September 5, 2021
Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
Prophet Zachariah, Father of the Forerunner
September 1 marks the beginning of the ecclesiastical year. The liturgical year is a body of sacred “signs” which have a present effect. Each liturgical feast renews and actualizes the event of which it is the symbol; it takes the event out of the past and makes it immediate; it offers us the appropriate grace; it becomes the “effectual sign.” The liturgical year is a special means of union with Christ. Every Eucharist unites us intimately with Christ, for in it He is “both He who offers and He who is offered.” Every prayer, being the prayer of the members of the mystical body, shares in the prayer of Him who is the Head of the Body and the only One whose prayer is perfect. We are called to relive the whole life of Christ: from Christmas to Easter, from Easter to Pentecost, we are exhorted to unite ourselves to Christ in his birth and in his growth, to Christ suffering, to Christ dying, to Christ in triumph and to Christ inspiring His Church. The liturgical year forms Christ in us; the liturgical year is Christ Himself, annus est Christus. It includes the cycle of feasts of the saints, the glorified members of the body of Christ. Their sanctity is but an aspect, a shining ray of the holiness of Christ Himself. To celebrate the feast of a saint is to celebrate a special grace that flows from Christ to that saint and so to us. In the same way that the feasts of our Lord in a mysterious way renew the events of His life, so the feasts of the saints make their lives, their merits and their deaths mysteriously actual. Commemorations of the martyrs renew the grace of their violent deaths, so that, as these were a participation in the passion of Christ, this passion is relived in remembering the martyrs. The liturgical year has but one and the same object, Jesus Christ; whether we contemplate Him directly or through the members of His body. Great graces and great spiritual opportunities are offered us during the course of the liturgical year. It provides a frame and support for Christian piety; it gives it a style which is sober and objective; it maintains a bond of unity among believers. Above all, it communicates an inspiration and transmits a life. It acquires its true meaning to the extent that it becomes an adoration in spirit, in truth.
(Excerpted and paraphrased from The Year of Grace of the Lord)
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 for the Prophet Zachariah: In the vesture of a priest, according to the Law of God, thou didst offer unto Him well-pleasing whole-burnt offerings, as it befitted a priest, O wise Zachariah. Thou wast a shining light, a seer of mysteries, bearing in thyself clearly the signs of grace; and in God’s temple, O wise Prophet of Christ God, thou wast slain with the sword. Hence, with the forerunner, make entreaty that our souls find salvation.
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
UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE: All services listed on the calendar will be available through streaming and webcast.
Sunday, September 5 (Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost)
8:50 a.m. — Orthros (webcast)
10:00 a.m. — Divine Liturgy (webcast)
Monday, September 6 (Miracle of the Archangel Michael)
Father Herman off
Tuesday, September 7
6:30 p.m. — Great Vespers with Litia and Artoklasia
Wednesday, September 8 (Nativity of the Theotokos)
6:30 p.m. — Daily Vespers
Thursday, September 9 (Righteous Joachim and Anna)
NO Services
NO Services
10:00 a.m. — Ladies meet for the Akathist
4:45 p.m. — Choir Practice
6:00 p.m. — Great Vespers (No Ninth Hour)
Sunday, September 12 (Sunday before the Elevation of the Cross)
8:50 a.m. — Orthros (webcast)
9:00 a.m. — Christian Education
10:00 a.m. — Divine Liturgy (webcast)
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Deacon Richard Roots for the Divine Liturgy last Sunday and by the Hendersons for the Divine Liturgy this morning.
Please continue to follow the CDC Guidelines to limit contagion and the spread of the COVID virus.
Eucharist Bread Schedule (MODIFIED Coffee Hour — Coffee only, no food**):
Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour
September 5 Henderson Kh. Sharon, Cheryl
September 7 (Tues, p.m.) Baker (Artoklasia Bread) NO Coffee Hour
(Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos)
September 12 Algood Rebecca, Natalia
September 13 (Mon. p.m.) Katool NO Coffee Hour
September 19 Schelver Kh. Sharon, Christina
September 26 Jones Kh. Be’Be’, Sh. Charlotte
Coffee Hour Going Forward: We will continue to serve coffee (and juice for the children), but no food as yet, following the Divine Liturgy on Sunday mornings. We will also continue to use disposable cups and individual sweeteners and creamers. Please use the available hand sanitizer before using the air-pots to get your coffee. Coffee will be served inside the fellowship hall and people will be free to go outside or to sit inside. For those sitting inside, we ask that you spread out and provide some space for each other. Please DO NOT congregate in front of the coffee table or in the entrance to the Fellowship Hall.
Also, please remember that we still need your tithes and offerings which may be placed in the tithe box at the back of the nave or be mailed to: St. Peter Orthodox Church, P.O. Box 2084, Madison, MS 39130-2084.
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 5 Kh. Elizabeth I Cor. 9:2-12 141
September 12 Sam Habeeb Gal. 6:11-18 198
September 13 (Mon. p.m.) Kh. Sharon I Cor. 1:18-24 311
(Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross)
September 19 Brenda Baker Gal. 2:16-20 193
September 26 Walt Wood I John 4:12-19 315
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); Jay and Joanna; Fr. Leo and Kh. Be’Be’ and their family; Emad and Natalia Alaeetawi and their family; Tom and Kathy Willingham; Marilyn (Kyriake) Snell; Jack and Jill Weatherly; Darlene Amason and her 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.
Christian Education Classes will resume next Sunday, September 12th, beginning at 9:00 a.m.
COVID Precautions for St. Peter:
– For anyone who feels more comfortable participating in the Liturgy in the parish hall, we will resume streaming Sunday Orthros and Divine Liturgy onto the TV set up in there. Chairs will also be set out as previously done. If you would like to attend Orthros and Liturgy in the fellowship hall on any given Sunday, please notify Fr. Herman so that we can have the Eucharist brought in and served to you. Please note that there maybe others who wish to do this at the same time as you. When church school begins in September, we will make adjustments to accommodate both these as best we can.
– Masks are highly recommended to be worn, but the decision to wear a mask, or not wear a mask, will be left up to you. Please use your best judgement on whether or not to wear a mask.
– Please make attempts to spread out as best as possible within the nave during the divine services.
– Coffee hour will continue as it has been with only coffee being served. If kolivia, or any other food blessed in the context of the Liturgy is done, it will be served to you with the servers wearing masks and gloves.
– Church school will resume as planned on September 12.
– The clergy, when serving the Eucharist, will continue to wear a mask and stagger the lines in an attempt to reduce to close contact with the respective other line.
– Also please attempt to spread out as best as possible in the fellowship hall during coffee hour as well
– If you are not feeling well PLEASE do not attempt to come to the services. This also includes anyone who may have been exposed to you during this time. Also, please let Fr. Herman know if you are not feeling well and have COVID like symptoms.
– The parish council and Fr. Herman are keeping a close eye on the situation with this new COVID variant and will be in discussion on a regular basis as the situation changes in either direction.
Please keep Lottie Dabbs (Sh. Charlotte Algood’s mother) in your prayers as she recovers from a bad fall which resulted in a fractured pelvis. Please also remember Sh. Charlotte and their family as well.
Maria Costas is currently at St. Catherine’s Village. Please keep her in your prayers as well.
If you get sick, especially with the Corona virus, please let Fr. Herman know.
Father Herman’s contact information is as follows:
cell phone #- 601-573-5246
email- abounaherman
Instructions for streaming our services can be found on the parish website.
Calendar Items:
* The Ladies will meet at the church at 10:00 a.m. on the second Saturday of the month to pray the Akathist to the Mother of God, Nurturer of Children on behalf of our children.
* The Ladies will meet for lunch on last Tuesday of the month.
* We will celebrate the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos with Great Vespers with Litia and Artoklasia on Tuesday evening, September 7th, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
* The Feast of the Elevation of the Precious and Life-giving Cross will be celebrated with Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy on Monday evening, September 14th, beginning at 6:00 p.m.
* The remaining Stewpot date for this year is November 6. More information will be available closer to time.
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. The Feast of the Elevation of the Cross on September 14th is also a strict fast day.
Major Commemorations for September
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 Precious Life-giving Cross
September 23 Conception of the Forerunner
September 24 Proto-martyr Thekla
September 26 Apostle John the Theologian (repose)
The Diocese of Miami and the Southeast Fall Retreat 2021 to be hosted by St. Ignatius Church in Franklin TN has been rescheduled to the weekend of October 15-17th. This will be an “IN-PERSON” Retreat. For information on registration and the hotel, go the Diocesan website at DOMSE.org. A schedule for the retreat is also available on the website. If you had already registered and booked a hotel room for the September date, please check the website for information on what you need to do.
Quotable: “We have said that it is really Christ who becomes a contemporary with us, because the life of each of us has its uniqueness, which it doesn’t lose. Jesus takes part in all our sufferings, making them easier. He helps us with our struggle against temptations and sin; He strives with us in our quest for virtues: He uncovers our true nature from under the leaves of sin. St. Maximus comments: ‘Until the end of the world He always suffers with us, secretly, because of His goodness according to [and in proportion to] the suffering found in each one.'”
Fr. Dumitru Staniloae, Orthodox Spirituality
Worship: Sunday, September 12, 2021 (Sunday before the Elevation of the Cross)
Scripture: Galatians 6:11-18; John 3:13-17
Celebrant: Father Herman
Epistle Reader: Sam Habeeb
Prosphora: Algood
Coffee Hour: Rebecca Dansereau, Natalia Alaeetawi
Saint Peter Antiochian Orthodox Church 
You must be logged in to post a comment.