October 2, 2016

Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

II Corinthians 4:6-15: From our reading in II Corinthians we hear St Paul discuss how his and the other apostles’ sufferings have brought forth life in the people of God.

Luke 6:31-36: From St Luke’s account of the Sermon on the Mount we hear our Lord teach us to love our enemies, to be unselfish in our giving, and to have mercy upon those who do us wrong rather than condemning them.

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

Troparion of St. Cyprian the Confessor: By choosing the Apostles’ way of life, thou hast succeeded to their throne. Inspired of God, thou didst find the way to divine contemplation through the practice of virtue. After teaching the Word of Truth without error, thou didst defend the Faith to the very shedding of thy blood, O Hieromartyr Cyprian. Entreat the Lord our 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 the Theotokos: O undisputed intercessor of Christians, O mediatrix, who is unrejected by the Creator, turn not away from the voice of our petitions though we be sinners; come to us in time, who cry to thee in faith, for thou art good. Hasten to us with intercessions, O Theotokos, who didst ever intercede for those who honor thee.

CALENDAR

Sunday, October 2 (Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost)

8:50 a.m. — Orthros

9:00 a.m. — Christian Education

10:00 a.m. — Divine Liturgy

Monday, October 3

Office Closed — Father John’s Day Off

Tuesday, October 4

6:00 a.m. — Daily Orthros

Wednesday, October 5

6:30 p.m. — Daily Vespers

7:15 p.m. — Choir Practice

Thursday, October 6 (Apostle Thomas)

6:00 a.m. — Daily Orthros

Friday, October 7

[Knucklehead Family Reunion Begins]

Saturday, October 8

10:00 a.m. — Ladies meet for the Akathist

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

Sunday, October 9 (Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost)

8:50 a.m. — Orthros

9:00 a.m. — Christian Education

10:00 a.m. — Divine Liturgy

12:00 p.m. — Pot Luck Meal

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

October 2 Baker Algood/Habeeb/Pacurari

October 9 R. Root POT LUCK MEAL

(set-up: Henderson/Baker/Lockhart)

October 16 Henderson Schelver/Lavric/Karam

October 23 Algood Stewart/Turner/Waites

October 30 Katool Ellis/Zouboukos/Fahmy

Schedule for Epistle Readers – Page numbers refer to the Apostolos (book of the Epistles) located on the front pew. Please be sure to use this book when you read.

Reader Reading Page#

October 2 Mildred Morris II Cor. 4:6-15 163

October 9 Kh. Sharon Meadows II Cor. 6:1-10 168

October 16 Phillip Lasseter Titus 3:8-15 322

October 23 Kh. Be’Be’ Schelver Gal. 1:11-19 188

October 30 David Turner II Cor. 11:31-12:9 183

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

Please be reminded of the following:

Be very careful with the Blessed Bread when you take it after communion. Because this bread has been blessed, we should take care not to let crumbs fall on the floor. Parents, especially, please help your children to choose a small piece and treat it carefully.

Also, at the end of the liturgy, maintain a prayerful disposition during the veneration of the cross as the prayers of thanksgiving after communion are still underway. Please exchange your greetings with each other in the Fellowship Hall during Coffee Hour.

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

Please remember the following in your prayers: Steve, Sheryl Chamblee; 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; Walt and Charlotte Wood and their family; Lynda Costas; Kevin and Angelina Speier; Tom and Kathy Willingham.

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

Burial Plots at Natchez Trace Cemetery: Mr. Michael Hudgins, the Director of the Natchez Trace Funeral Home has made a very generous offer to the members of St. Peter who wish to purchase a burial plot and pre-arrange their funeral needs. The offer will expire at the end of 2016. Copies of Mr. Hudgins letter may be found on the information table in the Fellowship Hall. If you are interested in this offer, please contact Mr. Hudgins for an appointment. (We will not have another meeting of the parish as previously announced.)

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.

* The men of the parish will meet at the church once each quarter for a Saturday morning Father-Son Prayer Breakfast.

* The MS Valley Deanery Clergy Retreat will be held at St. Peter October 24-26th.

* We will celebrate the Feastday of St. Raphael, Bishop of Brooklyn, with Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy on Saturday, November 5th, beginning at 9:00 a.m.

* The second Annual Pan-Orthodox Ladies’ Retreat will be held at Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church in Clinton on Saturday, November 12th. V. Rev. Fr. Stephen Rogers, Pastor of St. Ignatius Orthodox Church in Franklin, TN will be speaking on the Theotokos. More information will be available soon.

* The remaining date for serving at the Stewpot Ministries this year is November 26th.

* The MS Valley Deanery will hold its annual Teen Retreat February 3-5, 2017 at Camp Hopewell in Oxford, MS. Fr. Daniel Bethancourt, Retreat Master this year, will be addressing issues related to self-esteem. Please mark your calendars now.

MS Valley Deanery Clergy Retreat: The MS Valley Deanery will hold its annual Clergy Retreat at St. Peter’s October 24-26th. The meetings will be for the Pastors of the Orthodox Parishes in our Deanery. However, they will also be praying Ninth Hour followed by Daily Vespers on Monday and Tuesday evening, beginning at 5:30 p.m. and Daily Orthros on Tuesday morning, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Anyone wishing to attend these services is welcome to do so.

Fasting Discipline for October

In September the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil) is observed on all Wednesdays and Fridays of the month.

Major Commemorations for October

September 26 Apostle John the Theologian (repose)

September 28 Venerable Chariton

October 1 The Protection of the Theotokos

October 6 Apostle Thomas

October 9 Apostle James, Son of Alphaeus

October 18 Apostle Luke

October 23 Apostle James, Brother-of-the-Lord

October 26 Great-martyr Demetrios

Quotable: “From the narration of Genesis in the Old Testament, we know that initially God created Adam’s body and then he breathed into it and created his soul. By saying ‘He created the soul’ it is made clear that the soul is not a particle of God, the spirit of God, as some people claim. But, as St. Chrysostom says, since the inbreathing of God is the energy of the Holy Spirit, it is this energy of the Holy Spirit which created the soul, without itself being the soul. It is of vital importance to state this, for thus we understand well that the soul cannot be examined autonomously but only in connection with God.”

Orthodox Spirituality by Metropolitan HIEROTHEOS of Nafpaktos

Worship: Sunday, October 9, 2016 (Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost)

Scripture: II Corinthians 6:1-10; Luke 7:11-16

Celebrant: Father John

Epistle Reader: Kh. Sharon Meadows

Prosphora: R. Root

Coffee Hour: POT LUCK MEAL

(set-up: Henderson/Baker/Lockhart)

September 25, 2016

Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

II Corinthians 1:21-2:1-4: St Paul, writing in II Corinthians, reminds us that we are established in God from whom we have received the Holy Spirit as a pledge of what we shall receive in the fullness of God’s kingdom.

Luke 5:1-11: In the reading from the Gospel of St Luke we see Simon Peter, James, and John become disciples of our Lord.

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

Troparion of St. Euphrosyne: Through thee the divine likeness was securely preserved, O Mother Euphrosyne; for thou didst carry the cross and followed Christ. By example and precept thou didst teach us to ignore the body because it is perishable, and to attend to the concerns of the undying soul. Therefore, doth thy soul rejoice with the angels.

Troparion of the Chains of St. Peter: O Holy Apostle, Peter, thou dost preside over the Apostles by the precious chains which thou didst bear. We venerate them with faith and beseech thee that by thine intercessions we be granted the great mercy.

Kontakion of the Theotokos: O undisputed intercessor of Christians, O mediatrix, who is unrejected by the Creator, turn not away from the voice of our petitions though we be sinners; come to us in time, who cry to thee in faith, for thou art good. Hasten to us with intercessions, O Theotokos, who didst ever intercede for those who honor thee.

CALENDAR

Sunday, September 25 (Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost)

8:50 a.m. — Orthros

9:00 a.m. — Christian Education

10:00 a.m. — Divine Liturgy

Monday, September 26 (Apostle John the Theologian)

Office Closed — Father John’s Day Off

Tuesday, September 27

6:00 a.m. — Daily Orthros

11:30 a.m. — Ladies’ Lunch

Wednesday, September 28 (Venerable Chariton)

6:30 p.m. — Daily Vespers

7:15 p.m. — Choir Practice

Thursday, September 29

6:00 a.m. — Daily Orthros

Friday, September 30

Saturday, October 1 (Protection of the Theotokos)

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

Sunday, October 2 (Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost)

8:50 a.m. — Orthros

9:00 a.m. — Christian Education

10:00 a.m. — Divine Liturgy

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

September 25 Fahmy R. Root/Lasseter/Dansereau

October 2 Baker Algood/Habeeb/Pacurari

October 9 R. Root POT LUCK MEAL

(set-up: Henderson/Baker/Lockhart)

October 16 Henderson Schelver/Lavric/Karam

October 23 Algood Stewart/Turner/Waites

October 30 Katool Ellis/Zouboukos/Fahmy

Schedule for Epistle Readers – Page numbers refer to the Apostolos (book of the Epistles) located on the front pew. Please be sure to use this book when you read.

Reader Reading Page#

September 25 Warren Strain II Cor. 1:21-2:4 158

October 2 Mildred Morris II Cor. 4:6-15 163

October 9 Kh. Sharon Meadows II Cor. 6:1-10 168

October 16 Phillip Lasseter Titus 3:8-15 322

October 23 Kh. Be’Be’ Schelver Gal. 1:11-19 188

October 30 David Turner II Cor. 11:31-12:9 183

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

Please be reminded of the following:

Be very careful with the Blessed Bread when you take it after communion. Because this bread has been blessed, we should take care not to let crumbs fall on the floor. Parents, especially, please help your children to choose a small piece and treat it carefully.

Also, at the end of the liturgy, maintain a prayerful disposition during the veneration of the cross as the prayers of thanksgiving after communion are still underway. Please exchange your greetings with each other in the Fellowship Hall during Coffee Hour.

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

Please remember the following in your prayers: Steve, Sheryl Chamblee; 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; Walt and Charlotte Wood and their family; Lynda Costas; Kevin and Angelina Speier; Tom and Kathy Willingham.

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

Burial Plots at Natchez Trace Cemetery: Mr. Michael Hudgins, the Director of the Natchez Trace Funeral Home has made a very generous offer to the members of St. Peter who wish to purchase a burial plot and pre-arrange their funeral needs. The offer will expire at the end of 2016. Copies of Mr. Hudgins letter may be found on the information table in the Fellowship Hall. If you are interested in this offer, please contact Mr. Hudgins for an appointment. (We will not have another meeting of the parish as previously announced.)

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.

* The men of the parish will meet at the church once each quarter for a Saturday morning Father-Son Prayer Breakfast.

* The MS Valley Deanery Clergy Retreat will be held at St. Peter October 24-26th.

* We will celebrate the Feastday of St. Raphael, Bishop of Brooklyn, with Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy on Saturday, November 5th, beginning at 9:00 a.m.

* The second Annual Pan-Orthodox Ladies’ Retreat will be held at Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church in Clinton on Saturday, November 12th. V. Rev. Fr. Stephen Rogers, Pastor of St. Ignatius Orthodox Church in Franklin, TN will be speaking on the Theotokos. More information will be available soon.

* The remaining date for serving at the Stewpot Ministries this year is November 26th.

* The MS Valley Deanery will hold its annual Teen Retreat February 3-5, 2017 at Camp Hopewell in Oxford, MS. Fr. Daniel Bethancourt, Retreat Master this year, will be addressing issues related to self-esteem. Please mark your calendars now.

MS Valley Deanery Clergy Retreat: The MS Valley Deanery will hold its annual Clergy Retreat at St. Peter’s October 24-26th. The meetings will be for the Pastors of the Orthodox Parishes in our Deanery. However, they will also be praying Ninth Hour followed by Daily Vespers on Monday and Tuesday evening, beginning at 5:30 p.m. and Daily Orthros on Tuesday morning, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Anyone wishing to attend these services is welcome to do so.

Fasting Discipline for September/October

In September the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil) is observed on all Wednesdays and Fridays of the month.

Major Commemorations for September/October

September 26 Apostle John the Theologian (repose)

September 28 Venerable Chariton

October 1 The Protection of the Theotokos

October 6 Apostle Thomas

October 9 Apostle James, Son of Alphaeus

October 18 Apostle Luke

October 23 Apostle James, Brother-of-the-Lord

October 26 Great-martyr Demetrios

Quotable: “In the Holy tradition of the Orthodox Church at the centre of Orthodox Spirituality is the heart and the nous. It is this centre which needs to be treated so that man’s complete psychosomatic constitution is cured. Moreover as the Lord said: ‘Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God’ (Matt. 5, 8). In order to see what the heart and nous are we must begin by examining the soul.”

Orthodox Spirituality by Metropolitan HIEROTHEOS of Nafpaktos

Worship: Sunday, October 2, 2016 (Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost)

Scripture: II Corinthians 4:6-15; Luke 6:31-36

Celebrant: Father John

Epistle Reader: Mildred Morris

Prosphora: Baker

Coffee Hour: Algood/Habeeb/Pacurari

September 18, 2016

Sunday after the Elevation of the Cross

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

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

Troparion of the Resurrection: Having learned the joyful message of the Resurrection from the angel, the women Disciples cast from them their parental condemnation, and proudly broke the news to the Disciples, saying, Death has been spoiled. Christ God is risen, granting the world Great Mercy.

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

Troparion of the Chains of St. Peter: O Holy Apostle, Peter, thou dost preside over the Apostles by the precious chains which thou didst bear. We venerate them with faith and beseech thee that by thine intercessions we be granted the great mercy.

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

CALENDAR

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

8:50 a.m. — Orthros

9:00 a.m. — Christian Education

10:00 a.m. — Divine Liturgy

Monday, September 19

Office Closed — Father John’s Day Off

Tuesday, September 20

6:00 a.m. — Daily Orthros

Wednesday, September 21

6:30 p.m. — Daily Vespers

7:15 p.m. — Choir Practice

Thursday, September 22

6:00 a.m. — Daily Orthros

Friday, September 23 (Conception of the Forerunner)

Saturday, September 24 (Protomartyr Thekla)

8:30 a.m. — Workday at the Church

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

Sunday, September 25 (Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost)

8:50 a.m. — Orthros

9:00 a.m. — Christian Education

10:00 a.m. — Divine Liturgy

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Eucharist Bread …was offered by Karams for the Feast of the Elevation of the Cross this past Tuesday evening and by the Brocks for the Divine Liturgy this morning.

Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

September 18 Brock Skirtech/Skirtech/Parker

September 25 Fahmy R. Root/Lasseter/Dansereau

Schedule for Epistle Readers – Page numbers refer to the Apostolos (book of the Epistles) located on the front pew. Please be sure to use this book when you read.

Reader Reading Page#

September 18 Walt Wood Gal. 2:16-20 193

September 25 Warren Strain II Cor. 1:21-2:4 158

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

Please be reminded of the following:

Be very careful with the Blessed Bread when you take it after communion. Because this bread has been blessed, we should take care not to let crumbs fall on the floor. Parents, especially, please help your children to choose a small piece and treat it carefully.

Also, at the end of the liturgy, maintain a prayerful disposition during the veneration of the cross as the prayers of thanksgiving after communion are still underway. Please exchange your greetings with each other in the Fellowship Hall during Coffee Hour.

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

Please remember the following in your prayers: Steve, Sheryl Chamblee; 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; Walt and Charlotte Wood and their family; Lynda Costas; Kevin and Angelina Speier; Tom and Kathy Willingham.

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

Please remember Tatyana Ruhlinka, a member of Holy Resurrection who has visited our church in the past months. She has been diagnosed with cancer and is staying with the Greaves at the moment. We will taking up a fund to help with some of her medicines. If you would like to contribute, please make a note of her name on your check.

Tithes and Donations: We have had several unexpected expenses this summer (new a/c unit for the nave, etc.) and have used some of our financial buffer. If you are behind on your contributions, please catch them up as soon as you are able, so that we can rebuild our buffer.

Burial Plots at Natchez Trace Cemetery: Mr. Michael Hudgins, the Director of the Natchez Trace Funeral Home has made a very generous offer to the members of St. Peter who wish to purchase a burial plot and pre-arrange their funeral needs. The offer will expire at the end of 2016. Copies of Mr. Hudgins letter may be found on the information table in the Fellowship Hall. If you are interested in this offer, please contact Mr. Hudgins for an appointment. (We will not have another meeting of the parish as previously announced.)

Acolyte Schedule: The new Acolyte Schedules are located on the table in the hallway. Acolytes, please pick one up!

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.

* The men of the parish will meet at the church once each quarter for a Saturday morning Father-Son Prayer Breakfast.

* The remaining date for serving at the Stewpot Ministries this year is November 26th.

* The MS Valley Deanery Clergy Retreat will be held at St. Peter October 24-26th.

* The MS Valley Deanery will hold its annual Teen Retreat February 3-5, 2017 at Camp Hopewell in Oxford, MS. Fr. Daniel Bethancourt, Retreat Master this year, will be addressing issues related to self-esteem. Please mark your calendars now.

Fasting Discipline for September

In 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 Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross.

Major Commemorations for September

September 23 Conception of the Forerunner

September 24 Proto-martyr Thekla

September 26 Apostle John the Theologian (repose)

September 28 Venerable Chariton

Quotable: “So, morning or evening, immediately before you begin to repeat your prayers, stand awhile, sit for a while, or walk a little and try to steady your mind, and turn it away from all worldly activities and objects. After this, think who He is to whom you turn in prayer, then recollect who you are; who it is who is about to start this invocation to Him in prayer. Do this in such a way as to waken in your heart a feeling of humility and reverent awe that you are standing in the presence of God.”

St. Theophan the Recluse

Worship: Sunday, September 25, 2016 (Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost)

Scripture: II Corinthians 1:21-2:4; Luke 5:1-11

Celebrant: Father John

Epistle Reader: Warren Strain

Prosphora: Fahmy

Coffee Hour: R. Root/Lasseter/Dansereau

September 11, 2016

Sunday before the Elevation of the Cross

After-feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos

Galatians 6:11-18: In the conclusion of his letter to the Galatians, St Paul reminds them that to be cir­cumcised or uncircumcised is not the issue, but rather to be a new creation in Christ Jesus.

John 3:13-17: In the Gospel of John we hear Jesus speak concerning His purpose for coming into the world: to save mankind through His death and Resurrection.

Troparion of the Resurrection: 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 Nativity of the Theotokos: Thy nativity, O Theotokos, hath proclaimed joy to the whole universe; for from thee did shine forth the Sun of justice, Christ our God, annulling the curse, and bestowing the everlasting blessing, abolishing death and granting us life everlasting.

Troparion of the Chains of St. Peter: O Holy Apostle, Peter, thou dost preside over the Apostles by the precious chains which thou didst bear. We venerate them with faith and beseech thee that by thine intercessions we be granted the great mercy.

Kontakion of the Nativity of the Theotokos: By thy holy birth-giving, O pure one, Joachim and Anne were delivered from the reproach of barrenness; and Adam and Eve were delivered from the corruption of death; thy people do celebrate it, having been saved from the stain of iniquity, crying unto thee, The barren doth give birth to the Theotokos, who nourisheth our life.

CALENDAR

Sunday, September 11 (Sunday before the elevation of the Cross)

8:50 a.m. — Orthros

9:00 a.m. — Christian Education

10:00 a.m. — Divine Liturgy

12:00 p.m. — Pot Luck Meal

Monday, September 12

Office Closed — Father John’s Day Off

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

6:00 a.m. — Daily Orthros

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

Wednesday, September 14 (Elevation of the Precious Cross)

This feast is celebrated as one of the most important in the Church Year because it commemorates two events of great significance. After St. Helen had found at Jerusalem the cross upon which Christ was crucified, she built a Church on Mount Calvary to hold the precious relic. The Christians held the Holy Cross in such high regard that they soon began to celebrate this feast in honor of the finding of the Cross.

In the year 614, the Persians invaded the Empire and took Jerusalem, and sent the case containing the Cross back to their country. For fifteen years the Greek Emperor Heraclius waged war against the Persians, and finally in 629 defeated them, forcing them to make peace, and to restore the Holy Cross to him. It is said that the case containing the sacred relics was returned to him with the seals still unbroken. The Relics were replaced in the Church with great rejoicing, and to the original Feast in honor of the finding of the Cross was added another, in honor of its safe return to Jerusalem.

A special feature of the Church Services on this day, is the procession in which the Cross is borne aloft on a tray of flowers and placed in the midst of the Church; the Priest then elevates it to the four corners of the compass, blessing thrice with it as he does so, and praying that God will protect and preserve the President and the Civil Authorities of our country and the Armed Forces, and guard and guide the Hierarchs and clergy of the Church, and protect and preserve all His faithful people from every evil.

[STRICT FAST DAY]

6:30 p.m. — Daily Vespers

7:15 p.m. — Choir Practice

Thursday, September 15

6:00 a.m. — Daily Orthros

Friday, September 16

Saturday, September 17

11:30 a.m. — Serving Meal at Stewpot

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

Sunday, September 18 (Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost)

8:50 a.m. — Orthros

9:00 a.m. — Christian Education

10:00 a.m. — Divine Liturgy

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Eucharist Bread …was offered by Davises for the Divine Liturgy this morning. The Artoklasia Bread for Great Vespers the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos this past Wednesday was provided the Meadows.

Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

September 11 Davis POT LUCK MEAL

(Set-up: Pigott/Strain/Osborne)

September 13 Karam Karen Cooper

(Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross)

September 18 Brock Skirtech/Skirtech/Parker

September 25 Fahmy Algood/Lasseter/Dansereau

Schedule for Epistle Readers – Page numbers refer to the Apostolos (book of the Epistles) located on the front pew. Please be sure to use this book when you read.

Reader Reading Page#

September 4 Kh. Be’Be’ Schelver I Cor. 9:2-12 141

September 11 David Turner Gal. 6:11-18 198

September 13 (Tue. p.m.) Sh. Charlotte Algood I Cor. 1:18-24 311-312

September 18 Walt Wood Gal. 2:16-20 193

September 25 Warren Strain II Cor. 1:21-2:4 158

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

Please be reminded of the following:

Be very careful with the Blessed Bread when you take it after communion. Because this bread has been blessed, we should take care not to let crumbs fall on the floor. Parents, especially, please help your children to choose a small piece and treat it carefully.

Also, at the end of the liturgy, maintain a prayerful disposition during the veneration of the cross as the prayers of thanksgiving after communion are still underway. Please exchange your greetings with each other in the Fellowship Hall during Coffee Hour.

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

Please remember the following in your prayers: Steve, Sheryl and Stephen Chamblee; 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; Walt and Charlotte Wood and their family; Lynda Costas; Kevin and Angelina Speier; Tom and Kathy Willingham; Demitrius Zouboukos; Fr. James and Kh. Sharon and their family.

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

Please remember Kh. Cheryl Morris, wife of Fr. John Morris from St. George in Vicksburg, in your prayers. She is at Baptist Hospital being treated for an issue with her foot.

Please remember Tatyana Ruhlinka, a member of Holy Resurrection who has visited our church in the past months. She has been diagnosed with cancer and is staying with the Greaves at the moment. We will taking up a fund to help with some of her medicines. If you would like to contribute, please make a note of her name on your check.

Welcome and Many Years! to Evan Root who was baptized yesterday morning!

Tithes and Donations: We have had several unexpected expenses this summer (new a/c unit for the nave, etc.) and have used some of our financial buffer. If you are behind on your contributions, please catch them up as soon as you are able, so that we can rebuild our buffer.

Burial Plots at Natchez Trace Cemetery: Mr. Michael Hudgins, the Director of the Natchez Trace Funeral Home has made a very generous offer to the members of St. Peter who wish to purchase a burial plot and pre-arrange their funeral needs. The offer will expire at the end of 2016. Copies of Mr. Hudgins letter may be found on the information table in the Fellowship Hall. If you are interested in this offer, please contact Mr. Hudgins for an appointment. (We will not have another meeting of the parish as previously announced.)

Acolyte Schedule: The new Acolyte Schedules are located on the table in the hallway. Acolytes, please pick one up!

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.

* The men of the parish will meet at the church once each quarter for a Saturday morning Father-Son Prayer Breakfast.

* The Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross will be celebrated with Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy on Tuesday evening, September 13th, beginning at 6:00 p.m.

* The remaining dates for serving at the Stewpot Ministries this year are September 17th and November 26th.

* The MS Valley Deanery Clergy Retreat will be held at St. Peter October 24-26th.

* The MS Valley Deanery will hold its annual Teen Retreat February 3-5, 2017 at Camp Hopewell in Oxford, MS. Fr. Daniel Bethancourt, Retreat Master this year, will be addressing issues related to self-esteem. Please mark your calendars now.

Fasting Discipline for September

In 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 inremembrance of the Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross.

Major Commemorations for September

September 13 Dedication of the Church of the Anastasis

September 14 Elevation of the Precious Cross

September 23 Conception of the Forerunner

September 24 Proto-martyr Thekla

September 26 Apostle John the Theologian (repose)

September 28 Venerable Chariton

Quotable: “Minfulness of death is therefore a gift of God which assists man in finding his heart, which is the beginning of the healing of his person, the purpose of which is to labour for the restoration of true communion within the whole race of Adam. The paradox is this: that mindfulness of death liberates man from the fear of death, and leads him to see all things from the perspective of the love of God. Where death had been a consequence of sin, it is now the Gospel of Life, for it causes eternity to take its rightful place above all earthly things in such an absolute and definite way, that even if the enemy were to offer centuries of earthly bliss and success, the believer now prefers the marks of the Cross through which true joy and eternal salvation are come to the world.”

The Hidden Man of the Heart by Archimandrite Zacharias

Worship: Sunday, September 18, 2016 (Sunday after the Elevation of the Holy Cross)

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

Celebrant: Father John

Epistle Reader: Walt Wood

Prosphora: Brock

Coffee Hour: Skirtech/Skirtech/Parker