March 12, 2023

Second Sunday of Great Lent

Commemoration of St. Gregory Palamas

St. Gregory Palamas (c. 1296-1359) – St. Gregory was a Greek monk and theologian and the chief exponent of Hesychasm. He was ordained a priest in the year 1326 and became Bishop of Thessalonica in 1347. The political conditions made it impossible for him to take possession of the see until 1350. He died on November 14, 1359, which is his feast day. He was canonized in 1368. St. Gregory stressed the biblical notion of man as a single and united whole, body and soul together. In virtue of this, he argued that the physical exercises used by the Hesychasts in prayer, as well as their claim to see the Divine Light with their bodily eyes, could be defended as legitimate. He distinguished between the essence and the energies of God: God’s essence remains unknowable, but his uncreated energies, which are God Himself, permeate all things and can be directly experienced by man in the form of deifying grace.

In the earlier period, there was on this day a commemoration of the Great Martyr Polycarp of Smyrna (c. 155). St. Gregory replaced St. Polycarp on the Second Sunday of Lent in the fourteenth century.

Hebrews 1:10-2:3: Thou, “O Lord, in the beginning didst lay the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the works of Thy hands; they will perish; but Thou remainest; and they will all grow old like a garment, and like a mantle Thou wilt roll them up, and they shall be changed; but Thou art the same, and Thy years will not fail.” But to which of the angels did He say at any time, “Sit on My right hand, until I make thine enemies a footstool for thy feet?” Are they not all spirits for liturgical ministry, sent forth to minister for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? Therefore, we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things that were heard, lest at any time we drift away from them. For if the word spoken through angels was confirmed, and every transgression and disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation, which having at first been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard?

Mark 2:1-12: At that time, when Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that He was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, not even about the door; and He was preaching the Word to them. And they came, bringing to Jesus a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had made an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now, some of the scribes were sitting there, reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak thus? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” And immediately Jesus, perceiving in His spirit that they thus reasoned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you reason thus in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your pallet and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” – He said to the paralytic – “I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home.” And he rose, and immediately took up the pallet and went out before them all. So that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

Troparion of the Resurrection: When Mary stood at thy grave looking for thy sacred body, angelic powers shone above thy revered tomb, and the soldiers who were to keep guard became as dead men. Thou led hades captive and wast not tempted thereby. Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst give life to the world; O thou who art risen from the dead! O Lord, glory to thee.

Troparion of St. Gregory Palamas: O Gregory the Wonderworker, light of Orthodoxy, support and teacher of the Church, glory of monks and invincible protector of theologians, pride of Thessalonica and preacher of grace, pray without ceasing for the salvation of our souls.

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 Sundays of Lent: To thee the champion leader, I thy servant offer thanks for victory, O Theotokos, thou who hast delivered me form terror. As thou hast power invincible, free me from every danger that I may cry unto thee: Rejoice, O bride without bridegroom.

CALENDAR

UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE: All services listed on the calendar will be available through streaming and webcast.

Sunday, March 12 (Commemoration of Gregory Palamas)

8:50 a.m. — Orthros (webcast)

9:00 a.m. — Christian Education

10:00 a.m. — Divine Liturgy (webcast)

Monday, March 13

Father Herman off

Tuesday, March 14

NO Services

Wednesday, March 15

6:30 p.m. — Pre-sanctified Liturgy followed by Soup Supper

Thursday, March 16 (Christodoulos, the Wonder-worker of Patmos)

NO Services

Friday, March 17

6:30 p.m. — Small Compline with the Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos

Saturday, March 18

8:30 a.m. — Workday at the Church

9:30-11:00 a.m.– Choir Practice

6:00 p.m. — Great Vespers

Sunday, March 19 (Adoration of the Holy Cross)

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 Morrises for the Divine Liturgy this morning.

Registration for the PLC is now open. This year the Parish Life Conference will hosted by St. George Cathedral in Coral Gables, FL on June 14-17. Father Herman sent an email with the link for registration, or you may also go to the Diocesan website DOMSE.org.

Eucharist Bread Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

March 12 Morris Lasseter/Miller

March 19 Jones D. Root/Baker

March 24 (Fri. p.m.) Meadows (Artos) No Meal

March 25 (Sat. a.m.) Meadows Henderson/Jones

(Feast of the Annunciation)

March 26 Davis Ellis/Zouboukos

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#

March 12 Sh. Charlotte Algood Heb. 1:10-2:3 283

March 19 Kh. Sharon Meadows Heb. 4:14-5:6 285

March 25 (Sat. a.m.) Brenda Baker Heb. 2:11-18 376

March 26 Sh. Charlotte Algood Heb. 6:13-20 287

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.

Tax letters were mailed out recently. If you did not receive your letter, or if your there is a discrepancy with your records concerning contributions last year, please let Kh. Sharon know.

Many, many thanks! to all who helped with the Pot Luck meal for the Sunday of Orthodoxy vespers.

March is Ladies Month in our Archdiocese. Please honor the ladies of our parish by allowing them to take communion first. Also as usual, the Ladies of St. Peter will be taking up a collection to support the Annual Women’s Project. This year we have been given the Continued Relief Efforts for those affected by the recent earthquakes in Syria and Turkey. We will be taking up collections TODAY and again on Sunday, March 26th. Thank you for your support in our efforts.

Instructions for streaming our services can be found on the parish website.

New construction will begin soon on a gazebo for our playground! (Parents, rejoice!)

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.

· As is our parish custom, during Great Lent we will celebrate the Pre-sanctified Liturgy on Wednesday evenings, beginning at 6:30 p.m., in place of Daily Vespers (except for Wednesday, March 29th, when we will instead have Compline with the Canon of St. Andrew of Crete and the Life of St. Mary of Egypt). As in the past, we will have Pot Luck Soup Suppers after the Pre-sanctified Liturgies. On Friday evenings we will pray Small Compline with the Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos (except for Friday, March 24th, when we will celebrate Great Vespers with Litia and Artoklasia for the Feast of the Annunciation).

· The Feast of the Annunciation will be celebrated with Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy on Saturday, March 25th, beginning at 9:00 a.m.

· Stew Pot Dates for 2023 are Saturday, May 13th and Saturday, September 9th.

Parents! If your children plan to attend Camp St. Thekla in the summer, please let Daniel know, as we are trying to make plans for transportation.

Fasting Discipline for March

After Meat Fare Sunday, meat will no longer be eaten until Pascha. Beginning with Clean Monday on February 27th, the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil) 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 March

March 12 2nd Sunday of Lent; Commemoration of Gregory Palamas

March 16 Christodoulos, Wonder-worker of Patmos

March 19 3rd Sunday of Lent; Adoration of the Holy Cross

March 25 Feast of the Annunciation

March 26 4th Sunday of Lent; Commemoration of John Climacus

Synaxis of the Archangel Gabriel

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: “As we make the first step into the ‘bright sadness’ of Lent, we see—far, far away—the destination. It is the joy of Easter, it is the entrance into the glory of the Kingdom. And it is this vision, the foretaste of Easter, that makes Lent’s sadness bright and our lenten effort a ‘spiritual spring.’ The night may be dark and long, but all along the way a mysterious and radiant dawn seems to shine on the horizon.”

Fr. Alexander Schmemman, Great Lent

Worship: Sunday, March 19, 2023 (Third Sunday of Lent; Adoration of the Holy Cross)

Scripture: Hebrews 4:14-5:6; Mark 8:34-9:1

Celebrant: Father Herman

Epistle Reader: Kh. Sharon Meadows

Prosphora: Jones

Coffee Hour: D. Root/Baker