St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, McKinney, Texas
Electronic Newsletter
April 12 / 24
PASCHA
Announcements
Prayer Requests
Schedule of Divine Services in the Coming week
Fasting in the Coming week
Links related to the coming week
Christ is Risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and on those in the tombs bestowing life!!!
Announcements
Remember that on Pascha, the Divine Liturgy takes place immediately after the Festal Matins service, in the early morning. There will be no service at 10AM on Sunday, April 24th, and our festal trapeza will be after the Vespers service at 3PM.
During Bright week (the week after Pascha), it is customary to read the Paschal hours instead of normal morning and evening prayers. You can find this very short set of hymns here. (Or in Russian, here.)
Prayer Requests
For the Health and Salvation.
- David and Elizabeth Ash.
- Priests Jean and Grégoire and all the faithful and suffering of Haiti.
- The suffering people of East Japan.
- Metropolitan Hilarion (recent knee surgery)
- Archbishop Kyrill (on leave of absence because of health problems)
For a more complete listing, please see our parish prayer list. Anyone can make requests.
Schedule of Divine Services in the Coming week
Thursday 4/21 Great and Holy Thursday. Wine and Oil allowed
- 8:20AM Hours
- 9AM Vesperal Divine Liturgy for the Institution of the Eucharist.
- 6PM The Service of our Lord's Passion
Friday 4/22 Great and Holy Friday.
Those who have the strength should fast from all food until after Vespers on this day.
- 10AM Royal Hours of the Lord's Passion
- 3PM Vespers — Taking down of the Lord from the Cross
- 6PM Matins — Burial Service w/ Lamentations
Saturday 4/23. Great and Holy Saturday. Wine (no oil) allowed
- 10:20 Hours
- 11AM Vesperal Divine Liturgy — First Proclamation of the Resurrection
- 10PM Reading of the Acts of the Apostles
- 11:15PM Nocturns
Sunday 4/24. PASCHA.
- 12AM Matins of the Resurrection.
- ~1:30AM Divine Liturgy
- ~3AM Blessing and sharing of baskets
- 3PM Agape Vespers Service
- 4PM Festal Trapeza (Luncheon)
Monday 4/25. Bright Monday
- 9AM Divine Liturgy
- 7PM Moleben
Wednesday 4/27. Bright Wednesday
- 7PM Vespers
Thursday 4/28. Bright Thursday
- 9AM Divine Liturgy
Fasting in the Coming week
- On Holy Friday, those with the strength fast until after Vespers
- On Holy Saturday, wine (but not oil) is allowed
- During the week after Pascha, there is no fasting.
LINKS
Pascha
1997
Metropolitan Vitaly Encyclical
1997
Metropolitan Kyprianos Encyclical
1999
Serbian Archdiocese Encyclical
1999
2003
Agape Vespers
2008
Let us forgive all things on the resurrection.
2009
Pascha. Why do we read from the first chapter of John tonight?
To experience the resurrection we must know Christ.
John 1:1-17
2010
Also in Format: mp3
SYNOPSIS:On Pascha, we do not read one of the resurrection accounts in the Gospels, but instead begin with the first words of the Gospel of John. Why is this? There is a very important reason. It has to do with the truly good news of the resurrection and what we must do to hear all of it.
Agape Vespers
Paschal Instructions
2010
Thomas Sunday
1998
1998
Also in Format: Word DOC
Two ways to be at peace
John 20:19-31
2008
Two parts to our story.
John 20:19-31
2009
Saint Thomas Sunday
Realism About The Resurrection
John 20:19-31
2010
SYNOPSIS:Of all the resurrection stories, perhaps the one concerning St Thomas is the one we can most relate to. He is the "common man", who was later able to do uncommon things. We are just like him, so our path of life must also be like his, which is the Christian life in microcosm. He, like us, was a complex indivicdual, believing, then faint of heart, couargeous, then full of fear. The one thing that he did that we must do to be saved is to endure, and "believe in the midst of our unbelief". If we do this, we are not far away from the supernatural exploits of St Thomas, the Apostle.
Myrhhbearing Women
Myrrhbearing women
"Who will roll away the stone?"
Mark 15:43-47
1998
Also in Format: Word DOC
Myrrhbearing Women
A question we ask many times each day. It must be with faith.
Mark 15:43-47
2000
Myrhhbearing Women
Love is more important than knowledge; Love leads to knowledge.
Mark 15:43-47
2003
Myrrhbearing women
Mark 15:43-47
2008
Myrrhbearing Women
Act on what you know and you will know more, do what you can do, and you will be able to do more.
Mark 15:43-16:8
2009
Myrhhbearing Women
Mark 15:43-16:8
2010
SYNOPSIS:The story of the myrhhbearers is like ours, in microcosm. Life is full of moments when we must "become bold" as Joseph (and the myrhhbearers) did, and do what is right, even if we do not how we can accomplish the task (roll away the stone and deal with the armed guards) or what will come of it. Even when we have accomplished something, or grace visits us, we may not recognize it or understand it, just like the myrrhbearers, who were afraid after hearing the announcement of the resurrection from the angel. The myrhhbearers who us the way – do what is right, or even what we think is right, no matter ho "possible" it seems or how likely that the outcome will be pleasing, and in time, all will be revealed to us. This Gospel continues the theme of how the enlightenment of the resurrection is actualized in us.
From the Fathers
- Homily on Pascha Melito, Bishop of Sardis
- Pascha! The Pascha of the Lord! A portion of a homily of St. Gregory Nazianzen