September 24, 2023

Proto-martyr Thekla, Equal-to-the-Apostles

II Timothy 3:10-15: Timothy, my son, you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions, my sufferings, what befell me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet from them all, the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all, who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Luke 5:1-11: At that time, Jesus was standing by the lake of Gennesaret. And He saw two boats by the lake; but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, Jesus asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when Jesus had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at Thy word I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish; and as their nets were breaking, they beckoned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the catch of fish, which they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.

Troparion of the Resurrection: Thou didst shatter death by thy Cross; thou didst open paradise to the thief; thou didst turn the mourning of the ointment-bearing women into joy, and didst bid thine Apostles proclaim warning that thou hast risen, O Christ, granting the world Great Mercy.

Troparion of St. Thekla: O glorious Thekla, companion of Paul the divine, thou wast inflamed with the love of thy Creator by the teaching of the divine preacher. Thou didst despise the passing earthly pleasures, and offered thyself to God as an acceptable and pleasing sacrifice, disregarding all suffering. Intercede with Christ thy Groom to grant us His great mercy.

Troparion for Holy Father Silouan: By thy prayers, thou didst receive Christ as thy Master on the path of humility and in thy heart the Holy Spirit witnessed unto thy salvation. For this cause all people called to live in hope now rejoice and celebrate thy memory. O Holy Father Silouan, pray to Christ to save 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 Theotokos: O undisputed intercessor of Christians, O mediatrix, who is unrejected by the Creator, turn not away from the voice of our petitions though we be sinners; come to us in time, who cry to thee in faith, for thou art good. Hasten to us with intercessions, O Theotokos, who didst ever intercede for those who honor thee.

CALENDAR

UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE: All services listed on the calendar will be available through streaming and webcast. (Instructions can be found on the parish website.)

Sunday, September 24 (Proto-martyr Thekla)

8:50 a.m. – Orthros (webcast)

9:00 a.m. – Christian Education

10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy (webcast)

Monday, September 25

Father Herman off

Tuesday, September 26 (Apostle John the Theologian)

NO Services

1:00 p.m. – Ladies’ Lunch

Wednesday, September 27

6:30 p.m. – Daily Vespers

7:30 p.m. – Parish Council Meeting

Thursday, September 28 (Venerable Chariton)

NO Services

Friday, September 29

NO Services

Saturday, September 30

4:45 p.m. – Choir Practice

6:00 p.m. – Great Vespers

Sunday, October 1 (Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost)

8:50 a.m. – Orthros (webcast)

9:00 a.m. – Christian Education resumes

10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy (webcast)

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Algoods for the Divine Liturgy this morning.

Eucharist Bread Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

September 24 Algood Meadows/Pacurari/Cooper

October 1 Schelver Pigott/Stewart

October 8 Morris POT LUCK MEAL

Algood/Schelver/I. Jones

October 15 K. Jones Lasseter/Miller

October 22 Davis D. Root/Baker

October 29 Meadows Henderson/K. Jones

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; Anthony and Athena Zouboukos and Keri Waites; Steve and Sheryl Chamblee; Rick Carlton; Very Rev. Fr. Nicholas and Kh. Jan Speier.

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#

September 24 Reader Basil Baker II Tim. 3:10-15 258

October 1 Teens TBA II Cor. 6:16-7:1 173

October 8 Teens TBA II Cor. 9:6-11 178

October 15 Teens TBA Titus3:8-15 322

October 22 Teens TBA Gal. 1:11-19 188

October 29 Teens TBA Gal. 2:16-20 193

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.

Father Herman will be in Atlanta for the Diocesan Fall Retreat September 21-23. If you need a priest during this time, please contact Fr. John or Fr. James.

Kh. Nora Bleam (wife of Fr. David Bleam, Pastor of St. Andrew the Apostle in Pensacola, FL) will be at St. Peter October 20-22 for a workshop with our choir.

Save the Date! Dr. Jeanne Constantinou will be here for a talk on November 3. More details will be available as plans are finalized.

October is Teen Month in our Archdiocese. The Teens will be reading the Epistle during the Divine Liturgy for the month.

Parish Directories have been emailed recently. Hard copies are also available on the bureau in the hallway outside the Nave for those who need them.

Directory update: Steve Chamblee’s Phone Number is 601-750-6055

Jack Weatherly’s E-mail is Jackweatherly726@gmail.com.

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 at 1:00 p.m. on the last Tuesday of the month.

Fasting Discipline for September

In September the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil) is observed on all Wednesdays and Fridays of the month. The Feast of the Elevation of the Cross on the 14th is also a strict fast day.

Major Commemorations for September

September 26 Apostle John the Theologian (repose)

September 28 Venerable Chariton

Happy Birthdays in September:

September 1 – Adelina Lavric (#11!)

September 3 – Lee Greene

– Hannah Strange (#17!)

September 4 – Fr. John Henderson

September 6 – Mary Elizabeth Milnor (#16!)

September 8 – Kh. Nikki Lasseter

September 9 – Rebecca Dansereau

September 10 – Katie Miller (#15!)

September 12 – Aidan Lavric (#8!)

September 15 – Lynda Costas

September 20 – Elias Ephrem Karam (#6!)

September 22 – Mariam Karam (#8!)

Happy Anniversaries in September:

September 27 – Emad and Natalia Alaeetawi (#23!)

Quotable: “Today Alaska rejoices and America celebrates for the New World has been sanctified by martyrdom. Kodiak echoes with songs of thanksgiving, Iliamna and Kenai observe the Festival of Faith. The apostle and martyr Juvenaly is glorified and Peter the Aleut is exalted by his voluntary sacrifice. In their devotion and love for the Lord they willingly endured persecution and death for the Truth. Now in the Kingdom of Heaven they intercede for our souls.”

Troparion of the Martyr Peter the Aleut

Worship: Sunday, October 1, 2023 (Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost)

Scripture: II Corinthians 6:16-7:1; Luke 6:31-36

Celebrant: Father Herman

Epistle Reader: Teen

Prosphora: Schelver

Coffee Hour: Pigott/Stewart