Christ is Risen! Truly He has Risen!
The First Sunday after Pascha
Sunday of Thomas the Apostle
Great-martyr Irene of Thessalonica; Venerable Euthymios, bishop of Maditos in Thrace
Though the doors were shut at the dwelling where the disciples were gathered for fear of the Jews on the evening of the Sunday after the Passover, our Saviour wondrously entered and stood in their midst, and greeted them with His customary words, “Peace be unto you.” Then He showed unto them His hands and feet and side; furthermore, in their presence, He took some fish and a honeycomb and ate before them, and thus assured them of His bodily Resurrection.
But Thomas, who was not then present with the others, did not believe their testimony concerning Christ’s Resurrection, but said in a decisive manner, “Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe.”
Wherefore after eight days, that is, on this day, when the disciples were again gathered together and Thomas was with them, the Lord Jesus came while the doors were shut, as He did formerly. Standing in their midst, He said, “Peace be unto you”; then He said to Thomas, “Bring hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and bring hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side: and be not unbelieving, but believing.”
And Thomas, beholding and examining carefully the hands and side of the Master, cried out with faith, “My Lord and my God.” Thus he clearly proclaimed the two natures – human and divine – of the God-man (Luke 24:36-49; John 20:19-29).
Read more on the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese website.
Building St. Peter’s
Many, many thanks to all who worked so diligently to make our Lent and Pascha what it was. Orthodoxy is work but it is the kind of work that endures; the necessary work that allows us to move closer to Christ and experience Him in ways that transform us and the world around us.
That’s why we do it. The Church the Apostle Paul says is the “pillar and ground of the truth” — ground zero, the place where we can encounter Christ and learn His voice to be able to recognize Him when He meets us outside of it.
All of us have gifts given to us by God. Our job is to discern what they are and develop them. These gifts are not for us but for our neighbor — for our neighbor’s good and edification — although when we use them in these ways we discover real meaning and joy. We begin to comprehend the reason we are alive and what we were put on the earth to do.
No work is too small. The parts make the whole. When we live this way, Christ lives in us and His Church becomes His habitation, His house, His body. This too is what people who are looking for him will experience (they will sense Christ is present) and this experience is their confirmation that they too have finally found their home.
If we remain faithful to Christ in this way, our Lord with meet our needs and will also provide for us when it is time to build our permanent structure.
Christ is Risen!
Moms, Grandmothers, and God-Mothers: A Dinner in Your Honor on Mother’s Day, Sunday May 12 Following Divine Liturgy
St. Peter’s honors our mothers — whether you are a mom, grandmother, God-Mother and even a sister or daughter who helps mom be mom! So join us following Divine Liturgy on Sunday, May 12 for a dinner in your honor.
Here’s the menu: Grilled souvlaki (pork and chicken), vegetables, rice pilaf, salad and a cake for dessert.
Sign up in the Social Hall starting this Sunday.
Everyone is invited of course (not just moms)!
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.
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.
Bible Studies
Bible Studies resume on Wednesday, May 8.
Schedule:
- Wednesday, May 8 — Men’s/Women’s Bible Study at 7:00pm
- Wednesday, May 15 — Community Bible Study at 7:00pm
- Wednesday, May 22 — Men’s/Women’s Bible Study at 7:00pm
- Wednesday, May 29 — Community Bible Study at 7:00pm
Calendar At A Glance
MAY
- Wednesday, May 8 — Men’s/Women’s Bible Study at 7:00pm
- Thursday, May 9 St. Demetrios Brotherhood at 7:00pm
- Sunday, May 12 — Mother’s Day Brunch following Liturgy
- Wednesday, May 15 — Community Bible Study at 7:00pm
- Wednesday, May 22 — Men’s/Women’s Bible Study at 7:00pm
- Thursday May 23 St. Demetrios Brotherhood at 7:00pm
- Wednesday, May 29 — Community Bible Study at 7:00pm
JUNE
- Wednesday, Jun 7 — Ascension Divine Liturgy
- Wednesday, Jun 7 — CANCELLED Men’s/Women’s Bible Study at 7:00pm (Fr. Hans out of town)
- Wednesday-Saturday, Jun 12-15 — Parish Life Conference in NC. (Fr. Hans out of town)
- Wednesday, Jun 12 — CANCELLED Community Bible Study at 7:00pm
- Thursday, Jun 13 — CANCELLED St. Demetrios Brotherhood at 7:00pm (Fr. Hans out of town)
- Sunday, Jun 16 — Father’s Day Barbecue following Liturgy
- Monday-Saturday, June 24-29 — St. Peter and Paul Fasting Period
- Monday, Jun 24 — Divine Liturgy for Nativity of St. John the Baptist at 6:30pm
- Wednesday, Jun 26 — Men’s/Women’s Bible Study at 7:00pm
- Thursday, Jun 27 — St. Demetrios Brotherhood at 7:00pm
- Saturday June 29 — St. Peter and Paul Great Vespers at 6:30pm
Wisdom From The Elders
The Divine Scripture says: ‘God said to Adam: Adam, where art thou?’ (Gen. 3:9). Why did the Creator of all things say this? Of course, it was in order to dispose Adam to come to his senses, to acknowledge his sin and repent. This is why He said, “Adam, where art thou?” As it were he said, “Adam, enter into yourself, acknowledge your nakedness and understand what a garment and what a glory you have lost. Adam where are you?”
St. Symeon the New Theologian
We carry within us the sins of remembrance of wrongs, and bitterness, and hate, and greed, and so many other things which kill the life of the spirit in us and do not allow us to live now, in the present time – the eternal life, which is simply life in the full meaning of the word, life in its fullness.
Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh
Cultivate your devoutness and your modesty as much as you can.This will help you receive the Grace of God. For, if someone is devout and spiritually modest and humble too, he can expect to receive divine Grace. If he has no devoutness and no humility, the Grace of God does not come to him.
St. Paisios of Mount Athos
The only valuables on earth are good works done for Christ: these win us the grace of the Holy Spirit.
St. Seraphim of Sarov
People tend to think, “Let someone else take care of the problem, I’ll just do my own work.” But why don’t you take care of it, since you were the first to notice? That is what worldly people who do not believe in God do. I have no use for such a life; I would rather die a thousand deaths. The goal is for each one of us to think of the other person, of the other person’s pain.
St. Paisios of Mount Athos
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
Great is the Lord, and great is His power. Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good.
The Reading from the Acts of the Saintly and Pure Apostles. (5:12-20)
In those days, many signs and wonders were done among the people by the hands of theApostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. None of the rest dared join them, butthe people held them in high honor. 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 laidthem 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 towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflictedwith unclean spirits, and they were all healed. But the high priest rose up and all who were withhim, that is, the party of the Sadducees, and filled with jealousy they arrested the Apostles and putthem in the common prison. But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and broughtthem out and said, “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.”
Gospel
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. John. (20:19-31)
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where theDisciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the Discipleswere glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Fatherhas sent me, even so I send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said tothem, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain thesins 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 with 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, “Have you 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.
