St. Alexis of Wilkes-Barre Church
Publish Date: 2017-04-30
Bulletin Contents
Welcome
Announcements
Saints and Feasts
Parish Calendar
Prayers, Intersessions and Commemorations
Bulletin Inserts
Hymns of the Day
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Wisdom of the Fathers
In House
Myrrbear
Organization Icon
St. Alexis of Wilkes-Barre Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • 860-664-9434
  • Street Address:

  • 108 E Main St

  • Clinton, CT 06413-0134
  • Mailing Address:

  • PO Box 134

  • Clinton, CT 06413-0134

Contact Information

Rector Fr Steven Hosking

frsteve@stalexischurch.org | 860-866-5802

Services Schedule

Weekly Services

Tuesdays at 8:30a - Daily Matins

Wednesdays at 6:00p - Daily Vespers

Thursday at 8:30a - Daily Matins

Saturday at 5:30p - Great Vespers

Sunday at 9:30a - Divine Liturgy

The Church is also open on Wednesdays for "Open Doors" - confession, meditation and reflection.

Please see our online calendar for dates and times of Feast Day services.

Past Bulletins


Welcome

Gospel1

We welcome all visitors to our Divine Liturgy and services. While Holy Communion may only be received by prepared Orthodox Christians, our non-Orthodox guests are welcome to participate in our prayers and hymns and to join us in venerating the Cross and and receiving blessed bread at the conclusion of the Liturgy. Please sign our guest card and join us for refreshments and fellowship after the services.

Feel free to ask questions before or after the services. Any member of our Council or Congregation are glad to assist you. Literature about the Orthodox faith and this parish can be found in the narthex (back of the Church).

Members of our Parish Council are:

Susan Hayes - President: Ad Hoc ministires (25th Anniversary, Red House)

Deborah Bray - Vice President: Building & Grounds/ Maintenance Ministries

William Brubaker - Secretary: Communications Ministry

Susan Egan - Treasurer

James Pepitone - Member at Large: Outreach & Evangelism Ministries

Demetra Tolis - Member at Large: Fellowship & Stewardship Ministries

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Announcements

I have invited Fr Steven Voytovich to be the celebrant for both Great Vespers and Divine Liturgy for the Feast of St Alexis. This is the first time in over 7 years that the Feast day of St Alexis falls on a weekend.

Anne and I will be away for the entire weekend for Aaron’s graduation. Should any need arise, please contact Fr John Hopko, acting Dean of the CT Deanery.

Kyle Hollis and Stephen Wexell will be received into the Orthodox Church on Sunday, May 28th. Prayers for the Exorcisms will begin at 9:15am and the Baptismal Liturgy will begin at 9:30am.

 Over the past few years, there have been several attempts to produce a parish directory, contact list and phone chain. These have returned varying amounts of success. The Parish Council is seeking (once again!) to update and republish the parish directory and phone chain. Please talk with Susan Hayes if you are will to help with the processes.

 The Council also seeking to produce and publish a “parish handbook” which would be available to all parishioners, seekers and visitors. The handbook’s purpose is to provide a guide to the parish specifically and to Orthodoxy in general. It will include guidelines for marriages, funerals and the sacraments (among other things). If you would like to be a proof-reader or if you have any suggestions, please take with Fr Steven.

 Lastly, the Council would like to take an inventory of everyone who has keys to the church, and all those who have access (and know how to get into the church). If you have keys, and/or know how to get into the building “after hours” please contact Deborah Brey.

 Ministry meetings are now scheduled on the calendar and some will meet on a ‘fixed’ rotating basis. All meetings are on Sunday during coffee hour (barring no other liturgical priority). Liturgical and Education will meet the first Sunday of every Month (beginning in July) Fellowship & Stewardship will meet May 14th - and subsequently the second Sunday of every month. Evangelism and Outreach will meet May 21st - and subsequent third Sunday’s of every month. Buildings and Grounds will meet May 28th - and subsequent fourth Sundays. The ad hoc ministries will meet as necessary.

Because of the 28th is in Memorial Day weekend, and the reception of Kyle and Stephen, you may choose to meet at another time during the month of May.

Pastoral Care - General Information

Emergency Sick Calls can be made at any time. Please call Fr Steven at (860) 866-5802, when a family member is admitted to the hospital.

Anointing in Sickness: The Sacrament of Unction is available in Church, the hospital, or your home, for anyone who is sick and suffering, however severe. 

Marriages and Baptisms require early planning, scheduling and selections of sponsors (crown bearers or godparents). See Father before booking dates and reception halls!

Funerals are celebrated for practicing Orthodox Christians. Please see Father for details. The Church opposes cremation; we cannot celebrate funerals for cremations.

 

 

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Saints and Feasts

Myrrbear
April 30

Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women

About the beginning of His thirty-second year, when the Lord Jesus was going throughout Galilee, preaching and working miracles, many women who had received of His beneficence left their own homeland and from then on followed after Him. They ministered unto Him out of their own possessions, even until His crucifixion and entombment; and afterwards, neither losing faith in Him after His death, nor fearing the wrath of the Jewish rulers, they came to the sepulchre, bearing the myrrh-oils they had prepared to annoint His body. It is because of the myrrh-oils, that these God-loving women brought to the tomb of Jesus that they are called the Myrrh-bearers. Of those whose names are known are the following: first of all, the most holy Virgin Mary, who in Matthew 27:56 and Mark 15:40 is called "the mother of James and Joses" (these are the sons of Joseph by a previous marriage, and she was therefore their step-mother); Mary Magdalene (celebrated July 22); Mary, the wife of Clopas; Joanna, wife of Chouza, a steward of Herod Antipas; Salome, the mother of the sons of Zebedee, Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus; and Susanna. As for the names of the rest of them, the evangelists have kept silence (Matt 27:55-56; 28:1-10. Mark 15:40-41. Luke 8:1-3; 23:55-24:11, 22-24. John 19:25; 20:11-18. Acts 1:14).

Together with them we celebrate also the secret disciples of the Saviour, Joseph and Nicodemus. Of these, Nicodemus was probably a Jerusalemite, a prominent leader among the Jews and of the order of the Pharisees, learned in the Law and instructed in the Holy Scriptures. He had believed in Christ when, at the beginning of our Saviour's preaching of salvation, he came to Him by night. Furthermore, he brought some one hundred pounds of myrrh-oils and an aromatic mixture of aloes and spices out of reverence and love for the divine Teacher (John 19:39). Joseph, who was from the city of Arimathea, was a wealthy and noble man, and one of the counsellors who were in Jerusalem. He went boldly unto Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus, and together with Nicodemus he gave Him burial. Since time did not permit the preparation of another tomb, he placed the Lord's body in his own tomb which was hewn out of rock, as the Evangelist says (Matt. 27:60).

Jameszebedee
April 30

James the Apostle and brother of St. John the Theologian

James was one of the Twelve, like his brother John (celebrated on Sept. 26), whom the Lord called "Sons of Thunder," because they became great preachers and because of their profound theology. It was the Saint's boldness in preaching the Gospel that Herod Agrippa, the son of Aristobulus and grandson of Herod the Great, could not endure, and so he took him into custody during the days of the Passover, and slew him with the sword (Acts 12: 1-2); and thus he drank the cup of which the Saviour had spoken to him prophetically (Matt. 20:23). As for Herod, the following year he went down to Caesarea, and, as the Acts of the Apostles records: "Upon a set day, Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration" to the elders of Tyre and Sidon; and the flatterers that surrounded him "gave a shout, saying, 'it is the voice of a god, and not of a man.' And immediately an Angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory; and like his grandfather (see Dec. 29) "he was eaten of worms and gave up the spirit" (Acts 12:21-23)

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Parish Calendar

  • Parish Calendar

    April 29 to May 8, 2017

    Saturday, April 29

    Archbishop's Pastoral Visit

    Sunday, April 30

    "Annual" Chilli/Chowder Cookoff

    Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women

    Akathist to St Ignatius Bryanchaninov

    Krawchuk

    9:30AM Divine Liturgy

    Monday, May 1

    Jeremias the Prophet

    Tuesday, May 2

    Akathist to St Athanasiaus

    Removal of the Relics of St. Athanasius the Great

    8:30AM Daily Matins

    Wednesday, May 3

    The Holy Martyrs Timothy and Maura

    Akathist to Sts Anthony & Theodosius

    Alex Page

    4:30PM Open Doors

    6:30PM Daily Vespers

    Thursday, May 4

    Pelagia the Nun-martyr of Tarsus

    Anne Hosking

    8:30AM Daily Matins

    Friday, May 5

    Irene the Great Martyr

    Saturday, May 6

    Sharon Marie Watson

    Job the Prophet

    5:30PM Great Vespers

    Sunday, May 7

    Sunday of the Paralytic

    St. Alexis Toth

    9:30AM Divine Liturgy

    Monday, May 8

    Neil Luckianow

    John the Apostle, Evangelist, & Theologian

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Prayers, Intersessions and Commemorations

Cross2

Robert, Olga, Daria, Daria, Dori, John, Evelyn, Alla, June, Nina, Joan, John, Alex, Alan, Aaron, Kathryn, Veronica, Nona, Darlyne, Irene, Nancy, Dionysian, Elena, Jevon, Ivan and Joscean.

and for…John, Jennifer, Nicholas, Isabel, Elizabeth, John, Jordan, Michael, Lee, Eva, Neil, Gina, Joey, Michael, Madelyn, Sofie, Katrina, Olena, and Valeriy.

and for our catechumens; Albert Kelly, Kyle Hollis and Stephen Wexell

All of our College Students: Aaron, Alex, Katy, Kaitlyn, Jack, Ellen, Luke and Connor; and those preparing to enter college: Nadia, Matthew and Isaac.

Memory Eternal Alla Hamisevich

We celebrate: 

Anne Hosking, Cathy Martins and Alex Page on the occasion of their birthdays; John and Daria Krawchuk on the occasion of their anniversary.

 

Pray for:

All those confined to hospitals, nursing homes, and their own homes due to illness; for all those who serve in the armed forces; widows, orphans, prisoners, victims of violence, and refugees;

All those suffering chronic illness, financial hardship, loneliness, addictions, abuse, abandonment and despair; those who are homeless, those who are institutionalize, those who have no one to pray for them;

All Orthodox seminarians & families; all Orthodox monks and nuns, and all those considering monastic life; all Orthodox missionaries and their families.

All those who have perished due to hatred and intolerance and all those departed this life in the hope of the Resurrection.

Today we commemorate:

Holy Apostle James (Jacob), the brother of St. John the Theologian (44 A.D.). Myrrhbearing Women. Uncovering of the Relics of St. Nikita, Bishop of Novgorod (1558). St. Donatus, Bishop of Euroea in Epirus (ca. 387). Uncovering of the Relics of St. Basil, Bishop of Amasea (4th c.). Martyr Maximus of Ephesus. St. Ignátii (Ignatius) Brianchaninov, Bishop of Stavropol’ (1867).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Bulletin Inserts

    Exec Summary

    Exec Summary

    The first-ever national study on evangelization and outreach in Orthodox Christian parishes in the US was released by the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA during the last week of April 2017.

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Hymns of the Day

Apolytikion of Great and Holy Pascha in the 5th Tone

Christ is risen from the dead, by death, trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life.

Apolytikion for Holy Myrrhbearers Sunday in the 2nd Tone

When Thou didst descend unto death, O Life Immortal, then didst Thou slay Hades with the lightning of Thy Divinity. And when Thou didst also raise the dead out of the nethermost depths, all the powers in the Heavens cried out: O Life-giver, Christ our God, glory be to Thee.

Apolytikion for Holy Myrrhbearers Sunday in the 2nd Tone

The noble Joseph, taking Thine immaculate Body down from the Tree, and having wrapped It in pure linen and spices, laid It for burial in a new tomb. But on the third day Thou didst arise, O Lord, granting great mercy to the world.

Apolytikion for Holy Myrrhbearers Sunday in the 2nd Tone

Unto the myrrh-bearing women did the Angel cry out as he stood by the grave: Myrrh oils are meet for the dead, but Christ hath proved to be a stranger to corruption. But cry out: The Lord is risen, granting great mercy to the world.

Seasonal Kontakion in the 8th Tone

Though You went down into the tomb, You destroyed Hades' power, and You rose the victor, Christ God, saying to the myrrh-bearing women, "Hail!" and granting peace to Your disciples, You who raise up the fallen.
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. 2nd Tone. Psalm 117.14,18.
The Lord is my strength and my song.
Verse: The Lord has chastened me sorely.

The reading is from Acts of the Apostles 6:1-7.

IN THOSE DAYS, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists murmured against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, "it is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." And what they said pleased the whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochoros, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaos, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands upon them. And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women
The Reading is from Mark 15:43-47; 16:1-8

At that time, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. And Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. And he bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud, and laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.

And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?" And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back; for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you." And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

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Wisdom of the Fathers

They [the women] had followed Him ministering to Him, and were present even unto the time of the dangers. Wherefore also they saw all; how He cried, how He gave up the ghost, how the rocks were rent, and all the rest.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 88 on Matthew 27, 4th Century

And these [the women] first see Jesus; and the sex that was most condemned, this first enjoys the sight of the blessings, this most shows its courage. And when the disciples had fled, these were present.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 88 on Matthew 27, 4th Century

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In House

Burnbush

Assembly of Bishops releases study on evangelization, outreach in US parishes

NEW YORK, NY [Assembly of Bishops]

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The first-ever national study on evangelization and outreach in Orthodox Christian parishes in the US was released by the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USAduring the last week of April 2017.

The Executive Summary and Full Report are available in PDF format.

Titled “Go and Make Disciples: Evangelization and Outreach in US Orthodox Parishes,” the study explores the practices and strategies developed by some Orthodox parishes that can be viewed as “exemplary” in their missionary and outreach efforts.  Examples of what the readers will find in the report include

  • the “secrets” of being a parish that attracts and welcomes new members;
  • eight good practices of welcoming first-time visitors and inquirers about the Faith;
  • how do “exemplary” parishes achieve a high degree of involvement of their members in parish life;
  • four distinct features of religious education in the “exemplary” parishes; and
  • six “lessons” that Church leadership (bishops) can learn from the “exemplary” parishes.

Parishes of seven Orthodox jurisdictions participated in this study, which was prepared by Alexei Krindatch, the Assembly’s Research Coordinator, in cooperation with Archpriest Eric Tosi, Secretary of the Orthodox Church in America; Priest John Parker, Chair of the OCA Department of Evangelization; and Adam Roberts of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America.  The study was initiated and sponsored by the Assembly’s Committee for Agencies and Endorsed Organizations, chaired by His Grace, Bishop Gregory of Nyssa of the Johnstown, PA-based American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese.

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