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Bulletin for Sunday, April 14, 2024
Sunday of St. John Climacus
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Sunday of St. John Climacus
The memory of this Saint is celebrated on March 30, where his biography may be found. He is celebrated today because his book, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, is a sure guide to the ascetic life, written by a great man of prayer experienced in all forms of the monastic polity; it teaches the seeker after salvation how to lay a sound foundation for his struggles, how to detect and war against each of the passions, how to avoid the snares laid by the demons, and how to rise from the rudimental virtues to the heights of Godlike love and humility. It is held in such high esteem that it is universally read in its entirety in monasteries during the Great Fast.
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SUPPORTIVE ROLE SUPPLIES ROOM FOR
UNWED MOTHERS
St. John Chrysostom Philoptochos has initiated a new outreach service in a supportive role with Mary’s House in Stuart. Our Philoptochos will be maintaining and providing supplies for a room at Mary’s House for an unwed mother. You can read about the goals and services provided to unwed mothers at this website: Mary's Home
If you wish to make a donation, please call Diana Michalste at 203-451-0993. She will tell you what supplies are needed
will deliver them to Mary's House.
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We are calling on our congregation, and friends, to contribute to this important cause. Your donation will help us create a welcoming and inspiring space where we can gather for worship, fellowship, and community events. With your help, we can build a facility that reflects our values and meets the needs of our growing community.
Every contribution counts, and we welcome donations of any size. Whether you can give a little or a lot, your support is greatly appreciated. Together, we can make this dream a reality and build a new home for our community. Thank you for your generosity and support!
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Hymns of the Day
Resurrectional Apolytikion. Mode 4.
When the women disciples of the Lord heard the Angel joyously proclaim the resurrection, they cast aside the ancestral verdict, and boasting in glory they said to the Apostles, “Death has been despoiled! Christ God has risen, granting the great mercy to the world!”
For the Devout Man.Mode pl. 4.
With the rivers of your tears you made the barren desert bloom; and with your sighs from deep within, you made your labors bear their fruits a hundredfold; and you became a star, illuminating the world by your miracles, O John, our devout father. Intercede with Christ our God, for the salvation of our souls.
Apolytikion for the Church, St. John Chrysostom, Mode pl. 4.
The grace that from your mouth shone forth like a torch illumined the universe. It deposited in the world the treasures of the absence of avarice. It showed us the height that is attained by humility. Now you instruct us by your words, Father John Chrysostom. Intercede with Christ God, the Word Himself, entreating Him to save our souls.
Kontakion. Mode pl. 4.
Mighty Defender and Commander, I, your city sing hymns of thanksgiving for the victory ascribed to you. From all terrors, have you rescued me, Theotokos. I entreat you, for your power is invincible from all dangers that may threaten me, deliver me, that I may cry to: “Hail to you O Ever-Virgin Bride”
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The reading is from Paul’s Letter to the Hebrews.
Brethren, when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore to himself, saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” And thus Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise. Men indeed swear by a greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he interposed with an oath, so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God should prove false, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
Gospel Reading
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The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Mark.
At that time, a man came to Jesus kneeling and saying: “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a dumb spirit; and wherever it seizes him it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” And they brought the boy to him; and when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, “How long has he had this?” And he said, “From childhood. And it has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “If you can! All things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You dumb and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again.” And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse; so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting.” They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he would not have any one know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, after three days he will rise.”
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“Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord thy God which He hath given thee.” Deuteronomy (16:17) | | |
We are stewards of the Gospel and the stewards of our parish. We see our church, not as it is, but as it could be. We offer our treasure and ourselves sacrificially, so that, as members of the Body of Christ, we may reach our full potential in Him. | |
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APRIL 3rd through April 27, 2024
12th Friday, 4th Heretismoi, 6 PM
13th Saturday, Philoptochos Meeting 10 AM
14th Sunday, St John Climacus
Orthros & Divine Liturgy 9-11:15 AM
40 Day Memorial for Helen Chachakis
6 month Memorial for Leo Ubeznik
19th Friday, Akathist Hymn 6 PM
21st Sunday, St. Mary of Egypt
Orthros & Divine Liturgy 9-11:15AM
27th Saturday, Of Lazarus St. Basil Liturgy 10 AM
Preparation of Palm Crosses
After Liturgy.
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St. JOHN’S CHURCH PRAYER CIRCLE
Please include the following names of our brothers and sisters in our parish and families, along with others who are in need of our prayers. If you have or know of someone who needs to be included in our regular prayers, please let us know. If you know of someone whose name should be on our list, (a relative, friend or an acquaintance), please feel free to submit their name (s) to Father Andrew.
Katerina, Helen, Deborah, Vie, Sophie, Kathy, Dimitri, Voula, Helen, Mary, Joel, Connie, Mary, Alfred, William, Maryanne, Elizabeth, Leo, Yanni,Pauline, Diana, Dionysios, Saadia, Peter, Pauline, John Nikki and Rachael.
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you
trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the
power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13)
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