April 19, 2015
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 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 ARejoice@ to the myrrh-bearing women, granting peace to Thine apostles and bestowing resurrection on the fallen.
CALENDAR
Sunday, April 19 (Thomas Sunday)
8:50 a.m. -- Orthros
9:00 a.m. -- Christian Education
10:00 a.m. -- Divine Liturgy
5:30 p.m. -- Young Adults
Monday, April 20
Office Closed -- Father John's Day Off
Tuesday, April 21
6:00 a.m. -- Daily Orthros
Wednesday, April 22
6:30 p.m. -- Daily Vespers
7:30 p.m. -- Choir Practice
7:30 p.m. -- Parish Council Meeting
Thursday, April 23 (Great-martyr George)
Friday, April 24
Saturday, April 25 (Apostle Mark)
8:30 a.m. -- Workday at the Church
NO Ninth Hour followed by Great Vespers (due to family commitments no clergy will be
available)
Sunday, April 26 (Sunday of the Holy Myrrh-bearers)
8:50 a.m. -- Orthros
9:00 a.m. -- Christian Education
10:00 a.m. -- Divine Liturgy
5:30 p.m. -- Youth Group
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Dn. Richard Roots for the Divine Liturgy tonight.
Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:
Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour
April 19 R. Root Henderson/Lockhart
April 26 Henderson Karam/Stewart/Meadows
May 3 Algood Ellis/Zouboukos/Fahmy
May 10 Katool POT LUCK MEAL
(set-up: Pigott/Brock/Strain)
May 17 Schelver Skirtech/Skirtech/Parker
May 20 (Wed. pm) Morris Kh. Janet Henderson
(Feast of the Ascension) Mary Guy Lockhart
May 24 Jones D. Root/Dansereau
May 30 (Sat. am) Meadows Brittany Salisbury
(Saturday of the Souls)
May 31 Davis POT LUCK MEAL
(Feast of Pentecost) Set-up: Elizabeth Root
Brittany Salisbury
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#
April 19 Sh. Charlotte Algood Acts 5:12-20 32
April 26 Warren Strain Acts 6:1-7 38
May 3 David Turner Acts 9:32-42 45
May 10 Mildred Morris Acts 11:19-30 52
May 17 Phillip Lasseter Acts 16:16-34 58
May 20 (Wed. pm) Kh. Be'Be' Schelver Acts 1:1-12 63
May 24 Brenda Baker Acts 20:16-18, 28-36 66
May 30 (Sat. am) David Turner Acts 28:1-31 72
May 31 Tom Willingham Acts 2:1-11 77
Continue to pray for Metropolitan Paul (who is also the brother of our Patriarch) and the Syriac Archbishop John of Aleppo who were abducted while on a humanitarian mission in Syria.
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 continue to pray for the health of His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN.
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.
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;
Walt and Charlotte Wood and their family; Tom and Jennifer Skirtech and their family; Tom and Kathy Willingham; Athena and Anthony Zouboukos and their family.
Please remember Fr. Joseph and Kh. Joanna Bittle, and their daughter Abigail, in your prayers.
Vivian Haddad from Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church in Clinton is at home again, having been hospitalized earlier with a stroke. She and her husband Charles have been dear friends of many here at St. Peter. Please keep them and their family in your prayers.
Calendar Items:
* The Men of the parish meet for lunch and fellowship on the first Thursday of the month.
* The Ladies of St. Peter will meet at 10:00 a.m. on the second Saturday of the month to pray the Akathist to the Mother of God, Nurturer of Children. Those who are able will go out for lunch and fellowship afterwards.
* We will be serving at the Stewpot on Saturday, May 23rd, along with members of Holy Resurrection and Holy Trinity/St. John the Theologian Orthodox Churches.
* Vacation Church School will be held Thursday, July 2nd through Saturday, July 4th.
Young Adults Study Group: The Young Adults agreed to begin meeting twice a month. One of these meetings will feature a teaching by Fr. John on various aspects of the Orthodox Christian faith. Topics will include education, ethics and parenting children. The next meetings will be Sunday, April 19th.
Fasting Discipline for April
Following Bright Week, the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil) will be observed on the remaining Wednesdays and Fridays of the month.
Major Commemorations for April
April 19 Thomas Sunday
April 23 Great-martyr George
April 25 Apostle Mark
April 26 Sunday of the Holy Myrrh-bearers
Parents, please supervise your children with food in the Fellowship Hall. We are getting stains on the new carpet (and also the chairs in the nave).
Thermostats in the Fellowship Hall: There are two thermostats in the Fellowship Hall—one in the main room to control the air in the main room, and a second one in the Nursery room that controls the air in all four of the Sunday School rooms. Please be sure when you leave the building that both thermostats are set to 80 degrees in warm weather or 60 degrees in cold weather.
Happy Birthdays in April:
April 4 -- Denis Lavric
April 6 -- John Wood
April 11 -- Brandon Strain (#13!)
April 12 -- Lily Dabit
April 15 -- Anna Grace Dansereau (#2!)
April 26 -- Alexander Andrei (#3!)
Happy Anniversaries in April:
April 11 -- Simon and Rola Karam (#5!)
April 12 -- Mike and Cheryl Pigott (#34!)
April 28 -- Anthony and Athena Zouboukos (#25!)
Suggestions on use of the Cry Room:
-- Please remember you're in liturgy when you're in the cry room.
-- Its main purpose should be a place for parents to take their children if they're being disruptive during liturgy, staying for 5-10 minutes (or until the child is calmed down) and then returning to liturgy.
-- It should not be used as a main sitting area during the liturgy.
-- Children should not be eating snacks or watching electronic devices while in the cry room.
Quotable: "A Christian must not love the world (I John 2:15). But many are completely bound to the world, so that it seems like they live only for the world: they always think like the world, they behave like the world, and all the rules that they follow in their likes are precisely those rules that the world follows. Aren't you such a person? Such a life is not a Christian one and is quite disastrous."
How to Live a Holy Life by Metropolitan GREGORY of
St. Petersburg
Worship: Sunday, April 26, 2015 (Sunday of the Holy Myrrh-bearers)
Scripture: Acts 6:1-7; Mark 15:43-16:8
Celebrant: Father John
Epistle Reader: Warren Strain
Prosphora: Henderson
Coffee Hour: Karam/Stewart/Meadows