Jesus met the Samaritan woman by Jacob’s well.  He wraps the earth in clouds, yet He asks for water from her.  Oh, wonder! He Who rides on the cherubim speaks with an adulterous woman.  He Who suspended the earth on the waters asks for a drink.  He Who causes the lakes and springs to overflow is weary with thirst.  Truly He desires to set the woman free from the Enemy’s snares.  He drowns her sins in the waters of life, for He alone is the compassionate Lover of mankind.  (From Vespers)

Today: 8:30 am Matins; 9:30 am Divine Liturgy, Enrollment into the Catechumenate; Extraordinary Parish Meeting; Brunch

Tuesday: 6:00 pm Readers’ Vespers

Thursday: 6:00 pm Readers’ Vespers

Saturday: 6:00 pm Vespers

Sunday 8:30 am Matins; 9:30 am Divine Liturgy & Brunch

A man lay sick by the Sheep’s Pool. Seeing You, O Lord, he cried to You: “There is no man to lower me into the pool when the water is stirred. Another always goes before me and receives healing, while I lie here in misery.” Immediately the Savior was moved to pity, and said to him: “It was for you that I became Man; because of you I was clothed in mortal flesh. Yet you say: ‘I have no one!’ I tell you, take up Your bed and walk!” All things obey and submit to Your power, O Lord! Remember us all, and have mercy, O holy Lover of mankind!  (From Vespers)

Today: 8:30 am Matins; 9:30 am Divine Liturgy & Brunch

Tuesday: 6:00 Vespers

Wednesday: 6:00 am Mid-Pentecost Divine Liturgy

Thursday: 6:00 pm Vespers

Saturday: 3;00 pm Eritrean Cuisine Class; 6:00 pm Vespers

Sunday: 8:30 am Matins; 9:30 am Divine Liturgy; Extraordinary Parish Meeting; Brunch

When the women disciples of the Lord learned from the angel the joyous message of Your resurrection and the abolition of the sentence imposed upon our forefathers, they boasted to the apostles: Death is overthrown!  Christ our God is risen, granting to the world great mercy!

Today: 8:30 am Matins; 9:30 am Divine Liturgy & Special Pot-luck Brunch

Tuesday: 6:00 Vespers

Thursday: 6:00 pm Vespers

Saturday: 3:30 pm Preparing for End-of-Life Issues Workshop; 6:00 pm Vespers & Panikhida

Sunday: 8:30 am Matins; 9:30 am Divine Liturgy & Brunch; Parish Council Meeting

Please note that next Saturday we’ll be holding a special gathering to present information and assistance concerning preparing for End-of-Life issues such as getting ready for death, funeral and cemetery arrangements; financial and legal considerations (including wills, bequests, etc.); theological, spiritual and liturgical elements and possible discussion of POLST and Advance Directives.

Looking Ahead:

Saturday, May 12: 3:00 pm Eritrean Cuisine Class

Sunday, May 13: Extraordinary Parish Meeting immediately following Liturgy — Agenda: Roll; Review of parish finances for 2012; Presentation and discussion of issues related to the parish hall roof and the narthex of the church; Vote on the direction to move relative to the above.

When the doors were shut, Jesus came to His Disciples.  The Apostle Thomas, by divine dispensation, was not with them, for he spoke these words: “Unless I see the Master myself, unless I see His side flowing with baptismal blood and water, unless I see those wounds, which have healed all mankind, unless I see not a spirit, but flesh and bones, I will not believe.”

Today: General Panikhida & Cemetery visitations:

1:30 Riverview

2:15 Sunset

3:00 Rose City

4:00 Willamette National

Today: 8:30 am Matins; 9:30 Divine Liturgy & Brunch; Parish Council

Tuesday: 6:00 pm Vespers

Thursday: 6:00 pm Vespers

Saturday: 6:00 pm Vespers

Sunday: 8:30 am Matins; 9:30 am Divine Liturgy & Brunch

Looking Ahead:

Saturday, May 5 @ 3:00 pm — Preparing for the End of Life Seminar

Saturday, may 12 @ 3:30 pm — Eritrean Cuisine Workshop

Before the dawn Mary and the women came and found the stone rolled away from the tomb.  They heard the angelic voice: “Why do you seek among the dead, as a man, the One Who is Everlasting Light?  Behold, the cloths in the grave!  Go and proclaim to the world: The Lord is Risen!  He has put death to death, for He is the Son of God, saving the human race!” (Hypakoi for Pascha)

Sunday: 12:00 am Paschal Matins, Divine Liturgy & Banquet; 1:00 pm Paschal Vespers & BBQ

Monday: 9:00 am Paschal Divine Liturgy

Tuesday: 6:00 pm Paschal Vespers

Thursday: 6:00 pm Paschal Vespers

Saturday: 6:00 pm Vespers

Sunday: 8:30 am Matins; 9:30 am Divine Liturgy, Brunch, Parish Council; 2:00 pm Cemetery Visitations

The angel cried to the Lady Full of Grace: “Rejoice, O Pure Virgin.  Your Son has risen from His three days in the tomb.  With Himself He has raised all the dead.”  Rejoice, O ye people.  Shine, shine, O New Jerusalem, the glory of the Lord has shown on you.  Exalt and be glad, O Zion.  Be radiant, O pure Theotokos, in the resurrection of your Son.

Saturday: 11:00 am Vesperal Divine Liturgy; 11:00 pm Paschal Vigil

Sunday: 12:00 am Paschal Matins, Divine Liturgy & Banquet; 1:00 pm Paschal Vespers & BBQ

Monday: 9:00 am Paschal Divine Liturgy

Tuesday: 6:00 pm Paschal Vespers

Thursday: 6:00 pm Paschal Vespers

Saturday: 6:00 pm Vespers

Sunday: 8:30 am Matins; 9:30 am Divine Liturgy, Brunch, Parish Council; 2:00 pm Cemetery Visitations

Do not lament me, O Mother, seeing me in the tomb — the Son conceived in the womb without seed — for I shall arise and be glorified as God!

3:00 pm: Holy Friday Vespers of the Burial of Christ; Watch at the Tomb begins; 7:00 pm Vigil of the Lamentations

Saturday, 11:00 am: Vesperal Divine Liturgy; 11:00 pm Paschal Vigil

Sunday, 12:00 am midnight: Paschal Matins, Divine Liturgy & Banquet; 1:00 pm Paschal Vespers & BBQ

Monday, 9:00 am: Paschal Divine Liturgy

He who hung the earth upon the waters in now hung on a tree.  He who is king of the angels is arrayed in a crown of thorns.  He who wraps the heavens in clouds is wrapped in the purple of mockery.  He who freed Adam in the Jordan is struck on the face.  The Bridegroom of the Church is transfixed with nails.  The son of the Virgin is pierced by a lance.  We worship your sufferings, O Christ.  Show us also your glorious Resurrection.  (Matins of Holy Friday)

Friday: 3:00 pm Vespers of the Burial of the Lord; 7:00 pm Vigil of the Lamentations

Saturday: 11:00 am Vesperal Divine Liturgy; 11:00 pm Paschal Vigil

Sunday: 12:00 am Paschal Divine Liturgy & Banquet; 1:00 pm Paschal Vespers & BBQ

Monday: 9:00 am Festal Divine Liturgy

The New Israel, the Church of the Gentiles, assemble today and sing with the Prophet Zechariah: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Jerusalem!  Behold, your king is coming to you.  He is meek, bearing salvation, riding on the foal of an ass.” (From vespers for the Feast)

Today: 8:30 am Matins & Blessing of Palms; 9:30 am Procession & Divine Liturgy; Salmon BBQ Brunch

Monday: 7:00 pm Vigil of the Bridegroom

Tuesday: 6:00 pm Presanctified

Wednesday: Vigil of the Bridegroom

Thursday: 4:30 pm Vesperal Divine Liturgy; 7:00 pm Vigil of the Passion of the Lord

Friday: 3:00 pm Vespers of the Burial of the Lord; 7:00 pm Vigil of the Lamentations

Saturday: 11:00 am Vesperal Divine Liturgy; 11:00 pm Paschal Vigil

Sunday: 12:00 am Paschal Divine Liturgy & Banquet; 1:00 pm Paschal Vespers & BBQ

Monday: 9:00 am Festal Divine Liturgy

(See Isaiah 43:15-21)

Today: 8:30 am Matins; 9:30 am Divine Liturgy & Brunch

Tuesday: 6:00 pm Vespers & Confessions

Wednesday: 6:30 pm Pan Orthodox Presanctified @ Church of the Annunciation

Thursday: 6:00 pm Vespers & Confessions

Friday: 6:00 pm Presanctified & Confessions

Saturday: 9:30 am Divine Liturgy, Confessions, Parish-Wide Work Party; 6:00 pm Cathedral Vigil of the Palms & Litia

Sunday: 8:30 am Matins & Blessing of Palms; 9:30 am Divine Liturgy & Salmon BBQ

(Please note that the final opportunity for confessions before Pascha will be after Liturgy next Saturday.)