St. John the Forerunner Orthodox Church
A parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
Rev. Father Aidan Wilcoxson
Rev. Father Deacon Basil Long

Readings: Acts 1:1-18 John 1:1-17

"If any man be devout and loves God, let him enjoy this fair and radiant triumphal feast. If any man be a wise servant, let him rejoicing enter into the joy of his Lord. If any have labored long in fasting, let him now receive his recompense. If any have wrought from the first hour let him today receive his just reward. If any have come at the third hour, let him with thankfulness keep the feast. If any have arrived at the sixth hour, let him have no misgivings; because he shall nowise be deprived therefore. If any have delayed until the ninth hour, let him draw near, fearing nothing. If any have tarried even until the eleventh hour, let him also, be not alarmed at his tardiness; for the Lord, who is jealous of His honor, will accept the last even as the first; he gives rest unto him who comes at the eleventh hour, even as unto him who has wrought from the first hour. And he shows mercy on the last and cares for the first; and to the one he gives and upon the other he bestows gifts. And he both accepts the deeds, and welcomes the intention, and honors the acts, and praises the offering.

Wherefore, enter all into the joy of your Lord; and receive your reward, both the first and likewise the second. You rich and poor together, hold high festival. You sober and you heedless, honor the day. Rejoice today, both you who have fasted and you who have disregarded the fast. The table is full-laden; feast sumptuously. The calf is fatted; let no one go away hungry. Enjoy all the feast of faith: receive all the riches of loving-kindness. Let no one bewail his poverty, for the Universal Kingdom has been revealed.

Let no one weep his iniquities, for pardon has shone forth from the grave. Let no one fear death, for the Savior's death has set us free. He that was held prisoner of it has annihilated it. By descending into Hell, he made Hell captive. He embittered it when it tasted of His flesh. And Isaiah, foretelling this did cry: Hell, said he, was embittered, when it encountered Thee in the lower regions. It was embittered, for it was abolished. It was embittered, for it was mocked. It was embittered, for it was slain. It was embittered, for it was overthrown. It was embittered, for it was fettered in chains. It took a body, and met God face to face. It took earth and encountered Heaven. It took that which was seen, and fell upon the unseen.

O Death, where is thy sting? O Hell, where is thy victory? Christ is risen and thou are overthrown. Christ is risen and the demons are fallen. Christ is risen and the angels rejoice. Christ is risen and life reigns. Christ is risen and not one dead remains in the grave. For Christ, being risen from the dead, is become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. To Him be glory and dominion unto ages of ages. Amen."

Welcome to our Church!

We are a parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese. We are happy you could be with us today!

Our Ushers have been asked to monitor all traffic in and out of the Nave, please follow their instructions. If you arrive during the Little or Great Entrance, a Scripture reading, the Homily, the Creed, The Lord’s Prayer, the consecration, or Communion they will ask you to wait in the Narthex until it is appropriate to enter the Nave.

Visitors, please note: ONLY Orthodox faithful who arrive prior to the Gospel reading and have properly prepared themselves by fasting and confession may receive Holy Communion. If you are a visiting Orthodox Christian, please identify yourself before approaching the Holy Cup by speaking to one of the ushers.

Prayer candles are available for 25¢ in the Narthex.

Tithes and offerings may be placed in the baskets on the table just inside the Nave.

Hill Country Community Ministries
We have pledged to contribute 200 pounds of canned fruit per month to Hill Country Community Ministries. You may join us in ministering to the needy by placing cans of fruit in the basket just inside the Nave or depositing cash/checks in the HCCM box in the Narthex.

There were no announcements provided this week

Fasting this Week
There is no fasting this week

WEEKLY SCHEDULE
April 27 – May 04, 2008

English: Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!

Russian: Kristos Voskresey! Voyistino Voskresey!

Greek: Kristos Anesti! Alithos Anesti!

Spanish: Cristo ha resucitado! En verdad ha resucitado!

Arabic: Al Maseeh Qam! Haqan Qam!

For the Servants of God

In Memory of the Departed Servant of God

For the Servants of God

In Memory of the Departed Servants of God

For the Servants of God

In Memory of the Departed Servants of God

In Memory of the Departed Servants of God

For the Servants of God

In Memory of the Departed Servants of God

For the Servants of God

In Memory of the Departed Servant of God

In Memory of the Departed Servants of God

In Memory of the Departed Servant of God

In Memory of the Departed Servant of God

In Memory of the Departed Servants of God

For the Servants of God

In Memory of the Departed Servants of God