Sunday, April 20, 2025
GREAT AND HOLY PASCHA
Acts 1:1-8 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when He was taken up, after He had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the Apostles whom He had chosen. To them He presented Himself alive after His passion by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God. And while staying with them He charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, He said, “You heard from Me; for John baptized with water, but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” So when they had come together, they asked Him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.” the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
John 1:1-17 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light. The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world knew Him not. He came to His own home, and His own people received Him not. But to all who received Him, who believed in His Name, He gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. (John bore witness to Him, and cried, “This was He of Whom I said, ‘He Who comes after me ranks before me, for He was before me.’”) And from His Great & Holy Pascha Liturgy Variables 4 Great & Holy Pascha fullness have we all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Paschal Troparion Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life! (once)
Hypakoe of Pascha When they who were with Mary came, anticipating the dawn, and found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher, they heard from the Angel: Why seek ye among the dead, as though He were mortal man, Him Who abideth in everlasting light? Behold the grave-clothes. Go quickly and proclaim to the world that the Lord is risen, and hath put death to death. For He is the Son of God, Who saveth the race of man.
Kontakion of Pascha Though Thou didst descend into the grave, O Immortal One, yet didst Thou destroy the power of Hades, and didst arise as victor, O Christ God, calling to the myrrh- bearing women, Rejoice, and giving peace unto Thine Apostles, O Thou Who dost grant resurrection to the fallen.
Calendar
Sunday, April 20
4:00 PM – Agape Vespers followed by meal
Monday, April 21
Father Herman off
Tuesday, April 22
No services
Wednesday, April 23
6:30 PM – Vespers of Bright Week
Thursday, April 24
No Services
Friday, April 25
No Services
Saturday, April 26
6:00 PM – Great Vespers
Sunday, April 27
8:50 AM – Orthros
9:00 AM – Christian Education
10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy
Special Announcements
The Eucharist Bread…was provided by the Schelvers for the Vesperal Divine Liturgy for Great and Holy Thursday and by the Ken Jones for the Vesperal Divine Liturgy this morning for Great and Holy Saturday and by the Meadows for the Paschal Liturgy tonight.
Eucharist Bread Schedule:
Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour
April 27 Davis Ken Jones/Stewart
May 4 D. Root Dansereau/Alaeetawi
May 11 Karam Meadows/Brock
May 18 Brock POT LUCK MEAL
Lasseter/Pacurari/Lavric
May 25 R. Root Lockhart/Karam/Snell
May 28 (Wed PM) Pacurari Algood/Schever
(Feast of the Ascension)
Schedule for Epistle Readers – Page numbers refer to the Apostolos (book of Epistles) located on the chanters’ stand at the front of the nave. Please be sure to use book when you read.
Reader Reading Page#
April 27 Ian Jones Acts 5:12-20 32
May 4 Brenda Baker Acts 6:1-7 38
May 11 Kh. Sharon Meadows Acts 9:32-42 45
May 18 Reader Basil Baker Acts 11:19-30- 52
May 25 Brandon Strain Acts 16:16-34 58
May 28 (Wed PM) Reader Chad Miller Acts 1:1-12 63
(Feast of the Ascension)
Also Please remember that we still need your tithes and offerings which may be placed in the tray that is passed during Divine Liturgy, 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.
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; Marilyn (Kyriake) Snell; Jack and Jill Weatherly; Dn. Terry Algood and their family; Reader Basil and Brenda Baker and their family; Fr. Joseph Bittle; Rick Carlton; Very Rev. Fr. Nicholas and Kh. Jan Speier; Lee Greene; Fr. John and Kh. Janet Henderson and their family; Galina Singletary; Emily and Cole Parker.
Many Years and Welcome to Clayton Fairchild and KC Barrett who were chrismated this morning and to Tyson Moore (grandson of Emad and Natalia Alaeetawi) who was baptized this morning. Please continue to keep them in your prayers.
Fasting Discipline for April/May
There is no fasting of any kind during Bright Week which follows Pascha (April 21-25). The Holy Synod of Antioch has given instructions that there will be no fasting during the entirety of the Paschal Season.
Major Commemorations for April/May
April 27 Thomas Sunday
May 4 Sunday of Holy Myrrh-Bearers
May 8 Apostle John the Theologian
May 10 Simon the Zealot
May 11 Sunday of the Paralytic
May 18 Sunday of the Samaritan Woman
May 21 Sts Constantine and Helen
May 25 Sunday of the Blind Man
The Forerunner (3rd Discovery)
May 29 Feast of the Ascension
Calendar Items
• The men of the parish meet for lunch at 11:00 a.m. on the first Thursday of the month.
• The Ladies 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 meet for lunch at 1:00 p.m. on the last Tuesday of the month.
• Agape Vespers will be held at 4:00PM this afternoon at St Peter. A light meal will be provided afterwards.
• The remaining date for serving at Stewpot Ministries is Saturday, September 27th.
Saint Peter Antiochian Orthodox Church 