Monthly Archives: December 2013

12/29 announcements

December 29, 2013

Sunday after the Nativity of Christ

<!–[if supportFields]>ADVANCE \d4<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–> Galatians 1:11-19: St. Paul defends his ministry in his letter to the Galatians, telling them of how his former way of life was changed by a direct revelation from the Lord, and of his actions immediately afterwards.

Matthew 2:13-23: From the Gospel of Matthew we hear the fulfillment of several prophecies concerning the incarnation of our Lord.

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: Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, hath given rise to the light of knowledge in the world; for they that worshiped the stars did learn therefrom to worship thee, O Sun of justice, and to know that from the east of the Highest thou didst come; O Lord, glory to thee.

Troparion of the Sunday after Nativity: Proclaim, O Joseph, to David, the grandparent of God, the amazing wonders; for thou hast seen a Virgin great with child; for with the shepherds thou didst give glory, with the Magi thou didst worship, and by the angel it was revealed to thee. Wherefore, plead thou with Christ God to save our souls.

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 Nativity: Today the Virgin giveth birth to the Transcendent in essence; the earth offereth a cave to the unapproachable One; the angels with the shepherds glorify him; and the Magi with the star travel on their way; for a new child hath been born for our sakes, God before the ages.

CALENDAR

Sunday, December 29 (Sunday after the Nativity)

8:50 a.m. — Orthros

10:00 a.m. — Divine Liturgy

Monday, December 30

Office Closed — Father John’s Day Off

Tuesday, December 31

6:00 a.m. — Daily Orthros

6:30 p.m. — Great Vespers with Litia and Artoklasia

Wednesday, January 1 (Circumcision of our Lord; St. Basil the Great)

NO Services

Thursday, January 2

NO Daily Orthros

11:30 a.m. — Men’s Lunch

Friday, January 3

6:00 a.m. — Royal Hours

Saturday, January 4

10:30 a.m. — Baptism of Adrian Lavric

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

Sunday, January 5 (Sunday before Theophany)

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 Fahmys for the Feast of the Nativity this past Tuesday night and by the Woods 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

December 29 Wood Jones/Stewart/Meadows

December 31 (Tue pm) Baker (Artoklasia Bread) No Meal

(Feast of the Circumcision of our Lord; Feast of St. Basil the Great)

January 5 R. Root Ellis/Zouboukos/Fahmy

January 6 (Mon. a.m.) Henderson Christina Katool

January 12 Algood POT LUCK MEAL

set-up: Pigott/Brock/Strain

January 15 (Wed. p.m.) Schelver Anastasia Jones

(Feast of the Veneration of the Chains of St. Peter)

January 19 Morris Skirtech/Skirtech/Parker

January 26 Jones D. Root/Dansereau/Dale Cooper

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#

December 29 Mildred Morris Gal. 1:11-19 188

December 31 NO Reading

January 5 Phillip Lasseter II Tim. 4:5-8 354

January 6 (Mon. a.m.) Kh. Be’Be’ Schelver Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7 361

January 12 Brenda Baker Eph. 4:7-13 364

January 15 (Wed. p.m.) Sh. Charlotte Algood Acts 12:1-11 50-51

January 19 Warren Strain Col. 3:4-11 233

January 26 Kh. Sharon Meadows I Tim. 4:9-15 252

Please remember Fr. Joseph and Kh. Joanna Bittle, and their daughter Abigail, in your prayers.

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.

Terrorists have abducted 12 Orthodox nuns from the Convent of St. Thekla in Syria. Please keep them in your prayers.

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

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; Walt and Charlotte Wood and their family; Tom and Jennifer Skirtech and their family; Tom and Kathy Willingham.

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.

Mary Guy is still at home recovering from back surgery. Please keep her in your prayers.

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 meet 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.

* The Youth Group will meet for a meal and Christian Education with Father John on Sunday evenings, January 5^th and 26^th, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

* Royal Hours for the Feast of Theophany will be held on Friday, January 3^rd, beginning at 6:00 a.m.

* We will celebrate the Feast of Theophany with Divine Liturgy (only) on Monday morning, January 6^th, beginning at 6:00 a.m.

* As is our custom, we hold the Annual Blessing of the Water at the Ross Barnett Reservoir with the other Orthodox Churches in the area on Sunday, January 12^th, beginning at 4:00 p.m. Those who are interested will go to Cock of the Walk for supper afterwards.

* We will celebrate our patronal feast of the Veneration of the Chains of St. Peter on Wednesday evening, January 15^th with Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy beginning at 6:00 p.m.

* The Young Adults will meet at the church Sunday, January 19^th from 5:00-6:30 p.m.

* Deanery Youth Retreat with Sister Magdalene – February 14-16^th.

Adrian Lavric will be baptized next Saturday morning, January 4^th, at 10:30 a.m.! Please keep him, his parents and his godparents in your prayers.

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 January 19^th. Please let Father John know by text or e-mail if you will be there, so that plans may be made for the meal.

Metropolitan Philip has given the Antiochian Women the project of raising money for the orphans of the war in Syria. He has asked them to raise $200,000 towards this project. All monies raised are to be distributed directly to the affected areas. Please read information regarding “Help the Orphans of War in Syria” posted on the bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall. If you wish to contribute to this project, please make your donation to the Ladies of St. Peter noting it is for “Help the Orphans of War in Syria.” They will be collecting money for this project through the coming months.

Sister Magdalene from the Monastery of St. John the Baptist in Essex, England will be the speaker at the Deanery Youth Retreat, February 14-16^th. The topic of the Retreat will be “Our Faith, My Life.” Following the Retreat, she will be at St. Peter’s Sunday evening and Monday and will fly home to England on Tuesday, the 18^th. Father John will be arranging times for speaking engagements and meetings during her stay. More information will be available at a later date.

Parents, please supervise your children with food in the Fellowship Hall. We are getting stains on the new carpet (and also the chairs in the nave).

Fasting Discipline for January

From December 25^th through January 4^th there is no abstinence of any sort and all typed of food are permitted. The forefeast of Theophany (January 5^th) is observed as a strict fast day (no meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy wine or oil). The traditional fasting is observed on the remaining Wednesdays and Fridays of the month.

Major Commemorations for January

January 1 Feast of the Circumcision of our lord and feastday of St. Basil the Great

January 6 Theophany

January 7 Synaxis of the Forerunner

January 11 Theodosios the Head of Monasteries

January 18 Athanasius and Cyril of Alexandria

January 20 Euthymios the Great

January 25 Gregory the Theologian

January 27 John Chrysostom

January 31 Cyros and John the Unmercenary Healers

Canned food drive: The Christian Education classes are collecting canned good s for the needy.

Last Tuesday morning a$10 bill was found on the floor of the Narthex. If you lost this bill, please see Kh. Sharon. If no one claims the money, it will be placed in the Tithe Box.

Happy Birthdays in January:

January 1 — Dn. Richard Root

January 5 — Sarah Anne Milnor

January 10 — Georgia Buchanan

January 11 — Nicholas Henderson

January 12 — Cheryl Pigott

January 13 — Nader Dabit

January 19 — Saliba (Sam) Dabit

January 20 — Alfred Katool

January 22 — Tatiana Lavric

January 24 — Oliver Yeatts

January 26 — Jay Davis

January 29 — Michelle Pigott

January 30 — Chris Dansereau

Happy Anniversaries in January:

January 10 — Bob and Georgia Buchanan (#27!)

January 17 — Chris and Rebecca Dansereau (#5!)

January 19 — Ramzi and Jean Kafoury (#11!)

Quotable: “The Theotokos is higher than all of the Holy Angels and Holy Persons. She is completely aware of what we require spiritually; of all the joys and sorrows we have here on earth. She herself passed through all the trials of earthly life. The Virgin Mary’s intercession has immense power with God. If the prayers of the Saints, His servants, have so much power with God, what must those of His Mother have! The Holy Angels are the ministers and messengers of God; they are the guardians of our souls and bodies. We ask them to lay our prayers at the Throne of God. The Saints served God while they lived on earth. They fulfilled God’s Laws better than anyone. They taught people the good life; suffered for God’s Truth; knew how to bear the very lack of life’s necessities; patiently bore misfortune and unhappiness in life. We turn to them in prayer as to our protectors and helpers in our various undertakings. We pray for health, for success in our work. In times of happiness we turn to them with thanksgiving; others who sorrow, cry out to them in their grief. The Saints knew all of this and experienced it themselves in their earthly life. In all of these things they intercede with God for us. And are not the Saints in glory our beloved brothers and sisters in the Communion of Saints? Are not they like we members of Christ’s Mystical Body, the Church? We may not know them, but they know us and love us and pray for us!”

Rev. Fr. David F. Abramtsov, The Orthodox Companion

Worship: Sunday, January 4, 2014 (Sunday before Theophany)

Scripture: II Timothy 4:5-8; Mark 1:1-8

Celebrant: Father John

Epistle Reader: Phillip Lasseter

Prosphora: R. Root

Coffee Hour: Ellis/Zouboukos/Fahmy

12/22 announcements

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December 22, 2013

Sunday before the Nativity of Christ

Sunday of the Genealogy

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Hebrews 11:9-10,17-23,32-40: Reading from Hebrews we hear the Apostle tell us of the faith of Abraham and other saints of ancient times who endured hardships and death and yet still did great things because of their faith.

Matthew 1:1-25: In the Gospel we hear the genealogy of Jesus Christ, and of how Joseph was visited by an angel of God who told him of the child that Mary bore in her womb.

Troparion of the Resurrection: The stone being sealed by the Jews, and thy pure body being guarded by the soldiers, thou didst arise on the third day, O Saviour, granting life to the world. Wherefore, the heavenly powers acclaimed thee, O Giver of life, crying, Glory to thy Resurrection, O Christ! Glory to thy kingdom! Glory to thy gracious providence, O only Lover of mankind.

Troparion of the Fathers: Great are the accomplishments of faith; for the three holy youths rejoiced in the fountain of flames as though at waters of rest. And the Prophet Daniel appeared a shepherd to the lions as though they were sheep. Wherefore, by their pleadings, O Christ God, have mercy upon us.

Troparion of the Forefeast: Be thou ready, Bethlehem, Eden hath opened unto all. Ephratha, prepare thyself, for now, behold, the Tree of life hath blossomed forth in the cave of the holy Virgin. Her womb hath proved a true spiritual Paradise, wherein the divine and saving Tree is found, and as we eat thereof we shall all live, and shall not die as did Adam. Verily, Christ shall be born, raising the likeness that fell of old.

Kontakion Preparatory for Nativity: Today the Virgin comes unto the cave to give birth in an ineffable manner to the Word before the ages. Rejoice, therefore, O universe, when you hear, and glorify with the angels and the shepherds him who shall appear by his own will as a new babe, being God before the ages.

CALENDAR

Sunday, December 22 (Sunday before the Nativity)

8:50 a.m. — Orthros

9:00 a.m. — Christian Education

10:00 a.m. — Divine Liturgy

12:00 p.m. — Children’s Play

5:30 p.m. — Youth Group

Monday, December 23

Office Closed — Father John’s Day Off

Tuesday, December 24

7:00 a.m. — Royal Hours

10:00 p.m. — Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy

Wednesday, December 25 (Feast of the Nativity)

NO Services

Thursday, December 26 (Synaxis of the Theotokos)

NO Daily Orthros

Friday, December 27 (Protomartyr Stephen)

NO Daily Orthros

Saturday, December 28

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

Sunday, December 29 (Sunday after the Nativity of Christ)

8:50 a.m. — Orthros

10:00 a.m. — Divine Liturgy

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Abrahams for the Divine Liturgy this morning.

Please be reminded of the following:

Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

December 22 Abraham Henderson/Baker/Lockhart

December 24 (Tue pm) Fahmy POT LUCK MEAL

(Feast of the Nativity of our Lord)

December 29 Wood Jones/Stewart/Meadows

December 31 (Tue pm) Baker (Artoklasia Bread) No Meal

(Feast of the Circumcision of our Lord; Feast of St. Basil the Great)

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#

December 22 Warren Strain Heb. 11:9-10, 17-23, 32-40 348

December 24 (Tue pm) Kh. Sharon Meadows Gal. 4:4-7 351

December 29 Mildred Morris Gal. 1:11-19 188

December 31 NO Reading

Please remember Fr. Joseph and Kh. Joanna Bittle, and their daughter Abigail, in your prayers.

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.

Terrorists have abducted 12 Orthodox nuns from the Convent of St. Thekla in Syria. Please keep them in your prayers.

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

Fr. Alexander Atty, the Dean of St. Thikon’s who is battling cancer; Walt and Charlotte Wood and their family; Tom and Jennifer Skirtech and their family; Tom and Kathy Willingham.

Mary Guy’s back surgery was successful last week and she is recovering at home. Please keep her in your prayers.

Please schedule time your Confession during the Fast of the Nativity as soon as possible with your priest.

Calendar Items:

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

* The Youth Group will meet for a meal and Christian Education with Father John on Sunday evenings, December 22^nd, January 8^th and 26^th, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

* The Christian Education classes will present a play during Coffee Hour this morning.

* We will celebrate the Feast of the Nativity with Royal Hours on Tuesday morning, beginning at 7:00 a.m. Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy will be celebrated for the Feast Tuesday evening, beginning at 10:00 p.m. See the note below for information about the Pot Luck Meal afterwards.

* Royal Hours for the Feast of Theophany will be held on Friday, January 3^rd, beginning at 6:00 a.m.

* We will celebrate the Feast of Theophany with Divine Liturgy (only) on Monday morning, January 6^th, beginning at 6:00 a.m.

* The Young Adults will meet at the church Sunday, January 19^th from 5:00-6:30 p.m.

* Deanery Youth Retreat with Sister Magdalene – February 14-16^th.

Nativity Feast: This year we will be doing something new for our meal following the Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Nativity. It will be a true Pot Luck Meal. Every family is asked to bring a dish. If your dish requires cooking, that should be done at home BEFORE you come. The warmer will be turned on to keep casseroles warm during the service. Please be sure to TAKE YOUR DISH home with you when you leave (even if you have to leave a little early). No one will be staying late to wash dishes after the meal.

Canned food drive: The Christian Education classes are collecting canned good s for the needy.

Parents, please supervise your children with food in the Fellowship Hall. We are getting stains on the new carpet (and also the chairs in the nave).

Fasting Discipline for December

During the Nativity Fast, which began November 15^th, the traditional fasting (no meat, dairy, fish, wine or oil) is observed each day of the week. Note, however, through December 19^th there is a katlysis on Tuesdays and Thursdays when wine and oil are permitted, and on Saturdays and Sundays when fish, wine and oil are permitted. There is no fasting from December 25^th through January 4^th.

Major Commemorations for December

December 25 Nativity of our Lord

December 26 Synaxis of the Theotokos

December 27 Protomartyr Stephen

Happy Birthdays in December:

December 1 — Christina Katool

December 3 — Stephanie Baker

— Athena Zouboukos

December 4 — Brenda Baker

December 8 — Ben Brock

— Sam Habeeb

— Michael Surratt

December 11 — Sh. Charlotte Algood

December 12 — Jenna Skirtech

December 20 — Steve Chamblee

December 21 — Caroline Halley

December 27 — Ben Skirtech

— Warren Strain

— Nicholas Zouboukos (#14!)

December 28 — Sheryl Chamblee

Happy Anniversaries in December:

December 21 — Fr. John and Kh. Janet Henderson (#39!)

Quotable: “The Holy Bible teaches us that the Saints in Heaven are acquainted with what goes on in this world, and that they pray for us now as they did before they passed from this life. The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews, describing the Saints, beginning with the Righteous Abel and coming down to his own time, tells us they are witnesses of our trials. We know therefore that they pray for us, and we ask for their prayers on our behalf (read Hebrews 11 and 12:1-2). Besides asking the Ever-Virgin Theotokos, the Holy Apostles, and other great servants of God to pray for us, we should ask the intercession of the Saint whose name we might bear, or whose feast may fall on our birthday, or the day of our Baptism. For such Saints pious souls would naturally have a particular devotion.”

Rev. Fr. David F. Abramtsov, The Orthodox Companion

Worship: Sunday, December 29, 2013 (Sunday after the Nativity of Christ)

Scripture: Galatians 1:11-19; Matthew 2:13-23

Celebrant: Father John

Epistle Reader: Mildred Morris

Prosphora: Wood

Coffee Hour: Jones/Stewart/Meadows

12/15 announcments

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December 15, 2013

Twenty-ninth Sunday after Pentecost

Sunday of the Holy Forefathers

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Colossians 3:4-11: As we read in Colossians, we see St Paul encouraging the Church to practice the virtues of compassion, kindness, and humility. He reminds us that love is the bond which holds us together and calls us to let the peace of Christ to rule us.

Luke 14:16-24: In the parable of the man who gave a dinner we see that not all who are called to dine will come and that the consequences of refusing the invitation are great.

Troparion of the Resurrection: O compassionate One, thou didst descend from the heights; thou didst submit to the three-day burial, that thou might deliver us from passion. Thou art our Life and our Resurrection, O Lord, glory to thee.

Troparion of the Forefathers: Thou hast justified by faith the ancient forefathers and through them thou hast gone before and betrothed unto thyself the Church of the Gentiles. Let the saints, therefore, take pride in glory; for from their seed sprouted forth a noble fruit, and she it was who gavest birth to thee without seed. Wherefore, by their pleadings, O Christ God, save our souls.

Troparion of the Hieromartyr Eleutherius: Being comely adorned in thy sacred priestly robes and newly drenched with the streams of thy pure and sanctified blood, thou didst soar aloft to stand before thy Master, Christ; hence never cease to intercede for those honouring with faith thy mighty and blessed contest, thou overthrower of Satan, O wise and blessed Eleutherius.

CALENDAR

Sunday, December 15 (Twenty-ninth Sunday after Pentecost)

8:50 a.m. — Orthros

9:00 a.m. — Christian Education

10:00 a.m. — Divine Liturgy

5:00 p.m. — Young Adults

Monday, December 16

Office Closed — Father John’s Day Off

Tuesday, December 17

6:00 a.m. — Daily Orthros

Wednesday, December 18

6:30 p.m. — Advent Paraklesis

Thursday, December 19

NO Daily Orthros

Friday, December 20 (Ignatios of Antioch, the God-bearer)

NO Daily Orthros

Saturday, December 21

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

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

Sunday, December 22 (Sunday before the Nativity)

8:50 a.m. — Orthros

9:00 a.m. — Christian Education

10:00 a.m. — Divine Liturgy

12:00 p.m. — Children’s Play

5:30 p.m. — Youth Group

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Yeatts for the Divine Liturgy this morning.

Please be reminded of the following:

Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

December 15 Yeatts Schelver/Lavric/Turner

December 22 Abraham Henderson/Baker/Lockhart

December 24 (Tue pm) Fahmy POT LUCK MEAL

(Feast of the Nativity of our Lord)

December 29 Wood Jones/Stewart/Meadows

December 31 (Tue pm) Baker (Artoklasia Bread) No Meal

(Feast of the Circumcision of our Lord; Feast of St. Basil the Great)

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#

December 15 Sh. Charlotte Algood Col. 3:4-11 233

December 22 Warren Strain Heb. 11:9-10, 17-23, 32-40 348

December 24 (Tue pm) Kh. Sharon Meadows Gal. 4:4-7 351

December 29 Mildred Morris Gal. 1:11-19 188

December 31 NO Reading

Please remember Fr. Joseph and Kh. Joanna Bittle, and their daughter Abigail, in your prayers.

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.

Terrorists have abducted 12 Orthodox nuns from the Convent of St. Thekla in Syria. Please keep them in your prayers.

Fr. Alexander Atty, the Dean of St. Thikon’s who is battling cancer; Walt and Charlotte Wood and their family; Tom and Jennifer Skirtech and their family; Tom and Kathy Willingham.

Congratulations to Jordan Henderson on his graduation from Asbury Seminary with a M.A. in Biblical Studies!

Please schedule time your Confession during the Fast of the Nativity as soon as possible with your priest.

Calendar Items:

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

* The Youth Group will meet for a meal and Christian Education with Father John on Sunday evenings, December 22^nd, January 8^th and 26^th, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

* The Young Adults will meet at the church Sunday, TONIGHT from 5:00-6:30 p.m.

* During the Fast of the Nativity we will have the Advent Paraklesis in place of Daily Vespers on Wednesday evening beginning on November 27^th at 6:30 p.m.

* The Ladies of St. Peter will not meet for lunch and fellowship on the fourth Tuesday of December, due to the holiday season. More information will be available once the date has been set.

* The Christian Education classes will present a play during Coffee Hour on Sunday, December 22^nd.

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 December 15^th. Please let Father John know by text or e-mail if you will be there, so that plans may be made for the meal.

Canned food drive: The Christian Education classes are collecting canned good s for the needy.

Parents, please supervise your children with food in the Fellowship Hall. We are getting stains on the new carpet (and also the chairs in the nave).

Happy Birthdays in December:

December 1 — Christina Katool

December 2 — Jim Roehner

December 3 — Stephanie Baker

— Athena Zouboukos

December 4 — Brenda Baker

December 8 — Ben Brock

— Sam Habeeb

— Michael Surratt

December 11 — Sh. Charlotte Algood

December 12 — Jenna Skirtech

December 20 — Steve Chamblee

December 21 — Caroline Halley

December 27 — Ben Skirtech

— Warren Strain

— Nicholas Zouboukos (#14!)

December 28 — Sheryl Chamblee

Happy Anniversaries in December:

December 21 — Fr. John and Kh. Janet Henderson (#39!)

Fasting Discipline for December

Major Commemorations for December

December 15 Hieromartyr Eleutherios

December 20 God-bearer Ignatius of Antioch

December 25 Nativity of our Lord

December 26 Synaxis of the Theotokos

December 27 Protomartyr Stephen

Quotable: “In our daily devotions we should also invoke the intercession of the Blessed Theotokos, the Holy Angels and Holy Saints. They are God’s special friends and as such enjoy not only great power with Almighty God, but are deeply interested in our welfare: There is ‘joy in the presence of the Angels of God over one sinner that repents’ (Luke 15:10). All of these are closer to God than we. They are perfect and can sin no more. Their work, therefore, is perfect and their assistance to us here on earth is consequently more powerful than the prayers and help of our brethren here below. If we ask our friends who are imperfect and sinful creatures to pray for us, common sense tells us that it is much more important for us to imp[lore the perfect Saints in Heaven for their prayers and assistance.”

Rev. Fr. David F. Abramtsov, The Orthodox Companion

Worship: Sunday, December 22, 2013 (Sunday before the Nativity of Christ;

Sunday of the Genealogy)

Scripture: Hebrews 11:9-10, 17-23, 32-40; Matthew 1:1-25

Celebrant: Father John

Epistle Reader: Warren Strain

Prosphora: Abraham

Coffee Hour: Henderson/Baker/Lockhart

12/8 announcements

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December 8, 2013

Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost

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Ephesians 2:14-19: In our reading from Ephesians, we are reminded that Christ not only brought us into union with Himself, but also into union with each other and the faithful saints who have gone before us to be with the Lord.

Luke 13:10-17: By healing a woman held in bondage to an illness for eighteen years, our Lord demonstrates that the Law does not prohibit righteous action on the Sabbath.

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 St. Patapios: The image of God was truly preserved in thee, O Father, for thou didst take up the cross and followed Christ! By so doing thou didst teach us to disregard the flesh for it passes away, but to care instead for the soul since it is immortal. Therefore thy spirit, Holy Father Patapios, dost rejoice with the angels!

CALENDAR

Sunday, December 8 (Twenty-fourth 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

5:30 p.m. — Youth Group

Monday, December 9 (Conception of the Theotokos)

Office Closed — Father John’s Day Off

Tuesday, December 10

6:00 a.m. — Daily Orthros

Wednesday, December 11

6:30 p.m. — Advent Paraklesis

Thursday, December 12 (Spyridon the Wonder-worker)

NO Daily Orthros

Friday, December 13

NO Daily Orthros

Saturday, December 14

10:00 a.m. — Ladies meet for Akathist and Lunch

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

Sunday, December 15 (Twenty-ninth Sunday after Pentecost)

8:50 a.m. — Orthros

9:00 a.m. — Christian Education

10:00 a.m. — Divine Liturgy

5:00 p.m. — Young Adults

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Eucharist Bread …was offered by Daniel Roots for the Divine Liturgy this morning and the Artoklasia Bread was offered by the Hendersons for the Feast of St. Nicholas the Wonder-worker this past Thursday evening.

Please be reminded of the following:

Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

December 8 D. Root POT LUCK MEAL

(set-up: Algood/Yeatts/Lasseter)

December 15 Yeatts Schelver/Lavric/Turner

December 22 Abraham Henderson/Baker/Lockhart

December 24 (Tue pm) Fahmy POT LUCK MEAL

(Feast of the Nativity of our Lord)

December 29 Wood Jones/Stewart/Meadows

December 31 (Tue pm) Baker (Artoklasia Bread) No Meal

(Feast of the Circumcision of our Lord; Feast of St. Basil the Great)

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#

December 8 Brenda Baker Eph. 2:14-22 207

December 15 Sh. Charlotte Algood Col. 3:4-11 233

December 22 Warren Strain Heb. 11:9-10, 17-23, 32-40 348

December 24 (Tue pm) Kh. Sharon Meadows Gal. 4:4-7 351

December 29 Mildred Morris Gal. 1:11-19 188

December 31 NO Reading

Please remember Fr. Joseph and Kh. Joanna Bittle, and their daughter Abigail, in your prayers.

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.

Terrorists have abducted 12 Orthodox nuns from the Convent of St. Thekla in Syria. Please keep them in your prayers.

Fr. Alexander Atty, the Dean of St. Thikon’s who is battling cancer; Walt and Charlotte Wood and their family; Tom and Jennifer Skirtech and their family; Tom and Kathy Willingham.

Calendar Items:

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

* The Youth Group will meet for a meal and Christian Education with Father John on Sunday evenings, December 8^th and 22^nd , beginning at 5:30 p.m.

* The Young Adults will meet at the church Sunday, December 15^th from 5:00-6:30 p.m.

* During the Fast of the Nativity we will have the Advent Paraklesis in place of Daily Vespers on Wednesday evening beginning on November 27^th at 6:30 p.m.

* The Ladies of St. Peter will not meet for lunch and fellowship on the fourth Tuesday of December, due to the holiday season. More information will be available once the date has been set.

* The Christian Education classes will present a play during Coffee Hour on Sunday, December 22^nd. More information will be available soon.

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 December 15^th. Please let Father John know by text or e-mail if you will be there, so that plans may be made for the meal.

Canned food drive: The Christian Education classes are collecting canned good s for the needy.

Parents, please supervise your children with food in the Fellowship Hall. We are getting stains on the new carpet (and also the chairs in the nave).

Happy Birthdays in December:

December 1 — Christina Katool

December 2 — Jim Roehner

December 3 — Stephanie Baker

— Athena Zouboukos

December 4 — Brenda Baker

December 8 — Ben Brock

— Sam Habeeb

— Michael Surratt

December 11 — Sh. Charlotte Algood

December 12 — Jenna Skirtech

December 20 — Steve Chamblee

— Anna Freundt

December 21 — Caroline Halley

December 27 — Ben Skirtech

— Warren Strain

— Nicholas Zouboukos (#14!)

December 28 — Sheryl Chamblee

Happy Anniversaries in December:

December 21 — Fr. John and Kh. Janet Henderson (#39!)

Fasting Discipline for December

Major Commemorations for December

December 9 Conception of the Theotokos

December 12 Spyridon the Wonder-worker

December 15 Hieromartyr Eleutherios

December 20 God-bearer Ignatius of Antioch

December 25 Nativity of our Lord

December 26 Synaxis of the Theotokos

December 27 Protomartyr Stephen

Quotable: “Prayer should primarily be directed to God in the three Persons of the Holy Trinity; but since the fruitfulness of our supplications depend solely upon the merits of Christ, our Advocate with the Father, we should offer them in His Name. Thereby they acquire the weight and influence which makes them pleasing to the Father. The success of our prayers to God depend not only on our piety and perseverance—we must also have a lively and fervid faith in the great service rendered by Our Saviour when by His sufferings upon the Cross He reconciled mankind with God. Because of Him our Heavenly Father is prepared to grant all: ‘If you ask the Father anything in My Name, He will give it to you’ (John 16:23, says Our Lord Jesus Christ. Thus our prayer will only be successful when we offer nit in the Name of Jesus Christ, with lively faith in the service of His Cross. We can best express our offering of prayer to God in the Name of Christ by the Sign of the Cross. In accompanying our sincere prayer with the Cross, we place upon it a seal; we make our prayer more pleasing to God. We show by the Sign of the Cross that we are asking the Heavenly Father to grant our petitions not because of our merits, of which we sinners are void, but because of the merits of the Saviour, through Whom all has been acquired for us. By the Saviour’s Death upon the Cross the treasury of Heavenly good things was opened for us. By the Sign of the Cross, united with lively faith in the Saviour and accompanied by our pious and sincere prayer, each one of us opens this treasury anew for himself in order to receive from it those good things which he needs.”

Rev. Fr. David F. Abramtsov, The Orthodox Companion

Worship: Sunday, December 15, 2013 (Twenty-ninth Sunday after Pentecost; Sunday

of the Forefathers)

Scripture: Colossians 3:4-11; Luke 14:16-24

Celebrant: Father John

Epistle Reader: Sh. Charlotte Algood

Prosphora: Yeatts

Coffee Hour: Schelver/Lavric/Turner

December 1 announcements

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December 1, 2013

Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost

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Ephesians 2:4-10: St Paul, writing to the Ephesians, encourages us by reminding us that we who were dead in our sins are now alive in our union with Christ because of God’s mercy toward us and are now able to do the good works prepared for us.

Matthew 22:2-14: In the gospel of St Matthew we hear our Lord tell us the parable of the marriage feast, in which we learn that readiness for the coming of our Lord requires correct preparation.

Troparion of the Resurrection: When Mary stood at thy grave looking for thy sacred body, angelic powers shone above thy revered tomb, and the soldiers who were to keep guard became as dead men. Thou led hades captive and wast not tempted thereby. Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst give life to the world; O thou who art risen from the dead! O Lord, glory to thee.

Troparion of the Prophet Nahum: As we celebrate the memory of Thy Prophet Nahum, O Lord, through him we beseech Thee to save our souls.

CALENDAR

Sunday, December 1 (Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost)

8:50 a.m. — Orthros

9:00 a.m. — Christian Education

10:00 a.m. — Divine Liturgy

Monday, December 2

Office Closed — Father John’s Day Off

Tuesday, December 3

6:00 a.m. — Daily Orthros

Wednesday, December 4 (Great-martyr Barbara and St. John of Damascus)

6:30 p.m. — Advent Paraklesis

7:30 p.m. — Parish Council Meeting

Thursday, December 5 (Sava the Sanctified)

NO Daily Orthros

11:30 a.m. — Men’s Lunch

6:30 p.m. — Great Vespers with Litia and Artoklasia

Friday, December 6 (Nicholas the Wonder-worker)

NO Daily Orthros

Saturday, December 7

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

9:00 a.m. — Madison Christmas Parade

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

Sunday, December 8 (Twenty-fourth 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

5:30 p.m. — Youth Group

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Eucharist Bread …was offered by Davises for the Divine Liturgy this morning.

Please be reminded of the following:

Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

December 1 Davis R. Root/Abraham/Habeeb

December 5 (Thu pm) Henderson (Artoklasia Bread) No Meal

(Feast of St. Nicholas)

December 8 D. Root POT LUCK MEAL

(set-up: Algood/Yeatts/Lasseter)

December 15 Yeatts Schelver/Lavric/Turner

December 22 Abraham Henderson/Baker/Lockhart

December 24 (Tue pm) Fahmy POT LUCK MEAL

(Feast of the Nativity of our Lord)

December 29 Wood Jones/Stewart/Meadows

December 31 (Tue pm) Baker (Artoklasia Bread) No Meal

(Feast of the Circumcision of our Lord; Feast of St. Basil the Great)

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#

December 1 Brenda Baker Eph. 2:4-10 202

December 5 (Thu pm) NO Reading

December 8 Mildred Morris Eph. 2:14-22 207

December 15 Sh. Charlotte Algood Col. 3:4-11 233

December 22 Warren Strain Heb. 11:9-10, 17-23, 32-40 348

December 24 (Tue pm) Kh. Sharon Meadows Gal. 4:4-7 351

December 29 Mildred Morris Gal. 1:11-19 188

December 31 NO Reading

Please remember Fr. Joseph and Kh. Joanna Bittle, and their daughter Abigail, in your prayers.

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 keep Walt and Charlotte Wood and their family in your prayers as Walt continues to recover from heart surgery.

Fr. Alexander Atty, the Dean of St. Thikon’s who is battling cancer.

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

Calendar Items:

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

* The Youth Group will meet for a meal and Christian Education with Father John on Sunday evenings, December 8^th and 22^nd , beginning at 5:30 p.m.

* We will celebrate the Feast of St. Nicholas the Wonder-worker with Great Vespers with Litia and Artoklasia on Thursday evening, December 5^th, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

* The Young Adults will meet at the church Sunday, December 15^th from 5:00-6:30 p.m.

* During the Fast of the Nativity we will have the Advent Paraklesis in place of Daily Vespers on Wednesday evening beginning on November 27^th at 6:30 p.m.

* The Ladies of St. Peter will not meet for lunch and fellowship on the fourth Tuesday of December, due to the holiday season. More information will be available once the date has been set.

* The Christian Education classes will present a play during Coffee Hour on Sunday, December 22^nd. More information will be available soon.

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 December 15^th. Please let Father John know by text or e-mail if you will be there, so that plans may be made for the meal.

Canned food drive: The Christian Education classes are collecting canned good s for the needy.

Parents, please supervise your children with food in the Fellowship Hall. We are getting stains on the new carpet (and also the chairs in the nave).

The website of the Episcopal Assembly has recently posted important statements concerning Orthodoxy. (Two of these statements are located on the Bulletin Board in the Fellowship Hall. Please be sure to take a look at them.) The website is an important source of information on the Orthodox Church.

Amy Surratt has volunteered to be in charge of the Angel Tree here at St. Peter’s this year. Information is available in the Fellowship Hall. Gifts are due back to the church by December 6^th.

Fasting Discipline for December

Major Commemorations for December

December 4 Great-martyr Barbara and Father John of Damascus

December 5 Sava the Sanctified

December 6 Nicholas of Myra

December 9 Conception of the Theotokos

December 12 Spyridon the Wonder-worker

December 15 Hieromartyr Eleutherios

December 20 God-bearer Ignatius of Antioch

December 25 Nativity of our Lord

December 26 Synaxis of the Theotokos

December 27 Protomartyr Stephen

Happy Anniversaries in December:

December 21 — Fr. John and Kh. Janet Henderson (#39!)

Happy Birthdays in December:

December 1 — Christina Katool

December 2 — Jim Roehner

December 3 — Stephanie Baker

— Athena Zouboukos

December 4 — Brenda Baker

December 8 — Ben Brock

— Sam Habeeb

— Michael Surratt

December 11 — Sh. Charlotte Algood

December 12 — Jenna Skirtech

December 20 — Steve Chamblee

— Anna Freundt

December 21 — Caroline Halley

December 27 — Ben Skirtech

— Warren Strain

— Nicholas Zouboukos (#14!)

December 28 — Sheryl Chamblee

Quotable: “By the use of the word ‘our’ in the Lord’s Prayer it is clear that God wishes us to pray not only for ourselves, but for others, and therefore it is also our duty to offer supplications for all mankind, imploring for them spiritual, then temporal benefits. In a special manner, however, we are bound to pray for our relatives, pastors, friends and benefactors, for our country and its rulers, for the faithful departed, for enemies and sinners. We should not omit offering frequent prayers of thanksgiving for the numerous and weighty blessings which God continually bestows upon us and on the whole human race. Thanksgiving and petition are, indeed, the two principal parts of prayer, one as necessary as the other. In fact, if we are not grateful for God’s benefits, how may we expect that He will heed our petitions?”

Rev. Fr. David F. Abramtsov, The Orthodox Companion

Worship: Sunday, December 8, 2013 (Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost)

Scripture: Ephesians 2:14-22; Luke 13:10-17

Celebrant: Father John

Epistle Reader: Mildred Morris

Prosphora: D. Root

Coffee Hour: POT LUCK MEAL

(set-up: Algood/Lasseter/Yeatts)

Saint Peter Antiochian Orthodox Church

Madison, MS

Monthly Archives: December 2013

12/29 announcements

12/22 announcements

12/15 announcments

12/8 announcements

December 1 announcements