Church Bulletin: April 2, 2023
Fr. Ignatius Valentine
Newest Announcements .
- Polish censers
- Cleaning floors (nave, sanctuary, narthex, and downstairs)
- Clean front porch
- Clean up yard
St. Raphael Theological Discussion Group Rescheduled
Everyone is invited to attend the inaugural meeting of the St. Raphael Theological Discussion Group, rescheduled to 3 PM, Saturday, April 8. It is our plan to meet on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month, for a wide-ranging conversation on Orthodox theology and spirituality. Our first discussion will explore the Syriac tradition, focusing on St. Ephrem the Syrian and Aphrahat the Persian, and looking at their theologies of baptism, paradise, and the ascetical life. Links to helpful materials will be emailed to participants before the session. We look forward to seeing you then! Email either John Michalski at jmic...@yahoo.com or Austin Collins at agcol...@gmail.com to let them know your interest and so that they can send you links to relevant material.
Start Planning for Holy Week and Pascha
Consider how you can rearrange your schedule to attend some of the many services that are available during this holy time of year. Invite your friends. Following is our schedule:
Friday April 7, 7pm- Little Compline with Canon of St. Lazarus
Lazarus Saturday April 8, 8:45 and 10am- Matins & Liturgy; 5pm- Vespers for Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday April 9, 8:45 and 10am- Matins & Liturgy; 7pm- Bridegroom Matins
Holy Monday April 10, 7pm- Bridegroom Matins
Holy Tuesday April 11, 7pm- Bridegroom Matins
Holy Wednesday April 12, 9am- Liturgy of Pre-Sanctified Gifts; 7pm- Holy Unction Service
Holy Thursday April 13, 9am- Vesperal Liturgy; 6pm- Rite of Footwashing; 7pm- Twelve Gospels Service
Holy Friday April 14, 9am- Royal Hours; 3pm- Great Vespers; 7pm- Lamentations Service, followed by Psalm-reading Vigil through the night
Holy Saturday April 15, 9am- Vesperal Liturgy; 11:40pm- Rush Service
Great and Holy Pascha April 16, 12am (midnight)- Paschal Matins & Liturgy, followed by Paschal Feast; 12:30pm- Agape Vespers, followed by Paschal Picnic at N. Liberty Rec. Center (520 W. Cherry St.)
Holy Week Sign-ups Are Posted
There are many ways to get involved during Holy Week, ways which will enrich your faith and build up our church community. There are various sign-ups now posted in the narthex including for decorating the Funeral Bier Decoration midday on Holy Friday, the Psalm-reading Vigil on Holy Friday night through Holy Saturday morning, dyeing eggs for the midnight Paschal service, reading the Gospel in various languages at Agape Vespers on Pascha afternoon, and bringing food for both our middle-of-the-night Paschal Feast and our Paschal Picnic following Agape Vespers. Plan ahead! Get involved!
Holy Friday Activities for Everyone
Holy Friday, this year, April 14, is the most solemn day of our liturgical year, the day when we most specifically meditate on the suffering, crucifixion, death and burial of our Savior. Our day begins with the quiet Royal Hours service at 9:00am. This service is filled with Scripture readings, including the Old Testament prophecies Christ fulfilled in His sacrificial death for us. When the service ends around 11am, all are invited to help decorate the funeral bier with greens and flowers. We use this bier during the services later in the day and again on Holy Saturday morning. Lori Branch will be hosting a holy bread making demonstration at church from 1pm-3pm. All are welcome to witness and participate. Lizzy Valentine will have an activity for the younger children from 2:30pm-3:00pm. Great Vespers is at 3pm. This is the service at which the Lord's body is removed from the cross which has stood in the center of the church since the previous evening, and wrapped in a sheet. Our Lamentations service, the funeral of the Lord, is at 7:00pm. Following that service, volunteers are signing up to read the Psalms before the tomb of Christ in one hour increments through the night. We conclude the Psalm-reading Vigil when Vesperal Liturgy for Holy Saturday starts the next morning at 9:00. Consider taking all or part of the day off from work or school, to be with your brothers and sisters in Christ as we contemplate and participate in the many Life-bestowing actions of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Easter Baskets, Plan Ahead!
It is customary to bring baskets of festal food and drink to be blessed at the midnight Paschal service. What are you going to bring in your basket this year?
Update!- Feed Christ’s Sheep: Campaign to Build a Kitchen at St. Raphael
We now have $27218.42 pledged to this project. We are so excited to be taking the next step in fulfilling our mission to serve those in need and connect in fellowship by building our kitchen so we can feed Christ’s sheep, and we invite you to be a part of it! Construction is slated to begin in summer 2023, and we need to raise $53,000 by April 30, 2023 to make this happen.
Please help us get the rest of the way! Learn more about our post-kitchen goals (including free cooking classes, more free hot meals, enhanced Sunday fellowship, and more) and donate online at raphaelchurch.org/kitchen. Clearly designated donations and pledge forms (available in the narthex) can be dropped in a donation box. You will have until March 4, 2024 to fulfill any pledges.
Recurring Announcements
Save the Dates! Bishop Anthony Visiting April 29-30
