January 28, 2024

Thirty-first Sunday after Pentecost

I Timothy 1:15-17: Timothy, my son, the saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. And I am the foremost of sinners; but I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display His perfect patience for an example to those who were to believe in Him for eternal life. To the King of Ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory to the ages of ages. Amen.

Luke 18:35-43: At that time, as 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 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 Him, 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 St. Ephraim the Syrian: Out of Paradise a river floweth, flooding all the earth with joy unending, cheering souls with compunction and saving fear: Ephraim, the wine bowl of gladness inspired by God, from all eternity chosen to light the Church with his sacred hymns, his sermons, his shining canticles, whereby he filleth faithful souls with godliness.

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: Thou, O Christ God, who by your Birth, didst sanctify the Virgin’s womb, and as is meet, didst bless Simeon’s arms, and didst also come to save us, preserve thy fold in wars, and confirm them whom thou didst love; for thou alone art the Lover of mankind.

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 28 (Thirty-first Sunday after Pentecost)

8:50 a.m. – Orthros (webcast)

9:00 a.m. – Christian Education

10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy (webcast)

5:30 p.m. – Book Study in the Fellowship Hall

Monday, January 29

Father Herman off

Tuesday, January 30 (The Three Hierarchs)

NO Services

Wednesday, January 31

6:30 p.m. – Daily Vespers

Thursday, February 1

11:00 a.m. – Men’s Lunch

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

Friday, February 2 (Meeting of the Lord in the Temple)

Many years before the coming of Christ there lived a very pious and saintly man called Simeon. He was one of the most intelligent Jewish scholars of his day. Simeon prayed for the day that the Saviour would come and deliver all Israel (and the world) from sin. One evening while kneeling in prayer, Simeon heard the voice of God saying to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Holy Tradition tells us that Simeon waited many long years. Some Holy Fathers inform us that Simeon was over 150 years old when the Promise of God was fulfilled. The Holy Scriptures tell us that 40 days after the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ the Virgin Mary brought the Christ Child to the Temple for Presentation. It was a law that the first born son of a family should be offered to God and His service, as soon as a period of purification was past. It was here that Simeon waited patiently that day, as he had done for so many years. The Spirit of the Lord brought him to the baby Jesus. Simeon took the infant Child in his trembling hands and recited the following beautiful prayer which is recited in the Orthodox Church every evening during Vesper services:

“Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word.

For mine eyes have seen Thy Salvation which thou hast prepared before the

face of all peoples. A Light to enlighten the Gentiles and to be the glory of

thy people Israel.”

Thus the promise to the aged Simeon was finally fulfilled. The next day Simeon died in peace, thankful to Almighty God that he was honored to see the coming of Christ.

This custom has continued down to our own day for both male and female children, and every mother who brings her new-born child to Church on the fortieth day is remembering the Great Feast of the Presentation of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple.

NO Services

Saturday, February 3 (Simeon the God-receiver)

4:30 p.m. – Choir Practice

6:00 p.m. – Great Vespers

Sunday, February 4 (Thirty-second Sunday after Pentecost)

8:50 a.m. – Orthros

9:00 a.m. – Christian Education

10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy (webcast)

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Eucharist Bread …was offered by Bakers for the Divine Liturgy this morning. The Artos for the Litia and Artoklasia for the feast of St. Gregory the Theologian this past Wednesday evening was offered by the Lasseters.

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.

Eucharist Bread Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

January 28 Baker D. Root/Baker

February 1 (Thurs. p.m.) Henderson (Artos Bread)

(Presentation of our Lord in the Temple)

February 4 Algood Henderson/K. Jones

February 11 Schelver POT LUCK MEAL

Dansereau/Alaeetawi

February 18 Morris Lockhart/Karam/Snell

February 25 Jones Lavric/Skirtech/Dabit

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

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

February 4 Brandon Strain I Tim. 4:9-15 252

February 11 Sam Habeeb II Cor. 6:1-10 168

February 18 Ian Jones II Cor. 6:16-7:1 173

February 25 Walt Wood II Tim. 3:10-15 258

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.

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.

Update on Kitchen Repairs: Currently all damage to the kitchen from the water break has been cleaned up. ServPro has finished everything they needed to get done. The insurance adjuster has been out to inspect the damage, and we are now waiting to hear back from contractors to come back in and repair/replace those things that were damaged. We are continuing to have Coffee Hour as we have been. The coffee machines are working and are safe to use for coffee hours. Please do not prepare any type of food in the kitchen until it can be properly sanitized. By God’s grace everything will be back to normal soon.

The new date for the Pilgrimage to Holy Dormition will be May 13-17th. A sign-up sheet has been placed on the bureau in the foyer. Please put your name on the list if you think you will be going. More details will be forthcoming.

The book study group with Father John meets every other Sunday in the Fellowship Hall at 5:30 p.m. The next meeting will be this evening. Dates for the month of February are February 11 and February 25. Of course, there may arise a need where these dates are subject to change.

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.

* Book Study – January 28th, February11th and 25th.

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

Fasting Discipline for January/February

The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil) is observed on all Wednesdays and Fridays of the month. However, there is a katalysis for fish, wine and oil on Friday, February 2nd (Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple) and there will be no fasting during the week following the Sunday of the Pharisee and the Publican (February 25th this year).

Major Commemorations for January/February

January 30 The Three Hierarchs

January 31 Cyros and John the Unmercenary Healers

February 2 Feast of the Presentation (Meeting) of the Lord in the Temple

February 3 Simeon the God-receiver

February 10 Hieromartyr Haralampos

February 24 The Forerunner (1st and @nd Discoveries)

February 25 Sunday of the Pharisee and the Publican

Quotable: “Sin makes man a coward; but a life in the Truth of Christ makes him bold”

+St. John Chrysostom, On the Statues

Worship: Sunday, February 4, 2024 (Thirty-second Sunday after Pentecost)

Scripture: I Timothy 4:9-15; Luke 19:1-10

Celebrant: Father Herman

Epistle Reader: Brandon Strain

Prosphora: Algood

Coffee Hour: Henderson/K. Jones