January 14, 2024

Leave-taking of and Sunday after Theophany

Ephesians 4:7-13: Brethren, grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore, it is said, “When He ascended on high He led a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men.” (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that He had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is He who also ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) And His gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

Matthew 4:12-17: At that time, when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth he went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulon and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “The land of Zebulon and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”

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 Theophany: By thy baptism, O Lord, in the River Jordan, worship to the Trinity has made its appearance; for the voice of the Lord didst come forth to thee with the testimony, naming thee beloved Son; and the Spirit in the likeness of a dove, confirming the truth of the word. Wherefore, O thou who didst appear and light the world, glory to thee.

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 Theophany: Today thou hast appeared to the universe, O Lord, and thy light hast been shed upon us, who praise thee with knowledge, saying, Thou hast come and appeared, O unapproachable Light.

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, January 14 (Leave-taking of Theophany)

8:50 a.m. – Orthros

9:00 a.m. – Christian Education

10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy (webcast)

12:00 p.m. – Pot Luck Meal

Monday, January 15

Father Herman off

6:00 p.m. – Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy

Tuesday, January 16 (Veneration of the Chains of St. Peter)

NO Services

Wednesday, January 17 (Anthony the Great)

6:30 p.m. – Great Vespers

Thursday, January 18 (Athanasios and Cyril of Alexandria)

NO Services

Friday, January 19

NO Services

Saturday, January 20 (Euthymios the Great)

4:30 p.m. – Choir Practice

6:00 p.m. – Great Vespers

Sunday, January 21 (Twenty-ninth 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 Brocks for the Divine Liturgy this morning.

Eucharist Bread Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

January 14 Brock POT LUCK MEAL

Pigott/Stewart

January 15 (Mon. p.m.) R. Root Algood/Schelver/I. Jones

(Veneration of the Chains of St. Peter)

January 21 Pacurari Lasseter/Miller

January 24 (Wed. p.m.) Lasseter (Artos Bread) No Coffee Hour

January 28 Baker D. Root/Baker

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#

January 14 Brenda Baker Eph. 4:7-13 364

January 15 (Mon. p.m.) Walt Wood Acts 12:1-11 50-51

January 21 Reader Basil Baker Col. 3:4-11 233

January 28 Reader Chad Miller I Tim. 1:15-17 245

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.

Many Years! to Maggie Miller who was baptized yesterday. Please continue to keep her, her sponsor Kh. Nikki, and the Miller family in your prayers.

House Blessings: A sign-up sheet has been placed on the bureau in the foyer for house blessings. Please place your name and three dates you are available to have your house blessed. Father Herman will contact you with one of those dates.

The new date for the Pilgrimage to Holy Dormition will be May 13-17th. If you plan on attending, please let Reader Basil or Father Herman know as soon as possible

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

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 Chains of St. Peter with Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy on tomorrow evening, January 15th, beginning at 6:00 p.m.

* The Feast of the Presentation of our Lord in the Temple will be celebrated with Great Vespers with Litia and Artoklasia on Thursday evening, February 1st, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

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

Fasting Discipline for January

Following the Feast of Theophany (January 6) the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil) is observed on the remaining Wednesdays and Fridays of the month.

Major Commemorations for January

January 16 Veneration of the Chains of St. Peter

January 17 Anthony the Great

January 18 Athanasios and Cyril of Alexandria

January 20 Euthymios the Great

January 25 Gregory the Theologian

January 27 John Chrysostom

January 30 The Three Hierarchs

January 31 Cyros and John the Unmercenary Healers

Quotable: “The Lord does not show Himself to a proud soul. The proud soul, no matter how many books it reads, will never know God, since by its pride it does not give place for the grace of the Holy Spirit, while God is known only by the humble soul.”

St. Silouan the Athonite

Worship: Sunday, January 21, 2024 (Twenty-ninth Sunday after Pentecost)

Scripture: Colossians 3:4-11; Luke 17:12-19

Celebrant: Father Herman

Epistle Reader: Reader Basil Baker

Prosphora: Pacurari

Coffee Hour: Lasseter/Miller