Schedule for April 11th-April 18th
- Sunday, April 11th: 8:30am Orthros, 9:30am Divine Liturgy
- Sunday, April 11th: 12pm Church Clean Up following Divine Liturgy
- Tuesday, April 13th: 5pm Confessions heard
- Wednesday, April 14th: 5pm Jesus Prayer, 5:15pm Presanctified Liturgy
- Wednesday, April 14th: 6:45-7:45pm The Relationship Project for HS youth
- Thursday, April 15th: 6:30pm Reading of the Life of St. Mary of Egypt
- Friday, April 16th: 3:45pm Jesus Prayer, 4pm Presanctified Liturgy
- Friday April 16th: 6:30pm Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos
- Saturday, April 17th: 5pm Great Vespers, confessions heard following
- Sunday, April 18th: 8:30am Orthros, 9:30am Divine Liturgy
- Sunday April 18th: 12pm Church Clean Up following Divine Liturgy
Commemorations This Week
St. John Climacus, The Fourth Sunday of Great Lent
This Saint gave himself over to the ascetical life from his early youth. Experienced both in the solitary life of the hermit and in the communal life of cenobitic monasticism, he was appointed Abbot of the Monastery at Mount Sinai and wrote a book containing thirty homilies on virtue. Each homily deals with one virtue, and progressing from those that deal with holy and righteous activity (praxis) unto those that deal with divine vision (theoria), they raise a man up as though by means of steps unto the height of Heaven. For this cause his work is called "The Ladder of Divine Ascent."
In addition to his his feast day on March 30th, he is celebrated on the Fourth Sunday of Great Lent 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.
The day he was made Abbot of Sinai, the Prophet Moses was seen giving commands to those who served at table. Saint John reposed in 603, at eighty years of age.
Holy St. John, pray for us!
Friday, April 16th, we commemorate The Holy Virgin Martyrs Agape, Chionia, and Irene
When the Emperor Diocletian was at Aquileia, he learned that these Saints were Christians, and had them brought before him. Because they would not deny Christ, he had them imprisoned, and when he went into Macedonia, he committed them to Dulcitius the Prefect, who, however, lost his understanding and became incapable of doing them any harm. Diocletian then gave Count Sisinius charge over them. He had Saints Agape and Chionia burned; he ordered that Saint Irene be put in a brothel, but by the providence of God this was not accomplished, and she was shot with an arrow. These holy sisters suffered martyrdom in Thessalonica in the year 295.
Holy Martyrs Agape, Chionia, and Irene, pray for us!
Sunday, April 11th Epistle and Gospel Readings
St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 16:13-20
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.
The Gospel According to Mark 9:17-31
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."
Click below to access recent homilies
from Father Jeffrey
Parish Events
Please take note of the upcoming Holy Week Schedule:
Lazarus Saturday, April 24th: 8am Orthros & Liturgy. Pancake breakfast, palm cross folding, and church decoration following.
Saturday, April 24th: Great Vespers for Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday, April 25th: 8:30am Orthros & Divine Liturgy, procession with palms
Sunday, April 25th: 6:30pm Bridegroom Matins
Holy Monday, April 26th: 6:30pm Bridegroom Matins
Holy Tuesday, April 27th: 8:30am Presanctified Liturgy
Holy Tuesday, April 27th: 6:30pm Bridegroom Matins
Holy Wednesday, April 28th: 8:30am Presanctified Liturgy
Holy Wednesday, April 28th: 630pm Service of Holy Unction
Holy Thursday, April 29th: 9:30am Vesperal Liturgy of The Mystical Supper
Holy Thursday, April 29th: 6:30pm Matins of Holy Friday, Service of the 12 Passion Gospels
Holy Friday, April 30th: 10am Royal Hours
Holy Friday, April 30th: 3:30pm Vespers of Holy Friday, Taking Down of Christ from the Cross
Holy Friday, April 30th: 6:30pm Matins of Holy Saturday, The Lamentations Service, Procession of the Funeral Bier
Holy Saturday, May 1st: 10am Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil
Holy Saturday, May 1st: 11pm Nocturnes, followed by Paschal Matins, Procession, & Divine Liturgy
Pascha Sunday, May 2nd: Christ Is Risen! 12:30pm Agape Vespers, The Gospel read in many languages
Bright Monday, May 3rd: Celebration of our Parish Feast Day! 9:30am Orthros & Liturgy for St. George
Church-Wide Spring Cleaning
this Sunday, April 11th after Liturgy
It's time for our Spring Cleaning!
We typically deep clean the nave and liturgical items a couple of times a year, just before Pascha and Nativity. It can be a very rewarding time, both in fellowship with one another and as we care for our place of worship, so please consider joining us!
We will be breaking the tasks up over 3 separate dates:
12pm This Sunday, April 11th (church grounds, floors, ladder work)
12pm Next Sunday, April 18th (icons and wooden items)
6pm Monday, April 19th (oil lamps and brass items)
Things to know:
- Our usual safety measures will be in place. Masks will be provided
- Clean up will last just a couple of hours each date
- We have a checklist of tasks for all ages and abilities. While it largely depends on how many folks show up, the general guideline divides the cleaning as noted above
- Cleaning supplies and gloves will be provided
- Feel free to bring your own sack lunch to eat in the courtyard. Water bottles and coffee will be provided
- Altar servers are especially encouraged to attend
Many hands make light work! We hope to see you there!
How Can You Help During Holy Week?
With Holy Week and Pascha only a couple weeks away, there is much to do in preparation. Please look for a separate, upcoming email asking for your help with one or more of those many needs. For your consideration in the meantime, here is a list of those needs for you to consider:
- Sunday 4/11 & 4/18, Monday 4/19: Help at Church Clean Ups
- Friday afternoon 4/23: Iron covers for icon stands and altar, and change from purple to gold and green the night before Lazarus Saturday
- Lazarus Saturday morning 4/24: Fold Palm Crosses and Decorate Church for Palm Sunday
- Lazarus Saturday morning 4/24: Make and serve Lenten pancakes for pancake breakfast
- Lazarus Saturday morning 4/24: prepare candles for Holy Week services
- Drive someone to an evening Holy Week service if they are unable to drive at night
- Palm Sunday afternoon 4/25: Decorate the Icon of Christ the Bridegroom with flowers
- Holy Wednesday 4/28: Provide a bowl of flour and table cloth prior to the Service of Holy Unction. After the Service of Holy Unction Wednesday evening, bake Prosphora from the flour that is used during the service. Bring that Prosphora to the Liturgy of Holy Thursday the following morning to be consecrated and set aside for visits to the sick during the year
- Holy Thursday afternoon 4/29: decorate the wreath for the cross with purple flowers
- Holy Friday afternoon 4/30: Women and young women decorate the Funeral Bier (Kovouklion)
- Holy Friday 4/30: purchase, donate, cook and/or dye Red Paschal Eggs
- Purchase a new white sheet to wrap the Body of our Lord when removed from the Cross Holy Friday afternoon
- Holy Friday evening 4/30: Help to Carry funeral bier during procession on Holy Friday.
- Holy Friday night 4/30: Read a portion of the Psalms at Vigil on Holy Friday into Holy Saturday morning.
- Provide dried fruit, or bread, or wine (or all three) to be blessed following Liturgy on Holy Saturday morning.
- Holy Saturday morning 5/1: Help to decorate the Church for Pascha on Holy Saturday following Liturgy.
- Holy Saturday 5/1: Set up the exterior of the Church for the procession on Pascha.
- Pascha Sunday afternoon 5/2: Read the Holy Gospel in a foreign language during the Agape Vespers service.
- Bright Monday morning 5/3: Consider keeping the kids home from school, and taking the morning off to attend the Liturgy for St. George
Community Events
People Who Care
Volunteer Informational Meeting
Wednesday, April 21st
1:30-3:30pm
People Who Care Office
147 Grove Avenue
Prescott
928-445-2480
People Who Care volunteers provide caring non-medical assistance for adults unable to drive due to age-related and/or physical limitations. This allows an individual to continue living in their own homes and remain independent as long as safely possible.
People Who Care is a community-based nonprofit with programs in Prescott, Prescott Valley, Dewey and Chino Valley. Volunteers help in the community where they and enrolled Neighbors live. The majority of our Neighbors live alone.
People Who Care offers volunteer assistance with a one to one situation by helping
with transportation to healthcare/business appointments, grocery shopping, personal paperwork, visiting, caregiver relief, and more.
People Who Care requests wearing of masks, and social distancing.
Metropolis Events
Understanding & Moving Through Conflict with Communication that Connects
The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries and the Family Wellness Ministry is offering a new three-part series for married and engaged couples this spring.
There is one more session coming up on May 13: “Stop the Insanity!” led by Rev. Father Timothy Pavlatos. Attempting to resolve conflict using the same methods while looking for a different outcome is a classic example for the definition of insanity. In part 3 of this series you will learn some practical tips on how to engage conflict in different, and healthy ways, as well as learn how perspective taking can be the catalyst in helping you create deeper connections and positive changes in your marriage.
