Centennial Year Church Services

May 2, 2005 -   Holy Pascha is observed in the Orthodox Church as a three day Holy Day and Bright Monday is the second day of Pascha. Many children are present at the Divine Liturgy in the morning and partake of Holy Communion. Following the Liturgy, an Easter Egg Hunt is held on the Church grounds for the benefit of the children, followed by a luncheon for all in the Church Hall. Below are scenes from the Divine Liturgy, accompanied by the Epistle and Gospel readings for the day. Two group photos are shown of those parishioners present who participated with Rev. David Garretson in the Paschal procession around our Church. Also shown are scenes from the Easter Egg Hunt and the luncheon which followed. Christ Is Risen! Indeed He Is Risen!

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day's journey away; and when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying. Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord devoted themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

You may click on the group photo above to view an enlarged image.

In those days Peter stood up among the brethren (the company of persons was in all about a hundred and twenty), and said, "Brethren, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David, concerning Judas who was guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was numbered among us, and was alloted his share in this ministry. So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the

baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us - one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection. And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, "Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show which one of these two thou hast chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside, to go to his own place." And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was enrolled with the eleven apostles. (Acts 1:12-17,21-26).

No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known. And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" He confessed, he did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ." And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the prophet?" And he answered , "No." They said to him then, "Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"

You may click on the group photo above right to view an enlarged image.

He said, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said." Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, "Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, not the prophet?" John answered them, "I baptize with water; but among you stands one whom you do not know, even he who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie." This took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. (John 1:18-28).

After the Easter Egg Hunt for the children, both children and adults gathered in the Church Hall for a luncheon featuring traditional holiday foods. Scenes from the luncheon are shown below in the last block of photos.

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