January 12, 2025

Sunday after the Theophany of Christ

Ephesians 4:7-13: Brethren, grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore, it is said, “When He ascended on high He led a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men.” (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that He had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is He who also ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) And His gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

Matthew 4:12-17: At that time, when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth he went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulon and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “The land of Zebulon and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”

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 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.

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 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 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. – Outdoor Blessing of the Water at the Ross Barnett Reservoir

Monday, January 13

Father Herman off

Tuesday, January 14

NO Services

Wednesday, January 15

6:00 p.m. – Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy

Thursday, January 16 (Veneration of the Chains of St. Peter)

NO Services

Friday, January 17 (Anthony the Great)

NO Services

Saturday, January 18 (Athanasios and Cyril of Alexandria)

4:30 p.m. – Choir Practice

6:00 p.m. – Great Vespers

Sunday, January 19 (Twenty-ninth Sunday after Pentecost)

8:50 a.m. – Orthros

9:00 a.m. – Christian Education

10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy (webcast)

12:00 p.m. – Ladies of St. Peter meeting during Coffee Hour

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

Eucharist Bread Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

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 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.

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.

Fr. Herman will be out of town January 25th – February 1st, attending the Winter Retreat in Atlanta. If you need a priest during this time, please contact one of the other priests.

The Ladies of St. Peter will have a brief meeting during Coffee Hour, next Sunday, January 19th.

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.

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.

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 January

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

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

Alfred and Christina Katool’s new address in AZ is

1934 E. Kingbird Lane

Safford, AZ 85546

Quotable: “We think we know a lot, but what we know is very little. Even all those who have striven all their life to bring progress to mankind — learned scientists and highly educated people — all realize in the end that all their knowledge is but a grain of sand on the seashore. All our achievements are insufficient.”

Elder Thaddeus, Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives

Worship: Sunday, January 19, 2025 (Twenty-ninth Sunday after Pentecost)

Scripture: Colossians 3:4-11; Luke 17:12-19

Epistle Reader: Reader Chad Miller

Prosphora: Henderson

Coffee Hour: Miller/Weatherly