May 1, 2022
New Sunday or ANTI-PASCHA
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 of the Apostles 5:12-20: In those days, many signs and wonders were done among the people by the hands of the apostles; and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch. None of the rest dared to join them, but the people magnified them. And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and pallets, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. The people also gathered from the cities around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed. But the chief priest rose up and all who were with him, that is, the sect of the Sadducees, and filled with jealousy they laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out and said: “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.”
John 20:19-31: On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be to you.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in His side, I will not believe.” Eight days later, His disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, “Peace be to you.” Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see My hands; and put out your hand, and place it in My side; do not be faithless, but believing.” Thomas answered Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Thomas, you have believed because you have seen Me. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His Name.
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 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 Rejoice! to the myrrh-bearing women, granting peace to Thine apostles and bestowing resurrection on the fallen.
CALENDAR
UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE: All services listed on the calendar will be available through streaming and webcast.
Please continue to follow the CDC Guidelines to limit contagion and the spread of the COVID virus.
Sunday, May 1 (Thomas Sunday)
9:00 a.m. — Orthros (webcast)
9:00 a.m. — Christian Education
10:00 a.m. — Divine Liturgy (webcast)
Monday, May 2
Father Herman off
Tuesday, May 3
NO Services
Wednesday, May 4
6:30 p.m. — Daily Vespers
Thursday, May 5
NO Services
11:30 a.m. — Men’s Lunch
Friday, May 6
NO Services
Saturday, May 7
11:30 a.m. — Serving at Stewpot Community Services
6:00 p.m. — Great Vespers with Litia and Artoklasia
Sunday, May 8 (Sunday of the Holy Myrrh-bearers)
9:00 a.m. — Orthros (webcast)
9:00 a.m. — Christian Education
10:00 a.m. — Divine Liturgy (webcast)
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Deacon Richard Roots for the Divine Liturgy this morning.
Eucharist Bread Schedule:
Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour
May 1 R. Root Ellis/Waites/Dansereau
May 7 (Sat. p.m.) Pacurari (Artos Bread for Litia and Artoklasia)
May 8 Baker Lasseter/Pacurari/Miller
May 15 Henderson POT LUCK MEAL
Algood/Schelver
May 22 Algood Meadows/Pigott
May 29 Schelver D. Root/Baker/Cooper
Schedule for Epistle Readers – Page numbers refer to the Apostolos (book of the Epistles) located on the Chanters’ stand at the front of the nave. Please be sure to use this book when you read.
Reader Reading Page#
May 1 Sh. Charlotte Algood Acts 5:12-20 32
May 8 Brenda Baker I John 1:1-7 382
May 15 Ian Jones Acts 9:32-42 45
May 22 Kh. Sharon Meadows Acts 11:33-12:2 52
May 29 Sam Habeeb Acts 16:16-34 58
Also, please remember that we still need your tithes and offerings which may be placed in the tithe box at the back of the nave or be mailed to: St. Peter Orthodox Church, P.O. Box 2084, Madison, MS 39130-2084.
Continue to pray for Metropolitan Paul (who is also the brother of our Patriarch) and the Syriac Archbishop John of Aleppo who were abducted while on a humanitarian mission in Syria.
Please remember Fr. Joseph and Kh. Joanna Bittle, and their daughter Abigail, in your prayers.
Please remember the following in your prayers: Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Lamia Dabit and her family; Mary Greene (Lee and Kh. Sharon’s sister); Jay and Joanna Davis; Fr. Leo and Kh. Be’Be’ Schelver and their family; Kathy Willingham; Marilyn (Kyriake) Snell; Jack and Jill Weatherly; Lottie Dabbs (Sh. Charlotte Algood’s mother), Sh. Charlotte and their family; Maria Costas (currently at St. Catherine’s Village); Reader Basil and Brenda Baker and their family; Buddy Cooper.
If you are not feeling well, PLEASE do not attempt to come to the services. This also includes anyone who may have been exposed to you during this time. Also, please let Fr. Herman know if you are not feeling well and have COVID like symptoms.
Calendar Items:
* The Ladies will meet at the church at 10:00 a.m. on the second Saturday of the month to pray the Akathist to the Mother of God, Nurturer of Children on behalf of our children.
* The Ladies will meet for lunch on the last Tuesday of the month.
* We will have Paschal Vespers, marking the Leave-taking of PASCHA, on Tuesday evening, May 31st, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
* Orthros and Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Ascension will be celebrated on Wednesday, June 1st, beginning at 6:00 p.m.
* Father Herman will be helping to lead a retreat at the Antiochian Village, July 3-9.
* The Clergy Symposium will be held at the Antiochian Village, July 18-23.
* Vacation Church School is scheduled for July 28-30. Parents, mark your calendar now.
* The dates for Stewpot for 2022 are Saturday, May 7th and Saturday, September 3rd.
Diocese of Miami and the Southeast Parish Life Conference: Registration is now open for the Parish Life Conference to be hosted June 15-18 by St. John Orthodox Church in Memphis. More information may be found on the Diocesan website at DOMSE.org.
Camp St. Thekla dates: The dates for Camp St. Thekla are: Session 1 is June 26 – July 2 and Session 2 is July 3 – 9. If you have a child registered for Camp, please see Daniel for information on scholarships available from the Order of St. Ignatius. If there is still a financial need, some additional funds may be available.
Fasting Discipline for May
There will be no fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays until the Feast of Ascension (June 2nd this year), for the full forty days, as decided by the Holy Synod of the Church of Antioch in 1997. (This is a departure from what we have done in the past, but is what we have been directed to do by the Archdiocese.)
Major Commemorations for May
May 1 Thomas Sunday; Anti-Pascha
May 2 Athanasius the Great
May 8 Sunday of the Holy Myrrh-bearers;
Apostle and Evangelist, John the Theologian
May 10 Simon the Zealot
May 15 Sunday of the Paralytic
May 21 Constantine and Helen
May 22 Sunday of the Samaritan Woman
May 25 The Forerunner (3rd Discovery)
May 29 Sunday of the Blind Man
Instructions for streaming our services can be found on the parish website.
Quotable “The goal of reading is the application, in our lives, of what we read. Not to learn it by heart, but to take it to heart. Not to practice using our tongues, but to be able to receive the tongues of fire and to live the mysteries of God. If one studies a great deal in order to acquire knowledge and to teach others, without living the things he teaches, he does not more than fill his head with hot air. At most, he will manage to ascend to the moon using machines. The goal of the Christian is to rise to God without machines.”
St. Paisios the Athonite
Worship: Sunday, May 8, 2022 (Sunday of the Holy Myrrh-bearers)
Scripture: I John 1:1-7; Mark 15:43-16:8
Celebrant: Father Herman
Epistle Reader: Brenda Baker
Prosphora: Baker
Coffee Hour: Lasseter, Pacurari, Miller
Saint Peter Antiochian Orthodox Church 