Sunday, May 18, 2025

Sunday of the Samaritan Woman

This Sunday concludes the week which includes mid-Pentecost. The scriptures for that day make reference to the great and final feast and the Lord’s words concerning fountains of living water and the nourishment of the spirit. The episode of the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s Well and Jesus’ further description of Himself as living water continue this theme. There are innumerable nuances to the message of this episode, ranging from the allusion to the patriarch Joseph to the faith of those who believe without seeing, but let us concentrate on the woman who comes into the presence of her God. Christ asks service of her, asks her to ignore their traditional enmity, confuses her with parables, confronts her with her sins, and claims to be her Messiah and Lord. She enters the scene with skepticism, but she does not let circumstances blind her, for the words of the man before her ring with unmistakable authority and truth. Whether she wants to or not, she must believe herself to be in the presence of the Son of God; she not only believes, but she quickly bears witness to the others of her town. We join her in her faith, and we, too, partake of the Water of Life.

Acts 11:19-30: In those days, when the apostles were scattered because of the tribulation that arose over Stephen, they traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one, except to Jews only. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who upon coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number that believed turned to the Lord. The report concerning them reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas, to go as far out as Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad; and he exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they should cleave to the Lord; for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great multitude was added unto the Lord. Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul; and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year, they were gathered together in the church, and they taught a great multitude of people, and the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabos stood up and signified by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over the whole world; and this took place in the days of Claudius Caesar. And the disciples, every one according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren who dwelt in Judaea; and they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

John 4:5-42: At that time, Jesus came to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and so Jesus, wearied as He was with his journey, sat down beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” For His Disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to Him, “How is it that Thou, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and Who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, Thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep; where do you get that living water? Art Thou greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, and his sons, and his cattle?” Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst forever; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.” Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” The woman answered Him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and he whom you now have is not your husband; this you said truly.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that Thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain; and Thou sayest that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for such the Father seeks to worship Him. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming [He
Who is called Christ]; when He comes, He will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I Who speak to you am He.” Just then His Disciples came. They marveled that He was talking with a woman, but none said, “What dost Thou wish?” or, “Why art Thou talking with her?” So the woman left her water jar, and went away into the city, and said to the people, “Come, see a man Who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” They went out of the city and were coming to Him. Meanwhile the Disciples besought Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” But He said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.” So the Disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought Him food?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him Who sent Me, and to accomplish His work. Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see how the fields are already white for harvest. He who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor; others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.” Many Samaritans from that city believed in Him because of the woman’s testimony, “He said to me all that I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to Him, they asked Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. And many more believed because of His words. They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of your words that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”

Resurrectional Troparion 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 for mid-Pentecost: In the midst of this Feast, O Saviour, give my thirsty soul to drink of the waters of true worship; for thou didst call out to all, saying, Whosoever is thirsty, let him come unto me and drink. Wherefore, O Christ our God, Fountain of life, 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 Pascha: When Thou didst descend into the grave, O Immortal, Thou didst destroy the power of Hades. In victory didst Thou arise, O Christ God, proclaiming Rejoice! to the myrrh-bearing women, granting peace to Thine apostles and bestowing resurrection on the fallen.

Calendar

Sunday, May 18

8:50 am – Orthros

9:00 am – Christian Education

10:00 am – Divine Liturgy

12:00 pm -Pot Luck Dinner

Monday, May 19

Father Herman off

Tuesday, May 19

No services

Wednesday, May 21

5:20 pm – Catechesis

6:30 pm – Daily Vespers

7:30 pm – Parish Council

Thursday, May 22

No Services

Friday, May 23

No Services

Saturday, May 24

5:00 pm – Catechesis

6:00 pm – Daily Vespers

Sunday, May 25

8:50 AM -Orthros

10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy

Special Announcements

The Eucharist Bread…was provided by the Brocks for the Divine Liturgy this morning.

Eucharist Bread Schedule:
Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

May 18 Brock POT LUCK MEAL
Karam/Pacurari/Lockhart/Ellis

May 25 R. Root Lockhart/Lavric/Snell

May 28 (Wed PM) Pacurari Algood/Schever

(Feast of the Ascension)

Schedule for Epistle Readers – Page numbers refer to the Apostolos (book of Epistles) located on the chanters’ stand at the front of the nave. Please be sure to use book when you read.

Reader Reading Page#

May 18 Reader Basil Baker Acts 11:19-30- 52

May 25 Brandon Strain II Cor. 4:6-15 163

May 28 (Wed PM) Reader Chad Miller Acts 1:1-12 63

Also Please remember that we still need your tithes and offerings which may be placed in the tray that is passed during 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.

Food for Hungry People: Thank you to all who donated toward this ministry. The total collected in April was $770.00.

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.

Prayers for Fr. Paul Yerger from Holy Resurrection: Please keep in you God-pleasing prayers Fr. Paul. This past Thursday he suffered a terrible fall in the driveway of his home in Clinton and had to be rushed to the ER at UMMC. As a result of the fall he sustained a substantial gash to the back of his head, bruising to the front of his brain, and a cracked vertebrae. He is still currently at UMMC being treated. The family appreciates your prayers during this time.

Agape Vespers: A huge thank you to all who helped the Agape meal go as smoothly as it did. So many of you chipped in to help with varying aspects and it was truly a blessing.

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 remaining date for serving at Stewpot Ministries is Saturday, September 27th.

* We will celebrate the leave-taking of Pascha with Paschal Vespers on Tuesday, May 27th, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

* The Feast of the Ascension of the Lord will be celebrated with Orthros followed by

* Divine Liturgy on Wednesday, May 28th beginning at 6:00 p.m. We will have a Pot Luck meal following the liturgy.

We are continuing the process of updating our church directory. On the bureau in the foyer there are information sheets to be filled out by each family and individual. We are asking EVERYONE to please fill out these information sheets and get it back to Fr. Hercman or Kh. Sharon. (please be sure to PRINT as neatly as you can). Thank you for your timely cooperation with this.

Fasting Discipline for May

The Holy Synod of Antioch has given instructions that there will be no fasting during the entirety of the Paschal Season.

Major Commemorations for May

May 18 Sunday of the Samaritan Woman

May 21 Sts Constantine and Helen

May 25 Sunday of the Blind Man

The Forerunner (3rd Discovery)

May 29 Feast of the Ascension

Registration for the 2025 DOMSE Parish Life Conference has opened and was emailed out to the parish. If you did not receive this email and would like to attend, please see Father Herman for registration information. This year’s conference will be hosted by St. George Parish in Jacksonville, FL. June 11-14th.

Registration for the Archdiocese National Convention has also opened. It is being hosted by St George Parish in Cicero, IL (just outside of Chicago) July 20-27th. If you are interested in attending, please see Father Herman and he will get you the registration information and link.

Quotable: “If someone does not have the love for God in his heart, it is impossible for him to see God’s glory. For when the love of God is absent from the heart, then a person does not even know what it means to shed tears out of love for God. When someone does not weep for God, how can his intellect and mind be cleared of the fog of sin? By sin I mean everything that obstructs the intellect from shedding tears out of love for God.”

The Watchful Mind, A monk of Mount Athos

Worship: Sunday, May 25, 2025 (Sunday of the Blind Man; Third Finding of the Baptist’s

Head)

Scripture: II Corinthians 4:6-15; John 9:1-38

Epistle Reader: Brandon Strain

Prosphora: R. Root

Coffee Hour: Lockhart/Lavric/Snell