Sunday, November 23, 2025

Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

After-feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos

Ephesians (2:14-22) Brethren, Christ is our peace, Who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that He might create in Himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the Cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end. And He came and preached peace to you, who were far off, and peace to those who were near; for through Him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in Whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in Whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit

Luke (12:16-21) The Lord spoke this parable: “The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” As He said this, Jesus called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Troparion of the Resurrection: Thou didst shatter death by Thy Cross, Thou didst open paradise to the thief; Thou didst turn the sadness of the ointment-bearing women into joy. And didst bid Thine Apostles proclaim a warning, that Thou hast risen O Christ, granting to the world the Great Mercy.

Troparion of the Entrance of the Theotokos: Today the Virgin is the foreshadowing of the pleasure of God, and the beginning of the preaching of the salvation of mankind. Thou hast appeared in the Temple of God openly and hast gone before, preaching Christ to all. Let us shout with one thrilling voice, saying: Rejoice, O thou who art the fulfillment of the Creator’s dispensation.

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 all-pure temple of the Saviour, the most precious bridal-chamber and Virgin, the treasure-house of the glory of God, today enters the Temple of the Lord, bringing with her the grace which is in the divine Spirit; whom also the angels of God do celebrate in song; for she is the heavenly tabernacle.

Calendar

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

8:50 AM – Orthros

9:00 AM – Christian Education

10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy

11:00 AM – Ladies of St Peter meet during coffee hour

Monday, November 24, 2025

Father Herman off

Tuesday, November 25, 2025

No Services

Wednesday, November 26, 2025

NO DAILY VESPERS

Thursday, November 27, 2025

No Service

Friday, November 28, 2025

No Services

Saturday, November 29, 2025

6:00 PM – Great Vespers

Sunday, November 30, 2025 (The Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called)

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; Mary Greene (Lee and Kh. Sharon’s sister); Jay and Joanna Davis; Fr. Leo and Kh. Be’Be’ Schelver and their family; Jack and Jill Weatherly; Dn.Terry Algood and their family; Fr. John and Kh. Janet Henderson and their family

The Eucharist Bread was provided by the Milnors on Thursday for the Divine Liturgy for the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple and by the YAF for the Divine Liturgy this morning.

Eucharist Bread Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

November 23 YAF Baker/Jimmy Jones/Rodriguez

November 30 Henderson Pigott/Ian Jones

December 5 (Fri PM) D. Root (Artos) No Meal

St. Nicholas the Wonder-worker

December 7 Algood K. Jones/Stewart

December 14 Schelver Danereau/Brock

December 21 Jones Meadows/Alateeawi

December 24 (Wed PM) Meadows Ellis/Zouboukos/Miller/D. Root

Nativity

December 28 Baker Lockhart/Karam/Snell

December 31 (Wed PM) Pacurari (Artos) No Meal

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 23 Grady Fisher Eph 2:14-22 207

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

December 7 Sharon Meadows Eph 5:8-19 217

December 14 Reader Basil Baker Col 3:4-11 233

December 21 Reader Chad Miller Heb 11:9-1,32-40 348

December 24 Brandon Strain Gal 4:47 351

December 28 Athena Zouboukos Gal 1:11-19 188

Reminder that there will be no services on Wednesday, November 26. We pray everyone has a blessed Thanksgiving.

St. Nicholas Fund will begin this year on December 7. Donations that are made to this fund will go toward a family, or individual, who has a certain need. Please consider making a donation toward this charity this Nativity season. Donations will be collected through December 28. This will be the last day to make a donation. Please mark your donation as St. Nicholas Fund.

Teen’s St. Nicholas play will be during coffee hour on Sunday, December 7. Please make sure to stay for this robust performance of the life of St. Nicholas.

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 opened and was emailed out by Fr. Herman. If you did not receive this, please see him for registration 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.

* 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/December

November 25 Great martyrs Catherine and Mercurios

November 30 Apostle Andrew, the First-called

December 6 Nicholas the Wonder-worker

December 9 Conception of the Theotokos

December 12 Spyridon the Wonder-worker

December 13 Herman of Alaska

December 15 Heiromartyr Eleutherios

Forefathers of Christ

December 20 Ignatius of Antioch

December 22 Sunday before the Nativity of Christ

December 25 Nativity of our Lor Jesus Christ

December 26 Synaxis of the Theotokos

December 27 Protomartyr Stephen

December 29 Sunday after the Nativity of Christ

Quotable: “Amidst the confusion of our times what needs to be made clear is that parishes are not like branches for delivering religious services but the centers and the points of reference of our lives. This is where life begins. This is where it finds its meaning, is sanctified, brightened and distinguished. This is where life finds its way to eternity”

Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens

Worship: November 30, 2025 (The Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called)

Scripture: 1 Cor 4:9-16; John 1:35-51

Epistle Reader: Walt Wood

Prosphora: Henderson

Coffee Hour: Pigott/Ian Jones