June 16, 2024

Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council

Today is the Sunday of the Holy Fathers of Nicaea. This day commemorates the Holy Fathers who sat in council at Nicaea, the first of the ecumenical councils. Through them we see the commitment to the immutable truth of God for all the faithful, especially those who lead in the faith. The men of this council bear special note by the significance of their creed, for it is the fundamental statement of orthodox Christology and an enduring guide to our faith. The events of the ascension and the scriptures of this day emphasize to us the nature and action of Christ, and the history of these fathers puts us in mind of the work of the Holy Spirit in the church, work proclaimed by the glorious events which we now anticipate in the preparation for Pentecost.

Acts of the Apostles 20:16-18, 28-36: In those days, Paul was determined to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening, if possible, to be at Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost. And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the priests of the church. And when they came to him, he said to them: “Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you bishops, to shepherd the church of the Lord and God, which He purchased with His own blood. For I know that after my departure ravenous wolves will enter among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore, remain watchful, remembering that for three years I did not cease to admonish every one, night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities, and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by such laboring we ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He Himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” And when he had spoken thus, he knelt down on his knees with them all, and prayed.

John 17:1-13: At that time, Jesus lifted up His eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Thy Son that the Son may glorify Thee, since Thou hast given Him power over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom Thou hast given Him. And this is eternal life, that they know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ Whom Thou hast sent. I glorified Thee on earth, having accomplished the work which Thou gavest Me to do; and now, Father, glorify Thou Me in Thy own presence with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was made. I have manifested Thy Name to the men whom Thou gavest Me out of the world; Thine they were, and Thou gavest them to Me, and they have kept Thy word. Now they know that everything that Thou hast given Me is from Thee; for I have given them the words which Thou gavest Me, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from Thee; and they have believed that Thou didst send Me. I am praying for them; I am not praying for the world but for those whom Thou hast given Me, for they are Thine; all Mine are Thine, and Thine are Mine, and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to Thee. Holy Father, keep them in Thy Name, which Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, even as We are one. While I was with them, I kept them in Thy Name, which Thou have given Me; I have guarded them, and none of them is lost but the son of perdition, that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to Thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.”

Troparion of the Resurrection: When Mary stood at thy grave looking for thy sacred body, angelic powers shone above thy revered tomb, and the soldiers who were to keep guard became as dead men. Thou led hades captive and wast not tempted thereby. Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst give life to the world; O thou who art risen from the dead! O Lord, glory to thee.

Troparion of the Ascension: Thou hast ascended in glory, O Christ our God, and gladdened thy disciples with the promise of the Holy Spirit, having become confident of the blessing. Verily, thou art the Son of God, and Deliverer of the world.

Troparion of the Holy Fathers: Thou, O Christ, art our God of exceeding praise who didst establish our holy Fathers as luminous stars upon earth, and through them didst guide us unto the true Faith, O most merciful One, 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 the Ascension: When thou didst fulfill thy dispensation for our sakes, uniting the terrestrials with the celestials, thou didst ascend in glory, O Christ our God, inseparable in space, but constant without separation, and crying unto thy beloved, I am with you, and no one shall be against you.

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, June 16 (Sunday of the Holy Fathers of Nicea)

8:50 a.m. – Orthros

10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy (webcast)

Monday, June 17

Father Herman off

Tuesday, June 18

NO Services

Wednesday, June 12 (Leave-taking of Pascha)

5:20 p.m. – Catechism Class

6:30 p.m. – Daily Vespers

Thursday, June 20

NO Services

Friday, June 21

NO Services

Saturday, June 22 (Saturday of the Souls)

9:00 a.m. – Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy

4:30 p.m. – Choir Practice

NO Catechumen Class

6:00 p.m. – Great Vespers

Sunday, June 23 (Holy Pentecost)

8:50 a.m. – Orthros

10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy (webcast)

12:00 p.m. – PICNIC POT LUCK MEAL

6:30 p.m. – Kneeling Vespers of Pentecost

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Lasseters for the Feast of the Ascension this past Wednesday evening and by the Bakers for the Divine Liturgy this morning.

Eucharist Bread Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

June 16 Baker Ellis/Zouboukos/Waites

June 22 (Sat. a.m.) Henderson Algood/Schelver/I. Jones

(Saturday of the Souls) Koliva: Anastasia Jones

June 23 Algood PICNIC POT LUCK

(Feast of Pentecost) Pigott/Stewart

June 29 (Sat. a.m.) Schelver Lasseter/Miller

(Feastday of Sts. Peter and Paul)

June 30 Jones 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#

June 16 Ian Jones Acts 20:16-18, 28-36 66

June 22 (Sat. a.m.) Reader Basil Baker I Thess. 4:13-17 412

June 23 Reader Chad Miller Acts 2:1-11 77

June 29 (Sat. a.m.) Brandon Strain II Cor. 11:21-33; 12:6-9 389

June 30 Katie Miller Heb. 11:33-12:2 84

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; Fr. John and Kh. Janet Henderson and their family; Galina Singletary; Emily and Cole Parker; Dane and Stephanie Skirtech.

Beginning Sunday, June 16th, we will phase out the individual snacks available at Coffee Hour and return to the way we did it prior to Co-vid. The church will provide beef sticks, cheese cubes, crackers, cookies and orange juice. Those in charge of a Coffee Hour may bring other things if they so desire, but this is NOT obligatory. Please limit these items to fruit, veggies and a cake if there is a celebration. Coffee Hour is not meant to be a meal, but a means to break the fast with a snack and visit with each other. (We will still have our Monthly Pot Luck Meals.) During Fasting seasons, the church will provide bagels, peanut butter, jams, jellies, cookies and orange juice. Since this will involve a little more with clean-up, we ask that everyone pitch in to help the families hosting Coffee Hour, just as we do with our Pot Luck Meals. Instruction sheets for set-up for both Non-fasting and Fasting Coffee Hours are located on the bureau in the foyer and also taped to the Refrigerator in the kitchen.

** We ask that families go through the Coffee Hour line together, so that children are under the supervision of their parents. **

NO children are allowed to be in the pantry or in the refrigerator and children under the age of 12 are not allowed in the kitchen without the presence of a parent or a responsible adult. Children under the age of 12 are not allowed to access the icemaker. Parents, we ask for your assistance with enforcing this policy. Thank you.

Father Herman will be out June 30 – July 6 for family vacation and July 22 -26 for the Clergy Symposium at the Antiochian Village. If you need a priest during this time, please contact one of the other priests.

The Sacred Music Institute for the Archdiocese is scheduled for July 10-14 at the Antiochian Village. Several members of our choir will be attending.

As a kind reminder, please remember to lock all doors of the church if you are the last to leave. There have been several occasions where doors were left unlocked. Please, for the safety of the church building, remember to lock up when you leave.

A new publication from the Archdiocese has recently been sent out to all the churches. The publication is entitled “Joy” and is a magazine geared specifically toward our children. If you would like to know more about the magazine, please visit the ministries section of the Arch-diocese website. Copies have been placed on the bureau in the foyer for any parents or their children to take.

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.

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.

* Saturday of the Souls will be celebrated with Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy on Saturday morning, June 22nd, beginning at 9:00 a.m.

* The Feast of Holy Pentecost is June 23rd this year. As is our parish custom, we will celebrate the Feast with a PICNIC POT LUCK meal. Vespers service with the Kneeling Prayers will be celebrated that evening, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

* We will celebrate the Feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul with Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy on Saturday morning, June 29th, beginning at 9:00 a.m.

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

Fasting Discipline for June

Following the Leave-taking of Pascha (June 12th), the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil) will once again be observed on Wednesdays and Fridays. However, there is no fasting during the week following the Feast of Pentecost (June 24-28). As a result, there will not be a Fast of the Apostles this year.

Major Commemorations for June

June 16 Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the 1st Ecumenical Council

June 22 Saturday of the Souls

June 23 Feast of Pentecost

June 24 Nativity of the Forerunner

June 29 Chief Apostles Peter and Paul

June 30 Sunday of All Saints

Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles

Quotable: “My child, fight the good fight of eternal life. Make a good beginning to obtain an excellent end. Keep your nous entirely engrossed in the recollection of Jesus, and He will become everything for you—joy, peace, mourning, and a multitude of life-flowing tears, which will make your soul whiter than snow and lighter than a cloud.”

Elder Ephraim of the Holy Mountain

Worship: Sunday, June 23, 2024 (Holy Pentecost)

Scripture: Acts 2:1-11; John 7:37-52; 8:12

Celebrant: Father Herman

Epistle Reader: Reader Chad Miller

Prosphora: Algood

Coffee Hour: PICNIC POT LUCK MEAL

Pigott/Stewart