May 29, 2022
Sunday of the Blind Man
Today is the Sunday of the Blind Man. Though the Gospel account of the healing of the blind man touches many subjects, there is but one theme: Christ is the divine Light which illuminates the hearts of those who behold Him in faith. Despite the intimidation of the authorities, despite the confusion of the people who know him, despite the fear of his parents, the blind man given sight refuses to deny what he knows is the truth: Jesus has given him sight, has healed the affliction he has born from birth, and one who does such good is from God. To deny his healer is to deny the truth, and he prefers persecution and rejection to that denial. More than his eyes have been opened; his heart has been opened to true and eternal Light. As were the Israelites cast into the dark despair of his fear, as are we all blinded by the frustration of sin and of our weakness, so this man was trapped by his closed eyes; and, as may all be, he was freed by the coming of the Messiah. In faith we open our eyes to the radiant glory of our Lord and King.
Acts 16:16-34: In those days, while we the apostles were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination, who brought her masters much gain by soothsaying. She followed Paul and us, and cried out saying: “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” And she did this for many days. But Paul was annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit: “I charge you in the Name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour. But when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers; and when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said: “These men are disturbing our city, and they, being Jews, are setting forth customs which are not lawful for us to receive or observe, since we are Romans.” The multitude then rose up together against them, and the magistrates tore their garments off them, and commanded to beat them with rods. And when they had inflicted many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely. Having received such a charge, he cast them into the inner prison, and fastened their feet in the stocks. But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and every one’s fetters were unfastened. And the jailer, being roused out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried out with a loud voice saying: “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” And he called for lights and rushed in, and fell down before Paul and Silas trembling with fear, and brought them out and said: “Masters, what must I do to be saved?” And they said: “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him, and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes, and was baptized, he and his entire household. Then he brought them up into his house, and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, with his entire house, in that he had believed in God.
John 9:1-38: At that time, when Jesus was passing, he saw a man blind from his birth. And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him. I must work the works of Him who sent Me, while it is day; night comes, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” As he said this, he spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle and anointed the man’s eyes with the clay, saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam,” which means “Sent.” So he went and washed and came back seeing. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar, said, “Is not this the man who used to sit and beg?” Some said, “It is he;” others said, “No, but he is like him.” He said, “I am the man.” They said to him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash’; so I went and washed and received my sight.” They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.” They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. The Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for He does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” There was a division among them. So they again said to the blind man, “What do you say about Him, since He has opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.” The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight, and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” His parents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age, he will speak for himself.” His parents said this because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess him to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue. Therefore, his parents said, “He is of age, ask him.” So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, “Give God the praise; we know that this man is a sinner.” He answered, “Whether he is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see.” They said to him, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?” He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you too want to become His disciples?” And they reviled him, saying, “You are His disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where He comes from.” The man answered, “Why, this is a marvel! You do not know where He comes from, and yet He opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.” They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out. Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him He said, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” He answered, “And who is He, Sir, that I may believe in Him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen Him, and it is He who speaks to you.” He said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped Him.
Troparion of the Resurrection: Let us believers praise and worship the Word, co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit, born of the Virgin for our salvation; for he took pleasure in ascending the Cross in the flesh, to suffer death, and to raise the dead by his glorious Resurrection.
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 Pascha: When Thou didst descend into the grave, O Immortal, Thou didst destroy the power of Hades. In victory didst Thou arise, O Christ God, proclaiming Rejoice! to the myrrh-bearing women, granting peace to Thine apostles and bestowing resurrection on the fallen.
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, May 29 (Sunday of the Blind Man)
9:00 a.m. — Orthros (webcast)
10:00 a.m. — Divine Liturgy (webcast)
Monday, May 30
Father Herman off
Tuesday, May 31
11:30 a.m. — Ladies’ Lunch
6:30 p.m. — Paschal Vespers
Wednesday, June 1 (Leave-taking of Pascha)
6:00 p.m. — Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy
Thursday, June 2 (Feast of the Ascension of our Lord)
The fortieth day after Easter is the day of the Ascension, the liturgical end to the celebration of the Resurrection and the opening of the season observing the glory of the Messiah. This is a day too often associated with the sadness of departure; yet this day brought great joy to the Disciples. They saw not the departure of one dear to them, but the glorious entry of their King to His heavenly throne. They saw not the loss of their Intercessor, but the Father accepting the eternal sacrifice and blessing the completion of man’s salvation. They saw not their separation from Christ but their assumption with Him into glory through the Incarnation. They saw not the removal of the blessed One but the promise from Him of further blessings. This day is another step in our procession into eternity, a remembrance of heavenly things, a reminder that the essence of our lives is the heavenly, a refreshing of the image of our God in all His glory.
NO Services
11:30 a.m. — Men’s Lunch
Friday, June 3
NO Services
Saturday, June 4 (Metrophanes of Constantinople)
6:00 p.m. — Great Vespers
Sunday, June 5 (Sunday of the Holy Fathers of Nicea)
9:00 a.m. — Orthros (webcast)
10:00 a.m. — Divine Liturgy (webcast)
12:00 p.m. — Coffee Hour honoring Brandon Strain
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Schelvers for the Divine Liturgy this morning.
Eucharist Bread Schedule:
Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour
May 29 Schelver Meadows/Baker/Cooper
June 1 (Wed. p.m.) Morris Henderson/Jones
(Feast of the Ascension)
June 5 Jones Ellis/Waites/Zouboukos
June 11 (Sat. a.m.) Meadows Ellis/Waites/Zouboukos
(Saturday of the Souls) Koliva: Karen Cooper
June 12 Davis PICNIC POT LUCK MEAL
(Feast of Pentecost) Meadows/Pigott
June 19 D. Root Algood/Schelver
June 26 Karam Lasseter/Pacurari/Miller
June 28 (Tues. p.m.) Brock D. Root/Baker/Cooper
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#
May 29 Ian Jones Acts 16:16-34 58
June 1 (Wed. p.m.) Walt Wood Acts 1:1-12 63
June 5 Sh. Charlotte Algood Acts 20:16-18, 28-36 66
June 11 (Sat. a.m.) Kh. Sharon Meadows I Thess. 4:13-17 412
June 12 Ian Jones Acts 2:1-11 77
June 19 Brenda Baker Heb. 11:33-12:2 84
June 26 Sam Habeeb Rom. 2:10-16 90
June 28 (Tues. p.m.) Walt Wood II Cor. 11:21-33; 12:6-9 389
Also, please remember that we still need your tithes and offerings which may be placed in the tray that is passed during the Divine Liturgy, 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 and their family; 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.
PARENTS, a problem has arisen due to the nursery room being left messy after Coffee Hour. No food of any kind should be taken into that room. Also, it is necessary for a parent to be in the room whenever their children are in there playing. Thank you for your assistance with this.
Pentecost is June 12th this year. As is the custom in our parish, we will have Orthos followed by Divine Liturgy for Saturday of the Souls on June 11th, beginning at 9:00 a.m. On Sunday we will have a PICNIC POT LUCK following the Divine Liturgy to celebrate the Feast. We will also pray the Kneeling Vespers service Sunday evening, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Calendar Items:
* The men of the parish meet for lunch at 11:30 a.m. on the first Thursday of the month.
* The Ladies 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 meet for lunch on the last Tuesday of the month.
* We will have Paschal Vespers, marking the Leave-taking of PASCHA, on Tuesday evening, May 31st, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
* Orthros and Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Ascension will be celebrated on Wednesday, June 1st, beginning at 6:00 p.m.
* Father Herman will be helping to lead a retreat at the Antiochian Village, July 3-9.
* The Clergy Symposium will be held at the Antiochian Village, July 18-23.
* Vacation Church School is scheduled for July 28-30. Parents, mark your calendar now.
* The dates for Stewpot for 2022 are Saturday, May 7th and Saturday, September 3rd.
We will honor Brandon Strain at Coffee Hour on Sunday, June 5th since we were unable to do so when he graduated because of the CoVid shut down.
Congratulations to Jennifer Skirtech’s grandson Brendan who recently graduated from Madison Central High School.
Instructions for streaming our services can be found on the parish website.
Camp St. Thekla dates: The dates for Camp St. Thekla are: Session 1 is June 26 – July 2 and Session 2 is July 3 – 9. If you have a child registered for Camp, please see Daniel for information on scholarships available from the Order of St. Ignatius. If there is still a financial need, some additional funds may be available.
Diocese of Miami and the Southeast Parish Life Conference: Registration is still open for the Parish Life Conference to be hosted June 15-18 by St. John Orthodox Church in Memphis. More information may be found on the Diocesan website at DOMSE.org.
Fasting Discipline for June
There will be no fasting of any kind during the week following Pentecost (June 12th this year). Otherwise, the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil) is observed on the Wednesdays and Fridays of the month. This year, the Apostles’ Fast begins on Monday, June 20th and runs through June 28th. During this time, the traditional fasting discipline will be observed on each day of the week, except for Saturday and Sunday when fish, wine and oil are permitted.
Major Commemorations for June
June 1 Justyn Martyr
June 2 Feast of the Ascension
June 4 Metrophanes of Constantinople
June 5 Sunday of the Holy Fathers of Nicea
June 11 Saturday of the souls
June 12 Pentecost
June 19 Sunday of All Saints
June 24 Nativity of the Forerunner
June 29 Chief Apostles Peter and Paul
June 30 Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles
Quotable “Do not believe your thoughts, neither when they tell you that you are terrible, nor when they tell you that you are a saint.”
St. Paisios the Athonite
Worship: Sunday, June 5, 2022 (Sunday of the Holy Fathers of Nicea)
Scripture: Acts 20:16-18, 28-36; John 17:1-13
Celebrant: Father Herman
Epistle Reader: Sh. Charlotte Algood
Prosphora: Jones
Coffee Hour: Ellis/Waites/Zouboukos
Saint Peter Antiochian Orthodox Church 