Sunday, June 21, 2026
Third Sunday after Pentecost
Romans (5:1-10) Brethren, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us. While we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Why, one will hardly die for a righteous man—though perhaps for a good man one will dare even to die. But God shows His love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we are now justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. Not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received our reconciliation.
Matthew (6:22-33) The Lord said, “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore, I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink; nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not the soul more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of heaven: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his stature? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon himself in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O men of little faith? Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.”
Troparion of the Resurrection: When Thou didst submit Thyself unto death, O Thou deathless and immortal One, then Thou didst destroy hell with Thy Godly power. And when Thou didst raise the dead from beneath the earth, all the powers of Heaven did cry aloud unto Thee: O Christ, Thou giver of life, glory to Thee.
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 of the Theotokos: O protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the Creator most constant, O despise not the suppliant voices of those who have sinned; but be thou quick, O good one, to come unto our aid, who in faith cry unto thee: Hasten to intercession, and speed thou to make supplication, thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee.
Calendar
Sunday, June 21, 2026 (Third Sunday after Pentecost)
8:50 AM – Orthros
10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy
Monday, June 22, 2026
Fr. Herman Off
Tuesday, June 23, 2026
No Services –
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
1:00 PM – Ladies Lunch
5:30 PM – Teen Meeting
6:30 PM – Daily Vespers
Thursday, June 25, 2026
NO Services
Friday, June 26, 2026
No Services
Saturday, June 27, 2026
6:00 PM – Great Vespers
Sunday, June 28, 2026 (The Holy, Glorious Apostles Peter and Paul)
8:50 AM – Orthros
10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy
12:00 Pm – Potluck
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
The Eucharist Bread was provided by the Pacurari for the Divine Liturgy this morning.
Eucharist Bread Schedule:
Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour
June 21 Pacurari Dansereau/Alaeetawi
June 28 Lasseter Ellis/Zouboukos
Sts. Peter and Paul Potluck
July 5 Milnor Miller/D. D. Root
July 12 YAF Lasseter/Pacurari/Lavric
Potluck
July 19 Kumar Lockhart/Karam/Snell
July 26 Baker Algood/Rodriguez
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#
June 21 Athena Zouboukos Rom 5:1-10 96
June 28 Mary Martha Ellis II Cor 11:21-33, 12:6-9 389
July 5 Doru Pacurari Gal 5:22-6:2 222
July 12 Gabrielle Jones Rom 12:6-14 113
July 19 Michael Root Titus 3:8-15 322
July 26 Amanda Kumar Gal 3:23-4:5 160-161
AS A FRIENDLY REMINDER: NO FOOD OR DRINK SHOULD BE BROUGHT INTO THE NAVE, ESPECIALLY DURING THE DIVINE SERVICES. WE MUST ALWAYS BEAR IN MIND THAT WE ARE STANDING IN THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY TRINITY DURING OUR WORSHIP, BEING RESPECTFUL OF THAT AND OF THOSE WHO HAVE FASTED FOR THE PARTAKING OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST DURING THE DIVINE LITURGY, AND TO MAKE SURE OUR NAVE STAYS CLEAN AND PLEASING TO GOD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND COOPERATION WITH THIS.
The Parish Council has authorized the church to sign up with Clearstream SMS text messaging. 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. 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. 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.
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.
Please make sure to check and subscribe to the Google calendar for all updated services and events at the parish.
As a friendly reminder, in regards to coffee hour, the church will provide snacks and beverages. 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. 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.
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. 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.
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
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 runs through June 28th.
* Dormition Fast begins on August 1
* Stewpot November 7 @ 11:30 a.m.
Fasting Discipline for June/July
The Apostles fast 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.
In the month of July, Traditional fasting (No meat, dairy, eggs, fish, olive oil, or wine) will be observed. There are exceptions for July 1, 10, 17, and 22 when we will only abstain from meat, dairy, eggs and fish. (Please see fasting calendar on the Antiochian Archdiocese of North America website. *antiochian.org*)
Major Commemorations for June-July
June 24 Nativity of the Forerunner Baptist John
June 29 Chief Apostles Peter and Paul
June 30 Synaxis of the Twelve Holy Apostles
July 1 Cosmas and Damian of Rome
July 2 Deposition of the Precious Robe of the Theotokos in Blachernae
July 5 Athanasios of Athos
July 11 Euphemia the All-praised
July 17 Great-martyr Marina
July 20 Prophet Elias
July 25 Dormition of Righteous Anna
July 27 Great-martyr and Healer Panteleimon
Quote: When going to the Holy Mysteries, go with simplicity of heart, in full faith that you will receive the Lord within yourself, and with the proper reverence toward this. What your state of mind should be after this, leave to the Lord Himself. Many desire ahead of time to receive this or that from Holy Communion, and then, not seeing what they wanted, they are troubled, and even their faith in the power of the Mystery is shaken. The fault lies not with the Mystery, but with superficial assumptions. Do not promise yourself anything. Leave everything to the Lord, asking a single mercy from Him-to strengthen you in every kind of good so that you will be acceptable to Him.”
+St. Theophan the Recluse, The Spiritual Life and How to be Attuned to it
Sunday, June 28, 2026 (The Holy, Glorious Apostles Peter and Paul)
Scripture: Roman 6:18-23; Matt 8:5-13
Epistle Reader: Mary Martha Ellis
Prosphora: Lasseter
Coffee Hour: Ellis/ Zouboukos
Potluck