January 8, 2023
Sunday after the Theophany of Christ
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: 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 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.
Sunday, January 8 (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. — Outdoor Blessing of the Water at the Reservoir
Monday, January 9
Father Herman off
Tuesday, January 10
NO Services
Wednesday, January 11 (Theodosios Head of Monasteries)
6:30 p.m. — Daily Vespers
7:15 p.m. — Chanters’ Practice
Thursday, January 12
NO Services
Friday, January 13
NO Services
Saturday, January 14
10:00 a.m. — Ladies meet for Akathist
6:00 p.m. — Great Vespers
Sunday, January 15 (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
The Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Meadows for the Feast of Theophany this past Thursday evening and by the Davises for the Divine Liturgy this morning.
Eucharist Bread Schedule:
Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour
January 8 Davis D. Root/Baker
January 15 D. Root POT LUCK MEAL
(Chains of St. Peter) Henderson/Jones
January 22 Karam Lockhart/Karam/Snell
January 29 Brock Dansereau/Alaeetawi
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.
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 8 Ian Jones Eph. 4:7-13 364
January 15 Brenda Baker Acts12:1-11 50-51
January 22 Walt Wood I Tim. 4:9-15 252
January 29 Sam Habeeb II Cor. 6:16-7:1 173
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; Georgia and Bob Buchanan.
Instructions for streaming our services can be found on the parish website.
Father Herman will be travelling to Dallas for the Special Convention to select nominees for the new Metropolitan for our Archdiocese. Please keep him and all of those convening in your prayers.
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.
* As is our custom, we will have the Service for Blessing the Waters at the Ross Barnett Reservoir (weather permitting) THIS AFTERNOON, beginning at 4:00 p.m.
* Special Convention in Dallas, Texas January 12-13, 2023 for Nomination of new Metropolitan for our Archdiocese. Please continue to keep those convening in your prayers.
* Our Patronal Feast falls on a Monday this year. So, we will be celebrating it on Sunday, January 15th instead. We will also have a Pot Luck Meal that day in celebration of the feast.
* Baby Shower for Sara Miller at Coffee Hour on Sunday, January 29th.
Baby Shower for Sara Miller: We will have a Diaper/Frozen Casserole Shower for Sara Miller at Coffee Hour on Sunday, January 29, 2023. Reader Chad and Sara are expecting a new daughter in February. Please continue to keep all in your prayers!
Winter Camp will be held at Camp St. Thekla on February 17-20, 2023 for ages 12-17.
Sunnybrook Children’s Home is beginning a Transitional Home for children aging out of foster care. Their goal is to make sure these children complete high school, and help them pursue further education and develop life skills to allow them to function well in their lives as adults. If you wish to make a donation to this worthwhile endeavor, please make your check out to St. Peter and be sure to mark “Sunnybrook” on the memo line. (This is separate from our annual St. Nicholas Offering.)
Fasting Discipline for January
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 Athansios 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
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.
Quotable: “Completely have trust in God, leave everything in His hands, and believe that His love will act for your own benefit. Then God will take care of everything, because there is nothing He cannot do; everything is easy for Him. The difficult thing is for man to decide to humble himself and leave everything to God’s providence and loveis love will act for your own benefit.Hi.”
+ St. Paisios of Athos
Worship: Sunday, January 15, 2023 (Chains of St. Peter)
Scripture: Acts 12:1-11; Luke 17:12-19
Celebrant: Father Herman
Epistle Reader: Brenda Baker
Prosphora: D. Root
Coffee Hour: POT LUCK MEAL
Henderson/Jones
Saint Peter Antiochian Orthodox Church 