The Entrance of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ into Jerusalem
Palm Sunday
Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom
Palm Sunday
On the Sunday before the Feast of Great and Holy Pascha and at the beginning of Holy Week, the Orthodox Church celebrates one of its most joyous feasts of the year. Palm Sunday is the commemoration of the Entrance of our Lord into Jerusalem following His glorious miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead. Having anticipated His arrival and having heard of the miracle, the people went out to meet the Lord and welcomed Him with displays of honor and shouts of praise. On this day, we receive and worship Christ in this same manner, acknowledging Him as our King and Lord.at the Virgin would show her. A voice replied to her from on high: “If you cross the Jordan, you will find rest.”
The biblical story of Palm Sunday is recorded in all four of the Gospels (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:28-38; and John 12:12-18). Five days before the Passover, Jesus came from Bethany to Jerusalem. Having sent two of His disciples to bring Him a colt of a donkey, Jesus sat upon it and entered the city.
People had gathered in Jerusalem for the Passover and were looking for Jesus, both because of His great works and teaching and because they had heard of the miracle of the resurrection of Lazarus. When they heard that Christ was entering the city, they went out to meet Him with palm branches, laying their garments on the ground before Him, and shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he that comes in the Name of the Lord, the King of Israel!”
Read more about Palm Sunday on the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese website.
Lazarus Saturday
On the Saturday before Holy Week, the Orthodox Church commemorates a major feast of the year, the miracle of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ when he raised Lazarus from the dead after he had lain in the grave four days. Here, at the end of Great Lent and the forty days of fasting and penitence, the Church combines this celebration with that of Palm Sunday.
In triumph and joy the Church bears witness to the power of Christ over death and exalts Him as King before entering the most solemn week of the year, one that leads the faithful in remembrance of His suffering and death and concludes with the great and glorious Feast of Pascha.
Read more on the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese website.
Baptism of Catechumens on Lazarus Saturday
In the early Church catechumens (seekers preparing for baptism) were baptized on Lazarus Saturday so that they could enter Holy Week as Orthodox Christians.
On Lazarus Saturday, immediately following the Divine Liturgy, we will baptize four people (one baby, three adults) at St. Peter’s.
Parents – Bring Your Children!
We will begin with the Liturgy (where Fr. Hans will explain the importance of the day to the children) and baptisms, followed by a pancake breakfast, making palm crosses to be distributed the next day at Palm Sunday and confession for the kids.
Flower Donations for the Tomb of Christ (Kouvouklion) Needed
Can you help with flowers for the Tomb of Christ? Please give your donation to Angela Long or a Parish Council Member.
Order Your Holy Week Service Books
At St. Peter’s we don’t have the resources to provide Holy Week service books to our parishioners. Those who would like a book can order their private copy from Ancient Faith Press or the Antiochian Book Store.
Books cost $35 each. Five copies ordered through the Antiochian Bookstore offers a $25 discount. Perhaps some parishioners could order five and donate four to St. Peter’s so that we can start a library for future years.
If anyone would care to donate toward service books please see Fr. Hans.
A of the Greek Orthodox Holy Week book (Papadeas) works too because the order of services are the same. The English will vary from the Antiochian book in a few places however.
A Guide for Holy Week
Check out the guide resources about Holy Week on the St. Peter’s website.
Sign up for Palm Sunday Brunch (Sunday April 21, 2019)
St. Peter’s will hold a Palm Sunday Brunch following the Liturgy on Palm Sunday, April 21. This is a great time of fellowship for all. We need a count so please sign up at Church this Sunday or send an email with names of people attending.
Sign up for Agape Service Pascha Dinner (Sunday April 28, 2019)
On Pascha Sunday we will come together again after the Pascha service to celebrate Agape Vespers on Sunday, April 28, a very short service followed by a community wide Pascha dinner. This will be good! We need a count so please sign up at Church this Sunday or send an email with names of people attending.
Please note: The Pascha dinner will be held on Sunday at 1:00pm
Items still for sale for St. Peter Second Annual Bake Sale
Remaining items for sale are:
- 9 dozen Baklava
- 30 dozen Koulouria (Cookies)
Baked goods are on sale on April 21. These are the only items left. Thank you for your support!
Pledge Report
In order to meet our operating Budget goal for 2019 we need to take in $16,666.00 each month.
Please pledge in order to meet our goal. Pledge forms are available on the table in the narthex.
Interfaith Charities Needs Our Help
Interfaith Charities, the local agency St. Peter’s partners with to help working poor families in our immediate area needs these items:
- Rice
- Lentils
- Tuna
- Mac and cheese
- Soup
- SpaghettiOs
- Jelly
- Used clothing
- Used housewares
St. Peter’s is committed to helping the poor among us. If each family could bring some of these items to church this Sunday and the next, then we will get them to Interfaith Charities and the families who need them.
Holy Week Schedule Posted
Click the image to view and print. Copies will also be available at Church.
Icons Available in the Social Hall
St. Peter’s has a large selection of Icons available for sale and donation. They come in various sizes — mini, small, medium and large.
The Icons are generously donated by Theo Palis and therefore all proceeds go directly to St. Peter’s.
If there is a specific icon you are looking for and we don’t have it, Theo might be able to make it for you.
New Member Classes and Bible Studies
St. Demetrios Brotherhood meets on Thursday at 7:00pm.
Bible studies cancelled until after Holy Week.
Calendar At A Glance
Note: Lent and Holy Week Schedule available on the St. Peter website.
MARCH
- Sunday Apr 14 — SUNDAY OF ST MARY OF EGYPT
- Monday Apr 15 — Great Compline at 6:30pm
- Wednesday Apr 17 — Presanctified Liturgy 6:30pm
- Friday Apr 19 — Small Compline with Canon of St. Lazarus 6:30pm
- Saturday Apr 20 — Lazarus Saturday Liturgy 9:30am / Baptisms / Make crosses / Pancake
breakfast / Children confessions
HOLY WEEK
- Sunday Apr 21 — PALM SUNDAY
Brunch in Social Hall following Divine Liturgy
Bridegroom Service 6:30pm
- Monday Apr 22 — HOLY MONDAY
Bridegroom Service 6:30pm
- Tuesday Apr 23 — HOLY TUESDAY
Bridegroom Service 6:30pm
- Wednesday Apr 24 — HOLY WEDNESDAY
Holy Unction 6:30pm
- Thursday Apr 25 — HOLY THURSDAY
Liturgy of the Last Supper 9:30am
Reading of the Twelve Gospels 6:00pm (note earlier time
- Friday Apr 26 — HOLY FRIDAY
Royal Hours 9:00am
Decoration of Tomb of Christ 10:30am
Taking Christ Down from the Cross 3:00pm
Lamentations 6:30pm
- Saturday Apr 27 — HOLY SATURDAY
First Resurrection Service 9:30am
GREAT AND HOLY PASCHA 10:00pm (on Saturday)
- Sunday Apr 28 — SUNDAY OF PASCHA
Agape Vespers 11:00am
Paschal Dinner in Social Hall 1:00pm (on Sunday)
Easter egg hunt for children
UPCOMING – Mark your calendars!
- Sunday Apr 21 — Palm Sunday Brunch following the Sunday Agape Service
- Sunday Apr 28 — PASCHA Community Dinner following Agape Vespers
- Sunday May 12 — Mother’s Day Brunch following Liturgy
- Sunday Jun 16 — Father’s Day Barbecue following Liturgy
Wisdom From The Elders
Just as a drowning man I clutches at a straw, so you, in your spiritual distress, seek the support of those close to you. My own experience has brought me to see that no one can help us: not we ourselves, not other people; only the Lord! Abbot Nikon Vorobiev
Nothing done in humility for the sake of God is bad. St. Peter of Damaskos
As much as possible, he must try to conform to the will of God. He must always examine himself and see how he can perform the will of God. When he performs the will of God, then he is related to God and then, without even asking for it from God, he receives; he receives endless living water from the source. Saint Paisios of Mount Athos
Take advantage of these morning hours, which are the hours of a new life, or of a life renewed by temporary sleep. They show us in part that state in which we shall be when we shall rise up renewed on that great and universal morning of the nightless day of resurrection, or when we shall rid ourselves of this mortal body. Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt
A true Christian behaves in this life so that it may be a preparation for the future one, and not only a life here below. Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt
Luxuries, money are worse than ordinary dust and dirt, because they sully the soul; ordinary dust only sullies the body, clothing, or room. O, how necessary it is to despise luxuries, money, and dress besides! Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt
Remember in Your Prayers
Bud
Silvana
Nicole
Evan
Megan
Bill R.
Pat R.
Aglaia
George
Hieromonk Serapion
Priest Kyprianos
Presvytera Charlotte
Bryan, Carolina, their unborn baby
Athanasia
Alexandra
Constantina
Maryanne (E)
Ron (E)
Tim
Robert (J)
Mary (J)
Patricia
Gregory
Doug Spencer
Kathy Spencer
Kathy D.
Andreas
Sofia Tešanovic
Paul
Dennis H. and Family
Victor Evan
Ann
James
Vasiliki
Efstratia
Alexandra
Nikos
Georgia
Ioannis
Costandino
Jeffrey
Vaso
Dave
Dimitri – Presbyter
Vassiliki
Octavio
Tom
Carl
Rena
Nikolay (5 year old boy in Bulgaria whose parents asked us to pray)
David
Rosie
Kathryn
Jeremy
Constantine
Robert
Jane
Theodora
David
Gina
Micheal
Haralambos
Lillian
Presbytera Rosy
Valentina
Eva W.
Barbara
Angela
Carol Ann
Matthew
Chrysostom
Tim
Pat
Christina
Maria Louise
Maximos
Marian
Photini
Nicholas
Sarah
Constantine Houpis
Anna Marie Smith Baker
Katerina
Mary Kassis
Baby Maximus
Christine
Maria
Annette Star
Claire Livaditis
Eva Chandilles
Baby Dani
Scott Nedoff
James Hord
Tom
How should we pray for the sick? Remember them daily. Say their names (first names are sufficient) and ask God to bestow mercy and grace on them.
Add or remove names and print this list for easy reference during your prayer time on the St. Peter website.
Sunday Readings
Epistle
Blessed is He Who cometh in the Name of the Lord.
O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy endures forever.
The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Philippians. (4:4-9)
Brethren, rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let all men know yourforbearance. The Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer andsupplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God,which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally,brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever islovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, thinkabout these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, these do; andthe God of peace will be with you.
Gospel
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. John. (12:1-18)
Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus who had died was,whom Jesus had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; Martha served, and Lazaruswas one of those at table with Him. Mary took a pound of costly ointment of pure nard and anointedthe feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance ofthe ointment. But Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, one of His Disciples (he who was to betray Jesus),said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” This hesaid, not because he cared for the poor but because he was a thief, and as he had the moneybox heused to take what was put into it. Jesus said, “Let her alone, let her keep it for the day of My burial.The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have Me.”
When the great crowd ofthe Jews learned that He was there, they came, not only on account of Jesus but also to see Lazarus,whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus also to death,because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus. The nextday a great crowd who had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So theytook branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying, “Hosanna! Blessed is He Who cometh in the Name of the Lord, the King of Israel!” And Jesus found a young ass and sat upon it;as it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on an ass’s colt!”
His Disciples did not understand this at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they rememberedthat this had been written of Him and had been done to Him. The crowd that had been with Jesuswhen He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead bore witness. The reasonwhy the crowd went to meet Jesus was that they heard He had done this sign.
