Christ is Risen!
The Fourth Sunday After Pascha
The Sunday of the Paralytic
Apostle Simon the Zealot; Venerable Laurence of Egypt
Introduction
The fourth Sunday of Holy Pascha is observed by the Orthodox Church as the Sunday of the Paralytic. The day commemorates the miracle of Christ healing a man who had been paralyzed for thirty-eight years. The biblical story of the event is found in the Gospel of John 5:1-15.
Background
Close to the Sheep’s Gate in Jerusalem, there was a pool, which was called the Sheep’s Pool. It had five porches, that is, five sets of pillars supporting a domed roof. Under this roof there lay very many sick people with various maladies awaiting the moving of the water. The first person to step in after the troubling of the water was healed immediately of whatever malady he had.
It was there that the paralytic of today’s Gospel was lying, tormented by his infirmity of thirty-eight years. When Christ beheld him, He asked him, “Will you be made whole?” And he answered with a quiet and meek voice, “Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool.” The Lord said unto him, “Rise, take up your bed, and walk.” And straightaway the man was made whole and took up his bed. Walking in the presence of all, he departed rejoicing to his own house. According to the expounders of the Gospels, the Lord Jesus healed this paralytic during the days of the Passover, when He had gone to Jerusalem for the Feast, and dwelt there teaching and working miracles. According to Saint John the Evangelist, this miracle took place on the Sabbath.
Read the entire story on the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese website.
We Have No Patience and We Crave for a Quick and Easy ‘Recipe’ For Salvation
We have no patience. Our generation has no patience. Our parents’ generation had no patience. From Adam’s Fall to the last man on Earth, we all make the same spiritual mistake – we do not want to listen to God and we believe in all sorts of miracle recipes for salvation. But there is no quick and easy path to salvation, there is no instant salvation and the effects of our impatience take years or decades to heal.
This is a brief talk on Patience and Obedience to God by Fr Seraphim from the Orthodox Monastery of All Celtic Saints, a Monastery in Scotland, located on the Isle of Mull, Hebrides.
Bishop NICHOLAS Offers a Weekly Live Stream
His Grace Bishop NICHOLAS offers a LIVE STREAM talk with questions and answers to everyone in the Diocese of Miami and the Southeast every Sunday at 3:00pm ET.
You will be able to send questions directly to Bishop NICHOLAS via chat during the live stream. A recording of the live stream will be posted to the DOMSE BAND group. You must join the newly formed Domse band group to join in.
Open this invite link below on your iPhone, Android, or desktop: https://band.us/@domse
If you have BAND already, you will be able to simply join the group. If you do not have BAND, you will be able to download the application and join the group.
Sharing the Light
Fr. Hans received requests about sharing the light, the flame from the Paschal Candle, that many people like to bring home.
Since we can’t meet, Fr. Hans will keep votive candles lit with the light from the Paschal Candle. He will keep them burning until we resume the services at the Church. If you would like to take the Paschal light home after the parish is opened, you will be able to get them from these candles.
So this is what we will do. On the first Sunday after opening, Fr. Hans will anoint everyone with Holy Oil after the Divine Liturgy with oil he has saved from the Holy Unction service last year. Then we will go to the Social Hall and have a celebratory meal. On the way out you can light a candle to bring the Holy Light home and bless your homes.
God bless all the good people of St. Peter’s. God is with you. Stay faithful to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and to each other.
Christ is Risen!
The Parish Life Conference is Going Virtual!
Please Don’t Forget to Fulfill Your Pledge and Donations
We received some last minute donations in March and exceeded our March budget goal. We were able to cover our February shortfall as a result. Thank you very much for all who contributed for your care and stewardship of St. Peter’s. We should all draw great encouragement from this. A complete financial tally is found below.
Please keep current with your pledge. The financial health and stability of our parish requires us to do our part.
You can mail your check to:
St. Peter Orthodox Church
24850 Old 41 RD Suite 6
Bonita Springs, FL 34135
You can also donate online (scroll to bottom of page):
Pledge & Income Report – April 2020
Donations received in April: $16,163.00
Amount of money needed to cover expenses: $18,121.00
BEHIND: $2,000.00
Thank you very much for your support of St. Peter’s. Please give generously so we can catch up with our $2,000 shortfall.
You can fill out a pledge form on the St. Peter website.
Leoni’s Pizza Delivers Hot Meals
Also, Leoni’s Pizza has offered to deliver food for anyone who needs a hot meal.
Leoni’s can deliver to Bonita Springs, Estero, San Carlos Park, or Naples Park. Leoni’s delivers within a 15 mile radius from I-75 to the Gulf Coast.
You can order online at leonispizza.com.
Tom and Joanne Venetis, friends and supporters of St. Peter’s, own and operate Leoni’s.
Calendar At A Glance
Live Streamed Services This Week
UPDATE: St. Peter Live Stream is now available on the St. Peter website (as well as Facebook). Click go to the website, “Watch Live Stream” and wait for the service to begin.
To Live Stream a service on FACEBOOK: Go to the St. Peter Facebook page. Scroll down to “posts” (use the navigation bar on the left). You do not need a Facebook account to view.
May
- May May 10 — Orthros 8:30am / Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- May May 17 — Orthros 8:30am / Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- May May 24 — Orthros 8:30am / Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- May May 31 — Orthros 8:30am / Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Wisdom From The Elders
It is not enough to simply make your confession to the Spiritual Father; you must also truly repent of what you have done. Elder Paisios of Mount Athos
But as soon as Grace sees that a little self-esteem has begun to steal into a man’s thoughts, and that he has begun to think great things of himself, she immediately permits the temptations opposing him to gain in strength and prevail, until he learns his weakness, and takes to flight, and clings to God in humility. St. Isaac the Syrian
Abba Sisoes used to say that the way that leads to humility is abstinence, unceasing prayer to God, and the struggle to be lower than every man. Archbishop Chrysostomos of Etna
In the same way the grace of God is preserved by the practice of the commandments, and the observance of these commandments is laid down like foundations through the gift of God. The grace of the Spirit cannot remain with us without the practice of the commandments, but the practice of the commandments is of no help or advantage to us without the grace of God. St. Symeon the New Theologian
It is a wonderful thing that, no matter how much we trouble about our health, however much care we take of ourselves, whatever wholesome and pleasant food we eat, whatever wholesome drinks we drink, however much we walk in the fresh air, still, notwithstanding all this, in the end we are subjected to maladies and corruption; whilst the saints, who despised their flesh, and mortified it by continual abstinence and fasting, by lying bare on the earth, by watchfulness, labours, unceasing prayer, have made both their souls and bodies immortal. St. John of Kronstadt
Your children should not hear you arguing even once, not even if you raise the tone of your voices to one another. Elder Porphyrios
Remember in Your Prayers
The Prayer List has been revamped. To bring order to the list we will do the following:
- Names will remain on the list for two months.
- If you would like to keep them on longer please mention it to Fr. Hans. We will keep the names on the list for as long as the person needs prayers.
- Names will include the person who requested the prayers and the month the name will be removed.
- The permanent list includes friends and members of St. Peter’s and others including shut-ins.
Were names dropped that should have remained? Please mention it to Fr. Hans. He will add them back.
Current Prayer List (Resets June 1)
Barbara (Dusckas 7/20)
James (Dusckas 7/20)
Connie (Dusckas 7/20)
Jerry (Zafiris 7/20)
Harry James (Zafiris 7/20)
Irene (Tsikitas 6/20)
Dimtrios (Jacobse 6/20)
George (Elpida 6/20)
Pantellis (Anna T 6/20)
Angelo/Evangelos (Constan 6/20)
Christine (Kanellos 6/20)
Edna (Mitchell 6/20)
Pauline (Jacobse 6/20)
Eleni (6/20)
Elizabeth (6/20)
Priest Benjamin (6/20)
Louis (Repya 6/20)
Iakavos (Diveris 6/20)
Heriklia (Diveris 6/20)
Macy James (6/20)
Joan (Breitenbach 6/20)
Mary (Rauch 6/20)
Diomidis (Kanellos 6/20)
Anastasia (Constan 6/20)
Ben (Ben 6/20)
Thomas (Ben 6/20)
Irene (Diveris 6/20)
Vasiliki (Diveris 6/20)
Efrosini (Diveris 6/20)
Bud (Repya)
Scott (Repya 6/20)
Permanent Prayer List
Theodora (Webb)
Helen (Rogers)
Robert (Smith)
Robert (Jarvis)
Mary (Jarvis)
Presbytera Rosy (in Pakistan)
James (Hord)
Ann (Rellis)
Vassiliki (Kontinos)
Vassiliki (Morekeas)
Friends and Benefactors Departed this Life
John (Hansen)
Anatoly (Kurdsjuk)
Thareni (Brooks)
Jean (Sam)
Eleni (Pearson)
Richard (Pearson)
Fr. Stephanos (Sigoury)
Panagiota (Bea Chionis)
Anthony (Mourgis)
Constantine (Houpis)
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
Sing praises to our God, sing praises.
Clap your hands, all you nations.
The Reading from the Acts of the Apostles. (9:32-42)
In those days, as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints that lived at Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years and was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. Now there was at Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him entreating him, “Please come to us without delay.” So Peter rose and went with them. And when he had come, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping, and showing tunics and other garments, which Dorcas 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, rise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. And he gave her his hand and lifted her up. Then calling the saints and widows he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. John. (5:1-15)
At that time, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate apool, in Hebrew called Bethsaida, 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 downat certain seasons into the pool and troubled the water; whoever stepped in first, after the troublingof the water was healed of whatever disease he had. One man was there, who had been ill for 38years. 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 thepool when the water is troubled, and while I am going another steps down before me.” Jesus saidto him, “Rise, take up your pallet, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up hispallet and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who was cured, “Itis the Sabbath, it is not lawful for you to carry your pallet.” But he answered them, “The man whohealed me said to me, ‘Take up your pallet, and walk.’” They asked him, “Who is the man whosaid to you, ‘Take up your pallet, and walk’?” Now the man who had been healed did not knowwho it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. Afterward, Jesus foundhim in the temple, and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse befallsyou.” The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus Who had healed him.