Sunday, August 10, 2025

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

I Corinthians 3:9-17: Brethren, we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s husbandry, God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise architect I laid a foundation, and another builds upon it. Let each one take heed how he builds upon it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; everyone’s work will become manifest; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire itself will test each one’s work of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which was built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, yet so as by fire. Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone corrupts the temple of God, God will corrupt him. For the temple of God is holy, whose temple you are.

Matthew 14:22-34: At that time, Jesus made the Disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds. And after He had dismissed the crowds, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone, but the Disciples’ boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. But when the Disciples saw Jesus walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But immediately He spoke to them, saying, “Take heart, it is I; have no fear.” And Peter answered Him, “Lord, if it is Thee, bid me come to Thee on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out His hand and caught him, saying to him, “O man of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “Truly, Thou art the Son of God.” And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.

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 the Transfiguration: When, O Christ our God, thou wast transfigured on the mountain, thou didst reveal thy glory to thy Disciples in proportion as they could bear it. Let thine everlasting light also enlighten us sinners, through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Bestower of light, 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 the Transfiguration: Thou wast transfigured on the mount, and thy Disciples, in so far as they were able, beheld thy glory, O Christ our God; so that, when they should see thee crucified, they would remember that thy suffering was voluntary, and could declare to all the world that thou art truly the effulgent Splendor of the Father.

Calendar

Sunday, August 10, 2025 (9th Sunday after Pentecost)

– Amanda and Sadhanna Kumar Baptism

8:50 AM – Orthros

10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy

Monday, August 11, 2025

6:30 PM – Dormition Paraklesis

Tuesday, August 12, 2025

No Services

Wednesday, August 13, 2025

5:20 PM – Catechesis

6:30 PM – Dormition Paraklesiss

Thursday, August 14, 2025

6:00 PM – Dormition Orthros and Liturgy

8:30 PM – Pot Luck

Friday, August 15, 2025 (Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos)

We celebrate this month the Feast of the Dormition (or "Falling Asleep") of the Theotokos. Church Tradition states that the Virgin Mary died in her early fifties. The icon shows her lying upon her funeral bier. On either side of the bier stand the Apostles; the group on the left is led by St. Peter who stands at the head of the bier; the group on the right is led by St. Paul who stands at the foot of the bier. At the time of her death many of the Apostles were scattered throughout the world preaching the Gospel. However, they all returned to Jerusalem upon learning of her death. All arrived in time for the burial except St. Thomas. Standing by the bier is her Son, who had come to receive His Mother’s soul into heaven. He holds in His arms an infant in white symbolizing the soul of the Theotokos. The Orthodox Church, although it has never had the need to make it a dogma (as has the Roman Catholic Church), also believes in the Virgin Mary’s "assumption" or bodily resurrection into heaven. Tradition relates that when the other disciples showed St. Thomas (who arrived in Jerusalem after the burial) the tomb in Gethsemane where the Theotokos had been buried near her parents, they discovered that the tomb was empty.

Our Church bids us to prepare for the Feast of the Dormition with the Dormition Fast (one of the four major fasting periods of our Church).

-No Services

Saturday, August 16, 2025

5:00 PM – Catechesis

6:00 PM – Great Vespers

Sunday, August 17, 2025 (10th Sunday after Pentecost)

8:50 AM – Orthros

10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy

Special Announcements

The Eucharist Bread…was provided the Brocks on Tuesday for the Feast of Transfiguration and by R. Root for the Divine Liturgy this morning.

Eucharist Bread Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

August 10 R. Root Ken Jones/Stewart

August 14 (Thurs PM) Pacurari POTLUCK

(Feast of the Dormition of the Theotkos) Meadows/Brock

August 17 Lasseter Dansereau/Alaeetawi

August 24 Milnor Ellis/Zouboukos/Waites

August 31 YAF Miller/D. Root

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#

August 10 Gabrielle Jones 1 Cor 3:9-17 130

August 14 (Thurs PM) Mary Martha Ellis Phil 2:5-11 403

(Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos)

August 17 Ian Jones 1Cor 4:9-16 135

August 24 Grady Fisher 1 Cor 9:2-12 141

August 31 Kh. Sharon Meadows Heb 9:1-7 337

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.

Any lady who is interested in setting up a weekly time to visit with Kh. Janet please see Sh. Charlotte. The hope is these weekly visits will help Fr. John to be able to get out to run errands or do anything he would like to do. This will also give an opportunity for Kh. Janet to stay connected to the fellowship of the parish through these visits. We would like to set up for two people to fellowship with Kh. Janet for three hours once every week. The day and time will be contingent upon Kh. Janet’s doctor and therapy appointments. These will be worked out with Fr. John through text message. So, if eight ladies are involved, this will occur one time a month, if more ladies become involved it will be less frequent. Thank you or your prayerful consideration

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.

The dates for the upcoming Fall Retreat at St. Ignatius in Franklin, TN are September 19-20. An email containing this information has been emailed out. Registration has not yet opened for the retreat. Once it is available this will be emailed out as well.

Congratulations and Many Years to Amanda and Sadhanna Kumar who were baptized today!

We are gauging interest in two new ministries for the parish. If you are interested in being a part of the Gardening Team or the Greeter Team please sign up on the respective notepad on the bureau in the foyer of the parish.

As a friendly reminder, in regards to coffee hour, the church will provide beef sticks, cheese cubes, crackers, cookies, and orange juice. For sponsors of baptisms/chrismations a reception may be held after the service and may have whatever food the sponsors would like to provide in celebration of this occasion. If you wish to bring a snack for your children, please be responsible for the clean up of those items. Coffee hour is not meant to be a meal, but a means to break the fast with a snack and visit with each other. Also, as a friendly reminder, please make sure kids are not getting ice in the kitchen without adult supervision.

Upcoming dates for Catechumen classes:

Wednesday, August 13 at 5:20pm

Saturday, August 16 at 5:00pm

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.

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 Dormition Fast began August 1st and runs through August 15. During this time, we will

pray the Paraklesis Service on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings beginning at 6:30 PM.

* We will celebrate the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos with Orthros followed by Divine

Liturgy on Thursday evening August 14th beginning at 6 PM. There will be a Pot Luck meal

afterwards.

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

Fasting Discipline for August

The Fast of the Dormition begins on August 1st and runs through August 15th. During this tie, the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine, and oil) will be observed on all days of the week (except for the Feast of Transfiguration when fish, wine, and oil are allowed). Following the 15th, the traditional fasting discipline is observed the remaining Wednesdays and Fridays of the month. The Feast of the Beheading of the Forerunner on August 29th is also a strict fast day.

Major Commemorations for August

August 15 Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos

August 25 Apostles Bartholomew and Titus

August 29 Beheading of the Forerunner

August 31 Deposition of the Belt of the Theotokos

Quotable: “No matter how much we may study, it is not possible to come to know God unless we live according to His commandments, for God is not known by science, but by the Holy Spirit. Many philosophers and learned men came to the belief that God exists, but they did not

know God. It is one thing to believe that God exists and another to know Him. If someone

has come to know God by the Holy Spirit, his soul will burn with love for God Day and night,

and his soul cannot be bound to any earthly thing.”

St. Silouan the Athonite, Writings, VIII.3

Worship: August 17, 2025 (10th Sunday after Pentecost)

Scripture: 1 Cor 4:9-16; Matthew 17:14-23

Epistle Reader: Ian Jones

Prosphora: Lasseter

Coffee Hour: Baker / Alaeetawi