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 Assile and Kavountzis Families.

The Coffee and Reception Hour in the Church Hall is offered today by the Hogne and Vouvalides Families. We remind our parishioners that each family should take its turn and sponsor the Coffee and Reception Hour for the parish. Please see the chart posted in the Church Hall which lists what is needed in order to offer this Sunday reception. We encourage families to join together when possible, but please do not wait to sign up for this “family gathering” and Coffee Hour.

PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. THURSDAY, MAY 18^th, the first Festival 2006 Meeting; all chairs must be present. The Festival for this year, our “Golden Jubilee” Festival, is chaired by Lois Dedes and John Gakos. The meeting will begin promptly at 7:30 PM. (PLEASE NOTE: This is a NEW date, changed from the previously announced date). Again: THURSDAY, MAY 18^th!

2. WEDNESDAY, MAY 24^th, the Town Hall Committee will meet at 7:30 PM in the Multi-Purpose Room, to review this past year’s program, and to determine in light of that next year’s program.

3. WEDNESDAY, MAY 31^st, the Vesperal Liturgy for the feast day of the ASCENSION OF THE LORD, beginning at 7:30 PM. The actual feast day is June 1^st, this Liturgy being celebrated on the Eve of the Feast (which is the beginning of the next day).

4. NO FASTING from Pascha until the Feast day of Ascension, again because, as the Scripture says, we do not fast “while the Bridegroom is with us.” Thus, we do not fast as long as we sing the “Christ Is Risen.”

5. NO KNEELING in the Church from Holy Pascha until Pentecost (June 11^th), when we call upon the Holy Spirit and kneel for the first time.

6. From Holy Pascha until Ascension (June 1^st), the Orthodox Tradition continues the Pascal music, prayers and greetings. This is the practice because the Church lives in the earthly but “resurrected” presence of the Risen Christ, who appeared to the disciples and Apostles often during these forty days. Thus, being a true “pan-Orthodox” community, we continue to greet each other in the various languages familiar to the Orthodox Christians around the world. Below are the exchanges:

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)

Cristye Agh-zda……………………………..Chesh-Maritad (Georgian)

7. DID YOU KNOW? There is still another gift to be offered for our Golden Anniversary Celebration, either in memory of your loved ones, or to celebrate a wedding anniversary, a birthday, etc. The new solid wooden Gospel Lectern (now in the Chapel). The contribution to pay for this offering is $500.00 All names of those for whom such gifts are offered will be commemorated on the “Tree of Life” at the entrance to the North Complex. As of now 17 of the 33 possible gifts have been taken. All gifts are offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please see Deacon Peter if you are interested in offering any of these Golden Anniversary gifts to remember those you love.

You are so blessed if you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million who won’t survive the week.

May 7, 2006

THE EPISTLE