Sunday, October 5, 2025

Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

II Corinthians 6:16-7:1: Brethren, we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will live in them and move among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them,” says the Lord, “and touch nothing unclean; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, and make holiness perfect in the fear of God.

Luke 6:31-36: The Lord said: “As you wish that men would do to you, do so to them. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”

Troparion of the Resurrection: From the heights Thou didst descend, O compassionate One, and 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 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 Theotokos O protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the Creator most constant, O despise not the suppliant voices of those who have sinned; but be thou quick, O good one, to come unto our aid, who in faith cry unto thee: Hasten to intercession, and speed thou to make supplication, thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee.

Calendar

Sunday, October 5, 2025 (Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost)

8:50 AM – Orthros

9:00 AM – Christian Education

10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy

Monday, October 6, 2025

Father Herman off

5:45 PM – YAF meets for Book Study

Tuesday, October 7, 2025

No Services

Wednesday, October 8, 2025

6:30 PM – Daily Vespers

Thursday, October 9, 2025

NO Services

Friday, October 10, 2025

No Services

Saturday, October 11, 2025

10:00 AM – Ladies meet for Akathist

6:00 PM – Great Vespers

Sunday, October 12, 2025 (Sunday of Holy Fathers of Seventh Ecumenical Council)

8:50 AM – Orthros

9:00 AM – Christian Education

10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy

Special Announcements

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.

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

Eucharist Bread Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

October 5 Meadows Pigott/Ian Jones

October 12 Davis Ken Jones/Stewart

POT LUCK

October 19 D. Root Meadows/Brock

October 26 Karam Dansereau/Alaeetawi

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#

October 5 Simeon Root II Cor 6:16-7:1 173

October 12 Michael Root Titus 3:8-15 322

October 19 Titus Lasseter II Cor 11:31-12:9 183

October 26 Katie Miller II Tim 2:1-10 328

October is Teen Month and as such our teens will be reading the Epistle during the Divine Liturgy. Also, on October 19 the teens will be taking up a special donation for Special Olympics Awareness Day which is observed throughout the Archdiocese. On this Sunday the teens will read a pastoral letter from His Eminence Metropolitan SABA and have a basket in the Fellowship Hall should you wish to make a donation toward this blessed cause.

The Ladies of St Peter are collecting new and gently used towels for Shower Power through the month of October. Please place your donations in the drop-off box located in the Fellowship Hall.

The Fall Festival is scheduled for Saturday November 1 at 4:00pm. As is our custom, there will be no Great Vespers that evening. Please see Anna Kathryn Stewart if you have any questions.

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.

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.

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

* The Ladies meet at the church at 10:00 a.m. on the second Saturday of the month to pray the

Akathist. Alternating on behalf of our children and our sick.

* The Ladies of St Peter will meet every third Sunday during Coffee Hour.

* The Young Adult Fellowship (YAF) meets on alternating Mondays for Book Study.

Please see Brandon Strain for questions.

Fasting Discipline for October

The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil) is observed on all Wednesdays and Fridays of the month.

Major Commemorations for October

October 6 Holy Apostle Thomas

October 9 Holy Apostle James, Son of Alphaeus

October 18 Holy Apostle Luke

October 23 Holy Apostle James, Brother of the Lord

October 26 Great-martyr Demetrios

Quotable: "Man has been created to live in God. The icon of God is in us. Do not look for God outside of yourself. You will never find Him outside of yourself, because God is not material. God is not spatial…You must descend in yourself to find God…You must learn to descend in yourself in the infinite dimension that is the human personality we call the soul. It is like an atom whose limits we cannot find. St Paul said about this dimension, ‘You are the temple of the living God’ [1 Cor 3.16]. It is clear he is saying that God lives within us, not outside of ourselves."

– Fr. Roman Braga

Worship: October 12, 2025 (Sunday of Holy Fathers of Seventh Ecumenical Council)

Scripture: Titus 3:8-15; Luke 8:5-15

Epistle Reader: Michel Root

Prosphora: Davis

Coffee Hour: Ken Jones/ Stewart (POT LUCK)