September 8, 2024

Sunday before the Elevation of the Cross

Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos

The first feast of the liturgical year celebrates the birth of the Holy Virgin Mary, most blessed of women, chosen to bear God the Son, partaker in the Incarnation as the dwelling place of God. To celebrate her birth and give honor to her life is unavoidably to anticipate the coming of the Messiah and to adore His person. To remember her worthiness is to remember God’s grace. To wonder at her faith is to arouse ourselves to emulate her strength of will and her depth of trust. As we enter the cycle of the year, we turn first to honor the Holy Virgin, she who by her role in history and by her place among the saints most reminds us of the coming of the Saviour and the life He gives us, who by the Incarnation became the ladder between Heaven and Earth, who as the Mother of Christ is also the Mother of all His brethren.

Galatians 6:11-18: Brethren, see with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that would compel you to be circumcised and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who receive circumcision do not themselves keep the Law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh. But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. Peace and mercy be upon all, who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God. Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.

John 3:13-17: The Lord said, “No one has ascended into heaven but He who descended from heaven, the Son of man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent His Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”

Troparion of the Resurrection: When thou, O immortal Life, didst humble thyself unto death, then didst thou destroy death by the brightness of thy Godhead; and when thou didst raise the bowels of the earth, then all the heavenly powers exclaimed, O Christ, thou art the Giver of life! Glory to thee, O our God!

Troparion of the Nativity of the Theotokos: Thy nativity, O Theotokos, hath proclaimed joy to the whole universe; for from thee did shine forth the Sun of justice, Christ our God, annulling the curse, and bestowing the everlasting blessing, abolishing death and granting us life everlasting.

Kontakion of the Nativity of the Theotokos: By thy holy birth-giving, O pure one, Joachim and Anne were delivered from the reproach of barrenness; and Adam and Eve were delivered from the corruption of death; thy people do celebrate it, having been saved from the stain of iniquity, crying unto thee, The barren doth give birth to the Theotokos, who nourisheth our life.

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, September 8 (Nativity of the Theotokos)

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

5:30 p.m. – Book Study with Father John

Monday, September 9 (Righteous Joachim and Anaa)

Father Herman off

Tuesday, September 10

NO Services

Wednesday, September 11

6:30 p.m. – Daily Vespers

7:30 p.m. – Parish Council Meeting (Please note change in date for this month)

Thursday, September 12

NO Services

Friday, September 13 (Dedication of the Church of the Anastasis)

NO Services

Saturday, September 14 (Elevation of the Precious Cross)

This feast is celebrated as one of the most important in the Church Year because it commemorates two events of great significance. After St. Helen had found at Jerusalem the cross upon which Christ was crucified, she built a Church on Mount Calvary to hold the precious relic. The Christians held the Holy Cross in such high regard that they soon began to celebrate this feast in honor of the finding of the Cross.

In the year 614, the Persians invaded the Empire and took Jerusalem, and sent the case containing the Cross back to their country. For fifteen years the Greek Emperor Heraclius waged war against the Persians, and finally in 629 defeated them, forcing them to make peace, and to restore the Holy Cross to him. It is said that the case containing the sacred relics was returned to him with the seals still unbroken. The Relics were replaced in the Church with great rejoicing, and to the original Feast in honor of the finding of the Cross was added another, in honor of its safe return to Jerusalem.

A special feature of the Church Services on this day, is the procession in which the Cross is borne aloft on a tray of flowers and placed in the midst of the Church; the Priest then elevates it to the four corners of the compass, blessing thrice with it as he does so, and praying that God will protect and preserve the President and the Civil Authorities of our country and the Armed Forces, and guard and guide the Hierarchs and clergy of the Church, and protect and preserve all His faithful people from every evil. [STRICT FAST DAY]

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

4:30 p.m. – Choir Practice

5:00 p.m. – Catechism Class

6:00 p.m. – Great Vespers

Sunday, September 15 (Sunday after the Elevation of the Cross)

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 the Schelvers for the Divine Liturgy this morning. The Artos bread for the Litia and Artoklasia last night for the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos was offered by the Meadows

Eucharist Bread Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

September 8 Schelver POT LUCK MEAL

(Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos) Ellis/Zouboukos/Waites

September 14 (Sat. a.m.) Jones D. Root/Lively

(Feast of the Elevation of the Cross)

September 15 Davis Dansereau/Weatherly

September 22 D. Root Lasseter/Pacurari/Lavric

September 29 Karam Lockhart/Karam/Snell

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#

September 8 Reader Basil Baker Gal. 6:11-18 198

September 14 (Sat. a.m.) Reader Chad Miller I Cor. 1:18-24 311

September 15 Brandon Strain Gal. 2:16-20 193

September 22 Katie Miller I Cor. 16:13-24 152

September 29 Mary Martha Ellis II Cor. 1:21-2:4 158

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; Marilyn (Kyriake) Snell; Jack and Jill Weatherly; Sh. Charlotte Algood and their family; Reader Basil and Brenda Baker and their family; Fr. Joseph Bittle; Rick Carlton; Very Rev. Fr. Nicholas and Kh. Jan Speier; 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.

Antidoron (Greek meaning “instead of the gifts”) is the blessed bread partaken of as a ‘fast breaker’ and an extra blessing after receiving Holy Communion. It is remaining bread from the loaf used in the pre-Liturgy service preparing the bread on the diskos and the wine in the chalice. This ‘extra’ bread is blessed during the hymn to the Theotokos during the Anaphora of the Divine Liturgy. Importantly, it is NOT consecrated to become the Body of Christ — and must be carefully distinguished from that — but NEVERTHELESS, we must do our best to treat it with due reverence and care.

Portions that are uneaten are disposed of by being placed outside where they are consumed by the elements or by animals. Unfortunately, we have recently been seeing an increase in crumbs being found on the nave floor after Divine Liturgy. Parents, please help the young ones to be careful to consume their pieces of antidoron completely, and, if crumbs should fall, be proactive in picking them up and placing them on the ground outside.

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, Bishop NICHOLAS will be visiting St. Peter again on October 20-21st. He will be in Vicksburg earlier that week-end and will come to us following the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy there on Sunday. More details will be available in the future.

We will be showing the documentary film Sacred Alaska at Mississippi College on Friday evening, November 1st, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The date was changed from the original date selected to accommodate MC’s student schedule and also MC’s Homecoming celebration. Further details will be available in the very near future.

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.

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

The 2024 Fall Retreat will be held September 20-21 and will be hosted by St. Ignatius in Franklin, TN. Registration opened recently. Early Bird special will run until September 4th, after that the price for the retreat will increase. The link for registration was emailed out by Fr. Herman recently as well. If you did not receive it, please let him know as soon as possible. Hope to see you all there!

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. However, we will NOT have the Akathist on September 14th due to Orthros and Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Elevation of the Cross.

* The Ladies meet for lunch at 1:00 p.m. on the last Tuesday of the month.

* The Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross will be celebrated with Festal Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy on Saturday morning, September 14th, beginning at 9:00 a.m.

* The Ladies of St. Peter will meet during Coffee Hour on Sunday, September 15th.

* The Diocesan Fall Retreat will be held September 20-21 at St. Ignatius in Franklin, TN.

* MARK YOUR CALENDARS: His Grace, Bishop NICHOLAS will be visiting St. Peter October 20-21st.

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

Fasting Discipline for September

The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil) is observed on all Wednesdays and Fridays of the month. The feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross on September 14th is also a strict fast day.

Major Commemorations for September

September 8 Nativity of the Theotokos

September 9 Righteous Joachim and Anna

September 13 Dedication of the Church of the Anastasis

September 14 Elevation of the Precious Cross

September 23 Conception of the Forerunner

September 24 Proto-martyr Thekla

September 26 Apostle John the Theologian (repose)

September 28 Venerable Chariton

Quotable: “The snares of the enemy are very fine, and thus not easily perceived. Only humility can escape them.”

St. Evagrios the Solitary

Worship: Sunday, September 15, 2024 (Sunday after the Elevation of the Cross)

Scripture: Galatians 2:16-20; Mark 8:34-9:1

Epistle Reader: Brandon Strain

Prosphora: Davis

Coffee Hour: Dansereau/Weatherly