Sunday, November 16, 2025

The Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew

I Corinthians (4:9-16) Brethren, God has exhibited us Apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are ill-clad and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become, and are now, as the refuse of the world, the off-scouring of all things. I do not write this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the Gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me.

Matthew (9:9-13) At that time, as Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax office; and He said to him, “Follow Me.” And he rose and followed Him. And as He sat at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when Jesus heard it, He said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”.

Troparion of the Resurrection: When Mary stood at Thy grave, looking for Thy sacred body, angelic powers shone above Thy revered tomb; and the soldiers who were to keep guard became as dead men. Thou led Hades captive and wast not tempted thereby. Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst give life to the world, O Thou, Who art risen from the dead, O Lord, glory to Thee

Troparion of St. Matthew the Evangelist: The offspring of Selyvria and the guardian of Aegina, the true friend of virtue who didst appear in the last years, O Nektarios, we faithful honor thee as a Godly servant of Christ, for thou pourest forth healings of every kind for those who piously cry out: Glory to Christ Who hath glorified thee. Glory to Him Who hath made thee wondrous. Glory to Him Who worketh healings for all through 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 Entrance of the Theotokos: (**Thou Who wast raised up**)

The sacred treasury of God’s holy glory, * the greatly precious bridal chamber and Virgin, * the Savior’s most pure temple, free of stain and undefiled, * into the House of the Lord * on this day is brought forward * and bringeth with herself the grace * of the Most Divine Spirit; * her do God’s Angels hymn with songs of praise, * for she is truly the heavenly tabernacle.

Calendar

Sunday, November 16, 2025 (The Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew)

8:50 AM – Orthros

9:00 AM – Christian Education

10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy

Monday, November 17, 2025

Father Herman off

5:45 – YAF Book Study

Tuesday, November 18, 2025

No Services

Wednesday, November 19, 2025

5:20 PM – Catechesis

6:30 PM – Advent Paraklesis

7:30 – Parish Council

Thursday, November 20, 2025 (Entrance of the Theotokos)

6:30 PM – Divine Liturgy

7:30 PM – Potluck Meal

Friday, November 21, 2025

No Services

Saturday, November 22, 2025

4:45 PM – Catechesis

6:00 PM – Great Vespers

Sunday, November 23, 2025 (Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost)

8:50 AM – Orthros

9:00 AM – Christian Education

10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy

Special Announcements

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

Eucharist Bread Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

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 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.

WAMP! Registration for winter camp has opened for ages 12-17. If your teen would like to attend, please see Fr. Herman for registration information if you do not already have it. Winter camp will be held back at Asbury Hills in Cleveland, SC again this year. Transportation to and from camp will be the responsibility of the parents as the church will not be providing vans for winter camp.

WINTER RETREAT! A Save the Date email has been sent out regarding the upcoming dates for the 2026 DOMSE Winter Retreat. The retreat will, again, be hosted by St. Elias Antiochian parish in Atlanta, GA. The dates for the retreat are January 30-31. Registration has not yet opened but once it does an email will be sent out with this information. Hope to see you there!

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 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: “The Lord, as an artful physician, subjects us to various trials, sorrows, illnesses, and misfortunes, in order to purify us like gold in the furnace. A soul that is hardened in various sins does not easily undergo cleansing and healing, but has to be forced to a great extent, and only through lengthy experience in patience and suffering does it become accustomed to virtue and begins to love God, from Whom it was alienated after becoming attached to all kinds of mortal sins. Such is the purpose of the trials and tribulations sent to us by God in this life.”

+ St. John of Kronstadt

Worship: November 23, 2025 (Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost)

Scripture: Eph 2:14-22; Luke 12:16-21

Epistle Reader: Gady Fisher

Prosphora: YAF

Coffee Hour: Baker/Jimmy Jones/ Rodriguez