Epistle Reading

St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 9:11-14

BRETHREN, when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Gospel Reading

Mark 10:32-45

At that time, Jesus took his twelve disciples, and he began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles; and they will mock him, and spit upon him, and scourge him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise." And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him, and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." And he said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?" And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" And they said to him, "We are able." And Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant of James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Weekly Calendar

Sun. Apr. 6: Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt (Wine & Oil Allowed)

9:00am Orthros 10:00am Divine Liturgy

Mon. Apr. 7: St. Kalliopios the Martyr (Strict Fast)

6:00pm Great Compline

Tues. Apr. 8: St. John the Ship-Builder (Strict Fast)

Wed. Apr. 9: St. Eupsychios the Martyr (Strict Fast)

6:00pm Presanctified Liturgy w/ Lenten Reflection &

Potluck – Lenten Reflection: The Journey of Holy Week by Fr. Theofanis

Thurs. Apr. 10: St. Terence the Martyr (Strict Fast)

Fri. Apr. 11: St. Antipas the Heiromartyr (Strict Fast)

Sat. Apr. 12: Saturday of Lazarus (Wine & Oil Allowed)

9:00am Orthros 10:00am Divine Liturgy

Retreat following Divine Liturgy

Sun. Apr. 13: Palm Sunday (Fish, Wine & Oil Allowed)

9:00am Orthros 10:00am Divine Liturgy

Procession with Palms around the Church at the end of the Divine Liturgy

6:00pm Bridegroom Orthros w/ visit of His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago

Lenten refreshments to follow

Monthly Calendar

Parish Announcements

Lenten Services

Great Compline – Mondays @ 6pm

Presanctified Liturgy with Lenten Reflection & Potluck – Wednesdays @ 6pm

Saturday of Lazarus Retreat – Sat. April 12^th following Divine Liturgy

On Saturday of Lazarus we will have a retreat following the Divine Liturgy. It will include lenten refreshments, folding of palm crosses, decorating the church, Confession for any children who would like to participate, and baking lenten cookies for the children. All ages are welcome to attend!

Palm Sunday Procession – Sun. April 13^th at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy

Next Sunday, April 13^th, s we celebrate our Lord’s entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, we will process around the outside of the church with our Palms at the end of the Divine Liturgy.

Visit by His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael – Sun. Apr. 13^th @ 6pm

Our Hierarch, His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago, will be visiting our parish for the first Bridegroom service which will take place on Sunday, April 13^th at 6pm. There will be light Lenten refreshments following the service, and a chance to visit with His Eminence. Please join us as we begin Holy Week with the presence of our Metropolitan!

Myrrhbearers(Myrofores) – Holy Friday & Holy Saturday

Our school-aged girls are invited to serve as Myrrhbearers(Myrofores) for the services of Holy Friday afternoon & evening, as well as on the night of Pascha. Myrrhbearers dress in white dresses and represent the Myrrhbearing Women as they help the priest remove Christ from the Cross, walk in the processions, and throw rose petals on the Epitaphios. Please contact Tammy Johnson (slympero@gmail.com, 847-962-6517) if you are interested in participating as a Myrrhbearer.

Memory & Tribute Votives – Accepting orders today through April 6th

We will be taking orders for the memory and tribute bags after services today and for the following 3 weeks. The final deadline for orders is Sunday, April 6, to ensure the bags can be ready for Holy Week. The bags are a free will donation, and each person who orders a bag will receive a ribbon cross bookmark. One per person. On Holy Friday at the afternoon services all the names of the deceased will be read by Fr. Funds raised through this activity will be used to purchase liturgical cloths and half of the fund will go to the Porch a food pantry on Ellis close to Main Street. No electronic donations will be accepted, so please see Hannah and Nikki after services.

Sunday School– Sundays following Holy Communion (Preschool – Highschool)

Sunday School is under way! Any children (Pre-school through High School) are welcome to attend class! Sunday School children and teachers come to receive Holy Communion first, and then go downstairs for class.

Great Lent, Holy Week & Pascha Flower Donations

Please help us to beautify our Church as we prepare to celebrate the services of Great Lent, Holy Week & Pascha. If you would like to donate specific flowers, please see the sign-up sheet in the Narthex. Otherwise, you can give a check to the church office with “flowers” in the memo, or give online by using the following link and selecting “flowers".

Flower Donation

2025 Stewardship Form

Sunday School Registration

Wisdom of the Fathers

"Having got as far as the doors which I could not reach before -- as if the same force which had hindered me cleared the way for me -- I now entered without difficulty and found myself within the holy place. And so it was I saw the lifegiving Cross. I saw too the Mysteries of God and how the Lord accepts repentance. Throwing myself on the ground, I worshipped that holy earth and kissed it with trembling. The I came out of the church and went to her who had promised to be my security, to the place where I had sealed my vow. And bending my knees before the Virgin Mother of God, I addressed her with these words: `O loving Lady, thou hast shown me thy great love for all men. glory to God Who receives the repentance of sinners through thee. What more can I recollect or say, I who am so sinful? It is time for me, O Lady to fulfil my vow, according to thy witness. Now lead me by the hand along the path of repentance!' And at these words I heard a voice from on high: `If you cross the Jordan you will find glorious rest.' Hearing this voice and having faith that it was for me, I cried to the Mother of God: `O Lady, Lady, do not forsake me!' With these words I left the porch of the church and set off on my journey."

Life of St. Mary of Egypt by St. Sophronius

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