Welcome to St. Paul the Apostle Orthodox Church - Freehold, NJ
Mission Parish of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of North America
Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!
May 11, 2025
Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women
Upcoming Church Schedule:
Sunday May 11, 2025
Divine Liturgy - 9:30AM
Panachida - For all mother's who have fallen aleep in the Lord.
May their memory be eternal!
There will be NO Divine Liturgy next week Sunday May 18, 2025 as all parisiohers are invited to celebrate Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at St. John the Baptist in Rahway, NJ
New parish email: [email protected].
New parish website: www.spaoc.org. Please spread the word.
SPECIAL INTENTIONS:
Please keep in your minds and hearts our parishioners, family, and friends in need of our prayers. May God grant them peace, health and happiness for many blessed years!
Please pray for Catechumens and inquirers, for those preparing for Marriage, for Expecting Mothers, for those serving in the Armed Forces and Civil Authorities.
Please pray for Jacob Cochran, son of Father David and Pani Andrea.
FOR FURTHER THOUGHT:
Do Not Lose Heart
In his ministry, St. Paul suffered many hardships. However, he never lost heart; he never gave up. In 2 Corinthians 4: 7 - 18, he tells why we should not lose heart either.
"This treasure we possess in earthen vessels to make it clear that its surpassing power comes from God and not from us. We are afflicted in every way possible, but we are not crushed; full of doubt, we never despair. We are persecuted but never abandoned; we are struck down but never destroyed. Continually we carry about in our bodies the dying of Jesus, so that in our bodies the life of Jesus may also be revealed. While we live we are constantly being delivered to death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be revealed in our mortal flesh. Death is at work in us, but life in you. We have that spirit of faith of which the Scripture says, `Because I have believed I spoke out.' We believe and so we speak, knowing that he who raised up the Lord Jesus will raise us up along with Jesus and place both us and you in his presence. Indeed, everything is ordered to your benefit, so that the grace bestowed in abundance may bring greater glory to God because they who give thanks are many. We do not lose heart because our inner being is renewed each day even though our body is being destroyed at the same time. The present burden of our trail is light enough, and earns for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. We do not fix our gaze on what is seen but on what is unseen. What is seen is transitory, what is unseen lasts forever."
Pray about and consider seriously the truths which kept St. Paul and faithful followers of the Lord going about their daily lives in spite of detours and other hardships. Enumerate how these truths make a difference in our hardships.
Introduction
The fourth Sunday of Holy Pascha is observed by the Orthodox Church as the Sunday of the Paralytic. The day commemorates the miracle of Christ healing a man who had been paralyzed for thirty-eight years. The biblical story of the event is found in the Gospel of John 5:1-15.
Background
Close to the Sheep's Gate in Jerusalem, there was a pool, which was called the Sheep's Pool. It had five porches, that is, five sets of pillars supporting a domed roof. Under this roof there lay very many sick people with various maladies awaiting the moving of the water. The first person to step in after the troubling of the water was healed immediately of whatever malady he had.
It was there that the paralytic of today's Gospel was lying, tormented by his infirmity of thirty-eight years. When Christ beheld him, He asked him, "Will you be made whole?" And he answered with a quiet and meek voice, "Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool." The Lord said unto him, "Rise, take up your bed, and walk." And straightaway the man was made whole and took up his bed. Walking in the presence of all, he departed rejoicing to his own house. According to the expounders of the Gospels, the Lord Jesus healed this paralytic during the days of the Passover, when He had gone to Jerusalem for the Feast, and dwelt there teaching and working miracles. According to Saint John the Evangelist, this miracle took place on the Sabbath.
Icon of the Sunday of the Paralytic
The icon of the Sunday of the Paralytic depicts the biblical story of the Christ healing the paralytic. Our Lord, accompanied by His disciples, is shown blessing the paralytic. The man has risen and taken up his bed as commanded by Christ. The paralytic is bowing toward the Lord in reverence and in gratitude for the great miracle that has been done. In the background of the icon is the pool where the infirmed came for healing.
Orthodox Christian Celebration of the Feast of the Sunday of the Paralytic
The Sunday of the Paralytic is celebrated with the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom. On this Sunday and throughout the Paschal period until the Apodosis or leave-taking of Pascha, the day before the Feast of the Ascension, the services begin with the chanting of the troparion of Pascha, "Christ is risen..."
Source: https://www.goarch.org/sunday-of-the-paralytic-learn
O Lord, we celebrate our mothers and the mother figures in our lives and pray that all these special women may learn to love just like You love us. May they follow the example of the Virgin Mary as well as the example of all the Saints. Lord, You know what a special day this can be for many mothers, and yet what a difficult day it can be for others. You are aware of all that each person holds in their hearts. We thank you for Your love and grace, and pray that you have mercy on us all.
2025 Sts. Joachim and Anna Senior Retreat
Our Diocese is pleased to announce its sixth annual Sts. Joachim and Anna Senior Retreat which will take place at Camp Nazareth Retreat and Conference Center in Mercer, PA from May 2-4, 2025. The Retreat will feature keynote addresses by Very Rev. Nicholas Ferencz. You can read Fr. Nik’s biography here. His Eminence Metropolitan Gregory is inviting all our Diocesan Seniors, ages 55 and over, to come and enjoy 2 days of fellowship, prayer, reflection and fun. The Theme of the Retreat – Matthew 22: The BIG Questions We should ALL want to Talk about and Answer! The schedule will include worship, fellowship, learning, fun, time for reflection and relaxation, and great activities!
Online Registration is now open!! Visit 2025 Senior Retreat to register for the event. Visit campnazareth.org for more information. You may also call (724-662-4840) or email the Camp at [email protected] for more information.
Don’t miss out on our sixth annual Sts. Joachim and Anna Senior Retreat! Register today!
Registration closes Monday, June 2, 2025.
2025 Camp Nazareth Volunteer Week:
Our Diocesan Faithful are asked and encouraged to volunteer their time and talents during Camp Nazareth’s Volunteer Week which will take place Tuesday, 5/13 – Friday, 5/23. Camp has been blessed over the years to have many volunteers, including parishes, groups of parishes, men’s groups, societies, and individuals and their families, who have offered their time and talents to help get the Camp ready for each summer season as well as complete a lot of fixer-uppers around the Camp. Camp is offering an opportunity (over more than a week) for our Diocesan faithful to do the same. Come for ANY number of days. Camp will provide all meals and lodging (free-of-charge), and will provide leaders to help guide the work that needs to be done. If you can’t stay overnight, don’t worry. Just come up for a day, even part of a day. If you have any questions, call or email the Camp at 724-662-4840 or [email protected]. Camp has begun to prepare for its 50th Anniversary. Come help us get ready!! You can register for the Volunteer Week at 2025 Volunteer Week Registration. Registration is quick and easy.
Please support our diocesan seminary bookstore:
If you have any religious items to purchase such as icons, jewlery, books, and various Orthodox decor, please visit: www.orthodoxgoods.com
Also, please continue to pray for vocations:
O Lord, the High Priest of God's people, You have shown us that it is Your will that men be called to the service of Your Holy Church. From the ranks of fishermen, You called Andrew and Peter and James and John, and made them and their successors in every age to be the "fishers of men." We, your people in this age, call upon Your great love to inspire for our churches, young men to be Your future priests. Touch their lives with Your Holy Spirit; give them the courage to answer Your call and the strength to work all the days of their life for Your service. Continue to shower upon our Diocesan Seminary Your choicest blessings and make us aware of her needs so that it may continue to be a place where the souls of those called to Your service may be trained and prepared to teach and preach, to pray and labor, to forgive and heal - to care in every way as priests of Your fold, O Good Shepherd. You told us with Your precious lips, "Without me, you can do nothing." As we call upon Your Name for more vocations, O Great High Priest, hear us and have mercy.
