Today is the Sunday of the Holy Fathers of Nicea. This day commemorates the Holy Fathers who sat in council at Nicea, the first of the ecumenical councils. Through them we see the commitment to the immutable truth of God for all the faithful, especially those who lead in the faith. The men of this council bear special note by the significance of their creed, for it is the fundamental statement of orthodox Christology and an enduring guide to our faith. The events of the ascension and the scriptures of this day emphasize to us the nature and action of Christ, and the history of these fathers puts us in mind of the work of the Holy Spirit in the church, work proclaimed by the glorious events which we now anticipate in the preparation for Pentecost.

 

Acts 20:16-18,28-36: In the reading from Acts, we hear St Paul speak to the elders of the church at Ephesus, encouraging them to follow his example in their shepherding, and bidding them his final farewell as he approached his imprisonment at Rome.

 

John 17:1-13: In the passage from John, Jesus prays for His disciples, that they would be united as one and kept from evil.

 

Troparion of the Resurrection: When Mary stood at thy grave looking for thy sacred body, angelic powers shone above thy revered tomb, and the soldiers who were to keep guard became as dead men. Thou led hades captive and wast not tempted thereby. Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst give life to the world; O thou who art risen from the dead! O Lord, glory to thee.

 

Troparion of the Holy Fathers: Thou, O Christ, art our God of exceeding praise who didst establish our holy Fathers as luminous stars upon earth, and through them didst guide us unto the true Faith, O most merciful One, glory to thee.

 

Troparion of the Ascension: Thou hast ascended in glory, O Christ our God, and gladdened thy disciples with the promise of the Holy Spirit, having become confident of the blessing. Verily, thou art the Son of God, and Deliverer of the world.

 

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 the Ascension: When thou didst fulfill thy dispensation for our sakes, uniting the terrestrials with the celestials, thou didst ascend in glory, O Christ our God, inseparable in space, but constant without separation, and crying unto thy beloved, I am with you, and no one shall be against you.

 

 

8:50 a.m.– Orthros

9:00 a.m.– Christian Education

10:00 a.m.– Divine Liturgy

5:30 p.m.– Young Adults

 

Office Closed– Father John's Day Off

 

6:00 a.m.– Daily Orthros

 

5:00 p.m.– Catechism Class

6:30 p.m.– Daily Vespers

7:30 p.m.– Choir Practice

 

Thursday, May 20

6:00 a.m.– Daily Orthros

 

6:00 a.m.– Festal Orthros

9:00 a.m.– Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy

5:00 p.m.– Catechism Class

5:45 p.m.– Ninth Hour followed by Great Vespers

 

8:50 a.m.– Orthros

9:00 a.m.– Christian Education

10:00 a.m.– Divine Liturgy

12:00 noon– Picnic and Games

6:30 p.m.– Kneeling Vespers

　

 

　

Eucharist Bread: ...was offered by the Daniel Roots this past Wednesday for the Feast of the Ascension and by the Dansereaus for the Divine Liturgy today.

 

Please be very careful with the Blessed Bread when you take after communion or at the end of the liturgy. Because this bread has been blessed, we should take care not to let crumbs fall on the floor. Parents, especially, please help your children to choose a small piece and treat it carefully.

 

May 16                       Dansereaus                                Strains

May 22 (Sat. a.m.)    Freundts                                      Meadows(Saturday of the Souls)

May 23 (Pentecost)  Fahmys                                        Kh. Be'Be' Schelver

May 30                       Bakers                                         R. Roots

 

Schedule for Epistle Readers – Page numbers refer to the Apostolos (book of the Epistles) located on the front pew. Please be sure to use this book when you read.

May 16                          Tom Willingham               Acts 20:16-18, 28-36                    66

May 22 (Sat. a.m.)       Kh. Sharon Meadows      Acts 28:1-31                                  72

May 23                          Tom Skirtech                    Acts 2:1-11                                     77

May 30                          Walt Wood                        Heb. 11:33 - 12:2                          84

 

Please continue to pray for the health of His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN.

 

Please remember the following in your prayers: The Longa and Dn. Sidney Elliott families from St. John's in Memphis; Fr. Donald Lloyd; Sh. Charlotte Algood, Deacon Terry and their family; Fr. James and Kh. Linda Ellison; Bobby and Sue Webb (Deborah Finley's parents); Tom Skirtech, Amy and Brantley Oliver; Reader Basil's family; Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Jared and Stacy Autrey and their daughter Olivia Kate (St. Ignatius in Franklin).

 

The Esther Elliott Longa Memorial Fund has been established to help pay the medical expenses, which were very significant. If you are interested in participating, make your check out to St. Peter's and specify that it is for her memorial fund on the memo line. We will be sending a check early in May.

 

Our monthly Sunday Pot Luck Meal will not be held the first week in June, due to the festal meals in the weeks at the end of May.

 

Calling everyone (especially Men): We need more help in cleaning up following Coffee Hour and meals at the Church (especially the monthly Pot Luck meals). Since the cooking and set up are usually done by the women, this is a terrific time for the men in our parish to also serve. Please remember that those hosting coffee would always appreciate a little help in setting things back right afterwards. The more hands, the quicker the work.

 

* Special Services to be held during the month of May:

Saturday, May 22 – Orthros/Divine Liturgy (Saturday of the Souls)

 

* We will celebrate the Feast of Pentecost with a picnic (complete with games supervised by Kh. Be'Be') here at the church next Sunday, May 23^rd. More information will be available at a later date.

 

* As is our custom, we will holding the Kneeling Vespers of Pentecost next Sunday evening, May 23^rd, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

 

* There is no fasting during the week following Pentecost. The Fast of the Apostles will begin Monday, May 31^st.

 

* This year's Parish Life Conference is being hosted by St. George's church in Jacksonville, FL June 16-20. Registration materials are available online.

 

* Our next time to serve a meal at the Stewpot will be on October 30^th .

　

Traditional fasting (no meat, poultry, fish eggs, dairy, wine and oil) is observed on Wednesdays and Fridays of May, apart from the week following the Feast of Pentecost on Sunday, May 23^rd, during which there is no fasting. The Apostle's Fast this year extends from May 31^st until the Feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul on Tuesday, June 29^th.

 

May 21 Sts. Constantine and Helen

May 25 The Forerunner (3^rd discovery)

 

If you are the last to leave the building, please make sure that the heating and cooling unit in the Fellowship Hall is set to the optimum temperature for the building when unoccupied.

 

Quotable:"As soon as the Lord lays His hands upon the soul, she becomes a new being: 'Who shall describe the joy of knowing the Lord and reaching out to Him day and night insatiably? O how blessed and happy are we Christians!' The Lord spoke the words in Silouan's heart, offering him the vision of hell, and amazingly, he immediately emerges possessing great knowledge, and his life is restored with a wealth of grace and of the love of God."

    - Archimandrite Zacharias, The Enlargement of the Heart

Scriptures: Acts 2:1-11; John 7:37-52, 8:12

Celebrant: Father John

Epistle Reader: Tom Skirtech

Prosphora: Fahmys

Coffee Hour: PICNIC