Sunday, May 31, 2026
Holy Pentecost
PENTECOST:
In several senses, Pentecost marks for us the end of many months of anticipation,
commemoration, and celebration and the beginning of the fullness of the life and faith we share. It is a day bringing our focus on the Holy Spirit, the embodiment of divine grace, the supreme gift, the ongoing presence of God in our lives; yet, it is a day directing us to the praise of the Trinity, the three divine persons, and the historical and spatial relationship God’s people have with Him. For the disciples, the day marks their spiritual maturity. Their faith began in their nationality, for they were of the nation that God the Father chose to glorify Him. The faith was completed in their confrontation with God the Son, through His presence and the nourishment He gave. The fullness of the faith came with the coming in power of God the Spirit. The disciples had grown in spirit and were ready for their work; the birth of the Church was imminent; the Bride was to be made ready. In the cycle of the calendar, we now stand ready to do likewise, and all weeks from now until our preparation for Advent are the weeks of Pentecost. In the picture of the birth of the Church there are symbols beyond mention here; the unity in the common tongue, the Light that shines brighter than day, the bold proclamation to all men of the Gospel. We look forward from this day to weeks without special celebrations, to days without reference to past days of enormous import–to normal, uneventful days. But these are not uneventful days; they are the days for which we have prepared, the days of the Church, the days of our maturity and growth, the days when, through the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit, we run the good race and cross the finish to bring praise and glory to our glorious God, the eternal Trinity.
Acts (2:1-11) When the day of Pentecost had come, the Disciples were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. And they were amazed and wondered, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians, we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”
John (7:37-52; 8:12) On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and proclaimed, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.’” Now this He said about the Spirit, which those who believed in Him were to receive; for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. When they heard these words, many of the people said, “This is really the prophet.” Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ is descended from David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” So there was a division among the people over Him. Some of them wanted to arrest Him, but no one laid hands on Him. The officers then went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring Him?” The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this man!” The Pharisees answered them, “Are you led astray, you also? Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in Him? But this crowd, who do not know the Law, are accursed.” Nicodemus, who had gone to Him before, and who was one of them, said to them, “Does our Law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” They replied, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and you will see that no prophet is to rise from Galilee.” Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Troparion of Pentecost: Blessed art Thou, O Christ our God, Who hast revealed the fishermen as most wise, having sent upon them the Holy Spirit, and through them Thou hast fished the universe, O Lover of mankind, glory to Thee.
Kontakion of Pentecost: When the High One descended, confusing tongues, He divided the nations. And when He distributed the fiery tongues He called all to one unity. Wherefore, in unison we glorify the most Holy Spirit.
The Anti-Trisagion Hymn: As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Alleluia. (thrice)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Have put on Christ. Alleluia.
Dynamis!
As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Alleluia.
Calendar
Sunday, May 31, 2026 (Holy Pentecost)
8:50 AM – Orthros
10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy
12:00 PM – Pot luck
Monday, June 1, 2026
Fr. Herman off
5:45 YAF Book Study
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
No Services –
Wednesday, June 3, 2026
520 PM – Catechesis
6:30 PM – Daily Vespers
7:30 PM – Parish Council
Thursday, June 4, 2026
11:00 AM – Men’s Lunch
NO Services
Friday, June 5, 2026
No Services
Saturday, June 6, 2026
4:45 PM – Catechesis
6:00 PM – Great Vespers
Sunday, June 7, 2026 (Sunday of All Saints)
8:50 AM – Orthros
10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy
Special Announcements
The Eucharist Bread was provided by the D. Roots yesterday morning for Saturday of the Souls and by the Karams for the Divine Liturgy this morning.
Eucharist Bread Schedule:
Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour
May 31 Karam Miller/D. Root
Pentecost Potluck
June 7 Brock Ken Jones/Stewart
June 14 R. Root Meadows/Brock
June 21 Pacurari Dansereau/Alaeetawi
June 28 Lasseter Ellis/Zouboukos
Saturday of the Souls Potluck
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#
May 31 Reader Chad Miller Acts 2:1-11 77
June 7 Mary Martha Ellis Heb 11:33-12:2 84
June 14 Sophie Dansereaux Acts 11:19-30 52
June 21 Athena Zouboukos Rom 5:1-10 96
June 28 Brandon Strain II Cor 11:21-33, 12:6-9 389
Please make sure to check and subscribe to the Google calendar for all updated services and events at the parish
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
Supper club ministry has been started again after a long while for those who are interested in participating. Please see Grady Fisher for further information.
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 Parish Council has authorized the church to sign up with Clearstream to provide group SMS text messaging directly to phones that opt in for the service. Due to phone carrier regulations it is required that folks opt in to the service if you would like to receive group text messages from the church to your phone. There is no charge to the recipient. Most phone carriers now include incoming SMS messaging – but check with your carrier if you have any questions. The purpose of this is to give us the capability to get word out quickly to everyone who has opted in as we have needed in the past to re-schedule services due to power outages, inclement weather and for other important and timely notifications. This is in addition to the normal e-mail that will be sent out via our e-mail services. Depending on how your phone is configured – the text message would display a message alert and message on your phone home screen from Saint Peter Orthodox Church. Name, phone number and e-mail address will be kept on our account at Clearstream. If you would like to opt in to this service please reply “Yes" to the email sent out by Dn. Richard, or see him directly. The phone text messages will be sent from our number at Clearstream (601) 873-6749. If not opted in you won’t receive group SMS messages. If you opt in and later decide you do not want SMS messages you can always opt out.
Catechumens and Inquirers: An email was sent by Jenny Rodriguez requesting information for the Clearstream system. Please respond to the email or see her personally to provide your phone number and mailing address if you would like to opt in.
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 every fourth Saturday of the month at 8:30 at Primos in Ridgeland.
* The Ladies meet for dining once a month.
* YAF meets every other Monday @ 5:45 p.m. for Book Study.
* Apostles Fast Begins June 8th and runs through June 24
* Parish Life Conference is June 10th through the 13th.
* Stewpot November 7 @ 11:30 a.m.
Fasting Discipline for June
Traditional fasting (No meat, dairy, eggs, fish, olive oil, or wine) will resume on Wednesdays and Fridays through June 7th. The Apostles fast being on June 8th and runs through June 27th. During the fast, we will abstain from meat, dairy and eggs, except on Wednesdays and Fridays when the tradition fast is observed. On Wednesday, June 24th, we will only abstain from meat, dairy, eggs and fish for the Nativity of the Forerunner Baptist John.
Major Commemorations for June
May 31 Holy Pentecost
Jun 1 Holy Spirit
Justin the Philosopher and Martyr
June 4 Metrophanes, Archbishop of Constantinople
June 7 All Saints
June 8 Theodore the General (Transfer of Relics)
June 11 Apostles Bartholomew and Barnabas
June 14 All Saints of Antioch
June 24 Nativity of the Forerunner Baptist John
June 29 Chief Apostles Peter and Paul
June 30 Synaxis of the Twelve Holy Apostles
Quote: “…In proportion to your humility you are given patience in your woes; and in proportion to your patience the burden of your afflictions is made lighter and you will find consolation; in proportion to your consolation, your love of God increases; and in proportion to your love, your joy in the Holy Spirit is magnifies. Once men have truly become His sons, our tenderly compassionate Father does not take away their temptations from them when it is in His pleasure to ‘make for them a way to escape’ (1Cor 10:13), but instead, He gives His sons patience in their trials. All these good things are given into the hand of their patience for the perfecting of their souls.”
St. Isaac the Syrian, “Ascetical Homilies” (Homily Forty-Two)
Sunday, June 7, 2026 (Sunday of All Saints)
Scripture: Heb 11:33-12:2; Matt10:32-33, 37-38; 19:27-30
Epistle Reader: Mary Martha Ellis
Prosphora: Brock
Coffee Hour: Ken Jones/Stewart