October 8, 2023

Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

II Corinthians 9:6-11: Brethren, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work. As it is written, “He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your resources and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for great generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.

Luke 7:11-16: At that time, Jesus went to a city called Nain, and many of His disciples and a great crowd went with Him. As He drew near to the gate of the city, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a large crowd from the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” And He came and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And Jesus said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” And the dead man sat up, and began to speak. And Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all; and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited His people!”

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 Pelagia the Righteous: Through thee the divine likeness was securely preserved, O Mother Pelagia; for thou didst carry the cross and followed Christ. By example and precept thou didst teach us to ignore the body because it is perishable, and to attend to the concerns of the undying soul. Therefore, doth thy soul rejoice with the angels.

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, October 8 (Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost)

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

Monday, October 9 (Apostle James, Son of Alphaeus)

Father Herman off

Tuesday, October 10

NO Services

Wednesday, October 11

6:30 p.m. – Daily Vespers

Thursday, October 12

NO Services

Friday, October 13

NO Services

Saturday, October 14

10:00 a.m. – Ladies meet for Akathist

4:45 p.m. – Choir Practice

6:00 p.m. – Great Vespers

Sunday, October 15 (Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council)

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 Morrises for the Divine Liturgy this morning.

Eucharist Bread Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

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

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#

October 8 Katie Miller II Cor. 9:6-11 178

October 15 Simeon Root Titus3:8-15 322

October 22 Sophie Dansereau Gal. 1:11-19 188

October 29 Katie Miller 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.

Kh. Nora Bleam (wife of Fr. David Bleam, Pastor of St. Andrew the Apostle in Pensacola, FL) will be at St. Peter October 20-21 for a workshop with our choir. On the 21st, Great Vespers will begin at 5:00 p.m. instead of the usual 6:00 p.m.

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.

Save the Date! Dr. Jeanne Constantinou will be here for a talk on November 3, beginning in the Fellowship Hall at 6:30 p.m.

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

Fall Festival! Get ready to have some fun and good fellowship at our annual Fall Festival, to be held this year on Saturday, October 28th, beginning at 4:00 p.m.! Anna Kathryn Stewart has graciously agreed to head this up again. She will need volunteers for the various activities and for food dishes for our meal. Sign-up sheets are located on the small table by the patio doors in the Fellowship Hall, so please be sure to sign up. As is our parish custom, we will not have Great Vespers that evening.

Calendar Items:

* The men of the parish meet for lunch at 11:00 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.

* Choir Workshop – October 20-21.

* Fall Festival – Saturday, October 28th, beginning at 4:00 p.m. (No Great Vespers that day.)

* Dr. Jeanne Constantinou will be speaking at St. Peter Friday evening, November 3rd, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.

* The Feast-day of St. Raphael will be celebrated with Divine Liturgy (only) on Saturday, November 4th, beginning at 9:00 a.m.

Fasting Discipline for October

In September the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil) is observed on all Wednesdays and Fridays of the month.

Major Commemorations for October

October 9 Apostle James, Son of Alphaeus

October 15 Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council

October 23 Apostle James, Brother of the Lord

October 26 Great-martyr Demetrios

Quotable: “How mistaken are those people who seek happiness outside 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! In 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 I will walk in them, and they will be my people.’ 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, October 15, 2023 (Holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council)

Scripture: Titus 3:8-15; Luke 8:5-15

Celebrant: Father Herman

Epistle Reader: Simeon Root

Prosphora: K. Jones

Coffee Hour: Lasseter/Miller