Sunday, December 7, 2025

Twenty-Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

Ephesians (5:8-19) Brethren, walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is a shame even to speak of the things that they do in secret; but when anything is exposed by the light it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light.” Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart.

Luke (13:10-17) At that time, Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And there was a woman who had had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. And when Jesus saw her, He called her and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your infirmity.” And He laid His hands upon her, and immediately she was made straight, and she praised God. But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, “There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrite! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the manger, and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” As Jesus said this, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by Him.

Troparion of the Resurrection: While the stone was sealed by the Jews, and the soldiers were guarding Thy most pure body, Thou didst arise on the third day, O Savior, granting life to the world. For which cause the heavenly powers cried aloud unto Thee, O giver of life. Glory to Thy Resurrection O Christ, glory to Thy kingdom, glory to Thy providence, O Thou Who alone art the lover of mankind.

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: On this day the Virgin cometh to the cave to give birth to * God the Word ineffably, * Who was before all the ages. * Dance for joy, O earth, on hearing * the gladsome tidings; * with the Angels and the shepherds now glorify Him * Who is willing to be gazed on * as a young Child Who * before the ages is God.

Calendar

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

8:50 AM – Orthros

9:00 AM – Christian Education

10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy

12:30 PM – Teen St Nichoals Play

Monday, December 8, 2025

Father Herman off

Tuesday, December 9, 2025

No Services

Wednesday, December 10, 2025

5:30 PM – Teen Meeting

6:30 PM -Advent Paraklesis

Thursday, December 11, 2025

No Service

Friday, December 12, 2025

No Service

Saturday, December 13, 2025

10:00 AM – Ladies meet for Akathist

6:00 PM – Great Vespers

Sunday, December 14, 2025 (Sunday of the Forefathers (Ancestors) of Christ)

8:50 AM – Orthros

9:00 AM – Christian Education

10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy

12:00 PM – Santa Lucia Celebration during Coffee Hour

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

Teen’s St. Nicholas play is today during coffee hour Please make sure to stay for this robust performance of the life of St. Nicholas.

The Eucharist Bread was provided by the D. Roots for Great Vespers w/ Litia and Artoklasia on Friday, December 5th, and by the Algoods for the Divine Liturgy this morning.

Eucharist Bread Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

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#

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

St. Nicholas Fund will begin today, 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.

The children will be holding their Saint Lucia celebration during coffee hour on December 14. Please make plans to stay for coffee hour to be a part of this wonderful celebration!

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.

Nativity Feast, December 24 – The church will once again provide the meal from Newk’s. There will be a basket out for those who wish to donate to help offset the cost of the catering.

The Ladies of St Peter has adopted a family for this Christmas season through MAADCAP. Information for this family is on the table in the Fellowship Hall. Please see Cheryl Pigott for questions.

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. * Santa Lucia Celebration during Coffee Hour on December 14th.

* Royal hours for The Nativity of Christ will be on December 24 at 7 a.m. Orthros and Divine

Liturgy begin at 5:30 p.m. that same evening followed by a meal provided by the church.

Fasting Discipline for December

The Fast of the Nativity continues through December 24th.

December 7-9 and 11 abstain from meat dairy and eggs only.

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

December 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 of North America website for reference)

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

Major Commemorations for November/December

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: “Many human activities, good in themselves, are not good because of the motive for which they are due. For example, fasting and vigils, prayer and psalmody, acts of charity and hospitality are by nature good, but when performed for the sake of self-esteem they are not good.”

+ St. Maximos the Confessor, Four Hundred Texts

Worship: December 14, 2025 (Sunday of the Forefathers (Ancestors) of Christ)

Scripture: Col 3:4-11; Luke 14:16-24

Epistle Reader: Reader Basil Baker

Prosphora: Schelver

Coffee Hour: Danereau/Brock