Today’s Readings:
Epistle: Hebrews 11:24-26, 32-12:2
Gospel: John 1:43-51
Schedule of Services:
Monday, March 25th, Vesperal Liturgy for the Annunciation
Saturday, March 30th, Great Vespers at 4pm.
Sunday, March 31st, Hierarchical Divine Liturgy. We will greet the Bishop at 9:30am.
Announcements:
-Memory eternal to Irwin, Jan Eyerman’s cousin.
-Thank you to Nellie for hosting coffee hour last week. And many thanks to the Burns’ for hosting today.
-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. We edited the prayer list. 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. Fr. Tristan will hear confessions until Monday of Holy Week. Please do not let the time fly by.
-There is Church School today.
-There is Bible Study this week on Wednesday, March 27 at 5:30 p.m.
-Our parish is hosting a "baby shower" this month to help mothers and babies in need. Last day to donate is March 31. How to help: Downstairs, the table against the wall is set up for the collection, and on it you will find CGE's immediate needs list. Feel free to share this information with family and friends and spread the word! Many of these items can be purchased in stores such as Burlington and are deeply discounted. Place your donations in the baskets provided. If you would like to make a monetary contribution, please take a baby bottle. Checks, dollars and coins are all welcome - every little bit helps. Please see Mila if you need any further information.
-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.
-Finally, a draft copy of the Church Directory is located on the window sill next to the coffee counter. Please add names and relevant information on parishioners whom you feel should be on the "Friends of St. Gregory's" list.
This Week
-Archbishop Michael is visiting our parish this upcoming weekend of St. Gregory Palamas. Please note Great Vespers at 4pm on Saturday, and please come to church by 9:30am on Sunday the 31st to greet the bishop.
-Tomorrow, we celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation of the Theotokos at 10am with a Vesperal Liturgy.
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, and the victims of the terrorist attack in Moscow.
Words for the Day
Obedience is necessary not only for monks, but for all people. Even the Lord was obedient. The proud and self-regarding do not allow grace to live in them, and therefore they never have spiritual peace, while in the obedient
soul the grace of the Holy Spirit enters easily and gives joy and peace. Whoever bears even a little grace in himself joyfully submits himself to all direction. He knows that God directs even the heavens and the netherworld, and himself, and his business, and everything in the world, and therefore he is always at peace.
(St. Silouan the Athonite, Writings, XV.2)
Next Week’s Readings:
Epistle: Hebrews 1:10-2:3 . Brethren, And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.” And to which of the angels has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, 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,
Gospel: Mark 2:1-12. At that time, when Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at 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 bed on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! 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 these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed 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, pick up your bed, and go home.” And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”