Sunday, June 15, 2025

Sunday of All Saints

The Church commemorates and remembers all of its saints at three times during the year; in anticipation of Christmas, at the beginning of Lent, and immediately after Pentecost. On all three days we are reminded of the unified body of God’s people and of the holiness they have achieved and for which we strive. These two things are not abnormal and removed from us; they are truth and reality. On this day we are especially reminded of the strength of the saints and their victories, and we move from the day of Pentecost, the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit, to join God’s people in our victorious procession, through purifying trial and sacrifice, to the Day of the Lord.

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Hebrews 11:33-12:2: Brethren, all the saints through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, and turned to flight armies of the aliens. Women received their dead by resurrection, and others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. And others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted, they were slain with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, being destitute, afflicted, tormented (of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, having obtained a witness through their faith, did not receive the promise, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which does so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the Author and Perfecter of our faith.

Matthew 10:32-33, 37-38; 19:27-30: The Lord said to His disciples, “Everyone who acknowledges Me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father Who is in heaven; but whoever denies Me before men, I also will deny before My Father Who is in heaven. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.” Then Peter said in reply, “Lo, we have left everything and followed Thee. What then shall we have?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the New World, when the Son of Man shall sit on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My Name’s sake, will receive a hundred fold, and inherit eternal life. But many that are first will be last, and the last first.”

Troparion of the Resurrection: O compassionate One, thou didst descend from the heights; thou didst submit to the three-day burial, that thou might deliver us from passion. Thou art our Life and our Resurrection, O Lord, glory to thee.

Troparion of All Saints: Thy Church, O Christ God, hast regaled herself in the blood of thy Martyrs throughout all the world, as in porphyry and purple. Through them she lifts her voice, crying, Turn with thy compassion to thy people, and grant peace to thy city, and to the souls the

Great Mercy.

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 All Saints: To thee, O Lord and Author of all creation, the universe offers as first-fruits of nature the divinity-bearing Martyrs. Wherefore, by their imploring preserve thy Church in perfect safety, for the sake of the Theotokos, O most Merciful.

Calendar

Sunday, June 15 (First Sunday after Pentecost; Sunday of All Saints)

8:50 AM – Orthros

10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy

Monday, June 16

[FAST OF THE
APOSTLES BEGINS]

Father Herman off

Tuesday, June 17

No Services

Wednesday, June 18

5:20 PM – Catechism Class

6:30 PM – Daily Vespers

7:30 PM – Parish Council Meeting

Thursday, June 19

No Services

Friday, June 20

No Services

Saturday, June 21

9:00 AM – Baptism of Zach Koenigsberger

6:00 pm – Great Vespers

Sunday, June 22 (Second Sunday after Pentecost; Sunday of All Saints of Antioch)

8:50 AM -Orthros

10:00 AM -Divine Liturgy

Special Announcements

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

Eucharist Bread Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

June 15 Henderson Dansereau/Alaeetawi

June 22 Algood Ellis/Zouboukos/Waites

June 29 Schelver Baker/Lively

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#

June 15 Walt Wood Heb 11:33; 12:2 84

June 22 Ian Jones Rom. 2:10-16 90

June 29 Brenda Baker II Cor 11:21-12:9 389

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; 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.

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.

Prayers for Fr. Paul Yerger from Holy Resurrection: Please continue to keep in your God-pleasing prayers Fr. Paul. He is slowly recovering from the injuries he suffered several weeks ago due to a fall. He is currently attending physical therapy at Methodist Rehabilitation and continues to improve each day. Glory to God for all things!

Prayers for His Grace Bp. Nicholas: Please keep in your God-pleasing prayers Bp. Nicholas who underwent a “preventive measure” procedure on his heart last week. He will be recovering over the next several weeks and hopes, by your prayers, to make a speedy recovery. May God grant him many years!

Zach Koenigsberger will be baptized this coming Saturday (June 21) at 9:00 a.m. Please come help celebrate this sacrament with the soon to be illumined Zach. May God grant him Many Years!

Potluck Meals: Everyone who attends the potluck meals during the month is encouraged to bring a dish to share with everyone. This is to ensure that there is enough food for all to partake. Over the past several months we have been running out of food before everyone has an opportunity to go through the line. This also applies to the Festal Liturgies that may be served during the week and the Soup Suppers after Presanctified Liturgies during Lent. Thank you all for your help with this.

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 meet on June 14th, due to the wedding scheduled for our church.

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

* The next Catechism Class will be Wedesday, June 18th, beginning at 5:20 p.m.

* The next Parish Council Meeting will be held after vespers on Wednesday, June 18th.

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

Fasting Discipline for June

The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil) will be observed on the first Wednesday and Friday of the month. There will be no fasting the week following Pentecost (June 9-13). The Fast of the Apostles begins Monday, June 16th and runs through Saturday, June 28th. During this time the traditional fasting discipline will be observed on all days of the week. (However, we are permitted fish and olive oil except on Wednesdays and Fridays during the Fast)

Major Commemorations for June

June 15 Sunday of All Saints

June 22 Sunday of All Saints of Antioch

June 24 Nativity of the Forerunner

June 29 Chief Apostles Peter and Paul

June 30 Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles

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 “The enjoyment of this present life though it seems to give delight and sweetness, is well thrust from us. At the very moment of its being it ceases to be, and, like the traces of a ship passing over the sea, or a bird flying through the air, quickly disappear. But the hope of the life to come which the Christians preach is certain and quite sure; howbeit in this world it has tribulation, whereas our pleasures now are short-lived, and in the beyond they only win us correction and everlasting punishment without release. For the pleasures of life are temporary, but its pain eternal; while the Christians’ labors are temporary but their pleasure and gain immortal. Therefore, right it is to exchange the corruptible for the incorruptible.”

St. John of Damascus

Worship: Sunday, June 22, 2025 (Second Sunday after Pentecost; Sunday of All Saints

of Antioch)

Scripture: Romans 2:10-16; Matthew 4:18-23

Epistle Reader: Ian Jones

Prosphora: Algood

Coffee Hour: Ken Jones/Stewart