Saints and Feasts

March 03

Judgment Sunday (Meatfare Sunday)

The foregoing two parables -- especially that of the Prodigal Son -- have presented to us God's extreme goodness and love for man. But lest certain persons, putting their confidence in this alone, live carelessly, squandering upon sin the time given them to work out their salvation, and death suddenly snatch them away, the most divine Fathers have appointed this day's feast commemorating Christ's impartial Second Coming, through which we bring to mind that God is not only the Friend of man, but also the most righteous Judge, Who recompenses to each according to his deeds.

It is the aim of the holy Fathers, through bringing to mind that fearful day, to rouse us from the slumber of carelessness unto the work of virtue, and to move us to love and compassion for our brethren. Besides this, even as on the coming Sunday of Cheese-fare we commemorate Adam's exile from the Paradise of delight -- which exile is the beginning of life as we know it now -- it is clear that today's is reckoned the last of all feasts, because on the last day of judgment, truly, everything of this world will come to an end.

All foods, except meat and meat products, are allowed during the week that follows this Sunday.

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Grave Mode

By means of Your Cross, O Lord, You abolished death. * To the robber You opened Paradise. * The lamentation of the myrrhbearing women You transformed, * and You gave Your Apostles the order to proclaim to all * that You had risen, O Christ our God, * and granted the world Your great mercy.

Apolytikion for St. Anna (Dec. 9) in the Fourth Mode

Today the bonds of childlessness are loosed; for God hearkened to Joachim and Anna. And though it was beyond hope, He clearly promised them that they should bear a divine child, from whom was born the Uncircumscribable One Himself Who became a mortal, and through an Angel commanded them to cry unto her: Rejoice, thou who art full of grace, the Lord is with thee."

Seasonal Kontakion in the First Mode

O God, when You come upon the earth in glory, the whole world will tremble. A river of fire will bring all before Your Judgment Seat and the books will be opened, and everything in secret will become public. At that time, deliver me from the fire which never dies, and enable me to stand by Your right hand, O Judge most just.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Psalm 146.5;134.3.
Great is our Lord, and great is his power.
Verse: Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good.

The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 8:8-13; 9:1-2.

Brethren, food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. Only take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if any one sees you, a man of knowledge, at table in an idol's temple, might he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak man is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of my brother's falling, I will never eat meat, lest I cause my brother to fall.

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

Gospel Reading

Judgment Sunday (Meatfare Sunday)
The Reading is from Matthew 25:31-46

The Lord said, "When the Son of man comes in his glory and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.' Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' Then he will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.' And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Wisdom of the Fathers

He indicates the dispositions of each, calling the one kids, the other sheep, that He might indicate the unfruitfulness of the one, for no fruit will come from kids; and the great profit from the other, for indeed from sheep great is the profit, as well from the milk, as from the wool, and from the young, of all which things the kid is destitute.

St. John Chrysostom

Homily on Matt. XXV, 4th Century

For when one has pity on the poor, he lends to God; and he who gives to the least gives to God--sacrifices spiritually to God an odour of a sweet smell.

St. Cyprian of Carthage

The Lord's Prayer, 33. B#41, p.102, 3rd century

Ministry News

TODAY Fellowship Hour is sponsored by the Twitchell family.

Church Calendar:

Monday, March 11: Clean Monday (Kathara Deuftera)

Saturdays of Souls: March 9 & 16 - 9 am service

Salutations (ΧΑΙΡΕΤΙΣΜΟΙ): March 15, 22, 29, April 5, 12 – 7 pm service

Monday, March 25: Evangelismos - Annunciation Feastday, 9 am

(Nameday of H.E. Metropolitan Evangelos)

Palm Sunday: April 22

Great and Holy Pascha: April 28

DON’T FORGET OUR SPRING GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON MARCH 24 AFTER CHURCH

Trivia Night -A warm and heartfelt thank you to all the volunteers who helped to make Friday night’s Trivia Night a success!

A prayerful plea to all members of my loving family to help my niece, Mary Schiller, defray some of the cost of her lung transplant by contributing to a fund set up in her name at:

www.gofundme.com/help-mary-gianos-schiller-breathe-a-sigh-of-relief. Contributions can also be given to me in the form of checks payable to Mark Schiller. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Irene Gianos

St John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival: It’s time to start thinking about the 2019 SJCOF. The Festival is a great way for our teens to explore a deeper knowledge of their Orthodox faith, think critically about current issues, and then speak to a gentle and loving audience. The Junior Division is for Grades 7-9 and the Senior Division is for Grades 10-12. There are awards and scholarships for national finalists. Our Church Festival is Sunday, March 31 after church. Additional information and the list of this year’s topics can be found at www.goarch.org.

Archdiocese Scholarship and Fellowship programs: Applications are now available by visiting www.goarch.org.For more information, email scholarships@goarch.orgor call 212-774-0283. The deadline for submitting all applications is May 3, 2019.

St. Anna Bookstore: The St. Anna Bookstore has a great selection of books for Great Lent and Easter.

VOTE: Please take a moment to vote for our Flemington OPA! Festival as Best Foodie Event in Hunterdon Happening Magazine. Coming in First Place for the 4th consecutive year would be so important in our marketing campaign as we look for continued support from sponsors and patrons for our 2019 event. Go to the link below to vote. Thank you!
http://hunterdon.happeningmag.com/happeninglist/2019-everything-hunterdon-foodie-event/

“Called to be Free” (Galatians 5:13): The Freedom of Orthodoxy”Lenten Retreatwill be offered on Saturday, March 30 at St George Greek Orthodox Church in Ocean, NJ from 10 am – 3 pm. Guest Speaker: Fr. Barnabas Powell. Contact: George Moutis: 732-233-7987 or gmoutis@scinj.com.

“Why be Orthodox?” Lenten Retreatwill be offered on Saturday, March 9 at the Annunciation/ Evangelismos Greek Orthodox Church in Elkins Park, PA from 8:30 am – 2 pm. Guest Speaker: Aristotle Papanikolau, PhD. Contact: Church office at 215-635-0316 or office@anngoc.org

Fellowship Hour: Please sign up outside the office or contact John Giannouris at (610) 680-7507 or john.giannouris@comcast.netif you are interested in sponsoring Fellowship Hour. Thank you.

Bulletin Inserts

Lenten Retreat - March 9

Elkins Park, PA

Lenten Retreat - March 30

Ocean, NJ

Stewardship

Stewardship is the sharing of the talents and treasures that God has provided for us. An Orthodox Christian Steward is an active participant in the life of the Church. The parish encourages all who accept the Orthodox Faith to become practicing Stewards.

2019 Stewardship Drive: 56 Pledges totaling $82,650 for an average of $1,476 and $37,784 received to date. We also have 9 families who have contributed $4,220 to date but have not submitted a stewardship card. It is important that all families complete a stewardship card to be considered a steward. Current Stewardship List and other stewardship information is posted in bulletin board by water cooler.

We need everyone’s participation to exceed this year’s stewardship pledge target of $170,000.

…Remember a rich man is not one who has much, but one who gives much

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