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)
Saint Peter Antiochian Orthodox Church 