Monthly Archives: April 2011

5/1 announcements

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May 1, 2011
Antipascha or 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 Thomas Sunday:  With his anxiously searching right hand, O Christ God, Thomas did probe your life-giving side; for when you did enter, the doors being shut, he shouted with the rest of the Disciples, crying, You are my Lord and my God.
 
CALENDAR
Sunday, May 1  
            8:50 a.m.         — Orthros
            9:00 a.m.         — Christian Education
            10:00 a.m.       — Divine Liturgy
            5:30 p.m.         — Youth Group
           
Monday, May 2   (Athanasios the Great)
            Office Closed  — Father John’s Day Off
           
Tuesday, May 3   
            6:00 a.m.         — Daily Orthros
 
Wednesday, May 4   
5:00 p.m.         — Catechism Class      
6:30 p.m.         — Daily Vespers
7:30 p.m.         — Choir Practice
 
Thursday, May 5   
            6:00 a.m.         — Daily Orthros
            11:30 a.m.       — Men’s Lunch at Rooster’s
 
Friday, May 6            
6:00 a.m.         — Daily Orthros
 
Saturday, May 7   
5:00 p.m.         — Catechism Class
5:45 p.m.         — Ninth Hour followed by Great Vespers
 
Sunday, May 8  
            8:50 a.m.         — Orthros
            9:00 a.m.         — Christian Education
            10:00 a.m.       — Divine Liturgy
            1:00 p.m.         — Young Adults
 
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
Eucharist Bread …was offered by Algoods for the Divine Liturgy today.  
 
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.
 
Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:
                                                      Eucharist Bread                     Coffee Hour
         May 1                                   Algoods                                   Hendersons
         May 8                                   Katools                                   Algoods
         May 15                                 Schelvers                                 R. Roots
         May 22                                 Morrises                                  Schelvers
         May 29                                 Joneses                                    Pigotts
 
Please remember the following in your prayers:  Fr. Leo, Kh. Be’Be’, Stephen and Amy, Justyn and Jeffrey; Steve, Sheryl and Stephen Chamblee; Maria Costas; Amy and Brantley Oliver; Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Sam and Lamia Dabit; David Turner’s mother Mary Jean; Fr. Joseph Bittle, Kh. Joanna, their daughter Abigail and the rest of their family.
 
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#
May 1                          Phillip Lasseter                   Acts 5:12-20                             32
May 8                          Mildred Morris                   I John 4:12-19                          315
May 15                        Kh. Be’Be’ Schelver           Acts 9:32-42                            45
May 22                        Tom Willingham                 Acts 11:19-30                           52
May 29                        Tom Skirtech                      Acts 16:16-34                          58
 
Please continue to pray for the health of His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN.
 
Our condolences go to:
         David and Lou Turner and David’s mother, Mary Jean, on the death of David’s father, Harry Turner during Holy Week.
         Steve, Sheryl, Wendy and Stephen Chamblee on the death of Steve’s father, General Mac Chamblee, on Pascha morning.
 
Many thanks go to all those who worked so hard to make our Agape Vespers Feast a success!! 
Special thanks go to Christina for heading this up and to Costas and his helpers for the wonderful food!
 
Wednesday, May 4th is the last day for Early Bird registrations for the upcoming Parish Life Conference to be held in Memphis June 16-19.  Because our clergy will be attending the Conference there will be no Daily Vespers on Wednesday June 15th.  There will also be no catechism class on Wednesday June 15th or Saturday June 18th.  Nor will there be Daily Orthros on Thursday or Friday of that week.  However, Father James will be returning on Saturday afternoon.  So our regular services will be celebrated on Saturday and Sunday June 18th and 19th.
 
Calendar Items:
*    The Men of the parish meet for lunch and fellowship on the first Thursday of the month.  This month they will meet at Rooster’s in the Fondren  area.
*    The 2011 Parish Life Conference is being hosted by St. John Orthodox Church in
*    Memphis on June 16-19. More information (hotels, etc.) is available through the Archdiocese website at antiochian.org.
*    We will be serving a meal at the Stewpot in Jackson on July 9th and November 19th.
*    His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN will be here the weekend of May 6, 2012 to help us celebrate our 25th anniversary as a parish.  The planning committee is working very hard to make our celebration a memorable one.  There will be an evening event at the MS Museum of Art on Friday, May 5th.  Other events are being planned and more information will be available in the coming months.
 
If you are planning to attend the Parish Life Conference in Memphis, please register as soon as possible.  St. John needs our registrations as they continue their preparations to host this event.
Remember Early Bird Registration ends May 4th.
 
Fasting Discipline for May
The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, wine and oil) is observed on all Wednesdays and Fridays of the month.
 
Major Commemorations during May
May 2              Athanasios the Great (transfer of relics)
May 8              Apostle John the Theologian
May 10            Apostle Simon the Zealot
May 21            Sts. Constantine and Helen
May 25            The Forerunner (3rd discovery)
        
If you are the last to leave the building, please make sure that the heating and cooling unit in the Fellowship Hall is turned off.
 
Antiochian Women’s Scholarship:  Each year AOCWNA is able to award scholarships, usually in the amount of $500 each, to help women continue their education in order to improve their circumstances and those of their families.  In order to be eligible, a woman must be over 25 years of age, a member in good standing and active in her parish, registered in an academic or trade program of study, and demonstrate financial need.  The application deadline is May 27, 2011.  If you are interested in applying for this scholarship, please see Fr. John for an application.
 
Lost Items!  Are you missing any items?? …most notably 3 sets of keys or a thread-counted bookmark.?  These may be claimed in the church office.  Please see Kh. Sharon.
 
Happy Birthdays in May:
         May 5                    —    Joanna Meadows
                                       —    Dale Cooper
         May 7                    —    Tiffany Strain (#14!)
         May 8                    —    Kh. Janet Henderson
         May 10                  —    Fr. Leo Schelver
         May 11                  —    Meghan Brock
         May 15                  —    Tom Skirtech
         May 21                  —    Jacob Skirtech (#4!)
         May 24                  —    Daniel Root
                                       —    Paul Katool
         May 26                  —    David Turner
         May 27                  —    Luke Habeeb (#6!)
         May 30                  —    Dn. Terry Algood
         May 31                  —    Stephen Chamblee
 
Happy Anniversaries in May:
         May 2                    —    Samer and Irene N’Ser (1999)
         May 12                  —    Cliff and Anna Kathryn Stewart (2007)
         May 30                  —    Tom and Jennifer Skirtech (1977)
 
Quotable:  “The only guest who can make our soul happy is God.  And if God is our paramount bliss, it is clear that that which obstructs the way to God must be the greatest evil for us.  Such evil is sin.”
                                                                        Archimandrite Seraphim Aleksiev
 
 
        
Worship:         Sunday, May 8, 2011 (Sunday of the Holy Myrrh-bearers; Feast of St. John
the Theologian)
 
         Scripture:                                    I John 4:12-19; Mark 15:43-16:8
         Celebrant:                                   Father John
         Epistle Reader:                         Mildred Morris
         Prosphora:                               Katools
         Coffee Hour:                           Algoods
 

4/24 announcements

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April 24, 2011
Great and Holy PASCHA
 
“Unique and holy day, King and lord of days, feast of feasts, solemnity of solemnities. . . “  Thus we celebrate the Great Feast because of the resurrection of our Lord and begin the season of celebration which lasts through Pentecost.  The paschal solemnities (of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday) are joined to the feast of the resurrection to endow the mystery of Christmas and the Incarnation with the fulness of its meaning and are the prerequisite condition for Pentecost.  Easter, therefore, is the center, the heart of the Christian Year.
 
“Come, take light from the Light that has no evening, and glorify Christ, risen from the dead.”  The Church again represents the Christian mystery in terms of light; this Light, whose birth was marked by the star of Bethlehem, is shining among us with growing intensity; the darkness of Golgotha could not extinguish it.  The physical Resurrection of Jesus would be without value to us if the divine light did not shine at the same time among us, within us.  But the good news of the Resurrection is that the light brought by the Saviour now completely overcomes the darkness of our sins!
 
“Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down Death by death, and to those in the tomb He has given life!”
 
Acts 1:1-8:  From our reading in Acts we are reminded that following the Resurrection and Ascen­sion of our Lord, the Church would receive the Holy Spirit to empower Her in spreading the eternal gos­pel to all parts of the Earth.
 
John 1:1-17:  Reading in the Gospel of John we see Jesus Christ as the eternally Begotten Son of The Father with Whom He has always existed.  We also see John the Baptist coming to prepare the way for our Lord’s ministry.
 
Paschal Troparion: Christ is risen from the dead; by Death has he trodden death, and upon those in the tombs, hath he bestowed life.
 
Hypakoe of Easter:  They who were with Mary came before the dawn, found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre, and heard the angels say unto them,  Why seek ye him as man with the dead, who dwelleth in light eternal?  Behold the grave wrappings; make haste and declare to the world that the Lord is risen, and hath caused death to die; for he is the Son of God, the Saviour of mankind.
 
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 24   (PASCHA)
            3:00 Agape Vespers
           
Monday, April 25  (Apostle and Evangelist Mark)
            Office Closed  — Father John’s Day Off
            No fasting during Bright Week
           
Tuesday, April 26   
            6:00 a.m.         — Bright Week Orthros
 
Wednesday, April 27   
NO  Catechism Class  
6:30 p.m.         — Paschal Vespers
 
Thursday, April 28   
            6:00 a.m.         — Bright Week Orthros
 
Friday, April 29   (Apostle James of Zebedee)
            6:00 a.m.         — Bright Week Orthros
 
Saturday, April 30   
NO  Catechism Class
5:45 p.m.         — Ninth Hour followed by Great Vespers
 
Sunday, May 1  
            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 Vesperal Liturgy of Great and Holy Thursday, by the Hendersons for the Vesperal Liturgy of Great and Holy Saturday and by the Morrises for the Divine Liturgy today.  
 
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.
 
Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:
                                                      Eucharist Bread                     Coffee Hour
         April 23 (Sat. p.m.)               Morrises                                   T. Skirtechs/Parkers/
                  PASCHA                                                                           B. Skirtechs
         May 1                                   Algoods                                    Hendersons
         May 8                                   Katools                                    Algoods
         May 15                                 Schelvers                                  R. Roots
         May 22                                 Morrises                                   Schelvers
         May 29                                 Joneses                                     Pigotts
 
Please remember the following in your prayers:  Fr. Leo, Kh. Be’Be’, Stephen and Amy, Justyn and Jeffrey; Amy and Brantley Oliver; Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Sam and Lamia Dabit; David Turner’s parents, Harry and Mary Jean; Fr. Joseph Bittle, Kh. Joanna, their daughter Abigail and the rest of their family.
 
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 23 (Sat. p.m.)     Warren Strain                       Acts 1:1-8                                 25
May 1                          Phillip Lasseter                    Acts 5:12-20                             32
May 8                          Mildred Morris                    I John 4:12-19                          315
May 15                        Kh. Be’Be’ Schelver           Acts 9:32-42                             45
May 22                        Tom Willingham                  Acts 11:19-30                           52
May 29                        Tom Skirtech                      Acts 16:16-34                           58
 
Welcome and Many Years!! to Michael and Amy Surratt who were chrismated this morning.
 
Please continue to pray for the health of His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN.
 
Calendar Items:
      *       The Men of the parish meet for lunch and fellowship on the first Thursday of the month.
      *       The 2011 Parish Life Conference is being hosted by St. John Orthodox Church in             
               Memphis on June 16-19.  More information (hotels, etc.) is available through the
               Archdiocese website at antiochian.org.  
      *       We will be serving a meal at the Stewpot in Jackson on July 9th and November 19th.
 
If you are planning to attend the Parish Life Conference in Memphis, please register as soon as possible.  St. John needs our registrations as they continue their preparations to host this event.
 
If you have not yet returned your pledge slip, please do so as soon as possible, either by mail in the enclosed envelope, or by placing your pledge slip in the Tithes box at the back of the nave.  We need this information to prepare our budget for the year.
 
Fasting Discipline for April
During Great Lent the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, wine and oil) is observed on all days of the week until Pascha (except Palm Sunday on April 17th, when fish, wine and oil are permitted). There is no fasting during the week following Pascha ( Bright Week).
 
Major Commemorations during April
April 23           Great-martyr George
April 24           PASCHA
April 25           Apostle Mark
April 30           Apostle James of Zebedee
        
If you are the last to leave the building, please make sure that the heating and cooling unit in the Fellowship Hall is turned off.
 
 
Antiochian Women’s Scholarship:  Each year AOCWNA is able to award scholarships, usually in the amount of $500 each, to help women continue their education in order to improve their circumstances and those of their families.  In order to be eligible, a woman must be over 25 years of age, a member in good standing and active in her parish, registered in an academic or trade program of study, and demonstrate financial need.  The application deadline is May 27, 2011.  If you are interested in applying for this scholarship, please see Fr. John for an application.
 
Lost Items!  Are you missing any items?? …most notably 3 sets of keys or a thread-counted bookmark.?  These may be claimed in the church office.  Please see Kh. Sharon.
 
Happy Birthdays in April:
         April 6                   —    John Wood (#18!)
         April 11                 —    Brandon Strain (#9!)
 
Happy Anniversaries in April:
         April 12                 —    Mike and Cheryl Piggott (#30!)
         April 25                 —    Jim and Desi Roehner (#62!!)
 
Quotable:  “Dear readers, we are created for God, and only in Him do we find the paramount bliss for which our heart is constantly yearning.  Nothing other than God can make our souls happy!  Give man everything which he desires.  He will enjoy it for a while, but afterwards he will become indifferent to it, because he feels that something else, much more elevated, is missing.  Is it not in that way that the child, too, enjoys every new toy until it grows hungry?  Then it abandons the toy and looks for food.  A certain inextinguishable inner hunger for truth, joy, and peace in the Holy Spirit (cf. Rom. 14:17) torments our souls and does not give us peace, even among the best pleasures of life and among the most enviable achievements in the world”
                                                                        Archimandrite Seraphim Aleksiev
 
        
Worship:         Sunday, May 1, 2011 (Sunday of St. Thomas; New Sunday)
 
         Scripture:                                 Acts 5:12-20; John 20:19-31
         Celebrant:                                Father John
         Epistle Reader:                         Phillip Lasseter
         Prosphora:                               Algoods
         Coffee Hour:                           Hendersons
 

4/17 announcements

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April 17, 2011
Palm Sunday
 
    Palm Sunday begins the observance of the eight days that encapsulate all of time and eternity as relates to man.  The days begin with the proclamation on earth of the entry of the Messiah into Jerusalem and end with the Eternal King rising in incomprehensible victory to establish the heavenly Jerusalem and His eternal reign.  On Palm Sunday, we begin the days of the full exhibition of the awful corruption sin has spread in mankind and the measureless love that heals and deifies our humanity.  Today we thrill at the picture of Christ and the praises of the people, the object of adoration yet the perfection of humility.  The imagery of the scene is beyond description:  the King amidst His people, the palm and olive branches symbolizing His victory, His anointing, His peace; the cloaks and garments cast before Him symbolizing our complete submission to His will; the cries of adoration, of “Hosanna,” the coming of the Lord.  Yet, on this day we are also near enough to feel acutely the dread of His passion, the desolation of the trial and Golgotha.  This day also begins the week of the Eighth Day, the entry to eternity.  As we observe Palm Sunday, we observe all history and the fulfillment of all history.
 
Philippians 4:4-9:  The Apostle Paul encourages us in the reading from his letter to the Philippians:  we are to rejoice in the Lord and to let our concerns and desires be made known to God in prayer and sup­plication.  By doing so, he tells us that the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds.
 
John 12:1-18:  In anticipation of her Lord’s passion, Mary anoints Jesus’ feet with costly ointment, fore­shadowing His coming death.  Jesus then enters Jerusalem shortly before Passover in fulfillment of Zechariah’s prophecy.
 
First Troparion of Palm Sunday:  O Christ God, when thou didst raise Lazarus from the dead before thy Passion, thou didst confirm the universal resurrection.  Wherefore, we, like babes, carry the insignia of triumph and victory, and cry to thee, O Vanquisher of death, Hosanna in the highest.  Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord.
 
Second Troparion of Palm Sunday:  O Christ God, when we were buried with thee in Baptism, we became deserving of thy Resurrection  to immortal life.  Wherefore, we praise thee, crying, Hosanna in the highest, blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord.
 
Kontakion of Palm Sunday: Seated upon Thy throne in heaven, and a foal on earth, O Christ our God, Thou didst receive the praise of the angels and the hymns of the children: Blessed is He that cometh to recall Adam.
 
CALENDAR
Sunday, April 17   (Palm Sunday)
            8:50 a.m.         — Orthros
            9:00 a.m.         — Christian Education
            10:00 a.m.       — Divine Liturgy followed by Annual Fish Fry
            6:30 p.m.         — Bridegroom Matins
           
Monday, April 18   (Great and Holy Monday)
            Office Closed  — Father John’s Day Off
            6:30 p.m.         — Bridegroom Matins
           
Tuesday, April 19   (Great and Holy Tuesday)
            6:30 p.m.         — Bridegroom Matins
 
Wednesday, April 20   (Great and Holy Wednesday)
5:00 p.m.         — Catechism Class      
6:30 p.m.         — Service of Holy Unction
 
Thursday, April 21   (Great and Holy Thursday)
            6:00 a.m.         — Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil
6:30 p.m.         — Reading of the Twelve Passion Gospels
 
Friday, April 22   (Great and Holy Friday)
            6:00 a.m.         — Royal Hours
            3:00 p.m.         — Taking down from the Cross
            6:30 p.m.         — Lamentations Service
 
Saturday, April 23   (Great and Holy Saturday)
9:00 a.m.         — Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil
            10:30 p.m.       — Paschal Service
 
Sunday, April 24   (Great and Holy PASCHA)
            3:00 p.m.         — Agape Vespers
 
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Bakers yesterday for the Divine Liturgy for Lazarus Saturday and by the Woods for the Divine Liturgy today.  
 
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.
 
Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:
                                                      Eucharist Bread                     Coffee Hour
         April 17                                Woods                                    Anna/Joanna/Meadows
         April 21 (Thurs. a.m.)           R. Roots                                   Meadows
         April 23 (Sat. a.m.)               Hendersons                              TBA
         April 23 (Sat. p.m.)               Morrises                                   T. Skirtechs/Parkers/
                  PASCHA                                                                           B. Skirtechs
 
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 17                       Walt Wood                         Phil. 4:4-9                                  294
April 21 (Thurs. a.m.) Kh. Sharon Meadows           I Cor. 11:23-32                         295
April 23 (Sat. a.m.)      Brenda Baker                      Rom. 6:3-11                              300
April 23 (Sat. p.m.)     Warren Strain                      Acts 1:1-8                                  25
 
Confessions:  Please go ahead and schedule your confessions so we do not have so many people trying to fit it in just before Holy Week.  No confessions will be heard after Great and Holy Wednesday.
 
Michael and Amy Surratt will be chrismated prior to the Vesperal Liturgy on Great and Holy Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m.  Please keep them in your prayers.
 
Please remember the following in your prayers:  Fr. Leo, Kh. Be’Be’, Stephen and Amy, Justyn and Jeffrey; Amy and Brantley Oliver; Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Sam and Lamia Dabit; David Turner’s parents, Harry and Mary Jean; Fr. Joseph Bittle, Kh. Joanna, their daughter Abigail and the rest of their family.
 
Please continue to pray for the health of His Grace, bishop ANTOUN.
 
Calendar Items:
·         The Men of the parish meet for lunch and fellowship on the first Thursday of the month.  
·               We will hold our annual catfish dinner today following the liturgy.  Meals will be all-    you-can-eat catfish, hushpuppies, cole slaw and French fries.  Cost for the meal will be $9 for adults and children 12 and over, and $6 for children 5-11
·               The Feast of Pascha is April 24th and St. Peter’s will be hosting Agape Vespers (beginning at 3:00 p.m.) and the meal afterwards.  Sign-up sheets are available in the fellowship hall for both.
·         The schedule for the special services for Holy Week are as follows:
 
                  Sunday, April 17       —    Bridegroom Matins, 6:30 p.m.
                  Monday, April 18     —    Bridegroom Matins, 6:30 p.m.
                  Tuesday, April 19     —    Bridegroom Matins, 6:30 p.m.
                  Wednesday, April 20      —       Holy Unction Service, 6:30 p.m.
                  Thursday, April 21    —    Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil, 6:00 a.m.
                                                         —    Reading of the Twelve Passion Gospels
                  Friday, April 23        —    Royal Hours, 6:00 a.m.
                                                   —    Taking down from the Cross, 3:00 p.m.
                                                   —    Lamentations Service, 6:30 p.m.
                  Saturday                    —    Chrismations followed by Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil                              
                                                   —    Paschal Service,  10:30 p.m.
                  Sunday, April 24       —    Agape Vespers (at St. Peter), 3:00 p.m.        
 
*    The 2011 Parish Life Conference is being hosted by St. John Orthodox Church in Memphis on June 16-19. More information (hotels, etc.) is available through the Archdiocese website at antiochian.org.
*       We will be serving a meal at the Stewpot in Jackson on July 9th and November 19th.
 
If you are planning to attend the Parish Life Conference in Memphis, please register as soon as possible.  St. John needs our registrations as they continue their preparations to host this event.
 
Antiochian Women’s Scholarship:  Each year AOCWNA is able to award scholarships, usually in the amount of $500 each, to help women continue their education in order to improve their circumstances and those of their families.  In order to be eligible, a woman must be over 25 years of age, a member in good standing and active in her parish, registered in an academic or trade program of study, and demonstrate financial need.  The application deadline is May 27, 2011.  If you are interested in applying for this scholarship, please see Fr. John for an application.
 
If you have not yet returned your pledge slip, please do so as soon as possible, either by mail in the enclosed envelope, or by placing your pledge slip in the Tithes box at the back of the nave.  We need this information to prepare our budget for the year.
 
Fasting Discipline for April
During Great Lent the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, wine and oil) is observed on all days of the week until Pascha (except Palm Sunday on April 17th, when fish, wine and oil are permitted). There is no fasting during the week following Pascha ( Bright Week).
 
Major Commemorations during April
April 17           Palm Sunday
April 18-23      Holy Week
April 23           Great-martyr George
April 24           PASCHA
April 25           Apostle Mark
April 30           Apostle James of Zebedee
        
If you are the last to leave the building, please make sure that the heating and cooling unit in the Fellowship Hall is turned off.
 
Happy Birthdays in April:
         April 6                   —    John Wood (#18!)
         April 11                 —    Brandon Strain (#9!)
 
Happy Anniversaries in April:
         April 12                 —    Mike and Cheryl Piggott (#30!)
         April 25                 —    Jim and Desi Roehner (#62!!)
 
 Quotable:  “And experience has shown me that the grace of God makes prayer easy.  The Lord loves us and in His mercy grants us to converse with Him in prayer, and to repent and give thanks.”
                                                                                    Saint Silouan
 
        
Worship:         Sunday, April 24, 2011 (PASCHA)
 
         Scripture:                                Acts 1:1-8; John 1:1-17
         Celebrant:                               Father John
         Epistle Reader:                        Warren Strain
         Prosphora:                               Morrises
         Coffee Hour:                            PASCHAL  FEAST (T. Skirtechs/Parkers/B. Skirtechs)
 

4/10 announcements

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April 10, 2011
Fifth Sunday of Lent
St. Mary of Egypt
 
    The facts of the life of St. Mary of Egypt are vague and clouded by time and separation, but the spirit of her story is a clear call to repentance and devotion.  According to tradition, Mary was from Alexandria, where she was an actress and courtesan, living a life of sin and infamy.  When spiritual intervention forbade her entry to Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, she spent the night in penitent prayer.  The following morning she was able to enter, whereupon she venerated the cross and immediately removed herself to the life of a penitent and solitary in the Palestinian desert.  She remained in isolation for forty-seven years, aided only by monks of the region and God’s grace.  Only at her death was she found and given communion by the priest Zosimus.  On this last Sunday of Lent, as we prepare for Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and the Great Feast of the eighth and eternal day, we call to mind this holy woman, her fear of the all-powerful God, her recognition of her sin, her repentance, her humility, her faith, and her unwavering intent to seek righteousness and the courts of her King.
 
Hebrews 9:11-14:  In our reading from Hebrews, we hear the Apostle tell us that when Christ entered the heavenly Holy of Holies through His own blood, He obtained for us eternal redemption for our sins.
 
Mark 10:32-45:  We again hear our Lord prophesy concerning His coming death and resurrection, but, His disciples do not understand, displaying concern for personal gain as a reward.  The Lord then explains to them that greatness in the kingdom of  God is attained through service to others.
 
Troparion of the Resurrection:  Let us believers praise and worship the Word, co-eternal 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.
 
Troparion of St. Mary of Egypt:  Through thee the divine likeness was securely preserved, O Mother Mary; for thou didst carry the cross and followed Christ.  By example and precept thou didst teach us to ignore the body because it is perishable, and to attend to the concerns of the undying soul.  Therefore, doth thy soul rejoice with the angels.
 
Troparion of the Chains of St. Peter: O Holy Apostle, Peter, thou dost preside over the Apostles by the precious chains which thou didst bear.  We venerate them with faith and beseech thee that by thine intercessions we be granted the great mercy.
 
Kontakion of the Theotokos:  O undisputed intercessor of Christians, O mediatrix, who is unrejected by the Creator, turn not away from the voice of our petitions though we be sinners; come to us in time, who cry to thee in faith, for thou art good.  Hasten to us with intercessions, O Theotokos, who didst ever intercede for those who honor thee.
 
CALENDAR
Sunday, April 10   (St. Mary of Egypt)
            8:50 a.m.         — Orthros
            9:00 a.m.         — Christian Education
            10:00 a.m.       — Divine Liturgy
            1:00 p.m.         — Young Adults
           
Monday, April 11   
            Office Closed  — Father John’s Day Off
           
Tuesday, April 12   
            6:00 a.m.         — Lenten Orthros
 
Wednesday, April 13   
5:00 p.m.         — Catechism Class      
6:30 p.m.         — Presanctified Liturgy followed by Lenten Meal
 
 
Thursday, April 14   
            6:00 a.m.         — Lenten Orthros
 
Friday, April 15   
            6:00 a.m.         — Lenten Orthros
            6:30 p.m.         — Small Compline with the Canon of St. Lazarus
 
Saturday, April 16   (Lazarus Saturday)
9:00 a.m.         — Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy
5:00 p.m.         — Catechism Class
            5:45 p.m.         — Ninth Hour Prayers followed by Great Vespers
 
Sunday, April 17   (Palm Sunday)
            8:50 a.m.         — Orthros
            9:00 a.m.         — Christian Education
            10:00 a.m.       — Divine Liturgy followed by Annual Fish Fry
            6:30 p.m.         — Bridegroom Matins
 
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Fahmys for the Divine Liturgy today.  
 
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.
 
Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:
                                                      Eucharist Bread                     Coffee Hour
         April 10                                Fahmys                                    Woods
         April 16 (Sat. a.m.)               Bakers                                     Ellis/Zouboukos
                  Lazarus Saturday
         April 17                                Woods                                    Anna/Joanna/Meadows
         April 21 (Thurs. a.m.)           R. Roots                                   Meadows
         April 23 (Sat. a.m.)               Hendersons                              TBA
         April 23 (Sat. p.m.)               Morrises                                   T. Skirtechs/Parkers/
                  PASCHA                                                                           B. Skirtechs
 
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 10                       Tom Skirtech                      Heb. 9:11-14                             290
April 16 (Sat. a.m.)      Kh. Sharon Meadows         Heb. 12:28-13:8                        291
April 17                       Walt Wood                         Phil. 4:4-9                                 294
April 21 (Thurs. a.m.)  Kh. Sharon Meadows          I Cor. 11:23-32                        295
April 23 (Sat. a.m.)      Brenda Baker                      Rom. 6:3-11                             300
April 23 (Sat. p.m.)     Warren Strain                      Acts 1:1-8                                  25
 
Belated Congratulations to Chris and Rebecca Dansereau on the birth of Sophie Elizabeth (8 lbs. 3oz. 20¾ inches) on March 29th.  Mother and daughter continue to do well at home.
 
Confessions:  Please go ahead and schedule your confessions so we do not have so many people trying to fit it in just before Holy Week.  No confessions will be heard after Great and Holy Wednesday.
 
Michael and Amy Surratt will be chrismated prior to the Vesperal Liturgy on Great and Holy Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m.  Please keep them in your prayers.
 
Please remember the following in your prayers:  Fr. Leo, Kh. Be’Be’, Stephen and Amy, Justyn and Jeffrey; Amy and Brantley Oliver; Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Sam and Lamia Dabit; David Turner’s parents, Harry and Mary Jean; Fr. Joseph Bittle, Kh. Joanna, their daughter Abigail and the rest of their family.
 
Please continue to pray for the health of His Grace, bishop ANTOUN.
 
Fasting Discipline for April
During Great Lent the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, wine and oil) is observed on all days of the week until Pascha (except Palm Sunday on April 17th, when fish, wine and oil are permitted). There is no fasting during the week following Pascha ( Bright Week).
 
Major Commemorations during April
April 10           5th Sunday of Lent; St. Mary of Egypt
April 16           Lazarus Saturday
April 17           Palm Sunday
April 18-23      Holy Week
April 23           Great-martyr George
April 24           PASCHA
April 25           Apostle Mark
April 30           Apostle James of Zebedee
 
Calendar Items:
·         The Men of the parish meet for lunch and fellowship on the first Thursday of the month.  
·         During the Fast we will be celebrating the Presanctified Liturgy on Wednesday evenings and the Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos on Friday evenings.  Both services will begin at 6:30 p.m. and, as is our custom, we will have a Lenten Supper following the Liturgy on Wednesdays.
·         We will hold our annual catfish dinner on Palm Sunday, April 17th, following the liturgy.  Meals will be all-you-can-eat catfish, hushpuppies, cole slaw and French fries.  Cost for the meal will be $9 for adults and children 12 and over, and $6 for children 5-11.  We will need to turn in a headcount this week, so please be sure to place your names on the sign-up sheet.
·         The Feast of Pascha is April 24th and St. Peter’s will be hosting Agape Vespers (beginning at 3:00 p.m.) and the meal afterwards.  Sign-up sheets are available in the fellowship hall for both.
·         The schedule for the special services for Lazarus Saturday and Holy Week are as follows:
 
Friday, April 15           —  Small Compline with Canon of St. Lazarus, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 16       —  Orthros/Divine Liturgy, 9:00 a.m.
Sunday, April 17         —  Bridegroom Matins, 6:30 p.m.
Monday, April 18        —  Bridegroom Matins, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 19        —  Bridegroom Matins, 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 20   —  Holy Unction Service, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 21      —  Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil, 6:00 a.m.
—  Reading of the Twelve Gospels, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, April 23           —  Royal Hours, 6:00 a.m.
—  Taking down from the Cross, 3:00 p.m.
—  Lamentations Service, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 23       —  Chrismations followed Vesperal Liturgy of St.Basil
—  Paschal Service,  10:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 24         — Agape Vespers (at St. Peter), 3:00 p.m. 
                                                           
·         The 2011 Parish Life Conference is being hosted by St. John Orthodox Church in Memphis on June 16-19. More information (hotels, etc.) is available through the Archdiocese website at antiochian.org.
·         We will be serving a meal at the Stewpot in Jackson on July 9th and November 19th.
 
Antiochian Women’s Scholarship:  Each year AOCWNA is able to award scholarships, usually in the amount of $500 each, to help women continue their education in order to improve their circumstances and those of their families.  In order to be eligible, a woman must be over 25 years of age, a member in good standing and active in her parish, registered in an academic or trade program of study, and demonstrate financial need.  The application deadline is May 27, 2011.  If you are interested in applying for this scholarship, please see Fr. John for an application.
 
If you have not yet returned your pledge slip, please do so as soon as possible, either by mail in the enclosed envelope, or by placing your pledge slip in the Tithes box at the back of the nave.  We need this information to prepare our budget for the year.
 
If you are the last to leave the building, please make sure that the heating and cooling unit in the Fellowship Hall is turned off.
 
Happy Birthdays in April:
         April 6                   —    John Wood (#18!)
         April 11                 —    Brandon Strain (#9!)
 
Happy Anniversaries in April:
         April 12                 —    Mike and Cheryl Piggott (#30!)
         April 25                 —    Jim and Desi Roehner (#62!!)
 
Quotable:  “When we love someone, we like to think about that person, talk about him, be with him.  Now the soul loves the Lord, as her Father and Creator, and stands before Him in awe and love; in awe because He is the Lord; in love because the soul knows Him for her Father – He is all mercy and His grace sweeter than aught else.”
                                                                                    Saint Silouan
 
        
Worship:         Sunday, April 17, 2011 (Palm Sunday)
 
         Scripture:                                 Philippians 4:4-9; John 12:1-18
         Celebrant:                                Father John
         Epistle Reader:                         Walt Wood
         Prosphora:                               Woods
         Coffee Hour:                            FISH FRY (set-up Anna/Joanna/Meadows)