In the miracle of the healing of the paralytic at the pool of Bethesda, we see the Son's power over life and sin, power which becomes fully evident in the Resurrection. The paralytic is a man crippled in body and spirit, for, even as He heals the body, Jesus warns against results of further sin.  Christ frees us from our bodies of corruption and grants us flesh glorified in Him; He also frees us from the power of sin and grants us perfection in His Spirit.  As the man at the pool accepted God's grace and found life, so let us walk in His light and come into His presence.

 

Acts 9:32-42:  Empowered by the Holy Spirit, St Peter heals a paralyzed man and raises a woman from the dead;  both acts lead to many people believing in the Lord.

 

John 5:1-15:  Jesus demonstrates His lordship over creation and the Sabbath when He heals a sick man at the pool of Bethsaida.

 

Troparion of the Resurrection:  Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad; for the Lord hath done a mighty act with his own arm.  He hath trampled down death and become the First-born from the dead. He hath delivered us from the depths of hades, granting the world the Great Mercy.

 

Troparion of the Chains of St. Peter: O Holy Apostle, Peter, thou dost preside over the Apostles by the precious chains which thou didst bear.  We venerate them with faith and beseech thee that by thine intercessions we be granted the great mercy.

Kontakion of Pascha: When Thou didst descend into the grave, O Immortal, Thou didst destroy the power of hades.  In victory didst Thou arise, O Christ God, proclaiming "Rejoice" to the myrrh-bearing women, granting peace to Thine apostles and bestowing resurrection on the fallen.

 

 

Sunday, May 18   (Sunday of the Paralytic)
 8:50 a.m. – Orthros
 9:00 a.m. – Sunday School
 10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy followed by fund-raising meal for Youth Group

 

Monday, May 19
 CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED – FATHER JOHN'S DAY OFF

 

Tuesday, May 20
 6:00 a.m. – Daily Orthros
 6:30 p.m. – Choir Practice
  
Wednesday, May 21   (Sts. Constantine and Helen)
 5:00 p.m. – Catechism Class
 6:30 p.m. – Daily Vespers

 

Thursday, May 22 
 6:00 a.m. – Daily Orthros
 12N  – Ladies Reading Group at the Algoods'
  
Friday, May 23
 6:00 a.m. – Daily Orthros 
        
Saturday, May 24 
 5:00 p.m. – Catechism Class
 6:30 p.m. – Great Vespers

 

Sunday, May 25  (Sunday of the Samaritan Woman)
 8:50 a.m. – Orthros
 9:00 a.m. – Sunday School
 10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy

 

 

The Eucharist Bread was offered by Fahmys for the Divine Liturgy today.

 

Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:
       Eucharist Bread  Coffee Hour
May 18   Fahmys   D. Roots
May 25   Bakers    Morrises
June 1    Woods    Meadows
June 4  (Wed. evening)  Hendersons   Joneses
 (Feast of the Ascension)
June 8    R. Roots   R. Roots
June 15   Algoods          ?
 (Feast of Pentecost)
June 22   Katools   Woods
June 29   Schelvers   Algoods 

 

Congratulations to Beth Ann Baker for graduating from Millsaps College, summa cum laude, on May 10. Beth Ann also received the Founder's Medal at the graduation ceremony which is awarded to the student with the highest cumulative GPA for the four years of college. Also, congratulations to Beth Ann for her acceptance into the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

 

We welcome Father Christopher Harner as the new priest and pastor at Holy Trinity and St. John the Theologian Greek Orthodox Church.  Father Christopher will be replacing Father Theo Harris, who has retired.  Please keep him and his family in your prayers.

 

Please be careful not to spill food or drink on our new chairs.  Also, please supervise your children to avoid spills or ink stains or marks from their writing and drawing.  These chairs cost over $200 each, so we need to take care of them.  Thank you for your help with this.

 

  
 * The teens will be holding fund-raising meal following the Divine Liturgy TODAY to raise money for the Parish Life Conference.  Please stay for the fellowship and to help our teens.

 
 * This year we will celebrate the feast of Ascension with Orthros and Divine Liturgy on Wednesday evening, June 4th and the feast of Pentecost on Sunday, June 15th.  The feast of Sts. Peter and Paul falls on a Sunday this year (June 29th).

 
 * Father John will be out of town June 2-9 for a family vacation.  If you have any pastoral needs, please contact Father Leo or Father James.

 
 * The Ladies of St. Peter are planning a garage sale for the first week-end in June.

 
 * Mark your calendars now for the Parish Life Conference, June 18-22, in Raleigh, North Carolina.  The conference is a wonderful opportunity to meet and build relationships with members of other parishes in our diocese.

 
 * We are scheduled to serve at the Stewpot on July 5th.  More information will be available as the time approaches.

Fasting Discipline for May
The traditional fasting (no meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, wine and oil) is observed on the remaining Wednesdays and Fridays of the month.

 

Major Commemorations During May
 May 18 Sunday of the Paralytic
 May 21 God-crowned Emperor Constantine and His Mother Helen
 May 25 Sunday of the Samaritan Woman

 

Quotable: "You are a portrait, O man, a portrait painted by your Lord God. Yours is a good artist and painter. Do not deface the good picture, which reflects not deceit, but truth; which expresses not guile, but grace."
      St. Ambrose of Milan

 

Weekly Quote: "Some labor and struggle hard to earn forgiveness, but better than these is the man who forgets the wrongs done to him.  Forgive quickly and you will be abundantly forgiven.  To forget wrongs is to prove oneself truly repentant, but to brood on them and at the same time to imagine one is practicing repentance is to act like the man who is convinced he is running when in fact he is asleep."

    St. John Climacus

WORSHIP: Sunday, May 25, 2008 (Sunday of the Samaritan Woman; Discovery of the Head of John the Baptist)

 

  Scripture:  II Corinthians 4:6-15 (St. John the Baptist); John 4:5-42
 Celebrant:  Father John
 Homily:  Father Leo
 Deacon:  Deacon Terry
 Acolytes:  Stephen Chamblee
 Prosphora:  Bakers
 Coffee Hour:  Morrises
 Teen Hosts:  No meeting