This is the first of three weddings banns for Konstantin Radcliff and Tania Almonte. If anyone knows of why they should not be married, please see Fr. Luke.
Sunday, May 21
10 AM – Divine Liturgy
Monday, May 22
7 PM – Spirituality Class
Tuesday, May 23
8:30 AM –Hours – NO Prayer Group today 6:30 PM – First Holy Confession Class
Wednesday, May 24
12 noon – Akathist to the Inexhaustible Cup 7 PM – Vespers for the Feast of the Ascension
Thursday, May 25
9 AM – Liturgy for the Feast of the Ascension 4 pm to 7 PM – Wake for Thomas Krafick at Holy Trinity Church 7 PM – Panachida for Thomas Krafick
Friday, May 26
10 AM – Funeral for Thomas Krafick followed by burial at St. Platon’s Cemetery
Saturday, May 27
10 AM – First Holy Confession Class 5 PM – Vespers
Sunday, May 28
9:30 AM – First Holy Confession 10 AM – Divine Liturgy
Readers Schedule 5/28 – Suzanne Molineaux
6/4 – Bob Faubel
6/11 – Paul Toaso
6/18 – Paul Sulich
6/25 – Susan Paltauf
Coffee Hour 5/28 – First Holy Confession
6/4 – Parish BBQ
6/18 – Father’s Day
6/25 – OPEN
There are no services this week, as Fr. Luke is way in Florida from Monday to Wednesday for an OCMC Board of Trustee’s meeting and then in Pennsylvania at Camp Nazareth for the Priest Synod meeting from Thursday to Friday.
Saturday, April 29 8:30 AM – OYMT training session lead by Andy Lekos of OCMC 5 PM -Vespers
Sunday, April 30
10 AM – Divine Liturgy followed by an OYMT pancake breakfast fundraiser.
Readers Schedule 4/30 – Paul Toaso
5/7 – Bob Faubel
5/14 – Susan Paltauf
To the Very Reverend Protopresbyters, Very Reverend and Reverend Fathers, and Faithful of our God-Protected Diocese:
CHRIST IS RISEN! INDEED HE IS RISEN!
“…its truth is seen in Him and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.” (1 John 2:8)
In this world where darkness unceasingly prowls and is ever ready to overtake and consume any goodness which may exist, we must remain steadfast in our faith and allow Christ’s Light to shine through us, transforming us into beacons of hope for the entire world.
During the beautiful service of the Resurrection, waiting in a darkened church, anticipating the Light, we should be mindful of what we are about to experience and its significance. The Resurrection is a real event. It is happening right now for all of us.
On this great and glorious Feast of Pascha – the Resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, our hearts are filled with tremendous joy, our souls are transformed and we bask in the Light of the Truth.
It is my fervent prayer that we continue and increase our efforts to help conquer the seemingly overwhelming sorrows and despairs in this darkened world by sharing the “Good News” of our Lord’s Resurrection, not only with the proclamation of “Christ is Risen” but also by also being the shining, radiant beacons of our Lord’s Light and Love.
Personal Greetings
On this Bright and Holy Feast, I extend my prayerful best wishes to you, the Clergy and Laity, Friends and Supporters of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese. May you truly experience the love, joy, and excitement of the early followers of Christ when they first saw Him after His Resurrection. Christ is Risen!
Working in the Risen Lord’s Vineyard with much love,
+Bishop Gregory of Nyssa
On this Most Bright and Glorious Feast of our Lord Resurrection, I greet everyone with joy filled exclamation: Christ is Risen! I am grateful for all of you have taken seriously this Lenten journey that has been given to us by our Church. Your efforts have allowed you to safely enter into the harbor our Lord’s Resurrection. For all of us who have taken up the Cross of Lent, God’s grace has made this day that much brighter and joy filled! You have seen and experienced that Pascha, if only for a brief moment, is about Life and how to have it more abundantly! You have learned that by cooperating with God’s grace you can come to better recognize Christ in our every day life and be able choose Him above all else.
May the Light of the Risen Lord always shine upon us,
In the Risen Christ,
Fr. Luke Mihaly
Saturday, April 15
11 PM – Nocturnes, Matins, Divine Liturgy followed by the blessing of Baskets and Agape Meal – HOLY PASCHA
NO FASTING for Bright Week
Sunday, April 16
12 noon – Paschal Vespers – Blessing of Baskets
Monday, April 17 – Bright Monday
9 AM –Divine Liturgy with Procession 7 PM – Spirituality Class
Tuesday, April 18 – Bright Tuesday
9 AM – Divine Liturgy
Wednesday, April 19
6:30 PM – Monthly St. Nectarios Anointing Service – Rescheduled 7 PM – Catechism Class
Thursday, April 20
6:30 PM – Parish Dinner out at The CUE Restaurant. Please consider carpooling
Friday, April 21
9 AM – Old Testament Class
Sunday, April 23
10 AM –Divine Liturgy
Readers Schedule 4/23 – Harry Fong
4/30 – Paul Toaso
5/7 – Bob Faubel
5/14 – Susan Paltauf
During this week there have been many images from the services in the hymnography of our church of marriage and wedding.It is hard to imagine and think why would the Church have such images of marriage and wedding at this time of the liturgical year that leads us to Christ’s death and ultimately his resurrection?These images are very important and purposeful because at the heart of this is God wedding Himself to us through Christ’ death and resurrection.This is the wedding feast that all of us are invited to participate in.
We should remember that at every wedding in the Orthodox Church the bride and groom wear crowns or wreaths upon their heads.There are many images that come to mind, but I often remind couples that the wedding crowns that we wear are a reminder of the sacrificial love that is expected of us if we desire to enjoy the communion that is marriage.Too often marriage is portrayed by the world as something that each individual should get something out of, i.e. most often fulfillment, happiness, gratification.In stark contrast to this the Church presents to us the crown of thorns.To remind us that there is something much more to marriage, indeed, something more to life, than fulfillment, happiness or gratification.
And here, the Church presents to us a crucified and buried Lord as the means of true communion and intimacy with God.Heaven is not cheap; not everyone enters.Narrow is the gate that one must enter and Our Lord has shown us the way.
What our Lord shows us today as he lies here in the tomb, that if we want true communion, if we want true, deep, joy and not just the fleeting feeling of happiness, if we want a wellspring of God grace springing up within us and not an immediate gratification of our passing desires, then we must go through the crown of thorns.We need to follow the example of our Lord to experience our own death to our selfish wants and desires in order to attain that most intimate communion with God and through God with all those around us.
By brothers and sisters:Do not be afraid for our Lord has trod this path before us, he has blazed that trail that leads from death to life, from the grave to the empty tomb, from earth to heaven.Every obstacle has been taken away it is only up to us to pick up our cross, deny ourselves and follow Him.
Fr. Luke Mihaly – Great and Holy Friday Sermon 2017
