Fifth Sunday of Pascha: Sunday of the Samaritan Woman
& After-feast of Mid-Pentecost
Martyrs Peter, Dionysios, Andrew, Paul, Christina, Heraklios, Paulinos and Benedimos; Stephen the New, patriarch of Constantinople
Christ is Risen; Truly He is Risen!
– Anonymous Monk
EPISTLE and GOSPEL READINGS
The Epistle
O Lord, how magnified are Thy works, You have made all things in wisdom. Bless the Lord, O my soul.
The Reading from the Acts of the Holy Apostles. (11:19-30)
In those days, those apostles who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to none, except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who upon coming to Antioch spoke to the Greek’s also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number that believed turned to the Lord. News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad; and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose; for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a large company was added to the Lord. So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul; and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year, they met with the church, and taught a large company of people, and in Antioch the disciples were for the first time called Christians. Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabos stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over the whole world; and the brethren who lived in Judaea; and they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
The Gospel
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. John. (4:5-42)
At that time, Jesus came to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and so Jesus, wearied as He was with his journey, sat down beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” For His Disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to Him, “How is it that Thou, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and Who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, Thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep; where do you get that living water? Art Thou greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, and his sons, and his cattle?” Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst forever; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.” Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” The woman answered Him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and he whom you now have is not your husband; this you said truly.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that Thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain; and Thou sayest that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for such the Father seeks to worship Him. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming [He Who is called Christ]; when He comes, He will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I Who speak to you am He.” Just then His Disciples came. They marveled that He was talking with a woman, but none said, “What dost Thou wish?” or, “Why art Thou talking with her?” So the woman left her water jar, and went away into the city, and said to the people, “Come, see a man Who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” They went out of the city and were coming to Him. Meanwhile the Disciples besought Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” But He said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.” So the Disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought Him food?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him Who sent Me, and to accomplish His work. Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see how the fields are already white for harvest. He who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor; others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.” Many Samaritans from that city believed in Him because of the woman’s testimony, “He said to me all that I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to Him, they asked Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. And many more believed because of His words. They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of your words that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.
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.
The Eisodikon (Entrance) 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 – Tone 4
Having learned the joyful message of the Resurrection from the angel, the women disciples of the Lord cast from them their parental condemnation. And proudly broke the news to the Disciples, saying, Death hath been spoiled; Christ God is risen, granting the world Great Mercy.
Apolytikion for Mid-Pentecost -Tone 8
In the midst of this Feast, O Savior, give Thou my thirsty soul to drink of the waters of true worship; for Thou didst call out to all, saying: Whosoever is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Wherefore, O Christ our God, Fountain of life, glory to Thee.
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.
Approaching the Holy Chalice: When approaching the Holy Chalice, we cross our arms, always right over left, in the posture of submission. If you will receive the Holy Mysteries at the Chalice, open your mouth, tipping your head only if your height makes it necessary, and take the Gifts directly from the spoon when Father places it in your mouth. This is how we accept the Medicine of Immortality directly from the Benevolent God Who feeds and sustains us. Since the institution of the Mystical Supper, no man, woman, or child (including every priest who has ever consumed the Gifts after all of the faithful have communed) has become ill from receiving the Eucharist. If you are not prepared to receive, simply say, “Father, bless”, bow your head, and Fr. Peter will bless you with the Chalice.
Today, Sunday: Parish Council will meet following Divine Liturgy.
Monday, May 19: 3rd Hour Prayers at 9:00 am.
Tuesday, May 20: Divine Liturgy at 9:00am.
Wednesday, May 21: Daily Vespers at 6:00 pm; teaching, fellowship meal to follow.
Thursday, May 22: Divine Liturgy at 9:00am.
Friday, May 23: Divine Liturgy at 9:00 am.
Saturday, May 24: Bible Study, 10:00 am; Great Vespers at 5:00 pm, ask Abouna to
follow; Jr. and Teen SOYO at 6:30 pm.
Sunday, May 25: Matins at 9:00 am, Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am.
Family News
Name Day Celebration: Shirley Richardson, Mezy Alexander, Hannah Gillquist, Sierra Giordana, Photini (18th); Saraquel Hsu, Maeghan Lanaghan, Helena (24th).
Birthday Celebration: Hannah Gillquist (18th); Benedict Jones (24th); Elias Gill (24th).
Prayer List: Kh. Parasheva; Hal (rehab); Scott and Jackie; Jim and Lisa; Taylor;Fr. Athanasius; Fr. Jerome; Fr. Basil; Fr. Matthew; Marvin; Nectaria;Shu-Mei,Charlie;Shirley; Jim;Jan; Don and Dee; those suffering the war in Ukraine, and the Middle East; Peace talks; our nation and all schools: children, youth and personnel across the nation; Mary Ann; Emma; Bob & Bonnie Thelen; Josiah; Jack; Christopher; Wadia; Jayci; Patricia; Kitsa; Apthrodite; Kim; Kristy; Vicki;Kenzie; Dusty; Cari; Betsy; Josh; Allison; Dn. Lawrence, Marcia; Missy; Andrew; Isaac; Leanne; Heather; Nancy; Sharon Catherine; Neumann Seraphim; Michael, Olga, Eileen, Soren, Kathy; Lexi, Ross, Vivian; Theo; Jeremy; Elias; Waded; Seraphima; Lilly’s family; Jennifer; Christy; John; Stanley; Macrina and child born of her; Allen; Linda; Allison and children; Kip; Hermione with child, Evan; Catherine with child; Victoria with child; Evan; Hannah and children.
Memory Eternal: Armondo, Archimandrite Panteleimon, Carole.
All Saints’ Sunday Meal:
Today, Sunday: 3rd Sunday Host Hostettler- Rogers, with Nina Rogers as lead hostess.
Next week: 4th Sunday Host Robertson- Yeager, with Rhonda Webb as lead hostess.
Giving Opportunities:
Food Pantry: Thank you for the generous support.Our in-houseFood 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. We welcome and encourage you to contribute to their ongoing support.
Benevolence Fund: Donations may be made to this fund throughout the year and are mainly used to support families in need of help with rent and utilities payments.
Donations to the church are being made online at www.allsaintsbloomington.org and by U.S mail. Many thanks to all who continue supporting All Saints.