Monthly Archives: September 2011

10/2 announcements

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October 2, 2011
Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost
 
II Corinthians 6:1-10:  In our reading from II Corinthians, St Paul commends his and the other apostles’ ministry as servants of God, explaining the means by which they were able to endure all things for the glory of God.
 
Luke 6:31-36:  From St Luke’s account of the Sermon on the Mount we hear our Lord teach us to love our enemies, to be unselfish in our giving, and to have mercy upon those who do us wrong rather than condemning them.
 
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 Heiromartyr Cyprian: As a sharer of the ways and a successor to the throne of the Apostles, O inspired of God, thou foundest discipline to be a means of ascent to divine vision.  Wherefore, having rightly divided the word of the truth, thou didst also contest for the Faith even unto blood, O Hieromartyr Cyprian.  Intercede with Christ our God that our souls be saved.
 
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, October 2   (Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost)
            8:50 a.m.         — Orthros
            9:00 a.m.         — Christian Education
            10:00 a.m.       — Divine Liturgy
            12:00 p.m.       — Pot Luck Meal
            1:00 p.m.         — Young Adults
 
Monday, October 3  
            Office Closed  — Father John’s Day Off
           
Tuesday, October 4 
            6:00 a.m.         — Daily Orthros
 
Wednesday, October 5   
5:00 p.m.         — Catechism Class
6:30 p.m.         — Daily Vespers
7:30 p.m.         — Choir Practice
 
Thursday, October 6   (Apostle Thomas)
6:00 a.m.         — Daily Orthros
11:30 a.m.       — Men’s Lunch
 
Friday, October 7      
6:00 a.m.         — Daily Orthros
 
Saturday, October 8   
5:45 p.m.         — Ninth Hour followed by Great Vespers
 
Sunday, October 9   (Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost)
            8:50 a.m.         — Orthros
            9:00 a.m.         — Christian Education
            10:00 a.m.       — Divine Liturgy
            5:30 p.m.         — Youth Group
 
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Algoods 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
         October 2                              Algoods                                   POT LUCK MEAL
                                                                                                            Set-up: R. Roots
         October 9                              Katools                                    Hendersons
         October 16                            Schelvers                                 Woods
         October 23                            Morrises                                   Algoods
         October 30                            Joneses                                    Schelvers
 
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#
October 2                           Sh. Charlotte Algood             II Cor. 6:1-10                  168
October 9                           Warren Strain                        II Cor. 6:16 to 7:1            173
October 16                         Kh. Sharon Meadows           Titus 3:8-15                      322
October 23                         Mildred Morris                      Gal. 1:11-19                    188
          (The reading for the feast of St. James is the same as the 20th Sunday after Pentecost)
October 30                         Phillip Lasseter                       Gal. 1:11-19                    188
 
Please be reminded that the Sacristy/Vestry which is adjacent to and behind the altar in our church is considered by the Orthodox Church to be part of the Sanctuary (Altar area) and should not be entered without the blessing of the priest for a specific purpose.  If you need to speak with a member of the clergy while they are in the Sanctuary, please ask them to come to you in the nave.
 
Please remember Fr. Joseph and Kh. Joanna Bittle and their daughter Abigail in your prayers.  Abigail, who was born prematurely and only recently came home after months in the NICU, has developed meningitis.
 
Please continue to pray for the health of His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN.
 
Please remember the following in your prayers:  Maria Costas; Amy and Michael Surratt and Amy’s family; Tom and Jennifer Skirtech and Jennifer’s mother, Jessamine Hinkson;  Warren and Sandi Strain and Warren’s mother, Ouida Strain; Fr. Leo, Kh. Be’Be’, Stephen and Amy, Justyn and Jeffrey; Steve, Sheryl and Stephen Chamblee; Amy and Brantley Oliver; Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Sam and Lamia Dabit; David Turner’s mother Mary Jean.
 
25th Anniversary Celebration:
            The Church is planning a celebration of our being received into the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese in March 1987.  The weekend of May 4th-6th, 2012, has been set aside for some special events, including visits from Bishop ANTOUN and V. Rev. Fr. Jon Braun, with a celebratory banquet planned at the Mississippi Museum of Art on Saturday evening, May 5th.
            The planning committee (composed of Dn. Terry, Kh. Janet, Sh. Charlotte, Brenda Baker, Elizabeth Root and Paul Katool) is working on some other projects and we need your help!  An “Anniversary Book” is being compiled and will be printed and made available that weekend.  It will contain, among other things, articles on the life of our church, our church’s history, and photos (new and old) of church members and activities.  We are asking you to look through your files and albums for pictures that can be included in the book and also in a special video presentation.  These photos will of course be returned to you as soon as they are scanned, etc.  We need photos of church events going back 25 years or longer – but also events and photos from recent activities – from newer church members as well as the “old heads!”  These can include our chrismation weekend in ’87, teen retreats, work-days, our renovation project, ladies’/men’s activities, feast day celebrations, etc., etc., etc.  Please put your photos in an envelope –CLEARLY LABELED WITH YOUR NAME, AND ON THE BACK OF EACH PHOTO INCLUDE YOUR NAME, DATE OF PICTURE (IF KNOWN) NAMES OF THE PEOPLE, AND WHAT THE EVENT WAS.  Give these either to Deacon Terry or Kh. Janet NO LATER THAN TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1ST.
            We will also need a host of volunteers to help with various things over the next several months.  If you would like to help, please contact Deacon Terry.  THANK YOU!!!
 
Breakfast and Bible Study:  we are continuing our Bible Study of  1st Peter.  The Bible Study will meet every 2-3 weeks on Saturday morning at 7:30 a.m. with breakfast. This is open to all who are interested.  Be sure to come and enjoy the fellowship.
 
Bright Sadness:  A 40 Day Lenten Journey to Pascha:  In our bookstore, we have 15 copies of a book prepared by Sh. Myrna Martin of St. Ignatius Orthodox Church in Franklin, TN.  It contains meal plans and quotations for all days during Great Lent.  The cost of the book is $15, with ALL proceeds going to the Hogar Raphael, the orphanage in Guatemala supported by our church.  Great idea for Christmas gifts, etc!!
 
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.
 
Church Photo:  We will be taking a group photo of the parish on Sunday, October 30th following the Divine Liturgy.  This will be used as the cover for our new Directory.  Also, if you have not had your individual/family photo taken, please contact Daniel Root.
 
Supper Clubs:  Several members of the parish have expressed interest in a supper club again this year.  If you would be interested in participating, please sign-up on the sheet available in the Fellowship Hall. 
 
Calendar Items:
*    The Men of the parish meet for lunch and fellowship on the first Thursday of the month.
*    A Fall Festival is scheduled here at the church on Sunday afternoon, October 30th from 4:00-6:00 p.m.  More details will be available at a later date.
*    We will be serving our next meal at the Stewpot in Jackson on November 19th.
*    His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN will be at St. Andrew Orthodox Church in Pensacola the weekend of December 4th to consecrate their church.  Father John and others from our parish plan to attend.
*    The Annual Deanery Youth Retreat will be held on February 10-12, 2012 at John W. Kyle State Park in Sardis.  Joel and Sarah Finley will be addressing the topic of the Culture of Dating.  More information will be available as the time draws near.
*    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.
 
Happy Birthdays in October:
         October 1               —    Emily Parker
         October 3               —    Reader Basil Baker
         October 4               —    Rod Parker
         October 7               —    Glenn Morris
         October 8               —    Brantley Oliver
         October 10             —    Phillip Lasseter
         October 16             —    Jesse Milnor
         October 17             —    Max Baker
         October 20             —    Anna Kathryn Stewart
         October 23             —    Anne Habeeb
         October 24             —    Jean Kafoury
         October 25             —    Kathy Willingham
         October 28             —    Lamia Dabit
                                       —    Mona Fahmy
                                       —    Desi Roehner
         October 29             —    Kh. Be’Be’ Schelver
Happy Anniversaries in October:
         October 17             —    Phillip and Nikki Lasseter (#2!)
         October 18             —    Oliver and Laura Yeatts (#3!)
         October 22             —    Walter and Charlotte Wood (#28!)
 
Fasting Discipline for October
In October the traditional fasting (no meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, wine and oil) is observed on all Wednesdays and Fridays of the month. 
 
Major Commemorations for October
October 6               Apostle Thomas
October 9               Apostle James, Sin of Alphaeus
October 18             Apostle Luke
October 23             Apostle James the Brother of the Lord
October 26             Great-martyr Demetrios
 
Quotable:  “It turns out that those who think they do not have any great sins are actually blind.  They must pray to God to enable them to perceive their sins and to save themselves from the extremely fatal spiritual delusion that they do not have any particular sins.  Even if their sins are as small as specks of dust, if they are not cleaned with constant Confession, they pile up and dirty the room of the heart so that the high heavenly Guest cannot enter there.”
                                                                        Archimandrite Seraphim Aleksiev
 
 
Worship:         Sunday, October 9, 2011 (Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost)
 
         Scripture:                               II Corinthians 6:16-7:1; Luke 7:11-16
         Celebrant:                              Father John
         Epistle Reader:                       Warren Strain
         Prosphora:                              Katools
         Coffee Hour:                           Hendersons

9/25 announcements

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September 25, 2011
Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost
 
II Corinthians 4:6-15:  From our reading in II Corinthians we hear St Paul discuss how his and the other apostles’ sufferings have brought forth life in the people of God.
 
Luke 5:1-11:  In the reading from the Gospel of St Luke we see Simon Peter, James, and John become disciples of our Lord.
 
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 St.Euphrosyne:  Through thee the divine likeness was securely preserved, O Mother Euphrosyne; for thou didst carry the cross and followed Christ.  By example and precept thou didst teach us to ignore the body because it is perishable, and to attend to the concerns of the undying soul.  Therefore, doth thy soul rejoice 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, September 25   (Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost)
            8:50 a.m.         — Orthros
            9:00 a.m.         — Christian Education
            10:00 a.m.       — Divine Liturgy
            5:30 p.m.         — Youth Group
 
Monday, September 26  (Apostle John the Theologian)
            Office Closed  — Father John’s Day Off
           
Tuesday, September 27 
            6:00 a.m.         — Daily Orthros
 
Wednesday, September 28  (Venerable Chariton)
5:00 p.m.         — Catechism Class
6:30 p.m.         — Daily Vespers followed by Parish Council Meeting
7:30 p.m.         — Choir Practice
 
Thursday, September 29   
6:00 a.m.         — Daily Orthros
 
Friday, September 30            
6:00 a.m.         — Daily Orthros
 
Saturday, October 1  (Protection of the Theotokos)
5:45 p.m.         — Ninth Hour followed by Great Vespers
 
Sunday, October 2   (Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost)
            8:50 a.m.         — Orthros
            9:00 a.m.         — Christian Education
            10:00 a.m.       — Divine Liturgy
            12:00 p.m.       — Pot Luck Meal
            1:00 p.m.         — Young Adults
 
 
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Hendersons  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
         September 25                        Hendersons                              Meadows
         October 2                              Algoods                                   POT LUCK MEAL
                                                                                                            Set-up: R. Roots
         October 9                              Katools                                    Hendersons
         October 16                            Schelvers                                 Woods
         October 23                            Morrises                                   Algoods
         October 30                            Joneses                                    Schelvers
 
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 25                     Walt Wood                           II Cor. 4:6-15                  163
October 2                           Sh. Charlotte Algood            II Cor. 6:1-10                  168
October 9                           Warren Strain                        II Cor. 6:16 to 7:1           173
October 16                         Kh. Sharon Meadows           Titus 3:8-15                    322
October 23                         Mildred Morris                      Gal. 1:11-19                   188
          (The reading for the feast of St. James is the same as the 20th Sunday after Pentecost)
October 30                         Phillip Lasseter                     Gal. 1:11-19                   188
 
Please be reminded that the Sacristy/Vestry which is adjacent to and behind the altar in our church is considered by the Orthodox Church to be part of the Sanctuary (Altar area) and should not be entered without the blessing of the priest for a specific purpose.  If you need to speak with a member of the clergy while they are in the Sanctuary, please ask them to come to you in the nave.
 
Please remember Fr. Joseph and Kh. Joanna Bittle and their daughter Abigail in your prayers.  Abigail, who was born prematurely and only recently came home after months in the NICU, has developed meningitis.
 
Please continue to pray for the health of His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN.
 
Please remember the following in your prayers:  Maria Costas; Amy and Michael Surratt and Amy’s family; Tom and Jennifer Skirtech and Jennifer’s mother, Jessamine Hinkson;  Warren and Sandi Strain and Warren’s mother, Ouida Strain; Fr. Leo, Kh. Be’Be’, Stephen and Amy, Justyn and Jeffrey; Steve, Sheryl and Stephen Chamblee; Amy and Brantley Oliver; Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Sam and Lamia Dabit; David Turner’s mother Mary Jean.
 
25th Anniversary Celebration:
            The Church is planning a celebration of our being received into the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese in March 1987.  The weekend of May 4th-6th, 2012, has been set aside for some special events, including visits from Bishop ANTOUN and V. Rev. Fr. Jon Braun, with a celebratory banquet planned at the Mississippi Museum of Art on Saturday evening, May 5th.
            The planning committee (composed of Dn. Terry, Kh. Janet, Sh. Charlotte, Brenda Baker, Elizabeth Root and Paul Katool) is working on some other projects and we need your help!  An “Anniversary Book” is being compiled and will be printed and made available that weekend.  It will contain, among other things, articles on the life of our church, our church’s history, and photos (new and old) of church members and activities.  We are asking you to look through your files and albums for pictures that can be included in the book and also in a special video presentation.  These photos will of course be returned to you as soon as they are scanned, etc.  We need photos of church events going back 25 years or longer – but also events and photos from recent activities – from newer church members as well as the “old heads!”  These can include our chrismation weekend in ’87, teen retreats, work-days, our renovation project, ladies’/men’s activities, feast day celebrations, etc., etc., etc.  Please put your photos in an envelope –CLEARLY LABELED WITH YOUR NAME, AND ON THE BACK OF EACH PHOTO INCLUDE YOUR NAME, DATE OF PICTURE (IF KNOWN) NAMES OF THE PEOPLE, AND WHAT THE EVENT WAS.  Give these either to Deacon Terry or Kh. Janet NO LATER THAN TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1ST.
            We will also need a host of volunteers to help with various things over the next several months.  If you would like to help, please contact Deacon Terry.  THANK YOU!!!
 
Breakfast and Bible Study:  we are continuing our Bible Study of  1st Peter.  The Bible Study will meet every 2-3 weeks on Saturday morning at 7:30 a.m. with breakfast. This is open to all who are interested.  Be sure to come and enjoy the fellowship.
 
Bright Sadness:  A 40 Day Lenten Journey to Pascha:  In our bookstore, we have 15 copies of a book prepared by Sh. Myrna Martin of St. Ignatius Orthodox Church in Franklin, TN.  It contains meal plans and quotations for all days during Great Lent.  The cost of the book is $15, with ALL proceeds going to the Hogar Raphael, the orphanage in Guatemala supported by our church.  Great idea for Christmas gifts, etc!!
 
 
Calendar Items:
*    The Men of the parish meet for lunch and fellowship on the first Thursday of the month.
*    A Fall Festival is scheduled here at the church on Sunday afternoon, October 30th from 4:00-6:00 p.m.  More details will be available at a later date.
*    We will be serving our next meal at the Stewpot in Jackson on November 19th.
*    His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN will be at St. Andrew Orthodox Church in Pensacola the weekend of December 4th to consecrate their church.  Father John and others from our parish plan to attend.
*    The Annual Deanery Youth Retreat will be held on February 10-12, 2012 at John W. Kyle State Park in Sardis.  Joel and Sarah Finley will be addressing the topic of the Culture of Dating.  More information will be available as the time draws near.
*    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.
 
Fasting Discipline for September
In 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 Cross.
 
Major Commemorations for September
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 turned off.
 
Happy Birthdays in September:
         September 3           —    Lee Greene
                                       —    Geraldine Quirk
         September 4           —    Fr. John Henderson
         September 8           —    Nikki Lasseter
         September 9           —    Rebecca Dansereau
         September 10         —    Dorin Lavric
         September 12         —    Alvin Buckles
         September 15         —    Lynda Costas
         September 18         —    Carolina Lavric
         September 25         —    Rick Carlton
         September 30         —    Laura Yeatts
 
 
Happy Anniversaries in September:
         September 4           —    Ben and Jenna Skirtech (#10!)
         September 6           —    Richard and Vickie Curtis (#25!)
         September 15         —    Tom and Kathy Willingham (#21!)
         September 26         —    Rod and Emily Parker (#7!)
 
Quotable:    “If it were easy to see our sins, St. Ephraim the Syrian would not have prayed:  ‘Lord, enable me to see my transgressions.’  Neither would Father John of Kronstadt say:  ‘This is truly a gift of God—to be able to see your sins in their multitude and in all their loathsomeness.'”
                                                                        Archimandrite Seraphim Aleksiev
 
 
Worship:         Sunday, October 2, 2011 (Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost)
 
         Scripture:                               II Corinthians 6:1-10; Luke 6:31-36
         Celebrant:                              Father John
         Epistle Reader:                       Sh. Charlotte Algood
         Prosphora:                             Algoods
         Coffee Hour:                          POT LUCK MEAL (set-up:  R. Roots)

9/18 announcements

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September 18, 2011

Sunday after the Elevation of the Cross

 

 

Galatians 2:16-20:  We hear from St Paul’s letter to the Galatians that we are justified by faith in Christ, not by works of the Law; and that we now live our lives by faith in the Son of God.

 

Mark 8:34-9:1:  In our reading from the gospel of Mark we hear our Lord tell His disciples that self-denial is required for true spirituality.

 

Troparion of the Resurrection:  Let us believers praise and worship the Word, co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit, born of the Virgin for our salvation; for he took pleasure in ascending the Cross in the flesh, to suffer death, and to raise the dead by his glorious Resurrection.

 

Troparion of the Holy Cross:  O Lord, save thy people and bless thine inheritance, granting our believing kings victory over the Barbarians, and by the power of thy Cross preserving thy commonwealth.

 

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 Holy Cross:  Do thou, who of thine own good will wast lifted up upon the Cross, O Christ our God, bestow thy bounties upon the new nation which is called by thy Name; make glad in thy might those who lawfully govern, that with them we may led to victory over our adversaries, having in thine aid a weapon of peace and a trophy invincible.

 

 

CALENDAR

 

Sunday, September 18   (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 P.M.       — Ladies of St. Peter

 

(There will be NO Daily Services this week due to the Men’s Annual Fishing Trip)

 

Monday, September 19  

            Office Closed  — Father John’s Day Off

           

Tuesday, September 20   

            NO Daily Orthros

 

Wednesday, September 21 

NO Catechism Class

NO  Daily Vespers

 

Thursday, September 22   

NO Daily Orthros

 

Friday, September 23   (Conception of the Forerunner)      

NO Daily Orthros

 

Saturday, September 24  

5:45 p.m.         — Ninth Hour followed by Great Vespers

 

Sunday, September 25   (Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost)

            8:50 a.m.         — Orthros

            9:00 a.m.         — Christian Education

            10:00 a.m.       — Divine Liturgy

            5:30 p.m.         — Youth Group

 

 

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Woods for the Feast of the Elevation of the Cross this past Tuesday evening and by the Dn. Richard Roots 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

         September 18                        R. Roots                                   Ellis/Zouboukos

         September 25                        Hendersons                              Meadows

         October 2                              Algoods                                   POT LUCK MEAL

                                                                                                            Set-up: R. Roots

         October 9                              Katools                                    Hendersons

         October 16                            Schelvers                                 Woods

         October 23                            Morrises                                   Algoods

         October 30                            Joneses                                    Schelvers

 

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 18                     Tom Skirtech                        Gal. 2:16-20                   193

September 25                     Walt Wood                           II Cor. 4:6-15                  163

October 2                           Sh. Charlotte Algood            II Cor. 6:1-10                  168

October 9                           Warren Strain                        II Cor. 6:16 to 7:1           173

October 16                         Kh. Sharon Meadows           Titus 3:8-15                    322

October 23                         Mildred Morris                      Gal. 1:11-19                   188

          (The reading for the feast of St. James is the same as the 20th Sunday after Pentecost)

October 30                         Phillip Lasseter                     Gal. 1:11-19                   188

 

Please be reminded that the Sacristy/Vestry which is adjacent to and behind the altar in our church is considered by the Orthodox Church to be part of the Sanctuary (Altar area) and should not be entered without the blessing of the priest for a specific purpose.  If you need to speak with a member of the clergy while they are in the Sanctuary, please ask them to come to you in the nave.

 

Please remember Fr. Joseph and Kh. Joanna Bittle and their daughter Abigail in your prayers.  Abigail, who was born prematurely and only recently came home after months in the NICU, has developed meningitis.

 

Please continue to pray for the health of His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN.

 

Please remember the following in your prayers:  Maria Costas; Amy and Michael Surratt and Amy’s family; Tom and Jennifer Skirtech and Jennifer’s mother, Jessamine Hinkson;  Warren and Sandi Strain and Warren’s mother, Ouida Strain; Fr. Leo, Kh. Be’Be’, Stephen and Amy, Justyn and Jeffrey; Steve, Sheryl and Stephen Chamblee; Amy and Brantley Oliver; Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Sam and Lamia Dabit; David Turner’s mother Mary Jean.

 

Congratulations to Stephen Chamblee on his graduation from High School!

 

25th Anniversary Celebration:

            The Church is planning a celebration of our being received into the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese in March 1987.  The weekend of May 4th-6th, 2012, has been set aside for some special events, including visits from Bishop ANTOUN and V. Rev. Fr. Jon Braun, with a celebratory banquet planned at the Mississippi Museum of Art on Saturday evening, May 5th.

            The planning committee (composed of Dn. Terry, Kh. Janet, Sh. Charlotte, Brenda Baker, Elizabeth Root and Paul Katool) is working on some other projects and we need your help!  An “Anniversary Book” is being compiled and will be printed and made available that weekend.  It will contain, among other things, articles on the life of our church, our church’s history, and photos (new and old) of church members and activities.  We are asking you to look through your files and albums for pictures that can be included in the book and also in a special video presentation.  These photos will of course be returned to you as soon as they are scanned, etc.  We need photos of church events going back 25 years or longer – but also events and photos from recent activities – from newer church members as well as the “old heads!”  These can include our chrismation weekend in ’87, teen retreats, work-days, our renovation project, ladies’/men’s activities, feast day celebrations, etc., etc., etc.  Please put your photos in an envelope –CLEARLY LABELED WITH YOUR NAME, AND ON THE BACK OF EACH PHOTO INCLUDE YOUR NAME, DATE OF PICTURE (IF KNOWN) NAMES OF THE PEOPLE, AND WHAT THE EVENT WAS.  Give these either to Deacon Terry or Kh. Janet NO LATER THAN TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1ST.

            We will also need a host of volunteers to help with various things over the next several months.  If you would like to help, please contact Deacon Terry.  THANK YOU!!!

 

Breakfast and Bible Study:  we are continuing our Bible Study of  1st Peter.  The Bible Study will meet every 2-3 weeks on Saturday morning at 7:30 a.m. with breakfast. This is open to all who are interested.  Be sure to come and enjoy the fellowship.

 

Bright Sadness:  A 40 Day Lenten Journey to Pascha:  In our bookstore, we have 15 copies of a book prepared by Sh. Myrna Martin of St. Ignatius Orthodox Church in Franklin, TN.  It contains meal plans and quotations for all days during Great Lent.  The cost of the book is $15, with ALL proceeds going to the Hogar Raphael, the orphanage in Guatemala supported by our church.  Great idea for Christmas gifts, etc!!

 

Calendar Items:

*    The Men of the parish meet for lunch and fellowship on the first Thursday of the month.

*    The Annual Knucklehead Family Reunion (aka Men’s Fishing Trip) will be held in

      Arkansas, on September 16-23 this year.

*    A Fall Festival is scheduled here at the church on Sunday afternoon, October 30th from 4:00-6:00 p.m.  More details will be available at a later date.

*    We will be serving our next meal at the Stewpot in Jackson on November 19th.

*    His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN will be at St. Andrew Orthodox Church in Pensacola the weekend of December 4th to consecrate their church.  Father John and others from our parish plan to attend.

*    The Annual Deanery Youth Retreat will be held on February 10-12, 2012 at John W. Kyle State Park in Sardis.  Joel and Sarah Finley will be addressing the topic of the Culture of Dating.  More information will be available as the time draws near.

*    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.

 

Fasting Discipline for September

In 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 Cross.

 

Major Commemorations for September

September 20         Martyr Eustathios and his family

September 23         Conception of the Forerunner

September 24         Holy Great Martyr Thekla

September 26         Apostle John the Theologian (repose)

September 28         Venerable Chariton the Confessor

 

Happy Anniversaries in September:

         September 4           —    Ben and Jenna Skirtech (#10!)

         September 6           —    Richard and Vickie Curtis (#25!)

         September 15         —    Tom and Kathy Willingham (#21!)

         September 26         —    Rod and Emily Parker (#7!)

 

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 Birthdays in September:

         September 3           —    Lee Greene

                                       —    Geraldine Quirk

         September 4           —    Fr. John Henderson

         September 8           —    Nikki Lasseter

         September 9           —    Rebecca Dansereau

         September 10         —    Dorin Lavric

         September 12         —    Alvin Buckles

         September 15         —    Lynda Costas

         September 18         —    Carolina Lavric

         September 25         —    Rick Carlton

         September 30         —    Laura Yeatts

 

Quotable:    “The Holy Fathers teach us that it is very hard for a man to see his sins.  They explain this with the blindness caused by the devil.  Abba Isaiah says:  ‘When a man separates from the one on his left side, i.e. from communion with the demons and from following their suggestions, then he will see his ins against God in full; then he will know Jesus.  But a man cannot see his sins until he separates himself from them through a separation filled with labor and distress.  Those who have reached this condition have found tears and prayers; as they remember about their sly friendship with the passions, they do not dare to look towards God, and live constantly with a broken spirit.'”

                                                                        Archimandrite Seraphim Aleksiev

 

Worship:         Sunday, September 25, 2011 (Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost)

 

         Scripture:                                II Corinthians 4:6-15; Luke 5:1-11

         Celebrant:                               Father John

         Epistle Reader:                       Walt Wood

         Prosphora:                               Hendersons

         Coffee Hour:                           Meadows

9/11 announcements

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September 11, 2011

Sunday before the Elevation of the Cross;

Sunday after 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:  Having learned the joyful message of the Resurrection from the angel, the women Disciples cast from them their parental condemnation, and proudly broke the news to the Disciples, saying, Death has been spoiled.  Christ God is risen, 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 11   (Sunday before the Elevation of the Cross;

Sunday after the Nativity of the Theotokos)

            8:50 a.m.         — Orthros

            9:00 a.m.         — Christian Education resumes

            10:00 a.m.       — Divine Liturgy

            TBA                 — Swim Party for Christian Education at the Pigott’s

 

Monday, September 12  

            Office Closed  — Father John’s Day Off

           

Tuesday, September 13   (Dedication of the Church of the Anastasis)

            6:00 a.m.         — Daily Orthros

            6:00 p.m.         — Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy

 

Wednesday, September 14  (Elevation of the Holy 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 Hierarchs and clergy of the Church, and protect and preserve all His faithful people from every evil.

5:00 p.m.         — Catechism Class

6:30 p.m.         — Daily Vespers
 

Thursday, September 15   

6:00 a.m.         — Daily Orthros

 

Friday, September 16            

6:00 a.m.         — Daily Orthros

 

Saturday, September 17  

5:45 p.m.         — Ninth Hour followed by Great Vespers

 

Sunday, September 18   (Sunday after the Elevation of the Cross)

            8:50 a.m.         — Orthros

            9:00 a.m.         — Christian Education

            10:00 a.m.       — Divine Liturgy

 

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Fahmys for the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos this past Wednesday evening and 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

         September 11                        Bakers                                     Joneses/Stewarts

         September 13 (Tues. p.m.)   Woods                                     POT LUCK

                  (Feast of the Elevation of the Cross)                                  set-up:  Kh. Sharon

         September 18                        R. Roots                                   Ellis/Zouboukos

         September 25                        Hendersons                              Meadows

 

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 11                     Tom Willingham                 Gal. 6:11-18                   198

September 13 (Tues. p.m.) Kh. Sharon Meadows          I Cor. 1:18-24                311

September 18                     Tom Skirtech                       Gal. 2:16-20                   193

September 25                     Walt Wood                           II Cor. 4:6-15                 163
 

Please remember Fr. Joseph and Kh. Joanna Bittle and their daughter Abigail in your prayers.  Abigail, who was born prematurely and only recently came home after months in the NICU, has developed meningitis.  She had surgery on Friday and is still seriously ill.

 

Please continue to pray for the health of His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN.

 

Please remember the following in your prayers:  Maria Costas; Amy and Michael Surratt and Amy’s family; Tom and Jennifer Skirtech and Jennifer’s mother, Jessamine Hinkson;  Warren and Sandi Strain and Warren’s mother, Ouida Strain; Fr. Leo, Kh. Be’Be’, Stephen and Amy, Justyn and Jeffrey; Steve, Sheryl and Stephen Chamblee; Amy and Brantley Oliver; Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Sam and Lamia Dabit; David Turner’s mother Mary Jean.

 

Congratulations to Stephen Chamblee on his graduation from High School!

 

25th Anniversary Celebration:

            The Church is planning a celebration of our being received into the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese in March 1987.  The weekend of May 4th-6th, 2012, has been set aside for some special events, including visits from Bishop ANTOUN and V. Rev. Fr. Jon Braun, with a celebratory banquet planned at the Mississippi Museum of Art on Saturday evening, May 5th.

            The planning committee (composed of Dn. Terry, Kh. Janet, Sh. Charlotte, Brenda Baker, Elizabeth Root and Paul Katool) is working on some other projects and we need your help!  An “Anniversary Book” is being compiled and will be printed and made available that weekend.  It will contain, among other things, articles on the life of our church, our church’s history, and photos (new and old) of church members and activities.  We are asking you to look through your files and albums for pictures that can be included in the book and also in a special video presentation.  These photos will of course be returned to you as soon as they are scanned, etc.  We need photos of church events going back 25 years or longer – but also events and photos from recent activities – from newer church members as well as the “old heads!”  These can include our chrismation weekend in ’87, teen retreats, work-days, our renovation project, ladies’/men’s activities, feast day celebrations, etc., etc., etc.  Please put your photos in an envelope –CLEARLY LABELED WITH YOUR NAME, AND ON THE BACK OF EACH PHOTO INCLUDE YOUR NAME, DATE OF PICTURE (IF KNOWN) NAMES OF THE PEOPLE, AND WHAT THE EVENT WAS.  Give these either to Deacon Terry or Kh. Janet NO LATER THAN TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1ST.

            We will also need a host of volunteers to help with various things over the next several months.  If you would like to help, please contact Deacon Terry.  THANK YOU!!!

 

Breakfast and Bible Study:  we are continuing our Bible Study of  1st Peter.  The Bible Study will meet every 2-3 weeks on Saturday morning at 7:30 a.m. with breakfast. This is open to all who are interested.  Be sure to come and enjoy the fellowship.

  

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.

 

Calendar Items:

*    The Men of the parish meet for lunch and fellowship on the first Thursday of the month.

*    There will be a Swim Party this afternoon at the Pigotts’ for all those in Sunday School.

*    The Annual Knucklehead Family Reunion (aka Men’s Fishing Trip) will be held in

      Arkansas, on September 16-23 this year.

*    A Fall Festival is scheduled here at the church on Sunday afternoon, October 30th from 4:00-6:00 p.m.  More details will be available at a later date.

*    We will be serving our next meal at the Stewpot in Jackson on November 19th.

*    His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN will be at St. Andrew Orthodox Church in Pensacola the weekend of December 4th to consecrate their church.  Father John and others from our parish plan to attend.

*    The Annual Deanery Youth Retreat will be held on February 10-12, 2012 at John W. Kyle State Park in Sardis.  Joel and Sarah Finley will be addressing the topic of the Culture of Dating.  More information will be available as the time draws near.

*    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.

 

Fasting Discipline for September

In 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 Cross.

 

Major Commemorations for 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

 

Happy Anniversaries in September:

         September 4           —    Ben and Jenna Skirtech (#10!)

         September 6           —    Richard and Vickie Curtis (#25!)

         September 15         —    Tom and Kathy Willingham (#21!)

         September 26         —    Rod and Emily Parker (#7!)

 

 

Happy Birthdays in September:

         September 3           —    Lee Greene

                                       —    Geraldine Quirk

         September 4           —    Fr. John Henderson

         September 8           —    Nikki Lasseter

         September 9           —    Rebecca Dansereau

         September 10         —    Dorin Lavric

         September 12         —    Alvin Buckles

         September 15         —    Lynda Costas

         September 18         —    Carolina Lavric

         September 25         —    Rick Carlton

         September 30         —    Laura Yeatts

 

Quotable:       “Another says:  ‘Why should I go to Confession?  I have no special sins.  Let those who have murdered, stolen, raped, or committed some other sin go to Confession.’

                        This objection to Confession is the complete opposite of the first one.  There the man, because of the oppressing realization of his wickedness, does not believe that he can be forgiven.  Here, there is a lack of any realization of wickedness.  ‘I have no special sins…’  But is it really so?  When a man stays in a closed room for a long time, he gets used to the bad air in it and does not feel how unpleasant it is.  But if someone comes in from the outside, he will not be able to stand the stench in the room and will run away.

                        Let those who say, ‘I have no special sins,’ answer whether they have Christ in their hearts.  He likes to inhabit pure hearts.  But are their hearts pure?  Hardly!  They imagine that they are pure, but imagination is not reality.  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us (I John 1:8.  And where there is a lie, there Christ is not.

                        Then what should we do? – let us confess.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just…to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (I John 1:9).”

                                                                        Archimandrite Seraphim Aleksiev

 

Worship:         Sunday, September 18, 2011 (Sunday after the elevation of the Cross)

 

         Scripture:                               Galations 2:16-20; Mark 8:34-9:1

         Celebrant:                              Father James

         Epistle Reader:                      Tom Skirtech

         Prosphora:                              R. Roots

         Coffee Hour:                          Ellis/Zouboukos

9/4 announcements

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September 4, 2011

Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

 

I Corinthians 15:1-11:  Continuing our reading from I Corinthians, we hear St. Paul present the facts of the resurrection as the basis for our salvation and the cornerstone of our faith.

 

Matthew 19:16-26:  St. Matthew describes Jesus’ encounter with the rich young ruler.  In this incident we learn that spirituality is not founded only on keeping the law, but on giving mercy to others and denial of oneself.

 

Troparion of the Resurrection:  Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad; for the Lord hath done a mighty act with his own arm.  He hath trampled down death and become the First-born from the dead. He hath delivered us from the depths of hades, granting the world the Great Mercy.

 

Troparion of the Hieromartyr Babylas:  As a sharer of the ways and a successor to the throne of the Apostles, O inspired of God, thou foundest discipline to be a means of ascent to divine vision.  Wherefore, having rightly divided the word of truth, thou didst also contest for the Faith even unto blood, O Hieromartyr Babylas.  Interceed with Christ our God that our souls be saved.

 

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 4   (Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost)

            8:50 a.m.         — Orthros

            10:00 a.m.       — Divine Liturgy

 

Monday, September 5  

            Office Closed  — Father John’s Day Off

           

Tuesday, September 6   (Miracle of the Archangel Michael)

            6:00 a.m.         — Daily Orthros

 

Wednesday, September 7   

NO Catechism Class

6:00 p.m.         — Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy

 

Thursday, September 8   (Nativity of the Theotokos)

    The first feast of the liturgical year celebrates the birth of the Holy Virgin Mary, most blessed of women, chosen to bear God the Son, partaker in the Incarnation as the dwelling place of God.  To celebrate her birth and give honor to her life is unavoidably to anticipate the coming of the Messiah and to adore His person.  To remember her worthiness is to remember God’s grace.  To wonder at her faith is to arouse ourselves to emulate her strength of will and her depth of trust.  As we enter the cycle of the year, we turn first to honor the Holy Virgin, she who by her role in history and by her place among the saints most reminds us of the coming of the Saviour and the life He gives us, who by the Incarnation became the ladder between Heaven and Earth, who as the Mother of Christ is also the Mother of all His brethren.

 

NO Daily Orthros

 

Friday, September 9    (Righteous Joachim and Anna)        

6:00 a.m.         — Daily Orthros

 

Saturday, September 10  

7:30 a.m.         — Breakfast and Bible Study

TBA                 — Teen Project at MS Food Network

5:45 p.m.         — Ninth Hour followed by Great Vespers
 

Sunday, September 11   (Sunday before the Elevation of the Cross;

Sunday after the Nativity of the Theotokos)

            8:50 a.m.         — Orthros

            9:00 a.m.         — Christian Education resumes

            10:00 a.m.       — Divine Liturgy

            TBA                 — Swim Party for Christian Education at the Pigott’s

 

 

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

         September 4                          Freundts                                   Morrises

         September 7 (Wed. p.m.)      Fahmys                                    POT LUCK

                  (Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos)                            set-up:  Christina

         September 11                        Bakers                                     Joneses/Stewarts

         September 13 (Tues. p.m.)    Woods                                     POT LUCK

                  (Feast of the Elevation of the Cross)                                  set-up:  Kh. Sharon

         September 18                        R. Roots                                   Ellis/Zouboukos

         September 25                        Hendersons                              Meadows

 

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 4                       Brenda Baker                      I Cor. 15:1-11                 146

September 7 (Wed. p.m.)   Sh. Charlotte Algood          Phil. 2:5-11                     307

September 11                     Tom Willingham                 Gal. 6:11-18                   198

September 13 (Tues. p.m.) Kh. Sharon Meadows         I Cor. 1:18-24                 311

September 18                     Tom Skirtech                       Gal. 2:16-20                   193

September 25                     Walt Wood                          II Cor. 4:6-15                  163

 

Please remember Fr. Joseph and Kh. Joanna Bittle and their daughter Abigail in your prayers.  Abigail, who was born prematurely and only recently came home after months in the NICU, has developed meningitis.  She had surgery on Friday and is still seriously ill.

 

Please continue to pray for the health of His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN.

 

Please remember the following in your prayers:  Maria Costas; Amy and Michael Surratt and Amy’s family;  Tom and Jennifer Skirtech and Jennifer’s mother, Jessamine Hinkson;  Warren and Sandi Strain and Warren’s mother, Ouida Strain; Fr. Leo, Kh. Be’Be’, Stephen and Amy, Justyn and Jeffrey; Steve, Sheryl and Stephen Chamblee; Amy and Brantley Oliver; Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Sam and Lamia Dabit; David Turner’s mother Mary Jean.

 

Conrad Useldinger is a young man from Ben Lomond, CA who will be attending classes at Belhaven beginning this fall.  He wants to attend services at St. Peter, but has no transportation.  We would like to have a group of people to help with this.  Anyone who can help with Conrad’s transportation should see Dn. Terry.

 

25th Anniversary Celebration:

            The Church is planning a celebration of our being received into the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese in March 1987.  The weekend of May 4th-6th, 2012, has been set aside for some special events, including visits from Bishop ANTOUN and V. Rev. Fr. Jon Braun, with a celebratory banquet planned at the Mississippi Museum of Art on Saturday evening, May 5th.

            The planning committee (composed of Dn. Terry, Kh. Janet, Sh. Charlotte, Brenda Baker, Elizabeth Root and Paul Katool) is working on some other projects and we need your help!  An “Anniversary Book” is being compiled and will be printed and made available that weekend.  It will contain, among other things, articles on the life of our church, our church’s history, and photos (new and old) of church members and activities.  We are asking you to look through your files and albums for pictures that can be included in the book and also in a special video presentation.  These photos will of course be returned to you as soon as they are scanned, etc.  We need photos of church events going back 25 years or longer – but also events and photos from recent activities – from newer church members as well as the “old heads!”  These can include our chrismation weekend in ’87, teen retreats, work-days, our renovation project, ladies’/men’s activities, feast day celebrations, etc., etc., etc.  Please put your photos in an envelope –CLEARLY LABELED WITH YOUR NAME, AND ON THE BACK OF EACH PHOTO INCLUDE YOUR NAME, DATE OF PICTURE (IF KNOWN) NAMES OF THE PEOPLE, AND WHAT THE EVENT WAS.  Give these either to Deacon Terry or Kh. Janet NO LATER THAN TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1ST.

            We will also need a host of volunteers to help with various things over the next several months.  If you would like to help, please contact Deacon Terry.  THANK YOU!!!

 

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.
 

Breakfast and Bible Study:  we are continuing our Bible Study of  1st Peter.  The Bible Study will meet every 2-3 weeks on Saturday morning at 7:30 a.m. with breakfast. This is open to all who are interested.  Be sure to come and enjoy the fellowship.

 

Calendar Items:

*    The Men of the parish meet for lunch and fellowship on the first Thursday of the month.

*    The Teens will be working at MS Food Network on Saturday, September 10th.

*    Christian Education will resume on Sunday, September 11th at 9:00 a.m.  There will be a Swim Party that afternoon at the Pigotts’ for all those in Sunday School.

*    The Annual Knucklehead Family Reunion (aka Men’s Fishing Trip) will be held in

      Arkansas, on September 16-23 this year.

*    A Fall Festival is scheduled here at the church on Sunday afternoon, October 30th from 4:00-6:00 p.m.  More details will be available at a later date.

*    We will be serving our next meal at the Stewpot in Jackson on November 19th.

*    His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN will be at St. Andrew Orthodox Church in Pensacola the weekend of December 4th to consecrate their church.  Father John and others from our parish plan to attend.

*    The Annual Deanery Youth Retreat will be held on February 10-12, 2012 at John W. Kyle State Park in Sardis.  Joel and Sarah Finley will be addressing the topic of the Culture of Dating.  More information will be available as the time draws near.

*    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.

 

Fasting Discipline for September

In 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 Cross.

 

Major Commemorations for September

September 6           Miracle of the Archangel Michael

September 8           Nativity of the Theotokos

September 9           Righteous Joachim and Anna

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

 

 

Happy Birthdays in September:

         September 3           —    Lee Greene

                                       —    Geraldine Quirk

         September 4           —    Fr. John Henderson

         September 8           —    Nikki Lasseter

         September 9           —    Rebecca Dansereau

         September 10         —    Dorin Lavric

         September 12         —    Alvin Buckles

         September 15         —    Lynda Costas

         September 25         —    Rick Carlton

         September 30         —    Laura Yeatts

 

Happy Anniversaries in September:

         September 4           —    Ben and Jenna Skirtech (#10!)

         September 6           —    Richard and Vickie Curtis (#25!)

         September 15         —    Tom and Kathy Willingham (#21!)

         September 26         —    Rod and Emily Parker (#7!)

 

 

Quotable:  “‘But is it possible,’ you will say, ‘for the one who repents to be saved?’  It is perfectly possible!  ‘But I have spent my entire life in sin:  if I repent, will I be saved?’  Of course!  ‘How do we know that?’  From the love of God for man.  Am I relying on your repentance to destroy your heavy sins?  If you were to rely on your repentance then, indeed, you should tremble; but the mercy of God unites with repentance.  And the mercy of God has no limits; words cannot express His kindness.  Your wickedness has an end, but the Medicine for it is boundless!  Your wickedness is human wickedness, but God’s mercy is ineffable, so, have hope that it will exceed your sins.  Imagine a spark, which falls in the sea:  will it start a fire?  Will it appear again?  Sin is to God’s love for man what that spark is to the sea, not even that, but something much smaller!  The sea, however big it may be, has an end, but God’s love for man is limitless!”

                                                                        Archimandrite Seraphim Aleksiev

 

Worship:         Sunday, September 11, 2011 (Sunday before the elevation of the Cross;

Sunday after the Nativity of the Theotokos)

 

         Scripture:                                Galations 6:11-18; John 3:13-17

         Celebrant:                                Father John

         Epistle Reader:                       Tom Willingham

         Prosphora:                               Bakers

         Coffee Hour:                           Joneses/Stewarts