Today’s Readings:

Epistle: Hebrews 1:10-2:3

Gospel: Mark 2:1-12

 

Schedule of Services: 

Wednesday, April 3rd, Pre-sanctified Liturgy at 6:30pm

Saturday, April 6th, Great Vespers at 4pm.

Sunday, April 7th, Divine Liturgy at 10am. Hours begin at 9:40am.

 

Announcements:

-We welcome His Eminence, Archbishop Michael to our parish today.  Many years, Vladyka!  We will have a luncheon downstairs hosted by the Sisterhood.  Thank you to those who contributed to the luncheon!

-The April calendar for services offered at our parish is available.  Please note the times of services.  Before Holy Week begins, a special Holy Week schedule will be distributed.

-Donation envelopes are ready and can be picked up at the back of the church.

-We have been praying for “living” loved ones named on our prayer list.  The prayer list has been edited.  If you hear a name missing, please let Fr. Tristan know.

-It is Orthodox practice to have a good confession during Great Lent.  This is, indeed, an expectation of all parishioners. Please do not let the time fly by. 

-Our next Bible Study will be on Wednesday, April 10th at 6pm.

-Today is the last day to donate to the “Baby Shower” that our parish is hosting.  Please place donations on the table downstairs.  Thank you.  

-Again, please consider visiting Steve W. Who is currently residing at Hunterdon Care Center in Flemington, NJ. He is happy to welcome any visitors. His room number is C 120.

-Also, please consider donating to St Tikhon's married seminarians (refer to donation envelopes) and to the Building Preservation/Rectory Fund. Sign up is located on the bulletin board. All donations are appreciated.

-Don’t forget the needy. Shop Rite gift cards or non-perishable foods are greatly appreciated.

 

Prayers for: 

Departed: Michael (March 9th), Irwin, Helen, Elena

Living: Krystyna and her newborn child, Seph, Robert, Marie, Fernando, Michael, Bernard, Mark, Gerald, David, Robert, Steven, Stephen, Michele; Metropolitan Onuphry and the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church; the suffering people and innocent victims of the Ukrainian/Russian war and those being persecuted; and the suffering victims of the war in Israel and Palestine.

 

Words for the Day

It is harmful to remember previous sins in detail. For if they bring you sorrow, they will estrange you from hope, but if they are remembered without sorrow, they will introduce the previous defilement. If you want to bring to God an uncondemned confession, then don't remember your sins in detail, but manfully endure the suffering that is coming because of them.
(St. Mark the Ascetic, Homilies, 2.151,153)

 

The Lord greatly loves the repenting sinner and mercifully presses him to His bosom: "Where were you, My child? I was waiting a long time for you." The Lord calles all to Himself with the voice of the Gospel, and his voice is heard in all the world: "Come to me, my sheep. I created you, and I love you. My love for you brought Me to earth, and I suffered all things for the sake of your salvation, and I want you all to know my love, and to say, like the apostles on Tabor: Lord, it is good for us to be with You."
(St. Silouan the Athonite, Writings, IX.27)

 

The saints were people like all of us. Many of them came out of great sins, but by repentance they attained the Kingdom of Heaven. And everyone who comes there comes through repentance, which the merciful Lord has given us through His sufferings.
(St. Silouan the Athonite, Writings, XII.10)

 

 

 

 

 

Next Week’s Readings:

Epistle: Hebrews 4:14-5:6. Brethren, Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have 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 obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when 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, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”; as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”

 

Gospel: Mark 8:34-9:1.  At that time, when Jesus had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” And He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.”