November 19, 2023

Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost

Ephesians 2:14-22: Brethren, Christ is our peace, Who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that He might create in Himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the Cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end. And He came and preached peace to you, who were far off, and peace to those who were near; for through Him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in Whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in Whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Luke 12:16-21: The Lord spoke this parable: “The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take November 19, 2023 Liturgy Variables 2 24th Sun. of Pentecost your ease, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” As He said this, Jesus called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

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 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 of the Theotokos: The all-pure temple of the Saviour, the most precious bridal-chamber and Virgin, the treasure-house of the glory of God, today enters the Temple of the Lord, bringing with her the grace which is in the divine Spirit; whom also the angels of God do celebrate in song; for she is the heavenly tabernacle.

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, November 19 (Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost)

8:50 a.m. – Orthros (webcast)

9:00 a.m. – Christian Education

10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy (webcast)

Monday, November 20

Father Herman off

6:30 p.m. – Great Vespers with Litia and Artoklasia

Tuesday, November 21 (Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple)

NO Services

Wednesday, November 22

NO Services

Thursday, November 23

NO Services

Friday, November 24

NO Services

Saturday, November 25

4:30 p.m. – Choir Practice

6:00 p.m. – Great Vespers

Sunday, November 26 (Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost))

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 Pacuraris for the Divine Liturgy this morning.

Eucharist Bread Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

November 19 Pacurai Meadows/Pacurari/Cooper

November 20 (Mon. p.m.) R. Root (Artos Bread)

(Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple)

November 26 Lasseter Pigott/Stewart

December 3 Algood Algood/Schelver/I. Jones

December 5 (Tues. p.m.) Henderson (Artos Bread)

(Feast-day of St. Nicholas the Wonder-worker)

December 10 Schelver Lasseter/Miller

December 17 Morris D. Root/Baker

December 24 (Sun. a.m.) Jones Henderson/K. Jones

December 24 (Sun. p.m.) Meadows Dansereau/Alaeetawi/

(Feast of the Nativity of our Lord) Lockhart/Karam/Snell

December 31 (Sun. a.m.) Davis Lavric/Skirtech/Dabit

December 31 (Sun. p.m.) Baker (Artos Bread)

(Feast of the Circumcision of Christ; Feast-day of St. Basil the Great)

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#

November 19 Ian Jones Eph. 2:14-22 207

November 26 Brenda Baker Eph. 5:8-19 212

December 3 Walt Wood Eph. 5:8-19 217

December 10 Reader Basil Baker Eph. 6:10-17 223

December 17 Reader Chad Miller Col. 3:4-11 233

December 24 (Sun. a.m.) Brandon Strain Heb. 11:9-10, 32-40 348

December 24 (Sun. p.m.) Sam Habeeb Gal. 4:4-7 351

December 31 Sh. Charlotte Algood II Tim. 4:5-8 354

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; Reader Basil and Brenda Baker and their family; Buddy Cooper; Georgia and Bob Buchanan; Fr. Joseph Bittle; Steve and Sheryl Chamblee; Rick Carlton; Very Rev. Fr. Nicholas and Kh. Jan Speier; Dora Lambert (Dimitri Zouboukos’ fiancée); Lee Greene; Joseph, Amanda and Hunter Hines.

Madison Christmas Parade: If you have any interest in (or willingness to head up) our parish’s participation in the Madison Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 2nd, please let Father Herman know.

A new date for the Pilgrimage to Holy Dormition will be forthcoming. More details will be available at a later date.

DOMSE Winter Camp: If your child is interested in attending Camp St. Thekla WAMP, February 16-19, 2024, please see Fr. Herman for the link to registration. Please note that the ages for WAMP are 12-17 years of age.

Bible Study: There have been several requests that a Bible Study be started. Fr. Herman has asked Fr. John if he would head this up. If you are interested in attending the Bible Study please place your name on the sign-up sheet on the bureau in the foyer. This is so Fr. Herman and Fr. John will know how many people are interested.

Fasting Discipline for November

In November the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil) is observed on Wednesdays and Fridays until the 15th of the month, when the Fast of the Nativity begins. During this fast the traditional fasting is observed on each day of the week. Note, however, through December 19thth there is a katlysis on Tuesdays and Thursdays when wine and oil are permitted, and on Saturdays and Sundays when fish, wine and oil are permitted.

Major Commemorations for November

November 21 Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple

November 25 Great-martyrs Catherine and Mercurios

November 30 Apostle Andrew, the First-called

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.

* The Fast of the Nativity began on November 15th and runs until December 25th. As is our parish custom, we will pray the Paraklesis Service to the Theotokos on Wednesday evenings instead of Daily Vespers during the Fast. However, there will not be a service on the evening of November 22nd because of the Thanksgiving holiday.

* We will celebrate the Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple with Great Vespers with Litia and Artoklasia on Monday evening, November 20th, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

* The Feast-day of St. Nicholas will be celebrated with Great Vespers with Litia and Artoklasia on Tuesday evening, December 5th, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

* The Festal Orthros and Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ will be celebrated on Sunday evening, December 24th, beginning at 8:00 p.m. followed by our festal meal.

* We will celebrate the Feast of the Circumcision of the Lord and the Feast-day of St. Basil the Great with Great Vespers with Litia and Artoklasia on Sunday evening, December 31st, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

* His Grace, Bishop NICHOLAS will be making his next Arch-pastoral visit in January. The date is yet to be determined and more information will be forthcoming in the future.

* Stewpot dates for 2024 will be March 30th and November 30th.

Quotable: “The brethren asked Abba Agathon: ‘Amongst all our different activities, father, which is the virtue that requires the greatest effort?’ He answered: ‘Forgive me, but I think there is no labor greater than praying to God. For every time a man wants to pray, his enemies the demons try to prevent him; for they know that nothing obstructs them so much as prayer to God. In everything else that a man undertakes, if he perseveres, he will attain rest. But in order to pray a man must struggle to his last breath.’”

The Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Worship: Sunday, November 26, 2023 (Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost)

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-7; Luke 18:18-27

Celebrant: Father Herman

Epistle Reader: Brenda Baker

Prosphora: Lasseter

Coffee Hour: Pigott/Stewart