Sunday before the Elevation of the Cross;
Leave-taking of the Nativity of the Theotokos
Galatians 6:11-18: In the conclusion of his letter to the Galatians, St Paul reminds them that to be circumcised or uncircumcised is not the issue, but rather to be a new creation in Christ Jesus.
John 3:13-17: In the Gospel of John we hear Jesus speak concerning His purpose for coming into the world: to save mankind through His death and Resurrection.
Troparion of the Resurrection: Thou didst shatter death by thy Cross; thou didst open paradise to the thief; thou didst turn the mourning of the ointment-bearing women into joy, and didst bid thine Apostles proclaim warning that thou hast risen, O Christ, granting the world Great Mercy.
Troparion of the Nativity of the Theotokos: Thy nativity, O Theotokos, hath proclaimed joy to the whole universe; for from thee did shine forth the Sun of justice, Christ our God, annulling the curse, and bestowing the everlasting blessing, abolishing death and granting us life everlasting.
Troparion of the Chains of St. Peter: O Holy Apostle, Peter, thou dost preside over the Apostles by the precious chains which thou didst bear. We venerate them with faith and beseech thee that by thine intercessions we be granted the great mercy.
Kontakion of the Nativity of the Theotokos: By thy holy birth-giving, O pure one, Joachim and Anne were delivered from the reproach of barrenness; and Adam and Eve were delivered from the corruption of death; thy people do celebrate it, having been saved from the stain of iniquity, crying unto thee, The barren doth give birth to the Theotokos, who nourisheth our life.
CALENDAR
Sunday, September 12 (Sunday before the Elevation of the Cross; Leave-taking of the
Nativity of the Theotokos)
8:50 a.m. — Orthros
10:00 a.m. — Divine Liturgy
12:00 noon — Pot Luck Meal
5:30 p.m. — Young Adults
Monday, September 13 (Dedication of the Church of the Anastasis)
Office Closed — Father John’s Day Off
6:00 p.m. — Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy (simple meal provided afterwards
NOT a Pot Luck)
Tuesday, September 14 (Elevation of the Precious Cross)
This feast is celebrated as one of the most important in the Church Year because it commemorates two events of great significance. After St. Helen had found at Jerusalem the cross upon which Christ was crucified, she built a Church on Mount Calvary to hold the precious relic. The Christians held the Holy Cross in such high regard that they soon began to celebrate this feast in honor of the finding of the Cross.
In the year 614, the Persians invaded the Empire and took Jerusalem, and sent the case containing the Cross back to their country. For fifteen years the Greek Emperor Heraclius waged war against the Persians, and finally in 629 defeated them, forcing them to make peace, and to restore the Holy Cross to him. It is said that the case containing the sacred relics was returned to him with the seals still unbroken. The Relics were replaced in the Church with great rejoicing, and to the original Feast in honor of the finding of the Cross was added another, in honor of its safe return to Jerusalem.
A special feature of the Church Services on this day, is the procession in which the Cross is borne aloft on a tray of flowers and placed in the midst of the Church; the Priest then elevates it to the four corners of the compass, blessing thrice with it as he does so, and praying that God will protect and preserve the President and the Civil Authorities of our country and the Armed Forces, and guard and guide the Heirarchs and clergy of the Church, and protect and preserve all His faithful people from every evil.
NO Daily Orthros
Wednesday, September 15 (Nativity of the Theotokos)
6:30 p.m. — Daily Vespers
7:30 p.m. — Choir Practice
Thursday, September 16
6:00 a.m. — Daily Orthros
Friday, September 17
6:00 a.m. — Daily Orthros
Saturday, September 18
10:30 a.m. — Baptism of Andrew Sellers
5:00 p.m. — Catechism Class
5:45 p.m. — Ninth Hour Prayers followed by Great Vespers
Sunday, September 19 (Sunday after the Elevation of the Cross)
8:50 a.m. — Orthros
9:00 a.m. — Christian Education
10:00 a.m. — Divine Liturgy
12:00 noon — Ladies of St. Peter
5:30 p.m. — Youth Group
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Eucharist Bread was offered by the Katools for the Divine Liturgy today. The Artoklasia Bread was offered by the Hendersons for the Nativity of the Theotokos last Monday evening.
Please be very careful with the Blessed Bread when you take it after communion. Because this bread has been blessed, we should take care not to let crumbs fall on the floor. Parents, especially, please help your children to choose a small piece and treat it carefully.
Christian Education will begin on Sunday, September 19th at 9:00 a.m. As is his custom, Father John will address the children that morning. Please make every effort to have your children there on time.
Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:
Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour
September 12 Katools Strains (POT LUCK)
September 13 (Mon. p.m.) Schelvers Meadows
(Elevation of the Holy Cross)
September 19 Morrises R. Roots
September 26 Joneses Woods
Schedule for Epistle Readers Page numbers refer to the Apostolos (book of the Epistles) located on the front pew. Please be sure to use this book when you read.
Reader Reading Page#
September 12 Mildred Morris Gal. 6:11-18 198
September 13 (Mon. p.m.) Kh. Sharon Meadows I Cor. 1:18-24 311
September 19 Kh. Be’Be’ Schelver Gal. 16:20 193
Andrew Sellers will be baptized next Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m. Please pray for him, his parents and his godparents.
Please remember the following in your prayers: The Longa and Dn. Sidney Elliott families from St. John’s in Memphis; Fr. Donald Lloyd; Sh. Charlotte Algood, Dn. Terry and their family; Fr. James and Kh. Linda Ellison; Bobby and Sue Webb (Deborah Finley’s parents); Tom Skirtech, Amy and Brantley Oliver; Reader Basil’s family; Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Jared and Stacy Autrey and their daughter Olivia Kate (St. Ignatius in Franklin).
Please continue to pray for the health of His Grace, bishop ANTOUN.
Supper Clubs .We will be starting a Supper Club in the near future. Those who have indicated an interest in participating are presently being formed into groups. If you would like to be added to a group, please let Christina Katool know as soon as possible.
Calendar Items:
· Our monthly Pot Luck Meal will be held TODAY. Please be sure to stay and enjoy the fellowship.
· The Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross will be celebrated TOMORROW evening with Orthros and Divine Liturgy, beginning at 6:00 p.m. A simple meal will be provided afterwards, so there is no need to bring anything.
· A Fund-raising Auction for the Ladies of St. Peter will be held along with our monthly Pot Luck meal on Sunday, October 3rd. Please be sure to bring the items you are donating to the auction to the church by September 26th. This way we will all be able to see the things to be auctioned and plan our strategy for bidding on the 3rd.
· Our next time to serve a meal at the Stewpot will be on October 30th.
Fasting Discipline for September
The traditional fasting (no meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, wine and oil) is observed on all Wednesdays and Fridays of the month. September 14th is also a strict fast day in remembrance of the Elevation of the Holy Cross.
Major Commemorations During September
September 16 Euphemia the All-praised
September 20 Martyr Eustathios and his family
September 23 Conception of the Forerunner
September 26 Apostle John the Theologian (repose)
September 28 Venerable Chariton the Confessor
If you are the last to leave the building, please make sure that the heating and cooling unit in the Fellowship Hall is set to the optimum temperature for the building when unoccupied.
Quotable: “When you are sick, you feel weak and feeble, and your face is pale; you are incapable of performing your normal tasks, and people remark how ill you appear. So you go to the doctor. What do you want from him? You say you want some medicine to cure your sickness. But if the cause of your sickness was cured, and you remained feeble and pale, would you be satisfied? Of course not. The truth is, a person goes to the doctor for relief from the symptoms of disease, not disease itself. The doctor, on the other hand, knows that the symptoms cannot be relieved unless their cause is overcome. Similarly, when we declare ourselves to be disciples of Christ, we claim that we want him to cure our spiritual and moral disease. Yet in truth we want him to relieve the symptoms such as misery, discontent, despair, and so on. Jesus, by contrast, knows that he cannot relieve these symptoms unless he overcomes their deep, inner cause. And this is where the problems arise. We do not want our deep-set feelings and attitudes to be changed. But only when we truly open our souls to the transforming grace of God will the symptoms of spiritual disease begin to disappear.”
St. John Chrysostom
Worship: Sunday, September 19, 2010 (Sunday after the Elevation of the Cross)
Scripture: Galatians 2:16-20; Mark 8:34-9:1
Celebrant: Father John
Epistle Reader: Kh. Be’Be’ Schelver
Prosphora: Morrises
Saint Peter Antiochian Orthodox Church 