Christ is risen! We’ve all heard of someone being called a “doubting Thomas.” Thomas has the audacity to demand to ‘put his finger in Christ’s side,’ insinuating that, unless he can materially see the signs of Christ’s execution, he won’t believe. In reality, it’s not want of material ‘proof’ that Thomas needs, that we need, it’s the ‘eyes of faith’. A great many people saw the miracles that Jesus did and still yelled “crucify Him, crucify Him.” Clearly seeing is not always believing. The reality is that without humility, without submitting ourselves to Christ and His Church, without growth in love for Him, we simply cannot have the faith to truly ‘see’; we cannot have the means whereby we can learn to trust what only the ‘eye’ of the soul (the nous) can reveal to us through our growing relationship and communion with God. This is what Thomas also comes to realize. Once he encounters Christ, who graciously grants his demand, Thomas prostrates himself before Christ; he humbles himself and in that humility and self-emptying, he’s able to make a profession of faith as great as were his doubts, confessing, “My Lord and my God!” In the love of the risen Christ, Fr. Robert+
THIS WEEK AT HOLY ARCHANGELS (all services at our church home—47 Spa Rd):
- Wednesday, April 26, 6:30 p.m., Daily Paschal Vespers
- Thursday, April 27, 6 p.m., Catechumen Class
- Sat, April 29, 6 p.m., Great Vespers, Confession following.
- Sun, April 30, 9:40 Hours 10 a.m., Divine Liturgy, Trapeza and Sunday School following
Confession and Reception: In keeping with OCA Guidelines, it is the discipline at Holy Archangels to practice monthly confession. If you wish to receive Communion and a month has passed and you have not made confession for good reason, or, are visiting, please talk with Fr. Robert prior to the service and before approaching the Chalice to ask for a blessing to receive.
YOUCARING—Expanding the Mission: Our Mission has the opportunity to move into the much larger space with a large front window on West St. to expand our bookstore and outreach efforts and make more room for new families and individuals. We’ve been offered a $5,000 matching grant to be used for this purpose. Please share the YOUCARING opportunity with your family and friends on social media. Also, we need an additional $400 (at a minimum) in monthly pledges to be able to make the move. Please see Fr. Robert and/or Rdr. Zenon if you can help.
TRAPEZA: The lunch and fellowship we serve after the Divine Liturgy is an important part of our Mission’s life together. It is often the only time we gather together as brothers and sisters in the course of the week. We cannot draw closer to God if we are not also drawing closer to our brothers and sisters in our local church. If we wish to grow “in spirit and in numbers” such fellowship needs to be part of our life together in Christ. We need more families and individuals to sign up to be a part of this important ministry of our Church. Please sign up on the side table by the column.
Prayer Requests: That God may grow our Mission “in spirit and in numbers…”
- For God’s financial provision for our Mission & ACM (Annapolis College Ministry);
- Forgiveness, memory eternal: John, cousin of Paula Eisengrein and John, friend of Marian.
- Metropolitan Isaiah of Georgia, Archpriest George, Rdr. John, Gov. Hogan, Benedict, Daniel, Mat. Janet, Eric, Daniel, Noah, Norm, Svetlana, Alex, Gary, Timothy, the Church in Georgia & Romania as they address the relativism of the West, speaking the truth in love, our persecuted
brethren in the Middle East, particularly Egypt and Syria, a peaceful resolution in Syria.
Troparion (from the Pentecostarion) Tone 7
From the sealed tomb, Thou didst shine forth, O Life!
Through closed doors Thou didst come to Thy Disciples, O Christ God.
Renew in us through them an upright spirit,//
by the greatness of Thy mercy, O Resurrection of all!
Troparion (St George) Tone 4
As a martyr of Christ, Thou wast bound for good deeds, O George;
by faith thou didst conquer the torturer’s godlessness.
Thou wast offered as a sacrifice pleasing to God, // thus receiving the crown of victory. //
Through thine intercessions, forgiveness of sins is granted to all.
Troparion (Angels) Tone 4
O Commanders of the heavenly hosts, // we who are unworthy beseech you:
by your prayers encompass us beneath the wings of your immaterial glory,
and faithfully preserve us who fall down and cry to you://
Deliver us from all harm, for you are the Commanders of the Powers on high!
Kontakion (St George) Tone 4
God raised thee as His own gardener*, O George,
for thou hast gathered for thyself the sheaves of virtue.
Having sown in tears, thou dost now reap with joy;
thou hast shed thy blood in combat and won Christ as thy crown.//
Through thine intercessions, forgiveness of sins is granted to all.
Kontakion (from the Pentecostarion) Tone 8
Thomas touched Thy life-giving side with an eager hand, O Christ God,
when Thou didst come to Thy Apostles through closed doors.
He cried out with all: “Thou art my Lord and my God!”
Kontakion (Angels) Tone 2
Commanders of God’s armies//and ministers of the divine glory, // princes of the bodiless Angels
and guides of mankind;//ask for what is good for us, and for great mercy,//
O Supreme Commanders of the Bodiless Hosts.
