Monthly Archives: May 2013

6/2 announcements

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June 2, 2013
Sunday of the Samaritan Woman
 
    This Sunday concludes the week which includes mid-Pentecost.  The scriptures for that day make reference to the great and final feast and the Lord’s words concerning fountains of living water and the nourishment of the spirit.  The episode of the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s Well and Jesus’s further description of Himself as living water continue this theme.  There are innumerable nuances to the message of this episode, ranging from the allusion to the patriarch Joseph to the faith of those who believe without seeing, but let us concentrate on the woman who comes into the presence of her God.  Christ asks service of her, asks her to ignore their traditional enmity, confuses her with parables, confronts her with her sins, and claims to be her Messiah and Lord.  She enters the scene with skepticism, but she does not let circumstances blind her, for the words of the man before her ring with unmistakable authority and truth.  Whether she wants to or not, she must believe herself to be in the presence of the Son of God; she not only believes, but she quickly bears witness to the others of her town.  We join her in her faith, and we, too, partake of the Water of Life.
 
Acts 11:19-30:  Reading in Acts, we see the establishment of the first predominately Gentile church in Antioch under the leading of Barnabas and Saul.
 
John 4:5-42:  In Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman we see our Lord’s concern with the truth, both in our dealings with others and in our worship of God.  We also see that spreading the eternal gospel of the Kingdom is a corporate action and not that of just one or two.

Troparion of the Resurrection:  Having learned the joyful message of the Resurrection from the angel, the women Disciples cast from them their parental condemnation, and proudly broke the news to the Disciples, saying, Death has been spoiled.  Christ God is risen, granting the world Great Mercy.
 
Troparion for mid-Pentecost:  In the midst of this Feast, O Saviour, give 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 unto me and drink.  Wherefore, O Christ our God, Fountain of life, glory to thee.
 
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 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, June 2   (Sunday of the Samaritan Woman)
            8:50 a.m.         — Orthros
            9:00 a.m.         — Christian Education 
            10:00 a.m.       — Divine Liturgy
 
Monday, June 3   
            Office Closed — Father John’s Day Off
           
Tuesday, June 4   (Metrophanes of Constantinople)
            6:00 a.m.         — Festal Orthros
           
Wednesday, June 5    
            6:30 p.m.         — Great Vespers
            7:30 p.m.         — Choir Practice
 
Thursday, June 6
            NO Daily Orthros
            11:30 a.m.       — Men’s Lunch
           
Friday, June 7    
            NO Daily Orthros
 
Saturday, June 8   (Theodore the General) 
            5:45 p.m.         — Ninth Hour followed by Great Vespers
           
Sunday, June 9   (Sunday of the Blindman)
            8:50 a.m.         — Orthros
            10:00 a.m.       — Divine Liturgy
            5:30 p.m.         — Young Adults
           
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Morrises for the Divine Liturgy this morning. 
 
 Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:
                                    Eucharist Bread                     Coffee Hour
June 2                          Morris                                      TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED
June 9                          Jones                                                   DUE TO CONSTRUCTION
June 12 (Wed. p.m.)  Meadows
June 16                        Davis
June 22 (Sat. a.m.)     Yeatts                                       Koliva:  Anastasia Jones
June 23                       Abraham
June 29 (Sat. a.m.)     Liturgy for Sts. Peter and Paul cancelled due to Church School
June 30                        Basinger
 
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#
June 2                              Walt Wood                          Acts 11:19-30                 52
June 9                              Sh. Charlotte Algood         Acts 16:16-34                 58
June 12 (Wed. p.m.)       Kh. Sharon Meadows        Acts 1:1-12                     63
June 16                            Warren Strain                       Acts 20:16-18, 28-36     66
June 22 (Sat. a.m.)          Phillip Lasseter                    Acts 28:4-31                   72
June 23                            Mildred Morris                    Acts 2:1-11                     77
June 29 (Sat. a.m.)          Liturgy for Sts. Peter and Paul cancelled due to Church School
June 30                             Kh. Be’Be’ Schelver            I Cor. 4:9-16                   130
 
Please remember Fr. Joseph and Kh. Joanna Bittle, and their daughter Abigail, in your prayers. 
 
Please remember the following in your prayers:  Steve, Sheryl and Stephen Chamblee; Amy and Brantley Oliver; Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Sam and Lamia Dabit and Sammie; Georgia Buchanan, George Johns (Georgia’s grandson) and his family; Mary Greene (Lee and Kh. Sharon’s sister); Fr. Stephen Tewfik; Sh. Gail Shannon; Dn. Sidney and Sh. Mary Elliot;Fr. Alexander Atty, the Dean of St. Thikon’s who is battling cancer.

Please remember Charles and Vivian Hadad in your prayers.  They are members of Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church and have been dear friends of St. Peter’s for many years.  Both are experiencing issues with their health and Vivian is currently hospitalized.
 
Continue to pray for Metropolitan Paul (who is also the brother of our Patriarch) and the Syriac Archbishop John of Aleppo who were abducted recently while on a humanitarian mission in Syria.
 
Please continue to pray for the health of His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN.
 
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.
 
Please be reminded that the Sacristy/Vestry which is adjacent to and behind the altar in our church is considered by the Orthodox Church to be part of the Sanctuary (Altar area) and should not be entered without the blessing of the priest for a specific purpose.  If you need to speak with a member of the clergy while they are in the Sanctuary, please ask them to come to you in the nave.
 
Congratulations!!             …to Dorin and Carolina on the news of an upcoming addition to their family!
                                         
                                          …to Fr. James and Kh. Sharon (and of course to Amanda and     Joseph!) on the news that they will be grandparents in January!
 
Calendar Items:
*    The Men of the parish meet for lunch and fellowship on the first Thursday of the month.
*    The Paschal season will come to a close with Paschal Vespers for the Leave-taking of Pascha on Tuesday evening, June 11th, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
*    We will celebrate the Feast of the Ascension with Orthros and Divine Liturgy on Wednesday evening, June 12th, beginning at 6:00 p.m. 
*    Parish Life Conference in New Orleans – June 12-16th.
*    We will celebrate Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy for Saturday of the Souls on Saturday morning, June 22nd, beginning at 9:00 a.m.
*    The Feast of Pentecost will be celebrated on June 23rd.  As is the usual custom in our parish, the Kneeling Vespers will be held that Sunday evening, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
*    Vacation Church School will be held June 27-29, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
*    There will be no liturgy this year for Sts. Peter and Paul due to Vacation Church School.
 
Fasting Discipline for June
The 12th the traditional fasting (no meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, wine or oil) is observed on all Wednesdays and Fridays of the month until the Feast of Pentecost.  There is no fasting of any kind during the week following Pentecost (June 24-28th).  Due to the lateness of Pentecost this year, there will be no fast of the Apostles.
 
Major Commemorations for June
June 2                    Sunday of the Samaritan Woman
June 4                    Metrophanes of Constantinople
June 8                    Theodore the General (transfer of relics)
June 9                    Sunday of the Blindman
June 11                  Apostles Bartholomew and Barnabas
June 13                  Feast of the Ascension
June 16                  Sunday of the Holy Fathers of Nicea
June 22                  Saturday of the Souls
June 23                  Pentecost
June 24                  Nativity of the Forerunner
June 29                  Chief Apostles Peter and Paul
June 30                  Sunday of All Saints
                              Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles
 
Vacation Church School …The Christian Education department will hold a Vacation Church School June 27-29 from 8:30-12:30 each day.  The curriculum will be “Ark of our Salvation – Feast Days of the Theotokos.”  Parents, please be sure to mark your calendars now.
 
Happy Birthdays in June:
         June 1                    —    Fr. James Meadows
         June 5                    —    George Wood
         June 6                    —    Michel Root (2012)
         June 12                  —    Ellie Yeatts (1998)
         June 13                  —    Lou Turner
         June 17                  —    Sh. Margaret Root
         June 21                  —    Sandra Strain
         June 22                  —    Isabelle Goss (2010)
         June 29                  —    Jennifer Skirtech
         June 30                  —    Jeffrey Bassinger
 
Parish Life Conference 2013:  This year St. Basil Orthodox Church in Metairie, LA will be hosting the Parish Life Conference for our Diocese on June 12-16.  His Grace, Bishop JOHN Abdallah will be the speaker.  There will also be a special presentation by Fr. Philip Rogers on keeping our children in the Orthodox Christian Church.  Parents are especially encouraged to hear his presentation.  Please mark your calendars now and make plans to attend.
 
Happy Anniversaries in June:
         June 8                    —    Nader and Lily Dabit (2008)
         June 10                  —    Dorin and Carolina Lavric (2011)
         June 14                  —    Ken and Anastasia Jones (1970)
                                       —    Saliba and Lamia Dabit (1964)
         June 22                  —    Fr. Leo and Kh. Be’Be’ Schelver (1974)
         June 31                  —    Denis and Tatiana Lavric (2010)
 
Quotable:      “‘And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.’ (Rom. 5,5)

                       The nous , on the other hand, is the energy of the soul.  According to the Fathers, the nous is also called the eye of the soul.  Its natural place is to be found within the heart; to be united with the essence of the soul and to experience the unceasing memory of God.  Its movement goes contrary to nature when it is enslaved by the creatures of God and the passions.  Orthodox tradition makes a distinction between nous and reason.

                       Reason is a function in the brain whereas the nous operates out of and is united with the heart in its natural state.  In the saintly person, who is the manifestation and bearer of Orthodox spirituality, reason works and is conscious of the surrounding world while the nous is within the heart, praying unceasingly.  The separation of the nous from reason constitutes the state of a spiritually healthy person, and this is the goal of Orthodox spirituality.”

                                    Metropolitan HIEROTHEOS, Orthodox Spirituality
 
 
Worship:         Sunday, June 9, 2013 (Sunday of the Blindman)
 
         Scripture:                                Acts 16:16-34; John 9:1-38
         Celebrant:                               Father John
         Epistle Reader:                       Sh. Charlotte Algood
         Prosphora:                              Jones
         Coffee Hour:                          Temporarily Suspended due to Construction                                          

5/26 announcements

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May 26, 2013
Sunday of the Paralytic
 
In the miracle of the healing of the paralytic at the pool of Bethesda, we see the Son’s power over life and sin, power which becomes fully evident in the Resurrection. The paralytic is a man crippled in body and spirit, for, even as He heals the body, Jesus warns against results of further sin.  Christ frees us from our bodies of corruption and grants us flesh glorified in Him; He also frees us from the power of sin and grants us perfection in His Spirit.  As the man at the pool accepted God’s grace and found life, so let us walk in His light and come into His presence.
 
Acts 9:32-42:  Empowered by the Holy Spirit, St Peter heals a paralyzed man and raises a woman from the dead; both acts lead to many people believing in the Lord.
 
John 5:1-15:  Jesus demonstrates His lordship over creation and the Sabbath when He heals a sick man at the pool of Bethsaida.
 
Troparion of the Resurrection:  Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad; for the Lord hath done a mighty act with his own arm.  He hath trampled down death and become the First-born from the dead. He hath delivered us from the depths of hades, granting the world the Great Mercy.
 
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 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, May 26   (Sunday of the Paralytic)
            8:50 a.m.         — Orthros
            9:00 a.m.         — Christian Education 
            10:00 a.m.       — Divine Liturgy
            5:30 p.m.         — Young Adults
 
Monday, May 27   
            Office Closed — Father John’s Day Off
           
Tuesday, May 28   
            6:00 a.m.         — Daily Orthros
           
Wednesday, May 29    
            6:30 p.m.         — Great Vespers
            7:30 p.m.         — Choir Practice
 
Thursday, May 30    
            NO Daily Orthros
           
Friday, May 31    
            NO Daily Orthros
 
Saturday, June 1   (Justyn Martyr) 
            5:45 p.m.         — Ninth Hour followed by Great Vespers
 
Sunday, June 2   (Sunday of the Samaritan Woman)
            8:50 a.m.         — Orthros
            9:00 a.m.         — Christian Education 
            10:00 a.m.       — Divine Liturgy
           
 
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Schelvers for the Divine Liturgy this morning. 
 
 Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:
                                    Eucharist Bread                     Coffee Hour
May 26                        Schelver                                   TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED
June 2                          Morris                                                  DUE TO CONSTRUCTION
June 9                          Jones
June 12 (Wed. p.m.)  Meadows
June 16                        Davis
 
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 26                            Tom Skirtech                       Acts 9:32-42                    45
June 2                              Walt Wood                          Acts 11:19-30                  52
June 9                              Sh. Charlotte Algoos          Acts 16:16-34                  58
June 12 (Wed. p.m.)       Kh. Sharon Meadows        Acts 1:1-12                      63
June 16                             Warren Strain                      Acts 20:16-18, 28-36       66
 
Please remember Fr. Joseph and Kh. Joanna Bittle, and their daughter Abigail, in your prayers. 
 
Please remember the following in your prayers:  Steve, Sheryl and Stephen Chamblee; Amy and Brantley Oliver; Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Sam and Lamia Dabit and Sammie; Georgia Buchanan, George Johns (Georgia’s grandson) and his family; Mary Greene (Lee and Kh. Sharon’s sister); Fr. Stephen Tewfik; Sh. Gail Shannon; Dn. Sidney and Sh. Mary Elliot;
Fr. Alexander Atty, the Dean of St. Thikon’s who is battling cancer.
 
Please remember Charles and Vivian Hadad in your prayers.  They are members of Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church and have been dear friends of St. Peter’s for many years.  Both are experiencing issues with their health and Vivian is currently hospitalized.
 
Continue to pray for Metropolitan Paul (who is also the brother of our Patriarch) and the Syriac Archbishop John of Aleppo who were abducted recently while on a humanitarian mission in Syria.
 
Please continue to pray for the health of His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN.
 
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.
 
Please be reminded that the Sacristy/Vestry which is adjacent to and behind the altar in our church is considered by the Orthodox Church to be part of the Sanctuary (Altar area) and should not be entered without the blessing of the priest for a specific purpose.  If you need to speak with a member of the clergy while they are in the Sanctuary, please ask them to come to you in the nave.
 
Calendar Items:
*    The Men of the parish meet for lunch and fellowship on the first Thursday of the month.
*    The Paschal season will come to a close with Paschal Vespers for the Leave-taking of Pascha on Tuesday evening, June 11th, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
*    We will celebrate the Feast of the Ascension with Orthros and Divine Liturgy on Wednesday evening, June 12th, beginning at 6:00 p.m. 
*    Parish Life Conference in New Orleans – June 12-16th.
*    We will celebrate Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy for Saturday of the Souls on Saturday morning, June 22nd, beginning at 9:00 a.m.
*    The Feast of Pentecost will be celebrated on June 23rd.  As is the usual custom in our parish, the Kneeling Vespers will be held that Sunday evening, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
*    Vacation Church School will be held June 27-29, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
*    There will be no liturgy this year for Sts. Peter and Paul due to Vacation Church School.
 
Fasting Discipline for May/June
The 12th the traditional fasting (no meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, wine or oil) is observed on all Wednesdays and Fridays of the month until the Feast of Pentecost.  There is no fasting of any kind during the week following Pentecost (June 24-28th).  Due to the lateness of Pentecost this year, there will be no fast of the Apostles.
 
Major Commemorations for May/June
May 26                  Sunday of the Paralytic
June 1                    Justyn Martyr
June 2                    Sunday of the Samaritan Woman
June 4                    Metrophanes of Constantinople
June 8                    Theodore the General (transfer of relics)
June 9                    Sunday of the Blindman
June 11                  Apostles Bartholomew and Barnabas
June 13                  Feast of the Ascension
June 16                  Sunday of the Holy Fathers of Nicea
June 22                  Saturday of the Souls
June 23                  Pentecost
June 24                  Nativity of the Forerunner
June 29                  Chief Apostles Peter and Paul
June 30                  Sunday of All Saints
                              Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles
 
Vacation Church School …The Christian Education department will hold a Vacation Church School June 27-29 from 8:30-12:30 each day.  The curriculum will be “Ark of our Salvation – Feast Days of the Theotokos.”  Parents, please be sure to mark your calendars now.
 
Happy Anniversaries in May/June:
         May 30                  —    Tom and Jennifer Skirtech (#36!)
         June 8                    —    Nader and Lily Dabit (2008)
         June 10                  —    Dorin and Carolina Lavric (2011)
         June 14                  —    Ken and Anastasia Jones (1970)
                                       —    Saliba and Lamia Dabit (1964)
         June 22                  —    Fr. Leo and Kh. Be’Be’ Schelver (1974)
         June 31                  —    Denis and Tatiana Lavric (2010)
 
Happy Birthdays in MayJune:
         May 26                  —    David Turner
         May 27                  —    Luke Habeeb (#8!)
         May 30                  —    Dn. Terry Algood
         May 31                  —    Stephen Chamblee
         June 1                    —    Fr. James Meadows
         June 5                    —    George Wood
         June 6                    —    Michel Root (2012)
         June 12                  —    Ellie Yeatts (1998)
         June 13                  —    Lou Turner
         June 17                  —    Sh. Margaret Root
         June 21                  —    Sandra Strain
         June 22                  —    Isabelle Goss (2010)
         June 29                  —    Jennifer Skirtech
         June 30                  —    Jeffrey Bassinger
 
Parish Life Conference 2013:  This year St. Basil Orthodox Church in Metairie, LA will be hosting the Parish Life Conference for our Diocese on June 12-16.  His Grace, Bishop JOHN Abdallah will be the speaker.  There will also be a special presentation by Fr. Philip Rogers on keeping our children in the Orthodox Christian Church.  Parents are especially encouraged to hear his presentation.  Please mark your calendars now and make plans to attend.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Quotable:      “According to patristic tradition, the essence of the soul, which is called heart, is found within an organ, not in a vessel where the physical organ of the heart is.  This should be interpreted in reference to what it was said before, that the soul holds the body and gives life to it; it is not contained by the body but it contains the person’s body.  It is within this perspective that St. Nicodemos the Hagiorite speaks of the heart as a biophysical (natural) centre, since the blood is circulated to all parts of the body from there; as an affected (contrary to nature) centre, since the passions prevail therein, and as a supernatural centre since the grace of God operates there, as many passages of the Holy Scripture state:
                       ‘But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart’ (Matt. 5,28)
                       ‘But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgement of God’ (Rom. 2,5)
                       ‘That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith’ (Eph. 3,17)”
                                    Metropolitan HIEROTHEOS, Orthodox Spirituality
 
Worship:         Sunday, June 2, 2013 (Sunday of the Samaritan Woman)
 
         Scripture:                                Acts 11:19-30; John 4:5-42
         Celebrant:                               Father John
         Epistle Reader:                       Walt Wood
         Prosphora:                              Morris
         Coffee Hour:                           Temporarily Suspended due to Construction                                          

5/19 announcements

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May 19, 2013
Sunday of the Myrrh-bearers
 
About the beginning of His thirty-second year, when our Lord was going throughout Galilee, preaching and working miracles, many women who had received of His beneficence left their homeland and from then on followed after Him.  They ministered unto Him out of their own possessions, even until His crucifixion and entombment; and afterwards, neither losing faith in Him after His death, nor fearing the wrath of the Jewish rulers, they came to His sepulcher, bearing the myrrh-oils they had prepared to anoint His body.  It is because of the myrrh-oils that these God-loving women brought to the tomb that they are called the Myrrh-bearers.  Of those whose names are known are the following: first of all the most holy Virgin Mary, who in Matthew 27:56 and Mark 15:40 is called Athe mother of James and Joses@ (these are the sons of Joseph by a previous marriage, and she was therefore their step-mother); Mary Magdalene; Mary, the wife of Cleopas; Joanna, wife of Chouza, a steward of Herod Antipas; Salome, the mother of the sons of Zebedee; Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus; and Susanna.  As for the names of the rest of them, the evangelists have kept silence.
  On this day we also make commemoration of Joseph of Arimathea, who was a secret disciple, and also of Nicodemus, who was a disciple by night.  Joseph went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus, and together with Nicodemus, he gave Him burial out of  reverence and love.
 
Acts 6:1-7:  In the reading from Acts we see the establishment of the office of diaconate as an order of Church government with a purpose of serving the people and caring for their needs.
 
Mark 15:43-16:8:  St Mark describes how Joseph of Arimathea claims the body of our Lord from  Pi­late to place it in his own tomb.  On the third day, the three women learn from an angel that the Lord has risen from the dead.
 
 
CALENDAR
 
Sunday, May 19   (Sunday of the Myrrh-bearers)
            8:50 a.m.         — Orthros
            9:00 a.m.         — Christian Education 
            10:00 a.m.       — Divine Liturgy
            1:00 p.m.         — Young Adults
           
Monday, May 20   
            Office Closed — Father John’s Day Off
           
Tuesday, May 21   (Sts. Constantine and Helen)
            6:00 a.m.         — Festal Orthros
           
Wednesday, May 22    
            6:30 p.m.         — Great Vespers
            7:30 p.m.         — Choir Practice
            7:30 p.m.         — Parish Council Meeting
 
Thursday, May 23    
            NO Daily Orthros
           
Friday, May 24    
            NO Daily Orthros
 
Saturday, May 25  (The Forerunner – 3rd Discovery) 
            5:45 p.m.         — Ninth Hour followed by Great Vespers
 
Sunday, May 26   (Sunday of the Paralytic)
            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 Katools for the Divine Liturgy this morning. 

 Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:
                                    Eucharist Bread                     Coffee Hour
May 19                        Katool                                      TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED
May 26                        Schelver                                               DUE TO CONSTRUCTION
June 2                          Morris                                     
June 9                          Jones
June 12 (Wed. p.m.)  Meadows
June 16                        Davis
 
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 19                            Tom Willingham                  Acts 6:1-7                       38
May 26                            Tom Skirtech                        Acts 9:32-42                   45
June 2                              Walt Wood                           Acts 11:19-30                 52
June 9                              Sh. Charlotte Algoos           Acts 16:16-34                 58
June 12 (Wed. p.m.)       Kh. Sharon Meadows         Acts 1:1-12                     63
June 16                             Warren Strain                       Acts 20:16-18, 28-36     66
 
Please remember Fr. Joseph and Kh. Joanna Bittle, and their daughter Abigail, in your prayers. 
 
Please remember the following in your prayers:  Steve, Sheryl and Stephen Chamblee; Amy and Brantley Oliver; Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Sam and Lamia Dabit and Sammie; Georgia Buchanan, George Johns (Georgia’s grandson) and his family; Mary Greene (Lee and Kh. Sharon’s sister); Fr. Stephen Tewfik; Sh. Gail Shannon; Dn. Sidney and Sh. Mary Elliot;
Fr. Alexander Atty, the Dean of St. Thikon’s who is battling cancer.
 
Please continue to pray for the health of His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN.
 
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.
 
Please be reminded that the Sacristy/Vestry which is adjacent to and behind the altar in our church is considered by the Orthodox Church to be part of the Sanctuary (Altar area) and should not be entered without the blessing of the priest for a specific purpose.  If you need to speak with a member of the clergy while they are in the Sanctuary, please ask them to come to you in the nave.
 
Calendar Items:
*    The Men of the parish meet for lunch and fellowship on the first Thursday of the month. 
*    Parish Life Conference in New Orleans – June 12-16th.
*    Vacation Church School will be held June 27-29, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
 
Fasting Discipline for May
There is no fasting of any kind during the week following Pascha (Bright Week).  After the 12th the traditional fasting (no meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, wine or oil) will be observed on the remaining Wednesdays and Fridays of the month.
 
Major Commemorations for May
May 19                  Sunday of the Myrrh-bearers
May 21                  Sts. Constantine and Helen
May 25                  The Forerunner (3rd Discovery)
May 26                  Sunday of the Paralytic
 
Vacation Church School …The Christian Education department will hold a Vacation Church School June 27-29 from 8:30-12:30 each day.  The curriculum will be “Ark of our Salvation – Feast Days of the Theotokos.”  Parents, please be sure to mark your calendars now.
 
Happy Anniversaries in May:
         May 12                  —    Cliff and Anna Kathryn Stewart (#6!)
         May 14                  —    Lorencz and Geraldine Quirk (#53!)
         May 19                  —    Jay and Joanna Davis (#1!)
         May 30                  —    Tom and Jennifer Skirtech (#36!)
 
Happy Birthdays in May:
         May 5                    —    Dale Cooper
                                       —    Joanna Davis
         May 7                    —    Tiffany Strain (#16!)
         May 8                    —    Kh. Janet Henderson
         May 10                  —    Fr. Leo Schelver
         May 11                  —    Meghan Brock
         May 15                  —    Tom Skirtech
         May 21                  —    Jacob Skirtech (#6!)
         May 24                  —    Paul Katool
                                       —    Daniel Root
         May 26                  —    David Turner
         May 27                  —    Luke Habeeb (#8!)
         May 30                  —    Dn. Terry Algood
         May 31                  —    Stephen Chamblee
 
Parish Life Conference 2013:  This year St. Basil Orthodox Church in Metairie, LA will be hosting the Parish Life Conference for our Diocese on June 12-16.  His Grace, Bishop JOHN Abdallah will be the speaker.  There will also be a special presentation by Fr. Philip Rogers on keeping our children in the Orthodox Christian Church.  Parents are especially encouraged to hear his presentation.  Please mark your calendars now and make plans to attend.
 
Quotable:      “Having made these clarifications it is important to examine more analytically what the heart and the nous are in Orthodox tradition.”
                      “The heart is the centre of man’s psychosomatic constitution, since, as we noted previously, there is an ‘unconfused’ union between the soul and body. The centre of this union is called heart.”
                      “The heart is the place which is discovered through ascetic practice in  a state of grace; it is the place wherein God is revealed and made manifest.  This definition may seem abstract, yet it is a matter of spiritual experience.  [No one] can fully show the place of the heart by rational and speculative definitions.  In any case the heart is the centre and summation of the three faculties of the soul:  of the intellect, the appetive and the irascible.  The fact is that when a person lives the inner life—when his nous returns within his inner world from its previous dispersion; when he experiences mourning and, in the deepest sense, repentance—he is then conscious of the existence of this centre, i.e. the existence of the heart.  He feels therein pain and spiritual sorrow; he experiences the grace of God; there also he even hears the voice of God.”
                                    Metropolitan HIEROTHEOS, Orthodox Spirituality
 
Worship:         Sunday, May 26, 2013 (Sunday of the Paralytic)
 
         Scripture:                                Acts 9:32-42; John 5:1-15
         Celebrant:                                Father John
         Epistle Reader:                       Tom Skirtech
         Prosphora:                              Schelver
         Coffee Hour:                           Temporarily Suspended due to Construction                                          

5/12 announcements

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May 12, 2013
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.

Troparion of St. George: Since thou art a liberator and deliverer of captives, a help and succour of the poor and needy, a healing physician of the sick, a contender and fighter for kings, O great among Martyrs, the victory-clad George; intercede with Christ god for the salvation of our souls.
 
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 12   (Thomas Sunday)
            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 13   
Office Closed — Father John’s Day Off
           
Tuesday, May 14   
6:00 a.m.         — Daily Orthros
           
Wednesday, May 15    
6:30 p.m.         — Great Vespers
 
Thursday, May 16    
NO Daily Orthros
           
Friday, May 17    
            NO Daily Orthros
 
Saturday, May 18   
            5:45 p.m.         — Ninth Hour followed by Great Vespers
 
Sunday, May 19   (Thomas Sunday)
            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 the Algoods for the Divine Liturgy this morning. 
 
Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:
                                    Eucharist Bread                     Coffee Hour
May 12                        Algood                                     TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED
May 19                        Katool                                                  DUE TO CONSTRUCTION
May 26                        Schelver                                  
 
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 12                            Kh. Be’Be’ Schelver           Acts 5:12-20                   32
May 19                            Tom Willingham                  Acts 6:1-7                      38
May 26                            Tom Skirtech                        Acts 9:32-42                   45
 
Please remember Fr. Joseph and Kh. Joanna Bittle, and their daughter Abigail, in your prayers. 
 
Please remember the following in your prayers:  Steve, Sheryl and Stephen Chamblee; Amy and Brantley Oliver; Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Sam and Lamia Dabit and Sammie; Georgia Buchanan, George Johns (Georgia’s grandson) and his family; Mary Greene (Lee and Kh. Sharon’s sister); Fr. Stephen Tewfik; Sh. Gail Shannon; Dn. Sidney and Sh. Mary Elliot;
Fr. Alexander Atty, the Dean of St. Thikon’s who is battling cancer.
 
Please continue to pray for the health of His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN.
 
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.
 
Please be reminded that the Sacristy/Vestry which is adjacent to and behind the altar in our church is considered by the Orthodox Church to be part of the Sanctuary (Altar area) and should not be entered without the blessing of the priest for a specific purpose.  If you need to speak with a member of the clergy while they are in the Sanctuary, please ask them to come to you in the nave.
 
Welcome and Many Years!! to Eli Sebastian Milnor and Mary Alice Stewart who were baptized Holy Saturday morning!

Calendar Items:
*    The Men of the parish meet for lunch and fellowship on the first Thursday of the month. 
*    Parish Life Conference in New Orleans – June 12-16th.
*    Vacation Church School will be held June 27-29, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
 
Fasting Discipline for May
There is no fasting of any kind during the week following Pascha (Bright Week).  After the 12th the traditional fasting (no meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, wine or oil) will be observed on the remaining Wednesdays and Fridays of the month.
 
Major Commemorations for May
May 12                  Thomas Sunday
May 19                  Sunday of the Myrrh-bearers
May 21                  Sts. Constantine and Helen
May 25                  The Forerunner (3rd Discovery)
May 26                  Sunday of the Paralytic
 
Vacation Church School …The Christian Education department will hold a Vacation Church School June 27-29 from 8:30-12:30 each day.  The curriculum will be “Ark of our Salvation – Feast Days of the Theotokos.”  Parents, please be sure to mark your calendars now.
 
Happy Anniversaries in May:
         May 12                  —    Cliff and Anna Kathryn Stewart (#6!)
         May 14                  —    Lorencz and Geraldine Quirk (#53!)
         May 19                  —    Jay and Joanna Davis (#1!)
         May 30                  —    Tom and Jennifer Skirtech (#36!)
 
Happy Birthdays in May:
         May 5                    —    Dale Cooper
                                       —    Joanna Davis
         May 7                    —    Tiffany Strain (#16!)
         May 8                    —    Kh. Janet Henderson
         May 10                  —    Fr. Leo Schelver
         May 11                  —    Meghan Brock
         May 15                  —    Tom Skirtech
         May 21                  —    Jacob Skirtech (#6!)
         May 24                  —    Paul Katool
                                       —    Daniel Root
         May 26                  —    David Turner
         May 27                  —    Luke Habeeb (#8!)
         May 30                  —    Dn. Terry Algood
         May 31                  —    Stephen Chamblee

Parish Life Conference 2013:  This year St. Basil Orthodox Church in Metairie, LA will be hosting the Parish Life Conference for our Diocese on June 12-16.  His Grace, Bishop JOHN Abdallah will be the speaker.  There will also be a special presentation by Fr. Philip Rogers on keeping our children in the Orthodox Christian Church.  Parents are especially encouraged to hear his presentation.  Please mark your calendars now and make plans to attend.
 
Quotable:  “All asceticism in the Church aims at man’s theosis (divinization), at his communion with God the Trinity.  This is accomplished when the energy of the soul (nous) returns to its essence (heart) and ascends to God.  For unity with God to be attained, the unity of the soul, through the grace of God, must precede it.  Sin in fact is the dispersion of these powers; it is primarily the scattering of the soul’s energy, i.e. of the nous, to things and its separation from the heart.”
                                    Metropolitan HIEROTHEOS, Orthodox Spirituality
 
Worship:         Sunday, May 19, 2013 (Sunday of the Holy Myrrh-bearers)
 
         Scripture:                                Acts 6:1-7; Mark 15:43-16:8
         Celebrant:                               Father John
         Epistle Reader:                       Tom Willingham
         Prosphora:                              Katool
         Coffee Hour:                           Temporarily Suspended due to Construction                                          

5/5 announcements

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May 5, 2013
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, May 5   (PASCHA)
            4:00 p.m.         — Agape Vespers at Holy Trinity/St. John the Theologian Greek
 Orthodox Church
           
Monday, May 6   [NO FASTING DURING BRIGHT WEEK]
Office Closed — Father John’s Day Off
           
Tuesday, May 7   
6:00 a.m.         — Bright Week Orthros
           
Wednesday, May 8    
6:30 p.m.         — Vespers of Bright Week
 
Thursday, May 9    
NO Daily Orthros
              11:30 a.m.       — Men’s Lunch
 
Friday, May 10    
            NO Daily Orthros
Saturday, May 11   
            7:30 a.m.         — Bible Study with Breakfast
            5:45 p.m.         — Ninth Hour followed by Great Vespers
 
Sunday, May 12   (Thomas Sunday)
            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 Woods for the Vesperal Liturgy on Thursday morning; by the Dn. Richard Roots for the Vesperal Liturgy of Great and Holy Saturday and by the Hendersons Paschal Liturgy this morning. 
 
Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:
                                    Eucharist Bread                     Coffee Hour
May 4 (Sat. p.m.)       Henderson                               Kh. Be’Be’ Schelver/Cheryl Pigott
May 12                        Algood                                     TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED
May 19                        Katool                                                  DUE TO CONSTRUCTION
May 26                        Schelver                                  
 
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 4 (Sat. p.m.)            Brenda Baker                      Acts 1:1-8                        25
May 12                             Kh. Be’Be’ Schelver          Acts 5:12-20                    32
May 19                             Tom Willingham                 Acts 6:1-7                        38
May 26                             Tom Skirtech                       Acts 9:32-42                    45
 
Please remember Fr. Joseph and Kh. Joanna Bittle, and their daughter Abigail, in your prayers. 
 
Please remember the following in your prayers:  Steve, Sheryl and Stephen Chamblee; Amy and Brantley Oliver; Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Sam and Lamia Dabit and Sammie; Georgia Buchanan, George Johns (Georgia’s grandson) and his family; Mary Greene (Lee and Kh. Sharon’s sister); Fr. Stephen Tewfik; Sh. Gail Shannon; Dn. Sidney and Sh. Mary Elliot;
Fr. Alexander Atty, the Dean of St. Thikon’s who is battling cancer.
 
Please continue to pray for the health of His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN.
 
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.
 
Please be reminded that the Sacristy/Vestry which is adjacent to and behind the altar in our church is considered by the Orthodox Church to be part of the Sanctuary (Altar area) and should not be entered without the blessing of the priest for a specific purpose.  If you need to speak with a member of the clergy while they are in the Sanctuary, please ask them to come to you in the nave.
 
Calendar Items:
*    The Men of the parish meet for lunch and fellowship on the first Thursday of the month.  However, due to the first Thursday in May falling in Holy Week, the monthly luncheon will be held on the second Thursday of May.
*    Agape Vespers will be held at Holy Trinity/St. John the Theologian Greek Orthodox Church this afternoon, beginning at 4:00 p.m.  We are asked to bring desserts.  Please see the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board.
*    Parish Life Conference in New Orleans – June 12-16th.
*    Vacation Church School will be held June 27-29, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
 
Bible Study with Breakfast:  We will resume the biweekly Bible Study with Breakfast next Saturday morning, May 11th, beginning at 7:30 a.m.
 
Fasting Discipline for May
There is no fasting of any kind during the week following Pascha (Bright Week).  After the 12th the traditional fasting (no meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, wine or oil) will be observed on the remaining Wednesdays and Fridays of the month.
 
Major Commemorations for May
May 5                    PASCHA
May 6-11               Bright Week
May 8                    Apostle John the Theologian
May 10                  Apostle Simon the Zealot
May 12                  Thomas Sunday
May 19                  Sunday of the Myrrh-bearers
May 21                  Sts. Constantine and Helen
May 25                  The Forerunner (3rd Discovery)
May 26                  Sunday of the Paralytic
 
Vacation Church School …The Christian Education department will hold a Vacation Church School June 27-29 from 8:30-12:30 each day.  The curriculum will be “Ark of our Salvation – Feast Days of the Theotokos.”  Parents, please be sure to mark your calendars now.
 
Happy Anniversaries in May:
         May 12                  —    Cliff and Anna Kathryn Stewart (#6!)
         May 14                  —    Lorencz and Geraldine Quirk (#53!)
         May 19                  —    Jay and Joanna Davis (#1!)
         May 30                  —    Tom and Jennifer Skirtech (#36!)
 
Happy Birthdays in May:
         May 5                    —    Dale Cooper
                                       —    Joanna Davis
         May 7                    —    Tiffany Strain (#16!)
         May 8                    —    Kh. Janet Henderson
         May 10                  —    Fr. Leo Schelver
         May 11                  —    Meghan Brock
         May 15                  —    Tom Skirtech
         May 21                  —    Jacob Skirtech (#6!)
         May 24                  —    Paul Katool
                                       —    Daniel Root
         May 26                  —    David Turner
         May 27                  —    Luke Habeeb (#8!)
         May 30                  —    Dn. Terry Algood
         May 31                  —    Stephen Chamblee
 
Parish Life Conference 2013:  This year St. Basil Orthodox Church in Metairie, LA will be hosting the Parish Life Conference for our Diocese on June 12-16.  His Grace, Bishop JOHN Abdallah will be the speaker.  There will also be a special presentation by Fr. Philip Rogers on keeping our children in the Orthodox Christian Church.  Parents are especially encouraged to hear his presentation.  Please mark your calendars now and make plans to attend.
 
Quotable:     “According to St. Gregory Palamas, the soul is called the nous as well.  Yet, both the essence of the soul—the heart—and its energy—consisting of the thoughts—are called nous.”
                     “However, although in the Biblical—Patristic tradition the terms are inter-changeable, to avoid any confusion the soul is referred to as the spiritual element of man’s existence; the heart, as the essence of the soul, and the nous , as the energy of the soul.  Thus, when the nous enters the heart and acts therein, there exists a unity between the nous (energy), the heart (essence) and the soul.”
                                    Metropolitan HIEROTHEOS, Orthodox Spirituality
 
Worship:         Sunday, May 12, 2013 (Thomas Sunday)
 
         Scripture:                                Acts 5:12-20; John 20:19-31
         Celebrant:                               Father John
         Epistle Reader:                       Kh. Be’Be’ Schelver
         Prosphora:                              Algood
         Coffee Hour:                           Temporarily Suspended due to Construction