Pascha (Passover)
The Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
Pascha
Holy Week comes to an end at sunset of Great and Holy Saturday, as the Church prepares to celebrate her most ancient and preeminent festival, Pascha, the feast of feasts. The time of preparation will give way to a time of fulfillment. The glorious and resplendent light emanating from the empty Tomb will dispel the darkness. Christ, risen from the dead, cracks the fortress of death and takes “captivity captive” (Psalm 67:19). All the limitations of our createdness are torn asunder. Death is swallowed up in victory and life is liberated. “For as by a man came death, by a man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive” (I Corinthians 15:21-22). Pascha is the dawn of the new and unending day. The Resurrection constitutes the most radical and decisive deliverance of humankind.
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The Resurrection has not yet abolished the reality of death. But it has revealed its powerlessness (Hebrews 2:14-15). We continue to die as a result of the Fall. Our bodies decay and fall away. “God allows death to exist but turns it against corruption and its cause, sin, and sets a boundary both to corruption and sin.” Thus, physical death does not destroy our life of communion with God. Rather, we move from death to life – from this fallen world to God’s reign.
Read more about Pascha on the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese website.
Bp. Nicholas Presiding at the Liturgy of the Last Supper this Thursday (April 25, 2019) at 9:30am
His Grace Bishop Nicholas will be presiding at the Liturgy of the Last Supper on Holy Thursday (April 25, 2019) starting at 9:30am.
Please make every effort to attend if possible. It is a special honor to be hosting our Bishop on this important day.
Agape Service (11:00am) and Pascha Dinner (1:00pm) on Sunday April 28, 2019
On Pascha Sunday we will come together for Agape Vespers at 11am.
Following the Agape Vespers on Sunday, April 28, plan on attending our church wide Pascha celebration. The menu includes lamb, potatoes, and other items. This is a wonderful way to share fellowship and bread to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It was a huge success last year and will be a joy again this year.
The Paschal Dinner begins at 1:00pm! There’s a place for you at the table!
Donations for Holy Week Flowers Needed
Flowers beautify the Church and are essential part of Orthodox worship during Holy Week and Pascha. Please give your donation for flowers to Angela Long who is overseeing this project this year.
Foreign Language Speakers for Agape Vespers
We need foreign language speakers to read the Gospel in a language other than English for the Agape Vespers on Sunday, April 28, at 11:00am. This is the only day that laity read the Gospel and it represents the Gospel of Jesus going out into all the world after the Resurrection.
Readings are divided into three sections. If we have more people than languages (2 or 3 speaking the same language), we will assign separate sections to each speaker. Please bring the reading in your own language and we will organize the schedule immediately before the service begins.
The passage to read will be John 20:19-25. The three sections to be read one section at a time are:
- John 20:19-20
- John 20:21-23
- John 20:24-25
Order Your Holy Week Service Books
At St. Peter’s we don’t have the resources to provide Holy Week service books to our parishioners. Those who would like a book can order their private copy from Ancient Faith Press or the Antiochian Book Store.
Books cost $35 each. Five copies ordered through the Antiochian Bookstore offers a $25 discount. Perhaps some parishioners could order five and donate four to St. Peter’s so that we can start a library for future years.
If anyone would care to donate toward service books please see Fr. Hans.
A of the Greek Orthodox Holy Week book (Papadeas) works too because the order of services are the same. The English will vary from the Antiochian book in a few places however.
A Guide for Holy Week
Check out the guide resources about Holy Week on the St. Peter’s website.
Pledge Report
In order to meet our operating Budget goal for 2019 we need to take in $16,666.00 each month.
Please pledge in order to meet our goal. Pledge forms are available on the table in the narthex.
Interfaith Charities Needs Our Help
Interfaith Charities, the local agency St. Peter’s partners with to help working poor families in our immediate area needs these items:
- Rice
- Lentils
- Tuna
- Mac and cheese
- Soup
- SpaghettiOs
- Jelly
- Used clothing
- Used housewares
St. Peter’s is committed to helping the poor among us. If each family could bring some of these items to church this Sunday and the next, then we will get them to Interfaith Charities and the families who need them.
Holy Week Schedule Posted
Click the image to view and print. Copies will also be available at Church.
Icons Available in the Social Hall
St. Peter’s has a large selection of Icons available for sale and donation. They come in various sizes — mini, small, medium and large.
The Icons are generously donated by Theo Palis and therefore all proceeds go directly to St. Peter’s.
If there is a specific icon you are looking for and we don’t have it, Theo might be able to make it for you.
New Member Classes and Bible Studies
Bible studies cancelled until after Holy Week.
Calendar At A Glance
Note: Lent and Holy Week Schedule available on the St. Peter website.
MARCH
HOLY WEEK
- Sunday Apr 21 — PALM SUNDAY
Brunch in Social Hall following Divine Liturgy
Bridegroom Service 6:30pm
- Monday Apr 22 — HOLY MONDAY
Bridegroom Service 6:30pm
- Tuesday Apr 23 — HOLY TUESDAY
Bridegroom Service 6:30pm
- Wednesday Apr 24 — HOLY WEDNESDAY
Holy Unction 6:30pm
- Thursday Apr 25 — HOLY THURSDAY
Liturgy of the Last Supper 9:30am
Reading of the Twelve Gospels 6:00pm (note earlier time
- Friday Apr 26 — HOLY FRIDAY
Royal Hours 9:00am
Decoration of Tomb of Christ 10:30am
Taking Christ Down from the Cross 3:00pm
Lamentations 6:30pm
- Saturday Apr 27 — HOLY SATURDAY
First Resurrection Service 9:30am
GREAT AND HOLY PASCHA 10:00pm (on Saturday)
- Sunday Apr 28 — SUNDAY OF PASCHA
Agape Vespers 11:00am
Paschal Dinner in Social Hall 1:00pm (on Sunday)
Easter egg hunt for children
UPCOMING – Mark your calendars!
- Sunday Apr 28 — PASCHA Community Dinner following Agape Vespers at 1:00pm
- Sunday May 12 — Mother’s Day Brunch following Liturgy
- Sunday Jun 16 — Father’s Day Barbecue following Liturgy
Wisdom From The Elders
Living simply means not judging. Do not judge anyone. For example, here comes Elikonida. She passed by, and that is all. This is what thinking simply means. Otherwise, at seeing Elikonida passing by, you could think about her bad side: she is such and such, her character is thus and so. That is not simple. Elder Ambrose of Optina
Nothing done in humility for the sake of God is bad. St. Peter of Damaskos
Show love simply, with out any deviation into cunning thoughts, without any trivial, worldly, covetous calculations, remembering that love is God Himself. Remember that He sees all your ways, sees all the thoughts and movements of your heart. Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt
The spiritual person must attain such a spiritual condition that even it God does not grant him Paradise, he will not be disturbed. Saint Paisios of Mount Athos
You are pleased when people help you when you are in need. Therefore strive yourself, as much as you can, to help your neighbor in all of his needs. Metropolitan Gregory (Postnikov) of St. Petersburg
“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?” Luke 9:24-25
Remember in Your Prayers
Bud
Silvana
Nicole
Evan
Megan
Bill R.
Pat R.
Aglaia
George
Hieromonk Serapion
Priest Kyprianos
Presvytera Charlotte
Bryan, Carolina, their unborn baby
Athanasia
Alexandra
Constantina
Maryanne (E)
Ron (E)
Tim
Robert (J)
Mary (J)
Patricia
Gregory
Doug Spencer
Kathy Spencer
Kathy D.
Andreas
Sofia Tešanovic
Paul
Dennis H. and Family
Victor Evan
Ann
James
Vasiliki
Efstratia
Alexandra
Nikos
Georgia
Ioannis
Costandino
Jeffrey
Vaso
Dave
Dimitri – Presbyter
Vassiliki
Octavio
Tom
Carl
Rena
Nikolay (5 year old boy in Bulgaria whose parents asked us to pray)
David
Rosie
Kathryn
Jeremy
Constantine
Robert
Jane
Theodora
David
Gina
Micheal
Haralambos
Lillian
Presbytera Rosy
Valentina
Eva W.
Barbara
Angela
Carol Ann
Matthew
Chrysostom
Tim
Pat
Christina
Maria Louise
Maximos
Marian
Photini
Nicholas
Sarah
Constantine Houpis
Anna Marie Smith Baker
Katerina
Mary Kassis
Baby Maximus
Christine
Maria
Annette Star
Claire Livaditis
Eva Chandilles
Baby Dani
Scott Nedoff
James Hord
Tom
How should we pray for the sick? Remember them daily. Say their names (first names are sufficient) and ask God to bestow mercy and grace on them.
Add or remove names and print this list for easy reference during your prayer time on the St. Peter website.
Sunday Readings
Epistle
This is the day which the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad therein!
O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good; His mercy endureth forever.
The Reading from the Acts of the Apostles. (1:1-8)
In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, untilthe day when He was taken up, after He had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to theApostles whom He had chosen. To them He presented Himself alive after His passion by manyproofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God. And whilestaying with them He charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise ofthe Father, which, He said, “You heard from Me; for John baptized with water, but before manydays you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” So when they had come together, they askedHim, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for youto know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by His own authority. But you shall receivepower when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem andin all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.”
Gospel
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. John. (1:1-17)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Hewas in the beginning with God; all things were made through Him, and without Him was notanything made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shinesin the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whosename 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 everyman was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yetthe 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 fullness have we all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
