Monthly Archives: June 2011

6/26 announcements

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June 26, 2011
Second Sunday after Pentecost
 
Romans 2:10-16:  In our reading from Romans we hear St Paul tell us that the Gentiles who obey the Law of God and yet are unbelievers do so out of knowledge of the Law written in their hearts and will be judged by the Lord.
 
Matthew 4:18-23:  In the reading from Matthew we see our Lord begin His public ministry by set­tling in the region of Galilee and calling His first four disciples.
 
Troparion of the Resurrection:  The stone being sealed by the Jews, and thy pure body being guarded by the soldiers, thou didst arise on the third day, O Saviour, granting life to the world.  Wherefore, the heavenly powers acclaimed thee, O Giver of life, crying, Glory to thy Resurrection, O Christ! Glory to thy kingdom! Glory to thy gracious providence, O only Lover of mankind.
 
Troparion of the Righteous Father David of Thessalonika: In thee the image was preserved with exactness, O Father; for taking up thy cross, thou didst follow Christ, and by thy deeds thou didst teach us to overlook the flesh, for it passeth away, but to attend to the soul since it is immortal.  Wherefore, O righteous David, thy spirit rejoiceth with the angels.
 
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 Theotokos:  O undisputed intercessor of Christians, O mediatrix, who is unrejected by the Creator, turn not away from the voice of our petitions though we be sinners; come to us in time, who cry to thee in faith, for thou art good.  Hasten to us with intercessions, O Theotokos, who didst ever intercede for those who honor thee.
 
CALENDAR
Sunday, June 26   (Second Sunday after Pentecost)
            8:50 a.m.         — Orthros
            10:00 a.m.       — Divine Liturgy
           
Monday, June 27   
            Office Closed  — Father John’s Day Off
           
Tuesday, June 28
            6:00 a.m.         — Daily Orthros
            6:00 p.m.         — Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy and Meal
 
Wednesday, June 29   (Chief Apostles Peter and Paul)
5:00 p.m.         — Catechism Class
6:30 p.m.         — Daily Vespers followed by Parish Council Meeting
7:30 p.m.         — Choir Practice
 
Thursday, June 30   (Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles)
6:00 a.m.         — Daily Orthros
 
Friday, July 1             (Cosmas and Damian of Rome)
6:00 a.m.         — Daily Orthros
 
Saturday, July 2  (Deposition of the Robe of the Theotokos)
5:45 p.m.         — Ninth Hour followed by Great Vespers
 
Sunday, July 3   (Third Sunday after Pentecost)
            8:50 a.m.         — Orthros
            10:00 a.m.       — Divine Liturgy
 
 
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Bakers for the Divine Liturgy today.  
 
Please be reminded of the following:
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.
         Also, at the end of the liturgy, maintain a prayerful disposition during the veneration of the cross as the prayers of thanksgiving after communion are still underway.  Please exchange your greetings with each other in the Fellowship Hall during Coffee Hour.
 
Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:
                                                      Eucharist Bread                     Coffee Hour
         June 26                                 Bakers                                     Morrises
         June 28                                 Woods                                     Schelvers
                  (Tues. p.m. – Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul)
         July 3                                                                                    R. Roots     Joneses
         July 10                                  Hendersons                              Ellis/Zouboukos
         July 17                                  Schelvers                                 Woods
         July 24                                  Katools                                    Algoods
         July 31                                  Algoods                                   Hendersons
 
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#
June 26                       Phillip Lasseter                      Rom. 2:10-16                          90
June 28 (Tues. p.m.)   Brenda Baker                        II Cor. 11:21-33, 12:1-9          389
July 3                          Kh. Be’Be’ Schelver             Rom. 5:1-11                            96
July 10                        Tom Willingham                    Rom. 6:18-23                          102
July 17                        Tom Skirtech                        Titus 3:18-15                           322
July 24                        Sh. Charlotte Algood            Rom. 12:6-14                          113
July 31                        Walt Wood                          Rom. 15:1-7                            119
 
Please keep Walt and Charlotte Wood and their family in your prayers as Walt recovers from back surgery.
 
Please remember the following in your prayers:  Fr. Leo, Kh. Be’Be’, Stephen and Amy, Justyn and Jeffrey; Steve, Sheryl and Stephen Chamblee; Maria Costas; Amy and Brantley Oliver; Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Sam and Lamia Dabit; David Turner’s mother Mary Jean; Fr. Joseph Bittle, Kh. Joanna, their daughter Abigail and the rest of their family.
 
Please continue to pray for the health of His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN.
 
We are looking for new faces in the choir….anyone 7th grade or older who is interested should contact Karen or Sh. Margaret.
 
Calendar Items:
*    The Men of the parish meet for lunch and fellowship on the first Thursday of the month.
*    The Fast of the Apostles will run from June 20-28 this year.  We will celebrate Orthros and Divine Liturgy for the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul on Tuesday evening, July 28th, beginning at 6:00 p.m. 
*    We will be serving a meal at the Stewpot in Jackson on July 9th and November 19th.
*    Father John will be out of town July 21-31st for the Archdiocese Convention in Chicago.
*    His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN will be here the weekend of May 6, 2012 to help us celebrate our 25th anniversary as a parish.  The planning committee is working very hard to make our celebration a memorable one.  There will be an evening event at the MS Museum of Art on Saturday, May 6th.  Other events are being planned and more information will be available in the coming months.
 
On Tuesday night, June 28th , we will be celebrating St. Peter’s and St. Paul’s Feast Day with Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy and a supper.  Kh. Be’Be’ is in charge of the meal, and there is a sign up list on the small bulletin board in the fellowship hall.  Please take a second to volunteer to bring a dish.  This will give us an idea of how many people will be coming.  Thanks!
 
Sophie Elizabeth Dansereau will be baptized on Saturday morning, July 16th at 11:15 a.m.
 
New Parish Directory:   The Parish Council has decided to implement a new Directory with family pictures.  Pictures will be taken on the following Sundays:  June 26th and July 3rd.  A group picture will be taken at a later date for the cover of the Directory.
 
Fasting Discipline for June/July
The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, wine and oil) is observed on all days during the Fast of the Apostles (June 20-28).  In July, the traditional fasting is observed on all Wednesdays and Fridays of the month.
 
Major Commemorations during June/July
June 29            Chief Apostles Peter and Paul
June 30            Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles
July 1               Cosmas and Damian of Rome
July 2               Deposition of the Robe of the Theotokos
July 5               Athanasios of Athos
July 11             Euphemia the all-praised
July 17             Great-martyr Marina
July 20             Prophet Elias
July 25             Dormition of Righteous Anna
July 27             Great-martyr Panteleimon
 
If you are the last to leave the building, please make sure that the heating and cooling unit in the Fellowship Hall is turned off.
 
Happy Anniversaries in July:
         July 3                     —    Emad and Suzi Fino (#23!)
         July 25                   —    Reader Basil and Brenda Baker (#30!)
 
Happy Birthdays in June/July:
         June 29                  —    Jennifer Skirtech
         July 2                     —    Irene N’Ser
         July 7                     —    Nimer Fino (1992)
         July 10                   —    Ramzi Kafoury
         July 13                   —    Abraham Dabit
         July 15                   —    Emad Fino
         July 17                   —    Jackie Rezk
         July 22                   —    Zachary Freundt
                                       —    Walt Wood
                                       —    Thomas Wood
                                       —    Amy Oliver
 
Quotable:  “The Holy Sacrament of Confession can rightly be called ‘the Forgotten Medicine.’  The whole world is lying in evil.  Every one of us is infected with the deadly disease of sin, and one can be cured from this disease!  The medicine is provided, and it is miraculous at that.  You are healed the moment you take it.  But we do not reach for it, to be healed and to lighten our conscience.  Why?  Because we have forgotten and neglected it.”
                                                                        Archimandrite Seraphim Aleksiev
 
        
Worship:         Sunday, July 3, 2011 (Third Sunday after Pentecost)
 
         Scripture:                                 Romans 5:1-10; Matthew 6:22-33
         Celebrant:                                Father John
         Epistle Reader:                         Kh. Be’Be’ Schelver
         Prosphora:                               R. Roots
         Coffee Hour:                           Joneses/Stewarts

6/19 announcements

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June 19, 2011
Sunday of All Saints; First Sunday after Pentecost
 
    The Church commemorates and remembers all of its saints at three times during the year; in anticipation of Christmas, at the beginning of Lent, and immediately after Pentecost.  On all three days we are reminded of the unified body of God’s people and of the holiness they have achieved and for which we strive.  These two things are not abnormal and removed from us; they are truth and reality.  On this day we are especially reminded of the strength of the saints and their victories, and we move from the day of Pentecost, the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit, to join God’s people in our victorious procession, through purifying trial and sacrifice, to the Day of the Lord.
 
Hebrews 11:33-12:2: The writer of Hebrews calls us to consider the faith of those saints of the Old Testament who endured hardships and death and yet still did great things because of their faith.  The Apos­tle encourages us to lay aside the encumbrances of sin and run with endurance the race that is set be­fore us.
 
Matthew 10:32- 33, 37-38;19:27-30:  In the gospel reading we hear the Lord Jesus teach the mean­ing of discipleship, and, when asked by Peter, tells him what shall be the reward for those who truly are dis­ci­ples of His.
 
Troparion of the Resurrection:  O compassionate One, thou didst descend from the heights; thou didst submit to the three-day burial, that thou might deliver us from passion.  Thou art our Life and our Resurrection, O Lord, glory to thee.
 
Troparion of All Saints: Thy Church, O Christ God, hast regaled herself in the blood of thy Martyrs throughout all the world, as in porphyry and purple.  Through them she lifts her voice, crying, Turn with thy compassion to thy people, and grant peace to thy city, and to the souls the Great Mercy.
 
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 Saints:  To thee, O Lord and Author of all creation, the universe offers as first-fruits of nature the divinity-bearing Martyrs.  Wherefore, by their imploring preserve thy Church in perfect safety, for the sake of the Theotokos, O most Merciful.
 
CALENDAR
 
Sunday, June 19   (Sunday of All Saints)
            8:50 a.m.         — Orthros
            10:00 a.m.       — Divine Liturgy
           
Monday, June 20   
            Office Closed  — Father John’s Day Off
           
Tuesday, June 21
            6:00 a.m.         — Daily Orthros
 
Wednesday, June 22   
5:00 p.m.         — Catechism Class
6:30 p.m.         — Daily Vespers followed by Parish Council Meeting
7:30 p.m.         — Choir Practice
 
Thursday, June 23   
6:00 a.m.         — Daily Orthros
 
Friday, June 24  (Nativity of the Forerunner)         
6:00 a.m.         — Daily Orthros
 
Saturday, June 25   
NO Catechism Class
5:45 p.m.         — Ninth Hour followed by Great Vespers 
 
Sunday, June 26   (Second Sunday after Pentecost)
            8:50 a.m.         — Orthros
            10:00 a.m.       — Divine Liturgy
 
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Fahmys for the Divine Liturgy today.  
 
Please be reminded of the following:
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.
         Also, at the end of the liturgy, maintain a prayerful disposition during the veneration of the cross as the prayers of thanksgiving after communion are still underway.  Please exchange your greetings with each other in the Fellowship Hall during Coffee Hour.
 
Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:
                                                      Eucharist Bread                     Coffee Hour
         June 19                                 Fahmys                                    Strains
         June 26                                 Bakers                                     Morrises
         June 28                                 Woods                                     Schelvers
                  (Tues. p.m. – Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul)
 
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#
June 19                       Warren Strain                     Heb. 11:33-12:2                         84
June 26                        Phillip Lasseter                   Rom. 2:10-16                            90
June 28 (Tues. p.m.)    Brenda Baker                     II Cor. 11:21-33, 12:1-9           389
 
Please remember the following in your prayers:  Fr. Leo, Kh. Be’Be’, Stephen and Amy, Justyn and Jeffrey; Steve, Sheryl and Stephen Chamblee; Maria Costas; Amy and Brantley Oliver; Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Sam and Lamia Dabit; David Turner’s mother Mary Jean; Fr. Joseph Bittle, Kh. Joanna, their daughter Abigail and the rest of their family.
 
Please continue to pray for the health of His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN.
 
Sophie Elizabeth Dansereau will be baptized on Saturday morning, July 16th at 11:15 a.m.
 
We are looking for new faces in the choir….anyone 7th grade or older who is interested should contact Karen or Sh. Margaret.
 
Calendar Items:
*    The Men of the parish meet for lunch and fellowship on the first Thursday of the month.
*    The Fast of the Apostles will run from June 20-28 this year.  We will celebrate Orthros and Divine Liturgy for the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul on Tuesday evening, July 28th, beginning at 6:00 p.m. 
*    We will be serving a meal at the Stewpot in Jackson on July 9th and November 19th.
*    Father John will be out of town July 21-31st for the Archdiocese Convention in Chicago.
*    His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN will be here the weekend of May 6, 2012 to help us celebrate our 25th anniversary as a parish.  The planning committee is working very hard to make our celebration a memorable one.  There will be an evening event at the MS Museum of Art on Saturday, May 6th.  Other events are being planned and more information will be available in the coming months.
 
On Tuesday night, June 28th , we will be celebrating St. Peter’s and St. Paul’s Feast Day with Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy and a supper.  Kh. Be’Be’ is in charge of the meal, and there is a sign up list on the small bulletin board in the fellowship hall.  Please take a second to volunteer to bring a dish.  This will give us an idea of how many people will be coming.  Thanks!
 
New Parish Directory:   The Parish Council has decided to implement a new Directory with family pictures.  Pictures will be taken on the following Sundays:  June 12th, June 26th and July 3rd.  A group picture will be taken on Pentecost (June 12th) for the cover of the Directory.
 
Fasting Discipline for June
The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, wine and oil) is observed on all days during the Fast of the Apostles (June 20-28).
 
Major Commemorations during June
June 19            Sunday of All Saints
June 24            Nativity of the Forerunner
June 29            Chief Apostles Peter and Paul
June 30            Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles
 
If you are the last to leave the building, please make sure that the heating and cooling unit in the Fellowship Hall is turned off.
 
Happy Anniversaries remaining in June:
         June 14                  —    Ken and Anastasia Jones (#41!)
                                       —    Saliba and Lamia Dabit (#47!)
         June 22                  —    Fr. Leo and Kh. Be’Be’ Schelver (#37!)
 
Happy Birthdays in June:
         June 1                    —    Fr. James Meadows
         June 5                    —    George Wood
         June 12                  —    Ellie Yeatts (1998)
         June 13                  —    Lou Turner
         June 17                  —    Sh. Margaret Root
         June 21                  —    Sandra Strain
         June 29                  —    Jennifer Skirtech
 
Quotable:  “Take courage, sinners!  There is deliverance for us!  Jesus Christ, Who carried on His shoulders the sin of all humanity and Who paid our debts to God with His death on the cross, can take our sin on His shoulders as well.  Is it not because of this that St. Andrew of Crete prays in the name of all of us who sin before God:  ‘Take my heavy sinful burden away from me and give me tears of repentance!’  We must shed tears of repentance, because there are only two  kinds of water which can wash away the filth of sin:  the water of baptism and the tears of repentance.”
                                                                        Archimandrite Seraphim Aleksiev
 
        
Worship:         Sunday, June 26, 2011 (Second Sunday after Pentecost)
 
         Scripture:                                Romans 2:10-16; Matthew 4:18-23
         Celebrant:                               Father John
         Epistle Reader:                        Phillip Lasseter
         Prosphora:                              Bakers
         Coffee Hour:                           Morrises

6/12 announcements

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June 12, 2011
Pentecost
 
  In several senses, Pentecost marks for us the end of many months of anticipation, commem-oration, and celebration and the beginning of the fullness of the life and faith we share. It is a day bringing our focus on the Holy Spirit, the embodiment of divine grace, the supreme gift, the ongoing presence of God in our lives; yet, it is a day directing us to the praise of the Trinity, the three divine persons, and the historical and spatial relationship God’s people have with Him.  For the disciples, the day marks their spiritual maturity.  Their faith began in their nationality, for they were of the nation that God the Father chose to glorify Him.  The faith was completed in their confrontation with God the Son, through His presence and the nourishment He gave.  The fullness of the faith came with the coming in power of God the Spirit.  The disciples had grown in spirit and were ready for their work; the birth of the Church was imminent; the Bride was to be made ready.  In the cycle of the calendar, we now stand ready to do likewise, and all weeks from now until our preparation for Advent are the weeks of Pentecost.  In the picture of the birth of the Church there are symbols beyond mention here; the unity in the common tongue, the Light that shines brighter than day, the bold proclamation to all men of the Gospel.  We look forward from this day to weeks without special celebrations, to days without reference to past days of enormous import–to normal, uneventful days.  But these are not uneventful days; they are the days for which we have prepared, the days of the Church, the days of our maturity and growth, the days when, through the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit, we run the good race and cross the finish to bring praise and glory to our glorious God, the eternal Trinity.
 
Acts 2:1-11:  In the reading from Acts we see the pouring out of God’s Spirit on the apostles, the ful­fillment of Joel’s prophecy, and the beginning of the Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.
 
John 7:37-52, 8:12:  Our Lord calls those thirsting for righteousness to Himself, promising to eternally quench their thirst by the gift of the Holy Spirit.  The Pharisees, however, view Jesus as a threat to their authority and seek for ways to undermine His authority.
 
Troparion of Pentecost:  Blessed art thou, O Christ our God, who hast revealed the fishermen as most wise, having sent upon them the Holy Spirit, and through them thou hast fished the universe, O Lover of mankind, glory to thee.
 
Kontakion of Pentecost:  When the high One descended, confusing tongues, he divided the nations.  And when he distributed the fiery tongues he called all to one unity.  Wherefore, in unison we glorify the most Holy Spirit.
 
CALENDAR
 
Sunday, June 5   (Pentecost)
            8:50 a.m.         — Orthros
            10:00 a.m.       — Divine Liturgy
            12:00 p.m.       — Pot Luck Meal
            6:30 p.m.         — Kneeling Vespers
           
Monday, June 13   
            Office Closed  — Father John’s Day Off
           
Tuesday, June 14
            6:00 a.m.         — Daily Orthros
 
Wednesday, June 15   
NO Catechism Class or Daily Vespers
 
Thursday, June 16   (Parish Life Conference begins in Memphis)
NO Daily Orthros
 
Friday, June 17         
NO  Daily Orthros
 
Saturday, June 18   
NO Catechism Class
5:45 p.m.         — Ninth Hour followed by Great Vespers
 
Sunday, June 19   (Sunday of All Saints)
            8:50 a.m.         — Orthros
            10:00 a.m.       — Divine Liturgy
 
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Freundts for the Divine Liturgy today.  
 
Please be reminded of the following:
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.
         Also, at the end of the liturgy, maintain a prayerful disposition during the veneration of the cross as the prayers of thanksgiving after communion are still underway.  Please exchange your greetings with each other in the Fellowship Hall during Coffee Hour.
 
Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:
                                                      Eucharist Bread                     Coffee Hour
         June 12                                 Freundts                                   POT LUCK
         June 19                                 Fahmys                                    Strains
         June 26                                 Bakers                                     Morrises
         June 28                                 Woods                                     Schelvers
                  (Tues. p.m. – Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul)
 
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#
June 12                       Mildred Morris                    Acts 2:1-11                              77
June 19                       Warren Strain                      Heb. 11:33-12:2                       84
June 26                       Phillip Lasseter                    Rom. 2:10-16                           90
June 28 (Tues. p.m.)    Brenda Baker                     II Cor. 11:21-33, 12:1-9           389
 
Because our clergy will be attending the Parish Life Conference there will be no Daily Vespers on Wednesday June 15th.  There will also be no catechism class on Wednesday June 15th or Saturday June 18th.  Nor will there be Daily Orthros on Thursday or Friday of that week.  However, Father James will be returning on Saturday afternoon.  So our regular services will be celebrated on Saturday and Sunday June 18th and 19th.
 
Please remember the following in your prayers:  Fr. Leo, Kh. Be’Be’, Stephen and Amy, Justyn and Jeffrey; Steve, Sheryl and Stephen Chamblee; Maria Costas; Amy and Brantley Oliver; Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Sam and Lamia Dabit; David Turner’s mother Mary Jean; Fr. Joseph Bittle, Kh. Joanna, their daughter Abigail and the rest of their family.
Please continue to pray for the health of His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN.
 
We are looking for new faces in the choir….anyone 7th grade or older who is interested should contact Karen or Sh. Margaret.
 
Calendar Items:
*    The Men of the parish meet for lunch and fellowship on the first Thursday of the month.
*    We are celebrating the Feast of Pentecost with a Pot Luck today.  As is our custom, we will also have the service of Kneeling Vespers this evening, beginning at 6:30 p.m. There will be no fasting next week.
*    The Fast of the Apostles will run from June 20-28 this year.  We will celebrate Orthros and Divine Liturgy for the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul on Tuesday evening, July 28th, beginning at 6:00 p.m. 
*    The 2011 Parish Life Conference is being hosted this week by St. John Orthodox Church in Memphis.
*    We will be serving a meal at the Stewpot in Jackson on July 9th and November 19th.
*    Father John will be out of town July 21-31st for the Archdiocese Convention in Chicago.
*    His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN will be here the weekend of May 6, 2012 to help us celebrate our 25th anniversary as a parish.  The planning committee is working very hard to make our celebration a memorable one.  There will be an evening event at the MS Museum of Art on Saturday, May 6th.  Other events are being planned and more information will be available in the coming months.
 
New Parish Directory:   The Parish Council has decided to implement a new Directory with family pictures.  Pictures will be taken on the following Sundays:  June 12th, June 26th and July 3rd.  A group picture will be taken on Pentecost (June 12th) for the cover of the Directory.
 
Fasting Discipline for June
The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, wine and oil) is observed on all Wednesdays and Fridays of the month.  There will be no fasting during the week following Pentecost (June 12th).  The traditional fasting discipline is again observed on all days during the Fast of the Apostles (June 20-28).
 
Major Commemorations during June
June 5              Holy Fathers of the First Council of Nicea
June 8              Theodore the General (transfer of relics)
June 11            Apostles Bartholomew and Barnabas
June 12            Feast of Pentecost
June 19            Sunday of All Saints
June 24            Nativity of the Forerunner
June 29            Chief Apostles Peter and Paul
June 30            Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles
 
If you are the last to leave the building, please make sure that the heating and cooling unit in the Fellowship Hall is turned off.
 
Happy Anniversaries remaining in June:
         June 14                  —    Ken and Anastasia Jones (#41!)
                                       —    Saliba and Lamia Dabit (#47!)
         June 22                  —    Fr. Leo and Kh. Be’Be’ Schelver (#37!)
 
Happy Birthdays in June:
         June 1                    —    Fr. James Meadows
         June 5                    —    George Wood
         June 12                  —    Ellie Yeatts (1998)
         June 13                  —    Lou Turner
         June 17                  —    Sh. Margaret Root
         June 21                  —    Sandra Strain
         June 29                  —    Jennifer Skirtech
 
Quotable:  “Just as the diseases of the body can be external (visible) and internal (hidden), so the sins, the diseases of the soul, can be visible and invisible.  We often comfort ourselves with the fact that we hide the sinful wounds of our soul from the eyes of those around us.  We pass for good and respectable people in their eyes.  But we cannot hide anything from God.  His eyes are brighter than the sun and penetrate everywhere.  If we could take pictures of, or, with the help of some spiritual x-rays, see the hidden spiritual condition of each of us or of the whole of mankind as God sees it, we would be terrified!”
                                                                        Archimandrite Seraphim Aleksiev
 
        
Worship:         Sunday, June 19, 2011 (Sunday of All Saints; First Sunday after Pentecost)
 
         Scripture:                                    Hebrews 11:33-12:2; Matthew 10:32-33, 37-38, 19:27-30
         Celebrant:                                   Father John
         Epistle Reader:                           Warren Strain
         Prosphora:                                  Fahmys
         Coffee Hour:                              Strains

6/5 announcements

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June 5, 2011
Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicea
 
    Today is the Sunday of the Holy Fathers of Nicea.  This day commemorates the Holy Fathers who sat in council at Nicea, the first of the ecumenical councils.  Through them we see the commitment to the immutable truth of God for all the faithful, especially those who lead in the faith.  The men of this council bear special note by the significance of their creed, for it is the fundamental statement of orthodox Christology and an enduring guide to our faith.  The events of the ascension and the scriptures of this day emphasize to us the nature and action of Christ, and the history of these fathers puts us in mind of the work of the Holy Spirit in the church, work proclaimed by the glorious events which we now anticipate in the preparation for Pentecost.
 
Acts 20:16-18,28-36:  In the reading from Acts, we hear St Paul speak to the elders of the church at Ephesus, encouraging them to follow his example in their shepherding, and bidding them his final fare­well as he approached his imprisonment at Rome.
 
John 17:1-13:  In the passage from John, Jesus prays for His disciples, that they would be united as one and kept from evil.
 
Troparion of the Resurrection:  When Mary stood at thy grave looking for thy sacred body, angelic powers shone above thy revered tomb, and the soldiers who were to keep guard became as dead men.  Thou led hades captive and wast not tempted thereby.  Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst give life to the world; O thou who art risen from the dead!  O Lord, glory to thee.
 
Troparion of the Holy Fathers: Thou, O Christ, art our God of exceeding praise who didst establish our holy Fathers as luminous stars upon earth, and through them didst guide us unto the true Faith, O most merciful One, glory to thee.
 
Troparion of the Ascension: Thou hast ascended in glory, O Christ our God, and gladdened thy disciples with the promise of the Holy Spirit, having become confident of the blessing.  Verily, thou art the Son of God, and Deliverer of the world.
 
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 Ascension:  When thou didst fulfill thy dispensation for our sakes, uniting the terrestrials with the celestials, thou didst ascend in glory, O Christ our God, inseparable in space, but constant without separation, and crying unto thy beloved, I am with you, and no one shall be against you.
 
CALENDAR
 
Sunday, June 5   (Sunday of the Holy Fathers)
            8:50 a.m.         — Orthros
            10:00 a.m.       — Divine Liturgy
            1:00 p.m.         — Young Adults
           
Monday, June 6   
            Office Closed  — Father John’s Day Off
           
Tuesday, June 7
            6:00 a.m.         — Daily Orthros
 
Wednesday, June 8   (Theodore the General)
5:00 p.m.         — Catechism Class      
6:30 p.m.         — Daily Vespers
7:30 p.m.         — Choir Practice
 
Thursday, June 9   
6:00 a.m.         — Daily Orthros
 
Friday, June 10         
6:00 a.m.         — Daily Orthros
 
Saturday, June 11   (Apostles Bartholomew and Barnabas)
5:00 p.m.         — Catechism Class
5:45 p.m.         — Ninth Hour followed by Great Vespers
 
Sunday, June 5   (Pentecost)
            8:50 a.m.         — Orthros
            10:00 a.m.       — Divine Liturgy
            12:00 p.m.       — Pot Luck Meal
            6:30 p.m.         — Kneeling Vespers
 
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Meadows for the Feast of the Ascension this past Wednesday evening and By Joanna Meadows for the Divine Liturgy today.  
 
We will NOT hold the service for Saturday of the Souls on the day before Pentecost.  This was scheduled next Saturday morning June 11, but has been cancelled for this year only.
 
Please be reminded of the following:
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.
         Also, at the end of the liturgy, maintain a prayerful disposition during the veneration of the cross as the prayers of thanksgiving after communion are still underway.  Please exchange your greetings with each other in the Fellowship Hall during Coffee Hour.
 
Please continue to pray for the health of His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN.
 
Please remember the following in your prayers:  Fr. Leo, Kh. Be’Be’, Stephen and Amy, Justyn and Jeffrey; Steve, Sheryl and Stephen Chamblee; Maria Costas; Amy and Brantley Oliver; Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Sam and Lamia Dabit; David Turner’s mother Mary Jean; Fr. Joseph Bittle, Kh. Joanna, their daughter Abigail and the rest of their family; Brees Johns.
 
Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:
                                                      Eucharist Bread                     Coffee Hour
         June 5                                   Joanna Meadows                     D. Roots   
         June 12                                 Freundts                                   POT LUCK
         June 19                                 Fahmys                                    Strains
         June 26                                 Bakers                                     Morrises
         June 28                                 Woods                                     Schelvers
                  (Tues. p.m. – Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul)
 
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#
June 5                         Walt Wood                         Acts 20:16-18, 28-36                66
June 12                       Mildred Morris                    Acts 2:1-11                               77
June 19                       Warren Strain                      Heb. 11:33-12:2                        84
June 26                       Phillip Lasseter                     Rom. 2:10-16                           90
June 28 (Tues. p.m.)    Brenda Baker                      II Cor. 11:21-33, 12:1-9           389
 
Because our clergy will be attending the Parish Life Conference there will be no Daily Vespers on Wednesday June 15th.  There will also be no catechism class on Wednesday June 15th or Saturday June 18th.  Nor will there be Daily Orthros on Thursday or Friday of that week.  However, Father James will be returning on Saturday afternoon.  So our regular services will be celebrated on Saturday and Sunday June 18th and 19th.
 
We are looking for new faces in the choir….anyone 7th grade or older who is interested should contact Karen or Sh. Margaret.
 
If you are planning to attend the Parish Life Conference in Memphis, please register as soon as possible.  St. John needs our registrations as they continue their preparations to host this event.
 
Calendar Items:
*    The Men of the parish meet for lunch and fellowship on the first Thursday of the month.
*    We will celebrate the Feast of Pentecost with a Pot Luck Meal next Sunday, June 12th.  As is our custom, we will also have the service of Kneeling Vespers that evening, beginning at 6:30 p.m. There will be no fasting during the following week.
*    The Fast of the Apostles will run from June 20-28 this year.  We will celebrate Orthros and Divine Liturgy for the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul on Tuesday evening, July 28th, beginning at 6:00 p.m. 
*    The 2011 Parish Life Conference is being hosted by St. John Orthodox Church in
*    Memphis on June 16-19.
*    We will be serving a meal at the Stewpot in Jackson on July 9th and November 19th.
*    Father John will be out of town July 21-31st for the Archdiocese Convention in Chicago.
*    His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN will be here the weekend of May 6, 2012 to help us celebrate our 25th anniversary as a parish.  The planning committee is working very hard to make our celebration a memorable one.  There will be an evening event at the MS Museum of Art on Saturday, May 6th.  Other events are being planned and more information will be available in the coming months.
 
Lost Items!  Are you missing any items?? …most notably 3 sets of keys or a thread-counted bookmark.?  These may be claimed in the church office.  Please see Kh. Sharon.
 
New Parish Directory:   The Parish Council has decided to implement a new Directory with family pictures.  Pictures will be taken on the following Sundays:  June 5th, June 12th, June 26th and July 3rd.  A group picture will be taken on Pentecost (June 12th) for the cover of the Directory.
 
Fasting Discipline for June
The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, wine and oil) is observed on all Wednesdays and Fridays of the month.  There will be no fasting during the week following Pentecost (June 12th).  The traditional fasting discipline is again observed on all days during the Fast of the Apostles (June 20-28).
 
Major Commemorations during June
June 5              Holy Fathers of the First Council of Nicea
June 8              Theodore the General (transfer of relics)
June 11            Apostles Bartholomew and Barnabas
June 12            Feast of Pentecost
June 19            Sunday of All Saints
June 24            Nativity of the Forerunner
June 29            Chief Apostles Peter and Paul
June 30            Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles
 
If you are the last to leave the building, please make sure that the heating and cooling unit in the Fellowship Hall is turned off.
 
Happy Anniversaries remaining in June:
         June 14                  —    Ken and Anastasia Jones (#41!)
                                       —    Saliba and Lamia Dabit (#57!)
         June 22                  —    Fr. Leo and Kh. Be’Be’ Schelver (#37!)
 
Happy Birthdays in June:
         June 1                    —    Fr. James Meadows
         June 5                    —    George Wood
         June 12                  —    Ellie Yeatts (1998)
         June 13                  —    Lou Turner
         June 17                  —    Sh. Margaret Root
         June 21                  —    Sandra Strain
         June 29                  —    Jennifer Skirtech
 
Quotable:  “There is no greater evil for man than sin.  It destroys both the body and the soul.  It makes both this life and eternal life bitter.  It causes discord in families, quarrels among neighbors, and disagreements among relatives.  It starts the fire of malice among people.  It makes the soul proud and embittered.  It poisons the heart with envy.  It drives out holy feelings from the breast and invites the demons to settle there.  It separates us from God.  It extinguishes everything bright in our hearts.  It teaches us to lie, to be gluttonous, and to be selfish and greedy.  It makes us slander and judge our neighbors.  It incites us to seek revenge.  It commits all outrages, debaucheries, and crimes.  It causes all diseases, suffering, injustice, violence, bloodshed, and war.  It has filled the souls of all of us with unbearable spiritual stench.  It pours this stench into the relationships among us.”
                                                                        Archimandrite Seraphim Aleksiev
 
        
Worship:         Sunday, June 12, 2011 (Feast of Pentecost)
 
         Scripture:                                    Acts 2:1-11; John 7:37-52, 8:12
         Celebrant:                                   Father John
         Epistle Reader:                            Mildred Morris
         Prosphora:                                  Freundts
         Coffee Hour:                               POT LUCK MEAL