Following Divine Liturgy we will be assembling palm crosses for Palm Sunday.  A light Lenten breakfast will be available.  The more helping hands the merrier as well as finishing early.

Myrrh Bearers-Holy Friday Lamentation- April 13:  I have a few girls who have committed to serving as a Myraforra.  If you are at least 8 years old please contact email or call me if want to participate.  Dresses, baskets, head piece will be provided.  I would like to have a short meeting following Divine Liturgy, Saturday of Lazarus, April 7.

Mrs. Christopoulos will be available Holy (Good) Friday) morning to take high school students on the annual field trip to Forest Lawn.  High school students only.  Meet at the church promptly at 9:30 AM, April 13..  Please email me if you are interested.

Lesson for Sunday School:

TO BE CONTINUED–

Lives of the Saints and Major Feast Days, Teacher’s Guide written by Father George Nicozisin and Father Evangoras Constantinides

Our journey continues and this would be the lesson for Sunday, April 1. (This Sunday is Western Palm Sunday.)

 We have completed part  one of the Triodion and will fulfill the second part this Sunday, we are about to embark on the third part of our journey, the road to our salvation which comes through the holy resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The fifth Sunday is dedicated to Saint Mary because she is an example of someone who turned her life around in a dramatic way.

Read Mark 10:32-45

• climbing a ladder can be dangerous if used improperly:  lose balance, wrong height, wobbly etc.
• Spiritual “climb” is more difficult we are attacked by  right and wrong continually, our passions, temptations etc.
• Saint John Climacus was sixteen when he decided to live as a monk and spent years getting to know God and learning about the weaknesses of human beings
• He wrote a book of spiritual guidance called The Ladder of Divine Ascent
• The book lists thirty steps to guide the reader in ways to separate from vicious habits and passions and to cultivate virtues like humility and simplicity.
• Study the icon of Saint John Climacus, it speaks volumes
• Our journey through Great Lent is a time to reflect about how we can be the people that God desires us to be. 

It seems a short while ago we began the first part of the Triodion, here we are in the second part of the second half of the Triodion.  Pascha will soon be approaching.

Sunday of the Holy Cross-Read Mark 8:34-9:1

 On the Sunday that marks the mid-point of the Lenten journey, we focus on the powerful image of the cross.  In this Sunday’s Gospel reading Christ lets us know that the Christian life is not always an easy life, but that we should embrace the challenges without fear.  He says that anyone who wants to follow Him “must deny himself, take up his cross and follow Me.”

 This means that whatever difficulties block our path, we must confront them with strength and faith in Christ, without complaining or feeling sorry for our selves.  Denying ourselves to follow Christ also means that we may have to make sacrifices in order to live the Christian life.

 Both within the Christian life and in all areas of life, we must bear crosses and follow Christ.  We also dedicate this Sunday to the cross on which Christ Himself was crucified.

Journey through Great Lent, 2011 Greek Archdiocese of America, Department of Religious Education.

Second Sunday of Great Lent-  Saint Gregory Palamas

On this Sunday, two examples help us focus on getting closer to Christ.  The first is from Mark 2:1-12.  It is about the paralyzed man whose friends made an opening in the roof of a house and lowered him through to Christ.  Christ saw how faithful he was and forgave his sins and also healed his paralysis.  Neither the paralysis or the crowds blocking his path would prevent him from approaching Christ for both spiritual and physical healing.  In our own lives, we must overcome obstacles that might keep us from His forgiveness and healing.

Saint Gregory Palamas helps us think about drawing near to God, but in another way–in moments of silence and quiet.  We can spend “alone” time similar to how Saint Gregory filled his life with silence.  Turn off TV, music, tech gadgets etc.  and experience a short time of silence. Hesychasm:  A tradition of discipline, prayer, and inner stillness with the goal of growing closer to God.

Reminder:  Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving (philanthropy). 

Glory be to God,

Irene Albeck

Sunday school children (all grade levels) are requested to bring their icons to celebrate the restoration of icons to the church.  We will participate in the procession.  After receiving holy communion please take a seat on the right side of the church (icon of Jesus).

Opening prayer: Lenten Prayer of Saint Ephraim

O Lord and Master of my life!+

Take from me the spirit of sloth, faintheartedness, lust of power and idle talk.+

 But give rather the spirit of purity humility, patience and love to your servant.+

Yes, O Lord and King! Grant me to see my own errors and not to judge my brothers and sisters.+

For You are blessed to ages of ages. Amen+

(Teach your child how to do a metania, make a cross and touch the floor).

Lesson:  What is an icon?  Icons play an important part in our Orthodox Faith.  We remember the Seventh Ecumenical Council of 787 and the restoration of icons to the church in 843 AD.  From about 725-843, the church debated whether or not to include icons in worship.  Those who were against icons were called “iconoclasts” (icon breakers). Orthodox Christians do not worship icons.  We venerate them.  An icon is a window to the spiritual world.

Read John 1:43-51-“Come and See”, Philip invited Nathaniel to meet Jesus.  Philip knew that He was the one the people of Israel had been waiting for.  Jesus was He–The fulfillment of their hopes, of the promises of the prophets and of the law.

A child’s understanding of Lent is learned from his parents.  If parents fast, limit  technology use, add the Prayer of Saint Ephraim, spend quiet time together as a family, as the tone of  family life changes the mood for Lent becomes noticeable.

Kali Sarakosti,

Irene Albeck

Sunday school lesson for Sunday, February 26, Forgiveness Sunday (Cheesefare)

This Sunday gives us a day to remember that a requirement to forgiveness for ourselves is to forgive others. Read Matthew 6:14-21

In the Orthodox Church the importance of forgiveness takes place on the Sunday before Great Lent begins.

1.  Will God forgive us if we refuse to forgive others?

2.  When will God forgive us?

3.  Is forgiving someone an act of mercy?

4.  In the Lord’s Prayer where does it deal with forgiveness?

Every Sunday the priest turns to the congregation twice to ask for forgiveness.  Listen and look for these two times.

We are now ready to begin our spiritual  journey through the Lenten season with our ultimate destination being Holy Pascha.  What should we take with us and what should we leave behind? Plan for this journey as carefully as you would plan for a trip you would take with your family.  Take what you will need and leave any excess behind.  Remember to pack these three things:  Prayer, Faith and Almsgiving (philanthropy).

“For your heart will always be where your riches are.”  Matthew 6:21

Irene Albeck

Sunday school lesson for the Third Sunday of the Triodion (Meatfare)

The Last Judgement-Matthew 25:31-46

1.  Who is the King?

2.  Who are the sheep?

3.  Who are goats?

4.  The naked, the lonely, the hungry and the imprisoned are equated with whom?

5.  What should we do to be in good standing with Christ?

This Gospel calls us to put our faith into action through charitable works and help to change the world around us.  This parable is calls us to examine our social consciousness by examining  our relationship and to renew our service to Christ and each other. Three major points:  we must be socially responsible, Christian charity and to see Christ in all men.

1.  What event took place in Bethlehem? crucifixion of Jesus      nativity of Jesus

2.  Who denied Jesus three times?  Peter       James      John

3.  The pulpit is where the priest:  blesses the people     gives Holy communion    gives his sermons

4.  The peacock symbolizes the Resurrection.  True       False

5.  Who was the Apostle that was a tax collector?  Matthew    Mark    Luke    John

Remember to pray: in the morning, before meals, at night or anytime during the day.  Pray for our Folk Dancers to be successful as they demonstrate their joy and love for our Lord and Saint Anthony through music and dance.  Good luck at the Folk Dance Festival this weekend.

Irene Albeck