St. Michael s Orthodox Christian Church 1182 Ashland St., Greensburg, PA 15601 Diocese of Charleston, Oakland and the Mid-Atlantic Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. (See the back cover for detailed contact information.) Sunday, May 8, 2016 To all who are present with us this morning, Welcome! Christ is risen! Happy Mothers Day! Please join us for a Mother s Day Breakfast in the Fellowship Hall following Divine Liturgy. You May Find the Text of the Divine Liturgy beginning on the bottom page 91 of the Service Book (gold embossed cross on the reddish brown cover) or in the green-spiral-bound book; sheet music can be found in the 8.5 x 11 large, spiral-bound booklet. At the Kiss of Peace our practice is for each of us to greet the person to our right and left with the bowing of our head, hands held in a prayerful clasp or crossed on the chest, while offering each other the seasonal Christian greeting, Christ is risen! and responding, Indeed, He is risen! Please remember that Holy Communion is reserved for those Chrismated Orthodox Christians who have appropriately prepared themselves through prayer, fasting and Confession to receive the Holy Mysteries of the Church. The bread (anti doron, which means in place of the gifts) which we share after Communion and at the end of the Liturgy is for all. Being mindful we are in church, let us always remember to...be quiet and attentive. Let us sing, pray, stand, sit, kneel and respond where responses are indicated. Let us not talk, look around, text message, play games, etc. Especially let us work at this in the Communion line and when in line to venerate the Cross and depart. If we cannot hear the postcommunion prayers being chanted during our church departure, we are way too noisy....refrain from eating, drinking or chewing gum. (most obviously and especially if you will be receiving Holy Communion)....stay put. Except in rare cases, there are few of us who cannot stay in one location for two hours (actually less, for most of us).
The Mission of Our Church The mission of St Michael s Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church is to tend the flock of our Lord Jesus Christ and to spread the Good News of Christ to those outside the flock. This mission is to be accomplished by a) living a full liturgical and sacramental life, b) proclaiming the Orthodox Christian faith to all people, c) providing effective charitable and social programs, and d) establishing strong spiritual leadership and resources.
Sunday, May 8, 2016 Greeting: Christ is risen! Response: Indeed, He is risen! New Sunday or Anti-Pascha; Sunday of Thomas the Apostle, Called The Twin ; Synaxis of the Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian; Venerable Arsenios the Great. THE EPISTLE READING T First Epistle of St. John (1:1-7) HAT WHICH WAS FROM THE BEGINNING, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life the life was made manifest, and we saw it, and testify to it, and proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was made manifest to us that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you may have fellowship with us; and our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing this that our joy may be complete. This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not live according to the truth; but if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. THE HOLY GOSPEL O According to St. John (20:19-31) N THE EVENING OF THAT DAY, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the Disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, Peace be with you. When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the Disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you. And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained. Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other Disciples told him, We have seen the Lord. But he said to them, Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in His side, I will not believe. Eight days later, His Disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, Peace be with you. Then He said to Thomas, Put your finger here, and see My hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing. Thomas answered Him, My Lord and my God! Jesus said to him, Have you believed because you have seen Me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe. Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the Disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His Name.
the Greeters Team will sponsor a Cookout to raise funds for the 2016 Feast Next Sunday, May 15 th following Divine Liturgy Grilled Hot Dogs and Hamburgers Homemade Side Dishes made by the Greeters of St. Michael s Fruit and Dessert will be served Donation is $7 per person - Children under 12 are free (Syrian Bread $4)
Please return your Food For Hungry People boxes as soon as possible. Thank you for your generosity toward feeding the hungry around the world. Special thanks to Keira Conley and the Church School families for reviving our Agape Great Vespers last Sunday morning with their attendance and exuberant participation (in the hunt!). O Lord Our God, we thank you for the gift of the mothers in our lives; for those who have given us biological life, for those unrelated by blood who have nurtured us, for those of whom we are even unaware, whose love, generosity, kindness, wisdom and prayers have impacted us in ways unknown but to you. Grant them a prosperous and peaceful life, health, salvation and furtherance in all good things; and preserve them for many years! Food on the Hill Lunch Ministry Food on the Hill is the name that has been attached to the lunch for those in need that will be prepared and served free of charge on the first Tuesday of each month. Our Men s Fellowship has continued to take on the work of providing a bit of daily bread to those who can benefit from it. At the most recent luncheon, we served 28 meals to members of the community. The next Food on the Hill lunch is scheduled for Tuesday, June 7, 2016 from 12:00 to 1:00 PM. Anyone who would like to support Food on the Hill in any capacity you would like, should contact Gust Flizanes. Please make checks out to St. Michael s Church with Food on the Hill on the memo line. (The Food on the Hill Team would be greatly augmented by the addition of one or two people willing to give rides to and from the church to people who want to be here, but have no transportation. For more information talk to Gus.)
Two of the most immediately important actions we can take right now for the good of the upcoming Parish Life Conference we are cosponsoring have to do with 1) our registering and 2) our participation in the ad book (which is the main way we fund the Conference and perhaps even reap a modest profit). 1) To register (everyone who participates is required to register, even commuters and people only attending a few services or workshops) go to antiochianevents.com/ny.html. 2) To participate in the souvenir journal/ad book, pick up a form as you exit church this morning, fill it out, and return it with your donation. Both of these actions may be accomplished in hard copy format by picking up the appropriate forms as you leave church this morning. Summer Saturday Scripture Study The Holy Gospel According to St. John most Saturday Mornings at 9:00 AM (or right after Divine Liturgy) Session 1 - Saturday, May 28 9:00 AM Session 2 - Saturday, June 4 Please call and leave a message at the church office ((724) 834-1311) if the first quarter summary of your church contributions does not match your records. As you know, on Sunday, May 15, the Greeters Team will sponsor a $7 cookout lunch to benefit our 2016 Feast. 12 years old and under - free. Speaking of the Feast, contact Dianne Anton if you have ideas for this year s (September 11) major fund raiser, and/or a willingness to take a leadership role in the event. FELLOWSHIP HOUR Mother s Day Breakfast following Divine Liturgy All are invited to this complimentary holiday meal.
Idewild Church Picnic Saturday June 4th Tickets are $20.50 each (regular price? $42.99! Children under 2 years old get in for free! We will be having our own pavilion, an Ice Cream Bar, and meal vouchers that can be used in the park. Please contact Keira Conley or Fotini Wetzel and checks can be made payable to St. Michael s Church School. If anyone has ANY pictures from the 2015-2016 Church School Year, please email them to Keira Conley at shuflute13@gmail.com. They will be used in the Graduation Video for this year s Moving Up Program, which is on Sunday, May 22nd! Thank you! A LITTLE CHURCH ETIQUETTE - In the ebb and flow of our Divine Services there are times that is is more okay to move in, out, and about, and times that it is less okay to do so. Please try not to take offense if an usher should ever remind you of that movement reality. St. Michael s Annual Pirates Baseball Game Thursday July 21, 7:05PM (Fireworks Night @ PNC Park) Pirates vs Milwaukee Brewers Cost: $34 per ticket Deadline to pay for tickets is Sunday, May 29th. Sign up on bulletin board by kitchen. (Bus rental was cost prohibitive. All arrange their own transportation.) See Michelle Gajewski for details and to make payment!
REMEMBER, the Second Week on this schedule May Change: ALWAYS USE THE MOST CURRENT BULLETIN! May 8 thru 14 May 15 thru 21 Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen! Sunday, May 15 - Sun. of the Blindman Sunday, May 8 - Thomas Sunday - 8:45 AM - MATINS - 8:45 AM - MATINS - 9:30 AM - Choir Rehearsal - 9:30 AM - Choir Rehearsal - 10:00 AM - DIVINE LITURGY - 10:00 AM - DIVINE LITURGY - Church School - Church School - Feast Fund-Raiser Cookout - Mothers Day Breakfast Sponsored by Greeters Team (Prepared by A-MEN) - Quarterly Parish Update Mtg - 1:30 PM - Grave Blessings at - 1:30 PM - Grave Blessings at Westmoreland Mem. Park and St. Clair Cemetery, Youngwood Cemetery Hillview Cemetery and (check with Fr. John to arrange times) Irwin Union Cemetery Monday, May 9 (check with Fr. John to arrange times) - 9:00 AM - DIVINE LITURGY Tuesday, May 17 Prophet Isaiah - 9:00 AM - DIVINE LITURGY Tuesday, May 10 Apostle Andronikos of the 70-6:00 PM - EVE. DIV. LITURGY 6:30 Executive Board Meeting Sts. Cyril & Methodios - 7:00 - Parish Council Meeting Fr. John will be out of town Saturday, May 21 traveling to and from Oklahoma - 9:00 AM - DIVINE LITURGY Sts. Constantine and Helen from Wednesday, May 11 6:00 PM - GREAT VESPERS through Friday, May 13 (and maybe some of Saturday). Wednesday, May 11-6:30 PM - Church School Meeting at Wetzel home Saturday, May 14 - NO Great Vespers Now that the Great Lent is complete and the Feast of Feasts has been celebrated, our next parish focus is on our co-hosting (with St. Mary Church, Johnstown) the 2016 Eastern Region Parish Life Conference (June 29-July 3). Please pray for the success of our efforts and be ready to be invited to work in behalf of those efforts. Contact Chairperson Stephanie Zarras (724-989-7614) to volunteer and find out how you may serve. Last Chance to Help The Antiochian Women s 2016 Bakeless Bake Sale has received $1,385.00 in contributions to Feed Hungry Children at Home and Abroad. Our goal is $2,000.00, which means we fall a bit short of this goal at the moment. We will be sending in our funds very soon. If you would be part of this year s effort, now is the time to write your check and give it to this year s Bakeless Bake Sale Coordinator, Allison Simon.