Church Calendar and News May 1997

The Coptic Orthodox Diocese Of

The Southern United States

St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church New Orleans Louisiana

May 1997 Church News Letter & Activities Calendar

EKHRESTOS ANESTY ..........ALETHOS ANESTY

CHRIST IS RESIN ...........TRULY IS RISEN

Two Men and Their Resurrection Discovery

It is the exciting accounts of the appearances of Jesus during the Resurrection Season that keeps us in the radiance of a festive observance of Easter. In April and early May, as we savor the glow of Easter, the celebration of the Light and God’s love for us, there is one narrative from the gospel of St. Luke that I think speaks to all people regardless of age who try to walk in the light of the Lord’s Resurrection.

It was the first Easter, a day of delightful butchery for some as they gleefully celebrated the crucifixion of three men at Golgotha on the Friday before. For others it was still a day of great pain and suffering. They had witnessed the death of one who they thought would lead man to another level; one who could indeed be a “savior.” There were many people in Jerusalem with mixed feelings as the sun broke through on this most blessed of days.

The gleaming cloud tops and fragrant spring air would have invigorated most travelers leaving Jerusalem, but these two men began their late morning task in their home in the city of Emmaeus staring grimly at the trail forcing leaden feet up the steep path to the ridge, then down the Judean slopes. They discussed the crescendo of weekend events that had left their leader hanging limp and pale on a stained wooden cross, hurriedly buried. Now reports were circulating wildly that his body was missing from the tomb where it has been left a few days earlier.

The crunch of gravel behind them caused Cleopas to look back. A traveler who had been rapidly climbing the grade now slowed to join them. At first they became fearful of the man, because they had no idea who he was and these were apprehensive times for all who had put faith in the one they called “Jesus.” The stranger had only caught fragments of their conversation.

“What were you talking about just now?” he exhaled, probably winded from the strenuous walk up the slope to catch the two men on the “Road to Emmaus.”

“Where have you been?” Cleopas asked incredulously. “Everybody in the city has been talking about Jesus of Nazareth. We had hoped that he was the Messiah, but now…”

The stranger and now fellow traveler shot a strange challenge. “Don’t you know what the Scriptures say?” Beginning at Genesis and on through the prophets, he explained just why the Messiah had to suffer before he came into glory. They didn’t realize their actual pace was quickening, their gait was now quite invigorating, and their hearts began to pound wildly as they put more and more of the seven miles behind them.

Now around the bend stood their village. They were home. The traveler thanked them for their company and turned again to the path.

"Oh, won’t you stay overnight?" Cleopas called out to the stranger already going further down now what was a rapidly darkening path away from Jerusalem. Cleopas called out to him, “It’ll be dark soon, Please!” Cleopas probably wondered what he was doing inviting this stranger into their home, but maybe we can hear a quiet prayer being said by him and his companion. "Dear Lord, don’t let this restored hope fade very soon."

The stranger stopped in his path and turned about and entered the small dwelling place. Sitting down for dinner, the traveler reached for the fresh round loaf, lifted it in blessing, and began to break off pieces for them to eat. It was then Cleopas saw those hands, mutilated by jagged holes as if a spike had been run through them.

Shocked, Cleopas glanced up to the traveler’s face, but at the moment of recognition he disappeared from their midst. This had been Jesus all along, taking the time to explain the meaning of the suffering of Friday and now the glory and light of Sunday. Now Jesus was gone.

“Alive!”. Cleopas jumped up. “He’s alive. The women who came from a barren tomb early this morning were right after all. Jesus is risen.”

The shaken yet exhilarated comrades nearly ran the seven miles back to the city, braving the darkness of the lonely road, overcoming fear after fear until they reached the place where the others had been in hiding, bursting into the upper room door with the wonderful news. “He is alive!”

Like these two men on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24: 13-35), many have since come to the same startling conclusion. Many of us have felt his presence but not understanding immediately. Barely recognized, Jesus begins to walk the road with us. If we think to ask Him in, we come to realize who He really is. Easter’s Resurrection declares the cross is not Jesus’ defeat but His victory. He’s alive to be our Friend and our Hope- Resurrection’s great discovery. Keep the hope of Resurrection alive!

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
27	28	29	30 April Martyrdom of St Mark New Orleans Vespers 7:00-8:00PM	1 May Martyrdom of St George Divine Liturgy New Orleans 9:00-11:00AM	2	3 Divine Liturgy New Orleans 9:00 -11:00 AM --------------------- Vespers, Bible Study&Midnight New Orleans 7:00PM-9:00PM
4 Divine Liturgy "English" New Orleans 8:30AM-12:30PM Aghapi	5	6	7 Martyrdom of St Mark New Orleans Vespers 7:00-8:00PM	8 Martyrdom of St George Divine Liturgy New Orleans 5:00-7:00AM	9 Arrival of H.G. Bishop Youssef to New Orleans -------------------- First public meeting with H.G. Bishop Youssef 6:00-8:00PM	10 Divine Liturgy H.G. Bishop Youssef Mobile, AL. 9:00AM-12:30PM Aghapi ------------- Vespers, Bible H.G. Bishop Youssef Study&Midnight New Orleans 7:00PM-9:00PM
11 Divine Liturgy H.G. Bishop Youssef New Orleans 8:30AM-12:30PM Aghapi and Mother's Day celebration ----------------- Second public meeting with H.G. Bishop Youssef 4:00-6:00PM	12 Divine Liturgy New Orleans 12:00 -3:00 PM	13 Departure of H.G. Bishop Youssef from New Orleans	14	15 Depostion of Poe Athanasius The Apostolic Divine Liturgy New Orleans 9:00 -11:00PM	16 Vespers & Bible Study Birmingham, AL. 7:30PM-9:30PM	17 Divine Liturgy Birmingham, AL. ------------- Vespers, Bible Study&Midnight New Orleans 7:00PM-9:00PM
18 Divine Liturgy New Orleans 8:30AM-12:30PM Aghapi	19	20 Commemoration of Archangel Michael Divine Liturgy New Orleans 12:00 -3:00 PM	21	22	23 Abouna's Visit to Memphis, TN.	24 Divine Liturgy Memphis, TN. 9:00AM-12:00PM ------------- Vespers, Bible Study&Midnight New Orleans 7:00PM-9:00PM
25 Divine Liturgy New Orleans 8:30AM-12:30PM Aghapi	26	27	28 Divine Liturgy New Orleans 9:00 -11:00PM	29	30 Vespers & Bible Study Tallahassee, FL.	31 Divine Liturgy Tallahassee, FL. 9:00AM-12:00PM ------------- Vespers, Bible Study&Midnight New Orleans 7:00PM-9:00PM

Church News:

We will be blessed with the visit of H.G. Bishop Youssef from May 9 through May 13; what a great blessing for H.G. to share with us the Holy Fifty Days. Please refer to the calendar for all events planned with H. G. Bishop Youssef.
For any appointments or meetings with H. G. Bishop Youssef, please call Father Shenouda Kalleeny at (504) 433-0839.
The retreat for St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church of New Orleans, LA, will be held in Destin, FL, on June 1 - June 5; the cost for everything will be $120.
Remember the first Sunday Liturgy of every month will be celebrated in English.

Happy Birthday:

Mary Samuel Gadalla .....................May 2

Nancy Magdy Anise .......................May 21

Michelle Sarwat Gad ......................May 25

The church congratulates Mr. Dwayne Conner for his Orthodoxy Baptism; we wish him a blessed and happy life in Jesus Christ

Book Of The Month:

The Book of The Month, "Contemplations on the Resurrection" By H. H. Pope Shenouda-II (Arabic/English) $1 .

To OrderThe Book Of The Month, Please Send Me An E-mail or Call Fr. Shenouda at (504) 433-0839.

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Created 5/7/1997