Saints and Feasts

March 31

Sunday of the Holy Cross

With the help of God, we have almost reached the middle of the course of the Fast, where our strength has been worn down through abstinence, and the full difficulty of the labour set before us becomes apparent. Therefore our holy Mother, the Church of Christ, now brings to our help the all-holy Cross, the joy of the world, the strength of the faithful, the staff of the just, and the hope of sinners, so that by venerating it reverently, we might receive strength and grace to complete the divine struggle of the Fast.

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Third Mode

Let the heavens sing for joy, and let everything on earth be glad. * For with His Arm the Lord has worked power. * He trampled death under foot by means of death; * and He became the firstborn from the dead. * From the maw of Hades He delivered us; * and He granted the world His great mercy.

Apolytikion of Sun. of the Elevation of the Cross in the First Tone

Save, O Lord, Thy people and bless Thine inheritance; grant Thou unto the faithful victory over adversaries. And by the power of Thy Cross do Thou preserve Thy commonwealth.

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 Plagal Fourth Mode

To you, Theotokos, invincible Defender, having been delivered from peril, I, your city, dedicate the victory festival as a thank offering. In your irresistible might, keep me safe from all trials, that I may call out to you: "Hail, unwedded bride!"

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal Second Mode. Psalm 27.9,1.
O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:1-6.

BRETHREN, since we have a high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, "Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee"; as he says also in another place, "Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek."

Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Holy Cross
The Reading is from Mark 8:34-38; 9:1

The Lord said: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."

Wisdom of the Fathers

And see how He also makes His discourse unexceptionable: not saying at all, "whether you will, or no, you must suffer this," but how? "If any man will come after me."

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 55 on Matthew 16, 1. B#54, p.339., 4th Century

"I force not, I compel not, but each one I make lord of his own choice; wherefore also I say, 'If any man will.' For to good things do I call you, not to things evil, or burdensome; not to punishment and vengeance, that I should have to compel.

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 55 on Matthew 16, 1. B#54, p.339., 4th Century

Ministry News

TODAY we offer memorial services for our beloved Stefanos (5 years) and Eleni (7 years) Sideris, parents of Fay and Paul Vespa and Angela and Jorge Ferreira. Grandparents of Aleena, Phillip and Stefania Ferreira. May their memories be eternal.

TODAY the Ladies Philoptochos will sponsor Fellowship Hour and a Pot Luck Luncheon to benefit the Holy Cross College. Free will donations will be accepted. All are welcome!

TODAY we will be holding our St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival, beginning at 12 pm in the church. All are welcome to stay and hear our youth speak from the heart about their faith.

Church Calendar:

Weekly Lenten Services

Great Compline Services, Mondays, 5:30 pm - April 1, 15

9^thHour/Presanctified Liturgies, Wednesdays, 6:30 pm - Apr 3, 10, 17

Great Compline Services, Thursdays, 7 pm, – April 4, 11, 18

9^thHour/Presanctified Liturgies, Fridays, 8 am - Apr 5, 12, 19

Salutations to the Virgin Mary, Fridays, 7 pm - April 5, 12

Palm Sunday – April 21: The PC will be offering a Palm Sunday luncheon again this year after services that day. The menu is: Flounder with Spanakorizo for $12 and pasta for children $5

Philoptochos News: The Philoptochos is taking orders for Easter Tsourekia ($17) and Palm Crosses ($10) today. Checks can be made payable to "St. Anna Philoptochos."

YiaYia's Attic: This year’s YiaYia's Attic will take place on Saturday, June 1, from 8 am – 1 pm. Donations will be collected starting May 26. As you do your Spring Cleaning consider donating unneeded items to our sale: clothing, toys, household goods, jewelry, bicycles, seasonal décor, etc. Please no electronics or large items such as furniture, which is difficult to sell. We are also collecting lightly worn women's business attire for the organization "Dress for Success".

Education: The St Basil Academy almsgiving project continues for all Sunday School and Greek School students. Let your child know about St Basil and how even coins can make a difference. Envelopes will be collected by Palm Sunday. Any questions please see Aimee Douvris or Maria Sfondouris. Thank you for having your children be a part of this mission.

St. Anna Bookstore:Easter is around the corner. Come visit our Bookstore in the hallway and see our latest additions. Books about our faith are great gifts for Godchildren, family and friends. See Kim Vaporakis or Angela Ferreira during fellowship for assistance. Kalo Pascha!. Additional information and the list of this year’s topics can be found at www.goarch.org.

St. Anna Scholarship: The St. Anna Scholarship program is available for eligible HS Seniors. Information can be found on the Church web page.

Archdiocese Scholarship and Fellowship programs: Applications available at www.goarch.org.For more information, email scholarships@goarch.orgor call 212-774-0283. Deadline: May 3, 2019.

HOLY WEEK SERVICES

Sunday, April 21: Palm Sunday – 9 am

Bridegroom Service – 7 pm

Monday, April 22: Presanctified Liturgy – 9 am

Bridegroom Service – 7 pm

Tuesday, April 23: Presanctified Liturgy – 9 am

Bridegroom Service - 7 pm

Wednesday, April 24: Presanctified Liturgy – 9 am

Holy Unction Sacrament – 3:30 pm

Holy Unction Sacrament – 7 pm

Thursday, April 25: Holy Thursday Liturgy (St. Basil)– 9 am

Service of Holy Passion (12 Gospels)– 7 pm

Friday, April 26: Holy and Great Hours – 8:30 am

Apokathelosis – 3 pm

Lamentations Service – 7 pm

Saturday, April 27: Liturgy of St. Basil– 9 am

Resurrection Service – 11:15 pm

Sunday, April 28: Agape Vespers Service – 10 am

St. Anna Bistro: Bistro event will take place on Saturday and Sunday, May 18 and 19. The food preparation schedule is shown below. Please register for the days you can assist. We will start at 6:30 pm on the following dates:

April 4 – Spanakopita April 16 – Galaktoboureko May 7 - Baklava

The week of the event starting on Tuesday May 14 we will start the preparation of the remaining items.

Security: As previously communicated, the PC has evaluated gaps in the security system and has approved an upgrade to the system to allow easier access and better security for the Church and facilities. The PC will schedule a meeting and will invite all parishioners, the heads of all ministries, and anyone else who has access to the church to participate in that discussion.

Iconography:The Iconographer should be in our Church sometime in May to complete the remaining North and South walls and the original iconography plan. The wooden artifacts will be delivered in August-September. We are also working with a sign vendor to finalize the design of our monument sign at the entry of the driveway.

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: 84 Pledges totaling $105,434 for an average of $1,255 and $58,667 received to date. We also have 8 families who have contributed $4,325 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. If the remaining 87, 2018 stewards give at the same level as last year we could exceed our budget and reach a record high number of stewards

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

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