May 2025
Christ is Risen!
Indeed He is Risen!
We are now into another Paschal Season until Ascension, which is May 29th. The joyous feast of the Resurrection of Christ is the most important feast for all Christians. “Enjoy ye all the feast of faith: Receive ye all the riches of loving-kindness,” St. John Chrysostom summons this up in his catechetical word on the feast of Pascha. The joy of the resurrected Savior is appointed for every man on earth, but not all know about it and not all understand how to join in this common exaltation.
The way we are to receive this joy is with humility. Christ says in Matthew's Gospel; “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
Our lives here on earth are temporary, we are just sojourners, but while we are here, we are to worship our Lord properly and in truth. There are many false teachings that are being told, but as Orthodox Christians we must learn the true teachings of the faith, live the true teachings, and impart those true teachings to others. We have celebrated the Feast of Feasts, Pascha, and we should always try to share the joy of the Feast with all those we meet.
We will begin the summer season this month of May and we will probably be busy. School will be out, the hot weather will be soon upon us, all kinds of activities will be going on, vacations will take place, but we must not forget Christ, and all that He has done for us. We should be sure that we put Christ first in our life, always saying our prayers daily, reading the gospel and epistle daily. Always keeping Christ with us, so that we can be ready to share with others.
May the good Lord guide you all!
Fr. Mikel
What is the proper Orthodox Church Dress Code?
1) Men should not wear hats, bandanas, shorts, sleeveless shirts, or casual footwear like flipflops.
2) Women should not wear miniskirts, spandex-tight clothing, low-cut or revealing tops (unless covered with a sweater or other garment), or casual footwear like flipflops.
3) Children should be given a little more flexibility but should still wear “church clothes” so that they know they are somewhere that is special and holy.
4) Everyone should refrain from clothing that is immodest, ostentatious, a fashion-statement, or otherwise distracting from the prayerful and sacred space of the Lord’s House. Clothing or bodily adornments with images, symbols, or writing should not be worn or at least covered up, so that the holy icons and Word of God do not have to compete with the logo of our favorite sport team, the name of a music band, or the slogan of our political party.
Weds May 14th 6pm Bible study/class
Sat May 17th 415pm Panikhida 5pm Vespers
Sun May 18th 840am Hours/Divine Liturgy
Weds May 21st 6pm Bible study/class
Sat May 24th 5pm Vespers
Sun May 25th 840am Hours/Divine Liturgy
Weds May 28th 6pm Vespers NO CLASS
Thurs May 29th 840am Hours/Divine Liturgy
Sat May 31st 5pm Vespers
Sun June 1st 840am Hours/Divine Liturgy
Regular Services
Saturday: Vespers, 5:00 pm
Sunday: Divine Liturgy, 9:00 am
Address
1614 E. Monte Vista Rd.
Phoenix, Az 85006
Phone / Email
Fr. Mikel: 907-444-8545
Church: 602-253-9515
Directions To Saints Peter & Paul
This Week...
May 10, 2025
Christ is Risen!
Indeed He is Risen!
The next Class/Bible study will be Weds May 14th at 6pm in the Hall.
After Liturgy on Ascension May 29th there will be a coffee hour.
The nuns from St Macarius Monastery will be selling their items next Sunday the 18th.
Collections for Project Mexico are on the 1st Sunday of the month,the next collection will be Sunday June 1st.
Here is the website for the AAC which will be held here in Phoenix in July. https://www.oca.org/aac Parents, if you wish to have your child participate in the youth activities, you must register as an Observer and be onsite, the cost is $175 per child for the week, which is the activities and lunch, there is some funding to help with the cost. If you wish to donate to the fund, please mark that on the envelope.
The agenda and schedule for the AAC are on the OCA website. www.oca.org
If anyone wishes to attend a luncheon on July 15th in honor of Archbishop Benjamin at the AAC can register here, it is $80 per person; https://dowoca.org/celebrating-his-eminence-archbishop-benjamin/
We should always remember to tithe, as this is very important to keep the church running, and it is also an offering to God. For the month of March our income was more than our expenses by $4,035. Which helps us prepare for the $8000. Insurance bill in May.
I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.” The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?” Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:48-54 (Gospel) They abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer, because they do not believe the Eucharist to be the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ… Those, therefore, who speak against the gift of God, incur death. Ignatius of Antioch
