Sunday, November 2, 2025

Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost

Galatians 2:16-20: Brethren, you know that a man is not justified by works of the Law but through faith in Jesus Christ. Even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the Law, because by works of the Law shall no one be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we ourselves were found to be sinners, is Christ then an agent of sin? Certainly not! But if I build up again those things which I tore down, then I prove myself a transgressor. For I through the Law died to the Law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ Who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Luke 16:19-31: The Lord said, “There was a rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, full of sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table; moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried; and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes, and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus in his bosom. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”

Troparion of the Resurrection: Having learned the joyful message of the Resurrection from the angel the women disciples of the Lord cast from them their parental condemnation. And proudly broke the news to the Disciples, saying: Death hath been spoiled; Christ God is risen, granting the world Great Mercy.

Troparion of the Persian Martyrs: Blessed is the earth that drank your blood, O prizewinners of the Lord, and holy are the tabernacles that received your spirits; for in the stadium ye triumphed over the enemy, and ye proclaimed Christ with boldness. Beseech Him, we pray, since He is good, to save 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 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, November 2, 2025 (21ST Sunday after Pentecost)

8:50 AM – Orthros

9:00 AM – Christian Education

10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy

Monday, November 3, 2025

Father Herman off

5:45 PM – YAF Book Study

Tuesday, November 4, 2025

No Services

Wednesday, November 5, 2025

5:20 PM – Catechesis

6:30 PM – Daily Vespers

Thursday, November 6, 2025

NO Services

11:00 AM – Men’s Lunch

Friday, November 7, 2025

No Services

Saturday, November 8, 2025

10:00 AM – Ladies meet for Akathist

5:00 PM – Catechesis

6:00 PM – Great Vespers

Sunday, November 9, 2025 (Nektarios of Aegina and Pentapolis, the Wonderworker)

8:50 AM – Orthros

9:00 AM – Christian Education

10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy

12:00 PM – Potluck

Special Announcements

The Eucharist Bread was provided by the Brocks for Divine Liturgy yesterday morning and the R. Roots for the Divine Liturgy this morning.

Eucharist Bread Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

November 2 R. Root Miller/D. Root

November 9 Pacurari Lasseter/Pacurari/Lavric

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November 16 Lasseter Lockhart/Karam/Snell

November 20 (Thurs PM) Milnor Algood/Meadows/YAF

Entrance of the Theotokos POTLUCK

into the Temple

November 23 YAF Baker/Jimmy Jones/Rodriguez

November 30 Henderson Pigott/Ian Jones

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#

November 2 Gabrielle Jones Gal 2:16-20 193

November 9 Katie Miller Eph 5:8-19 78

November 16 Mary Martha Ellis I Cor 4:9-16 135

November 20 Ian Jones Heb 9:1-11 337

Entrance of the Theotokos

into the Temple

November 23 Grady Fisher Eph 2:14-22 207

November 30 Walt Wood I Cor 4:9-19 135

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.

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. Parents, please accompany your children through the line. 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.

* Fast of the Nativity begins on November 15th and runs through December 24th.

* We will celebrate the Entrance of the Theotokos with Divine Liturgy on Thursday, November 20th at 6:00 p.m. followed by a Potluck meal afterwards.

* There will be no Daily Vespers on Wednesday, November 26th.

Fasting Discipline for November

The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil) is observed on all Wednesdays and Fridays through November 15th when the Fast of the Nativity begins. During the fast, we will abstain from meat, dairy, and eggs, except on the 19th, 26th and 28th of November when we will also abstain from fish, olive oil, and wine.

Major Commemorations for November

November 2 Raphael, Bishop of Brooklyn

November 3 Dedication of the Church of St. George

November 8 Archangels Michael and Gabriel

November 9 Nektarios of Pentapolis

November 13 John Chrysostom (repose)

November 14 Apostle Phillip

November 16 Apostle Matthew

November 21 Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple

November 25 Great martyrs Catherine and Mercurios

November 30 Apostle Andrew, the First-called

Quotable: “You have heard, dearly beloved, that holy women who had followed the Lord came to the sepulcher with spices. They had loved Him when He was alive, and they showed Him their eager tenderheartedness even when He was dead. Their deed points to something that must be done in our holy Church. Thus, as we hear of what they did, we must also think of our responsibility to imitate them. We too, who believe in Him Who died, approach His sepulcher with spices if we are strengthened with the sweet smell of the virtues, and if we seek the Lord with a reputation for good works. And the women who came with spices saw angels, since those who advance toward God through their holy desires, accompanied by the sweet smell of the virtues, behold the citizens from on high.”

— St. Gregory the Great, Forty Gospel Homilies

Worship: November 9, 2025 (Nektarios of Aegina and Pentapolis, the Wonderworker)

Scripture: Eph 5:8-19; Luke 13:10-17

Epistle Reader: Katie Miller

Prosphora: Pacurari

Coffee Hour: Lasseter/Pacurari/Lavric

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