Sunday, August 16, 2026
Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
THE EPISTLE:
(For the Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost)
The Lord is my strength and my song. The Lord has chastened me severely
I Corinthians (9:2-12) Brethren, you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. This is my defense to those who would examine me. Do we not have the right to our food and drink? Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a wife, as the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Who tends a flock without getting some of the milk? Do I say this on human authority? Does not the law say the same? For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of a share in the crop. If we have sown spiritual good among you, is it too much if we reap your material benefits? If others share this rightful claim upon you, do not we still more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the Gospel of Christ.
THE GOSPEL:
(For the Eleventh Sunday of Matthew)
Matthew (18:23-35) The Lord spoke this parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents; and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me; and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also My heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
APOLYTIKIA AND THEOTOKIA:
Troparion of the Resurrection: When Thou didst submit Thyself unto death, O Thou deathless and immortal One, then Thou didst destroy hades 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 Dormiton: In thy birth-giving, O Theotokos, thou didst keep and preserve virginity; and in thy falling-asleep thou hast not forsaken the world; for thou wast translated into life, being the Mother of Life. Wherefore, by thine intercessions, deliver our souls from death.
Troparion on the Icon of Christ: Thy pure image do we venerate, O good One, asking forgiveness of our sins, O Christ our God; for by Thine own will Thou didst ascend the Cross in Thy body, to save Thy creatures from the bondage of the enemy. Wherefore, with thankfulness we cry aloud to thee: Thou hast verily filled all with joy, since Thou didst come, O our Savior, to save the world.
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 Dormition: Verily, the Theotokos, who is ever watchful in intercessions, and whose prayers are never rejected, neither tomb nor death could control. But since she is the Mother of Life, He Who dwelt in her ever-virgin womb did translate her to life.
This Week’s Calendar
Sunday, August 16, 2026 (Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost)
8:50 AM – Orthros
10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy
Monday, August 17, 2026
Fr. Herman Off
Tuesday, August 18, 2026
No Services
Wednesday, August 19, 2026
5:30 PM – Teen Meeting
6:30 PM – Daily Vespers
Thursday, August 20, 2026
No Services
Friday, August 21, 2026
No Services
8:30 AM – Men’s Breakfast
6:00 PM – Great Vespers
Sunday, August 23, 2026 (Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost)
8:50 AM – Orthros
10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy
1:00 Pm – Catechesis
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
Eucharist Schedule:
The Eucharist Bread was provided by the Algoods on Wednesday, August 5 for the Feast of the Transfiguration, and by the Jones’ for the Divine Liturgy this morning.
Eucharist Bread Schedule:
Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour
August 16 Davis Dansereau/Alaeetawi
August 23 D. Root Ellis/Zouboukos
August 30 Karam Miller/D. Root
Epistle Readers Schedule:
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#
August 16 Reader Chad Miller I Cor 9:2-12 141
August 23 Mary Martha Ellis I Cor 15:1-11 146
August 30 Reader Bill Baker I Cor 16:13-24 152
Greeter Schedule:
Please be at the Parish by 9:45 to greet those coming in.
August 16 Jimmy Jones
August 23 Ian Jones
August 30 Kyriaki Snell
September 6 Dane Skirtech
September 13 Andrew Spiehler
September 20 Sh. Sharon Meadows
September 27 Jenny Rodriguez
Special Announcements and News
Please make sure to check and subscribe to the Google calendar for all updated services and events at the parish.
Registration has opened for the DOMSE Fall Retreat at St. Ignatius in Franklin, TN. The dates for the retreat are September 18 & 19. Registration was emailed out. If you did not receive the email and would like to attend, please see Fr. Herman or visit www.domse.org for further information and registration.
Supper Club Ministry: If you are interested in participating, please see Grady Fisher.
As a friendly reminder: NO Food or drinkshould 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 Divine Liturgy, and to make sure our Nave stays clean and pleasing to God. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation 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
COFFEE HOUR AND POTLUCKS:
The next potluck is scheduled Sunday, September 13 2026.
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. * Please be sure kids are not getting ice in the kitchen without adult supervision. *
Potluck Meals: Everyone who attends the potluck meals is encouraged to bring a dish to share. 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.
Upcoming Events
* 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 third Saturday of the month at 8:30 at Primos in Ridgeland.
* The Ladies meet for dining once a month. Date and time to be determined.
* YAF meets every other Monday at 5:45 p.m. for Book Study.
* Parish Council Meeting on August 26 at 7:30
* Stewpot November 7 @ 11:30 a.m.
Fasting Discipline for August
The Traditional Fast will be observed on Wednesday and Fridays for the remainder of August. Saturday, August 29 we will abstain from meat, dairy, eggs and fish in remembrance of the Beheading of the Forerunner and Baptist John.
Major Commemorations for August
August 25 Apostles Bartholomew and Titus
August 29 Beheading of the Forerunner and Baptist John
August 31 The Placing of the Honorable Belt of the Most Holy Theotokos
Quote:
“The devil does not destroy with one blow, but he whispers, ‘tomorrow’. And so the heart is lulled to sleep, and the soul forgets eternity. But the wise man says, ‘today is the day of salvation,’ and he rises to repent while there is still time.”
+St. Moses the Ethiopian
Next Week’s Schedule:
Sunday, August 23, 2026 (Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost)
Scripture: I Cor 16:13-24; Matthew 21:33-42
Epistle Reader: Mary Martha Ellis
Prosphora: D. Root
Coffee Hour: Ellis/Zouboukos