St. Alexis of Wilkes-Barre Orthodox Christian Church 108 East Main Street 860-664-9434 PO Box 134 Clinton, CT 06413 www.stalexischurch.org

Rev. Steven Hosking, attached • [email protected] • 860-866-5802 Bulletin for Sunday, October 20, 2013 Sixteenth Sunday of Pentecost •Tone 8 2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1, Luke 16:19-31 Commemorations: Greatmartyr Artemius at (362). Righteous Child Artemius of Verkholsk. Ven. Gerasimos the New Ascetic, of Cephalonia (1579). Ven. Matrona of Chios (14th c.).

Welcome to Our Visitors

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. Feel free to ask questions before or after the services. Literature about the Orthodox faith and this parish can be found at the candle desk. Please sign our guest book and join us for refreshments and fellowships downstairs after Liturgy. Please pray for: Robert, Vera, Richard, Sarah, Alla, Olga, June, Nina, Joan, Luke, Alex, Scripture on "Purification of Our Soul Glenn, Kathryn. Purification of our soul is how the fathers tell us to prepare for the reception of divine grace. The say that the more we purify ourselves the more we allow divine grace to function within Many Years! Greg Jankura on the occasion of his birthday. us.

Elder Paisios says, Upcoming Events and Services When a soul is completely clean from its will and is totally humbled, then it can experience the grace of Christ and the fulfillment of all His promises. Wednesday, October 23rd Thursday, October 24th The following are Scripture passages suggested by Elder Paisios on purification of our soul. “Open Doors” at 4:30p Bible Study at 6:30p In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and earthenware, and some for noble use, some of ignoble. If any one purifies himself from what October 25th & 26th is ignoble, then he will be a vessel for noble use, consecrated and useful to the master of the 50th Annual Diocese Assembly house, ready for any good work. (2Tim 2:20-21) Saturday, October 26th Sunday, October 27th Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body Great Vespers at 5:30p Divine Liturgy at 9:30a and spirit, and make holiness perfect in the fear of God. (2Cor 7:1) Followed by General Confession Church School and Choir Rehearsal For though we live in the world we are not carrying on a worldly war, for the weapons of our warfare are not worldly but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments Tuesday, October 29th Wednesday, October 30th and every proud obstacle to the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Clinton Clergy Meeting at 9a “Open Doors” at 4:30p Christ. (2 Cor 10:3-5) Hosted at St Alexis Choir Rehearsal at 6:30p Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the Thursday, October 31st form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, Martyrdom of St. John Kochurov taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human Bible Study at 6:30p form, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every Saturday, November 2nd Sunday, November 3rd name. (Phil 2:5-9) Glorification of St Raphael Hawaweeny Divine Liturgy at 9:30a Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. (Mt 5:8) Akathist to St Raphael at 5:00p Church School and Choir Rehearsal You blind Pharisee! First cleanse the inside of the cup and of the plate, and then the outside Great Vespers at 5:30p also will be clean. (Mt 23:26) ...Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but your inward part is full Wednesday, November 6th Thursday, November 7th of greed and wickedness. (Lk 11:39) “Open Doors” at 4:30p Bible Study at 6:30p Saturday, November 8th Sunday, November 7th Source: Elder Paisios of the Holy Mountain, pp 55-56 Great Vespers at 5:30p Divine Liturgy at 9:30a Annual Parish Meeting Communion Hymn Seventeenth Sunday of Pentecost

Praise the Lord from the heavens! Praise Him in the highest! (Ps 148:1) Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! Tone 8 Troparion (Resurrection)

You descended from on high, O Merciful One! You accepted the three day burial to free us from our sufferings!// O Lord, our Life and Resurrection, glory to You!

Announcements Tone 4 Troparion (Great Artemius)

Our Annual Parish Meeting is scheduled for Sunday, November 10th. We have two Council Your holy martyr Artemius, O Lord, of Stewards positions to be filled. If you are interested, please see the nominations committee: through his sufferings has received incorruptible crowns from You, our God. Natalie, Greg or Raymond. For having Your strength, he laid low his adversaries, and shattered the powerless boldness of demons.// Resolutions to be submitted for the Annual Meeting are due, in writing, to members of the Through his intercessions, save our souls! Council of Stewards no later than October 31st; as are all committee reports. Tone 8 Kontakion (Resurrection) You are invited to celebrate a joyous feast. St. Nectarios of Aegina, a 20th century , is considered the patron of those suffering with By rising from the tomb, You raised the dead and resurrected Adam. cancer, heart trouble, arthritis, epilepsy, depression and injustice. On the eve of his feast, Eve exults in Your Resurrection, Friday November 8 at 7:00 PM, Great Vespers will be served by area clergy at Christ the and the world celebrates Your rising from the dead, O greatly Merciful One! Savior Church 1070 Roxbury Rd in Southbury. At the conclusion of the service there will be an outdoor procession, prayer for the sick and anointing with oil. It will be followed by a Tone 2 Kontakion ( Artemius) dessert buffet. On Saturday there will be Divine Liturgy at 9:30 AM . Let us gather to sing worthy hymns in honor of Artemius, For directions or more information please call 203 267 1330 or visit our web site at the pious and victorious martyr who defeated his enemies. www.christsaviorchurch.org He is great among and generous in performing , Choir Rehearsal on Wednesday, Oct 30th at 6:30p and he intercedes with the Lord on behalf of us all. Susan Lukianov will be our guest conductor, helping us to prepare for the Feast of the Nativity, and helping us with the more intricate aspects of singing our services. Deacon: Let us attend. Priest: Peace be unto all. Reader: And to your spirit, and in the 8th Tone, Alleluia Alleluia, Alleluia. Choir: Alleluia 3x Reader: And to your spirit. Deacon: Wisdom. Reader: Come, let us rejoice in the Lord! Let us make a joyful noise to God our Savior! (Ps 94/95:1) Reader: The Prokeimenon in the 8th Tone. Choir: Alleluia 3x Pray and make your vows before the Lord, our God! (Ps 75/76:11) Reader: Let us come before His face with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise! (Ps 94/95:2) Choir: (The Choir repeats the Prokeimenon in the proper Tone.) Choir: Alleluia 3x Reader: In Judah God is known; His name is great in Israel. (Ps 75/76:1)

Choir: (The Choir repeats the Prokeimenon.) The Gospel According to St. Luke (16:19-31) Reader: Pray and make your vows... There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared Choir: (The Choir completes the Prokeimenon.) sumptuously every day. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Deacon: Wisdom. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in Reader: The Reading from the second Epistle of the holy Apostle Paul to the torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Corinthians. (6:16-7:1) Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may Deacon: Let us attend. dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and Reader: Brothers and Sisters: likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. ’And besides all And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’ Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, they shall be My people.” Therefore Come out from among them And be separate, says the that you would send him to my father’s house, ’for I have five brothers, that he may testify to Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” I will be a Father to you, And them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty.” Therefore, having these and the prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting them from the dead, they will repent.’ But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the holiness in the fear of God. prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’

Priest: Peace be unto you.