Epistle Reading

St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:1-6

BRETHREN, since we have a high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, "Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee"; as he says also in another place, "Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek."

Gospel Reading

Mark 8:34-38; 9:1

The Lord said: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."

Weekly Calendar

Sun. Mar. 23: Sunday of the Holy Cross (Wine & Oil Allowed)

9:00am Orthros 10:00am Divine Liturgy

Procession with the Cross at the end of Orthros

Mon. Mar. 24: St. Theonas of Thessaloniki (Strict Fast)

5:30pm Great Vespers of the Annunciation (@ Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church – Decatur, IL)

Tues. Mar. 25: Annunciation of the Theotokos (Fish, Wine, Oil Allowed)

9:00am Orthros 10:00am Divine Liturgy

Wed. Mar. 26: Synaxis of Archangel Gabriel (Wine & Oil Allowed)

6:00pm Presanctified Liturgy w/ Lenten Reflection &

Potluck

This week’s Lenten Reflection: “The Paschal Homily of St. John Chrysostom” by George Sarraf

Thurs. Mar. 27: St. Matrona of Thessaloniki (Strict Fast)

Fri. Mar. 28: St. Hilarion the New (Strict Fast)

6:00pm Salutations to the Theotokos

Sat. Mar. 29: St. Mark of Arethusa (Wine & Oil Allowed)

Sun. Mar. 30: Sunday of St. John Climacus (Wine & Oil Allowed)

9:00am Orthros 10:00am Divine Liturgy

Monthly Calendar

Parish Announcements

Procession with the Cross – Today, Sun. Mar. 23^rd at the end of Orthros

Today, we will process with the Holy Cross around the inside of the church. In order to follow the liturgical rubrics of the day, this procession will take place at the end of Orthros, which will be around 9:45am.

Great Vespers of the Annunciation – Mon. March 24^th @ 5:30pm (Decatur, IL)

This Monday, instead of the Great Compline, there will be the Great Vespers of the Annunciation at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Decatur, IL. Great Vespers will begin at 5:30pm, followed by a Lenten Meal.

Lenten Services – Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays until April 9^th

Great Compline – Mondays @ 6pm

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

Salutations to the Theotokos – Fridays @ 6pm

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.

Prayers for Friday Salutations Services – Fridays @6pm

This year, we would like for our children and youth to have the honor of reading either the prayer to Theotokos or the prayer to Christ at the conclusion of the Friday Salutations services. For more info and to sign-up for one or both of the prayers on a Friday, click on the button below.

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".

Sign-Up to Read Prayers at the Salutations Service

Flower Donation

2025 Stewardship Form

Sunday School Registration

Wisdom of the Fathers

"Come now, O first-formed couple and pair, who by the envy of humanity’s murderer had fallen from heaven’s chorus through having tasted of old the most bitter sweetness of the fateful tree. Behold, as the other Tree, which is truly all-venerable, is coming today. Therefore run to it and with joy cry aloud with faith, and embracing it say to it: You, O all-venerable Cross are truly our source of help; we have partaken of your fruit, and we have acquired incorruption instead of death and great mercy and with certainty Eden once again."

Hymn from the Vespers of the Holy Cross

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