ST. ELIJAH ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH

15000 N. May, Oklahoma City, OK 73134

Church Office: 755-7804

Church Website: www.stelijahokc.com

Church Email: [email protected]

APRIL 5, 2020 Issue 32 Number 14 Fifth Sunday of Great Lent (Commemoration of our Righteous Mother ); of the Day: Claudius, Diodore and their companions; New- George of New Ephesus; Venerable Theodora and Didymus of

DIRECTORY WELCOME V. Rev. Fr. John Salem Parish Priest 410-9399 We welcome all our visitors. It is an honor to have you worshipping with us. You may find the worship of the Rev. Fr. Elias Khouri Ancient Church very different. We welcome your questions. Assistant Priest 640-3016 Please join us for our Reception held in the Church Hall V. Rev. Fr. Constantine Nasr immediately following the Divine Liturgy. Emeritus We understand Holy Communion to be an act of our unity in Rev. Dn. Ezra Ham faith. While we work toward the unity of all Christians, it Administrator 602-9914 regrettably does not now exist. Therefore, only baptized

Rev. Fr. Perry Orthodox Christians (who have properly prepared) are Attached permitted to participate in Holy Communion. However, everyone is welcome to partake of the blessed bread that is Anthony Ruggerio 847-721-5192 distributed at the end of the service. We look forward to Youth Director meeting you during the Reception that follows the service.

Mom’s Day Out & Pre-K NEW ORTHROS & LITURGY BOOK Sara Cortez – Director 639-2679  Orthros: p. 4 Email: [email protected] Facebook: “St Elijah Mom’s Day Out”  The Divine Liturgy p. 35 Twitter: StElijahMDO  Memorial Service p. 103  Churching Service p. 102 Ancient Faith Radio ancientfaith.com  Removal of Crowns p. 106

St. Elijah is a parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. His Eminence Metropolitan , Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of all North America His Grace BASIL, Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America

VARIABLES IN TODAY’S DIVINE LITURGY DIVINE LITURGY OF ST. BASIL THE GREAT

The 1st Antiphon: the cross and follow . By example and A As usual… precept thou didst teach us to ignore the body, because it is perishable, and to attend to the Through the intercessions of the , O concerns of the undying soul. Therefore, doth Savior, save us. thy soul rejoice with the .

nd The 2 Antiphon: Troparion of St. Elijah - Tone 4

B As usual… Angelic body, Pillar of Prophets and their Corner

Save us, O Son of god, Who art risen from the Stone, Forerunner of the Second-Coming of dead; who sing to Thee, Alleluia. Christ; Thou didst send Grace from on high to Elisha, to dispel sickness and to purify lepers, Glory...Now... Glorious Elijah, thou dost overflow with healing O, only begotten Son and Word of God... to those who honor thee.

Troparion of the Resurrection - Tone 1 Kontakion for the Theotokos - Tone 4 C While the stone was sealed by the Jews, O Undisputed Intercessor of Christians, the and the soldiers were guarding Thy most pure mediatrix, who is unrejected by the Creator. body, Thou didst arise on the third day, O Turn not away from the voice of our petitions, Savior, granting life to the world. For which though we be sinners. Come to us with aid in cause the heavenly powers cried aloud unto time, who cry unto thee in faith, for thou art Thee, O giver of life. Glory to Thy Resurrection, good. Hasten to us with intercessions, O O Christ, glory to Thy kingdom, glory to Thy Theotokos, who dost ever intercede for those providence, O Thou Who alone art the lover of who honor thee. mankind. The Thrice Holy Hymn The Entrance Hymn F D O come let us worship... THE READINGS G Troparion of the Resurrection - Tone 1 E Fifth Sunday of Great Lent While the stone was sealed by the Jews, and the soldiers were guarding Thy most pure Make your vows and pay them to the Lord body, Thou didst arise on the third day, O our God. Savior, granting life to the world. For which God is known in Judaea, His name is great in Israel! cause the heavenly powers cried aloud unto Thee, O giver of life. Glory to Thy Resurrection, The reading is from St. Paul's Epistle to the Hebrews O Christ, glory to Thy kingdom, glory to Thy (Chapter 9:11-14) providence, O Thou Who alone art the lover of Brethren, Christ having appeared a High Priest mankind. of the good things to come, through the greater

Troparion of St. Mary of Egypt - Tone 8 and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; neither Through thee, the divine likeness was securely through the blood of goats and calves, but preserved, O mother Mary; for thou didst carry through His own blood, entered in once for all into the holy place, having found eternal servant of all. For the Son of man also came not redemption. For if the sprinkling of defiled to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a persons with the blood of bulls and goats and ransom for many. with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the The Megalynarion purification of the flesh, how much more shall H the blood of Christ, who through the eternal In thee rejoiceth, O thou who art full of Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, grace, every created being - the Hosts of the purify your conscience from dead works to serve angels and all mankind. O consecrated temple the living God? and paradise endowed with speech, glory to virgins of whom God was incarnate and became 5th Sunday of Great Lent a little child. And is our God before all the ages. The reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. For he made of thy womb a throne and thy body Mark (10:32-45) did he make more spacious than the Heavens. In

At that time, took his twelve disciples, and thee doth all creation rejoice, O thou who art full began to tell them what was to happen to him, of grace, Glory to thee. saying, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; Communion Hymn and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief I Praise the Lord… Alleluia. priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles; J We have seen the true light… and they will mock him, and scourge him, and spit upon him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise again." OFFERINGS

And James and John, the sons of Zeb'edee, came HOLY BREAD is offered by Jeff, Sherrie, forward to him, and said to him, "Teacher, we Erick, Alexandra, Wesley, Levi, Sophia, and want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." Samia for their good health. It is especially And Jesus said to them, "What do you want me offered in memory of Emil (32 years) and to do for you?" And they said to him, "Grant us Katherine (4 years) Massad. May their memory to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, be eternal. in your glory." But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to CARNATIONS are offered by Bobby and Irene drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with Massad for their good health and the good health the baptism with which I am baptized?" And of Julia, Tamara, Joseph, Genevieve, Raya they said to him, "We are able." And Jesus said , and Taryn. They are especially offered to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink; and in memory of Peter, Valentin, Shoy, Camilla, with the baptism with which I am baptized, you Leland, Nancy, Donald, and Rochelle. May their will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or memory be eternal. my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." And when the ten ANNOUNCEMENTS heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to GREAT LENT continues this week. The them, "You know that those who are supposed to traditional fast in Lent is to abstain from meat, rule over Gentiles lord it over them, and their fish (though allowed for Annunciation, Palm great men exercise authority over them. But it Sunday, and in Slavic Tradition on Sundays), shall not be so among you; but whoever would dairy products, and alcoholic beverages (though be great among you must be your servant, and allowed in moderation on weekends). whoever would be first among you must be STEWARDSHIP UPDATE. To date, we have received 109 Intentions to Give, totaling $574,737. If you have not already done so, C O F F E E H O U R please take a few moments to prayerfully Below is the schedule of those who will consider what you can give to support St. Elijah host Coffee Hour on upcoming and return your Membership Form to the church Sundays. as soon as possible. April VIGIL CANDLE is lit by Teese Mullings for COFFEE HOURS have been cancelled our military serving in harm's way. May they be until further notice. kept safe from every enemy and adversary.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK Today we remember those who reposed in the APRIL 5-11 Lord during this week in years past: Rafat Shawareb Philip Matthew Kraker Frances Ann Bird Corinne Simon Anisa Eid Todaro Mary Pendergraft Carroll Samara Farris Cohlmia Charles Cohlmia Nick Zelnick, Sr. Dorothy E. Kraker Irene Massad Pauline Farris Eddie Andrew Wapensky Christian Williams Annis Ellis Coury Pauline Kraker Ben Farha Noble Paul Sills Lee Pasta Celine Sweis Michael Kolchak, Jr. JoAnn Callaway Natalie Bieschke Addy P. Simon Hryhoryi (George) Vanda Sweis Zaki Awwan Sweis Schkolovyi Adam Sweis Souad Hamra Betty Jean Hibbard Elizabeth Wilson

FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE 2020 th 46 Anniversary

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Hey Big How many Count the cans How many How many How many How many Spender" drop heads of in your friends do you sweaters do chairs are in cookbooks do a coin in the lettuce re in cupboard. Pay have on you have? Pay your home? you own? Pay slot - give unto your .05 for each. Facebook? .10 for each. We can't just .20 for each. others what refrigerator? Don't let their Pay .05 for Sweaters keep "sit" around We will be able they haven't Pay .30 for cupboards be each friend. you warm. when so many to "cook up" a got! Put in a each. "Lettuce" like "Old Let's be- This is one people are better recipe coin or bill of show the Mother "friend" those in time they won't hungry. for the hungry your choice. hungry that we Hubbard's!" need. mind if we "pull to live by. care. the wool over their eyes."

On Site St. Elijah Youth Ministries Canceled Until Further Notice

We have been working hard to offer ministries and gatherings online for the youth during this difficult time! Next week be sure to look for the following:

Tuesday @8p.m. DOWAMA Trivia Wednesday @7:30p.m. Ask abbouna on Instagram Live @dowamasoyo Thursday @7p.m. Teen Chats on Zoom Friday @ 7p.m. Theology on Twitch

Also be sure to check out the y2am calendar for other available online resources!

y2am.org/calendar

Be sure to follow our Facebook page! I will be posting Lenten reflections, educational videos, and at-home projects to do with your children while we are stuck at home! The link to our Facebook page is at the bottom.

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I would like to share with you a reflection on St. Mary of Egypt by my Brother-in-law, Fr. Jonathan Bannon “Today is the feast of St. Mary of Egypt and happens to fall on the fifth Wednesday of the Great Fast when her life story is read during the evening service... and that is pretty awesome. In her story, as shared by St. Zosimas who met her in the desert near the end of her life, we find Mary was a prostitute for years, chasing after an insatiable passion which was only overcome through great humility and a lived response to hearing the Word of God. As St Paul writes in Romans 2:13: "for it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be declared righteous.” Mary's life in the desert may look extreme, however, she took the extreme desire she had before and directed it towards God in Heaven and gave to Him her entire life with much humility. Blessed Feast and we will explore more of this story on Sunday when she is also celebrated!”

We must direct our desires towards God! We desire to be at church, then let us make our homes the “little church” as St. John Chrysostom says. Nothing can replace the Eucharist, but recalling Christ’s words to the on the cross, “Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” - Luke 23:42-43

- Anthony

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Worship and Spiritual Life

Sunday – Orthros at 8:45 am – Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am Wednesday – Vespers at 6:00 pm (except during Lent) Saturday – Vespers at 5:00 pm Confessions throughout the week. Call one of the Fathers for an appointment.

Study Sunday – Sunday School: Children’s Classes after Communion. No classes during the summer. Wednesday – Family Night 7-9 pm. Runs in 8-week blocks. Look for announcements of upcoming sessions. A full program of seminars and classes for adults, children and youth, for both Orthodox and Non-Orthodox. Bible Study – Thursdays at 10:30 am; nursery provided

Fellowship & Parish Development Coffee Hour – Sundays following the Divine Liturgy 20/40 Fellowship – events as announced Ladies Aid – Meetings as announced Teen Chats – Wednesday Nights Adult Fellowship – Meetings as announced Antiochian Women – every 4th Tuesday at 6:30 pm Parish Council – every 3rd Tuesday at 7 pm Choir – see Kasey Cohlmia (405-245-1444)

Membership To become a member, you need to pray with us at our worship services, complete the Inquirer’s Classes, and talk with our priests about your interest in the Orthodox faith. This process normally takes 12 months. We welcome you on your journey of faith and invite you to learn of the ancient and unchanging Holy Orthodox Church.

April 5, 2020 CALENDAR

USHERS: Sunday Apr. 5 Orthros & Liturgy - Closed to the public ALTAR SERVERS: (Clergy only) EPISTLE READER: Monday Apr. 6 ELDERS: Tuesday

BOOKSTORE: Apr. 7 Wednesday Apr. 8 DEADLINE FOR THE Thursday Apr. 9 BULLETIN IS Friday Apr. 10 5:00 PM ON TUESDAY Saturday Apr. 11