Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Psalm 146.5;134.3.
Great is our Lord, and great is his power.
Verse: Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good.

The reading is from Acts of the Apostles 12:1-11.

ABOUT THAT TIME, Herod the king laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword; and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. So Peter was kept in prison; but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the Church.

The very night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison; and behold, an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, "Get up quickly." And the chains fell off his hands. And the angel said to him, "Wrap your mantle around you and follow me." And he went out and followed him; he did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened to them of its own accord, and they went out and passed on through one street; and immediately the angel left him. And Peter came to himself, and said, "Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting."

Gospel Reading

Thomas Sunday
The Reading is from 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 with 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 with 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 with 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: "Have you 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.

Saints and Feasts

April 23

Thomas Sunday

Though the doors were shut at the dwelling where the disciples were gathered for fear of the Jews on the evening of the Sunday after the Passover, our Saviour wondrously entered and stood in their midst, and greeted them with His customary words, "Peace be unto you." Then He showed unto them His hands and feet and side; furthermore, in their presence, He took some fish and a honeycomb and ate before them, and thus assured them of His bodily Resurrection. But Thomas, who was not then present with the others, did not believe their testimony concerning Christ's Resurrection, but said in a decisive manner, "Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe." Wherefore after eight days, that is, on this day, when the disciples were again gathered together and Thomas was with them, the Lord Jesus came while the doors were shut, as He did formerly. Standing in their midst, He said, "Peace be unto you"; then He said to Thomas, "Bring hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and bring hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side: and be not unbelieving, but believing."

And Thomas, beholding and examining carefully the hands and side of the Master, cried out with faith, "My Lord and my God." Thus he clearly proclaimed the two natures - human and divine - of the God-man (Luke 24:36-49; John 20:19-29).

This day is called Antipascha (meaning "in the stead of Pascha," not "in opposition to Pascha") because with this day, the first Sunday after Pascha, the Church consecrates every Sunday of the year to the commemoration of Pascha, that is, the Resurrection.

Weekly Bulletin

Agape Coffee Fellowship: Today’s Agape Coffee Fellowship is sponsored by our Ladies Philoptochos Society. Thank you to our volunteer coffee hostess.

Church Life: Sarantismos / Newborn Blessing - April 23, 2017, Nicholas Silvino Kaplanis, son of Silvia and Matthew Kaplanis of Brookfield, CT. Long Life and Health

Ladies Philoptochos Society: Our Ladies Philoptochos extends a sincere thank you to all of the volunteers that helped with Pascha preparation.

JOY News: Please join our JOY group (children in grades 2 - 6) on Saturday, April 29th from 11 am to 2 pm as we prayerfully gather together with Fr. Nikolas to prepare the ingredients for and bake our own prosphora (which comes from the Greek word for "offering"), the bread that is brought to Church by the people for the Divine Liturgy. The following day, Sunday, April 30, during the Divine Liturgy, our children will participate during the procession known as the Great Entrance, as they present their "offering" of bread (prosphora) and wine, which become the Body and Blood of Christ through the descent of the Holy Spirit. Please arrive no later than 10:15 am.

The Greek Experience Festival: KEEP DATES OPEN – JUNE 9th -10^th -11^th - Get to know your fellow parishioners by working together for the benefit of our Church. We need each and every one of you to VOLUNTEER. Everyone’s HELP is needed at Festival time. This is our Community’s big fundraiser. Come be a part of it all. There is work (and fun) for all. Please do your best to sell and / or buy as many raffle tickets as possible. To volunteer, please see any Parish Council member, or contact one of the Chairpersons below:

Advertising	Allison Arvanitis 203.748.2992
Boutique	Valerie Rountos 203.664.1302
Children’s Food/Activities	Philip Herzegovitch 203.746.8940 - Nick Chryssikos 914.248.5293
Greek Dancing	Presvytera Maria Karloutsos 203.797.0685
Kafenio	Anastasia Osdranus 203.792.3268 - Ioanna Biniaris 203.743.7188 Kristalla Christou 203.770.4645
Loukoumades	Rose Koulouris 860.350.4338
Parking	Harry Manesis 203.982.9615 - Mark Vendetti 860.318.6433
Pastry	Nitsa Carino 203.470.6839 - Caryn Flannery 203.512.5698 (scheduling)- Dina Athanasiou 574-329-1616 - Fevri Gkanatsios 203.512-9789
Raffle	Elena Koutoumbas 203.788.6047 - Peter Soumakis 845.878.6028
Set-up/breakdown	Jim Rountos 203.744.0756 - Greg Kallas 203.733.1983
Soda/Bar	Nick Kaplanis 203.788-1986 - Tony Kaplanis 203.312.8165
Souvlakia	Konstantine & Erin Karloutsos 203.244.5912
Taverna	John & Valerie Rountos 203.664.1302
Youth Folk Singers	Dino Kolitsas 203.263.5410
50/50 Raffle	Patrick Pyers - 860.355.3566 - Chrysse Terrill 203.948.9674 - Shannon Kaplanis 203.312.8165
Clean-up/Tables/Trash	Jim Keenan 203.885.5389

Greek Folk Dance Program: The Greek Experience Festival - June 10, 11 & 12, 2016 - Please be advised that the first day of practice is Thursday, April 27^th Please registration your children this Sunday in the Community Hall. A schedule will be posted with exact times and dates.

Festival Pastry Baking: The Pastry Committee is very thankful for the many parishioners who have volunteered and donated towards the baking of our delicious pastries. We have been baking all the pastries here at Church to have uniformity in size and quality. We need your support. Baking days are: Wednesday, May 17th at 10 am till we finish /6:00 PM (galaktobourika), Thursday, June 1st at 10 am till we finish / 6:00 PM, Tuesday, June 6th at 10:00 AM till finished, Baklava and more, Thursday, June 8th, Packing the pastries: 5:00 – 8:00 PM. The baking at the Church has been very successful. Your help is welcome and needed. Come to help and learn to make these delicious pastries. We have a wonderful time & fun as we work together for our Church. Also, please consider making a donation for baking supplies - walnuts, honey, flour and such; please make checks out to AGOC - noting that it's for "baking supplies" checks can be mailed or given to Nitsa Carino or Fr. Peter or to Pastry Chairpersons or leave your check at the Pangari.

Assumption Paschal Family Picnic: Sunday May 7th - TO ALL MEMBERS OF OUR CHURCH FAMILY - The Parish Council & The Ladies Philoptochos Invite You To A Traditional Paschal Picnic - Rotisserie Lamb, Roasted Leg of Lamb, Chicken Souvlaki, Kokoretsi, Tzatziki, Roasted Potatoes, Rice, Fasolakia Yiahni, Salad. When: Sunday, May 7, 2017, Where: Our Community Hall & Outside, Time: 2:00 p.m. Please let us know you will be coming and how many-thank you! RSVP - By May 1st to Anna Koulouris 860 927 5280 asfendamos@charter.net PLEASE BRING THE FOLLOWING: Soda, beer, wine, juice and /or desserts -Outdoor games and/or indoor games

AHEPA News: Sofia Papazoglou in Concert Sunday April 30 at 6:30 pm at Norwalk Concert Hall to benefit our parish's Macricostas AHEPA Scholarship Fund. The program will feature classic laika performed by one of Greece's finest vocalists. Please support this event as the fund's benefactor Deno Macricostas will match all proceeds 2 to 1! Our Paradosi Youth Choir will perform an opening set and then perform with Sofia and her band! A special reception will follow at the Norwalk Inn. A van will be available for a limited number of individuals needing driving assistance. Tickets available online at GreekConcertStatus.com. For more info please contact Dino Kolitsas at ckolitsas@gmail.com or 203-947-6234.

Applications for the 2017 Macricostas Scholarship are available at the narthex or from any Ahepan. Applications are due May 1, 2017.

Save the Date: The documentary “Beneath The Olive Tree” will be playing at Western Connecticut State University (WCSU) on April 26^th at 6PM, in room 125 of the Science Building. A light reception will follow the film, and the film’s Director will be present to answer questions from the audience. The event is open to the public, so we invite you to attend with family and friends. Parking is available at any WCSU parking lot for Free. This Center for The Study of Culture and Values event is funded by the Macricostas Family Foundation.

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