February 20, 2022
Sunday of the Prodigal Son
Yes, it is that time again. Lent begins on Monday, March 7th, but we begin the preparations for the journey of “bright-sadness” by especially dealing with our hearts and our spiritual condition. In her wisdom the Church is a great aid to us, for the four Sundays before Lent carry special themes that enable us to examine ourselves.
The theme of the third Sunday before Lent is RETURN FROM EXILE and the Gospel lesson of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) is read. We are taught by this lesson that even as we stray from God, a banquet is set for our return. And we find that nothing in this fallen world truly satisfies, and thus we find ourselves on a pilgrimage of repentance – returning to God.
I Corinthians 6:12-20: Brethren, all things are lawful for me, but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the authority of anything. Foods are for the belly, and the belly for foods; but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body; and God both raised up the Lord, and will also raise us up through His power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I therefore take away the members of Christ, and make them members of a harlot? God forbid! Or, do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For, “The two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication! Every sin that a person commits is outside the body, but whoever commits fornication sins against his own body. Or, do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have received from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Luke 15:11-32: The Lord spoke this parable: “There was a man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that falls to me.’ And he divided his living between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living. And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have fed on the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to make merry. Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid that I might make merry with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”
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 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 Prodigal Son: Foolishly I sprang away from Thy great fatherly glory, and dispersed in wicked deeds the riches that Thou didst give me. With the Prodigal I therefore cry unto Thee now: I have sinned against Thee, O compassionate Father. But receive me in repentance; make me as one of Thy hired servants, O Lord.
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, February 20 (Sunday of the Prodigal Son)
8:50 a.m. — Orthros (webcast)
9:00 a.m. — Christian Education
10:00 a.m. — Divine Liturgy (webcast)
Monday, February 21
Father Herman off
Tuesday, February 22
NO Services
11:30 a.m. — Ladies’ Lunch
Wednesday, February 23
6:30 p.m. — Great Vespers with Litia and Artoklasia
Thursday, February 24 (The Forerunner – 1st & 2nd Discoveries)
Friday, February 25
NO Services
Saturday, February 26 (Saturday of the Souls)
9:00 a.m. — Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy
6:00 p.m. — Great Vespers
Sunday, February 27 (Sunday of Meat Fare)
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 Karams for the Divine Liturgy this morning.
Eucharist Bread Schedule:
Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour
No Coffee Hour for the remainder of the month
February 20 Karam Dansereau/Alaeetawi
February 23 (Wed. p.m.) Meadows (Artoklasia Bread)
(Feast of The Forerunner)
February 26 (Sat. a.m.) Brock Koliva: Jones
(Saturday of the Souls)
February 27 R. Root Algood/Schelver
March 6 Baker Lasseter/Pacurari/Miller
March 13 Henderson D. Root/Baker
March 20 Algood POT LUCK MEAL
Henderson/Jones
March 24 (Thurs. p.m.) Katool Dansereau/Alaeetawi
(Feast of the Annunciation)
March 27 Schelver Meadows/Pigott
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#
February 20 Walt Wood I Cor. 6:12-20 265
February 26 (Sat. a.m. Ian Jones I Thess. 4:13-17 412
February 27 Walt Wood I Cor. 8:8-9:2 273
March 6 Sh. Charlotte Algood Rom. 13:11-14:4 279
March 13 Kh. Sharon Meadows Heb. 11:24-26, 32-40 281
March 20 Kh. Be’Be’ Schelver Heb. 1:10-2:3 283
March 24 (Thurs. p.m.) Brenda Baker Heb. 2:11-18 376
March 27 Kh. Sharon Meadows Heb. 4:14-5:6 285
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.
We will pray the Trisagion Prayers for the Departed for the Forty Day Memorial for Caroline Halley and Tatiana Ruhlinka today (February 20th) and for Saliba Dabit on Sunday, February 27th.
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; Lamia Dabit and her family; Mary Greene (Lee and Kh. Sharon’s sister); Jay and Joanna; Fr. Leo and Kh. Be’Be’ and their family; 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); Fr. James and all their family.
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.
* 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.
* Great Lent begins on Clean Monday (March 7th). As is our parish custom, we will celebrate Forgiveness Vespers on Sunday evening, March 6th, beginning at 6:30 p.m. We will pray the Canon of St. Andrew of Crete on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday that week March 7-11) and celebrate the Pre-sanctified Liturgy on Wednesday and the Akathist Hymn to the Mother of God on Friday. All services will begin at 6:30 p.m.
* The dates for Stewpot for 2022 are Saturday, May 7th and Saturday, September 3rd.
Pledge Letters have been mailed. Please return them to the church as soon as possible.
House Blessings: Fr. Herman will be blessing homes January 7 – February 25 (except for February 23-37 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.
The letters acknowledging tithes and offerings for 2021 were mailed recently. Please check your letter carefully to be sure that it matches your records. If you did not get your letter, or if there was a discrepancy with it, please let Kh. Sharon know 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.
A movie has been released about St. Nectarius of Aegina. It’s called Man of God. It is scheduled to play at the theaters in Pearl and Madison one showing only, March 21, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. Here is the link: https://www.imdb.com/showtimes/title/tt6060964/?date=2022-03-21
Camp St. Thekla dates and registration: The dates for Camp St. Thekla are: Session 1 is
June 26 – July 2 and Session 2 is July 3 – 9.
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. Dn Richard will continue to accept photos through next week. 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
Fasting Discipline for February
In February the fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil) is observed on all Wednesdays and Fridays except February 2nd (Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple when fish, wine and oil are permitted) and the week following the Sunday of the Pharisee and the Publican (February 14-18) when there is no fasting at all. Following Meatfare Sunday on February 27th, meat will no longer be eaten until Pascha.
Major Commemorations for February
February 20 Sunday of the Prodigal Son
February 24 The Forerunner (1st and 2nd Discoveries)
February 26 Saturday of the Souls
February 27 Sunday of Meatfare
Instructions for streaming our services can be found on the parish website.
Quotable: “What does the daily invocation of the saints signify — of different ones each day, during the whole year, and during our whole life? It signifies that God’s saints — as our brethren, but perfect — live, and are near us, ever ready to help us, by the grace of God. We live together with them in the house of our Heavenly Father, only in different parts of it. We live in the earthly, they in the heavenly half; but we can converse with them, and they with us. God’s saints are near to the believing heart, and are ready in a moment to help those who call upon them with faith and love.”
St. John of Kronstadt, My Life in Christ
Worship: Sunday, February 27, 2022 (Sunday of Meat Fare)
Scripture: I Corinthians 8:8-9:2; Matthew 25:31-46
Celebrant: Father Herman
Epistle Reader: Walt Wood
Prosphora: R. Root
Coffee Hour: Algood/Schelver
Saint Peter Antiochian Orthodox Church 