April 14, 2024

Fourth Sunday of Great Lent

Commemoration of John Climacus

Self-denial for self-glory is equally as vain as any endeavor not directed toward divine love and the glory of God. In St. John Climacus, seventh-century hermit and ascetic, we have a model of sacrifice directed to the love of fellow men. St. John knew that emptying himself of the things of this world was the act of renouncing his own efforts and accepting God’s grace and mercy as true sustenance. The season of prayer and fasting is a time of true humility and complete submission to the Father’s will. We proceed to the Great Feast, following a path of reconciliation and contemplation, seeking the adoration of the Son and His sacrifice, and emphasizing leaving the things of this world to attain perfect submission.

Hebrews 6:13-20: Brethren, when God made a promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, “Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.” And thus, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For people indeed swear by what is greater, and in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmation. So when God, being minded to show more abundantly to the heirs of the promise the immutability of His counsel, He interposed it with an oath, that by two immutable things—in which it is impossible for God to lie—we might have a strong consolation, we, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope that is set before us; a hope, which we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and entering into “that which is within the veil,” where Jesus entered as a Forerunner on our behalf, having become a High Priest “forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”

Mark 9:17-31: At that time, a man came to Jesus, kneeling down and saying unto him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a dumb spirit. And wherever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked Thy Disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” And Jesus answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to Me.” And they brought the boy to Him; and when the spirit saw Jesus, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, “How long has he had this?” And he said, “From childhood. And it has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if Thou canst do anything, have pity on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You dumb and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again.” And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse; so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when Jesus had entered the house, His Disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” And Jesus said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting.” They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And Jesus would not have anyone know it; for He was teaching His Disciples, saying to them, “The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him; and after He is killed, He will rise on the third day.”

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 St. John of the Ladder: The barren wilderness thou didst make fertile with the streams of thy tears; and by thy deep sighing thou hast given fruit through thy struggles a hundredfold. Accordingly, thou hast become a star for the universe, sparkling with miracles. Therefore, O righteous Father John Climacus, intercede with Christ God to save our souls.

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 Sundays of Lent: To thee the champion leader, I thy servant offer thanks for victory, O Theotokos, thou who hast delivered me form terror. As thou hast power invincible, free me from every danger that I may cry unto thee: Rejoice, O bride without bridegroom.

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, April 14 (Fourth Sunday of Great Lent; Commemoration of John Climacus)

8:50 a.m. – Orthros

9:00 a.m. – Christian Education

10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy (webcast)

Monday, April 15

Father Herman off

Tuesday, April 16

NO Services

Wednesday, April 17

6:30 p.m. – Canon of St. Andrew of Crete and the Life of St. Mary of Egypt

(NO Soup Supper)

Thursday, April 18

NO Services

Friday, April 19

6:30 p.m. – Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos

Saturday, April 20

3:30 p.m. – Choir Practice

6:00 p.m. – Great Vespers

Sunday, April 21 (Fifth Sunday of Great Lent; Commemoration of Mary of Egypt)

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 Lasseters for the Divine Liturgy this morning.

April is Men’s Month in the Archdiocese. Please allow the men, beginning with the choir, to receive Holy Communion first. The men will also be reading the Epistle this month in the Divine Liturgy.

Eucharist Bread Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

April 14 Lasseter Lockhart/Karam/Snell

April 21 Henderson Henderson/K. Jones/Lavric

April 27 (Sat. a.m.) Algood Ellis/Zouboukos/Waites

(Lazarus Saturday)

April 28 Schelver FISH FRY MEAL

(Palm Sunday) Meadows/Pacurari

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.

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#

April 14 Reader Chad Miller Heb. 6:13-20 287

April 21 Brandon Strain Heb. 9:11-14 290

April 27 (Sat. a.m.) Ian Jones Heb. 12:28-13:8 291

April 28 Sam Habeeb Phil. 4:4-9 294

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; Fr. John and Kh. Janet Henderson and their family.

Kh. Janet is recovering well from surgery last week. The pathology report indicated more involvement with the breast cancer in her left breast. They also identified 6 lymph nodes and removed them. Because of the size of the cancer and the fact that it is in the lymph nodes, it is now classified as Stage 3. She is being referred to Dr. Tammy Young (oncologist) who will coordinate a plan of action to treat her. Fr. John and Kh. Janet are entrusting this situation to God, knowing that He is our great Physician. They are so appreciative of all the prayers offered by the church and thankful for your continued support and intercessions on their behalf.

The Ladies raised $1600 in March for the Endowment Fund for Widowed Clergy Wives. Thank you for your support of this worthwhile project.

Please keep in your prayers all of our catechumens who will be received into the One Holy and Apostolic Church on Great and Holy Saturday this year. Those who will be chrismated during the Vesperal Liturgy will be: Ian Walters, Jenny Jones, Jimmy and Gabrielle Jones, Will, Lisa and Rad Lively.

Please be reminded to sign up on the sheet on the bureau in the foyer if you plan to attend the Palm Sunday Fish Meal, which will be catered by Sal and Phil’s again this year. Price per person will be forthcoming.

Paschal Meal: We will bring baskets of our favorite foods that we have not enjoyed while fasting for this meal. A handout will be available in the next week or so with information about Paschal Baskets. We ask that everyone help with clean-up following the meal (just as we do for our monthly Pot Luck Meal).

The Agape Vespers for Pascha this year will be hosted by Holy Trinity/St. John the Theologian Greek Orthodox Church. Further details and information will be forthcoming.

Registration is now open for this year’s Parish Life Conference which will be held June 12-15th in Atlanta at the Hilton Peachtree City Atlanta Hotel and Conference Center and hosted by St. Stephen in Hiram. Please go to the Diocesan website (DOMSE.org) to register for the conference and for the hotel.

There has arisen an issue with the large amount of trash being left in the back area of the church around and inside the playground area over the past several weeks. If everyone would please monitor this situation by making sure no trash is left around the area. Thank you for your help in this matter.

On a related note: Several of the older children have begun to drink coffee on Sunday mornings. Due to the amount of creamer they use, our supply of coffeemate pods are being used up quickly. So, we will be providing a small container of almond milk for them to use in their coffee and the coffeemate pods will be for adults only. Parents, please monitor this situation with your children who are allowed to drink coffee. Thank you.

Fasting Discipline for April

Beginning with Clean Monday on March 18th, the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil) is observed on all days of the week until Pascha (except for the Feast of the Annunciation on March 25th and Palm Sunday on April 28th, when fish, wine and oil are permitted).

Major Commemorations for April

April 14 4th Sunday of Lent; Commemoration of John Climacus

April 21 5th Sunday of Lent; Commemoration of Mary of Egypt

April 23 Great-martyr George

April 25 Holy Apostle Mark

April 27 Lazarus Saturday

April 28 Palm Sunday

April 29 Great and Holy Monday

April 30 Great and Holy Tuesday

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.

* During Great Lent we will have the Pre-sanctified Liturgy on Wednesday evenings instead of Daily Vespers. As is our parish custom, we will have pot-luck Soup Suppers afterwards (except for Wednesday, April 17th, when we will have the complete Canon of St. Andrew of Crete with the reading of the Life of St. Mary of Egypt instead of the Pre-sanctified Liturgy).

* The complete Canon of St. Andrew of Crete with the Life of St. Mary of Egypt this Wednesday evening, April 17th, beginning at 6:30 p.m. (NO Soup Supper afterwards).

* Small Complines with the Canon of St. Lazarus on Friday, April 26th, beginning at 6:30 p.m. (NO Akathist that evening)

* Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy for Lazarus Saturday on April 27th, at 9:00 a.m.

* Remaining Stewpot date for 2024 will be November 30th.

There will be an icon writing workshop at Holy Resurrection July 8-13. The iconographer who will be teaching this class is Theodoros Papadopoulos. Tuition for this class is $780. For further information and enrollment, please visit the website http://www.theodoreicons.com/clinton. Holy Resurrection is only providing space for this class.

Quotable: “Adam chose the treason of the serpent, the originator of evil, in preference to God’s commandment and counsel, and broke the decreed fast. Instead of eternal life he received death and instead of the place of unsullied joy he received this sinful place full of passions and misfortunes, or rather, he was sentenced to Hades and nether darkness. Our nature would have stayed in the infernal regions below the lurking places of the serpent who initially beguiled it, had not Christ come. He started off by fasting (cf. Mk. 1:13) and in the end abolished the serpent’s tyranny, set us free and brought us back to life.”

St. Gregory Palamas, The Homilies Volume II

Worship: Sunday, April 21, 2024 (Fifth Sunday of Great Lent; Commemoration of Mary of Egypt)

Scripture: Hebrews 9:11-14; Mark 10:32-45

Celebrant: Father Herman

Epistle Reader: Brandon Strain

Prosphora: Henderson

Coffee Hour: Henderson/K. Jones/Lavric