February 5, 2023
Sunday of the Pharisee and the Publican
After-feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple
II Timothy 3:10-15: My son Timothy, you have followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, patience, persecutions, sufferings, what things befell me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra. What persecutions I endured! And out of them all the Lord delivered me. Indeed all who would live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But people who are wicked and deceivers will proceed from worse to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and how from infancy you have known the sacred temple writings which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
Luke 18:10-14: The Lord spoke this parable: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank Thee that I am not like other men, extortionists, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Troparion of the Resurrection: The stone being sealed by the Jews, and thy pure body being guarded by the soldiers, thou didst arise on the third day, O Saviour, granting life to the world. Wherefore, the heavenly powers acclaimed thee, O Giver of life, crying, Glory to thy Resurrection, O Christ! Glory to thy kingdom! Glory to thy gracious providence, O only Lover of mankind.
Troparion of the Presentation: Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, full of grace; for from thee arose the Sun of justice, Christ our God, lighting those who are in darkness. Rejoice and be glad, O righteous old man, carrying in thine arms the Deliverer of our souls, who granteth us 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 the Presentation: Thou, O Christ God, who by your Birth, didst sanctify the Virgin’s womb, and as is meet, didst bless Simeon’s arms, and didst also come to save us, preserve thy fold in wars, and confirm them whom thou didst love; for thou alone art the Lover of mankind.
CALENDAR
UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE: All services listed on the calendar will be available through streaming and webcast.
Sunday, February 5 (Pharisee and the Publican)
[NO FASTING THIS WEEK]
8:50 a.m. — Orthros (webcast)
9:00 a.m. — Christian Education
10:00 a.m. — Divine Liturgy (webcast)
Monday, February 6
Father Herman off
Tuesday, February 7
NO Services
Wednesday, February 8
6:30 p.m. — Daily Vespers
Thursday, February 9
NO Services
Friday, February 10 (Hieromartyr Haralampos)
NO Services
Saturday, February 11
10:00 a.m. — Ladies meet for Akathist
6:00 p.m. — Great Vespers
Sunday, February 12 (Sunday of the Prodigal Son)
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 Dn Richard Roots for the Divine Liturgy this morning. The Artoklasoia Bread for the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple was offered this past Wednesday evening by the Pacuraris.
Pledge Letters were mailed out last week. Please return them as soon as possible.
Eucharist Bread Schedule:
Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour
February 5 R. Root Lavric/Skirtech/Dabit
February 12 Lasseter Alaeetawi/Waites
February 18 (Sat. a.m.) Baker Meadows/Pacurari/Cooper
(Saturday of the Souls) Koliva:
February 19 Henderson Pigott/Stewart
February 26 Algood FUNDRAISER (TEENS) MEAL
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 5 Brenda Baker II Tim. 3:10-15 258
February 12 Kh. Sharon Meadows I Cor. 6:12-20 265
February 18 (Sat. a.m.) Walt Wood Thess. 4:13-17 412
February 19 Walt Wood I Cor. 8:8-9:2 273
February 26 Ian Jones Rom. 13:11-14:4 279
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.
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; Fr. Joseph Bittle.
Please pray for the Holy Synod in Damascus who will meeting on February 22nd to discuss the election of the new Metropolitan.
House Blessings: A sign-up sheet is located on the bureau in the hallway. Please indicate 3 dates that would work for your family and Father Herman will get back with you to schedule your house blessing. Everyone should have their house blessed, but the responsibility for scheduling lies with individuals and not Father Herman. (There will be no house blessings once Great Lent starts.)
Parents! If your children plan to attend Camp St. Thekla in the summer, please let Daniel know.
Parents, your help is needed! Please monitor your children with regards to the Men’s Bathroom. Recently one of the stalls was locked as a prank.
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.
* February 27th is Clean Monday when Great Lent begins. The schedule of services during the first week of Lent are as follows:
Sunday, February 26 — Forgiveness Vespers, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Monday, February 27 — Canon of St. Andrew of Crete, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, February 28 — Canon of St. Andrew of Crete, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 1 — Liturgy of the Pre-sanctified Gifts, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 2 — Canon of St. Andrew of Crete, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Friday, March 3 — Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 5 — Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers at St. Peter, beginning at 6:00
p.m.
Winter Camp will be held at Camp St. Thekla on February 17-20, 2023 for ages 12-17.
Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers: St. Peter will be hosting the Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers this year on Sunday March 5th, beginning at 6:00 p.m. More information will be available shortly.
Instructions for streaming our services can be found on the parish website.
Fasting Discipline for February
There will be no fasting during the week following the Sunday of the Pharisee and the Publican (February 5th this year). Other than that, the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil) is observed on Wednesdays and Fridays of the month until Meat Fare Sunday on February 19th. After that time, meat will no longer be eaten until Pascha. During the week following Meat Fare Sunday, dairy products are permitted, even on Wednesday and Friday. Beginning with Clean Monday on February 27th, the traditional fasting discipline is observed on all days of the week until Pascha (except for the Feast of the Annunciation on March 25th and Palm Sunday on April 9th, when fish, wine and oil are permitted).
Major Commemorations for February
February 5 Sunday of the Pharisee and the Publican
February 10 Hieromartyr Haralampos
February 11 Blaise, Bishop of Sebaste
February 12 Sunday of the Prodigal Son
February 18 Saturday of the Souls
February 19 Sunday of Meat Fare
February 24 The Forerunner (1st and 2nd Discoveries)
February 26 Sunday of Cheese Fare
February 27 Clean Monday (Great Lent Begins)
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: “How mistaken are those people who seek happiness outside of themselves, in foreign lands and journeys, in riches and glory, in great possessions and pleasures, in diversions and vain things, which have a bitter end! It is the same thing to construct the tower of happiness outside of ourselves as it is to build a house in a place that is consistently shaken by earthquakes. Happiness is found within ourselves, and blessed is the man who has understood this. Happiness is a pure heart, for such a heart becomes the throne of God. Thus says Christ of those who have pure hearts: “I will visit them, and will walk in them, and I will be a God to them, and they will be my people.” (II Cor. 6:16) What can be lacking to them? Nothing, nothing at all! For they have the greatest good in their hearts: God Himself!”
+ St. Nektarios of Aegina
Worship: Sunday, February 12, 2023 (Sunday of the Prodigal Son)
Scripture: I Corinthians 6:12-20; Luke 15:11-32
Celebrant: Father Herman
Epistle Reader: Kh. Sharon Meadows
Prosphora: Baker
Coffee Hour: POT LUCK MEAL
Waites/Alaeetawi
Saint Peter Antiochian Orthodox Church 