CALENDAR & NEWS
Let us not give up the habit of meeting together...
Hebrews 10:25 · Good News Translation
April 2026 at HTOC
Christ is risen! Indeed he is risen! Join our church family this month for worship, fellowship, and spiritual growth.
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We Are Pascha People!
This month (April 12) we celebrate Pascha — Christ Jesus rising from death.
But Pascha isn’t just a holiday. It’s something that happened to us when we were baptized: “By being baptized, we were buried with Christ into his death. Christ has been raised from the dead by the Father’s glory. And like Christ we can live a new life” (Romans 6:4).
And with that new life comes new family, for “we were all baptized into one body by one Spirit. All of us, though there are so many of us, make up one body in Christ, and as different parts we are all joined to one another” (1 Corinthians 12:13 and Romans 12:5).
Baptism — our own personal Pascha — birthed our Christian identity and kinship in Christ. Starting this Pascha, let’s build anew on our baptismal bond with Jesus and each other to live a new life as a church family!
Mark Your Calendar!
Friday, April 3 • 12 noon
Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
Saturday, April 4 • 9:30 a.m.
Lazarus Saturday Divine Liturgy
Sunday, April 5 • 9:30 a.m.
Palm Sunday Chrismations and Divine Liturgy
Blessing of Palms and Willows
Wednesday, April 8 • 12 noon
Holy Wednesday Unction: Healing Service
Thursday, April 9 • 9:30 a.m.
Holy Thursday Vespers and Divine Liturgy
Thursday, April 9 • 6 p.m.
Matins of the Passion Gospels
Friday, April 10 • 6 p.m.
Good Friday Vespers: Burial of Christ Jesus
Saturday, April 11 • 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Holy Saturday Vigil at the Tomb of Christ Jesus
Time for personal prayer and reflection
Sunday, April 12 • 9 a.m.
Pascha: Resurrection of Christ Jesus
Matins and Divine Liturgy
Blessing of Easter Baskets
Sunday, April 19 • 9:30 a.m.
Divine Liturgy
Second Sunday of Pascha: Thomas Sunday
Sunday, April 26 • 9:30 a.m.
Divine Liturgy
Third Sunday of Pascha: Myrrhbearing Women
Milestones
“Rejoice with those who rejoice”(Romans 12:15). Best wishes to our kinfolk in Christ celebrating special milestones this month! Birthdays: Alex Onishenko (April 16) and Debbie Romanyak (April 24). God grant you many years!
Upcoming Chrismations: New Siblings in Christ!
God willing, on Palm Sunday (April 5, 2026) our parish will have the joy of welcoming Janiel Aviles, James Barravecchio, Shirley Barravecchio, and Kimberly Riddell into the Church by the sacrament of chrismation, which sets the seal of God’s Holy Spirit on those baptized into Christ.
Anointing with chrism (consecrated oil) is the sign that “God himself has anointed us… he marked us with his own seal and put his Spirit in our hearts” (2 Corinthians 1:21-22), so that by the gift of his own breath we can grow ever more Christlike and bear “the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).
Through chrismation, we personally experience what God has promised: “I will put my own Spirit within you to lead you in my ways, faithful to what I command… You will be my people, and I will be your God” (Ezekiel 36:27-28).
Pitch In!
Church doesn’t happen on its own. It happens when all of us pool our time, talent, and treasure together and put them at God’s disposal to do his will as followers of Jesus. In a word, that’s stewardship. Want to lend a helping hand? See our parish priest, Father Alexis Woytek, to find out what needs doing. Want to become a supporting member? See our parish treasurer, Mrs. Lydia Pinkowski, to find out how. Thanks for pitching in to make your church happen!
Reach Out!
The Church doesn’t exist for itself. God calls it to reach out and share his love with the world that it lives in. Our parish charity bin is one way that we do such outreach, by collecting nonperishable food that our friends at People Helping People in Hernando County share with locals in need. To download a grocery list from our website, click here. Thanks for reaching out and helping others through your church’s charity!
Safe and Sound
COVID is no longer a global pandemic, but coronavirus still crops up now and then, here and there. Please keep alert and take sensible precautions while our church remains open.
If you feel ill, please stay home, follow doctor’s orders, and take good care of yourself. Let us know if you want us to pray for you. We look forward to seeing you again once you get well!
Please respect personal space and give each other courteous leeway, and please feel free to wear a face mask if your health requires it or you just feel safer doing so.
Thanks for your consideration, which is simply part of doing what Christ Jesus told us to do: “Love others as much as you love yourself” (Mark 12:31).