At this time all our services are being LIVE-STREAMED on our 

CHURCH FACEBOOK PAGE (Click on "CHURCH FACEBOOK PAGE" to go directly to Facebook Live), but the Church will NOT be opened.  Please join us in prayer from your homes.  

A Facebook account is not needed - just click pass the sign-up for an account pop-up.

Liturgical Services from April 5th - April 12th:

Sunday, April 5th - Orthros, 8a.m. and Divine Liturgy, 9:30a.m.

Monday, April 6th  - Great Compline @ 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, April 8th - Paraklesis Service to the Holy Anargyroi & St. Nikephoros, 

                                           the Leper @ 6:30pm

Saturday, April 11th - Saturday of Lazarus, Orthros, 8a.m. & Divine Liturgy, 9a.m.

Sunday, April 12th - Palm Sunday, Orthros, 8a.m. & Divine Liturgy, 9:30a.m.

All parish ministries (events and activities) continue to be suspended. W e encourage everyone to stay home, healthy and safe.  If you are in need of anything from our parish during this time, please do not hesitate to contact the Church Office at 630.834.7010.

In the hope of making things easier for you, just click on this link for your parish website.   www.saintdemetrioselmhurst.org

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Epistle Reading (4/5/2020): St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 9:11-14

Click Here for the Epistle Reading 

Gospel Reading (4/5/2020): The Gospel According to Mark 10:32-45

Click Here for the Gospel Reading

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                       True Greatness      

What is greatness?  Should a person pursue greatness as a goal?  How should we go about achieving greatness?  Someone once said: "If you wish greatness, seek truth and you will find both."

On the 5th Sunday of Lent the appointed biblical readings deal with the theme of greatness in the light of the Christian faith.  The Epistle reading tells about the incomparable values of Christ's sacrifice for the cleansing from sin.   The Gospel reading recounts Jesus' words to the disciples, and they were going to Jerusalem, about His coming passion and about what true greatness is.

The disciples of Christ were interested in greatness in a way familiar to most of us.  Jesus was speaking to them about the end of His mission-His passion, death, and resurrection.  But the minds of James and John were fascinated by visions of glory.  As Jews they anticipated the coming God's kingdom with power.  The were eager to have the places of honor next to the Messiah sitting on His throne of glory.

When the other disciples heard what James and John wanted, they were extremely upset.  Righteous indignation?  Hidden jealousy?  We do not know for sure.  It is possible that some considered that request an insult to their Master who was about to be crucified, a gross desire to exploit His sufferings.  It is also possible that others were slighted because of their own hopes of glory-why should James and John achieve the highest honors ahead of them?

But Jesus' heart was on sacrifice, not of honor.  He was thinking about His death on the Cross, not about tokes of glory.  What a contrast between the mind of Christ and that of the disciples!

True Greatness & St. Mary of Egypt information from "A Year of the Lord; Liturgical Bible Studies, Vol. 3, by Rev. Dr. Theodore Stylianopoulos.

St. Mary of Egypt (April 1st)

St. Mary of Egypt is known for her spiritual discipline and repentance.  This is why she is chosen to be commemorated on the last Sunday of Great Lent.  She is a concrete example of the truth that is expressed in the Doxastikon, Praises of the Orthros service, "the Kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness, spiritual striving (askesis) and holiness."

St. Mary was a runaway child who went to Alexandria and became a prostitute.  In the course of her life, out of curiosity, she joined a throng of pilgrims who travelled to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross (Sept. 14) and there she did not cease to lead others in sin.  However, when she tried to enter into the Church of the Holy Resurrection, an unseen power prevented her from doing so, once, twice, three times.  Taking this as a personal sign to her from God, she was cut to the heart by a profound awareness of her own sinfulness.

She immediately repented and decided to change her life, embracing the monastic life for over four decades and becoming a saint of the Church.  From harlot to saint by the grace of God!  Her Feast is set on the Fifth Sunday of Lent, "while the end of Lent is near, so that idlers and sinners may be aroused by repentance, having as an example this saint" (Festal Commemoration, 5th Sunday of Lent).  

A hymn celebrates the example of her conversion with these words:

To learn more about the 5th Sunday of Lent please visit:

 https://www.goarch.org/lent

Prayer:

Grant, O God, that we may see clearly the things that belong to our peace.  In these days of opportunity, may we be swift to act for the cause of peace and good will, around us, and in the world.

We have promised to serve You to the end!  Help us by Your grace to keep this promise.  Forgive us when we fail You, and be ever near us, as our Friend and our Master.  Amen.

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As we begin with eagerness O faithful people, the sixth week of the holy Fast, let us sing a hymn in preparation for the Feast of Palms, to the Lord who comes with glory to Jerusalem in the power of the Godhead, that He may slay death.  So with reverence let us prepare the branches of the virtues as emblems of victory, and let us cry Hosanna to the Creator of all!     Vespers-Sunday of 5th Sunday of Lent

Above prayers taken from Daily Lenten Meditations for Orthodox Christians  by Presbytera Emily Harakas