THE EPISTLE

Prokeimenon: Great is our Lord, and great is his power.

Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good.

The reading is from The Acts of the Apostles.

IN THOSE DAYS, many signs and wonders were done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. None of the rest dared join them, but the 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 laid them 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 afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed. But the high priest rose up and all who were with him, that is, the party of the Sadducees, and filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in the common prison. But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out and said, “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life."

THE EUCHARISTIC OFFERINGS

The Holy Oblations are offered at the Offertory of the Great Entrance today for the health and welfare of those living members, and for those departed this life in Christ, of the Assile and Kavountzis Families.

PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. Today, NEW SUNDAY, when our church commemorates
St. Thomas, the apostle, who we learned “had doubt” but discovered the truth of his “Lord and God,” we also celebrate MOTHERS’ DAY. And so we congratulate all the mothers and grandmothers of our parish. Indeed, we pray for the continuance of those virtues and values of “motherhood” which have characterized the most primary relationship in life! May God grant mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters – anyone of these who have “cared” for others in the same spirit as Our Lady, the Blessed Theotokos, the prototype of all maternal love. Many Years!

2. From Holy Pascha until Ascension (June 9^th), the Orthodox Tradition continues the Pascal music, prayers and greetings. In the various languages, we greet each other as follows:

Christ Is Risen……………………………….Truly He Is Risen

Al-Maseeh Qahm……………………………Hak' An Qahm (Arabic)

Christos Anesti………………………………Alithos Anesti (Greek)

Christos Voskrese…………………………..Va Istenu Voskrese (Slavonic)

Christos a Inviat……………………………..A Devarat Ka Inviat (Romanian)

3. NO FASTING from Pascha to the Feast Day of Ascension (June 9^th). It is not prescribed to fast “while the Bridegroom is with us,” a quote taken directly from Holy Scripture. Thus we do not fast while we are still singing “Christ is Risen.”

4. NO KNEELING in the Church from Holy Pascha until the feast day of Pentecost (June 19^th), when we call upon the Holy Spirit, and kneel for the first time.

5. As occurs every year, due to the “timing” of publishing our Paschal Bulletin, we miss certain names of those who work on preparing the Epitaphios and Altar Area for Great Friday and Pascha as well as a few others who offer Easter Greetings to their family at St. Anthony’s. Please note the following to be added to those who help preparing the Epitaphios and Altar Area: Kathy Banu, Alexandra and Nicole Banu, Claudia Bogris, Marissa and Jeanine Bogris, Betty Gakos, and Marianna Chaikovsky-Bereznicki. The follow people sent Easter greetings: Maria and James Nola, Sandy and Chris Eliopoulos, and Eiamantis Nicols. MANY YEARS!

6. This Monday, May 9^th, the Ladies’ Guild will hold its monthly meeting at 7:30 PM in the Multipurpose Room. All ladies are invited to attend.

7. This Tuesday, May 10^th, Steering Committee Meeting for FESTIVAL 2005! It is important that all members be present, since when we move into Summer, it will get increasingly difficult to hold a full meeting. That’s this Tuesday at 7:30 PM.

8. This Friday and Saturday, May 13^th and 14^th, our LADIES’ GUILD RUMMANGE SALE will be held. Just in time for “Spring Cleaning!” Please help our Ladies as they help our Church. You can drop off your donations after Divine Liturgy today or on Thursday after 10 AM.

9. MONDAY, JUNE 6^th our annual St. Anthony’s Fellowship GOLF OUTING! Please see Don DiNovi or any of those responsible for information, or to make your reservation. Please speak to Don regarding sponsoring this Outing, if you do not golf. All proceeds from this event – always a great time for our golfers and their guests – are contributed to St. Anthony’s.

10.
CHURCH
SCHOOL. Our end of year RECOGNITION DAY will be held on Sunday, June 12^th.

11. PARISH LIFE CONFERENCE, June 29^th – July 3^rd. This year the PLC is in our “back yard:” Headquarters Plaza Hotel,
Morristown, NJ. For reservations call 1-800-225-1941. Since it is held so close to St. Anthony’s we hope to see many of our families – especially mothers and fathers of our
Church
School students and Teen SOYO members – TO BE PRESENT!

12. NEW CELEBRATION and REMEMBRANCE PROGRAM. Please see flier insert to participate in using the new “Sanctuary Candles” to celebrate birthdays, wedding anniversaries, namesdays, etc. (Red Candles), as well as remembering our departed loved ones (Blue Candles). Special Celebration/Remembrance Envelopes will soon be available in conjunction with this program. Please see any steward in the Narthex of the Church to offer one of these week-long “prayer offerings.”

13. St. Nicholas Cathedral is celebrating its 110th anniversary with a banquet at the Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday, June 4, 2005 at 6 PM. Join Board of Trustee members, members of the Governing Council of The Order and the members and friends of the Cathedral for this memorable event. Metropolitan PHILIP will be presiding. Anyone interested in attending please see Peter Dacales.

May 8, 2005

THE EPISTLE