January 5, 2025

The Theophany of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ

(Transferred from January 6)

This Feast Day is one of the greatest days of the Christian year. In English, we are accustomed to hearing this Feast Day called “Epiphany,” a word which means “manifestation” or “appearance.” On this day, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River by St. John the Baptist (he is called “the Baptist” because he baptized Christ). Epiphany is also called “Theophany” which means “God shows Himself to us.” The importance of this Feast Day lies in the fact that for the first time the Holy Trinity was revealed for all mankind to know and believe (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit). When Jesus Christ was baptized in the River Jordan, a voice was heard from the heavens above saying, “This is my Son in whom I am well pleased.” The Father whose voice was heard from the heavens was God. The white dove was the symbol of the Holy Spirit which descended upon Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Thus, we have the Holy Trinity being revealed to all that day, almost 2000 years ago. This is why we call this day the day of illumination (light) and manifestation (appearance). The Holy Trinity made its appearance, and we have been illuminated by this wonderful truth and blessing. On this day we have the traditional blessing of the waters. Since the waters of the Jordan were blessed in the presence of Jesus Christ, it is a source of Divine Grace and blessing, and we bless ourselves and our homes with the waters of the “Sanctification Service” which is held during the Theophany Services.

Theophany Day is a day of illumination and sanctification. Let us pledge ourselves to a greater participation in the sacramental life of the Church of Christ. When the Priest blesses our homes, let us all pray that the blessing of the Theophany Season be with us throughout the year and may our homes be sanctified with our prayers, Christian living and spiritual direction in our lifetime.

Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7: My son Titus, the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men, training us to renounce irreligion and worldly passions, and to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world; awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for Himself a people of His own who are zealous for good deeds. When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, but in virtue of His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit, which He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that we might be justified by His grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life.

Matthew 3:13-17: At that time, Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by Thee, and Thou dost come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, He went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on Him; and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, with Whom I am well pleased.”

Troparion of Theophany: By thy baptism, O Lord, in the River Jordan, worship to the Trinity has made its appearance; for the voice of the Lord didst come forth to thee with the testimony, naming thee beloved Son; and the Spirit in the likeness of a dove, confirming the truth of the word. Wherefore, O thou who didst appear and light the world, glory to thee.

Kontakion of Theophany: Today thou hast appeared to the universe, O Lord, and thy light hast been shed upon us, who praise thee with knowledge, saying, Thou hast come and appeared, O unapproachable Light.

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 5 (Feast of Theophany [by transfer])

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

Monday, January 6 (Feast of Theophany)

Father Herman off

Tuesday, January 7 (Synaxis of the Forerunner)

NO Services

Wednesday, January 8

5:20 p.m. – Catechism Class

6:30 p.m. – Daily Vespers

Thursday, January 9

NO Services

Friday, January 10

NO Services

Saturday, January 11 (Theodosios the Head of Monasteries)

10:00 a.m. – Ladies meet for Akathist

4:30 p.m. – Choir Practice

5:00 p.m. – Catechism Class

6:00 p.m. – Great Vespers

Sunday, January 12 (Sunday after Theophany)

8:50 a.m. – Orthros

9:00 a.m. – Christian Education

10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy (webcast)

4:30 p.m. – Blessing of the Waters at the Ross Barnett Reservoir

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Pacuraris for the Divine Liturgy this morning. The Artos bread for the feast of the Circumcision of Christ and the Feast-day of St. Basil the Great this past Tuesday evening was offered by the Dn. Richard Roots and the Artos bread for Great Vespers of Theophany was offered by the Daniel Roots last evening.

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; Dn. Terry 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.

Eucharist Bread Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

January 5 Pacurari POT LUCK MEAL

(Feast of Theophany) Dansereau/Alaeetawi

January 12 Lasseter Ellis/Zouboukos/Waites

January 15 (Wed. p.m.) Milnor D. Root/Lively

(Chains of St. Peter)

January 19 Henderson Miller/Weatherly

January 26 Algood Lasseter/Pacurari/Lavric

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 5 Walt Wood Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7 361

January 12 Grady Fisher Eph. 4:7-13 364

January 15 (Wed. p.m.) Reader Chad Miller Acts 12:1-11 50-51

January 19 Brandon Strain Col. 3:4-11 233

January 26 Katie Miller I Tim. 4:9-15 252

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.

Welcome and Many Years! to Lucy Skirtech and Aaron Franklin who were baptized into the Holy Orthodox Church yesterday morning. Please keep them and their sponsors, Jennifer Skirtech and Ian Jones, in your prayers.

Seating spaces in the Nave: As a gentle reminder, please be mindful of seating spaces in the Nave during Sunday Divine Liturgy. Due to our growth over the past few years seating has become a little more limited and there has been an overflow toward the back of the Nave near the Narthex, which makes it “tight” for the clergy to make the Great Entrance. While this is a good problem to have, and until we can begin work on the new Temple, please make sure there are enough spaces available in the “seating” area of the Nave for as many people as possible. This means we may have “squtch in” on the rows. Thank you for your help in this.

Registration for the DOMSE Winter Retreat at St. Elias’ in Atlanta, GA on January 31-February 1 is now open. The registration link was emailed out a few weeks ago but if you did not receive it, please see Fr. Herman. Registration ends on January 7.

Alfred and Christina Katool’s new address in AZ is

1934 E. Kingbird Lane

Safford, AZ 85546

We are now taking up donations for Sunnybrook Children’s Home and the St. Nicholas Fund. These donations will go directly to Sunnybrook to help with their ministry there and donations taken up for the St. Nicholas fund will go toward a need from within the parish our outside the parish. Please mark your donation as either Sunnybrook or St. Nicholas. Please prayerfully consider giving toward these charities. We will take up donations until December 31 for both.

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.

* We will celebrate the Veneration of the Chains of St. Peter with Orthos followed by Divine Liturgy on Wednesday evening, January 15th, beginning at 6:00 p.m.

* The DOMSE Winter Retreat will be held at St. Elias Orthodox Church in Atlanta January 31-February 1.

Fasting Discipline for December/January

There will be no fasting whatsoever from December 25 through January 5. The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil) is observed on all Wednesdays and Fridays of January.

Major Commemorations for January

January 6 Feast of Theophany

January 7 Synaxis of the Forerunner

January 11 Theodosios the Head of Monasteries

January16 Veneration of the Chains of St. Peter

January 17 Anthony the Great

January 18 Athanasios and Cyril of Alexandria

January 23 Gregory the Theologian

January 27 John Chrysostom (transfer of relics)

January 30 (The Three Holy Hierarchs

January 31 Cyros and John the Unmercenary Healers

Quotable: “The Wise Thief’s whole life had been one of theft and crime. But evidently his conscience had not died, and in the depths of his heart something good remained. Tradition even holds that he was that very thief who, during Christ’s flight into Egypt, took pity on the beautiful Baby and forbade his accomplices to kill Him when they attacked the holy family. Did he perhaps recall the face of that Child when he looked upon the face of the One hanging next to him on the Cross?”

St John the Wonderworker

Worship: Sunday, January 12, 2025 (Sunday after Theophany)

Scripture: Ephesians 4:7-13; Matthew 4:12-17

Epistle Reader: Grady Fisher

Prosphora: Lasseter

Coffee Hour: Ellis/Zouboukos/Waites