December 3, 2023

Twenty-sixth Sunday after Pentecost

Ephesians 5:8-19: Brethren, walk as children of light—for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true—and try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is a shame even to speak of the things that they do in secret; but when anything is exposed by the light it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light.” Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart.

Luke 18:35-43: At that time, when Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging; and hearing a multitude going by, he inquired what this meant. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” And he cried, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped, and commanded him to be brought to him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me receive my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

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 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 Preparatory for Nativity: Today the Virgin comes unto the cave to give birth in an ineffable manner to the Word before the ages. Rejoice, therefore, O universe, when you hear, and glorify with the angels and the shepherds him who shall appear by his own will as a new babe, being God before the ages.

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, December 3 (Twenty-sixth Sunday after Pentecost))

8:50 a.m. – Orthros (webcast)

9:00 a.m. – Christian Education

10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy (webcast)

Monday, December 4 (Great-martyr Barbara and Venerable Father John of Damascus)

Father Herman off

Tuesday, December 5 (Sava the Sanctified)

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

Wednesday, December 6 Nicholas the Wonder-worker of Myra)

6:30 p.m. – Advent Paraklesis

Thursday, December 7

NO Services

11:00 a.m. – Men’s Lunch

Friday, December 8

NO Services

Saturday, December 9

10:00 a.m. – Ladies meet for Akathist

4:30 p.m. – Choir Practice

6:00 p.m. – Great Vespers

Sunday, December 10 (Twenty-fifth 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. – Santa Lucia celebration during Coffee Hour

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

Eucharist Bread Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

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#

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.

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.

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

* 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.

Fasting Discipline for December

The Fast of the Nativity began on November 15th. During this fast the traditional fasting (no meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil) is observed on each day of the week. Note, however, through December 19th 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. There is no fasting of any kind from December 25th through January 4th.

Major Commemorations for December

December 4 Great-martyr Barbara and Venerable John of Damascus

December 5 Sava the Sanctified

December 6 Nicholas the Wonder-worker of Myra

December 9 Conception of the Theotokos

December 12 Spyridon the Wonder-worker

December 13 Herman of Alaska

December 15 Hieromartyr Eleutherios

December 20 Ignatius the God-bearer of Antioch

December 25 The Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

December 26 Synaxis of the Theotokos

December 27 Protomartyr Stephen

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

Quotable: “Our life depends on the kind of thoughts we nurture. If our thoughts are peaceful, calm, meek, and kind, then that is what our life is like. If our attention is turned to the circumstances in which we live, we are drawn into a whirlpool of thoughts and can have neither peace nor tranquility.”

Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica

Worship: Sunday, December 10, 2023 (Twenty-seventh Sunday after Pentecost)

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-17; Luke 13:10-17

Celebrant: Father Herman

Epistle Reader: Reader Basil Baker

Prosphora: Schelver

Coffee Hour: Lasseter/Miller