New Sunday or Anti-Pascha

Sunday of Thomas the Apostle, Called “The Twin”

Great Martyr George, the Trophy Bearer

Hieromartyr Simeon, Bishop of Jerusalem and the kinsman of the Lord; Venerable George, John the Confessor, Abbot of the Monastery of the Chaste; Eulogios the Hospitable of Egypt; Stephen, Abbot of the Kiev Caves and Bishop of Vladimir

 Visitors, we welcome you in the Name of our Risen Lord and Savior.

Nourishment of the Soul: “Some, I know not why (for I have not learned to pry conceitedly into the gifts of God) are by nature, I might say, prone to temperance, or stillness, or purity, or modesty, or meekness, or contrition.  But others, although almost their own  nature itself resists them in this, to the best of their power force themselves; and though they occasionally suffer defeat yet, as men struggling with nature, they are in my opinion higher than the former.  Do not boast, man, of the wealth you have obtained without labor.  For the Bestower, foreseeing your great hurt, and infirmity, and ruin, at least saves you to some extent by those unmerited gifts.”-  St John Climacus

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 For those who serve and those who sing: A heartfelt “thank you” to all who spent their time and energy preparing music & food, beautifying the grounds and adorning the church, for those who have given of themselves in every way imaginable during Lent, Holy Week, and in preparation for the great Feast of Feasts! In serving your brothers and sisters in Christ, and in welcoming visitors to the house of God with a melodious sound and a warm meal, you have served Christ Himself, our risen Lord and King. Fr. Peter Jon

Service Book Order: Several families have approached me wanting to order the black book used by clergy, chanters, and choir during Holy Week.  If you want to order one in preparation for next year, please contact Marcia. Services of Holy Week and Pascha are $35 plus shipping. Do not pay until they arrive!

THIS WEEK

There is a dispensation from fasting until Holy Ascension. 

Tuesday, April 29: Paschal Trisagion at Valhalla Memory Gardens, meeting at 11:00 in front of the office

Wednesday, April 30: Daily Vespers at 6:00

Thursday, May 1: Bedford-Mitchell Fellowship at 10:00

Saturday, May 3: Great Vespers at 5:00

Sunday, May 4: Baptisms and Chrismations of Dan, Jennifer, Ava, and Tristan Rigsby

at 9:00;   Divine Liturgy at 10:00 (Sunday of the Myrrh Bearing Women)

Sunday, May 4: Akathist to the Mother of God “The Inexhaustible Cup” at 5:00

Today’s Epistle and Gospel Readings 

Prokeimenon: “Great is our Lord, and great is His strength.”

Verse: “Praise ye the Lord, for the Lord is good!” Psalm 146:5; 134:3

Epistle: The Reading is from the Acts of the Holy Apostles. (5:12-20) 

In those days, many signs and wonders were done among the people by the hands of the Apostles. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. None of the rest dared join them, but the people magnified them. And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and pallets, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. The people also gathered from the cities around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed. But the chief priest rose up and all who were with him, that is, the sect of the Sadducees, and filled with jealousy they laid their hands on the Apostles and put them in the common prison. But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out and said, “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.”

Gospel: The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. John. (20:19-31) 

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the Disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the Disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other Disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in His side, I will not believe.” Eight days later, His Disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, “Peace be with you.” Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see My hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing.” Thomas answered Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen Me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the Disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His Name.