Church Bulletin: May 19, 2013

[Fr. Ignatius Valentine]

May 19, 2013- 3rd Sunday of Pascha (Myrrhbearers Sunday)

 

Khristos Voskrese!  Kriste ahzdkhah! Christos a Inviat!

This Week's Services and Events

May 20, Monday

       + 3rd Hour Prayers, 9AM

       + Office Hours, 9:30-11:30

       + Teen SOYO movie and dinner, 6:30PM

 

 

May 22, Wednesday

       + Akathist, 7PM, followed by Bible Study

 

 

May 24, Friday

       + Matins, 8:30AM

 

May 25, Saturday

        + 9th Hour/Great Vespers, 6PM

                                                                                                                                      

May 26, 4th Sunday of Pascha

        + Matins, 8:45AM

        + Liturgy, 10AM, followed by Sunday School and Coffee Hour

 

Upcoming Events and Announcements

 

Almsgiving (Food For Hungry People Program)-

               If you took a Food for Hungry People collection box and filled it during Lent, please bring it back to church now so that we can consolidate the funds and get them to where they need to go.

 

 

Thank You-

       Thank you to our Teen SOYO and their advisor Alli Rockwell for cleaning up a stretch of I-80 yesterday, in the name of our whole church.  Thank you also to all those who brought food to vespers last Thursday so that we could host a meal for the clergy who were visiting for the deanery meeting.  For several of the clergy, it was their first time seeing the inside of our church building, and they made many comments to me about how beautiful it is and also how lovely our choir sounded.

 

 

"The Liturgy of Death"-

       Because of fear, we don't often like to discuss death or even think about it.  Death is inevitable though.  Because of the fallen nature of our world and our own sinfulness, we will each experience this great foe.  As Christians, we know the rest of the story: that Christ has defeated death and made it powerless over us, transforming it into a gateway to eternal life with Him.  The Orthodox Church has many beautiful and rich customs and practices surrounding the end of life and death.  Sadly, some of these have been lost or forgotten about, as the modern American way of preparing dead bodies and doing funerals, to name two specific things, is somewhat different from Orthodox practice.  If you would like to read a good article on the practices of the Orthodox Church regarding death and funerals, pick up a copy of "The Liturgy of Death" by Fr. George Gray, available in the narthex.

 

Upcoming Bible Study: Highlights from the Resurrection Gospel Readings-

        On three consecutive Wednesday evenings during the Paschal season (May 22, May 29, June 5) following 7PM Akathist, you are invited to join Fr. Ignatius to explore highlights from the 11 Resurrection Gospels that we hear at Sunday matins. The many post-Resurrection appearances of Jesus to His disciples are full of wonderful teaching, but we only hear a small portion of them read at Liturgy.  Start time will be 7:45PM.

 

 

Summer Break for Sunday School-

       After next Sunday, May 26, we will take our summer break for Sunday School.  Thank you to Lori Branch, Alli Rockwell, Tania Van Dinter, Hannah Valentine, and Tyler and Hope Fyotek for providing a wonderful Sunday School program for our kids.

 

 

Update on Orthodox Church of Guatemala-

    To read about the many exciting things that are happening with the Orthodox Church of Guatemala, go to:   http://www.ocmc.org/resources/view_article.aspx?ArticleId=960

 

Pray for Kidnapped Orthodox Bishops in Syria-

        On April 22, while attempting to free two priests who had been kidnapped 4 months ago, Metropolitan Paul of Aleppo, and Metropolitan Youhanna of Aleppo were kidnapped by armed men. Metropolitan Paul is an Antiochian bishop of our Patriarchate and the brother of Patriarch John. Metropolitan Youhanna is from the Syriac Orthodox Church. Their driver and another man riding in the car were released, but their driver, a deacon, was later killed. Our Archdiocesan website, www.antiochian.org is providing updates as is the Notes on Arab Orthodoxy blog, www.araborthodoxy.blogspot.com. May the Lord have mercy! Metropolitan Philip encourages the faithful of our Archdiocese to consider signing a petition urging President Obama's administration to make it a priority to work for the release of these two bishops. To sign the petition, go to: https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/appeal-president-obama-and-his-government-release-two-abducted-orthodox-christian-archbishops-syria/xNskxL1q 

New Church Directories Available-

        The new 2013 St. Raphael Church directories are printed and available in the narthes for members and friends to pick up a copy or two. Thank you to Karen Kuntz for the final layout and printing.

 

 

Do You Need Some Encouragement?-

        Although we have celebrated the joy of Pascha, a celebration of our Risen Lord, still, there are things that we struggle with and which weigh us down. But God does not leave us without help. Through His written Word, we can find much consolation. Also, the Church gives us services like the Paraklesis to the Theotokos, the purpose of which is to offer consolation and support in difficult times. If you want to know where in the Bible to look for encouraging verses, we have a nice summary of such Bible verse references printed on bookmarks and available in the church narthex. If you want to pray the Paraklesis service, it can be found at: http://www.orthodoxchristian.info/pages/main.htm

 

Fasting and Feasting-

          According to Antiochian custom, there is an allowance to not fast from any foods during the entire Paschal season, including on Wednesdays and Fridays, until after the Feast of Ascension (June 13). We will resume weekly Wednesday/Friday fasting on Friday, June 14.

Antiochian Women's Scholarship Available-

        Several $500 scholarships are available to women over 26 years of age who are active in an Antiochian Orthodox parish,and who are registered for or are enrolled in a program of study and who can demonstrate financial need. Application deadline is June 1, 2013. For a copy of the application, see Fr. Ignatius.

Parish Life Conference is June 19-23-

        PLC registration is now OPEN! To register online, please visit www.antiochianevents.org/95. Look for additional information and The Galt House Hotel reservation link on our church website www.stmichaelorthodoxchurch.org/plc. If you would prefer to speak with someone, please call the church office at (502) 454-3378 Option 8, or you may send an email to stmich...@gmail.com. If you would like a packet of forms mailed to you, please call the church office at the number listed above. We also have a Facebook page titled St. Michael the Archangel Orthodox Church – 2013 Parish Life Conference and we encourage you to “like” it.

 

Do You Have a Prayer Request?

        Please give it to Fr. Ignatius and he will distribute it by email to all those on the Prayer Chain. If you wish to join the Prayer Chain, please let Fr. Ignatius know.

Coffee Hour-

        On Sunday May 26, the food for coffee hour and the clean-up of the fellowship hall will be provided by the St. John the Baptist team.

 

Church Cleaning-

        During the week of May 19-26, the cleaning of the nave, narthex, bookstore, stairs, nursery and bathrooms will be accomplished by the St. Nicholas team.

Food for Thought-

 

Mankind is “a musical composition, a wonderfully written hymn to powerful creative activity.” “Your glory, O Christ, is man whom you created to be the singer of your shining radiance.” “Man, who has already been illuminated here on earth, has become a miracle. He coöperates with the heavenly forces in an unending song. Standing on earth, like an angel, he leads all creatures to God …”

The quotes, successively, come from St. Gregory of Nyssa, St. Gregory the Theologian and St. Gregory Palamas.