Sunday, August 31, 2025

Placing of the Sash of the Theotokos in Halkoprateia

Hebrews 9:1-7: Brethren, even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary. For a tent was prepared, the outer one, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence; it is called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain stood a tent called the Holy of Holies, having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, which contained a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. These preparations having thus been made, the priests go continually into the outer tent, performing their ritual duties; but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood which he offers for himself and for the errors of the people.

Matthew 19:16-26: At that time, a young man came up to Jesus, kneeling and saying, “Good Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?” And He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” He said to Him, “Which?” And Jesus said, “You shall not kill, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness, honor your father and mother, and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to Him, “All these I have observed; what do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions. And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Troparion of the Resurrection: Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad; for the Lord hath done a mighty act with his own arm. He hath trampled down death and become the First-born from the dead. He hath delivered us from the depths of hades, granting the world the Great Mercy.

Troparion of the Placing of the Theotokos’ Sash: O ever-Virgin Theotokos, shelter of mankind, thou hast bestowed upon thy people a mighty investure, even thine immaculate body’s raiment and sash, which by thy seedless childbirth have remained incorrupt; for in thee, nature and time are made new. Wherefore, we implore thee to grant peace to the world, and Great Mercy to our souls.

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 for placing of the Virgins’ Sash: Thy precious Sash: O Theotokos, which encompassed thy God-receiving womb, is an invincible force for thy flock, and an unfailing treasury of every good, O only Ever-virgin Mother.

Calendar

Sunday, August 31, 2025 (Placing of the Sash of the Theotokos in Halkoprateia)

8:50 AM – Orthros

10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy

Monday, September 1, 2025

Father Herman off

Tuesday, September 2, 2025

No Services

Wednesday, September 3 2025

6:30 PM – Daily Vespers

Thursday, September 4, 2025

11:00 AM -Men’s Lunch

NO Services

Friday, September 5, 2025

No Services

Saturday, September 6, 2025

6:00 PM – Great Vespers

Sunday, September 7, 2025 (Sunday before Elevation of the Cross)

8:50 AM – Orthros

10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy

6:30 PM – Great Vespers w/ Litia & Artoklasia – Nativity of the Theotokos

Special Announcements

The Eucharist Bread…was provided by the Young Adults Fllowship for the Divine Liturgy this morning.

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.

Eucharist Bread Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

August 31 YAF Miller/D. Root

September 7 Baker Lasseter/Pacurari/Lavric

September 7 (Sun PM) D. Root (Artos) No Meal

(Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos)

September 14 Algood POT LUCK (Fasting Meal)

(Elevation of the Holy Cross) Karam/Snell/Meadows

September 21 Schelver Algood/Schelver

September 28 Jones Baker/Jimmy Jones/Rodriguez

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

September 7 Walt Wood Gal 6:11-18 198

September 7 (Sun PM) No Reader

September 14 Reader Basil Baker I Cor 1:18-24 311-312

September 21 Reader Chad Miller Gal 2:16-20 193

September 28 Brandon Strain II Cor 6:1-10 168

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 dining on the last Tuesday of the month. Times will vary.

*The Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos is Monday, September 8. We will celebrate this day

on Sunday evening, September 7 with Great Vespers with Litia and Artoklasia beginning at

6:30pm.

* The Feast of the Elevation of the Precious Cross is on Sunday, September 14th. We will

celebrate with a fasting Pot Luck since this feast is considered a fast day.

* The DOMSE Fall Retreat will be September 19-20

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

Fasting Discipline for September

The traditional fasting discipline is observed on Wednesdays and Fridays. The Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross, September 14 is a strict fast day.

Major Commemorations for September

August 31 Deposition of the Belt of the Theotokos

September 1 Indication of the Ecclesiastical New Year

September 6 Miracle of Archangel Micael

September 8 Nativity of the Theotokos

September 9 Righteous Joachim and Anna

September 13 Dedication of the Church of the Anastasis

September 14 Elevation of the Precious Cross

September 23 Conception of the Forerunner

September 24 Proto-martyr Thekla

September 26 Apostle John the Theologian (repose)

September 28 Venerable Chariton

Quotable: “The heart that tastes God’s grace every day and every moment knows the thorny and spiky roads and the nails it used to walk on. But now it no longer pays attention to those things the crafty demon presents to it in the shape and form of leisure. For the heart surely knows that on the road of the enemy there awaits only the soul’s destruction, bitterness of heart, and an examination of conscience. But the heart knows that in the grace of God there exists consolation, joy, and sweetness of soul and heart. For this reason the Prophet David supplicated God saying, ‘Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”

– The Watchful Mind; Teachings on the Prayer of the Heart

Worship: September 7, 2025 (Sunday before Elevation of the Cross)

Scripture: Gal 6:11-18; John 2:13-17

Epistle Reader: Walt Wood

Prosphora: Baker

Coffee Hour: Lasseter/Pacuari/Lavric