Prayer List for the Week of April 5, 2020

For healing: Fr. Andrei, Fr. Daniel, Fr. Gregory, Fr. James, Matushka Katherine, Matushka Myra, Protinica Lindsay, Monk Gerasim, Monk Meletios, Ross, Justin, Steven, Marian, Paul, Dale, Roger, Nancy, Claire, Patricia, Mark, Nikolai, Anastasia, William, Metodije, Annabelle, Alice, Kathleen, Walter, Jay, Denise, Denise, Heather, Alexis, Robert, Gerald, Alexander, Cassie, John, Karen, Pamela, Sabra, Sid, Robert, Eric, Michael, Melissa, Marianne, Ryan, Joanne, Rose Mary, Diane, Robert, Irene, Marianne, Timothy, Jon, Emily, Charles, Carlos, David, Hank, Nicholas, Katrina, Valentine, Mary Jane, Nicholas, Matthew, Alicia, Kathleen, Thomas, Carol, Mary Jo, Margaret, John, Eleanor, Heather, Matthew, Rosemary, Nicholas, Joanna, Richard, Jennifer, Clara, Joan, Ella, Sarah, Alex, Gordana, Paul, Donald, Audrey, Nicholas, Paige

For God’s protection: all captives; all persecuted Christians throughout the world

For God’s protection: all those in the military

For God’s mercy and peace: those who are in hospice care

For God’s mercy, direction and protection: those who are unemployed, poor, hungry and/or homeless .

*** We pray for: those who love us; those who hate us; those who have no one to pray for them; those who have asked us to pray for them, even though we are unworthy. ***

Departed: Arthur, Mother Sophia, Jeffrey, Monk Andrew, Nicholas, Sally, Samuel, Matthew, Patrick, Paul, Marie, David

Readings for the Week of April 5, 2020

4/5: Hebrews 9:11-14; Galatians 3:23-29; Mark 10:32-45; Luke 7:36-50

4/6: Isaiah 48:17-49:4; Genesis 27:1-41; Proverbs 19:16-25

4/7: Isaiah 49:6-10; Genesis 31:3-16; Proverbs 21:3-21

4/8: Isaiah 58:1-11; Genesis 43:26-31; 45:1-16; Proverbs 21:23-22:4

4/9: Isaiah 65:8-16; Genesis 46:1-7; Proverbs 23:15-24:5

4/10: Isaiah 66:10-24; Genesis 49:33-50:26; Proverbs 31:8-31

4/11: Hebrews 12:28-13:8; John 11:1-45

Words from the Saints -- April 2, 2020

"He who has learned the law properly fears the Lawgiver and, fearing Him, he turns away from every evil." --St. Mark the Ascetic

"Fearful afflictions await the hard of heart, for without great sufferings they cannot become pliable and responsive." --St. Thalassios the Libyan

"The knowledge of God does not reside in a body that loves comforts." --St Isaac of Syria

Penitential Stanzas (Tone 8)

King and Master, the angels praise You without ceasing, and I fall before You crying out like the Tax-Collector: God be merciful to me and save me [Luke 18:13]!

My soul, because you are immortal, be not overwhelmed by the waves of this life. But return to sobriety and cry out to Your Benefactor: God be merciful to me and save me!

Grant me tears, O God, as You once gave them to the woman who had sinned, and count me worthy to wash Your feet which have delivered me from the path of error. As sweet-smelling ointment, let me offer You a pure life created in me through repentance. And may I also hear the words which I long to hear: Your faith have saved you, go in peace [Luke 7:37-50].

When I call to mind the many evils I have done, and I think about the fearsome day of judgement, I am seized with trembling and I flee to You for refuge, the God Who loves mankind. You alone are free from sin and I beseech You not to turn away from me. But before the end comes grant compunction to my humbled soul and save me.

Prayer List for the Week of March 29, 2020

For healing: Fr. Andrei, Fr. Daniel, Fr. Gregory, Fr. James, Matushka Katherine, Matushka Myra, Protinica Lindsay, Monk Gerasim, Monk Meletios, Ross, Justin, Steven, Marian, Paul, Dale, Roger, Nancy, Claire, Patricia, Mark, Nikolai, Anastasia, William, Metodije, Annabelle, Alice, Kathleen, Walter, Jay, Denise, Denise, Heather, Alexis, Robert, Gerald, Alexander, Cassie, John, Karen, Pamela, Sabra, Sid, Robert, Eric, Michael, Melissa, Marianne, Ryan, Joanne, Rose Mary, Diane, Robert, Irene, Marianne, Marie, Timothy, Jon, Emily, Charles, Carlos, David, Hank, Nicholas, Katrina, Valentine, Mary Jane, Nicholas, Matthew, Alicia, Kathleen, Thomas, Carol, Mary Jo, Margaret, John, Eleanor, Heather, Matthew, Rosemary, Nicholas, Joanna, Richard, Jennifer, Clara, Joan, Ella, Sarah, Alex, Gordana, Paul, Donald, Audrey, Nicholas

For God’s protection: all captives; all persecuted Christians throughout the world

For God’s protection: all those in the military

For God’s mercy and peace: those who are in hospice care

For God’s mercy, direction and protection: those who are unemployed, poor, hungry and/or homeless

*** We pray for: those who love us; those who hate us; those who have no one to pray for them; those who have asked us to pray for them, even though we are unworthy. ***

Departed: Arthur, Mother Sophia, Jeffrey, Monk Andrew, Nicholas, Sally, Samuel

Readings for the Week of March 29, 2020

3/29: Ephesians 5:9-19; Hebrews 6:13-20; Matthew 4:25-5:12; Mark 9:17-31

3/30: Isaiah 37:33-38:6; Genesis 13:12-18; Proverbs 14:27-15:4

3/31: Isaiah 40:18-31; Genesis 15:1-15; Proverbs 15:7-19

4/1: Isaiah 41:4-14; Genesis 17:1-9; Proverbs 15:20-16:9

4/2: Isaiah 42:5-16; Genesis 18:20-33; Proverbs 16:17-17:17

4/3: Isaiah 45:11-17; Genesis 22:1-18; Proverbs 17:17-18:5

4/4: Hebrews 9:1-7, 24-28; Mark 8:27-31; Luke 10:38-42; 11:27-28

Words from the Saints -- March 26, 2020

"Not the power to remember, but its very opposite, the power to forget, is a necessary condition for our existence." --St. Basil the Great

"Repentance is the beginning, middle and end of the Christian way of life..." --St. Gregory Palamas

"'I have sinned' is just three syllables; and yet in these three syllables the flames of the heart's sacrifice rise up to heaven." --St Augustine of Hippo

Penitential Stanzas (Tone 7)

Like the Prodigal I come and fall before You, O Lord; accept me as one of Your hired servants, and have mercy on me, O Compassionate One!

As the man who fell among thieves and was wounded, I have fallen, and my soul is bruised by my many sins. To whom can I, the guilty one, run, if not to You, the Only Merciful Physician of our souls? Pour out Your great mercy on me, O God!

O Savior, sinner that I am, do not cut me down like the barren fig tree! But grant me for a long year forgiveness, watering my soul with tears of repentance, that I may bring forth acts of mercy as fruit for You!

Since You are the Sun of Righteousness, enlighten and guide the hearts of those who cry out to You: O Lord, glory to You!

Readings for the Week of March 22, 2020

3/22: Hebrews 4:14-5:6; Mark 8:34-9:1

3/23: Isaiah 14:24-32; Genesis 8:21-9:7; Proverbs 11:19-12:6

3/24: Isaiah 25:1-9; Genesis 9:8-17; Proverbs 12:8-22

3/25: Genesis 28:10-17; Ezekiel 43:27-44:4; Proverbs 9:1-11; Exodus 3:1-8; Proverbs 8:22-30; Luke 1:39-49, 56; Hebrews 2:11-18; Luke 1:24-38; Isaiah 26:21-27:9; Genesis 9:18-29; Proverbs 12:23-13:9

3/26: Isaiah 28:14-22; Genesis 10:32-11:9; Proverbs 13:20-14:6

3/27: Isaiah 29:13-23; Genesis 12:1-7; Proverbs 14:15-26

3/28: Hebrews 6:9-12; 1 Corinthians 15:47-57; Mark 7:31-37; John 5:24-30

Words from the Saints -- March 19, 2020

"We must, therefore, guard thus against evil desires, because death hath his station near the entrance of pleasure." --St. Benedict of Nursia

"Every day you provide your bodies with good to keep them from failing. In the same way your good works should be the daily nourishment of your hearts. Your bodies are fed with food and your spirits with good works. You aren't to deny your soul, which is going to live forever, what you grant to your body, which is going to die." --St. Gregory the Great, Pope of Rome

"You, O Christ our Savior, have become for me the path of life which leads to the Father. There is but one path, and it is my joy, and at the end of it is the heavenly kingdom." --St. Ephraim the Syrian

Penitential Stanzas (Tone 6)

I have no repentance and no tears. Therefore, Savior, I entreat You: Before the end comes convince me to turn back and grant me compunction, that I may be delivered from torment.

Christ, at Your fearsome Second Coming may we not hear the words: I do not know you (Matthew 25:12). For we have put our trust in You, Savior, though in our negligence we do not keep Your Commandments. Still we entreat that You save our souls.

Savior and Physician of Our Souls and Bodies: Heal the wounds of my heart inflicted on me through my many sins. For You always grant forgiveness of transgressions to those who ask. Lord, grant me tears of repentance and remission of my transgressions, and have mercy on me.

Finding me naked, stripped of virtues, the Enemy wounded me with the arrow of sin. But God, Physician of Our Souls and Bodies, heal the wounds of my soul and have mercy on me.

Readings for the Week of March 15, 2020

3/15: Hebrews 1:10-2:3; 7:26-8:2; Mark 2:1-12; John 10:9-16

3/16: Isaiah 8:13-9:7; Genesis 6:9-22; Proverbs 8:1-21

3/17: Isaiah 9:9-10:4; Genesis 7:1-5; Proverbs 8:32-9:11

3/18: Isaiah 10:12-20; Genesis 7:6-9; Proverbs 9:12-18

3/19: Isaiah 11:10-12:2; Genesis 7:11-8:3; Proverbs 10:1-22

3/20: Isaiah 13:2-13; Genesis 8:4-21; Proverbs 10:31-11:12

3/21: Hebrews 10:32-38; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; Mark 2:14-17; John 5:24-30

Words from the Saints -- March 12, 2020

“Rain cannot fall without a cloud, and we cannot please God without a good conscience.” --St. Mark the Ascetic

“Even if others make war against us, it is right for us to remain in peace.” --St. John Chrysostom

“Prayer is a petition for good addressed by the pious to God. But we do not rigidly confine our petition to words. Nor yet do we imagine that God requires to be reminded by speech. He knows our needs even though we ask Him not...I say that we must not think to make our prayer complete by syllables. The strength of prayer lies rather in the purpose of our soul and in deeds of virtue reaching every part and moment of our life.” --St. Basil the Great

Penitential Stanzas (Tone 5)

Lord, I do not cease my sin; I do not comprehend Your love for mankind, Only Good One! But overcome my blindness, and have mercy on me!

Lord, even though I fear You, I do not cease to do evil. Who at judgment does not fear the Judge? Or who, desiring healing, chases away the Physician as I do? Have compassion on my infirmity, and have mercy on me, O Patient Lord!

Woe is me! Why have i become like the barren fig tree? I fear cursing and cutting down! But, Heavenly Gardener, Christ my God, reveal my parched soul to be fruitful. Accept me as You did the Prodigal Son and have mercy on me!

Disregard the great number of my transgressions, Lord born of the Virgin. Blot out all my iniquities; grant me, I pray, a firm intention to change, for You are the Lover Of Mankind, and have mercy on me!

Prayer List for the Week of March 8, 2020

For healing: Metropolitan Antony, Fr. Andrei, Fr. Daniel, Fr. Gregory, Fr. James, Fr. John, Fr. Yves, Matushka Katherine, Matushka Myra, Monk Gerasim, Monk Meletios, Ross, Justin, Steven, Marian, Paul, Dale, Roger, Nancy, Claire, Patricia, Mark, Nikolai, Anastasia, William, Metodije, Annabelle, Alice, Kathleen, Walter, Jay, Denise, Denise, Heather, Alexis, Robert, Gerald, Alexander, Cassie, John, Karen, Pamela, Sabra, Robert, Eric, Michael, Melissa, Marianne, Ryan, Joanne, Rose Mary, Diane, Robert, Irene, Marianne, Marie, Timothy, Jon, Emily, Charles, Carlos, David, Hank, Nicholas, Katrina, Valentine, Nicholas, Matthew, Alicia, Kathleen, Thomas, Carol, Mary Jo, Margaret, John, Eleanor, Heather, Matthew, Rosemary, Nicholas, Joanna, Richard, Jennifer, Clara, Joan, Ella, Sarah, Alex

For God’s protection: all captives; all persecuted Christians throughout the world

For God’s protection: all those in the military

For God’s mercy and peace: those who are in hospice care

For God’s mercy, direction and protection: those who are unemployed, poor, hungry and/or homeless

*** We pray for: those who love us; those who hate us; those who have no one to pray for them; those who have asked us to pray for them, even though we are unworthy. ***

Departed: Anthony, Barbara, Arthur, Mother Sophia, Sally

Readings for the Week of March 8, 2020

3/8: Hebrews 11:24-26, 32-12:2; John 1:43-51

3/9: Isaiah 4:2-6; 5:1-7; Genesis 3:21-4:7; Proverbs 3:34-4:22

3/10: Isaiah 5:7-16; Genesis 4:8-15; Proverbs 5:1-15

3/11: Isaiah 5:16-25; Genesis 4:16-26; Proverbs 5:15-6:3

3/12: Isaiah 6:1-12; Genesis 5:1-24; Proverbs 6:3-20

3/13: Isaiah 7:1-14; Genesis 5:32-6:8; Proverbs 6:20-6:35

3/14: Hebrews 3:12-16; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; Mark 1:35-44; John 5:24-30

Words from the Saints -- March 5, 2020

"God wants only one thing from us--humility. Nothing else." --St. Paisios the Athonite

"The only person who is free is the one who lives for Christ." --St. John Chrysostom

"Above all let us be convinced that nothing can happen to us apart from the providence of God." --St. Dorotheos of Gaza

"Let listening to worldly news be bitter food for you, and let the words of saintly men be as combs filled with honey." --St. Basil the Great

"Intelligent men have no need to listen to much talk, but should attend only to that which is profitable and guided by God's will." --St. Antony the Great

"Unbelievers, those who believe with difficulty, or believe in part, are those who do not show their faith through works. Apart from works the demons also believe (James 2:19) and confess Christ to be God and Master. 'We know who You are' (Mark 1:24), they say, 'You are the Son of God' (Matthew 8:29), and elsewhere, 'These men are servants of the Most High God' (Acts 16:17). Yet such faith will not benefit the demons, nor even humans. This faith is of no use, for it is dead." --St. Symeon the New Theologian

Penitential Stanzas (Tone 4)

Lord, I want to wash away the record of my sins with tears, and through the rest of my life please You with repentance. But the Enemy deceives me and fights against my soul. Lord, before I perish utterly, save me!

If one takes refuge from the tempest in this harbor, will one not be saved? If in agony one kneels before this house of healing, will not one be cured? Maker-of-All and Physician of the Sick: Lord, before I perish utterly, save me (Colossians 2:14)!

Savior, wash me with my tears, for I am defiled by many sins. Therefore, I fall down before You: I have sinned, have mercy on me, O God!

I am a sheep in Your rational flock, and I flee to You for refuge, Good Shepherd. O God, I have gone astray: Seek me and have mercy on me (John 10:11).

Words from the Saints -- February 27, 2020

"'Like a tree planted by streams of water,' [Psalm 1:3] the soul is irrigated by the Holy Scriptures and acquires vigor, produces tasty fruit, namely, true faith, and is beautified with a thousand green leaves, namely, actions that please God." --St. John of Damascus

"May God teach every one of us to strive for His truth, and for the good of the Holy Church, rather than something for our own sake." --St. Tikhon of Moscow

"No cloud is formed without a breath of wind; and no passion is born without a thought." --St. Mark the Ascetic

Words from the Saints -- February 18, 2020

"A good conscience is found through prayer, and pure prayer through the conscience. Each by nature needs the other." --St. Mark the Ascetic

"Blessed the one who has cleansed himself of every stain of sins, so that with boldness he may receive into his own house the King of glory, our Lord Jesus Christ." --St. Ephraim the Syrian

"If we were to receive the entire universe as a gift, that gift would be less than the Grace of God." --St. Nikolai Velimirovich