Church Bulletin - March 23, 2003 - Second Sunday of Great Lent

SECOND SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT - March 23, 2003
ST. GREGORY OF PALAMAS
[ Click here for the Bible readings: Heb 1:10-2:3; Mk 2:1-12]
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PROPERLY PREPARING FOR CONFESSION

The Sacrament of Confession (Penance) is one of the Seven Mysteries of the Church. Through Confession, the grace of God -- lost through sin -- is restored within us. Every Orthodox Christian should understand the necessity of frequently availing ourselves of this opportunity to "return to our Father."

It is also essential that we realize how important it is for us to be PROPERLY PREPARED when we come to confess our sins before our spiritual father. A period of sincere self-examination should precede each confession. We must honestly look at our lives with a critical eye, reflecting upon the sins we may have committed. Have we kept the commandments of God? Have we fully embraced the teachings of our Lord? Have we been obedient to the disciplines of the Church? Have we loved God with our entire being, and have we dealt charitably and compassionately with our fellow man? Are our actions and attitudes consistent with someone who claims to be a devoted follower of Jesus Christ? These questions should be considered by us long before we come in front of our spiritual father, asking for forgiveness.

In the Gospels, we can find many examples of Christ speaking about God's limitless mercy and His capacity to forgive sinners. Prior to confession, it would do us well to search the Scriptures for these stories, for they provide us with encouragement in our own lives. This is a time to review past events that we feel we could have handled better, in terms of our behavior, attitudes and decisions.

Confession must always be viewed as something positive. No matter how far we have strayed from our Heavenly Father, confession enables us to be reconciled with Him.

DEUTERA KURIAKH TWN NHSTEIWN
GRHGORIOU PALAMA
Nivkwno~ JOsiomavrturo~
kaiv tw`n suvn aujtw`/

Anastavsimon jApolutivkion

J{jAggelikaiv Dunavmei~ ejpiv tov mnh`mav sou, kaiv oiJ fulavssonte~ ajpenekrwvqhsan: kaiv i{stato Mariva ejn tw`/ tavfw/, zhtou`sa tov a[crantovn sou sw`ma: ejskuvleusa~ tovn a{/dhn, mhv peirasqeiv~ uJp j aujtou`: uJphvnthsa~ th`/ Parqevnw,/ dwrouvmeno~ thvn zwhvn. JO ajnastav~ ejk tw`n nekrw`n, Kuvrie, dovxa soi.

SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT
SAINT GREGORY PALAMA
Nikon the Venerable Martyr
and his Companions

Resurrection Dismissal Hymn

O Christ, the angelic powers appeared at Your tomb, the guards were as dead, and Mary stood by the grave, seeking Your sacred body. You destroyed Hades, yet remained untouched by it. You encountered the Virgin and, through her, bestowed Life. "Glory to You who have risen from the dead!"

jApolutivkion tou` JAgivou

JOrqodoxiva~ oJ fwsthvr, jEkklhsiva~ tov sthvrigma kaiv didavskale, tw`n monastw`n hJ kallonhv, tw`n qeolovgwn uJpevrmaco~ ajprosmavchto~, Grhgovrie qaumatourgev, Qessalonivkh~ tov kauvchma, kh`rux th`~ cavrito~, iJkevteue diav pantov~, swqh`nai tav~ yucav~ hJmw`n.

Dismissal Hymn of the Saint

O Gregory the Miracle Worker, light of Orthodoxy, support and teacher of the Church, comeliness of monastics, invincible defender of theologians, the pride of Thessalonica, and preacher of grace, intercede forever that our souls may be saved.

Qeotokivon

JO di¢ hJma`~ gennhqeiv~ ejk Parqevnou, kaiv stauvrwsin uJpomeivna~ ajgaqev, oJ qanavtw/ tovn qavnaton skuleuvsa~, kaiv e[gersin deivxa~ wJ~ Qeov~, mhv parivdh/~ ou{~ e[plasa~ th`/ ceiriv sou: dei`xon thvn filanqrwpivan sou ejleh`mon: devxai thvn tekou`savn se Qeotovkon, presbeuvousan uJpevr hJmw`n: kaiv sw`son Swthvr hJmw`n, laovn ajpegnwsmevnon.

Theotokion

O Pure One, who were born for us of a Virgin, and endured Crucifixion, who vanquished death by death and, as God, showed forth the Resurrection; do not forget those You created by Your own hand. Show Your love, O Merciful One, and accept on our behalf the intercession of the Theotokos who bore You, and save us, O Savior, a desperate people.

jApolutivkion tou` JAgivou Nikolavou

JJJKanovna pivstew~ , kaiv eijkovna praovthto~, ejgkrateiva~ Didavskalon, ajnevdeixev se th`/ poivmnh/ sou, hJ tw`n pragmavtwn ajlhvqeia: diav tou`to ejkthvsw th`/ tapeinwvsei tav uJyhlav, th`/ ptwceiva/ tav plouvsia, Pavter iJeravrca Nikovlae: prevsbeue Cristw`/ tw`/ Qew`/, swqh`nai tav~ yucav~ hJmw`n.

Dismissal Hymn of Saint Nicholas

An example of the Faith and a life of humility, as a teacher of abstinence you did inspire and lead your flock and through your truthfulness of your deeds were exalted by greatness through your humility uplifting all and by poverty gaining wealth. Father and hierarch Nicholas intercede with Christ our God that our souls be saved.

Kontavkion

JJJJTh`/ uJpermavcw/ strathgw`/ tav nikhthvria, JW~ lutrwqei`sa tw`n deinw`n, eujcaristhvria, jAnagravfw soi hJ Povli~ sou, Qeotovke. JAll¢ wJ~ e[cousa tov kravto~ ajprosmavchton, jEk pantoivwn me kinduvnwn ejleuqevrwson, {Ina kravzw soi: Cai`re, nuvmfh ajnuvmfeute.

Kontakion

To you, Theotokos, invincible Defender, having been delivered from peril, I, your city, dedicate the victory festival as a thank offering. In your irresistible might, keep me safe from all trials, that I may call out to you: "Hail, unwedded bride!"

jjApovstolo~
Prokeivmenon. \Hco~ pl. a¢ . (Yalmov~ ia¢ ).
Suv, Kuvrie, fulavxai~ hJma`~ kaiv diathrhvsai~ hJma`~.
Stivc. Sw`sovn me, Kuvrie, o{ti ejklevloipen o{sio~.
Prov~ JEbraivou~ jEpistolh`~ Pauvlou tov jAnavgnwsma.
Kef. A¢ 10<14, B¢ 1<3

Kat j ajrcav~ suv, Kuvrie, thvn gh`n ejqemeleivwsa~, kaiv e[rga tw`n ceirw`n souv eijsin oiJ oujranoiv: aujtoiv ajpolou`ntai, suv dev diamevnei~: kaiv pavnte~ wJ~ iJmavtion palaiwqhvsontai, kaiv wJseiv peribovlaion eJlivxei~ aujtouv~, kaiv ajllaghvsontai: suv dev oJ aujtov~ ei\, kaiv tav e[th sou oujk ejkleivyousi. Prov~ tivna dev tw`n ajggevlwn ei[rhkev pote: Kavqou ejk dexiw`n mou e{w~ a[n qw` touv~ ejcqrouv~ sou uJpopovdion tw`n podw`n sou; Oujciv pavnte~ eijsiv leitourgikav pneuvmata eij~ diakonivan ajpostellovmena diav touv~ mevllonta~ klhronomei`n swthrivan; Diav tou`to dei` perissotevrw~ hJma`~ prosevcein toi`~ ajkousqei`si, mhv pote pararruw`men. Eij gavr oJ di j ajggevlwn lalhqeiv~ lovgo~ ejgevneto bevbaio~, kaiv pa`sa paravbasi~ kaiv parakohv e[laben e[ndikon misqapodosivan, pw`~ hJmei`~ ejkfeuxovmeqa thlikauvth~ ajmelhvsante~ swthriva~; {Hti~ ajrchvn labou`sa lalei`sqai diav tou` Kurivou, uJpov tw`n ajkousavntwn eij~ hJma`~ ejbebaiwvqh.

Epistle
Prokeimenon. Fifth Tone. Psalm 11.7,1.
You, O Lord, shall keep us and preserve us.
Verse. Save me, O Lord, for the godly man has failed.
The reading is from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Hebrews.
Chapter 1.10-14; 2.1-3.

"In the beginning, you O Lord, didst found the earth, and the heavens are the work of thy hands; they will perish, but thou remainest; they will all grow old like garment, like a mantle thou wilt roll them up, and they will be changed. But thou art the same, and thy years will never end." But to what angel has he ever said, "Sit at my right hand, till I make thy enemies a stool for thy feet?" Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation?

Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For if the message declared by angels was valid and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard him.

Eujaggevlion
jEk tou` katav Mavrkon.
Kef. b j1<12

Tw`/ kairw`/ ejkeivnw/, eijsh`lqen oJ jIhsou`~ eij~ Kapernaouvm: kaiv hjkouvsqh, o{ti eij~ oi\kovn ejsti. Kaiv eujqevw~ sunhvcqhsan polloiv, w{ste mhkevti cwrei`n mhdev tav prov~ thvn quvran: kaiv ejlavlei aujtoi`~ tovn lovgon. Kaiv e[rcontai prov~ aujtovn paralutikovn fevronte~, aijrovmenon uJpov tessavrwn: kaiv mhv dunavmenoi proseggivsai aujtw`/ diav tovn o[clon, ajpestevgasan thvn stevghn o{pou h\n, kaiv ejxoruvxante~ calw`si tovn kravbbaton, ejf¢ w|/ oJ paralutikov~ katevkeito. JIdwvn dev oJ jIhsou`~ thvn pivstin aujtw`n levgei tw`/ paralutikw`/: Tevknon, ajfevwntaiv soi aiJ aJmartivai sou. \Hsan dev tine~ tw`n grammatevwn ejkei` kaqhvmenoi kaiv dialogizovmenoi ejn tai`~ kardivai~ aujtw`n: Tiv ou|to~ ou{tw lalei` blasfhmiva~; Tiv~ duvnatai ajfievnai aJmartiva~, eij mhv ei|~ oJ Qeov~; Kaiv eujqevw~ ejpignouv~ oJ jIhsou`~ tw`/ pneuvmati aujtou`, o{ti ou[tw~ aujtoiv dialogivzontai ejn eJautoi`~, ei\pen aujtoi``~: Tiv tau`ta dialogivzesqe ejn tai`~ kardivai~ uJmw`n; Tiv e[stin eujkopwvteron, eijpei`n tw`/ paralutikw`/, ajfevwntaiv soi aiJ aJmartivai, h[ eijpei`n e[geirai, kaiv a\ron tovn kravbbatovn sou kaiv peripavtei; {Ina dev eijdh`te o{ti ejxousivan e[cei oJ uiJov~ tou` ajnqrwvpou ajfievnai ejpiv th`~ gh`~ aJmartiva~, levgei tw`/ paralutikw`/: Soiv levgw, e[geirai kaiv a\ron tovn kravbbatovn sou kaiv u{page eij~ tovn oi\kovn sou. Kaiv hjgevrqh eujqevw~, kaiv a[ra~ tovn kravbbaton, ejxh`lqen ejnantivon pavntwn, w{ste ejxivstasqai pavnta~ kaiv doxavzein tovn Qeovn levgonta~ o{ti oujdevpote ou{tw~ ei[domen.

Gospel
From the Gospel according to St. Mark
Chapter 2:1-12

At that time, Jesus entered Capernaun and it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, not even about the door, and he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and when they had made an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven." Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, "Why does this man speak thus? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you question thus in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your pallet and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" - he said to the paralytic - "I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home." And he rose, and immediately took up the pallet and went out before them all; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
1260 Davis Street - Church
986 Chapman Street - Office
San Jose, California 95126