THE EPISTLE

Prokeimenon: The Lord is my strength and my song.

The Lord has chastened me sorely.

The reading is from The Acts of the Apostles.

IN THOSE DAYS, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists murmured against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, "It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, 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 whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochoros, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaos, a proselyte of
Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands upon them. And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in
Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.

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 Chimel, Pantel, Mitros, and Dunkel Families.

The Coffee and Reception in the Church Hall is offered today by the Taylor and Battestin Families. Have YOU scheduled your family to sponsor this reception for the parish? Please do not wait to be scheduled for this “family time” on Sunday mornings. The chart is posted in the Church Hall with the items needed. Every family should take a turn – and you can join with other parishioners on any given Sunday.

PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. There will be a Memorial Service today for the late servant of God +PANAYIOTA PANTELOPOULOS, mother of our parishioner Eva Pantel. Memory Eternal!

2. Today we will be “churching’ the newly born Marina Wong, daughter of Jules and Ellen (Koulikourdis) Wong. Many Years to Marina, her parents, and grandparents.

3.
CHURCH
SCHOOL

REGISTRATION for the Church School year 2005-2006 is continuing over the next few weeks. PLEASE REGISTER YOUR CHILDREN TODAY! This is a “parental responsibility,” and every parent should realize the importance of a proper Orthodox Christian Education in light of the culture in which our kids are living today! See Registrar Irene Kavountzis today!
Our end-of-the-year RECOGNITION DAY will be held this year on Sunday, June 12^th. The annual Joan Allen Memorial Scholarships will also be awarded on that day. PARENTS of graduates: If your son or daughter has not submitted the required documents, these awards cannot be granted! Please see chair, Fran DeBellis, for further information.

4. Sunday, June 5^th, St. Anthony’s Annual Church PICNIC, sponsored by our Fellowship. Please look for information regarding this day, and plan to spend a relaxing afternoon with our St. Anthony’s Family. The Teens believe they will win the “grudge” softball game with the “oldies!” We’ll see.

5. 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.

6. 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!

7. NEW CELEBRATION and REMEMBRANCE PROGRAM. Please remember you can use 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.”

8. 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.”

9. 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.

10. 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)

11. 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.

12. Wednesday, June 8^th, Vesperal Liturgy for Holy Ascension, beginning at 7:30 PM. The Parish Council Meeting will follow immediately after the Liturgy.

May 15, 2005

THE EPISTLE