Christ is Risen! Truly He has Risen!
The Third Sunday of Pascha
Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women, Pious Joseph of Arimathaea and Righteous Nicodemus
The Myrhh Bearing Women
The third Sunday of Holy Pascha is observed by the Orthodox Church as the Sunday of the Holy Myrrhbearers. The day commemorates when the women disciples of our Lord came to the tomb to anoint his body with myrrh-oils but found the tomb empty. As the woman wondered what this meant, angels appeared proclaiming that Christ had risen from the dead.
Of those whose names are known are the following: first of all, the most holy Virgin Mary, who in Matthew 27:56 and Mark 15:40 is called “the mother of James and Joses” (these are the sons of Joseph by a previous marriage, and she was therefore their step-mother); Mary Magdalene (celebrated July 22); Mary, the wife of Clopas; Joanna, wife of Chouza, a steward of Herod Antipas; Salome, the mother of the sons of Zebedee; Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus; and Susanna. As for the names of the rest of them, the evangelists have kept silence.
Together with them we celebrate also the secret disciples of the Savior, Joseph and Nicodemus. Of these, Nicodemus was probably a Jerusalemite, a prominent leader among the Jews and of the order of the Pharisees, learned in the Law and instructed in the Holy Scriptures. He had believed in Christ when, at the beginning of our Savior’s preaching of salvation, he came to Him by night. Furthermore, he brought some one hundred pounds of myrrh-oils and an aromatic mixture of aloes and spices out of reverence for the divine Teacher (John 19:39).
Joseph, who was from the city of Arimathea, was a wealthy and noble man, and one of the counselors who were in Jerusalem. He went bodly unto Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus, and together with Nicodemus he gave Him burial. Since time did not permit the preparation of another tomb, he placed the Lord’s body in his own tomb which was hewn out of rock, as the Evangelist says (Matthew 27:60).
Read the entire story on the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese website.
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.
Everyone is invited of course (not just moms)!
Thank you to Everyone who Worked so Hard During Pascha!
Dozens of people helped, so much so that listing them all is impossible. Be assured of one thing (it’s from the Bible so take is seriously!):
For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do (Hebrews 6:10).
This means that our Lord sees our work, and of special importance to Him is the work that we do for each other. Our work in the Church — cooking, chanting, taking care of the kids, vacuuming the floor, decorating the Kovouklion, fixing the air conditioning, organizing an easter egg hunt, wiping the tables, making visitors feel at home, cooking Lenten meals and a pancake breakfast, sponsoring Palm Sunday Brunch — everything the contributes to the life of St. Peter’s is a labor of love honored by God.
Think about that and then think how important the generous hearts and helping hands is for the welfare and life of our our parish. If we can grasp that it is important to our Lord, then we can be grateful for the opportunity to serve.
In return St. Paul teaches, you will be blessed for all you have done.
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 — PENTECOST
- 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
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
Baby Luke
George
Priest Kyprianos
Presvytera Charlotte
Savannah (Jonson)
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
The Reading from the Acts of the Saintly and Pure Apostles. (6:1-7)
The Lord is my strength and my song.
The Lord has chastened me severely.
In those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists murmuredagainst the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. And the Twelvesummoned the body of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching theword of God to serve tables. Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven men of goodrepute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
And what they said pleased the wholemultitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, andProchorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaos, a proselyte of Antioch. Thesethey set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands upon them. And the word of Godincreased; and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of thepriests were obedient to the faith.
Gospel
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark. (15:43-16:8)
At that time, Joseph of Arimathaea, a respected member of the council, who was alsohimself looking for the Kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate, and asked for the bodyof Jesus. And Pilate wondered if He were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he askedhim whether Jesus was already dead. And when he learned from the centurion that He was dead,he granted the body to Joseph. And he bought a linen shroud, and taking Him down, wrapped Himin the linen shroud, and laid Him in a tomb, which had been hewn out of the rock; and he rolled astone against the door of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where He was laid.
And when the Sabbath was passed, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices so that they might go and anoint Him. And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?” And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back—it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, “Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, Who was crucified. He has risen, He is not here; see the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His Disciples and Peter that He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see Him, as He told you.” And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
