Matins
Wednesdays at 6:00p - Daily Vespers (The Church is open at 4:30p for "Open Doors" - confession, meditation and reflection).
Thursday at 8:30a - Daily Matins
Saturday at 5:30p - Great Vespers
Sunday at 9:30a - Divine Liturgy

Members of our Parish Council are:
Greg Jankura - Council President  
Natalie Kucharski - Council Treasurer 
Kyle Hollis - Member at Large
Glenn PenkoffLidbeck - Council Secretary
Michael Kuziak - Council Vice President 
Roderick Seurattan - Member at Large 

Pastoral Care - General Information

  • Emergency Sick Calls can be made at any time. Please call Fr Steven at (860) 866-5802, when a family member is admitted to the hospital.
  • Anointing in Sickness: The Sacrament of Unction is available in Church, the hospital, or your home, for anyone who is sick and suffering, however severe. 
  • Marriages and Baptisms require early planning, scheduling and selections of sponsors (crown bearers or godparents). See Father before booking dates and reception halls!
  • Funerals are celebrated for practicing Orthodox Christians. Please see Father for details. The Church opposes cremation; we cannot celebrate funerals for cremations.

 

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Announcements

Sunday, March 31st

We will be having an extended coffee hour/potluck to help support the Watson Family. Sharon and William are trying to raise funds in order to provide a service dog for their two sons, Zeke and Eli. The fund raiser is called "4 Paws for Ability" (https://www.facebook.com/donate/354720098648720/) and they need to raise $17000.

Sharon writes: 

"I'm raising money for 4 Paws For Ability that will be credited to the $17,000 fee for service family responsibility for a Multipurpose Service Dog for Zeke and Eli, and your contribution will make an impact, whether you donate $5 or $500. Every little bit helps. $17,000 seems like a lot, but it's only a fraction of the $40,000-60,000 it takes to raise and train each service dog! Thank you for your support. I've included information about 4 Paws For Ability below.

Zeke and Eli are both diagnosed with Autism and ADHD, and Eli also has Epilepsy. A task-trained service dog, trained in Behavior Disruption, Tethering and Scent Tracking, and Seizure Alert will help to increase their independence and daily functioning, and provide unique comfort and companionship. 

4 Paws for Ability, Inc. mission is to:

-Enrich the lives of children with disabilities by the training and placement of quality, task trained service dogs to provide increased independence for the children and assistance to their families.
-Enrich the lives of veterans from recent conflicts who have lost the use of their limbs or their hearing while in active combat.
-Educate the public to accept the use of service dogs in public places.
-Assist with animal rescue when possible."

Church Directory

You will be receiving an electronic copy of a new church directory that Susan Egan is working on complete. Please review your contact information and send any corrections to Susan Egan (lsb@snet.net). There is also a copy of the directory at the candle desk that you can review as well.

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Saints and Feasts

Eden
March 10

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.

Allsaint
March 12

Gregory Dialogos, Bishop of Rome

Saint Gregory was born in Rome to noble and wealthy parents about the year 540. While the Saint was still young, his father died. However, his mother, Sylvia, saw to it that her child received a good education in both secular and spiritual learning. He became Prefect of Rome and sought to please God even while in the world; later, he took up the monastic life; afterwards he was appointed Archdeacon of Rome, then, in 579, apocrisiarius (representative or Papal legate) to Constantinople, where he lived for nearly seven years. He returned to Rome in 585 and was elected Pope in 590. He is renowned especially for his writings and great almsgiving, and also because, on his initiative, missionary work began among the Anglo-Saxon people. It is also from him that Gregorian Chant takes its name; the chanting he had heard at Constantinople had deeply impressed him, and he imported many elements of it into the ecclesiastical chant of Rome. He served as Bishop of that city from 590 to 604.

Theotyrn
March 16

First Saturday of Lent: The Commemoration of the Miracle of Kollyva wrought by Saint Theodore the Tyro

Julian the Apostate, knowing that the Christians purify themselves by fasting most of all during the first week of the Fast -- which is why we call it Clean Week -- planned to defile them especially at that time. Therefore he secretly commanded that during those days the markets be filled with foods that had been defiled with the blood of animals offered in sacrifice to idols. But by divine command the Martyr Theodore (see Feb. 17) appeared during sleep to Eudoxius, then Archbishop of Constantinople. The Saint revealed to him the tyrant's plan, then told him to call the faithful together immediately on Monday morning and prevent them from purchasing those foods, but rather to make kollyva to supply their needs. The bishop asked what kollyva might be, and the Saint answered, "Kollyva is what we call boiled wheat in Euchaita." Thus, the purpose of the Apostate was brought to nought, and the pious people who were preserved undefiled for the whole of Clean Week, rendered thanks to the Martyr on this Saturday, and celebrated his commemoration with kollyva. These things took place in 362. Wherefore, the Church keeps this commemoration each year to the glory of God and the honour of the Martyr.

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Parish Calendar

  • Service and Events

    March 10 to March 18, 2019

    Sunday, March 10

    Forgiveness Sunday

    Kyra Elliot

    Fellowship and Stewardship Ministry

    Mission Sunday

    9:30AM Divine Liturgy

    12:00PM Forgiveness Vespers

    Monday, March 11

    Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem

    6:00PM Canon of St Andrew

    Tuesday, March 12

    Theophanes the Confessor

    8:30AM Daily Matins

    6:00PM Canon of St Andrew

    Wednesday, March 13

    Removal of the relics of Nicephorus, Patriarch of Constantinople

    4:30PM Open Doors

    6:00PM Presanctified Liturgy

    Thursday, March 14

    Raymond Boyd

    Benedict the Righteous of Nursia

    8:30AM Daily Matins

    6:00PM Canon of St Andrew

    Friday, March 15

    Agapius the Martyr & His Companions

    6:00PM Canon of St Andrew

    Saturday, March 16

    First Saturday of Lent: The Commemoration of the Miracle of Kollyva wrought by Saint Theodore the Tyro

    5:30PM Great Vespers

    Sunday, March 17

    Akathist to Patrick of Ireland

    Sunday of Orthodoxy

    Stephanie Ruperto

    Evangelism and Outreach Ministry meeting

    Akathist to St Alexis, Man of God

    9:30AM Divine Liturgy

    4:00PM Deanery Vespers

    Monday, March 18

    Matthew Kuziak

    Andrew Boyd

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Prayers, Intersessions and Commemorations

Cross2

William, Sophia, Robert, Ann, Evelyn, Nina, John, Alex, Luke, Kathryn, Anastasia, Malcolm, Veronica, Darlyne, Irene, Nancy, Elena, Jevon, the new born Stella Anna, Ivan and Joscean.

And for... Sofie, Katrina, Olena, Valeriy, Olga, Tatiana, Dimitri, Alexander and Maxim.

All of our College Students: Alex, Kaitlyn, Jack, Sam, Connor, Nadia, Isaac and Matthew.

___

 Many Years! to: Kyra Seurattan on the occasion of her birthday.

___

Pray for: All those confined to hospitals, nursing homes, and their own homes due to illness; for all those who serve in the armed forces; widows, orphans, prisoners, victims of violence, and refugees;

All those suffering chronic illness, financial hardship, loneliness, addictions, abuse, abandonment and despair; those who are homeless, those who are institutionalize, those who have no one to pray for them;

All Orthodox seminarians & families; all Orthodox monks and nuns, and all those considering monastic life; all Orthodox missionaries and their families.

All those who have perished due to hatred and intolerance and all those departed this life in the hope of the Resurrection.

___

Today we commemorate:

The Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise. Martyr Quadratus and those with him: Cyprian, Dionysius, Anectus, Paul, Crescens, Dionysius (another), Victorinus, Victor, Nicephorus, Claudius, Diodorus, Serapion, Papias, Leonidas, Chariessa, Nunechia, Basilissa, Nice (Nika, Victoria), Galla, Galina, Theodora, and many others, at Corinth (258, 267-268). Martyrs Quadratus, Saturninus, Rufinus, and the rest, of Nicomedia (3rd c.). St. Anastasia the Patrician, of Alexandria (567-568).

 

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Hymns of the Day

Tone 8 Troparion  (Resurrection)

You descended from on high, O Merciful One!
You accepted the three day burial to free us from our sufferings!//
O Lord, our Life and Resurrection, glory to You!

  

Tone 8 Kontakion (Resurrection)

By rising from the tomb, You raised the dead and resurrected Adam.
Eve exults in Your Resurrection,
and the world celebrates Your rising from the dead, O greatly Merciful One!

 

Tone 6 Kontakion (from the Lenten Triodion)

O Master, Teacher of wisdom,
Bestower of virtue,
Who teach the thoughtless and protect the poor,
strengthen and enlighten my heart!
O Word of the Father, 
let me not restrain my mouth from crying to You:
“Have mercy on me, a transgressor,//
O merciful Lord!”

 

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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. 8th 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 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."

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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.
St. John Chrysostom
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.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 20 on Matthew 6, 4th Century

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Reflection

Burnbush

Prayers by the Lake by Bishop Nikolai Velimirovich

Prayer XXXII

 

My faith sees You, Lord.
It is the light and the farseeing vision of my eyes.
It is the sensing of Your omnipresence. It pulls my knees to the ground and lifts my arms toward heaven.
My faith is my soul's contact with You. It prompts my heart to dance and my throat to sing.
When a swallow draws near, the baby swallows become excited in the nest. For even in the distance they sense the coming of their mother.
My faith is my excitement, for You are coming, my Mother.
If my friend is thinking of me while writing a letter in a distant city, I also dismiss other thoughts and think of my friend.
My faith is my thinking about You, which prompts You, all-encompassing Lord, to think of me.
When a lion is separated from his lioness, the lion's eyes are distraught with longing for the lioness.
My faith is my longing for You, when You are far from me, my Beauty.
When there is no sun, the most terrifying storms lash the sea.
My faith is the calming of the storm within my soul, for Your light pours into me and pacifies me.
My eyes said to me: "We do not see Him." But I pacified them with thewords: "The truth is, that you were not created to see Him but to see what is His." 
My ears said to me: "We do not hear Him." But I brought them to their senses with the words: "The truth is, that you were not created to hear Him but to hear what is His."
Nothing of all that is created can see or hear Him but only what is His. What is created sees and hears what is created. Only what is begotten of Him can see Him. And only what is begotten of Him can hear Him. A painting cannot see the painter, but the son of a painter can see the painter. A bell cannot hear a bell-caster, but the daughter of a bell-caster can hear her father.
The eye cannot see Him because it was not created for the purpose of seeing Him. The ear cannot hear Him, because it was not created for the purpose of hearing Him. But vision can see Him, and hearing can hear Him.
My faith sees You, Lord, just as what is begotten sees its begetter. My faith hears You, Lord, just as what is begotten hears its begetter.
The God within me sees and hears the God in You. And God is not created but begotten.
My faith is like diving into the abyss of my soul and swimming out with You.
My faith is my only genuine knowledge. Everything else is like the children collecting motley pebbles by the lake.

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Bulletin Inserts

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