Sunday of Forgiveness (Cheese Fare)

FORGIVENESS SUNDAY:

Great Lent begins on a Monday; the eve of this day is known as Forgiveness Sunday. The way to resurrection and life, the path to Christ’s eternal victory over death, begins with forgiveness. God will not forgive us our sins and raise us from the dead unless we forgive the sins of others and work for their salvation as well as for our own. In the Sermon on the Mount, Christ clearly teaches us the importance of forgiveness:

“If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” –Matthew 6:14-15

Romans (13:11-14:4) Brethren, now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk becomingly, as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in chambering and licentiousness, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill its lusts. But as for the one who is weak in faith, receive him, but not for disputes over opinions. For one believes he may eat anything; but the weak person eats herbs. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. Who are you to be the judge over the servant of a stranger? To his own master he either stands or falls; but he will be made to stand; for God is able to make him stand.

Matthew (6:14-21) The Lord said to His Disciples: If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father Who is in secret; and your Father Who sees in secret will reward you. Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

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 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 for Forgiveness Sunday: O Thou Who guidest to wisdom, and givest understanding and intelligence, the Instructor of the ignorant, and Helper of the poor, strengthen my heart and grant it understanding, O Master. Give me word, O Word of the Father; for behold, I shall not refrain my lips from crying to Thee, O merciful One, have mercy upon me who am fallen.

Calendar

Sunday, February 22, 2026 (Sunday of Forgiveness (Cheese Fare))

8:50 AM – Orthros

9:00 AM – Christian Education

10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy

6:30 PM – Forgiveness Sunday Vespers

Monday, February 23, 2026

6:30 PM – Great Compline w/ Part 1 of the Great Canon

Tuesday, February 24, 2026

1:00 PM – Ladies Lunch

6:30 PM – Great Compline w/ Part 2 of the Great Canon

Wednesday, February 25, 2026

5:20 PM – Catechesis

6:30 PM – Pre-Sanctified Liturgy

8:30 PM – Parish Council

Thursday, February 26, 2026

6:30 PM – Great Compline w/ Part 4 of the Great Canon

Friday, February 27, 2026

6:30 PM – Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos

Saturday, February 28, 2026:

4:45 PM – Catechesis

6:00 PM – Great Vespers

Sunday, March 1, 2026 (Sunday of Orthodoxy)

8:50 AM – Orthros

9:00 AM – Christian Education

10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy

Special Announcements

Teen Cheesefare Fundraiser is today. There is no set donation for this, but please do consider making a donation you feel appropriate to help our Teens pay for the activities and ministries they do throughout the year

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

Eucharist Bread Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

February 22 Algood Baker/Jimmy Jones

Sunday of Forgiveness &

Cheesefare

March 1 Jones Pigott/Ian Jones

March 8 Meadows Ken Jones/Stewart

POTLUCK

March 15 Davis Meadows/Brock

March 22 D. Root Dansereau/Alaeetawi

March 24 (Tues PM) Karam Ellis/Zouboukos

Annunciation

March 29 Brock Miller/D. Root

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#

February 22 Athena Zouboukos Rom 13:11-14:4 279

March 1 Gabrielle Jones Heb 11:24-26,36-40 281

March 8 Sophie Dansereau Heb 1:10-2:3 283

March 15 Katie Miller Heb 4:14-5:6 285

March 22 Mary Martha Ellis Heb 6:13-20 287

March 24 Kh. Sharon Meadows Heb 2:11-18 376

March 29 Athena Zouboukos Heb 9:11-14 290

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

DOMSE 2026 Parish Life Conference, June 10-13, 2026: Registration is now open. Please refer to the email sent by Fr. Herman. You may also go online to www.DOMSE.org to register.

The Diocesan Women’s Retreat is February 28. We are asking for volunteers to help provide lunch. Please see Mary Marth Ellis for questions.

Registration for Camp St. Thekla has opened. Many of you have already registered your child(ren). If you have not done so, please see Fr. Herman or go to www.DOMSE.org for this purpose. Important: If you would like to participate in the scholarships provided by the Order of St. Ignatius please let Fr. Herman know directly by March 15. There is a per-parish allotted amount provided by the Order, so please let Fr. Herman know as soon as possible.

Lenten Ladies Talk with Fr. Herman will be Saturday, March 14 at 10:30am. Please mark your calendars to attend this time of teaching and fellowship

The New Quarterly Schedule will be out next month. If you are interested in volunteering as reader, to help with Coffee Hour or would like to make the Eucharist Bread, please add your name to the sign-up sheet on the foyer table. Also, if you would like to learn how to make the Prosphora, (Eucharist Bread) Brandon Strain and Grady Fisher have graciously volunteered to do a lesson. Time and Date for that will be announced.

Please make sure to check and subscribe to the Google calendar for all updated services and events at the parish

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 next

lunch is scheduled for March 5 at 11:00 a.m.

* The men will also meet for breakfast once a 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 next Church Workday is on Saturday, March 21 at 8:30 a.m.

* Great Lent begins on February 23.

* Stewpot on May 2, and November 7

Fasting Discipline for February/March

Great Lent begins the following week on February 23 and runs through April 11. Please see the Fasting Calendar for daily abstinences.

Major Commemorations for February/March

February 22 – Forgiveness Sunday

Cheesefare

February 24 – The Forerunner (1st and 2nd Discoveries)

March 1 – 1st Sunday of Lent; Sunday of Orthodoxy

March 9 – 40 Martyrs of Sebaste

March 8 – 2nd Sunday of Great Lent; Commemoration of St. Gregory Palamas

March 15 – 3rd Sunday of Great Lent; Adoration of the Holy Cross

March 22 – 4th Sunday of Great Lent; Commemoration of St. John Climacus

March 25 – Feast of Annunciation

March 26 – Synaxis of the Archangel Gabriel

March 29 – 5th Sunday of Great Lent; Commemoration of St. Mary of Egypt

Quote: “Prayer, fasting, vigils, and all other Christian practices, however good they are in themselves, do not constitute the goal of our Christian life, although they serve as a necessary means to its attainment. The true goal of our Christian life consists in the acquisition of the Holy Spirit of God. Fasting, vigils, prayers, alms-giving and all good deeds done for the sake of Christ are but means for the acquisition of the Holy Spirit of God. But note, my son, that only a good deed done for the sake of Christ brings us the fruits of the Holy Spirit. All that is done, if it is not for Christ’s sake, although it may be good, brings us no reward in the life to come, nor does it give us God’s grace in the present life. It is not suited to everyone to follow a severe rule of abstinence from everything, or to deprive himself of everything which can serve for the easing of weakness.”

+St. Seraphim of Sarov

Worship: Sunday, March 1, 2026 (Sunday of Orthodoxy)

Scripture: Heb 11:24-26, 32-40; Matthew 6:14-21

Epistle Reader: Gabrielle Jones

Prosphora: Jones

Coffee Hour: Pigott/Ian Jones