“If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34)

We will hear these words of our Lord Jesus Christ this Sunday in the gospel lesson of the Divine Liturgy. It is our call to discipleship, to be followers of Christ.

These words are recorded in three of the four gospels: Matthew, Mark, and Luke.  Only in Luke, however, is there a slight but significant difference. One word: “daily.” “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me daily.” (Luke 9:23)

Christ also said, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35-35)

Jesus sacrificed and suffered on the cross because He loves us. The cross implies sacrifice. To truly love requires sacrifice. 

He calls us to follow, but in so doing, to take up our cross and follow. This means to sacrifice as a show of love for Him and for one another. Daily. We are not Christians just once a week, on Sunday. We are Christians every day and our call is to take up our cross daily. Loving in our relationships and sacrificial in our giving.

This Sunday, we commemorate the Veneration of the Holy Cross. Our focus as we continue the journey through Great Lent should not be on what we have “given up” but rather on the love and sacrifice of Christ on the Cross for us and on our call to follow in love and sacrifice.

Our faith is in Jesus Christ, who was crucified for our salvation. He denied Himself and took up His Cross, but He also challenged us to take up our crosses as well. In other words, His is a call to sacrificial love, sacrificial giving, sacrificial commitment, and sacrificial devotion to Him. Luke adds: “daily.”

The Salutations to the Theotokos will be sung on Fridays during Great Lent, every Friday in the month of March, at 7:00 p.m. It is a service of praise to the Blessed Mother of God. 

This Friday, our special guest, Lou Zagami of IOCC, will be speaking to us after the service. Please come. If you are working in the Fish Fry, please try to come even if toward the end of the service and feel free to come as you are.

Presanctified Liturgy will be celebrated on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. throughout Great Lent. A Lenten Pot Luck dinner and fellowship will follow in the parish hall. Bring a lenten plate to share, but know that everyone will be welcome to the supper even if you were unable to bring something to share. Come, fellowship first with the Lord's gift of His Body and Blood, and then with His community of believers.

Great Vespers and Salutations, Friday March 24th at 7:00 p.m.

Orthros and Divine Liturgy, Saturday March 25th beginning at 9:00 a.m.

April 9, Palm Sunday, The Entry Into Jerusalem. Orthros, 9 a.m. Divine Liturgy, 10 a.m.

April 10, Holy Monday. Orthros of the Bridegroom, 7 p.m.

April 11, Holy Tuesday.  Orthros of the Bridegroom, 7 p.m.

April 12, Holy Wednesday.  The Sacrament of Holy Unction, 7 p.m.

April 13, Holy Thursday. Divine Liturgy of St. Basil - Institution of the Last Supper, 9:30 a.m.

Orthros of the Passion (12 Gospels), 7 p.m.

April 14, Good Friday. Great Vespers — the Descent from the Cross, 3 p.m.

Lamentation Service, 7 p.m.

April 15, Great Saturday. Divine Liturgy of St. Basil, 9:30 a.m.

"Midnight" Resurrection Service – Paschal Proclamation, 11 p.m. followed by Orthros and the Divine Liturgy.  

April 16,  Pascha (Easter Sunday).  Agape Vespers, 11 a.m.

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09 Απριλίου, Κυριακὴ τῶν Βαΐων..   Ο Όρθρος, 9 πμ. Θεία Λειτουργία, 10 πμ.

10 Απριλίου, Μεγάλη Δευτέρα.  Ο Όρθρος του Νυμφίου, 7 μμ.

11 Απριλίου, Μεγάλη Τρίτη.  Ο Όρθρος του Νυμφίου, 7 μμ.

12 Απριλίου, Μεγάλη Τετάρτη.  Μέγα Ευχέλαιον, 7 μμ.

13 Απριλίου, Μεγάλη Πέμπτη.   Η Θεία Λειτουργία του Αγ. Βασιλείου (Ο Μυστικός Δείπνος), 9:30 πμ      

     Ο Όρθρος του Πάθος του Χριστού (τα 12 Ευαγγέλια), 7 μμ.

14 Απριλίου, Μεγαλη Παρασκευή.  Ο Μέγας Εσπερινός (Αποκαθήλωσης), 3 μμ.

      Ο Επιτάφιος Θρήνος, 7 μμ.

15 Απριλίου, Μέγα Σάββατο.  Η Θεία Λειτουργία του Αγ. Βασιλείου (Πρώτη Ανάσταση), 9:30 πμ.

      Η Ανάστασis,  Ο Όρθρος, Θεία Λειτουργία, 11 μμ.

16 Απριλίου, Κυριακή του Πάσχα. Ο Μέγας Εσπερινός της Αγάπης,  11 πμ.   

Mr. Lou Zagami of the International Orthodox Christian Charities will be speaking after the Salutations service this Friday, March 17. Please come and hear of the tremendous work IOCC is doing.

As we begin our Lenten journey, the bookstore has a good selection of publications to help feed our hearts and minds in our journey to Pascha. Please stop by to see what is available and we can also custom order books.

In case you have not noticed, we have an automated external defibrillator (AED) situated in a good spot between the sanctuary and the Hellenic Center for emergencies. However, we all need to know how to use it.

York County is offering AED training for St. Demetrios Church. No one needs medical or other experience. The classes will be in the daytime or evening. We need to get a list of those interested and a preference for day or evening class. Please let Mike Thompson know your or anyone else’s interest by email at [email protected]

Please consider hosting our Sunday Coffee Fellowship after the Divine Liturgy. It is most appreciated. To sign up, simply follow the link: Coffee Hour.

Remember, part of the volunteering is to set up, clean up afterwards, and bring the paper goods needed. No coffee fellowship this Sunday due to set up for the Great Vespers reception.