{"id":6633,"date":"2018-03-20T04:00:49","date_gmt":"2018-03-20T08:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/?p=6633"},"modified":"2018-03-20T04:00:49","modified_gmt":"2018-03-20T08:00:49","slug":"st-peter-newsletter-march-20-2018-the-annunciation-of-the-theotokos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/st-peter-newsletter-march-20-2018-the-annunciation-of-the-theotokos\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Peter Newsletter March 20, 2018 — The Annunciation of the Theotokos"},"content":{"rendered":"

Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom<\/h4>\n
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\"The
The Annunciation of the Theotokos<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Introduction<\/h4>\n

The Feast of the Annunciation of Our Most Holy Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary is celebrated on March 25 each year. The Feast commemorates the announcement by the Archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Son of God, would become incarnate and enter into this world through her womb.<\/p>\n

Biblical Story<\/h4>\n

The biblical story of the Feast of the Annunciation is found in the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke (1:26-39). The Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary, who was living in Nazareth, and said to her, “Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you.” Mary was perplexed and wondered what kind of greeting this was.<\/p>\n

The angel told her not to be afraid, for she had found favor with God. He said, “You will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there will be no end.”<\/p>\n

Mary responded to the angel by asking how this could happen since she had no husband. The angel told her that the Holy Spirit and the power of God would come upon her, and that the child to be born of her would be called holy, the “Son of God.”<\/p>\n

The angel then proceeded to tell the Virgin Mary that her cousin Elizabeth had conceived a son in her old age (John the Baptist), and affirmed that with God nothing is impossible.<\/p>\n

In faith and obedience to the will of God, Mary replied to the angel, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be according to your word.” Upon her response, the angel departed.<\/p>\n

It is on the Feast of the Annunciation, that Orthodox Christians commemorate both the divine initiative of God, whereby He took on flesh from the Virgin for our salvation, and the human response, whereby Mary freely accepted the vocation offered to her. He elected to become man, and He desired to do this with the willing agreement of her whom He chose as His mother. Mary could have refused, for she was not a passive instrument, but an active participant with a free and positive part to play in God’s plan for our salvation. Thus, when on this and other feasts the Orthodox Church honors the Theotokos, the Mother of God, it is not just because God chose her but also because she herself chose to follow His will.<\/p>\n

Read more on the Greek Orthodox Website<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Parents: Bring Your Children to Church on Lazarus Saturday Morning<\/h2>\n
\"The
The Raising of Lazarus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Parents, bring your kids to Church on Lazarus Saturday. We will begin with the Liturgy (where Fr. Hans will explain the importance of the day to the children), a pancake breakfast, making palm crosses to be distributed the next day at Palm Sunday and confession for the kids.<\/p>\n

Also consider bringing your children to the Taking Christ Down from the Cross service on Holy Friday afternoon. This is a short and highly visual service and children love it. Start setting the traditions early and it will stay with them their entire lives.<\/p>\n

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Fr. Thomas Hopko on The Annunciation<\/h2>\n

\"Click<\/p>\n

On March 25, exactly 9 months before Nativity, the Church celebrates the Annunciation to the Theotokos that she will be the Mother of God. God’s declaration through the angel Gabriel, however, had a contingency attached.<\/p>\n

Listen to find out what it was.<\/p>\n

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Listen here:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Click<\/a><\/div>\n
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St. Basil Liturgy Celebrated During Lent (Except Annunciation)<\/h2>\n

\"St.<\/p>\n

During the Lenten Sundays we celebrate St. Basil’s Liturgy instead of our usual St. John Chrysostom Liturgy. St. John’s liturgy is derived from St. Basil’s but the prayers are a bit shorter.<\/p>\n

The only variation is when Annunciation falls on a Sunday during Lent. Then we celebrate the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.<\/p>\n

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Lenten Suppers Following Wednesday Presanctified Liturgies<\/h2>\n

\"Man<\/p>\n

On Wednesday evenings following Presanctified Liturgy we will share in a light Lenten supper of lentil soup, bread and fruit. This is a practice of many churches and provides rich fellowship and sharing.<\/p>\n

Sign up for the Palm Sunday Brunch!<\/h2>\n

\"Sign<\/p>\n

Plan on attending St. Peter’s Palm Sunday Brunch following the Palm Sunday Divine Liturgy on April 1, 2018. We will have a sign up sheet available shortly. Please sign up with Thoma in the social hall after Liturgy if you plan to attend so we can prepare properly. Suggested donation is $10 per person with no cost for children.<\/p>\n

Sign up for the Pascha Dinner!<\/h2>\n

\"Sign<\/p>\n

Following the Agape Vespers on Sunday, April 8, plan on attending our church wide Pascha celebration. The menu includes lamb, potatoes, and other items. This is a wonderful way to share fellowship and bread to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It was a huge success last year and will be a joy again this year. Please sign up with Thoma in the social hall after Liturgy if you plan to attend so we can prepare properly. Suggested donation is $15 per person with no cost for children.<\/p>\n

There’s a place for you at the table!<\/em><\/p>\n

Donations for Holy Week Flowers Needed<\/h2>\n

\"Help<\/p>\n

Flowers beautify the Church and are essential part of Orthodox worship during Holy Week and Pascha. Please give your donation for flowers to Angela Long who is overseeing this project this year.<\/p>\n

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Interfaith Charities Needs Our Help!<\/h2>\n

\"Interfaith<\/p>\n

Interfaith Charities has asked us to help supply:<\/p>\n