Pastor: Fr John Vazquez | (518) 462-0579 |
fatherjohnvazquez@gmail.com

Beloved,

Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!

Sometimes, with so much buildup to Pascha,  afterwards there can seem like there is let down. The joy comes and lasts for a time but then life goes back to “normal” everyday struggles that are difficult to deal with.

But it is not like that for us in the Church. In actuality we are called into the deeper mystery after Pascha. The Church set before us the gospel of John and its deep theology for us to contemplate during the 49 days up to Pentecost and the 50th day of Pentecost. So it is that actually  instead of relaxing our efforts after Pascha we are called to climb higher up the mountain of God with our newfound strength gained from the 40 day lenten fast and the intense days of Great and Holy Week. If we are unsure what this looks like practically, the Church gives us also the book of Acts—the story of what the Christian life looks like when put into practice—during this season.

Now is not the time to relax our efforts but to increase our efforts, increase our study, increase our seeking after our Lord through studying His Word and asking Him to help us put it into practice.

I invite each of us to consider how we can make this effort in our lives. Maybe it is studying the Scripture together, maybe it is reading some of the Church Fathers, or maybe it is simply praying specifically for our minds to opened to our Lord’s teachings.

May we continue to answer the invitation of our Lord to come to know Him deeper and more truly.

Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!

Fr John

Services and Events

Saturday, May 11th—5pm—Great Vespers followed by Bible Study

Sunday, May 12th—9am—Orthros and Divine Liturgy (Thomas Sunday) 

Tuesday, May 14th—8am—Coffee with the Fathers

Tuesday, May 14th—4pm—Blessing of Graves

Wednesday, May 15th—8am—Orthros and Divine Liturgy for Pachomius the Great Martyr

Friday, May 17th—9am—Paraklesis Service of St George

Saturday, May 18th—5pm—Great Vespers followed by Bible Study 

Sunday, May 19th—9am—Orthros and Divine Liturgy Lunch to celebrate of Patron St George

Church Calendar

Education

But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ 2 Pet 3.18

Read Metropolitan Saba's weekly teaching HERE

Get some caffeine for the soul with Coffee with the Fathers on Tuesday mornings at 8am at Uncommon Grounds—1235 Western Ave. We are discussing On Pascha by Melito of Sardis. 

Study the Scriptures with us—Bible Study Saturday evenings at 6pm after vespers. We are working through the Gospel of Matthew (YOU CAN NOW ATTEND VIA ZOOM—CLICK HERE)

Click HERE for some resources for learning about our Faith

Click HERE for some resources for learning about Holy Pascha!

Our Archdiocese is hosting a conference on Christian Education June 6–9. This is a great opportunity to learn about education from an Orthodox Christian lens. The speakers will be outstanding and the opportunity to network, learn and grow with other educators will be wonderful. If you are interested in registering for the event click HERE

Internships for young adults, June and/or July: Men ages 18-35 can apply now to live and work at The Monastery of Our Lady and St. Laurence in Colorado, even if they're not considering a monastic vocation. Starting this Friday, young men and women can apply for internships that will teach servant leadership in Alaska, Puerto Rico and Texas for the 2024-25 school year.

Orthodox Young Professionals Conference, July 25-28: In Anaheim, Calif., attendees will have opportunities for spiritual growth, and build future friendships and lasting memories. Be one of the first fifty people to register and earn a discount! (Please also share the attached flier.)

 

Did You Know...that Christ is Risen!...and...

*There is a tradition in the Orthodox Church to bless graves on the Tuesday after Pascha. We will plan to do this blessing this coming Tuesday the 14th at 5pm. It is a way to remember the victory of our Lord over death and the hope that we have of reunion with our loved ones in Life with Christ.

*Sunday May 19th we will have a lunch to celebrate or Patron St George. Bring a yummy dish to share.

*May 25th we will have a teen retreat! This will include time at the church in the morning, ROPES COURSE at Thatcher State Park in the afternoon and vespers in the evening. Cost is $50. Have your teens come and join us!

*The Parish Life Conference is in Montreal this summer (July 4–7). Find out more here: www.antiochianevents.com/ottawa

Parish Prayer List

"Remember Me O Lord When You Come Into Your Kingdom." Lk 23.42

Please include in your daily prayers the following. Contact me to have someone added to the list. These are the names that will be remembered during the Divine Liturgy.

Living:

Bishop Alexander, Fr Gregory Potter, Fr Andrew, Fr Pat, Fr Joseph, Fr Chrysostom, Fr Peter and Matushka Sophia, Dn Jorge, Dn Horia, Will, Yaccoub,  Diane, Leila, Helen, Lucy, Camile, Marsha, Rana, Caroline, Jessica, Irenei, Frederick, Cathie, Ugyen, Tshering, Tenzin, Matushaka Emmelia, Mary, Georgette, Rider Patrick, Kyle, Presbytera Marina, Hassib, Alex, Raymond, Andrew, George, Elizabeth, Elena Marie

All those suffering from illness, violence and want in this country and throughout the world and especially those in Ukraine Gaza and the middle east

Departed:

Fr Gregory DesMarais, Fr Alvian, Fr Anthony, Russell, Ed, Alice, those who have lost their lives and who have no one to pray for them, those who have passed in the conflict in Ukraine and the middle east.

Why do we pray for the dead?

Thomas Sunday Hymns and Readings 

The Priest begins Divine Liturgy with “Blessed is the Kingdom” and the choir responds “Amen.” Bearing the Paschal Candle, the Priest then leads the singing of the Paschal Apolytikion and censes the west side of the Altar Table.

Priest: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death; and upon those in the tombs bestowing life! The Choir then sings this twice.

THE FIRST ANTIPHON

Shout with joy to God, all the earth; sing to His Name, give glory to His praises.

Refrain: Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us.

Say to God: How awesome are Thy works; let all the earth worship Thee, and sing to Thee. Let it sing a song to Thy Name, O Most High. (Refrain)

Glory… Both now… (Refrain)

THE SECOND ANTIPHON

May God have mercy upon us, and bless us, and may He cause His face to shine upon us, and have mercy upon us.

Refrain: Save us, O Son of God, Who art risen from the dead; who sing to Thee. Alleluia.

That Thy way may be known upon earth, Thy salvation among all nations; let the peoples give thanks to Thee, O God, let all the peoples give thanks to Thee. (Refrain)

May God bless us, and may all the ends of the earth fear Him. (Refrain)

Glory… Both now… O, only begotten Son and Word of God…

THE THIRD ANTIPHON

Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered, and let them that hate Him flee from before His face.

Refrain: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death; and upon those in the tombs, bestowing life!

As smoke vanisheth, so let them vanish; as wax melteth before the fire. (Refrain)

So let sinners perish at the presence of God, and let the righteous be glad. (Refrain)

This is the day which the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad therein. (Refrain)

After the verses of the Third Antiphon, chant the following:

THE EISODIKON (ENTRANCE HYMN) OF PASCHA

In the gathering places bless God the Lord, from the springs of Israel. Save us, O Son of God, Who art risen from the dead, who sing to Thee: Alleluia.

After the Little Entrance (Eisodos), sing these hymns in the following order.

APOLYTIKION FOR THOMAS SUNDAY IN TONE SEVEN

While the tomb was sealed, Thou didst shine forth from it, O Life. While the doors were closed, Thou didst come in to Thy Disciples, O Christ God, Resurrection of all, renewing in us through them an upright spirit, according to the greatness of Thy mercy.

The KONTAKION of Pascha in Tone EIGHT

Though Thou didst descend into the grave, O Immortal One, yet didst Thou destroy the power of     Hades, and didst arise as victor, O Christ God, calling to the myrrh-bearing women, Rejoice, and giving peace unto Thine Apostles, O Thou Who dost grant resurrection to the fallen.

THE EPISTLE from the Acts of the Holy Apostles. (5:12-20)

Great is our Lord, and great is His strength. Praise ye the Lord, for the Lord is good.

In those days, many signs and wonders were done among the people by the hands of the apostles; and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch. None of the rest dared to join them, but the people magnified them. And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and pallets, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. The people also gathered from the cities around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed. But the chief priest rose up and all who were with him, that is, the sect of the Sadducees, and filled with jealousy they laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out and said: “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.”

THE GOSPEL from St. John. (20:19-31)

On 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 to 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 to 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 to 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, “Thomas, you have 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.

MEGALYNARION FOR THOMAS SUNDAY IN TONE ONE

O most radiant lamp, the Theotokos, the immeasurable honor, which is more exalted than all creatures, with praises do we magnify thee.

KOINONIKON (COMMUNION HYMN) OF THOMAS SUNDAY (Psalm 147:1)

Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion. Alleluia.

Instead of “We have seen the true light,” sing “Christ is Risen” ONCE.

Parish Giving Summary—Fiscal Year 2023/24

Help us Meet our Goal of $120,000 for the Year

Sunday Giving for week of May 5th (including the Palm Sunday Lunch)—$1842.00

Online Giving for week of May 5th—$60

Total Giving for fiscal year to date (October 23–September 24)—$61,181.7

Families who have contributed for fiscal year to date (October 23–September 24)—66

Families who have contributed over $5,000 for fiscal year to date (October 23–September 24)—3

Families who have contributed over $1,000 for fiscal year to date (October 23–September 24)—15

Check out our parish financial report by clicking HERE.

*You can set up a recurring monthly donation to the Church by clicking HERE 

Give to St. George

A Note to our Visitors

Welcome!

We are blessed by your presence! Join us for fellowship after. Please note, in the Orthodox Church only baptized and chrismated Orthodox Christians who have properly prepared can partake of the Holy Eucharist. All others may come forward for a blessing with the chalice held over their head and receive a piece of blessed bread from the altar servers.

From a Father of the Church

Why should I care about the church fathers?

 St John Chrysostom on the Doubt of Thomas

As to believe carelessly and in a random way, comes of an over-easy temper; so to be beyond measure curious and meddlesome, marks a most gross understanding. On this account Thomas is held to blame. For he believed not the Apostles when they said, “We have seen the Lord”; not so much mistrusting them, as deeming the thing to be impossible, that is to say, the resurrection from the dead. Since he says not, “I do not believe you,” but, “Except I put my hand— I do not believe.” But how was it, that when all were collected together, he alone was absent? Probably after the dispersion which had lately taken place, he had not returned even then. But do thou, when you see the unbelief of the disciple, consider the loving kindness of the Lord, how for the sake of a single soul He showed Himself with His wounds, and comes in order to save even the one, though he was grosser than the rest; on which account indeed he sought proof from the grossest of the senses, and would not even trust his eyes. For he said not, “Except I see,” but, “Except I handle,” he says, lest what he saw might somehow be an apparition. Yet the disciples who told him these things, were at the time worthy of credit, and so was He that promised; yet, since he desired more, Christ did not deprive him even of this. (Source: John Sanidopoulos)