May 12, 2013
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.
Troparion of St. George: Since thou art a liberator and deliverer of captives, a help and succour of the poor and needy, a healing physician of the sick, a contender and fighter for kings, O great among Martyrs, the victory-clad George; intercede with Christ god for the salvation of our souls.
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 12 (Thomas Sunday)
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 13
Office Closed -- Father John's Day Off
Tuesday, May 14
6:00 a.m. -- Daily Orthros
Wednesday, May 15
6:30 p.m. -- Great Vespers
Thursday, May 16
NO Daily Orthros
Friday, May 17
NO Daily Orthros
Saturday, May 18
5:45 p.m. -- Ninth Hour followed by Great Vespers
Sunday, May 19 (Thomas Sunday)
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 the Algoods for the Divine Liturgy this morning.
Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:
Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour
May 12 Algood TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED
May 19 Katool DUE TO CONSTRUCTION
May 26 Schelver
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 12 Kh. Be'Be' Schelver Acts 5:12-20 32
May 19 Tom Willingham Acts 6:1-7 38
May 26 Tom Skirtech Acts 9:32-42 45
Please remember Fr. Joseph and Kh. Joanna Bittle, and their daughter Abigail, in your prayers.
Please remember the following in your prayers: Steve, Sheryl and Stephen Chamblee; Amy and Brantley Oliver; Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Sam and Lamia Dabit and Sammie; Georgia Buchanan, George Johns (Georgia's grandson) and his family; Mary Greene (Lee and Kh. Sharon's sister); Fr. Stephen Tewfik; Sh. Gail Shannon; Dn. Sidney and Sh. Mary Elliot;
Fr. Alexander Atty, the Dean of St. Thikon's who is battling cancer.
Please continue to pray for the health of His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN.
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.
Please be reminded that the Sacristy/Vestry which is adjacent to and behind the altar in our church is considered by the Orthodox Church to be part of the Sanctuary (Altar area) and should not be entered without the blessing of the priest for a specific purpose. If you need to speak with a member of the clergy while they are in the Sanctuary, please ask them to come to you in the nave.
Welcome and Many Years!! to Eli Sebastian Milnor and Mary Alice Stewart who were baptized Holy Saturday morning!
Calendar Items:
* The Men of the parish meet for lunch and fellowship on the first Thursday of the month.
* Parish Life Conference in New Orleans – June 12-16th.
* Vacation Church School will be held June 27-29, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Fasting Discipline for May
There is no fasting of any kind during the week following Pascha (Bright Week). After the 12th the traditional fasting (no meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, wine or oil) will be observed on the remaining Wednesdays and Fridays of the month.
Major Commemorations for May
May 12 Thomas Sunday
May 19 Sunday of the Myrrh-bearers
May 21 Sts. Constantine and Helen
May 25 The Forerunner (3rd Discovery)
May 26 Sunday of the Paralytic
Vacation Church School …The Christian Education department will hold a Vacation Church School June 27-29 from 8:30-12:30 each day. The curriculum will be "Ark of our Salvation – Feast Days of the Theotokos." Parents, please be sure to mark your calendars now.
Happy Anniversaries in May:
May 12 -- Cliff and Anna Kathryn Stewart (#6!)
May 14 -- Lorencz and Geraldine Quirk (#53!)
May 19 -- Jay and Joanna Davis (#1!)
May 30 -- Tom and Jennifer Skirtech (#36!)
Happy Birthdays in May:
May 5 -- Dale Cooper
-- Joanna Davis
May 7 -- Tiffany Strain (#16!)
May 8 -- Kh. Janet Henderson
May 10 -- Fr. Leo Schelver
May 11 -- Meghan Brock
May 15 -- Tom Skirtech
May 21 -- Jacob Skirtech (#6!)
May 24 -- Paul Katool
-- Daniel Root
May 26 -- David Turner
May 27 -- Luke Habeeb (#8!)
May 30 -- Dn. Terry Algood
May 31 -- Stephen Chamblee
Parish Life Conference 2013: This year St. Basil Orthodox Church in Metairie, LA will be hosting the Parish Life Conference for our Diocese on June 12-16. His Grace, Bishop JOHN Abdallah will be the speaker. There will also be a special presentation by Fr. Philip Rogers on keeping our children in the Orthodox Christian Church. Parents are especially encouraged to hear his presentation. Please mark your calendars now and make plans to attend.
Quotable: "All asceticism in the Church aims at man's theosis (divinization), at his communion with God the Trinity. This is accomplished when the energy of the soul (nous) returns to its essence (heart) and ascends to God. For unity with God to be attained, the unity of the soul, through the grace of God, must precede it. Sin in fact is the dispersion of these powers; it is primarily the scattering of the soul's energy, i.e. of the nous, to things and its separation from the heart."
Metropolitan HIEROTHEOS, Orthodox Spirituality
Worship: Sunday, May 19, 2013 (Sunday of the Holy Myrrh-bearers)
Scripture: Acts 6:1-7; Mark 15:43-16:8
Celebrant: Father John
Epistle Reader: Tom Willingham
Prosphora: Katool
Coffee Hour: Temporarily Suspended due to Construction