July 26, 2020

The Holy Righteous Martyr Paraskeva of Rome

Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

Galatians 3:23-29; 4:1-5: In this reading from Galatians we hear St. Paul explain that prior to the com­ing of Christ, we were under the Law and hence divided, but now that Christ has come we are justified by faith in Christ and have become one, belonging to Christ. Therefore, we are no longer under bond­age to the Law and the world, but are now free as children of God.

Matthew 9:27-35: The Lord Jesus again demonstrates His mercy by healing two blind men and cast­ing out a demon from a man possessed. We see that the Lord has compassion for all those who are op­pressed by sin, death and Satan.

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. Paraskeva: Showing a diligence befitting thy calling, O namesake of preparedness, thou hast gained, as thy dwelling, a faith worthy of thy name, O prize-winning Paraskeva. Hence, thou pourest forth healings and intercedest for 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.

From Father John: In His Eminence, Metropolitan JOSEPH’s last communique regarding the restrictions for participation in the services at our churches, he stated that, we should follow the guidelines based on our local numbers with the virus. As our numbers locally are rising, we will be dropping back to 25 participants at liturgies (which includes the priest and chanters). I will continue to try my best to rotate, as fairly as possible, our members who are healthy and wish to come to the services.

Please continue to follow the CDC Guidelines to limit contagion and the spread of the COVID virus.

We have been given permission to resume baptisms and chrismations. In the near future we will be scheduling these sacraments for those who would have been baptized and/or chrismated at Pascha this year. More details will be available at a later date.

CALENDAR

UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE: All services listed on the calendar will be available through streaming and webcast.

Sunday, July 26 (Seventh Sunday after Pentecost; Paraskeva of Rome)

9:00 a.m. — Orthros (webcast)

10:00 a.m. — Divine Liturgy (webcast)

Monday, July 27 (Great-martyr Panteleimon)

Father John’s Day Off

Tuesday, July 28

NO Services

Wednesday, July 29

6:30 p.m. — Daily Vespers

Thursday, July 30

NO services

Friday, July 31

NO services

Saturday, August 1(Procession of the Holy Cross)

[FAST
OF THE DORMITION BEGINS]

6:00 p.m. — Great Vespers (No Ninth Hour Prayers)

Sunday, August 2 (Eighth Sunday after Pentecost)

9:00 a.m. — Orthros (webcast)

10:00 a.m. — Divine Liturgy (webcast)

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

Please remember that the schedule for prosphora is still in place as we will continue to serve the Divine Liturgy. Also, please remember that we still need your tithes and offerings which should be sent to: St. Peter Orthodox Church, P.O. Box 2084, Madison, MS 39130-2084. If you need Father John for anything, do not hesitate to get in touch with him. If you become ill, please let him know.

Eucharist Bread Schedule (NO Coffee Hour):

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

August 2 Karam

August 5 (Wed. p.m.) Brock

(Feast of the Transfiguration)

August 9 Baker

August 15 (Sat. a.m.) Henderson

(Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos)

August 16 Algood

August 23 Katool

August 30 Schelver

September 6 Morris

September 13 Jones

September 14 (Mon. a.m.) Meadows

(Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross)

September 20 Davis

September 27 D. Root

If you are ready to return to the services of our church, please let Fr. John know so that he can add you to the list of attendees. It is up to individuals to request attendance at the services. Fr. John attempts to be fair in allotting slots, but he does not make assignments or phone calls.

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 the following in your prayers: Steve, Sheryl Chamblee; Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Sam and Lamia Dabit; Mary Greene (Lee and Kh. Sharon’s sister); Lynda Costas; Fr. Nicholas, Kh. Jan and Angelina Speier; David Morris and his family; Jay and Joanna; Chris and Rebecca Dansereau and their daughters; Fr. Leo and Kh. Be’Be’ and their family; Emad and Natalia Alaeetawi and their family; Tom and Kathy Willingham.

Please continue to pray for the following members of St. Peter:

Warren Strain and their family. Warren is hospitalized following a stroke on December 23rd.

Maria Costas, who is still ill with the corona virus and has been moved to a swing-bed facility in Morton.

Nicholas Henderson, who is ill with the corona virus (and the health of his family).

All those affected by the Corona-virus Pandemic.

A Benevolence account has been established at St. Peter to help the Strain family deal with Warren’s medical bills and other needs. If you would like to make a donation to this fund, please note on your check that it is for the Warren Strain Benevolence Fund. 100% of these funds will go to the Strain family.

The Fast of the Dormition begins on Saturday, August 1st and runs through the 15th of the month. We will celebrate the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos with Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy on Saturday, August 15th, beginning at 9:00 a.m.

We will celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord with Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy on Wednesday evening, August 5th, beginning at 6:00 p.m.

We will NOT have a service this year for the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos as is our usual parish custom.

Fasting Discipline for July/August

The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil) is observed on the remaining Wednesday and Friday of July. The Fast of the Dormition begins August 1st and runs through August 15th. During this time the traditional fasting discipline is observed on all days of the week, except Saturday and Sunday when wine and oil are allowed and August 6th (Feast of the Transfiguration) when fish, wine and oil are allowed. Following the 15th, the traditional fasting discipline is observed on the remaining Wednesdays and Fridays of the month. The feastday of the Beheading of the Forerunner on August 29th is a strict fast day.

Major Commemorations for July/August

July 27 Great-martyr Panteleimon

August 1 Procession of the Holy Cross

August 6 Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord

August 15 Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos

August 29 Beheading of the Forerunner

August 31 Depostion of the Belt of the Theotokos

Instructions for streaming our services can be found on the parish website.

Save the Date for the 3rd Annual Spiritual Fall Retreat. This will be a virtual retreat and its free! The dates are October 2nd – 4th, 2020.

ead of ManHead of Maonasteries

Quotable: “Through the Holy Spirit, the Church has the mission, therefore, to put into effect not just any revelation at all but the revelation fulfilled in Christ, or, we might say, to make Christ effective as the embodiment of integral revelation and in the true prophetic tension implied in him. Hence, the Church has the mission to preserve through the Holy Spirit, the revelation fulfilled in Christ who makes her capable of discerning the authenticity of revelation in its fullness and in the impulse that pushes it towards its true final goal. The Holy Spirit preserves the Church as witness to and as the competent means of making real the authentic revelation, and thus making human existence reach its fulfillment in Christ. Understood in such a way, this revelation is objectively unchanged in both Scripture and tradition. Therefore, the Church through sacred Scripture and holy tradition keeps revelation—in its true understanding—active. The action of the Church is nothing other than a putting of revelation, preserved in its integrity, into operation, and a preparation of the faithful to receive its work, or, better, the work of Christ who is expounded in sacred Scripture and communicated in holy traditionoly Spirit, goiven and sent by both the FFaa.”

Dumitru Staniloae, The Experience of God

Worship: Sunday, August 2, 2020 (Eighth Sunday after Pentecost)

Scripture: I Corinthians 1:10-17; Matthew 14:14-22

Celebrant: Father John

Prosphora: Karam