Sunday, May 07, 2017
Fourth Sunday of Pascha
Sunday of the Paralytic
Appearance of the Sign of the Precious Cross in the heavens above Jerusalem (351 A.D.);
Martyr Akakios the centurion at Byzantium; John of Beverly, Bishop of York;
Priest Alexis Toth of Wilkes-Barre, confessor and defender of Orthodoxy in America
Khristos Aneste! Christ is Risen!
Visitors, we warmly welcome you to all services of the church.
Nourishment of the Soul: “Patience is a heavenly gift, a gift from the Heavenly Father…With patience and love for your fellow men, you become a victor in life’s continual trials.” – St. Raphael of Lesvos
Food for Hungry People 2017 has closed with your generous donations of $1,297. Thank You. The needs in our parish and community, however, continue all year, so please continue your giving to the local benevolence fund.
Coffee Hour Foods: Contributors this Sunday are those whose last names start with A-Ba.
Saying Goodbye: Next week we will again say goodbye to one of our faithful members: Stephanie Haines is relocating to Greenfield. The Myrrh Bearers will meet today to plan the social hour for Mother’s Day and for our Myrrh Bearer’s co-chair.. We will notify you by e-mail of special arrangements.
Myrrh Bearers will meet today, May 7th, around noon in the nave.
Graduating high school seniors, please let us know who you are so we can plan something for you as the school year draws to a close. We’ve heard from only one thus far!
It’s Official: Fr. Peter Jon and Dan Rigsby (parish council chair) have, with the unanimous support and backing of the building committee and parish council, signed contracts to advance the installation of our new parking lot and the subsequent expansion of our nave, as well as planned improvements to our current building. This begins PHASE ONE of our three phase building program. See Jeff Weber, our building committee chair, with specific questions about this exciting leap forward!
THIS WEEK
Tuesday, May 9: Bible Study at Kh. Marilyn’s home at 7:00
Wednesday, May 10: Daily Vespers at 6:00
Thursday, May 11: Bible Study at Becky’s home – 3:00 – 5:00
Saturday, May 13: Great Vespers at 5:00 preceded by 40 Day Memorial for Alex John at 4:30
Sunday, May14 (Mother’s Day): Matins at 9:00; Divine Liturgy at 10:00 – Saying Goodbye to Stephanie Haines
FAMILY NOTES
Birthday Greetings: Kh. Marilyn G (9th); Mariam G (10th); Teya T (12th); Trevor P (12th); Missy S (13th)
Name Day Blessings: Caleb L (St. John the Theologian – 8th); Barb G (St. Isadora of Tabenna – 10th)
Memory Eternal: Danny; Albert (Alex John) Alexander – 4th); Met. Elias; Lavonne (Martin’s Grandmother)
LOOKING AHEAD
…April Blair is organizing meals for the Pierce family after the birth of their son Alexander Jordan
…May 24: Vesperal Liturgy of Holy Ascension
Prayer List: John Craton’s friend Matthew and family; Hal; Stephanie; Adrian (Olga’s brother); Cathy;“For the suffering Christians of Syria, Palestine, Iraq, & all of the Middle East, and for those suffering in Ukraine.”; Fr. Steven Rudy (cancer); Finley (infant girl child with stroke and spasms-Improved); Fr. Basil; Fr. Philip; Grant (Leukemia); Chris; Doug & Dorothy Barrett; Eileen; the Tabbals; Mary Ann & Jen; Dee and Don; Kh.Kristina; Betsy and Hannah; Leslie (paralysis); Jasmine; Deborah & Thomas; James; Becky H; Tom; Annie; Catherine; Janett; Julian; Kh. Mary Sue Walker; Vicki; Hoppes & Jesse Brandow (Missionaries); Vivian; Natalie; Senior Saints; Patricia; Nicetas; Barb; Shirley; Metropolitan Paul, Archbishop John; Fr. John Koen; Archpriest George; Heather; Susan; Gabriella & Matt; Sara; Shelley; Geni; Emily D; Emma; Nancy; Neal; Bob R; Leanne; Beth; Lillian; Julie; Roger; Virginia; Marilyn; Eric; Cheryl; Lori; Pam; Debbie; Natasha; Michael & Shelley: Gabriel; Mary; Janet; Kelly; Matushka Raisa; Marty; Charles; Mary; Marvin, Alice; Katie; Ruth; Steve; Romaine; Derek, Claire & Micah; Tim; Sharon; Sherri; Dianna; Michael and Diane; Aaron; Brent; Jennifer; Brigid; Ethan; Lena, Dean; Gayle; Thomas; Amy; Heidi; Gene & Connie, Caleb D; Megan & Colin; Bill & Sandy; Sabrina; Christy.
Receiving the Eucharist: We invite you to receive the Holy Eucharist if you are an Orthodox Christian who has prepared yourself through fasting, prayer, and recent confession. If you are not Orthodox, or are Orthodox but have not prepared, we invite you to receive a piece of the blessed bread in the wooden bowls held by the altar servers at the front of the church.
Today’s Epistle and Gospel Readings
Prokeimenon: “Sing praises to our God, sing praises.”
Verse: “Clap your hands, all you nations!” Psalm 46:6,1
Epistle: The Reading from the Acts of the Saintly and Pure Apostles. (9:32-42)
In those days, as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints that lived at Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years and was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. Now there was at Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him entreating him, “Please come to us without delay.” So Peter rose and went with them. And when he had come, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping, and showing tunics and other garments, which Dorcas made while she was with them. But Peter put them all outside and knelt down and prayed; then turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, rise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. And he gave her his hand and lifted her up. Then calling the saints and widows he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
Gospel: The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. John. (5:1-15)
At that time, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Hebrew called Bethsaida, which has five porticoes. In these lay a multitude of invalids, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and troubled the water; whoever stepped in first, after the troubling of the water was healed of whatever disease he had. One man was there, who had been ill for 38 years. When Jesus saw him and knew that he had been lying there a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is troubled, and while I am going another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your pallet, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his pallet and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who was cured, “It is the Sabbath, it is not lawful for you to carry your pallet.” But he answered them, “The man who healed me said to me, ‘Take up your pallet, and walk.’” They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your pallet, and walk’?” Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. Afterward, Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse befalls you.” The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus Who had healed him.
Divine Liturgy Variables
Order at the Beginning of the Service
Priest alone: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down Death by death; and upon those in the tombs, bestowing life!
People: Repeat twice.
The Entrance Hymn of Pascha
In the gathering places bless God the Lord, from the springs of Israel. Save us, O Son of God, Who art risen from the dead, who sing to Thee: Alleluia.
Resurrectional Apolytikion – Tone 3
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 by death, and become the first-born from the dead. He hath delivered us from the depths of Hades, granting the world the Great Mercy.
Kontakion of Pascha – Tone 8
Thou didst descend into the tomb, O Immortal. Thou didst destroy the pow’r of Death. 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.
Megalynarion for Pascha – Tone 1
“The Angel Cried…”
Koinonikon (Communion Hymn) of Pascha – Tone 8
Receive ye the body of Christ; taste ye of the Immortal Fountain.
Order of the Great Dismissal
Priest alone: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down Death by death…
People: … and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!