July 28, 2024

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

Romans 10:1-10: Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that it may be saved. I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but it is not enlightened. For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law, that everyone who has faith may be justified. Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on the law shall live by it. But the righteousness based on faith says: Do not say in your heart, “Who will ascend into Heaven?” (that is, to bring Christ down) or “Who will descend into the abyss?” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart (that is, the word of faith which we preach); because, if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For man believes with his heart and so is justified, and he confesses with his lips and so is saved.

Matthew 8:28-9:1: At that time, when Jesus came to the country of the Gergesenes, two demoniacs met Him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. And behold, they cried out, “What have we to do to Thee, O Son of God? Art Thou come here to torment us before the time?” Now a herd of many swine was feeding at some distance from them. And the demons begged Him, July 28, 2024 Liturgy Variables 2 5th Sun. of Pentecost “If Thou castest us out, send us away into the herd of swine.” And He said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the swine; and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and perished in the waters. The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, and what had happened to the demoniacs. And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw Him, they begged Him to leave their neighborhood. And getting into a boat He crossed over and came to His own city.

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 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 Transfiguration: Thou wast transfigured on the mount, and thy Disciples, in so far as they were able, beheld thy glory, O Christ our God; so that, when they should see thee crucified, they would remember that thy suffering was voluntary, and could declare to all the world that thou art truly the effulgent Splendor of the Father.

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, July 28 (Fifth Sunday after Pentecost)

8:50 a.m. – Orthros

10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy (webcast)

Monday, July 29

Father Herman off

Tuesday, July 30

NO Services

1:00 p.m. – Ladies Lunch

Wednesday, July 31

5:20 p.m. – Catechism Class

6:30 p.m. – Great Vespers

7:15 p.m. – Letter-writing project for inmates through Orthodox Prison Ministry

Thursday, August 1 (Procession of the Holy Cross)

NO Services

[FAST OF THE DORMITION BEGINS]

Friday, August 2

6:30 p.m. – Paraklesis Service

Saturday, August 3

9:00 a.m. – Baptism and Chrismations

4:30 p.m. – Choir Practice

5:00 p.m. – Catechism Class

6:00 p.m. – Great Vespers

Sunday, August 4 (Sixth Sunday after Pentecost)

8:50 a.m. – Orthros

10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy (webcast)

12:00 p.m. – Baby Shower for Ashley Presley

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Karams for the Divine Liturgy this morning.

Eucharist Bread Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

July 28 Karam Lasseter/Pacurari/Lavric

August 4 Brock Algood/Schelver

August 5 (Mon. p.m.) R. Root Lockhart/Karam/Snell

(Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord)

August 11 Pacurari POT LUCK MEAL

Pigott/Ian Jones

August 14 (Wed. p.m.) Lasseter Baker/Jimmy Jones

(Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos)

August 18 Baker Ken Jones/Stewart

August 25 Henderson Meadows/Brock

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#

July 28 Reader Basil Baker Rom. 10:1-10 108

August 4 Reader Chad Miller Rom. 12:6-14 112

August 5 (Mon. p.m.) Brandon Strain II Pet. 1:10-19 401

August 11 Katie Miller Rom. 15:1-7 119

August 14 (Wed. p.m.) Mary Martha Ellis Phil. 2:5-11 403

August 18 Ian Jones I Cor. 1:10-17 124

August 25 Brenda Baker I Cor. 3:9-17 130

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.

His Grace Bp. NICHOLAS will make his next Arch-pastoral visit August 10-12. The schedule for this visit will be forthcoming.

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; Sh. Charlotte Algood 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.

On Saturday, August 3 at 9:00 a.m. we will be baptizing Jenny Rodriquez and chrismating Bryce Henderson, Grady Fisher, and Kurtis Petrel into the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. Please continue to keep them in your prayers as they become members of Christ’s Holy Church.

We will have a special coffee hour /baby shower for Ashley and Mac on Sunday, August 4. Ashley’s Baby Registry – http://my.babylist.com/zaqscgnti. If you would like to help with coffee hour please contact Charlotte Algood. Ashley and Mac are not finding out the baby’s gender ahead of time.

The Assembly of Orthodox Bishops in North America has designated the last Sunday in July (28th) Prison Ministry Awareness Sunday. Our Hierarchs are reminding us to consider how we might serve those in prison. They are calling us again to remember the words of Christ Himself: “I was in prison, and you visited Me.” In keeping with these words of Christ, we, as a parish, will be hosting a letter writing night on Wednesday July 31st after Daily Vespers. If you would be interested in participating in this letter writing night please see Will Lively. This is a wonderful opportunity to minister to those who are incarcerated and are in desperate need of encouragement and love. Please consider participating.

** 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.

On Sunday, June 16th, we began to 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.

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.

* The Fast of the Dormition begins on August 1st and runs through the 15th. As is our parish custom we will pray the Paraklesis service to the Theotokos on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings during the fast with the exception of Monday the 5th and Wednesday the 14th. On those evenings we will have Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy in celebration of the Feasts of the Transfiguration of our Lord and the Dormition of the Theotokos.

* Saturday, August 3rd – Baptism and Chrismations, beginning at 9:00 a.m.

* His Grace, Bishop NICHOLAS will be with us August 10-12 (Schedule TBA).

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

Fasting Discipline for August

The Fast of the Dormition begins on August 1st and runs through August 15th. During this time the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil) will be observed on all days of the week (except for the Feast of the transfiguration when fish, wine and oil are allowed). Following the 15th, the traditional fasting discipline is observed on the remaining Wednesdays and Fridays of the month. The feast of the Beheading of the Forerunner on August 29th is also a strict fast day.

Major Commemorations for August

August 1 Procession of the Holy Cross

August 6 Feast of the Transfiguration of Christ

August 15 Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos

August 25 Apostles Bartholomew and Titus

August 29 Beheading of the Forerunner

August 31 Deposition of the Belt of the Theotokos

Quotable: “The name of Jesus Christ, which we invoke in prayer, contains within it self-existing and self-acting restorative power. So do not worry about the imperfection and dryness of your prayer, but with perseverance await the fruit of repeated invocation of the Divine Name.”

Elder Ephraim of the Holy Mountain

Worship: Sunday, August 4, 2024 (Sixth Sunday after Pentecost)

Scripture: Romans 12:6-14; Matthew 9:1-8

Epistle Reader: Reader Chad Miller

Prosphora: Brock

Coffee Hour: Algood/Schelver