Sunday, April 27, 2025
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 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 April 27, 2025 Liturgy Variables 3 Thomas Sunday 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 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, April 27
8:50 am – Orthros
9:00 am – Christian Education
10:00 am – Divine Liturgy
Monday, April 28
Father Herman off
Tuesday, April 29
No services
Wednesday, April 30
6:30 PM – Daily Vespers
Thursday, May 1
No Services
11:00 am – Men’s Lunch
Friday, May 2
No Services
Saturday, May 3
6:00 PM – Daily Vespers
Sunday, May 4
8:50 AM – Orthros
9:00 AM – Christian Education
10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy
Special Announcements
The Eucharist Bread…was provided by the Davises for the Divine Liturgy this morning.
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
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.
Every year during this time of the Liturgical year, the Archdiocese has an outreach campaign for Food for Hungry People. If you would like to make a monetary donation to this campaign please mark you donation for Food for Hungry People. We will collect these donations until after Bright Week (the deadline for the donations will be April 27th). The church will then write one check and send it to the appropriate location. Please consider making a donation toward this blessed cause. If you would like more information on this outreach, please see Father Herman
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.
· 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
We are continuing the process of updating our church directory. On the bureau in the foyer there are information sheets to be filled out by each family and individual. We are asking EVERYONE to please fill out these information sheets and get it back to Fr. Hercman or Kh. Sharon. (please be sure to PRINT as neatly as you can). Thank you for your timely cooperation with this.
Registration for the 2025 DOMSE Parish Life Conference has opened and was emailed out to the parish. If you did not receive this email and would like to attend, please see Father Herman for registration information. This year’s conference will be hosted by St. George Parish in Jacksonville, FL. June 11-14th.
Registration for the Archdiocese National Convention has also opened. It is being hosted by St George Parish in Cicero, IL (just outside of Chicago) July 20-27th. If you are interested in attending, please see Father Herman and he will get you the registration information and link.
Quotable: “Remember, you said you could not control your thoughts, and then you wrote how I was ruining you with what I was saying, that everything had been better for you previously, but once you began to scrutinize yourself under my direction, you saw only disorder: your thoughts, feelings and desires were all in disarray, and you had no strength to put them in any kind of order. Here is the solution to the problem of why it is that way: You have no center. And you have no center because you still not decided through your own consciousness and free choice which way you will go. Up to this point, the grace of God has instilled in you a feasible order, and this order has been and still is within you. From this point, however, the grace of God will not act on its own, but will instead await your decision. If you, through your own choice and decision, do not choose grace, then it will abandon you completely, and leave you in the hands of your self-will. If you choose this free-will, there will be no center.”
The Spiritual Life and How to be attuned to it, St. Theophan the Recluse
Saint Peter Antiochian Orthodox Church 