Sunday, March 22, 2026

Commemoration of John Climacus, Author of “The Ladder”

Fourth Sunday of Great Lent

COMMEMORATION OF ST. JOHN OF THE LADDER:

Self-denial for self-glory is equally as vain as any endeavor not directed toward divine love and the glory of God. In St. John Climacus, seventh-century hermit and ascetic, we have a model of sacrifice directed to the love of fellow men. St. John knew that emptying himself of the things of this world was the act of renouncing his own efforts and accepting God’s grace and mercy as true sustenance. The season of prayer and fasting is a time of true humility and complete submission to the Father’s will. We proceed to the Great Feast, following a path of reconciliation and contemplation, seeking the adoration of the Son and His sacrifice, and emphasizing leaving the things of this world to attain perfect submission.

Hebrews (6:13-20) Brethren, when God made a promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, “Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.” And thus, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For people indeed swear by what is greater, and in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmation. So when God, being minded to show more abundantly to the heirs of the promise the immutability of His counsel, He interposed it with an oath, that by two immutable things—in which it is impossible for God to lie—we might have a strong consolation, we, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope that is set before us; a hope, which we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and entering into “that which is within the veil,” where Jesus entered as a Forerunner on our behalf, having become a High Priest “forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”

Mark (9:17-31) At that time, a man came to Jesus, kneeling down and saying unto him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a dumb spirit. And wherever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked Thy Disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” And Jesus answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to Me.” And they brought the boy to Him; and when the spirit saw Jesus, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, “How long has he had this?” And he said, “From childhood. And it has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if Thou canst do anything, have pity on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You dumb and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again.” And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse; so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when Jesus had entered the house, His Disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” And Jesus said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting.” They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And Jesus would not have anyone know it; for He was teaching His Disciples, saying to them, “The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him; and after He is killed, He will rise on the third day.”

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 for St. John Climacus: The barren wilderness thou didst make fertile with the streams of thy tears; and by thy deep sighing thou hast given fruit through thy struggles a hundredfold. Accordingly, thou hast become a star for the universe, sparkling with miracles. Therefore, O righteous Father John Climacus, interced with Christ God to save 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 for Sundays in the Great Lent: To thee, the Champion Leader, do I offer thanks of victory, O Theotokos, thou who hast delivered me from terror; but as thou that hast that power invincible, O Theotokos, thou alone can set me free: from all forms of danger free me and deliver me, that I may cry unto thee: Hail, O Bride without Bridegroom.

Calendar

Sunday, March 22, 2026 (Commemoration of John Climacus, Author of “The Ladder”)

8:50 AM – Orthros

9:00 AM – Christian Education

10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy

Monday, March 23, 2026

Fr Herman Off

5:45 PM – YAF Book Study

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

6:00 PM – Orthros and Divine Liturgy for the Annunciation

Wednesday, March 25, 2026 (Annunciation)

5:20 PM – Catechesis

6:30 PM – Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete w/ the Life of St. Mary of Egypt

Thursday, March 26, 2026

No Services

Friday, March 27, 2026

6:30 PM – Akathist

Saturday, March 28, 2026:

8:30 PM – Men’s Breakfast

11:00-1:00 PM – Women’s Diocesan Retreat

4:45 PM – Catechesis

6:00 PM – Great Vespers

Sunday, March 29, 2026 (Commemoration of our Righteous Mother Mary of Egypt)

8:50 AM – Orthros

9:00 AM – Christian Education

10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy

1:00 PM – Ladies Lunch

Special Announcements

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

Eucharist Bread Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

March 22 D. Root Dansereau/Alaeetawi

March 24 (Tues PM) Karam Ellis/Zouboukos

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#

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

March 24 Kh. Sharon Meadows Heb2:11-18 376

March 29 Athena Zouboukos Heb 9:11-14 290

Thank you to all who came out yesterday to help with the work day!

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 March 28. We are asking for volunteers to help provide lunch. Please see Mary Marth Ellis for questions. We hope to see all our parish ladies there!

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. There is a per-parish allotted amount provided by the Order, so please let Fr. Herman know as soon as possible.

Greeter Ministry: If you are still interested, in joining the Greeter ministry please place your name on the sign-up sheet on the table in the foyer. We ask that only baptized/chrismated Orthodox members of the parish become members of this ministry. Please see Andrew Spiehler for questions.

Palm Sunday is April 5th. We will have a Fish Fry catered by Sal and Phil’s. As has been in previous years, the fee for the plates is $10 per adult, and $6 per child 12 and under. Please sign your name on the sheet on the table in the foyer if you plan on participating so that we can have an idea of how many will attend.

As friendly reminder that we will celebrate Agape Vespers @ 4:00 p.m. and have the Agape meal at St. Peter’s this year on Sunday, April 12. We will not be celebrating this year with the other Orthodox churches in our area…If you wish and are able, please consider a donation to help with the cost of the meal.

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 men will also meet for breakfast once a month. Time and dates TBA.

* 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.

* Palm Sunday, April 5th. We will have a Fish Fry following Divine Liturgy.

* Pascha: Services start at 10:30 on Sat evening, April 11.

* Agape Vespers will be on Sunday, April 12 starting at 4:00 p.m. followed by a catered meal.

* Stewpot on May 2, and November 7

Fasting Discipline for March/April

Great Lent and runs through April 11. Please see the Fasting Calendar for daily abstinences.

NO FASTING from April 12th through May 21.

Major Commemorations for March

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

April 4 – Lazarus Saturday

April 5 – Palm Sunday

April 5-11 – Holy Week

April 12 – PASCHA

April 13-18 – Bright Week

Quote: “Do not be surprised if you fall every day and do not surrender. Stand your ground bravely and you may be sure that your guardian angel will respect your endurance. A fresh, warm wound is easier to heal than those that are old, neglected, and festering, and that need extensive treatment, surgery, bandaging and cauterization. Long neglect can render many of them incurable. However, all things are possible with God”

+St. John Climacus

Worship: Sunday, March 29, 2026 (Commemoration of our Righteous Mother Mary of Egypt)

Scripture: Heb 9:11-14/Mark 10:32-45

Epistle Reader: Athena Zouboukos

Prosphora: Brock

Coffee Hour: Miller/D. Root