St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, McKinney, Texas
Electronic Newsletter
March 21/ April 3, 2011
4th Sunday of Great Lent / St. John of the Ladder
Announcements
Prayer Requests
Schedule of Divine Services in the Coming week
Fasting in the Coming week
Links related to the coming week
“Today is the prelude of God’s goodwill, and the heralding of the salvation of mankind. The Son of God becomes the Virgin’s Son, and Gabriel proclaims the good tidings of grace. To her, then, with a great voice let us cry aloud: Rejoice!, thou fulfillment of the Creator’s dispensation!”
– Troparion for the Annunciation
What a marvelous week this is for those who love the Church, brothers and sisters!
On Thursday, the Feast of the Annunciation, Gabriel proclaims to us the glad tidings of our salvation in Christ.
On Sunday, the Church celebrates St. John of the Ladder, revealing to us the sure path of ascent whereby we might claim this salvation as our own.
On Monday night, we sing the Great Canon of St. Andrew, that marvelous aid in bringing our selves to our senses so that we might put aside our own foolish ways and follow this path.
And on Friday, we hymn the Most Holy Theotokos, and in particular the aid which she constantly gives us by her prayers as we make our way on the path to salvation!
This is truly a spiritual banquet! Let us feed our souls as much as our circumstances allow.
Announcements
Please look at our calendar of services for the remainder of Lent, and make your plans now to attend as many services as you can, for the good of your soul. In particular, you should plan if at all possible to attend the services this week (April 4-8) — including the Feast of the Annunciation — and during the week of our Lord's Passion (April 18-24).
Our new facility brings with it many new maintenance and upkeep tasks. Matushka Marina and Reader David Hawthorne need volunteers to help get all the work done.If you can give a few hours of our time to help care for God's house, please contact Matushka Marina, Reader David or Deacon Nicholas and we'll tell you how you can help.
We have updated our list of things our parish needs. If you or somebody you know wish to supply one of these items, please contact us.
Prayer Requests
For the Health and Salvation.
- Kateryna (Kayla) Bayda. (employment)
- David and Elizabeth Ash.
- Priests Jean and Grégoire and all the faithful and suffering of Haiti.
- The suffering people of East Japan.
- Metropolitan Hilarion (recent knee surgery)
- Archbishop Kyrill (on leave of absence because of health problems)
For a more complete listing, please see our parish prayer list. Anyone can make requests.
Schedule of Divine Services in the Coming week
Friday 4/1
- 7PM Small Compline with the Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos
- 8PM Pannykhida
Saturday 4/2. Commemoration of the Departed. Wine and Oil allowed
- 4PM Confession
- 5PM Vigil
Sunday 4/3 Wine and Oil allowed
- 10AM Divine Liturgy
- 12:45PM Church School for children
- 6PM at St. John the Baptist in Euless. Pan-Orthodox Vespers
Monday 4/4
- 7:30PM Matins with the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete
Wednesday 4/6
- 7:00PM Vigil for Annunciation
Thursday 4/7. Feast of the Annunciation Fish, Wine and Oil allowed
- 9:00AM Vesperal Divine Liturgy
- 7PM Matins with the complete Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos
Saturday 4/9.
- 4PM Confession
- 5PM Vigil
Sunday 4/10
- 10AM Divine Liturgy
- 12:45PM Church School for children and adults
- 6PM at St. Seraphim's in Dallas. Pan-Orthodox Vespers
Fasting in the Coming week
Throughout Great Lent, we abstain from all animal products, wine and oil on weekdays. Wine and Oil are allowed on weekends. Fish is allowed on Palm Sunday and on the Feast of the Annunciation (this Thursday). Wine and Oil are also allowed on Tuesday, because of the long church service Monday night.
LINKS
Annunciation.
- Annunciation Sermon by St Ambrose, Bishop of Milan
- Annunciation Sermon by Pope Leo the Great
- Annunciation Homily by St. Jerome
- Sermon on the Annunciation by St Proklos, Patriarch of Constantinople
- Annunciation of the Theotokos – March 25- a Prayer
The Great Canon, St Mary of Egypt
- The Great Canon of St Andrew of Crete – an explanation
- The Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete – Thursday of the Fiftth Week – Text
- Questions about St. Mary of Egypt
- The Life of our Holy Mother Mary of Egypt – From The Great Canon .
- 10 Questions about Lenten Services – Volume 1