St. Alexis of Wilkes-Barre Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2021-03-28
Bulletin Contents
Welcome
Announcements
Prayers, Intercessions and Commemorations
Parish Calendar
Saints and Feasts
Hymns of the Day
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Wisdom of the Fathers
Beyond the Sermon
Bulletin Inserts
02_palamas2
Organization Icon
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)
Dn Timothy Skuby
Attached

dntimothy@stalexischurch.org | (808) 341-1813

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)

Members of our Parish Council are:
Joseph Barbera - Council Member at Large
Dori Kuziak - Council Secretary
Carolyn Neiss - Vice President
Marlene Melesko - Council Member at Large
Kyle Hollis - President
Roderick Seurattan - Treasurer

 

 

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.

BACK TO TOP

Announcements

Stewardship

I need to again, to ask you to please return your stewardship forms. This is very important for several reasons: first, the council is trying very hard to restart our ministries after a year's hiatus, and it is essential to know how you would like to be involved. Second, the council can not adequately plan around the budget if we do not have your pledges. Relatedly, we experienced a cash flow problem in January and had to transfer funds from savings to cover our financial obligations. I appreciate your cooperation in this matter.

Lenten Books

For those of you who sponsored the lenten books have not yet paid for them, I would ask that you do so soon. I ordered 60 books, and less than have has been paid for. I would like to be sure that the Diocese receives our donation soon.

Spring Cleaning Date

Weather permitting, on Saturday, April 17th, we would like to have a parish cleanup. If you can join us, we will begin at around 9:30a and continue until whenever. There are several outdoor projects that need attending to as well as a few interior ones as well. We will post a list in an upcoming bulletin. Please make a note of the date.

St Elizabeth Fund

I remind you that this fund is available for parishioners who are in need of temperary financial support. You may also choose to make a donation directly to the fund, in order to support the community.

Time Change

Please note that the service of Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts will begin at 6:00p from now through the rest of Lent. All other service times remain the same for now.

BACK TO TOP

Prayers, Intercessions and Commemorations

Christ_forgiveness

Archpriest Dennis, Archpriest Michael, Deacon Timothy, Evelyn, Katheryn, Anne, Aaron, Veronica, Richard, Nancy, Susanne, Carol, Alexander, Gail, Vincent, Nina, Ellen, Maureen, Elizabeth, Christopher, Joshua, Jennifer, Petra, Olivia, Jessica, Sean, Sarah, Justin, Arnold, Carol-Anne, Anthony, Natasha, Gene, John, John, Michael, Kelley, Krisha, Alix, Natalie, Edward, Nathan, Caila, Julianna, Paul, John, Jacob, Lynn, Anna, Richard, Robert, Dorothy, Elaina

Many years to Jack Jankura on the occasion of his 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, intolerance and pestilence; all those departed this life in the hope of the Resurrection.

___

St. Gregory Palamas.Synaxis of the Venerable Fathers of the Kiev Caves Lavra. Ven. Hilarion the New, Abbot of Pelekete (ca. 754). Ven. Stephen the Wonderworker, Abbot of Triglia (9th c.). Monastic Martyr Eustratius of the Kiev Caves (Near Caves—1097). Ven. Hilarion of Pskov Lake (Gdov—1476). Martyred brothers Barachisius and Jonah, and those with them, in Persia (4th c.). Martyr Boyan, Prince of Bulgaria (ca. 830).

 

BACK TO TOP

Parish Calendar

  • Parish Calendar

    March 28 to April 5, 2021

    Sunday, March 28

    Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas

    9:15AM Divine Liturgy

    Monday, March 29

    Mark, Bishop of Arethusa

    Tuesday, March 30

    Alla Hamisevich

    John Climacus the Righteous, author of The Divine Ladder of Ascent

    8:30AM Daily Matins followed by Lenten Reflection

    Wednesday, March 31

    Repose of St Innocent

    The Holy Hieromartyr Hypatius, Bishop of Gangra

    8:30AM Akathist to St Innocent

    6:00PM Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts

    Thursday, April 1

    Jack Jankura

    Mary of Egypt

    8:30AM Daily Matins

    7:00PM DC Meeting

    Friday, April 2

    Titus the Wonderworker

    6:30PM Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos

    Saturday, April 3

    Third Saturday of Lent

    5:30PM Great Vespers

    Sunday, April 4

    Maureen Skuby

    Sunday of the Holy Cross

    9:15AM Divine Liturgy

    Monday, April 5

    Monk-Martyrs Claudius, Diodore, Victor, Victorinus, and those with them

BACK TO TOP

Saints and Feasts

02_palamas2
March 28

Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas

This divine Father, who was from Asia Minor, was from childhood reared in the royal court of Constantinople, where he was instructed in both religious and secular wisdom. Later, while still a youth, he left the imperial court and struggled in asceticism on Mount Athos, and in the Skete at Beroea. He spent some time in Thessalonica being treated for an illness that came from his harsh manner of life. He was present in Constantinople at the Council that was convened in 1341 against Barlaam of Calabria, and at the Council of 1347 against Acindynus, who was of like mind with Barlaam; Barlaam and Acindynus claimed that the grace of God is created. At both these Councils, the Saint contended courageously for the true dogmas of the Church of Christ, teaching in particular that divine grace is not created, but is the uncreated energies of God which are poured forth throughout creation: otherwise it would be impossible, if grace were created, for man to have genuine communion with the uncreated God. In 1347 he was appointed Metropolitan of Thessalonica. He tended his flock in an apostolic manner for some twelve years, and wrote many books and treatises on the most exalted doctrines of our Faith; and having lived for a total of sixty-three years, he reposed in the Lord in 1359.

His holy relics are kept in the Cathedral of Thessalonica. A full service was composed for his feast day by the Patriarch Philotheus in 1368, when it was established that his feast be celebrated on this day. Since works without right faith avail nothing, we set Orthodoxy of faith as the foundation of all that we accomplish during the Fast, by celebrating the Triumph of Orthodoxy the Sunday before, and the great defender of the teachings of the holy Fathers today.

Iconclimacus
March 30

John Climacus the Righteous, author of The Divine Ladder of Ascent

This Saint gave himself over to the ascetical life from his early youth. Experienced both in the solitary life of the hermit and in the communal life of cenobitic monasticism, he was appointed Abbot of the Monastery at Mount Sinai and wrote a book containing thirty homilies on virtue. Each homily deals with one virtue, and progressing from those that deal with holy and righteous activity (praxis) unto those that deal with divine vision (theoria), they raise a man up as though by means of steps unto the height of Heaven. For this cause his work is called "The Ladder of Divine Ascent." The day he was made Abbot of Sinai, the Prophet Moses was seen giving commands to those who served at table. Saint John reposed in 603, at eighty years of age. See also the Fourth Sunday of the Fast.

01_mary2
April 01

Mary of Egypt

When Mary was only twelve years old, she left her parents and departed to Alexandria, where she lived a depraved life for seventeen years. Then, moved by curiosity, she went with many pilgrims to Jerusalem, that she might see the Exaltation of the venerable Cross. Even in the Holy City she gave herself over to every kind of licentiousness and drew many into the depth of perdition. Desiring to go into the church on the day of the Exaltation of the Cross, time and again she perceived a certain invisible power preventing her entrance, whereas the multitude of people about her entered unhindered. Therefore, wounded in heart by this, she decided to change her way of life and reconcile herself to God by means of repentance. Invoking our Lady the Theotokos as her protectress, she asked her to open the way for her to worship the Cross, and vowed that she would renounce the world. And thus, returning once again to the church, she entered easily. When she had worshipped the precious Wood, she departed that same day from Jerusalem and passed over the Jordan. She went into the inner wilderness and for forty-seven years lived a most harsh manner of life, surpassing human strength; alone, she prayed to God alone. Toward the end of her life, she met a certain hermit named Zosimas, and she related to him her life from the beginning. She requested of him to bring her the immaculate Mysteries that she might partake of them. According to her request, he did this the following year on Holy and Great Thursday. One year after this, Zosimas again went thither and found her dead, laid upon the ground, and letters written in the sand near her which said: "Abba Zosimas, bury here the body of wretched Mary. I died on the very day I partook of the immaculate Mysteries. Pray for me." Her death is reckoned by some to have taken place in 378, by some, in 437, and by others, in 522. She is commemorated also on the Fifth Sunday of Great Lent. Her life was recorded by Saint Sophronius of Jerusalem.

Allsaint
April 02

Titus the Wonderworker

Little is known of this Saint except that he took up the monastic life from his youth, became the abbot of a monastery, and reposed in peace.

BACK TO TOP

Hymns of the Day

Angel_design

Tone 1 Troparion (Resurrection)

When the stone had been sealed by the Jews,
while the soldiers were guarding Your most pure body,
You rose on the third day, O Savior,
granting life to the world.
The powers of heaven therefore cried to You, O Giver of Life:
“Glory to Your Resurrection, O Christ!
Glory to Your Kingdom!//
Glory to Your dispensation, O Lover of mankind!”

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,

Tone 8 Troparion (St Gregory of Palamas)

O light of Orthodoxy, teacher of the Church, its confirmation,
O ideal of monks and invincible champion of theologians,
O wonderworking Gregory, glory of Thessalonica and preacher of grace,//
always intercede before the Lord that our souls may be saved!

now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Tone 4 Kontakion (from Lenten Triodion)

Now is the time for action!
Judgment is at the doors!
So let us rise and fast,
offering alms with tears of compunction and crying:
“Our sins are more in number than the sands of the sea;
but forgive us, O Master of all,//
so that we may receive the incorruptible crowns!”

 

HYMN TO THE THEOTOKOS
All of creation rejoices in you, O Full of Grace: the assembly of angels and the race of men. O sanctified temple and spiritual paradise, the glory of virgins, from whom God was incarnate and became a Child – our God before the ages. He made your body into a throne, and your womb He made more spacious than the heavens. All of creation rejoices in you, O Full of Grace. Glory to you!

COMMUNION HYMN

Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Him in the highest! The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance! He shall not fear evil tidings! Alleluia 3X

BACK TO TOP

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

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 1:10-14; 2:1-3.

"IN THE BEGINNING, Thou, Lord, didst found the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of thy hands; they will perish, but thou remainest; they will all grow old like a garment, like a mantle thou wilt roll them up, and they will be changed. But thou art the same, and thy years will never end." But to what angel has he ever said, "Sit at my right hand, till I make thy enemies a stool for thy feet?" Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation?

Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For if the message declared by angels was valid and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard him.

Gospel Reading

The Reading is from Mark 2:1-12

At that time, Jesus entered Capernaum and it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, not even about the door; and he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and when they had made an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven." Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, "Why does this man speak thus? It is a blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you question thus in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your pallet and walk? But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins"-he said to the paralytic-"I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home." And he rose, and immediately took up the pallet and went out before them all; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"

BACK TO TOP

Wisdom of the Fathers

Now Matthew indeed saith, that "they brought him," but the others, that they also broke up the roof, and let him down. And they put the sick man before Christ, saying nothing, but committing the whole to Him.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 29 on Matthew 9, 1. B#54, pp. 195, 196, 4th Century

For though in the beginning He Himself went about, and did not require so much faith of them that came unto Him; yet in this case they both approached Him, and had faith required on their part. For, "Seeing," it is said, "their faith;" that is, the faith of them that had let the man down.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 29 on Matthew 9, 1. B#54, pp. 195, 196, 4th Century

BACK TO TOP

Beyond the Sermon

Burnbush

 

 

THE LAMB 

 

Humble lamb, mystic icon 

On the altar of ransom 

Sacred emblem of innocence 

Sacrifice of redemption. 

I saw your ordeal from afar 

And I could not get closer 

To the ritual of your stabbing 

I had to wait for the pain 

To break loose from your heart 

For your soul to ascend 

Far from your frightened eyes. 

Your broken heart shoring up 

The shaky alibis of this age. 

You have been born in spring 

When the Lord rises from dead 

Ready for the crucial sacrifice. 

Now you cannot return anymore 

In gentleness of your warm fur 

Last sieved lamb’s snow of white pelts. 

If you cannot descend from above, 

From where only saints dwell 

I ask you, lamb, tell us if you know 

Where is the boundary of oblivion

Separating the living from departed.

I am missing your true innocence.

Your joyous play on spring fields 

Breathing warmly over the snow. 

You have returned to the realm 

Of the sacrificed ones, our martyrs 

You inherited in your blood this fate 

The destiny of the purest of beings.

In your silence was hidden 

All the mysteries of creation. 

Who has chosen you as an offering 

Knew that only souls of most gentle 

Most merciful and purest at heart 

Can be crucified for God’s glory.

 

HOMO LITURGICUS by Marin Mihalache

BACK TO TOP

Bulletin Inserts

    Stewardship Form

    Stewardship Form

    If you have not completed this form as yet, please do so ASAP!

BACK TO TOP