January 9, 2022
Sunday after Theophany
Ephesians 4:7-13: Brethren, grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore, it is said, “When He ascended on high He led a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men.” (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that He had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is He who also ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) And His gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
Matthew 4:12-17: At that time, when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth he went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulon and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “The land of Zebulon and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”
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 Theophany: By thy baptism, O Lord, in the River Jordan, worship to the Trinity has made its appearance; for the voice of the Lord didst come forth to thee with the testimony, naming thee beloved Son; and the Spirit in the likeness of a dove, confirming the truth of the word. Wherefore, O thou who didst appear and light the world, 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 Theophany: Today thou hast appeared to the universe, O Lord, and thy light hast been shed upon us, who praise thee with knowledge, saying, Thou hast come and appeared, O unapproachable Light.
CALENDAR
UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE: All services listed on the calendar will be available through streaming and webcast.
Please continue to follow the CDC Guidelines to limit contagion and the spread of the COVID virus.
Sunday, January 9 (Sunday after Theophany)
8:50 a.m. — Orthros (webcast)
9:00 a.m. — Christian Education
10:00 a.m. — Divine Liturgy (webcast)
4:00 p.m. — Blessing of the Waters at the Ross Barnett Reservoir (At Crab Shack)
(Meal afterwards at Crab Shack for those who wish to remain)
Monday, January 10
Father Herman off
Tuesday, January 11
NO Services
Wednesday, January 12
6:30 p.m. — Daily Vespers
Thursday, January 13
Friday, January 14
NO Services
Saturday, January 15
Sunday, January 16 (Veneration of the Chains of St. Peter)
8:50 a.m. — Orthros (webcast)
9:00 a.m. — Christian Education
10:00 a.m. — Divine Liturgy (webcast)
12:00 p.m. — Pot Luck Meal
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Please be reminded that it is common Antiochian practice to tilt your head back and open your mouth to receive the Body and Blood. Please be aware of this when you approach the Chalice.
The Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Katools for the Feast of Theophany this past Wednesday evening and by the Algoods for the Divine Liturgy this morning.
Eucharist Bread Schedule (MODIFIED Coffee Hour — Coffee, pre-packaged food**):
Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour
January 9 Algood Dansereau/Alaeetawi
January 16 Schelver Meadows/Pigott
January 23 Morris Algood/Schelver
January 30 Jones Lasseter/Pacurari/Miller
We will continue to serve coffee (and juice for the children), and pre-packaged snacks, following the Divine Liturgy on Sunday mornings. We will also continue to use the 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.
Schedule for Epistle Readers – Page numbers refer to the Apostolos (book of the Epistles) located on the Chanters’ stand at the front of the nave. Please be sure to use this book when you read.
Reader Reading Page#
January 9 Sh. Charlotte Algood Eph. 4:7-13 364
January 16 Kh. Sharon Meadows Col. 3:4-11 233
January 23 Ian Jones I Tim. 1:15-17 245
January 30 Brenda Baker Heb. 13:7-16 365
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.
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: Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Saliba and Lamia Dabit; Mary Greene (Lee and Kh. Sharon’s sister); Jay and Joanna; Fr. Leo and Kh. Be’Be’ and their family; Tom and Kathy Willingham; Marilyn (Kyriake) Snell; Jack and Jill Weatherly; Lottie Dabbs (Sh. Charlotte Algood’s mother), Sh. Charlotte and their family; Maria Costas (currently at St. Catherine’s Village).
Memory Eternal! Tom Willingham fell asleep in the Lord at home this past Sunday morning. Please remember him, his wife Kathy and their family in your prayers.
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. They will also enjoy a book study afterwards.
* The Ladies will meet for lunch on the last Tuesday of the month.
* We will once again hold the Blessing of the Waters at the Ross Barnett Reservoir with the other Orthodox Churches in our area on this afternoon, beginning at 4:00 p.m. at Crab Shack (next door to Cock of the Walk). Those who wish will remain for a meal there afterwards.
* The Feast of the Veneration of the Chains of St. Peter (our patronal feast) will be celebrated on Sunday, January 16th. We will have a Pot Luck Meal that day and will resume our monthly Pot Luck Meals after that.
* His Grace, Bishop NICHOLAS will be at St. Peter the weekend of March 5-6, 2022 to help us celebrate Fr. John’s retirement and our 35th anniversary as a parish. Please mark your calendars now.
House Blessings: Fr. Herman will be blessing homes January 7 – February 25 (except for January 25-30 when he will be out for the Winter Retreat). A sign-up sheet is located on the bureau in the hallway. Please indicate 3 dates that would work for your family and he will get back with you to schedule your house blessing. Everyone should their house blessed, but the responsibility for scheduling this lies with individuals and not Fr. Herman.
Pledge Letters have been mailed. Please return them to the church as soon as possible.
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.
Save the Date! The Diocese of Miami and the Southeast will hold their annual Winter Retreat January 28-30, at St. Elias Orthodox Church in Atlanta. Registration is now open. Please go to the Diocesan website, DOMSE.org for information on registration, hotels, etc.
Dn. Richard is in charge of showing photos from St. Peter’s last 35 years for the celebration on March 5th. Please look through your photos and submit good selections to him within the next couple of weeks. They may be physical prints or digital clips. Be sure to put your name on them if you want them returned. The deadline for submitting your photos to Dn. Richard is the end of January. Suggested Categories:
Weddings, Baptisms, Chrismations Bible Studies
Fishing Trips Men’s and Women’s lunches
Retreats Angel Tree
Fall Festival Sunday School and Garden work
Stew Pot Work Days
Any other things involving the life of our parish
Instructions for streaming our services can be found on the parish website.
Fasting Discipline for January
Following January 6th, the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil) is observed on the remaining Wednesdays and Fridays of the month.
Major Commemorations for January
January 11 Theodosios the Head of Monasteries
January 16 Veneration of the Chains of St. Peter
January 17 Anthony the Great
January 18 Athanasios and Cyril of Alexandria
January 20 Euthymios the Great
January 25 Gregory the Theologian
January 27 John Chrysostom
January 30 The Three Hierarchs
January 31 Cyros and John the Unmercenary Healers
Quotable: “The Comforter, the Holy Spirit, who fills the whole universe, passes through all believing, meek, humble, good, and simple human souls, dwelling in them, vivifying and strengthening them. He becomes one spirit with them and everything to them – light, strength, peace, joy, success in their undertakings, especially in a pious life, and everything good – ‘going through all understanding, pure and most subtle spirits’. ‘We have been all made to drink into one Spirit’. All pious people are filled with the Spirit of God similarly as a sponge is filled with water.”
St. John of Kronstadt, My Life in Christ
Worship: Sunday, January 16, 2022 (Twenty-ninth Sunday after Pentecost; Veneration of the Chains of St. Peter)
Scripture: Colossians 3:4-11 ; Luke 17:12-19
Celebrant: Father Herman
Epistle Reader: Kh. Sharon Meadows
Prosphora: Schelver
Coffee Hour: Meadows/Pigott
Saint Peter Antiochian Orthodox Church 