Sixth Sunday of Pascha: Sunday of the Blind Man
Apostles Andronikos and Junia of the Seventy; Athanasios the New,
Bishop of Christianopolis
Christ is Risen; Truly He is Risen!
Father Peter Jon Welcome Home!
The Eisodikon (Entrance Hymn) of Pascha
In the gathering places bless ye 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 -Tone5
Let us believers praise and worship the Word; coeternal with the Father and the Spirit, born of the Virgin for our salvation. For, He took pleasure in ascending the Cross in the flesh to suffer death; and to raise the dead by His glorious Resurrection.
The Kontakion of Pascha -Tone 8
Though Thou didst descend into the grave, O Immortal One, yet didst Thou destroy the power of Hades, and didst arise as victor, O Christ God, calling to the myrrh-bearing women, Rejoice, and giving peace unto Thine Apostles, O Thou Who dost grant resurrection to the fallen.
EPISTLE and GOSPEL READINGS
The Epistle
Thou, O Lord, shalt keep us and preserve us. Save me, O Lord, for the godly man is no more.
The Reading from the Acts of the Apostles. (16:16-34)
In those days, as we apostles were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination, who brought her owners much gain by soothsaying. She followed Paul and us, crying, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” And this she did this for many days. But Paul was annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, “I charge you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour. But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers; and when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said: “These men are Jews and they are disturbing our city. They advocate customs which it is not lawful for us Romans to accept or practice.” The crowd joined in attacking them; and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and every one’s fetters were unfastened. When the jailer, woke and saw that the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried out with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas and brought them out and said: “Men, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him, and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their wounds, and was baptized at once, with all his family. Then he brought them up into his house, and set food before them, and he rejoiced with all his household that he had believed in God.
The Gospel
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. John. (9:1-38)
At that time, when Jesus was passing, he saw a man blind from his birth. And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him. I must work the works of Him who sent Me, while it is day; night comes, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” As he said this, he spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle and anointed the man’s eyes with the clay, saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam,” which means “Sent.” So he went and washed and came back seeing. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar, said, “Is not this the man who used to sit and beg?” Some said, “It is he;” others said, “No, but he is like him.” He said, “I am the man.” They said to him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash’; so I went and washed and received my sight.” They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.” They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. The Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for He does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” There was a division among them. So they again said to the blind man, “What do you say about Him, since He has opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.” The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight, and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” His parents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age, he will speak for himself.” His parents said this because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess him to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue. Therefore, his parents said, “He is of age, ask him.” So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, “Give God the praise; we know that this man is a sinner.” He answered, “Whether he is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see.” They said to him, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?” He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you too want to become His disciples?” And they reviled him, saying, “You are His disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where He comes from.” The man answered, “Why, this is a marvel! You do not know where He comes from, and yet He opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.” They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out. Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him He said, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” He answered, “And who is He, Sir, that I may believe in Him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen Him, and it is He who speaks to you.” He said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped Him.
Thought for Today
“Love every man in spite of his falling into sin. Never mind the sins but remember that the foundation of the man is the same–the image of God.”
-St. John of Kronstadt
Approaching the Holy Chalice
As we approach the chalice, we fold our arms, right over left. This is both a posture of submission and confession of Christ’s victory over death. Newly illumined people who have been received through Holy Baptism and Chrismation bear their lit candles and receive first for three Divine Liturgies. Little Lambs and babes-in-arms.
This Week
Monday, May 18 Third Hour Prayers at 9:00 am.
Tuesday, May 19 Divine Liturgy for the Leavetaking (apodosis) of Holy Pascha at 9:00 am.
Wednesday, May 20 Vesperal Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Ascension at 6:00 pm. Inquirers and Catechumen class to follow. Main dish of chicken tacos, meat provided, all sides needed: Contact Juliana Schulz for suggestions of sides at 812- 360-5975 or Jennifer.schulz3ttj@gmail.com.
Thursday, May 21 Third Hour Prayers at 9:00 am.
Friday, May 22 Divine Liturgy at 9:00 am.
Saturday, May 23 Bible Study at 10:00 am; Great Vespers at 5:00 pm; ask Abouna to follow.
Sunday, May 24 Matins at 9:00am, Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am; Fathers of the First Council.
Family News
Congratulations Basil and Anna Konnersman and big sister Xenia on the birth of their son George Mark Thomas.
Names Day Celebration Saraquel Hsu, Helena; Maeghan Lanaghan, Helena (21st).
Birthday Celebrations Samuel Thomas (17th); Hannah Gillquist (18th)
Prayer List Vivian Orphanos (hospice) and Jan Isham (Hospice); Miller (recurrence of cancer); Anna and the child born of her, Dnsa. Miriam; Julia Suzanna, Dee and Don; Nancy; Tom; Wendy; Dnsa. Robyn; Mary Ann; Rita; Michael, Olga, Jone; Rachel; Hal; Kh. Paraskeva; David; Taylor; Fr. Athanasius; Fr. Jerome; Fr. Basil; Fr. Matthew; Rdr. David; Marvin; Nectaria, Charlie, Shirley; Jim; Patricia; Jan; those suffering from the war in Ukraine and the Middle East; our Nation; all school children, and personnel across the nation; Emma; Josiah; Jack; Christopher; Wadia; Kitsa; Apthrodite; Kim; Vicki; Kenzie; Dusty; Cari; Josh; Allison; Dn. Lawrence, Marcia; Missy; Andrew; Isaac; Audra and the child she bears; Nancy; Sharon Catherine; Neumann Seraphim; Eileen, Soren, Kathy; Lexi, Ross, Vivian; Theo; Jeremy; Elias; Leanne Seraphima; Lilly’s family; Sarah; Jennifer; Christy; John; Bruce; Stanley; Allen; Linda; Allison and children; Evan; Anastasia and family; Mary and family; Mary and the child she bears; Williams family; Victoria and the child she bears; Susie; Rhonda, Phillip, Dianne.
Memory Eternal Joseph
All Saints’ Sunday Meal
To best serve our growing congregation, we ask everyone who is able bring a food donation to share at the meal. If you are unable to bring a dish, please enjoy the meal and fellowship. Help with cleanup is always needed.
Giving Opportunities We appreciate and welcome your ongoing support.
Benevolence Fund Donations are used to support families in need of help with rent and utilities payments.
Food Pantry Our In-house food pantry is available to parish members as well as families and individuals in the community of Bloomington. Donations of nonperishable items of pasta, marinara sauce, peanut butter, canned chicken and Tuna, canned vegetables, canned fruit and soups are always a great blessing.
Mission Donations We send monthly support to two missionary units in Albania, the Hoppe family and Hannah Valentine.
Donations to the church are being made online to www.allsaintsbloomington.org and by U.S. mail. Many thanks to all who continue supporting All Saints