“The Ripple Effect”

Throw a stone into a lake and the water ripples out, and the circle widens. One of the great characteristics of the first Christians was their ripple effect. Something had happened to them that so filled them with joy they just could not contain it. It was contagious. It spread out among the people in a ripple effect. And the circle grew wider and wider. The reason those early Christians we so filled with joy was that this Jesus who had lived among them, this Jesus who had given them such hope, this Jesus whom they had seen die on a hill outside Jerusalem, this Jesus whom they had seen put into a tomb, this Jesus was alive! It wasn't an hallucination. It wasn't something they dreamed up. It was an event that had happened in their lives. This Jesus had risen and had come back to them.

This Jesus is present to us now. Where is the joy that we cannot contain? Where is the ripple effect? Happy are they who, every time they go into a room, bring the Peace of God.

The New Testament Christians did not say in dismay, “Look what the world has come to!” Rather, they said in delight, “Look what has come to the world!”

Today we rejoice over the simple fact that when the disciples went to the tomb they found that it was empty. But our celebration does not end there. Easter is not only something that happened then, but something that happens now. Unless it happens now to you, you've missed the point of our celebration. God acted then to confirm the life and ministry of Christ through His Resurrection. God is acting now to confirm our life and ministry. God is acting now to give us New Life, new hope, new expectation. This is what Easter is all about. We don't sit here and remember some dim historical event of the past. We experience it now!

Easter is a time to call forth the conviction deep within us that God is in charge and God is good and God will take care of us in life and in death. Whatever your present source of deep hurting – a personal habit, a broken relationship, the reality of physical death – Easter is now.

Easter Egg Hunt The traditional Easter Egg Hunt for the little “Angels” takes place next Sunday at our Chapel Community Center following the 11:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy. Tickets or registration are not necessary. Just bring your precious children for this joyful celebration of Our Lord's Resurrection!

Two Precious Hearts! Our prayerful gratitude is shared with Helen and Al Pelczar for their extraordinary kindness by sponsoring a new set of Altar coverings which are now in place in Chapel during this Easter season.

God Grant Him Many Years! This week, a Priest of our Eparchy, Very Rev. Gerald Dino,

Great and Holy Friday, March 21, 2008
9:00 am Office of Matins and Reading of the Twelve Passion Gospels

3:00 pm Solemn Burial Vespers/Procession/Placing of the Holy Shroud
Celebrant: The Most Reverend William C. Skurla, D.D.

Please note: The Cathedral Church will be opened following the 3:00 pm. Good Service Service, during the entire night and will close following Services on Holy Saturday

Great and Holy Saturday, March 22, 2008
5:00 pm Hierarchal Divine Liturgy of St Basil the Great with Vespers followed by Resurrectional Matin and Blessing of Easter Food
Celebrant: The Most Reverend William C. Skurla, D.D

+++ Easter Sunday, March 23, 2008 +++

On this glorious Feast of Our Lord's Resurrection we pray for all the Faithful of our Parish, especially mindful of our sick and home-bound. On this Resurrection Day we commit ourselves anew to following Christ Who has shown mercy and love to each of us. On this glorious Feast, we believe and profess that God has sealed an Eternal Covenant in the Blood of the Word made Flesh, Crucified and Risen. Today, the Church continues to make the same joyful proclamation: CHRIST IS RISEN!

9:00 am (Cathedral) Hierarchal Divine Liturgy / Blessing of the Paschal Food
Celebrant: The Most Reverend William C. Skurla, D.D

11:00 am (Chapel) Solemn Divine Liturgy / Blessing of the Pascal Food

Our Divine Liturgy Schedule for Bright Week

Monday, March 24 th

9:00 a.m. +John Onufer by his Children

Tuesday, March 25 th

9:00 a.m. +Bishop Michael Dudick by Stephen & Eleanor Chabra

11:00 a.m. Funeral Liturgy for +Ruth Tackacs

Wednesday, March 26 th

9:00 a.m. +Mary Grabiec by M/M George Fedor

Thursday, March 27 th

9:00 a.m. +Robert Weil, Sr. by Paul and Irene Vasil

Friday, March 28 th

9:00 a.m. +Mary Lucas by Helen and Tom Duch

Saturday, March 29 th

9:00 a.m. +Ladislav Kusnir by Theresa Barna

3:00 p.m. The Rite of Christian Marriage for the Servants of God, Jessica Zahorian & Charles Belmonte

+ Next Sunday, the Sunday of St. Thomas , March 30 th +

5:00 p.m. (The Vigil Divine Liturgy of Sunday on Saturday Evening at Chapel)

+Frank Glagola by DeKeukelaere

7:00 a.m. We pray for our Parishioners and Benefactors

9:00 a.m. +Thomas Wieczorek (6 th Anniversary) by Wife, Loraine and Family

11:00 a.m. Health/God's Blessing for Travis & Brittany Wdowiak by Aunt, Lynne Krenicky