Dearly Beloved in Christ:
The Last of Lent: Lent is quickly drawing to a close. One more week and we will be at the doorstep of Holy Week. I want to encourage you to make the most of the short time that remains for your healing and growth in divine grace. While everyone who comes at the 11th Hour is welcomed and loved, as your spiritual father, I implore you to step up your participation in the divine services, to prioritize your life in Christ in His Church above all else. Together, we “seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness,” knowing that “all these things will be added” to us (Matt. 6:33), as our Lord promises. The spiritual ‘hospital’ of Lent only comes around once a year; don’t let it pass you by without using it for spiritual gain and allowing the Holy Spirit to work in you and through you.
Holy Week: I also encourage you to get time off work AND to enable your children to take time off school for their spiritual edification and education, so that all of us can participate in as much of Holy Week as possible. You will not be disappointed if you do so! Christ lovingly leads us on a deifying journey through His Church to His voluntary Passion, burial, and triumphant resurrection so that you and I, dying with Christ, may likewise be raised with Him at His glorious resurrection.
Confession: Finally, I urge you to prepare now to make your confession so that you may receive the Holy Gifts at the Eucharist of Pascha. Here are a couple of open times to consider making confession before and during the beginning of Holy Week so that you may receive the Holy Gifts during Holy Week and Pascha:
- There is limited time before Presanctified Liturgy this Wednesday (our last before Holy Week) only by appointment.
- Saturday before and after the Divine Liturgy of Lazarus Saturday and following the Vigil service for Palm Sunday.
- Great and Holy Monday and Tuesday before and after the services of Bridegroom Matins—best to contact me beforehand.
May Christ God bless you as we look toward finishing the course of the Fast!
This week at Holy Archangels:
- v Sunday, April 21, Anastasia Miclean’s Second Birthday Party during Trapeza
- v Wednesday, April 24, 6:30, Presanctified Liturgy Lenten Potluck Dinner following and Fr. Robert’s continuing teaching on the LORD’S PRAYER, St. John’s Boathouse.
- v Saturday, April 27, 9:30am Lazarus Saturday Hours and Divine Liturgy
- v Saturday, April 27, 5 p.m., Vigil for Palm Sunday with the blessing of the Palms
- v Sunday, April 28, 9:30 a.m. Hours 10 am Palm Sunday Divine Liturgy Procession with Palms following Liturgy. followed by Trapeza and Bridegroom Matins
Looking Ahead: Save the Dates!
- v HOLY WEEK April 28-May 5, Please refer to handout or online for schedule!!
Prayer Requests:
- Pray for God’s ongoing financial provision for our Mission.
- Please pray for our Mission that we may find a Choir Director and that we may continue to grow in spirit and in numbers as a living witness of God’s love, healing, power, and glory.
- Healing for Archpriest George, Priest John, Benedict, Marina, Colette, Mary, Carol, Katherine, Katherine, Carey, Hannah, Luke, Caroline, Elizabeth, baby Carrie, Fr. Robert’s parents, James and Charlene, Daniel, Adele, Woodrow, Marilee, Barbara, Michael Anthony.
Troparion (Resurrection) Tone 5
Let us, the faithful, praise and worship the Word, // co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit,
born for our salvation from the Virgin; // for He willed to be lifted up on the Cross in the flesh,
to endure death, // and to raise the dead// by His glorious Resurrection.
Troparion (St Mary of Egypt) Tone 8
The image of God was truly preserved in you, O Mother,
for you took up the Cross and followed Christ.
By so doing, you taught us to disregard the flesh for it passes away;
but to care instead for the soul, for it is immortal.//
Therefore your spirit, O holy Mother Mary, rejoices with the angels.
Troparion (Holy Archangels) Tone 4
Commanders of the heavenly hosts, // we who are unworthy beseech you:
by your prayers encompass us beneath the wings of your immaterial glory,
and faithfully preserve us who fall down and cry to you://
“Deliver us from all harm, for you are the Commanders of the Powers on high!”
Kontakion (Resurrection) Tone 5
You descended into hell, O my Savior, // shattering its gates as Almighty,
resurrecting the dead as Creator, // and destroying the sting of death.
You have delivered Adam from the curse, O Lover of Man,//
and we cry to You: “O Lord, save us!”
Kontakion (St Mary of Egypt) Tone 3
Having been a sinful woman, // you became through repentance a bride of Christ.
Having attained angelic life, // you defeated demons with the weapon of the Cross.//
Therefore O most glorious Mary, you are a bride of the Kingdom.
Kontakion (Holy Archangels) Tone 2
Commanders of God’s armies // and ministers of the divine glory,
princes of the bodiless Angels // and guides of mankind;
ask for what is good for us, and for great mercy,// Supreme Commanders of the Bodiless Hosts.
