February 16, 2025

Sunday of the Prodigal Son

The theme of the third Sunday before Lent is RETURN FROM EXILE and the Gospel lesson of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) is read. We are taught by this lesson that even as we stray from God, a banquet is set for our return. And we find that nothing in this fallen world truly satisfies, and thus we find ourselves on a pilgrimage of repentance – returning to God.

I Corinthians 6:12-20: Brethren, all things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be enslaved by anything. Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food; but God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by His power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who joins himself to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two shall become one flesh.” But he who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him. Shun immorality. Every other sin which a man commits is outside the body; but the immoral man sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Luke 15:11-32: The Lord spoke this parable: “There was a man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that falls to me.’ And he divided his living between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living. And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have fed on the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to make merry. Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid that I might make merry with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

Troparion of the Resurrection: The stone being sealed by the Jews, and thy pure body being guarded by the soldiers, thou didst arise on the third day, O Saviour, granting life to the world. Wherefore, the heavenly powers acclaimed thee, O Giver of life, crying, Glory to thy Resurrection, O Christ! Glory to thy kingdom! Glory to thy gracious providence, O only Lover of mankind.

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 Prodigal Son: Foolishly I sprang away from Thy great fatherly glory, and dispersed in wicked deeds the riches that Thou didst give me. With the Prodigal I therefore cry unto Thee now: I have sinned against Thee, O compassionate Father. But receive me in repentance; make me as one of Thy hired servants, O Lord.

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, February 16 (Sunday of the Prodigal Son)

8:50 a.m. – Orthros

9:00 a.m. – Christian Education

10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy (webcast)

Monday, February 17

Father Herman off

Tuesday, February 18

NO Services

Wednesday, February 19

5:20 p.m. – Catechism Class

6:30 p.m. – Daily Vespers

7:30 p.m. – Parish Council meeting

Thursday, February 20

NO Services

Friday, February 21

NO Services

Saturday, February 22 (Saturday of the Souls)

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, February 23 (Sunday of Meat Fare)

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 Meadows for the Divine Liturgy this morning.

Eucharist Bread Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

February 16 Meadows Baker/Jimmy Jones

February 22 (Sat. a.m.) Davis Pigott/Ian Jones

(Saturday of the Souls) Koliva: Anastasia Jones

February 23 D. Root Ken Jones/Stewart

March 2 Karam TEENS FUNDRAISER MEAL

March 9 Brock Meadows/Brock

March 16 R. Root Dansereau/Alaeetawi

March 23 Pacurari Ellis/Zouboukos/Waites

March 24 (Mon. p.m.) Lasseter D. Root/Meadows

(Feast of the Annunciation)

March 30 Milnor Miller/Weatherly

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#

February 16 Ian Jones I Cor. 6:12-20 265

February 22 (Sat. a.m.) Kh. Sharon Meadows Thess. 4:13-17 412

February 23 Walt Wood I Cor. 8:8-9:2 273

March 2 Brenda Baker Rom. 13:11-14:4 279

March 9 Katie Miller Heb. 11:24-26, 32-40 281

March 16 Mary Martha Ellis Heb. 1:10-2:3 283

March 23 Kh. Sharon Meadows Heb. 4:14-5:6 285

March 24 (Mon. p.m.) Brenda Baker Heb. 2:11-18 376

March 30 Katie Miller Heb. 6:13-20 287

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

Fr. Herman will be out of town February 14th-17th for Winter Camp St. Thekla. If you need a priest during this time, please contact Fr. James.

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.

* This year’s dates for serving at Stewpot Ministries are Saturday, March 1st and Saturday, September 27th.

* Great Lent begins this year on Clean Monday, March 3rd. More details on services, etc. will available in the coming weeks.

* St. Peter will be hosting the Sunday of Orthodoxy vespers this year on Sunday afternoon, March 9th, beginning at 4:00 p.m. More information will be available very soon.

Fasting Discipline for February

The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil) is observed on Wednesdays and Fridays during the first and third weeks in February. However, there is no fasting during the week following the Sunday of the Pharisee and the Publican (February 9th). February 23rd is Meatfare Sunday after which meat will no longer be eaten until Pascha. During the week that follows, dairy products may be eaten on all days, including Wednesday and Friday.

Major Commemorations for February

February 16 Sunday of the Prodigal Son

February 22 Saturday of the Souls

February 23 Meatfare Sunday

February 24 The Forerunner (1st and and Discoveries)

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.

Quotable: “When a man leaves on a journey, he must know where he is going. Thus with Lent. Above all, Lent is a spiritual journey and its destination is Easter, ‘the Feast of Feasts’. It is the preparation for the ‘fulfillment of Pascha, the true Revelation’. We must begin, therefore, by trying to understand this connection between Lent and Easter, for it reveals something very essential, very crucial about our Christian faith and life.”

Alexander Schmemann, Great Lent

Worship: Sunday, February 23, 2025 (Sunday of Meat Fare; Sunday of the Last Judgement)

Scripture: I Corinthians 8:8-9:2; Matthew 25:31-46

Epistle Reader: Walt Wood

Prosphora: D. Root

Coffee Hour: Ken Jones/Stewart