The Orthodox Messenger

             Vol. I, No. 20 - Sunday, June 2, 2002

 5th Sunday of PASCHA – THE SAMARITAN WOMAN

Saints: Fathers of the 2^nd Ecumenical Council (381); the Patriarchs of Constantinople: Nicephoros the Confessor, Patriarch of Constantinople; (+828); Neomartyrs Demetrios & John of Sochava (+1492) and Constantine of Mitylene (+1819)

EPISTLE – Acts 11:19-30

   Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to none except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene,  who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number that believed turned to the Lord. News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad; and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose; for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a large company was added to the Lord. So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul; and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church, and taught a large company of people; and in Antioch the disciples were for the first time called Christians.  Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world; and this took place in the days of Claudius. And the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brethren who lived in Judea; and they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

GOSPEL – John 4:5-42

  So he came to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there, and so Jesus, wearied as he was with his journey, sat down beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?" For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, `Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." The woman said to him, "Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep; where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, and his sons, and his cattle?" Jesus said to her, "Every one who drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

   The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw."  Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here." The woman answered him, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You are right in saying, `I have no husband'; for you have had five husbands, and he whom you now have is not your husband; this you said truly." The woman said to him, "Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain; and you say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship." Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for such the Father seeks to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ); when he comes, he will show us all things." Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am he." Just then his disciples came. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but none said, "What do you wish?" or, "Why are you talking with her?" So the woman left her water jar, and went away into the city, and said to the people, "Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did.  Can this be the Christ?" They went out of the city and were coming to him.  Meanwhile the disciples besought him, saying, "Rabbi, eat." But he said to them, "I have food to eat of which you do not know." So the disciples said to one another, "Has any one brought him food?" Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, `There are yet four months, then comes the harvest'? I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see how the fields are already white for harvest. He who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, `One sows and another reaps.' I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor; others have labored, and you have entered into their labor."  Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me all that I ever did." So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of your words that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world."

 GOSPEL ENTRANCE HYMNS

   Dismissal Hymn – For Pascha            

        (Sing in Greek before the Entrance) (“Christos Anesti”). Hymnal,  103.

   Dismissal Hymn – 4^th  Tone

  (Sing in English after the Entrance) “When the tidings” Hymnal, 84-85.

   Hymn for Mid-Pentecost (Read) In the midst of the Feast, / O Savior, / grant that my thirsty soul / may drink the waters of true worship; / for You called out to all, saying, / Whosoever is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. / Therefore, O Christ our God, / the Fountain of life, / glory to you.

   Dismissal Hymn of St. Nicholas (Sing in English) Hymnal, 110-111.

   Kontakion for Pascha (Read) Even though You descended into the grave / O, Immortal One, / You destroyed the power of Hades; / and You arose as a victor, O Christ our God, / saying to the myrrh-bearing women, “Hail!” / and to Your Apostles granting peace; / You also grant resurrection to the fallen.

+Additional Changes+

   In Place of “Axion Esti” The hymn “O aggelos evoa -  “Efrainou, agalou” will be sung in Greek By the Leaders.  (Translation: Exult and rejoice, O divine gate of light, divinely graced Mother of God. Christ, who showed power over the grave, has dawned shining with a light brighter than the sun, illuminating all the faithful.)

   In Place of the Communion Hymn (“Aineite”) (Sing in Greek and English) “Soma Christou,” “Body of Christ.” D. L. Hymnal, 104.

   In Place of “We have seen the true light”: (Sing in English) “Christ is risen”

      Special Sheet.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

   A 40DAY MEMORIAL SERVICE will be conducted today for the rest of the soul of the late Paul Robert McGraw. May his memory be eternal!

   PARISH EDUCATION PROGRAM! This Friday, our Summer Series on the Epistle and Gospel readings of the Sacrament of Holy Unction. We meet at 2:00 p.m. The session is followed by refreshments. Come to learn about the Bible!

   STEWARDS OF PROSFORON BAKING Volunteers are needed for the Summer! See George Nikas! Fran Mather 6/2; Connie Mourgides 6/9; Helen Nicolelis 6/13 (Ascension); George Nikas 6/16; Fran Triantafilon 6/23; Cathy Lemonedes 6/29 (Sts Peter & Paul); Venice Cosmadelis 6/30.

   SPONSORS NEEDED FOR “THE ORTHODOX MESSENGER”! You can sponsor an issue by donating $20. See Parish Council President Connie Mourgides. Your donation supports our Mission Parish’s outreach program.

   A SERVICE OF REPOSE will be conducted tomorrow, Monday, June 3 at 12:30 p.m. at our St. Nicholas Chapel for the late Alice Marty. Our community extends our sympathy to her husband Gus Marty and the Marty family. May her memory be eternal!

     AWAY FOR THE SUMMER? Remember to financially support the Church! Please write the purpose of your donation on all your checks to the Church. Part of our Stewardship of Time, Talent and Treasure helps the Mission meet its ongoing expenses. If you have not yet made your pledge, please do so! Thank you!

      BIRTHDAY AND ANNIVERSAY PRAYERS will be offered following the Divine Liturgy today for all those celebrating during the month of June. Happy Birthday and Congratulations!

   TWO BRASS CANDLESTICKS have been donated to our Mission Parish by Demetrios Harakas. We are grateful for this thoughtful gift. 

   PARISH LIBRARY & BOOKSTORE: The Committee will be meeting shortly to begin work on establishing the Parish Library and Bookstore. Members are Venice Cosmadelis, Theona Hatzi, Helen Nicolelis, Harriet Pasisis and Dorothy Triantafilon.

   SPECIAL THANKS TO Alice Bolio and Barbara Chigos for the donation of Holy Week supplies for the Unction Service of Holy Wednesday and the sheet for the covering of the icon of Christ on Great Friday. We are grateful!