Sunday, November 30, 2025

The Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called

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.

John (1:35-51) At that time John was standing with two of his disciples; and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, “What do you seek?” And they said to Him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where art Thou staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where He was staying; and they stayed with Him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him, and said, “So you are Simon the son of Jonah? You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter). The next day, Jesus decided to go to Galilee. And He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathaniel, and said to him, “We have found Him of Whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathaniel said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” Nathaniel said to Him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathaniel answered Him, “Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God! Thou art the King of Israel!” Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these.” And He said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.”

Troparion of the Resurrection: From the heights Thou didst descend, O compassionate One, and Thou didst submit to the threeday burial, that Thou might deliver us from passion; Thou art our life and our Resurrection, O Lord, glory to Thee.

Troparion of St. Andrew the Apostle: As the first called of the Apostles, and brother of their leader, O Andrew, entreat the Master of all that peace be granted unto 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 Preparatory for Nativity: Today the Virgin comes unto the cave to give birth in an ineffable manner to the Word before the ages. Rejoice, therefore, O universe, when you hear, and glorify with the angels and the shepherds him who shall appear by his own will as a new babe, being God before the ages.

Calendar

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

Monday, December 1, 2025

Father Herman off

5:45 PM – YAF Book Study

Tuesday, December 2, 2025

No Services

Wednesday, December 3, 2025

5:20 PM – Catechesis

6:30 PM -Advent Paraklesis

Thursday, December 4, 2025

11:00 AM – Men’s Lunch

No Service

Friday, December 5, 2025 (St Nicholas the Wonder-worker)

6:30 PM – Great Vespers W/ Litia and Artoklasia

Saturday, December 6, 2025

4:45 PM – Catechesis

6:00 PM – Great Vespers

Sunday, December 7, 2025 (Twenty-Sixth 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 Hendersons for the Divine Liturgy this morning.

Eucharist Bread Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

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 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

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

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.

Fasting Discipline for December

The Fast of the Nativity continues through December 24th.

December 1-2, 4, 6-9 and 11 abstain from meat dairy and eggs only.

December 5, 12-15, and 20-21 abstain from meat, dairy, eggs and fish

December 3, 10, 16-19, and 22-24 abstain from meat dairy, eggs, fish, olive oil, and wine.

(Please see the Fasting Calendar on the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese website for reference)

There will be no fasting whatsoever from December 25 through January 5.

Major Commemorations for November/December

November 30 Apostle Andrew, the First-called

December 4 Great-martyr Barbara and Venerable Father John of Damascus

December 5 Sava the Sanctified

December 6 Nicholas the Wonder-worker of Myra

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

Quote: In all your works, either at home or at the place of your service, do not forget that all your strength, your light and your success are in Christ and His Cross; therefore; do not fail to call upon the Lord before beginning any work, saying: Jesus help me! Jesus, enlighten me! Thus your heart will be supported and warmed by lively faith and hope in Christ, for His is the power and glory unto ages of ages.

– St. John of Kronstadt

Worship: December 7, 2025 (Twenty-Sixth Sunday after Pentecost)

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

Epistle Reader: Sharon Meadows

Prosphora: Algood

Coffee Hour: K. Jones/Stewart