Monthly Archives: August 2015

8/30 announcements

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August 30, 2015
Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Leave-taking of the Commemoration of the Beheading of the Forerunner
 
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.
 
Matthew 21:33-42:  From St Matthew we hear our Lord use the parable of the landowner to    foretell His’ rejection by the Jews and the consequences to them for that rejection.
 
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 for the Forerunner: The memory of the righteous is celebrated with songs of praise, but the Lord’s testimony is sufficient for thee, O Forerunner.  Thou wast shown indeed to be the most honorable of the prophets, for in the waters thou didst baptize Him Who had been proclaimed.  After suffering with joy in behalf of the truth, thou didst proclaim even to those in Hades the God Who appeared in the flesh, Who takest away the sin of the world, and granteth us the Great Mercy.
 
Troparion of the Chains of St. Peter: O Holy Apostle, Peter, thou dost preside over the Apostles by the precious chains which thou didst bear.  We venerate them with faith and beseech thee that by thine intercessions we be granted the great mercy.
 
Kontakion of the 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, August 30   (Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost)
            8:50 a.m.         — Orthros
            10:00 a.m.       — Divine Liturgy
            5:00 p.m.         — Young Adults
 
Monday, August 31   
            Office Closed — Father John’s Day Off
                       
Tuesday, September 1   (Indiction of the Ecclesiastical Year)
            6:00 a.m.         — Festal Orthros
 
Wednesday, September 2   
            6:30 p.m.         — Daily Vespers
            7:15 p.m.         — Choir Practice
           
Thursday, September 3  
            6:00 a.m.         — Daily Orthros
            11:30 a.m.       — Men’s Lunch
 
Friday, September 4   
           
Saturday, September 5   
            5:45 p.m.         — Ninth Hour followed by Great Vespers
 
Sunday, September 6   (Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost)
            8:50 a.m.         — Orthros
            10:00 a.m.       — Divine Liturgy
 
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Brocks for the Divine Liturgy today. 

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.
 
Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:
                                         Eucharist Bread                     Coffee Hour
August 30                       Brock                                       Henderson/Baker/Lockhart
September 6                    Davis                                       Karam/Stewart/Meadows
September 7 (Mon pm)  Meadows (Artoklasia Bread)   No Meal
                  (Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos)
September 13                  Karam                                      POT LUCK MEAL
                                                                                           (set-up:Ellis/Zouboukos/Fahmy)
September 14 (Mon am) Brock                                      Kh. Sharon Meadows
                  (Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross)
September 20               Fahmy                                        Pigott/Strain
September 27               Baker                                          Skirtech/Skirtech/Parker
 
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#
August 30                           Kh. Sharon Meadows           I Cor. 16:13-24               152
September 6                        Mildred Morris                      II Cor. 1:21-2:1-4           158
September 13                      Phillip Lasseter                     Gal. 6:11-18                   198
September 14 (Mon am)   Brenda Baker                         I Cor. 1:18-24                 311-312
                     (Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross)
September 20                      Kh. Be’Be’ Schelver            Gal. 2:16-20                   193
September 27                      David Turner                         II Cor. 6:16-7:1               173
 
Continue to pray for Metropolitan Paul (who is also the brother of our Patriarch) and the Syriac Archbishop John of Aleppo who were abducted while on a humanitarian mission in Syria.
 
Please be reminded of the following:
Be very careful with the Blessed Bread when you take it after communion.  Because this bread has been blessed, we should take care not to let crumbs fall on the floor.  Parents, especially, please help your children to choose a small piece and treat it carefully.
         Also, at the end of the liturgy, maintain a prayerful disposition during the veneration of the cross as the prayers of thanksgiving after communion are still underway.  Please exchange your greetings with each other in the Fellowship Hall during Coffee Hour.
  
Please 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;
Walt and Charlotte Wood and their family; Tom and Jennifer Skirtech and their family; Tom and Kathy Willingham; Athena and Anthony Zouboukos and their family.
 
Please continue to pray for the health of His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN.
 
Please remember Fr. Joseph and Kh. Joanna Bittle, and their daughter Abigail, in your prayers.
 
Please keep Sophia Skirtech and her family in your prayers.  She is home home from the hospital recovering from her bad fall last week.
 
Our Condolences and prayers go out to Costas Pavlou, whose brother died in Greece last week, and to Saliba Dabit, whose brother-in-law also died last week.  May their memory be eternal.
 
Jay Davis will be enrolled as a catechumen this morning.  Please keep him in your prayers.
 
Sad Farewells!  We say a sad farewell to
            Robert and Deb Abraham who will be moving to Oklahoma in the next few weeks;
and also to
            Rick and Kay Carlton who will be moving to Oxford, MS in September.  They will be greatly missed!
 
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 the 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.
*    We will celebrate the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos with Great Vespers with Litia and Artoklasia on Monday evening, September 7th, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
*    Father-Son Prayer Breakfast at the church, Saturday morning, September 12th, beginning at 8:30 a.m.
*    The Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross will be celebrated with Divine Liturgy (only) on Monday morning, September 14th, beginning at 6:00 a.m.
*    On October 18th, Niko Petrogeorge will be with us to give a presentation about FOCUS ministries.
*    Our parish Fall Festival will be held at the church on Saturday afternoon, October 31st.
 
Christian Education Classes for the new school year will begin on Sunday, September 13th, beginning at 9:00 a.m.  Please be sure to have your children to the Church on time.

Young Adults Study Group:  The Young Adults agreed to begin meeting twice a month.  One of these meetings will feature a teaching by Fr. John on various aspects of the Orthodox Christian faith.  Topics will include education, ethics and parenting children.  The next meetings will be tonight and Sunday, September 20th.
 
Fall Festival!  We will hold our parish Fall Festival on Saturday afternoon, October 31st.  Ninth Hour and Vespers will be cancelled that day.  There will be a petting zoo and bouncy house for the children, along with other fun activities.  Be sure to mark your calendars now!
 
Fasting Discipline for August/September
The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, eggs, fish wine or oil) is observed on all Wednesdays and Fridays of the month.  September 14th is also a strict fast day in remembrance of the Elevation of the Holy Cross.
 
Major Commemorations for August/September   
August 31              Depostion of the Belt of the Theotokos
September 1           Indiction of the Ecclesiastical Year
September 6           Miracle of the Archangel Michael
September 8           Nativity of the Theotokos
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
 
Thermostats in the Fellowship Hall:  There are two thermostats in the Fellowship Hall—one in the main room to control the air in the main room, and a second one in the Nursery room that controls the air in all four of the Sunday School rooms.  Please be sure when you leave the building that both thermostats are set to 80 degrees in warm weather or 60 degrees in cold weather.
 
Father-Son Prayer Breakfast:  The men of the parish will begin meeting at the church once each quarter for a Saturday morning Father-Son Prayer Breakfast.  The first prayer breakfast is scheduled for Saturday morning, September 12th, beginning at 8:30 a.m.
 
Happy Anniversaries in September:
         September 4           —    Ben and Jenna Skirtech (#14!)
         September 15         —    Tom and Kathy Willingham (#25!)
         September 26         —    Rod and Emily Parker (#11!)
 
Happy Birthdays in August/September:
         August 31              —    Elizabeth Root
         September 1           —    Adelina Lavric (#3!)
         September 3           —    Lee Greene
                                       —    Hannah Strange (#9!)
         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 30         —    Laura Algood
 
Quotable:  “The philosophers philosphised by conjecture, imagination, and having reason at the centre, while for the holy Fathers the nous was the centre.  They first purified their hearts of passions, and their nous was illuminated.  This illumination of the nous is not just knowledge of the archetypes of beings, but the coming of the grace of God into the heart.  As a result of this, they attained the vision of God, which is seeing God in the uncreated Light.  It is in this way that the holy Prophets, Apostles and saints received the revelation, the manifestation of God in their hearts.”
                                                The Person in the Orthodox Tradition
                                                by Metropolitan NAFPAKTOS Hierotheos
 
 
Worship:         Sunday, September 6, 2015 (Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost)
 
         Scripture:                               II Corinthians 1:21-2:1-4; Matthew 22:2-14
         Celebrant:                              Father John
         Epistle Reader:                     Mildred Morris
         Prosphora:                             Davis
         Coffee Hour:                         Karam/Stewart/Meadows

8/23 announcements

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August 23, 2015
Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
Leave-taking of the Dormition of the Theotokos
 
I Corinthians 15:1-11:  Continuing our reading from I Corinthians we hear St Paul present the facts of the resurrection as the basis for our salvation and the cornerstone of our faith.
 
Matthew 19:16-26:   St Matthew describes Jesus’ encounter with the rich young ruler.  In this
incident we learn that spirituality is not founded only on keeping the law, but on giving mercy to others and denial of oneself.
 
Troparion of the Resurrection:  Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad; for the Lord hath done a mighty act with his own arm.  He hath trampled down death and become the First-born from the dead. He hath delivered us from the depths of hades, granting the world the Great Mercy.
 
Troparion of the Dormition:  In thy birth-giving, O Theotokos, thou didst keep and preserve virginity; and in thy falling-asleep thou hast not forsaken the world; for living thou wast translated, being the Mother of Life.  Wherefore, by thine intercessions, deliver our souls from death.
 
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 Dormition:  Verily, the Theotokos, who is ever watchful in intercessions, who is never rejected, neither tomb nor death could control.  But being the Mother of Life, he who dwelt in her ever-virgin womb didst translate her to life.
 
 
CALENDAR
 
Sunday, August 23   (Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost)
            8:50 a.m.         — Orthros
            10:00 a.m.       — Divine Liturgy
            5:30 p.m.         — Youth Group           
 
Monday, August 24   
            Office Closed — Father John’s Day Off
                       
Tuesday, August 25   (Apostles Bartholomew and Titus)
            6:00 a.m.         — Daily Orthros
 
Wednesday, August 26   
            6:30 p.m.         — Daily Vespers
            7:15 p.m.         — Choir Practice
            7:30 p.m.         — Parish Council Meeting
           
Thursday, August 27  
            6:00 a.m.         — Daily Orthros
 
Friday, August 28   
           
Saturday, August 29   (Beheading of the Forerunner)
            11:30 a.m.       — Ladies Lunch and Meeting at the Meadows’
            5:45 p.m.         — Ninth Hour followed by Great Vespers
 
Sunday, August 30   (Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost)
            8:50 a.m.         — Orthros
            10:00 a.m.       — Divine Liturgy
            5:00 p.m.         — Young Adults
 
 
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Meadows for the Divine Liturgy today. 
 
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.
 
Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:
                                             Eucharist Bread                     Coffee Hour
August 23                             Meadows                                 Schelver/Lavric/Turner
August 30                            Brock                                       Henderson/Baker/Lockhart
September 6                         Davis                                       Karam/Stewart/Meadows
September 7 (Mon pm)       Meadows (Artoklasia Bread)   No Meal
                  (Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos)
September 13                      Karam                                       POT LUCK MEAL
                                                                                                (set-up:Ellis/Zouboukos/Fahmy)
September 14 (Mon am)     Brock                                       Kh. Sharon Meadows
                  (Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross)
September 20                       Fahmy                                     Pigott/Strain
September 27                       Baker                                       Skirtech/Skirtech/Parker
 
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#
August 23                          Warren Strain                        I Cor. 15:1-11                 146
August 30                          Kh. Sharon Meadows          I Cor. 16:13-24               152
September 6                       Mildred Morris                     II Cor. 1:21-2:1-4           158
September 13                     Phillip Lasseter                    Gal. 6:11-18                    198
September 14 (Mon am)  Brenda Baker                        I Cor. 1:18-24                  311-312
                     (Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross)
September 20                     Kh. Be’Be’ Schelver           Gal. 2:16-20                     193
September 27                     David Turner                         II Cor. 6:16-7:1               173
 
Continue to pray for Metropolitan Paul (who is also the brother of our Patriarch) and the Syriac Archbishop John of Aleppo who were abducted while on a humanitarian mission in Syria.
 
Please be reminded of the following:
Be very careful with the Blessed Bread when you take it after communion.  Because this bread has been blessed, we should take care not to let crumbs fall on the floor.  Parents, especially, please help your children to choose a small piece and treat it carefully.
         Also, at the end of the liturgy, maintain a prayerful disposition during the veneration of the cross as the prayers of thanksgiving after communion are still underway.  Please exchange your greetings with each other in the Fellowship Hall during Coffee Hour.
 
Please 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;
Walt and Charlotte Wood and their family; Tom and Jennifer Skirtech and their family; Tom and Kathy Willingham; Athena and Anthony Zouboukos and their family.
 
Please continue to pray for the health of His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN.
 
Please remember Fr. Joseph and Kh. Joanna Bittle, and their daughter Abigail, in your prayers.
 
Our Condolences and prayers go out to Jesse Milnor and his family on the repose of his uncle, Dr. Purvis Milnor, this past Wednesday morning in Memphis, TN.
 
Jay Davis will be enrolled as a catechumen next Sunday, August 30th.  Please keep him in your prayers.
 
Sad Farewells!  We say a sad farewell to
            Robert and Deb Abraham who will be moving to Oklahoma in the next few weeks;
and also to
            Rick and Kay Carlton who will be moving to Oxford, MS in September.  They will be greatly missed!
 
August Ladies’ Lunch:  The Ladies Lunch in August will be held at the Meadows’ home next Saturday morning, August 29th, beginning at 11:30 a.m.  Fr. John will be giving a short teaching and we will be discussing plans for the upcoming year.  Please mark your calendar!
 
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 the 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 Ladies Lunch in August will be held at the Meadows’ home on Saturday morning, August 29th, beginning at 11:30 a.m.  Fr. John will also be giving a short teaching.
*    Father-Son Prayer Breakfast at the church, Saturday morning, September 12th, beginning at 8:30 a.m.
*    Our parish Fall Festival will be held at the church on Saturday afternoon, October 31st.
 
Young Adults Study Group:  The Young Adults agreed to begin meeting twice a month.  One of these meetings will feature a teaching by Fr. John on various aspects of the Orthodox Christian faith.  Topics will include education, ethics and parenting children.  The next meetings will be Sunday, August 30th and September 20th.

Fall Festival!  We will hold our parish Fall Festival on Saturday afternoon, October 31st.  Ninth Hour and Vespers will be cancelled that day.  There will be a petting zoo and bouncy house for the children, along with other fun activities.  Be sure to mark your calendars now!
 
Fasting Discipline for August
After the 15th, the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, eggs, fish wine or oil) is observed on the remaining Wednesdays and Fridays of the month.  August 29th is also a strict fast day in remembrance of the beheading of the Forerunner.
 
Major Commemorations for August  
August 25              Apostles Bartholomew and Titus
August 29              Beheading of the Forerunner
August 31              Depostion of the Belt of the Theotokos
 
Thermostats in the Fellowship Hall:  There are two thermostats in the Fellowship Hall—one in the main room to control the air in the main room, and a second one in the Nursery room that controls the air in all four of the Sunday School rooms.  Please be sure when you leave the building that both thermostats are set to 80 degrees in warm weather or 60 degrees in cold weather.
 
Father-Son Prayer Breakfast:  The men of the parish will begin meeting at the church once each quarter for a Saturday morning Father-Son Prayer Breakfast.  The first prayer breakfast is scheduled for Saturday morning, September 12th, beginning at 8:30 a.m.
 
Happy Birthdays in August:
         August 4                —    Simeon Root (#6!)
         August 7                —    Joseph Katool 
         August 18              —    Virginia Stewart (#5!)
         August 20              —    Suzi Fino
         August 24              —    Anastasia Jones
         August 26              —    Bob Buchanan
         August 27              —    Eli Dabit (#5!)
         August 31              —    Elizabeth Root
 
Happy Anniversaries in August:
         August 16              —    Rick and Kay Carlton (#40!)
         August 17              —    Steve and Sheryl Chamblee (#26!)
         August 18              —    Jesse and Sarah Milnor (#13!)
         August 25              —    Nimr and Mona Fahmy (#41!)
         August 27              —    Alfred and Christina Katool (#27!)
 
 
Quotable:  “The holy Fathers also teach that the world did not come into existence through its fall from the so-called real world, the world of ideas, but it was created by God in a positive way.  They also teach that the world was created ‘out of naught’ and that it is directed by the uncreated Providence and uncreated governing energy of God.  The holy Fathers also teach that love is not only a motion of man towards God, as Plato said, nor does it express the powerlessness of man who is moved towards the prime unmoving mover in order to feel completeness, but that it is a positive energy.  God is not simply the unmoving mover, but He is at the same time moved towards man.  He moves and is moved.  And love is not a matter of man’s weakness, since God Himself, Who is love and the object of love, Who moves and is moved, is also called love.
                                                The Person in the Orthodox Tradition
                                                by Metropolitan NAFPAKTOS Hierotheos
 
 
Worship:         Sunday, August 30, 2015 (Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost)
 
         Scripture:                               I Corinthians 16:13-24; Matthew 21:33-42
         Celebrant:                              Father John
         Epistle Reader:                     Kh. Sharon Meadows
         Prosphora:                              Brock
         Coffee Hour:                          Henderson/Baker/Lavric

8/16 announcements

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August 16, 2015
Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
Sunday after the Dormition of the Theotokos
 
I Corinthians 9:2-12:  In our reading from I Corinthians, we hear St Paul respond to those in who    questioned his apostleship and his lifestyle as such.
 
Matthew 18:23-35:  The Lord Jesus uses a parable to teach that forgiveness is an action to be per­formed by all who follow Him as well as a gift to be received from God.
 
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 Icon of Christ: Thy pure image do we venerate, O good One, asking forgiveness of our sins, O Christ our God; for by thine own will thou didst ascend the Cross in thy body, to save thy creatures from the bondage of the enemy.  Thou hast truly filled all with joy, since thou didst come, O our Saviour, to save the world.
 
Troparion of the Dormition:  In thy birth-giving, O Theotokos, thou didst keep and preserve virginity; and in thy falling-asleep thou hast not forsaken the world; for living thou wast translated, being the Mother of Life.  Wherefore, by thine intercessions, deliver our souls from death.

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 Dormition:  Verily, the Theotokos, who is ever watchful in intercessions, who is never rejected, neither tomb nor death could control.  But being the Mother of Life, he who dwelt in her ever-virgin womb didst translate her to life.
 
 
CALENDAR
 
Sunday, August 16   (Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost)
            8:50 a.m.         — Orthros
            10:00 a.m.       — Divine Liturgy
            12:00 p.m.       — Pot Luck Meal
            5:00 p.m.         — Young Adults
 
Monday, August 17   
            Office Closed — Father John’s Day Off
                       
Tuesday, August 18  
            6:00 a.m.         — Daily Orthros
 
Wednesday, August 19   
            6:30 p.m.         — Daily Vespers
            7:15 p.m.         — Choir Practice
           
Thursday, August 20  
            6:00 a.m.         — Daily Orthros
 
Friday, August 21   
           
Saturday, August 22   
            5:45 p.m.         — Ninth Hour followed by Great Vespers
 
Sunday, August 23   (Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost)
            8:50 a.m.         — Orthros
            10:00 a.m.       — Divine Liturgy
            5:30 p.m.         — Youth Group           
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Morrises for the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos yesterday morning and by the Joneses for the Divine Liturgy today. 
 
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.
 
Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:
                                         Eucharist Bread                   Coffee Hour
August 16                       Jones                                       POT LUCK MEAL     
                                                                                          (set-up:  R. Root/Abraham/Habeeb)
August 23                       Meadows                               Schelver/Lavric/Turner
August 30                       Brock                                      Henderson/Baker/Lockhart
September 6                    Davis                                      Karam/Stewart/Meadows
September 7 (Mon pm  Meadows (Artoklasia Bread)   No Meal
                  (Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos)
September 13                 Karam                                      POT LUCK MEAL
                                                                                          (set-up:Ellis/Zouboukos/Fahmy)
September 14 (Mon am) Brock                                    Kh. Sharon Meadows
                  (Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross)
September 20                Fahmy                                      Pigott/Strain/Osborne
September 27                Baker                                       Skirtech/Skirtech/Parker
 
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#
August 16                          Sh. Charlotte Algood            I Cor. 9:2-12                   141
August 23                          Warren Strain                         I Cor. 15:1-11                 146
August 30                          Kh. Sharon Meadows            I Cor. 16:13-24              152
September 6                       Mildred Morris                       II Cor. 1:21-2:1-4           158
September 13                     Phillip Lasseter                      Gal. 6:11-18                   198
September 14 (Mon am)  Brenda Baker                          I Cor. 1:18-24                 311-312
                     (Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross)
September 20                     Kh. Be’Be’ Schelver             Gal. 2:16-20                   193
September 27                     David Turner                          II Cor. 6:16-7:1             173
 
Continue to pray for Metropolitan Paul (who is also the brother of our Patriarch) and the Syriac Archbishop John of Aleppo who were abducted while on a humanitarian mission in Syria.
 
Please be reminded of the following:
Be very careful with the Blessed Bread when you take it after communion.  Because this bread has been blessed, we should take care not to let crumbs fall on the floor.  Parents, especially, please help your children to choose a small piece and treat it carefully.
         Also, at the end of the liturgy, maintain a prayerful disposition during the veneration of the cross as the prayers of thanksgiving after communion are still underway.  Please exchange your greetings with each other in the Fellowship Hall during Coffee Hour.
 
Please 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;
Walt and Charlotte Wood and their family; Tom and Jennifer Skirtech and their family; Tom and Kathy Willingham; Athena and Anthony Zouboukos and their family.
 
Please continue to pray for the health of His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN.
 
Please remember Fr. Joseph and Kh. Joanna Bittle, and their daughter Abigail, in your prayers.
 
Sad Farewells!  We say a sad farewell to
            Robert and Deb Abraham who will be moving to Oklahoma in the next few weeks;
and also to
            Rick and Kay Carlton who will be moving to Oxford, MS in September.  They will be greatly missed!
 
August Ladies’ Lunch:  The Ladies Lunch in August will be held at the Meadows’ home on Saturday morning, August 29th, beginning at 11:30 a.m.  Fr. John will be giving a short teaching and we will be discussing plans for the upcoming year.  Please mark your calendar!
 
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 the 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 Ladies Lunch in August will be held at the Meadows’ home on Saturday morning, August 29th, beginning at 11:30 a.m.  Fr. John will also be giving a short teaching.
*    Father-Son Prayer Breakfast at the church, Saturday morning, September 12th, beginning at 8:30 a.m.
*    Our parish Fall Festival will be held at the church on Saturday afternoon, October 31st.
Young Adults Study Group:  The Young Adults agreed to begin meeting twice a month.  One of these meetings will feature a teaching by Fr. John on various aspects of the Orthodox Christian faith.  Topics will include education, ethics and parenting children.  The next meetings will be Sunday, 16th and 30th.
 
Fall Festival!  We will hold our parish Fall Festival on Saturday afternoon, October 31st.  Ninth Hour and Vespers will be cancelled that day.  There will be a petting zoo and bouncy house for the children, along with other fun activities.  Be sure to mark your calendars now!
 
Fasting Discipline for August
After the 15th, the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, eggs, fish wine or oil) is observed on the remaining Wednesdays and Fridays of the month.  August 29th is also a strict fast day in remembrance of the beheading of the Forerunner.
 
Major Commemorations for August  
August 25              Apostles Bartholomew and Titus
August 29              Beheading of the Forerunner
August 31              Depostion of the Belt of the Theotokos
 
Thermostats in the Fellowship Hall:  There are two thermostats in the Fellowship Hall—one in the main room to control the air in the main room, and a second one in the Nursery room that controls the air in all four of the Sunday School rooms.  Please be sure when you leave the building that both thermostats are set to 80 degrees in warm weather or 60 degrees in cold weather.
 
Father-Son Prayer Breakfast:  The men of the parish will begin meeting at the church once each quarter for a Saturday morning Father-Son Prayer Breakfast.  The first prayer breakfast is scheduled for Saturday morning, September 12th, beginning at 8:30 a.m.
 
Happy Birthdays in August:
         August 4                —    Simeon Root (#6!)
         August 7                —    Joseph Katool 
         August 18              —    Virginia Stewart (#5!)
         August 20              —    Suzi Fino
         August 24              —    Anastasia Jones
         August 26              —    Bob Buchanan
         August 27              —    Eli Dabit (#5!)
         August 31              —    Elizabeth Root
Happy Anniversaries in August:
         August 16              —    Rick and Kay Carlton (#40!)
         August 17              —    Steve and Sheryl Chamblee (#26!)
         August 18              —    Jesse and Sarah Milnor (#13!)
         August 25              —    Nimr and Mona Fahmy (#41!)
         August 27              —    Alfred and Christina Katool (#27!)
 
Quotable:  “All of the philosophers’ views were rejected by the Fathers of the Church. In the Church we do not accept the teaching about ideas, nor the ontology of God as the philosophers describe it, nor the pre-existence of the soul, nor the eternity of the world and of time, nor what is said about man’s release, that the soul must leave the body, which is the soul’s prison—nor that God is the prime unmoving mover, etc.  By contrast the holy Fathers express the Church’s truth that God is not an idea of the good, as Plato said, but the personal God who was revealed to the Prophets, Apostles and saints.  The soul did not pre-exist, but is created by god simultaneously with the body.  The body is not the prison of the soul, but together with the soul it constitutes the man, because the body is not the whole man, but the body of the man, and the soul is not the whole man, but the soul of the man..”
                                                The Person in the Orthodox Tradition
                                                by Metropolitan NAFPAKTOS Hierotheos
 
 
Worship:         Sunday, August 23, 2015 (Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost; Leave-taking of   the Dormition of the Theotokos)
 
         Scripture:                                I Corinthians 15:1-11; Matthew 19:16-26
         Celebrant:                               Father John
         Epistle Reader:                      Warren Strain
         Prosphora:                               Meadows
         Coffee Hour:                           Schelver/Lavric/Turner

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August 9, 2015
Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
Sunday after the Transfiguration
 
I Corinthians 4:9-16:  We hear St Paul speak to the Corinthians as their spiritual father and exhort them to imitate him in their actions.
 
Matthew 17:14-23:  The Lord Jesus again shows His abundant mercy when He heals a boy possessed by a demon.  We also hear Him foretell His betrayal, death and resurrection, but the disciples do not understand.
 
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 Transfiguration:  When, O Christ our God, thou wast transfigured on the mountain, thou didst reveal thy glory to thy Disciples in proportion as they could bear it.  Let thine everlasting light also enlighten us sinners, through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Bestower of light, glory to 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 Transfiguration: Thou wast transfigured on the mount, and thy Disciples, in so far as they were able, beheld thy glory, O Christ our God; so that, when they should see thee crucified, they would remember that thy suffering was voluntary, and could declare to all the world that thou art truly the effulgent Splendor of the Father.
 
CALENDAR
Sunday, August 9   (Tenth Sunday after Pentecost)
            8:50 a.m.         — Orthros
            10:00 a.m.       — Divine Liturgy
            5:30 p.m.         — Youth Group           
 
Monday, August 10   
            6:30 p.m.         — Paraklesis Service
            Office Closed — Father John’s Day Off
                       
Tuesday, August 11  
            6:00 a.m.         — Daily Orthros
 
Wednesday, August 12   
            6:30 p.m.         — Paraklesis Service
           
Thursday, August 13  
            6:00 a.m.         — Daily Orthros
 
Friday, August 14   
            6:30 p.m.         — Great Vespers
 
Saturday, August 15   (Dormition of the Theotokos)
Church Tradition states that the Virgin Mary died in her early fifties.  The icon shows her lying upon her funeral bier.  On either side of the bier stand the Apostles; the group on the left is led by St. Peter who stands at the head of the bier; the group on the right is led by St. Paul who stands at the foot of the bier.  At the time of her death many of the Apostles were scattered throughout the world preaching the Gospel.  However, they all returned to Jerusalem upon learning of her death.  All arrived in time for the burial except St. Thomas.  Standing by the bier is her Son, who had come to receive His Mother’s soul into heaven.  He holds in His arms an infant in white symbolizing the soul of the Theotokos.  The Orthodox Church, although it has never had the need to make it a dogma (as has the Roman Catholic Church), also believes in the Virgin Mary’s “assumption” or bodily resurrection into heaven.  Tradition relates that when the other disciples showed St. Thomas (who arrived in Jerusalem after the burial) the tomb in Gethsemane where the Theotokos had been buried near her parents, they discovered that the tomb was empty.
            9:00 a.m.         — Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy
            5:45 p.m.         — Ninth Hour followed by Great Vespers

Sunday, August 16   (Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost)
            8:50 a.m.         — Orthros
            10:00 a.m.       — Divine Liturgy
            12:00 p.m.       — Pot Luck Meal
            5:00 p.m.         — Young Adults
 
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Katools for the Feast of the Transfiguration this past Wednesday evening and by the Schelvers for the Divine Liturgy today. 
 
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.
 
Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:
                                          Eucharist Bread                    Coffee Hour
August 9                          Schelver                                   Algood/Lasseter
August 15 (Sat. a.m.)      Morris                                      Brenda Baker
         (Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos)
August 16                        Jones                                       POT LUCK MEAL     
                                                                                           (set-up:  R. Root/Abraham/Habeeb)
August 23                        Meadows                                 Schelver/Lavric/Turner
August 30                       Brock                                       Henderson/Baker/Lockhart
 
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#
August 9                             David Turner                        I Cor. 4:9-16                   135
August 15 (Sat. a.m.)        Walt Wood                           Phil. 2:5-11                     403
August 16                          Sh. Charlotte Algood          I Cor. 9:2-12                   141
August 23                          Warren Strain                        I Cor. 15:1-11                 146
August 30                          Kh. Sharon Meadows          I Cor. 16:13-24               152
 
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.

Continue to pray for Metropolitan Paul (who is also the brother of our Patriarch) and the Syriac Archbishop John of Aleppo who were abducted while on a humanitarian mission in Syria.
 
As we are approaching the hot days of summer, please remember to dress appropriately for the services of the Church.  Throughout the ages, the Church has called all to show reverence and love for the Christian Faith through modest, but respectable dress.  Please do not wear shorts, tank tops or revealing clothing at our services.
 
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;
Walt and Charlotte Wood and their family; Tom and Jennifer Skirtech and their family; Tom and Kathy Willingham; Athena and Anthony Zouboukos and their family.
 
Please continue to pray for the health of His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN.
 
Please remember Fr. Joseph and Kh. Joanna Bittle, and their daughter Abigail, in your prayers.
 
August Ladies’ Lunch:  The Ladies Lunch in August will be held at the Meadows’ home on Saturday morning, August 29th, beginning at 11:30 a.m.  Fr. John will be giving a short teaching and we will be discussing plans for the upcoming year.  Please mark your calendar!
 
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 the 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 Fast of the Dormition began on August 1st and runs through the 15th.  As is our custom, we will celebrate the Paraklesis Service to the Theotokos on all Monday, Wednesday (except the 5th) and Friday evenings, beginning at 6:30 p.m., during the fast.
*    We will celebrate the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos with Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy on Saturday morning, August 15th, beginning at 9:00 a.m.
*    The Ladies Lunch in August will be held at the Meadows’ home on Saturday morning, August 29th, beginning at 11:30 a.m.  Fr. John will also be giving a short teaching.
*    Father-Son Prayer Breakfast at the church, Saturday morning, September 12th, beginning at 8:30 a.m.
*    Our parish Fall Festival will be held at the church on Saturday afternoon, October 31st.
 
 
 
Young Adults Study Group:  The Young Adults agreed to begin meeting twice a month.  One of these meetings will feature a teaching by Fr. John on various aspects of the Orthodox Christian faith.  Topics will include education, ethics and parenting children.  The next meetings will be Sunday, 16th and 30th.
 
Fall Festival!  We will hold our parish Fall Festival on Saturday afternoon, October 31st.  Ninth Hour and Vespers will be cancelled that day.  There will be a petting zoo and bouncy house for the children, along with other fun activities.  Be sure to mark your calendars now!
 
Fasting Discipline for August
From August 1st through August 14th (The Dormition Fast), the traditional fasting discipline(no meat, dairy, eggs, fish wine or oil)  is observed on all days, except August 6th (the Feast of the Transfiguration) when fish and wine are permitted.  After the 15th, the traditional fasting discipline is observed on the remaining Wednesdays and Fridays of the month.  August 29th is also a strict fast day in remembrance of the beheading of the Forerunner.
 
Major Commemorations for August  
August 15              Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos
August 25              Apostles Bartholomew and Titus
August 29              Beheading of the Forerunner
August 31              Depostion of the Belt of the Theotokos
 
Thermostats in the Fellowship Hall:  There are two thermostats in the Fellowship Hall—one in the main room to control the air in the main room, and a second one in the Nursery room that controls the air in all four of the Sunday School rooms.  Please be sure when you leave the building that both thermostats are set to 80 degrees in warm weather or 60 degrees in cold weather.
 
Father-Son Prayer Breakfast:  The men of the parish will begin meeting at the church once each quarter for a Saturday morning Father-Son Prayer Breakfast.  The first prayer breakfast is scheduled for Saturday morning, September 12th, beginning at 8:30 a.m.
 
Happy Birthdays in August:
         August 4                —    Simeon Root (#6!)
         August 7                —    Joseph Katool 
         August 18              —    Virginia Stewart (#5!)
         August 20              —    Suzi Fino
         August 24              —    Anastasia Jones
         August 26              —    Bob Buchanan
         August 27              —    Eli Dabit (#5!)
         August 31              —    Elizabeth Root
 
Happy Anniversaries in August:
         August 16              —    Rick and Kay Carlton (#40!)
         August 17              —    Steve and Sheryl Chamblee (#26!)
         August 18              —    Jesse and Sarah Milnor (#13!)
         August 25              —    Nimr and Mona Fahmy (#41!)
         August 27              —    Alfred and Christina Katool (#27!)
 
Quotable:  “Ancient Greek philosophy makes a clear distinction between matter and reality.  It considers reality to be a different thing from matter and the world—all that we see and feel.  ‘A basic assumption of philosophy is that only the unbegotten and unchangeable is immortal and real.  Everything which has a beginning in time also has an end.’  Starting from this finding, ancient philosophy arrived at various conclusions which are diametrically opposed to the teaching of the Church.”
                                                The Person in the Orthodox Tradition
                                                by Metropolitan NAFPAKTOS Hierotheos
 
 
Worship:         Sunday, August 16, 2015 (Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost; Sunday after the
                                                            Dormition of the Theotokos)
 
         Scripture:                               I Corinthians 9:2-12; Matthew 18:23 to end
         Celebrant:                              Father John
         Epistle Reader:                     Sh. Charlotte Algood
         Prosphora:                              Jones
         Coffee Hour:                          POT LUCK MEAL
                                                         (Set-up:  R. Root/Habeeb)