Sunday, May 3, 2026
Sunday of the Paralytic
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) In those days, as Peter went throughout all regions, he came down also to the saints who dwelt at Lydda. There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who was bedridden for eight years and paralyzed. And Peter said to him: “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; arise and make your bed.” And immediately he arose. And all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned back to the Lord. Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha (which means Gazelle). She was full of good works and of charitable deeds which she did. And it came to pass in those days that she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her, they placed her in an upper chamber. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him entreating him: “Come to us without delay!” So Peter arose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him into the upper chamber. All the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and other garments which Tabitha made while she was with them. But Peter put them all outside and knelt down and prayed; then turning to the body, he said: “Tabitha, arise!” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. And he gave her his hand, and raised her up. Then he called the saints and widows and presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
John. (5:1-15) At that time, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Hebrew called Bethesda, which has five porticoes. In these lay a multitude of invalids, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and troubled the water; whoever stepped in first, after the troubling of the water was healed of whatever disease he had. One man was there, who had been ill for 38 years. When Jesus saw him and knew that he had been lying there a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is troubled, and while I am going another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your pallet, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his pallet and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who was cured, “It is the Sabbath, it is not lawful for you to carry your pallet.” But he answered them, “The man who healed me said to me, ‘Take up your pallet, and walk.’” They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your pallet, and walk’?” Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. Afterward, Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse befalls you.” The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus Who had healed him.
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 by 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.
Troparion of The Myrrh-bearing Women: Unto the myrrh-bearing women did the Angel cry out as he stood by the grave: Myrrh-oils are meet for the dead, but Christ hath proved to be a stranger to corruption. But cry out: The Lord is risen, granting to the world Great Mercy.
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, May 3, 2026 (Sunday of the Paralytic)
8:50 AM – Orthros
10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy
Monday, May 4, 2026
Fr. Herman off
5:45 PM – YAF Book Study
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
No Services
Wednesday, May 6, 2026
5:20 PM – Catechesis
6:30 PM – Daily Vespers
Thursday, May 7, 2026
No Services
11:00 AM – Men’s Lunch
Friday, May 8, 2026
No Services
Saturday, May 9, 2026
10:00 PM – Ladies meet for Akathist
4:45 PM – Catechesis
6:00 PM – Great Vespers
Sunday, May 10, 2026 (Sunday of the Samaritan Woman & After-feast of Mid-Pentecost)
Mother’s Day
8:50 AM – Orthros
10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy
Special Announcements
The Eucharist Bread was provided by the Hendersons for the Divine Liturgy this morning.
Eucharist Bread Schedule:
Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour
May 3 Henderson Ellis/Zouboukos
May 10 Baker Miller/D. Root
May 17 Jones Lasseter/Pacurari/Lavric
May 20 (Wed p.m.) Meadows Lockhart/Karam/Snell
Ascension Potluck
May 24 Davis Algood/Rodriguez/Kumar
May 30 (Sat a.m.) D. Root Baker/Jimmy Jones
Saturday of the Souls
May 31 Karam Pigott/Ian Jones
Pentecost Potluck
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#
May 3 Gabrielle Jones Acts 9:32-42 45
May 10 Grady Fisher Acts 11:19-30 52
May 17 Amanda Kumar Acts 16:16-34 58
May 20 (Wed pm) Kh. Sharon Meadows Acts 1:1-12 63
May 24 Katie Miller Acts 20:16-18,28-36 66
May 30 (Sat am) Reader Basil Baker Acts 28:1-31 72
May 31 Reader Chad Miller Acts 2:1-11 77
Congratulations to Gabrielle Jones who graduated with a Master of Arts in Teaching from Jackson State University on Friday May 1.
We will honor our high school graduates during coffee hour on Sunday May 17.
Greeter Ministry: If you are still interested, in joining the Greeter ministry please place your name on the sign-up sheet on the table in the foyer. We ask that only baptized/chrismated Orthodox members of the parish become members of this ministry. Please see Andrew Spiehler for questions.
Supper club ministry has been started again after a long while for those who are interested in participating. Please see Grady Fisher for further information.
DOMSE 2026 Parish Life Conference, June 10-13, 2026: Registration is now open. Please refer to the email sent by Fr. Herman. You may also go online to www.DOMSE.org to register.
Please remember the following in your prayers: Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Mary Greene (Lee and Kh. Sharon’s sister); Jay and Joanna Davis; Fr. Leo and Kh. Be’Be’ Schelver and their family; Jack and Jill Weatherly; Dn.Terry Algood and their family; Fr. John and Kh. Janet Henderson and their family
Please make sure to check and subscribe to the Google calendar for all updated services and events at the parish
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
Potluck Meals: Everyone who attends the potluck meals during the month is encouraged to bring a dish to share with everyone. This is to ensure that there is enough food for all to partake. Over the past several months we have been running out of food before everyone has an opportunity to go through the line. This also applies to the Festal Liturgies that may be served during the week and the Soup Suppers after Presanctified Liturgies during Lent. Parents, please accompany your children through the line. Thank you all for your help with this.
As a friendly reminder, in regards to coffee hour, the church will provide beef sticks, cheese cubes, crackers, cookies, and orange juice. For sponsors of baptisms/chrismations a reception may be held after the service and may have whatever food the sponsors would like to provide in celebration of this occasion. If you wish to bring a snack for your children, please be responsible for the clean up of those items. Coffee hour is not meant to be a meal, but a means to break the fast with a snack and visit with each other. Also, as a friendly reminder, please make sure kids are not getting ice in the kitchen without adult supervision.
Calendar Items
* The men of the parish meet for lunch at 11:00 a.m. on the first Thursday of the month.
* The men will also meet for every fourth Saturday of the month at 8:30 at Primos in Ridgeland.
* The Ladies meet for dining once a month.
* The Ladies meet at the church at 10:00 a.m. on the second Saturday of the month to pray the
Akathist. Alternating on behalf of our children and our sick.
* The Ladies of St Peter will meet every third Sunday during Coffee Hour.
* YAF meets every other Monday @ 5:45 p.m. for Book Study.
* Paschal Vespers for the Leave-taking of Pascha: May 19 @ 6:30 p.m.
* Orthros and Divine Liturgy for Ascension: May 20 @ 6:00 p.m. Followed by a Potluck Meal.
* Saturday of the Souls: May 30th at 9:00 a.m.
* Pentecost is on May 31 starting at 8:50 for Orthros followed by the Divine Liturgy. There will
be a potluck meal afterwards.
* Stewpot November 7 @ 11:30 a.m.
Fasting Discipline for May
NO FASTING through May 21. Traditional fasting (No meat, dairy, eggs, fish, olive oil, or wine) will resume on Wednesdays and Fridays for the remainder of the month.
Major Commemorations for May
May 8 Apostle John the Theologian
May 10 Sunday of the Samaritan Woman
Simon the Zealot
May 17 Sunday of the Blind Man
May 21 Feast of the Ascension
Sts Constantine and Helen
May 24 Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council
May 25 The Forerunner (3rd Discovery)
May 31 Holy Pentecost
Quote: “The Lord called every one of us into being with a certain goal and plan in mind. Every little blade of grass on this earth has some kind of mission here on earth, and how true this is of human beings! However, we often disturb and interfere in God’s plan. We have the freedom either to accept His will or to reject it; God, Who is love, does not wish to take this freedom away from us. We have been given complete freedom, but we, in our foolishness, often have many useless desires.”
-Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica, Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives
Sunday, May 10, 2026 (Sunday of the Samaritan Woman & After-feast of Mid-Pentecost)
Scripture: Acts 11:19-30; John 4:5-42
Epistle Reader: Grady Fisher
Prosphora: Baker
Coffee Hour: Miller/D. Root