December 24, 2023

Sunday before the Nativity of Christ (Sunday of the Genealogy)

Which falls on Paramon (Eve) of the Nativity

Hebrews 11:9-10, 32-40: Brethren, by faith Abraham sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, and put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated—of whom the world was not worthy—wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Matthew 1:1-25: The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Aram, and Aram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asa, and Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amon, and Amon the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, Who is called Christ. So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ were fourteen generations. Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call His Name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and His Name shall be called Emmanuel” (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him; he took his wife, but knew her not until she had borne a son; and he called His Name Jesus.

Troparion of the Resurrection: Having learned the joyful message of the Resurrection from the angel, the women Disciples cast from them their parental condemnation, and proudly broke the news to the Disciples, saying, Death has been spoiled. Christ God is risen, granting the world Great Mercy.

Troparion of the Sunday before the Nativity: Great are the accomplishments of faith; for the three holy youths rejoiced in the fountain of flames as though at waters of rest. And the Prophet Daniel appeared a shepherd to the lions as though they were sheep. Wherefore, by their pleadings, O Christ God, have mercy upon us.

Troparion of the Paramon of the Nativity: As the fruit of David’s seed, Mary was registered of old with the Elder Joseph in the little town of Bethlehem, when she conceived with a seedless and pure conception. Behold, the time was come that she should bear her Child, but no place was found within the inn for them; yet the cave proved a delightful palace for the pure Lady and Queen of all. For Christ is born now to raise the image that had fallen aforetime.

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 24 (Sunday before the Nativity of Christ; Paramon of the Nativity)

8:50 a.m. – Orthros (webcast)

10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy (webcast)

8:00 p.m. – Festal Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy

Monday, December 25 (Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ)

Father Herman off

[NO
FASTING THROUGH JANUARY 4^TH]

Tuesday, December 26 (Synaxis of the Theotokos)

NO Services

1:00 P.M. – Ladies’ Lunch

Wednesday, December 27 (Protomartyr Stephen)

6:30 p.m. – Daily Vespers

Thursday, December 28

NO Services

Friday, December 29

NO Services

Saturday, December 30

4:30 p.m. – Choir Practice

6:00 p.m. – Great Vespers

Sunday, December 31 (Sunday before Theophany)

8:50 a.m. – Orthros (webcast)

10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy (webcast)

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

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Jones for the Divine Liturgy this morning and by the Meadows for the Divine Liturgy this evening.

Eucharist Bread Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

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 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.

St. Nicholas Fund: Earlier this month we began to accept donations for our annual St. Nicholas Fund. We will continue to accept donations until the end of the month.

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.

Due to schedule conflicts, His Grace, Bishop NICHOLAS will not be making an arch-pastoral visit to St. Peter in January as previously announced.

Congratulations to Father Paul Yerger of Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church in Clinton, on his retirement at the end of this month. May it be blessed! Father Michael Rehmet has been given the blessing to assume the duties of pastor. Please keep both Father Paul and Father Michael in your prayers.

Nicholas Henderson will be moving to Metairie at the end of the month. His wife, Carrie, has received a new job in New Orleans. Please keep Nic, Carrie and Clark in your prayers as they make this change.

Congratulations to Grady Fisher who was enrolled as a catechumen this morning. Please keep him in your prayers.

Maggie Miller will be baptized on Saturday, January 13th. Please keep the Miller family in your prayers.

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.

* 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.

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

Fasting Discipline for December

There is no fasting of any kind from December 25th through January 4th.

Major Commemorations for December

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.

DOMSE will not have a Winter Retreat this year. The plans are for it to resume in January 2025.

Quotable: “The Nativity of Christ—He has come upon earth, He Who in the beginning created us from earth and breathed His Divine breath into us; He has come Who ‘giveth to all life, and breath, and all things’ (Acts xvii. 25.); He has come, He Who by a single word called all things visible and invisible from non-existence into existence, Who by a word called into being birds, fishes, quadrupeds, insects, and all creatures, existing under His almighty providence and care; He has come, He Whom the innumerable hosts of Angels continually and joy. And in what humility has He come! He is born of a poor Virgin, in a cave, wrapped in poor swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger. Riches, honours, glory of this world! fall down, fall down in humility, tearful devotion, and deep gratitude before the Saviour of men, and share your riches with the poor and needy. Do not pride yourselves on your visionary, fleeting distinctions, for true distinction can only be found in virtue. Glory of this world! learn here, before the manger, your vanity. Thus, let us all humble ourselves; let us all fall down in the dust before the boundless humility and exhaustion of the Sovereign of all, of God, Who has come to heal our infirmities, to save us from pride, vanity, corruption, and every sinful impurity.”

St. John of Kronstadt

Worship: Sunday, December 31, 2023 (Sunday before Theophany)

Scripture: II Timothy 4:5-8; Mark 1:1-8

Celebrant: Father Herman

Epistle Reader: Sh. Charlotte Algood

Prosphora: Davis

Coffee Hour: Lavric/Skirtech/Dabit