CHURCH SERVICES: MAY
Sunday Matins: 8:30 am
SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY: 9:30 am
Saturday Vespers: 5:30pm
Early Risers Bible Study
Saturday 6:30am - 7:30am
Wednesday 10:30am Bible Study
+ + +
May 1 Holy Wednesday 9:30 am Pre-Sanctified Liturgy
Holy Wednesday 6:30 pm Holy Unction Service
May 2 Holy Thursday 9:30 Divine Liturgy
Holy Thursday 6:30 pm The Service of the 12 Gospels
May 3 Holy and Good Friday
9:00 Service of the Royal Hours
9:00 Decorating the Epitaphio
12:00 Youth Retreat
2:00 pm Vespers Service (Taking Christ Off the Cross)
6:30 pm The Lamentations Service
May 4 Holy Saturday
9:30 Divine Liturgy (1st Resurrection Service)
*10:00 pm Resurrection Service and Divine Liturgy (*Note NEW TIME)
May 5 PASCHA - CHRIST IS RISEN!!!
11:00 Easter Egg Hunt
12:00 Agape Vespers of Love
1:00 Paschal Lamb Pot-Luck Luncheon at the Church
May 6 - Bright Monday (St. George)
9:00 Resurrectional Matins
9:30 Divine Liturgy
6:00 pm Philoptochos Meeting and Jewelry Making
May 8 - 10:30 am Bible Study
May 12 - Mother's Day
May 13 - 6:30pm Parish Council Meeting
May 15 - 10:30 am Bible Study
May 19 - General Assembly Meeting After Divine LIturgy
May 20 - 6:00 pm Vespers for Nameday of our Church followed by a dinner for all!
May 21 - 9:30 Divine Liturgy for Sts. Constantine and Helen
May 25 - 9:00am-12:00 Memorials at Mt. Zion Cemetery
May 26 - 40 Day Memorial for Blaga Naum
Fr. Luke's Monthly Message:
THE DEFEAT OF ALL EVIL
This is the Day of Resurrection! Let
us shine forth in splendor for this Feasts of Feasts, and embrace one another. Let us call brothers and sisters even those who hate us,
and let us forgive all things in the Resurrection. Thus, let us cry aloud, “Christ is Risen from the dead, by
death trampling upon death, and bestowing life to those in the tombs.
(Hymn from the Paschal Service)
This central hymn of Pascha (Easter)
summarizes the spirit with which we are called to celebrate this Feast of
Feasts and with which we are to live our entire lives. The Resurrection of
Christ from the dead is the center of our Christian faith because Jesus
conquers the greatest evil, death itself! Our Lord does not remain a victim to
uncontrollable circumstances, but comes out of His battle with Satan as the
Victorious One, revealing that the darkness of the world, with all its forms of
evil, can never defeat Christ Himself!
Christ is Risen, defeating death
itself, but also defeating all forms of darkness. It is noteworthy in this hymn
to highlight how in the joy of the Resurrection, we are called to embrace one
another, to forgive one another, and to reconcile even with those who hate us!
The story of Pascha proclaims how Jesus rose from the dead.
The hymnographers and theologians of the Church, interestingly enough,
connected death to hatred and separation from one another. Whenever we allow
hatred to enter into our hearts, whenever we accept the deception that some
“other” is my enemy, whenever we allow our stubbornness and pride to keep us
from reconciling with those who have hurt us, then we are living in darkness
and death. We have allowed evil to win. Hatred equals death. Life, from the
perspective of God, equals Love. Authentic life means having a loving and
intimate relationship with our Creator Himself, and out of this divine love
offering love to the world around us, even to our enemies.
Whenever we allow relationships to
remain broken and hatred to comfortably dwell in our hearts, we then are
choosing the path of death instead of life. Yet Christ’s Resurrection has
defeated all forms of death, including our inability to forgive one another. For
some, it may seem impossible to forgive a hurt that another has caused, but the
Resurrection overcomes the impossible!
Thus, as a part of our Paschal
celebration, maybe we can look at all our relationships, especially
relationships that are broken or those that have been long lost, and with the
light and power that comes from our Lord’s Resurrection, we can make a new
attempt at reconciliation and healing. Never allow the death of hatred,
bitterness, or arrogant pride to keep us in bondage. Just as the tomb couldn’t
contain Jesus, no evil should ever confine us! If we are in Christ, hatred,
bitterness and arrogant pride no longer need to have dominion over us!
The truth is that if we hold on to
the vices of our fallen nature, then we in fact are rejecting Christ’s victory
over evil. We are denying His resurrection and choosing to live under the
shadow of death.
So let us all joyously proclaim:
Christ
is Risen and death is defeated.
Christ
is Risen and hatred is eliminated.
Christ
is Risen and our bitterness is healed.
Christ
is Risen and our pride is laid low.
Christ
is Risen and a new way of life is given
Christ
is Risen! Christos Anesti! Krishti u Ngjall!
With love
in our Risen Lord Jesus,
+Luke
