May 1, 2011
   Antipascha or Thomas Sunday
    
   On the Sunday following Easter, we hear the story of Thomas and are reminded of the all-permeating presence of Christ and the faith of those who followed the disciples.  Even as walls and doors proved no obstacle to His coming to His followers, so nothing can prevent His presence with us.  Even as He commissioned them to be peaceful of themselves and to bear His peace and life to those about them, so He grants us peace for ourselves and those we touch.  Even as Thomas turned from his doubt to faith, so let us bow before our Lord and God in acknowledgment and praise.  With Thomas and all the faithful who sing in heavenly worship, let us raise our hymn of adoration and life to our risen Saviour.
    
   Acts 5:12-20:  Through healing of the sick and the addition of new believers to the Church in Jerusalem we see the power of the Holy Spirit at work with the Apostles.
    
   John 20:19-31:  In our gospel reading we hear of the Apostle Thomas' doubt regarding Jesus' resurrection.  When our Lord appears to Him he immediately believes;  yet, the Lord pronounces a blessing upon those who believe without having seen Him.
    
   Troparion of Thomas Sunday:  While the tomb was sealed, thou didst shine forth from it, O Light.  While the doors were closed, thou didst come in to thy Disciples, O Christ God, Resurrection of all, renewing in us through them an upright spirit, according to the greatness of thy mercy.
    
   Kontakion of Thomas Sunday:  With his anxiously searching right hand, O Christ God, Thomas did probe your life-giving side; for when you did enter, the doors being shut, he shouted with the rest of the Disciples, crying, You are my Lord and my God.
    
   CALENDAR
   Sunday, May 1   
               8:50 a.m.         -- Orthros
               9:00 a.m.         -- Christian Education
               10:00 a.m.       -- Divine Liturgy
               5:30 p.m.         -- Youth Group
               
   Monday, May 2   (Athanasios the Great)
               Office Closed  -- Father John's Day Off
               
   Tuesday, May 3   
               6:00 a.m.         -- Daily Orthros
    
   Wednesday, May 4   
   5:00 p.m.         -- Catechism Class       
   6:30 p.m.         -- Daily Vespers
   7:30 p.m.         -- Choir Practice
    
   Thursday, May 5   
               6:00 a.m.         -- Daily Orthros
               11:30 a.m.       -- Men's Lunch at Rooster's
    
   Friday, May 6             
   6:00 a.m.         -- Daily Orthros
    
   Saturday, May 7   
   5:00 p.m.         -- Catechism Class
   5:45 p.m.         -- Ninth Hour followed by Great Vespers
    
   Sunday, May 8   
               8:50 a.m.         -- Orthros
               9:00 a.m.         -- Christian Education
               10:00 a.m.       -- Divine Liturgy
               1:00 p.m.         -- Young Adults
    
   
   
   SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
    
   Eucharist Bread …was offered by Algoods for the Divine Liturgy today.   
    
   Please be reminded of the following:
   Be very careful with the Blessed Bread when you take it after communion.  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.
            Also, at the end of the liturgy, maintain a prayerful disposition during the veneration of the cross as the prayers of thanksgiving after communion are still underway.  Please exchange your greetings with each other in the Fellowship Hall during Coffee Hour.
    
   Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:
                                                         Eucharist Bread                     Coffee Hour
            May 1                                   Algoods                                   Hendersons
            May 8                                   Katools                                   Algoods
            May 15                                 Schelvers                                 R. Roots
            May 22                                 Morrises                                  Schelvers
            May 29                                 Joneses                                    Pigotts
    
   Please remember the following in your prayers:  Fr. Leo, Kh. Be'Be', Stephen and Amy, Justyn and Jeffrey; Steve, Sheryl and Stephen Chamblee; Maria Costas; Amy and Brantley Oliver; Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Sam and Lamia Dabit; David Turner's mother Mary Jean; Fr. Joseph Bittle, Kh. Joanna, their daughter Abigail and the rest of their family. 
    
   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.
                                       Reader                               Reading                                  Page#
   May 1                          Phillip Lasseter                   Acts 5:12-20                             32
   May 8                          Mildred Morris                   I John 4:12-19                          315
   May 15                        Kh. Be'Be' Schelver           Acts 9:32-42                            45
   May 22                        Tom Willingham                 Acts 11:19-30                           52
   May 29                        Tom Skirtech                      Acts 16:16-34                          58
    
   Please continue to pray for the health of His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN.
    
   Our condolences go to:
            David and Lou Turner and David's mother, Mary Jean, on the death of David's father, Harry Turner during Holy Week.
            Steve, Sheryl, Wendy and Stephen Chamblee on the death of Steve's father, General Mac Chamblee, on Pascha morning.
    
   Many thanks go to all those who worked so hard to make our Agape Vespers Feast a success!!  
   Special thanks go to Christina for heading this up and to Costas and his helpers for the wonderful food!
    
   Wednesday, May 4th is the last day for Early Bird registrations for the upcoming Parish Life Conference to be held in Memphis June 16-19.  Because our clergy will be attending the Conference there will be no Daily Vespers on Wednesday June 15th.  There will also be no catechism class on Wednesday June 15th or Saturday June 18th.  Nor will there be Daily Orthros on Thursday or Friday of that week.  However, Father James will be returning on Saturday afternoon.  So our regular services will be celebrated on Saturday and Sunday June 18th and 19th.
    
   Calendar Items:
   *    The Men of the parish meet for lunch and fellowship on the first Thursday of the month.  This month they will meet at Rooster's in the Fondren  area.
   *    The 2011 Parish Life Conference is being hosted by St. John Orthodox Church in 
   *    Memphis on June 16-19. More information (hotels, etc.) is available through the Archdiocese website at antiochian.org. 
   *    We will be serving a meal at the Stewpot in Jackson on July 9th and November 19th.
   *    His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN will be here the weekend of May 6, 2012 to help us celebrate our 25th anniversary as a parish.  The planning committee is working very hard to make our celebration a memorable one.  There will be an evening event at the MS Museum of Art on Friday, May 5th.  Other events are being planned and more information will be available in the coming months.
    
   If you are planning to attend the Parish Life Conference in Memphis, please register as soon as possible.  St. John needs our registrations as they continue their preparations to host this event.
   Remember Early Bird Registration ends May 4th.
    
   Fasting Discipline for May
   The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, wine and oil) is observed on all Wednesdays and Fridays of the month.
    
   Major Commemorations during May
   May 2              Athanasios the Great (transfer of relics)
   May 8              Apostle John the Theologian
   May 10            Apostle Simon the Zealot
   May 21            Sts. Constantine and Helen
   May 25            The Forerunner (3rd discovery)
            
   If you are the last to leave the building, please make sure that the heating and cooling unit in the Fellowship Hall is turned off.
    
   Antiochian Women's Scholarship:  Each year AOCWNA is able to award scholarships, usually in the amount of $500 each, to help women continue their education in order to improve their circumstances and those of their families.  In order to be eligible, a woman must be over 25 years of age, a member in good standing and active in her parish, registered in an academic or trade program of study, and demonstrate financial need.  The application deadline is May 27, 2011.  If you are interested in applying for this scholarship, please see Fr. John for an application.
    
   Lost Items!  Are you missing any items?? …most notably 3 sets of keys or a thread-counted bookmark.?  These may be claimed in the church office.  Please see Kh. Sharon.
    
   Happy Birthdays in May:
            May 5                    --    Joanna Meadows
                                          --    Dale Cooper
            May 7                    --    Tiffany Strain (#14!)
            May 8                    --    Kh. Janet Henderson
            May 10                  --    Fr. Leo Schelver
            May 11                  --    Meghan Brock
            May 15                  --    Tom Skirtech
            May 21                  --    Jacob Skirtech (#4!)
            May 24                  --    Daniel Root
                                          --    Paul Katool
            May 26                  --    David Turner
            May 27                  --    Luke Habeeb (#6!)
            May 30                  --    Dn. Terry Algood
            May 31                  --    Stephen Chamblee
    
   Happy Anniversaries in May:
            May 2                    --    Samer and Irene N'Ser (1999)
            May 12                  --    Cliff and Anna Kathryn Stewart (2007)
            May 30                  --    Tom and Jennifer Skirtech (1977)
    
   Quotable:  "The only guest who can make our soul happy is God.  And if God is our paramount bliss, it is clear that that which obstructs the way to God must be the greatest evil for us.  Such evil is sin."
                                                                           Archimandrite Seraphim Aleksiev
   
   
   
   
    
    
            
   Worship:         Sunday, May 8, 2011 (Sunday of the Holy Myrrh-bearers; Feast of St. John
   the Theologian)
    
            Scripture:                                    I John 4:12-19; Mark 15:43-16:8
            Celebrant:                                   Father John
            Epistle Reader:                         Mildred Morris
            Prosphora:                               Katools
            Coffee Hour:                           Algoods