Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!
PASCHAL JOY
I have posted a short video on our parish Facebook page recording the miraculous arrival of the Holy Fire in the Church of the Holy Spepulchre this year. The Paschal joy in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem that you will experience in this video is inspiring and contagious. Orthodox Christianity is a religion of Faith, Hope and Joy!
Here is the link to the video on our parish Facebook page:
ISRAELI ARAB CHRISTIAN REPORTER EXPLAINS THE EASTER STORY TO THE JEWISH PEOPLE
I have also posted a video on the Holy Cross Parish Facebook page of an Israeli Arab Christian reporter for Israeli Public Television explaining the Easter story to the Jewish people in Hebrew. Her name is Lucy Ayoub. She is clear and concise, enthusiastic, engaging and evangelistic.
The video has had almost 200,000 views, over 1,000 shares and over 3,000 reactions so far. The majority of the reactions are “likes” with almost 200 “loves” and a few dozen “angry.”
I encourage you to share it with your Jewish friends and with all those who pray for the peace of Jerusalem. The video is in Hebrew, but with English subtitles. Lucy Ayoub does a great job! Her enthusiasm is contagious. We could all learn from her.
Again, here is the link to our parish Facebook page:
If you are not already a follower of our Holy Cross Parish Facebook page, I hope that you will "Like" the page and begin following it today. Important, informative and inspiring material is posted there regularly.
WHAT DO WE BELIEVE?
What do we believe in as Orthodox Christians? It is more proper to ask: “In whom do we put our trust?” “Believe” is a very vague word. Often it means little more holding a personal opinion. But our Orthodox Catholic Faith is not an opinion, not one of many possible views. It is an affirmation of what, and really Who, ultimate reality is. The One we trust in is alive, dependable, trustworthy, and eternal, as is the One Church He founded. The tomb in Jerusalem is empty. That is a fact of history, not an opinion. Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! And because He is Risen, our lives can make sense and can be full. We know where we come from, why we are here, and where we are going. God is good and He loves each of us as though there were only one of us. That is the Good News that we can build our lives on. Christ is Risen, our joy!
PASCHAL GREETINGS FROM ST. PETERSBURG
In this short (less than two minute) video, students from around the world at the St. Petersburg Theological Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia share Paschal greetings with us. You’ll see students from Russia, China, Laos, Cyprus, Sweden, America, and many more countries greeting us with “Christ is Risen!” in their own native languages:
CONGRATULATIONS!
Congratulations to Konrad and Jamie K. who were baptized into Christ at the Easter Vigil this week. Welcome to the family. May God grant the newly illumined Many Years!
BAPTISM
This coming Sunday, April 23rd, the Octave Day of Holy Pascha, the newborn son of parishioners Weston and Hannah F., will be baptized into Christ at Holy Cross parish. Come and share in the joy of this blessed event.
RECEPTION OF A CATECHUMEN
Jennifer J. will be received into the catechumenate on Sunday, April 23rd, and will begin her journey to full communion with the Orthodox Church. Jenny comes to us from the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. Welcome home Jenny!
ORDINATION
On Wednesday, April 26th, Reader Kevin and I will board a plane for Sarasota, Florida, where, God willing, he will be ordained to the diaconate at St. Joseph’s Orthodox Church by His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral) on the morning of Friday, April 28th.
Beginning Sunday, April 30th, we will be celebrating the Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist with the assistance of a deacon, subdeacon and acolyte. With the ordination of a deacon, the ministry and work of Holy Cross parish will take another important step forward.
A potluck luncheon will follow Holy Mass on Sunday, April 30th, in honour of the ordination of Reader Kevin to the diaconate. Do invite family and friends to attend this important event in the life of our parish. It is not every day that a parish gets a new deacon. To God be the glory!
WEDDING
On Friday, May 5th, Xanth W. and Laura E. will be joined in Holy Matrimony. The members and friends of Holy Cross parish are invited to the Wedding and the Reception that will follow. Details are posted on the bulletin board in the parish hall.
SUNDAY SERVICES
Sunday Matins is at 9:15 AM, followed by the Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist at 10:00 AM, with fellowship and refreshments in our parish hall after the Liturgy. Visitors are always welcome!
Holy Cross is a Western Rite Orthodox parish in the English and Celtic cultural, liturgical and spiritual tradition, and is in full sacramental communion and visible unity with the 300 million-member Orthodox Church. We are a faithful, friendly and vibrant parish and we have a place for you.
Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Jesus Christ is the Truth Revealed. Orthodox Christianity is the Truth Lived! Come and share the joy. Everyone is welcome. We love being Orthodox. Come and see why. I’ll be looking forward to seeing you on Sunday!
blessings,
Father+
Fr. Victor Novak
Rector
HOLY CROSS ORTHODOX CHURCH
A Western Rite Parish of the
Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia
7545 Main Street
Ralston, Nebraska 68127
(402) 573-6558
