Monthly Archives: September 2013

9/29 announcements

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September 29, 2013
Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
 
II Corinthians 1:21-2:1-4:  St Paul, writing in II Corinthians, reminds us that we are established in God from whom we have received the Holy Spirit as a pledge of what we shall receive in the fullness of God’s kingdom.
 
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:  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 our Righteous Father Kyriakos: Thou didst prove to be a citizen of the desert, an angel in the flesh, and a wonderworker, O Kyriakos, our God-bearing Father.  By fasting, vigil, and prayer thou didst obtain heavenly gifts, and thou healest the sick and the souls of them that have recourse to thee in faith.  Glory to Him that hath given thee strength.  Glory to Him that hath crowned thee.  Glory to Him that worketh healings for all through thee.
 
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 29   (Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost)
            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 Auction during Coffee Hour
            5:30 p.m.         — Youth Group
 
Monday, September 30   
            Office Closed — Father John’s Day Off
           
Tuesday, October 1   
            6:00 a.m.         — Daily Orthros
                       
Wednesday, October 2    
            6:30 p.m.         — Daily Vespers
            7:30 p.m.         — Choir Practice
           
Thursday, October 3   
            NO Daily Orthros
            11:30 a.m.       — Men’s Lunch
 
Friday, October 4    
            NO Daily Orthros
 
Saturday, October 5   
            7:30 a.m.         — Bible Study with Breakfast
            5:45 p.m.         — Ninth Hour followed by Great Vespers
 
Sunday, October 6   (Apostle Thomas)
            8:50 a.m.         — Orthros
            9:00 a.m.         — Christian Education
            10:00 a.m.       — Divine Liturgy
            12:00 p.m.       — POT LUCK MEAL
                                   
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Meadows for the Divine Liturgy this morning.
 
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 29               Meadows                                Algood/Yeatts/Lasseter
October 6                     Fahmy                                     POT LUCK MEAL
                                                                                        (set-up: R. Root/Abraham/Habeeb)
October 13                   Baker                                       Henderson/Baker/Lockhart
October 20                   Wood                                      Jones/Stewart/Meadows
October 27                   R. Root                                    Baby Shower for Dorin & Carolina
 
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 29                     Phillip Lasseter                     II Cor. 1:21-2:1-4           158
October 6                           Kh. Be’Be’ Schelver             II Cor. 4:6-15                  163
October 13                         Walt Wood                           Titus 3:8-15                    322
October 20                         Brenda Baker                        II Cor. 6:16-7:1                173
October 27                         Sh. Charlotte Algood           II Cor. 9:6-11                  178
 
Please remember Fr. Joseph and Kh. Joanna Bittle, and their daughter Abigail, in your prayers. 
 
Please remember the following in your prayers:  Steve, Sheryl and Stephen Chamblee; Amy and Brantley Oliver; Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Sam and Lamia Dabit and Sammie; Georgia Buchanan, George Johns (Georgia’s grandson) and his family; Mary Greene (Lee and Kh. Sharon’s sister); Fr. Stephen Tewfik; Sh. Gail Shannon; Dn. Sidney and Sh. Mary Elliot;
Fr. Alexander Atty, the Dean of St. Thikon’s who is battling cancer.
 
Please keep Tom Willingham and his wife Kathy in your prayers.  Tom is home from the hospital and continuing to recover following abdominal surgery to remove a tumor.
 
Please continue to pray for the health of His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN.

Continue to pray for Metropolitan Paul (who is also the brother of our Patriarch) and the Syriac Archbishop John of Aleppo who were abducted recently while on a humanitarian mission in Syria.
 
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.
 
Christian education has resumed.  Parents please be sure to have your children arrive on time.  Also, we are in need of volunteers to help with the Pre-school Group.  If you would like to help with this, please get in touch with Sam Habeeb.
 
Young Adults Study Group:  The Young Adults will meet once a month on Sunday evening from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. (time will be strictly adhered to) for a meal, fellowship and teaching.  The next meeting will be October 20th.  Please let Father John know by text or e-mail if you will be there, so that plans may be made for the meal.
 
Calendar Items:
*    The Men of the parish meet for lunch and fellowship on the first Thursday of the month.
*    The Ladies of St. Peter will begin meeting for lunch and fellowship on the fourth Tuesday of each month.  The next lunch will be Tuesday, October 22nd  at 11:30 a.m. at the King Edward Hotel in downtown Jackson.  Free valet parking is available.
*    The Ladies of St. Peter will have a fundraiser TODAY to replenish funds used for charitable activities.  They will be auctioning off casseroles and baked goods during Coffee Hour.
*    The Ladies of St. Peter will begin meeting at 10:00 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month to pray the Akathist to the Mother of God, Nurturer of Children.  Those who are able will go out for lunch and fellowship afterwards.
 
Canned food drive:  The Christian Education classes will once again be collecting canned good s for the needy. 
 
Fall Festival:  We have tentatively set a date for this year’s Fall festival on Saturday, October 26th.  However, this is contingent upon a volunteer or volunteers to head up the festival.  If you are interested in helping to plan this, please let Father John know.
 
Bible Study with Breakfast will resume on Saturday morning, October 5th from 7:30-9:00 a.m.
 
Camping trip for Youth Group:  A camping trip to Louisville is planned for the Teens on Friday and Saturday, November 1-2.  (Rain date will be November 8-9).
Fasting Discipline for October
The traditional fasting (no meat, dairy, fish, wine or oil) is observed all Wednesdays and Fridays of the month. 

Major Commemorations for October
October 6               Apostle Thomas
October 9               Apostle James of Alphaeus
October 18             Apostle Luke
October 23             Apostle James Brother-of-the-Lord
October 26             Great-martyr Demetrios
October 28             Protection of the Theotokos
 
Happy Birthdays in September/October:
         September 30         —    Laura Yeatts
         October 1               —    Emily Parker
         October 3               —    Reader Basil Baker
         October 4               —    Rod Parker
         October 5               —    Antonina Karam (#1!)
         October 7               —    Glenn Morris
         October 8               —    Brantley Oliver
         October 10             —    Phillip Lasseter
         October 16             —    Jesse Milnor
                                       —    Rola Karam
         October 17             —    Max Baker
         October 20             —    Anna Kathryn Stewart
                                       —    Justyn Schelver
         October 23             —    Anne Habeeb
         October 24             —    Jean Kafoury
         October 25             —    Kathy Willingham
         October 28             —    Lamia Dabit
                                       —    Mona Fahmy
         October 29             —    Kh. Be’Be’ Schelver
 
Happy Anniversaries in October:
         October 17             —    Phillip and Nikki Lasseter (#4!)
         October 18             —    Oliver and Laura Yeatts (#5!)
         October 22             —    Walter and Charlotte Wood (#30!)
        
Quotable:  “Prayer is also food for the soul.  Every human being is composed of a body and a soul.  Just as food, clothing and shelter are necessary for the life of the body, so is prayer indispensable for the life of the soul.  By means of prayer we satisfy the need of the soul, which feels its own infirmities and helplessness and turns to God with its thoughts and feelings.  We ask of God pure and clear thoughts, good feelings and strength of body and good health.  After receiving these things from God, we feel the spiritual need to thank Him and to praise and glorify His Holy Name.  Men also pray because God, knowing that men need nothing more than prayer, has ordained men to pray.”
                                                Rev. Fr. David F. Abramtsov, The Orthodox Companion
 
 
Worship:         Sunday, October 6, 2013 (Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost)
 
         Scripture:                               II Corinthians 4:6-15; Luke 7:11-16
         Celebrant:                              Father John
         Epistle Reader:                      Kh. BeBe’ Schelver
         Prosphora:                             Fahmy
         Coffee Hour:                          POT LUCK MEAL
                                                         (set-up:  R. Root/Abraham/Habeeb)

9/22 announcements

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September 22, 2013
Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
 
I Corinthians 16:13-24:  St Paul concludes his first letter to the church at Corinth with greetings
from the Christians in Asia, and encouragements to be strong in the faith and submit to their spiritual elders.
 
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:  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 Hieromartyr Phocas:  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 Phocas.  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, September 22   (Nativity of the Theotokos)
            8:50 a.m.         — Orthros
            9:00 a.m.         — Christian Education
            10:00 a.m.       — Divine Liturgy
            5:00-6:30 p.m. — Young Adults Study Group
                                       (For more info, see note later in these announcements)
 
Monday, September 23   (Conception of the Forerunner)
            Office Closed — Father John’s Day Off
           
Tuesday, September 24   (Proto-martyr Thekla)
            6:00 a.m.         — Daily Orthros
            11:30 a.m.       — Ladies Lunch at Sombra
                       
Wednesday, September 25    
            6:30 p.m.         — Daily Vespers
            7:30 p.m.         — Choir Practice
            7:30 p.m.         — Parish Council Meeting
           
Thursday, September 26    (Apostle John the Theologian)
            NO Daily Orthros
 
Friday, September 27    
            NO Daily Orthros
 
Saturday, September 28   (Venerable Chariton)
            5:45 p.m.         — Ninth Hour followed by Great Vespers
 
Sunday, September 29   (Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost)
            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 Auction during Coffee Hour
            5:30 p.m.         — Youth Group

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Abrahams for the Divine Liturgy this morning.
 
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 22               Abraham                                  D. Root/Dansereau/Dale Cooper
September 29               Meadows                                 Algood/Yeatts/Lasseter
October 6                     Fahmy                                     POT LUCK MEAL
                                                                                        (set-up: R. Root/Abraham/Habeeb)
October 13                   Baker                                       Henderson/Baker/Lockhart
October 20                   Wood                                       Jones/Stewart/Meadows
October 27                   R. Root                                    Baby Shower for Dorin & Carolina
 
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 22                     Warren Strain                        I Cor. 16:13-24               152
September 29                     Phillip Lasseter                     II Cor. 1:21-2:1-4            158
October 6                           Kh. Be’Be’ Schelver             II Cor. 4:6-15                  163
October 13                         Brenda Baker                        Titus 3:8-15                     322
October 20                         Walt Wood                           II Cor. 6:16-7:1               173
October 27                         Sh. Charlotte Algood          II Cor. 9:6-11                  178
 
Please remember Fr. Joseph and Kh. Joanna Bittle, and their daughter Abigail, in your prayers. 
 
Please remember the following in your prayers:  Steve, Sheryl and Stephen Chamblee; Amy and Brantley Oliver; Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Sam and Lamia Dabit and Sammie; Georgia Buchanan, George Johns (Georgia’s grandson) and his family; Mary Greene (Lee and Kh. Sharon’s sister); Fr. Stephen Tewfik; Sh. Gail Shannon; Dn. Sidney and Sh. Mary Elliot;
Fr. Alexander Atty, the Dean of St. Thikon’s who is battling cancer.
 
Please keep Tom Willingham and his wife Kathy in your prayers.  Tom is home from the hospital and continuing to recover following abdominal surgery to remove a tumor.

Continue to pray for Metropolitan Paul (who is also the brother of our Patriarch) and the Syriac Archbishop John of Aleppo who were abducted recently while on a humanitarian mission in Syria.
 
Please continue to pray for the health of His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN.
 
Our condolences go to Rick Carlton on the falling asleep of his father, Fred, last week.  Please keep them in your prayers.
 
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.
 
Christian education has resumed.  Parents please be sure to have your children arrive on time.  Also, we are in need of volunteers to help with the Pre-school Group.  If you would like to help with this, please get in touch with Sam Habeeb.
 
Young Adults Study Group:  The Young Adults will meet once a month on Sunday evening from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. (time will be strictly adhered to) for a meal, fellowship and teaching.  The first meeting will be TONIGHT.  Please let Father John know by text or e-mail if you will be there, so that plans may be made for the meal.
 
Calendar Items:
*    The Men of the parish meet for lunch and fellowship on the first Thursday of the month.
*    The Ladies of St. Peter will begin meeting for lunch and fellowship on the fourth Tuesday of each month.  The first lunch will be Tuesday, September 24th at 11:30 a.m. at Sombra, which is located in the Township area on Highland Colony Parkway.
*    The Ladies of St. Peter will have a fundraiser on Sunday, September 29th to replenish funds used for charitable activities.  They will be auctioning off casseroles and baked goods during Coffee Hour that Sunday.
*    The Ladies of St. Peter will begin meeting at 10:00 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month to pray the Akathist to the Mother of God, Nurturer of Children.  Those who are able will go out for lunch and fellowship afterwards.
 
Canned food drive:  The Christian Education classes will once again be collecting canned good s for the needy. 
 
Fall Festival:  We have tentatively set a date for this year’s Fall festival on Saturday, October 26th.  However, this is contingent upon a volunteer or volunteers to head up the festival.  If you are interested in helping to plan this, please let Father John know.
 
Bible Study with Breakfast will resume on Saturday morning, October 5th from 7:30-9:00 a.m.

Directory Update:  Please add the following to your Directories:
                        Summer and Isabelle Goss
                        252 Marilyn Drive
                        Pearl, MS  39208
                        601-383-0158 (cell)
                        summerdanyle07@yahoo.com
 
Camping trip for Youth Group:  A camping trip to Louisville is planned for the Teens on Friday and Saturday, November 1-2.  (Rain date will be November 8-9).
 
Happy Birthdays in September:
         September 3           —    Lee Greene
                                       —    Hannah Strange (#7!)
                                       —    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 17         —    Jeffrey Schelver
         September 18         —    Carolina Lavric
         September 25         —    Rick Carlton
         September 27         —    Jeffrey Schelver
         September 30         —    Laura Yeatts
 
Fasting Discipline for September
The traditional fasting (no meat, dairy, fish, wine or oil) is observed all Wednesdays and Fridays of the month. 

Major Commemorations for September
September 23         Conception of the Forerunner
September 24         Proto-martyr Thekla
September 26         Apostle John the Theologian (repose)
September 28         Venerable Chariton
 
Happy Anniversaries in September:
         September 4           —    Ben and Jenna Skirtech (#12!)
         September 6           —    Richard and Vickie Curtis (#27!)
         September 15         —    Tom and Kathy Willingham (#23!)
         September 26         —    Rod and Emily Parker (#9!)
 
Quotable:  “Prayer is a communing with God.  God loves us and we love God.  He gave us the right to call Him our Heavenly Father.  This means that we are His children.  A child goes to its father to express its thoughts and feelings, its needs and joys, to express its filial love and devotion and to obtain the satisfaction of its wants.  This companionship makes both father and child happy.  Such fellowship is joyous in an immeasurably greater degree for God because with Him all things are perfect.  Our prayer, our communion with God, should make us very happy.  God is the Friend of man, and as a friend talks to a friend so in prayer the pious soul speaks to God and communes with its Creator.  God made man in His image, after His likeness, that He might have communion with him.  When the image was marred by sin the bond of fellowship was broken, but when the image was restored in Christ, we were also restored to fellowship with the Father and with the Son (I John 1:3).  Communion with God in prayer is one of the Christian’s highest privileges and makes a better man of him.  As it is written: ‘We all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into His likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit’ (2 Cor. 3:18).”
                                                Rev. Fr. David F. Abramtsov, The Orthodox Companion
 
 
Worship:         Sunday, September 29, 2013 (Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost)
 
         Scripture:                                II Corinthians 1:21-2:1-4; Luke 6:31-36
         Celebrant:                               Father John
         Epistle Reader:                       Phillip Lasseter
         Prosphora:                              Meadows
         Coffee Hour:                           Algood/Yeatts/Lasseter

9/15 announcements

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September 15, 2013
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 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 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 15   (Sunday after the Elevation of the Cross)
            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 16   
            Office Closed — Father John’s Day Off
           
Tuesday, September 17   
            6:00 a.m.         — Daily Orthros
                       
Wednesday, September 18    
            6:30 p.m.         — Daily Vespers
            7:30 p.m.         — Choir Practice
           
Thursday, September 19       
            NO Daily Orthros
 
Friday, September 20    
            NO Daily Orthros
 
Saturday, September 21   
            8:30 a.m.         — Workday at the Church
            5:45 p.m.         — Ninth Hour followed by Great Vespers
 
Sunday, September 22   (Nativity of the Theotokos)
            8:50 a.m.         — Orthros
            9:00 a.m.         — Christian Education
            10:00 a.m.       — Divine Liturgy
            5:00-6:30 p.m. — Young Adults Study Group
                                       (For more info, see note later in these announcements)
 
 
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Daniel Roots for the Feast of the Elevation of the Cross yesterday and by the Yeatts for the Divine Liturgy this morning.
 
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 15               Yeatts                                       Skirtech/Skirtech/Parker          
September 22               Abraham                                  D. Root/Dansereau/Dale Cooper
September 29               Meadows                                 Algood/Yeatts/Lasseter
 
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 15                     Warren Strain                        Gal. 2:16-20                    193
September 22                     Mildred Morris                      I Cor. 16:13-24               152
September 29                     Phillip Lasseter                      II Cor. 1:21-2:1-4           158
 
Please remember Fr. Joseph and Kh. Joanna Bittle, and their daughter Abigail, in your prayers. 
 
Please remember the following in your prayers:  Steve, Sheryl and Stephen Chamblee; Amy and Brantley Oliver; Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Sam and Lamia Dabit and Sammie; Georgia Buchanan, George Johns (Georgia’s grandson) and his family; Mary Greene (Lee and Kh. Sharon’s sister); Fr. Stephen Tewfik; Sh. Gail Shannon; Dn. Sidney and Sh. Mary Elliot;
Fr. Alexander Atty, the Dean of St. Thikon’s who is battling cancer.
 
Please keep Tom Willingham and his wife Kathy in your prayers.  Tom is home from the hospital and continuing to recover following abdominal surgery to remove a tumor.
 
Continue to pray for Metropolitan Paul (who is also the brother of our Patriarch) and the Syriac Archbishop John of Aleppo who were abducted recently while on a humanitarian mission in Syria.
 
Please continue to pray for the health of His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN.
 
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.
 
Christian education has resumed.  Parents please be sure to have your children arrive on time.  Also, we are in need of volunteers to help with the Pre-school Group.  If you would like to help with this, please get in touch with Sam Habeeb.
 
Young Adults Study Group:  The Young Adults will meet once a month on Sunday evening from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. (time will be strictly adhered to) for a meal, fellowship and teaching.  The first meeting will be next Sunday, September 22nd.  Please let Father John know by text or e-mail if you will be there, so that plans may be made for the meal.
 
Teen Sunday School Group:  The Teen Sunday School Group will meet tonight at 5:30 p.m.  In the future they will meet two Sunday evenings a month for Sunday School and one Sunday evening for fun and fellowship.  The exact dates have not been set yet.
 
Calendar Items:
*    The Men of the parish meet for lunch and fellowship on the first Thursday of the month.
*    The Ladies of St. Peter will begin meeting for lunch and fellowship on the fourth Tuesday of each month.  The first lunch will be Tuesday, September 24th at 11:30 a.m. at Sombra, which is located in the Township area on Highland Colony Parkway.
*    The Ladies of St. Peter will have a fundraiser on Sunday, September 29th to replenish funds used for charitable activities.  They will be auctioning off casseroles and baked goods during Coffee Hour that Sunday.
*    The Ladies of St. Peter will begin meeting at 10:00 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month to pray the Akathist to the Mother of God, Nurturer of Children.  Those who are able will go out for lunch and fellowship afterwards.
 
Canned food drive:  The Christian Education classes will once again be collecting canned good s for the needy. 
 
Fall Festival:  We have tentatively set a date for this year’s Fall festival on Saturday, October 26th.  However, this is contingent upon a volunteer or volunteers to head up the festival.  If you are interested in helping to plan this, please let Father John know.
 
Camping trip for Youth Group:  A camping trip to Louisville is planned for the Teens on Friday and Saturday, November 1-2.  (Rain date will be November 8-9).
 
Bible Study with Breakfast will resume on Saturday morning, October 5th from 7:30-9:00 a.m.
 
Directory Update:  Please add the following to your Directories:
                        Summer and Isabelle Goss
                        252 Marilyn Drive
                        Pearl, MS  39208
                        601-383-0158 (cell)
                        summerdanyle07@yahoo.com
 
Happy Birthdays in September:
         September 3           —    Lee Greene
                                       —    Hannah Strange (#7!)
                                       —    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 17         —    Jeffrey Schelver
         September 18         —    Carolina Lavric
         September 25         —    Rick Carlton
         September 27         —    Jeffrey Schelver
         September 30         —    Laura Yeatts
 
Fasting Discipline for September
The traditional fasting (no meat, dairy, fish, wine or oil) is observed all Wednesdays and Fridays of the month. 

Major Commemorations for September
September 23         Conception of the Forerunner
September 24         Proto-martyr Thekla
September 26         Apostle John the Theologian (repose)
September 28         Venerable Chariton
 
Happy Anniversaries in September:
         September 4           —    Ben and Jenna Skirtech (#12!)
         September 6           —    Richard and Vickie Curtis (#27!)
         September 15         —    Tom and Kathy Willingham (#23!)
         September 26         —    Rod and Emily Parker (#9!)
 
Quotable:  “Prayer is conversation between the soul and its Maker, whether it by means of words or by thoughts only.  It is the lifting up of our minds and hearts to the loving and almighty Father Who made us, in order to (1) praise Him for His greatness, goodness, kindness, power and justice; (2) to adore and worship Him as our King, for we must approach Him not only with the confidence and love of a child, but also with the respect and submission due to our Sovereign Lord; (3) to thank Him for the unbounded and numberless benefits He has bestowed upon us and others, and is constantly bestowing; (4) to petition His bounty for the many favors we need for ourselves and others, and to ask His pardon for our offenses.”
                                                Rev. Fr. David F. Abramtsov, The Orthodox Companion
 

Worship:         Sunday, September 22, 2013 (Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost)
 
         Scripture:                               I Corinthians 16:13 to end; Luke 5:1-11
         Celebrant:                              Father John
         Epistle Reader:                      Mildred Morris
         Prosphora:                             Abraham
         Coffee Hour:                          D. Root/Dansereau/Dale Cooper

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September 8, 2013
Sunday before the Elevation of the Cross
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.
 
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:  When thou, O immortal Life, didst humble thyself unto death, then didst thou destroy death by the brightness of thy Godhead; and when thou didst raise the bowels of the earth, then all the heavenly powers exclaimed, O Christ, thou art the Giver of life!  Glory to thee, O our God!

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.
 
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 8   (Nativity of the Theotokos)
            8:50 a.m.         — Orthros
            9:00 a.m.         — Christian Education
            10:00 a.m.       — Divine Liturgy
            12:00 p.m.       — Pot Luck Meal
 
Monday, September 9   (Righteous Joachim and Anna)
            Office Closed — Father John’s Day Off
           
Tuesday, September 10   
            6:00 a.m.         — Daily Orthros
                       
Wednesday, September 11    
            6:30 p.m.         — Daily Vespers
            7:30 p.m.         — Choir Practice
           
Thursday, September 12       
            NO Daily Orthros
 
Friday, September 13   (Dedication of the Church of the Anastasis)
            NO Daily Orthros
 
Saturday, September 14  (Elevation of the Precious Cross)
    This feast is celebrated as one of the most important in the Church Year because it commemorates two events of great significance.  After St. Helen had found at Jerusalem the cross upon which Christ was crucified, she built a Church on Mount Calvary to hold the precious relic.  The Christians held the Holy Cross in such high regard that they soon began to celebrate this feast in honor of the finding of the Cross.
    In the year 614, the Persians invaded the Empire and took Jerusalem, and sent the case containing the Cross back to their country.  For fifteen years the Greek Emperor Heraclius waged war against the Persians, and finally in 629 defeated them, forcing them to make peace, and to restore the Holy Cross to him.  It is said that the case containing the sacred relics was returned to him with the seals still unbroken.  The Relics were replaced in the Church with great rejoicing, and to the original Feast in honor of the finding of the Cross was added another, in honor of its safe return to Jerusalem.
    A special feature of the Church Services on this day, is the procession in which the Cross is borne aloft on a tray of flowers and placed in the midst of the Church; the Priest then elevates it to the four corners of the compass, blessing thrice with it as he does so, and praying that God will protect and preserve the President and the Civil Authorities of our country and the Armed Forces, and guard and guide the Hierarchs and clergy of the Church, and protect and preserve all His faithful people from every evil.
            9:00 a.m.         — Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy
            5:45 p.m.         — Ninth Hour followed by Great Vespers
 
Sunday, September 15   (Sunday after the Elevation of the Cross)
            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 Davises for the Divine Liturgy this morning.
 
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 8                       Davis                                        POT LUCK MEAL
         (Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos)             (Set-up:  Fahmy/Brock/Pigott)
September 14 (Sat. a.m.)    D. Root                           
         (Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross)                 
September 15                    Yeatts                                      Skirtech/Skirtech/Parker          
September 22                    Abraham                                  D. Root/Dansereau/Dale Cooper
September 29                    Meadows                                 Algood/Yeatts/Lasseter
 
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 8                       S. Charlotte Algood              Gal. 6:11-18                   198
September 14 (Sat. a.m.)   Kh. Sharon Meadows          I Cor. 1:18-24                311-312
September 15                     Warren Strain                        Gal. 2:16-20                    193
September 22                     Mildred Morris                      I Cor. 16:13-24               152
September 29                     Phillip Lasseter                      II Cor. 1:21-2:1-4           158
 
Please remember Fr. Joseph and Kh. Joanna Bittle, and their daughter Abigail, in your prayers. 
 
Please remember the following in your prayers:  Steve, Sheryl and Stephen Chamblee; Amy and Brantley Oliver; Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Sam and Lamia Dabit and Sammie; Georgia Buchanan, George Johns (Georgia’s grandson) and his family; Mary Greene (Lee and Kh. Sharon’s sister); Fr. Stephen Tewfik; Sh. Gail Shannon; Dn. Sidney and Sh. Mary Elliot;
Fr. Alexander Atty, the Dean of St. Thikon’s who is battling cancer.
 
Please keep Tom Willingham and his wife Kathy in your prayers.  Tom is home from the hospital and continuing to recover following abdominal surgery to remove a tumor.
 
Continue to pray for Metropolitan Paul (who is also the brother of our Patriarch) and the Syriac Archbishop John of Aleppo who were abducted recently while on a humanitarian mission in Syria.
 
Please continue to pray for the health of His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN.
 
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.
 
Our condolences go to Amy Surratt on the falling asleep of her mother, Becky Ballard, last week.  Please keep them in your prayers.
 
Sam Habeeb will be heading up Christian Education and will be serving on the Parish Council as well.  Many thanks to Sh. Charlotte Algood for her years of service with the Christian Education program.
 
Christian education has resumed.  Parents please be sure to have your children arrive on time.  Also, we are in need of volunteers to help with the Pre-school Group.  If you would like to help with this, please get in touch with Sam Habeeb.
 
Bible Study with Breakfast will resume on Saturday morning, October 5th from 7:30-9:00 a.m. 

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 the Elevation of the Precious Cross with Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy next Saturday morning, beginning at 9:00 a.m.
*    The Ladies of St. Peter will have a fundraiser on Sunday, September 29th to replenish funds used for charitable activities.  They will be auctioning off casseroles and baked goods during Coffee Hour that Sunday.
 
Canned food drive:  The Christian Education classes will once again be collecting canned good s for the needy. 
 
Fall Festival:  We have tentatively set a date for this year’s Fall festival on Saturday, October 26th.  However, this is contingent upon a volunteer or volunteers to head up the festival.  If you are interested in helping to plan this, please let Father John know.
 
Camping trip for Youth Group:  A camping trip to Louisville is planned for the Teens on Friday and Saturday, November 1-2.  (Rain date will be November 8-9).
 
Directory Update:  Please add the following to your Directories:
                        Summer and Isabelle Goss
                        252 Marilyn Drive
                        Pearl, MS  39208
                        601-383-0158 (cell)
                        summerdanyle07@yahoo.com
 
Happy Birthdays in September:
         September 3           —    Lee Greene
                                       —    Hannah Strange (#7!)
                                       —    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 17         —    Jeffrey Schelver
         September 18         —    Carolina Lavric
         September 25         —    Rick Carlton
         September 27         —    Jeffrey Schelver
         September 30         —    Laura Yeatts
  
Fasting Discipline for September
The traditional fasting (no meat, dairy, fish, wine or oil) is observed all Wednesdays and Fridays of the month.  September 14th is also a strict fast day in remembrance of the Elevation of the Holy Cross.
Major Commemorations for September
September 8           Nativity of the Thetokos
September 9           Righteous Joachim and Anna
September 13         Dedication of the Church of the Anastasis
September 14         Elevation of the Holy Cross
September 23         Conception of the Forerunner
September 24         Proto-martyr Thekla
September 26         Apostle John the Theologian (repose)
September 28         Venerable Chariton
 
Happy Anniversaries in September:
         September 4           —    Ben and Jenna Skirtech (#12!)
         September 6           —    Richard and Vickie Curtis (#27!)
         September 15         —    Tom and Kathy Willingham (#23!)
         September 26         —    Rod and Emily Parker (#9!)
 
Quotable:  “Prayer said by the lips without the attention of the mind is nothing“
                        “We should do well to apply to ourselves the words of St. Paul to the Corinthians.  What use is it to you, O Corinthians (so he writes), if you pray only with the voice, while your mind pays no attention to the prayer but dreams about something else?  What profit is there if the tongue says much but the mind does not think about what is said, even if you pronounce very many words?  What profit is there if you should sing in full voice, and with all the strength of your lungs, while your mind does not stand before God and does not see Him, but wanders away in thought to some other place?  Such a prayer will bring you no profit.  It will not be heard by God but will remain fruitless.  Well did St. Cyprian judge when he said:  ‘How can you expect to be heard by God, when you do not hear yourself?  How do you expect God to remember you when your pray, if you do not remember yourself?'”
 
                  The Art of Prayer; an Orthodox Anthology compiled by Igumen Chariton of Valamo
 
Worship:         Sunday, September 15, 2013 (Sunday after the Elevation of the Cross)
 
         Scripture:                               Galatians 2:16-20; Mark 8:34-9:1
         Celebrant:                              Father John
         Epistle Reader:                      Warren Strain
         Prosphora:                              Yeatts
         Coffee Hour:                           Skirtech/Skirtech/Parker