{"id":7659,"date":"2019-04-23T13:54:08","date_gmt":"2019-04-23T17:54:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/?p=7659"},"modified":"2019-04-23T13:54:08","modified_gmt":"2019-04-23T17:54:08","slug":"st-peter-newsletter-april-23-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/st-peter-newsletter-april-23-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Peter Newsletter April 23, 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pascha (Passover)<\/h2>\n

The Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ<\/h4>\n
\"The
The Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pascha<\/h4>\n

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.<\/p>\n

[…]<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Read more about Pascha on the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese website<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Bp. Nicholas Presiding at the Liturgy of the Last Supper this Thursday (April 25, 2019) at 9:30am<\/h2>\n

\"Bishop<\/p>\n

His Grace Bishop Nicholas will be presiding at the Liturgy of the Last Supper on Holy Thursday (April 25, 2019) starting at 9:30am. <\/p>\n

Please make every effort to attend if possible. It is a special honor to be hosting our Bishop on this important day.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Agape Service (11:00am) and Pascha Dinner (1:00pm) on Sunday April 28, 2019<\/h2>\n

\"Lighting<\/p>\n

On Pascha Sunday we will come together for Agape Vespers at 11am.<\/p>\n

\"Sign<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The Paschal Dinner begins at 1:00pm! There’s a place for you at the table!<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/div>\n

Donations for Holy Week Flowers Needed<\/h2>\n

\"Help<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

 <\/div>\n

Foreign Language Speakers for Agape Vespers<\/h2>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The passage to read will be John 20:19-25. The three sections to be read one section at a time are:<\/p>\n