April 17, 2022

Feast of Palm Sunday

Entrance of Our Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem

Palm Sunday begins the observance of the eight days that encapsulate all of time and eternity as relates to man. The days begin with the proclamation on earth of the entry of the Messiah into Jerusalem and end with the Eternal King rising in incomprehensible victory to establish the heavenly Jerusalem and His eternal reign. On Palm Sunday, we begin the days of the full exhibition of the awful corruption sin has spread in mankind and the measureless love that heals and deifies our humanity. Today we thrill at the picture of Christ and the praises of the people, the object of adoration yet the perfection of humility. The imagery of the scene is beyond description: the King amidst His people, the palm and olive branches symbolizing His victory, His anointing, His peace; the cloaks and garments cast before Him symbolizing our complete submission to His will; the cries of adoration, of “Hosanna,” the coming of the Lord. Yet, on this day we are also near enough to feel acutely the dread of His passion, the desolation of the trial and Golgotha. This day also begins the week of the Eighth Day, the entry to eternity. As we observe Palm Sunday, we observe all history and the fulfillment of all history.

Philippians 4:4-9: Brethren, rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice! Let your forbearance be known to all people. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your petitions be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think about these things. The things which you both learned and received, and heard and saw in me, these things do; and the God of peace will be with you.

John 12:1-18: Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus who had died was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at table with Him. Mary took a pound of costly ointment of pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment. But Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, one of His Disciples (he who was to betray Jesus), said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” This he said, not because he cared for the poor but because he was a thief, and as he had the moneybox he used to take what was put into it. Jesus said, “Let her alone, let her keep it for the day of My burial. The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have Me.” When the great crowd of the Jews learned that He was there, they came, not only on account of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus also to death, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus. The next day a great crowd who had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying, “Hosanna! Blessed is He Who cometh in the Name of the Lord, the King of Israel!” And Jesus found a young ass and sat upon it; as it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on an ass’s colt!” His Disciples did not understand this at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that this had been written of Him and had been done to Him. The crowd that had been with Jesus when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead bore witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet Jesus was that they heard He had done this sign.

First Troparion of Palm Sunday: O Christ God, when thou didst raise Lazarus from the dead before thy Passion, thou didst confirm the universal resurrection. Wherefore, we, like babes, carry the insignia of triumph and victory, and cry to thee, O Vanquisher of death, Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord.

Second Troparion of Palm Sunday: O Christ God, when we were buried with thee in Baptism, we became deserving of thy Resurrection to immortal life. Wherefore, we praise thee, crying, Hosanna in the highest, blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord.

Kontakion of Palm Sunday: Seated upon Thy throne in heaven, and a foal on earth, O Christ our God, Thou didst receive the praise of the angels and the hymns of the children: Blessed is He that cometh to recall Adam.

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, April 17 (Palm Sunday)

8:50 a.m. — Orthros (webcast)

9:00 a.m. — Christian Education

10:00 a.m. — Divine Liturgy (webcast)

12:00 p.m. — Fish Fry Meal

6:30 p.m. — Bridegroom Matins

Monday, April 18 (Great and Holy Monday)

6:30 p.m. — Bridegroom Matins

Tuesday, April 19 (Great and Holy Tuesday)

6:30 p.m. — Bridegroom Matins

Wednesday, April 20 (Great and Holy Wednesday)

6:30 p.m. — Service of Holy Unction

Thursday, April 21 (Great and Holy Thursday)

7:00 a.m. — Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil

6:30 p.m. — Reading of the Twelve Passion Gospels

Friday, April 22 (Great and Holy Friday)

7:00 a.m. — Royal Hours

3:00 p.m. — Taking down from the Cross

6:30 p.m. — Lamentations Service

Saturday, April 23 (Great and Holy Saturday)

9:00 a.m. — Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil (with Baptism of Anthony Johnson)

10:30 p.m. — Rush Matins and the Paschal Service (webcast)

Sunday, April 24 (PASCHA)

NO Morning Services

4:00 p.m. — Agape Vespers at Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church in Clinton

Followed by Barbeque Meal

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Meadows for the Divine Liturgy of Lazarus Saturday and by the Davises for the Divine Liturgy this morning.

Eucharist Bread Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

April 17 (Palm Sunday) Davis D. Root/Baker

April 21 (Thurs. a.m.) D. Root Meadows

April 23 (Sat. a.m.) Karam Dansereau/Alaeetawi

April 23 (Sat. p.m.) Brock Everyone bring Pascha Baskets

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#

April 17 Sam Habeeb Phil. 4:4-9 294

April 21 (Thurs. a.m.) Ian Jones I Cor. 11:23-32 295

April 23 (Sat. a.m.) Reader Basil Baker Rom. 6:3-11 300

April 23 (Sat. p.m.) Walt Wood Acts 1:1-8 25

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; Lamia Dabit and her family; Mary Greene (Lee and Kh. Sharon’s sister); Jay and Joanna Davis; Fr. Leo and Kh. Be’Be’ Schelver 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); Reader Basil and Brenda Baker; Buddy Cooper.

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.

Anthony Johnson, son of former members Cain (Joshua) and Taylor Johnson, will be baptized during the Vesperal Divine Liturgy of Great and Holy Saturday on the morning of April 23rd. Simon and Rola Karam will be his godparents. Please keep all of them 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.

* The Ladies will meet for lunch on the last Tuesday of the month.

* The dates for Services of Palm Sunday and Holy Week are as follows:

Friday, April 15 — Small Compline with the Canon of St. Lazarus at 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 16 (Lazarus Saturday) — Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy at 9:00 a.m.

Sunday, April 17 (Palm Sunday) — morning services at usual Sunday times

(Sunday evening) — Bridegroom Matins, at 6:30 p.m.

Monday, April 18 (Great and Holy Monday)