Sunday, November 15, 2026
Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost
THE EPISTLE:
(For the Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost)
The Lord will give strength to His people. Ascribe to the Lord, O sons of God, ascribe to the Lord honor and glory.
Ephesians (2:14-22) Brethren, Christ is our peace, Who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that He might create in Himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the Cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end. And He came and preached peace to you, who were far off, and peace to those who were near; for through Him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in Whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in Whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
THE GOSPEL:
(For the Eighth Sunday of Luke)
Luke (10:25-37) At that time, a lawyer stood up to put Jesus to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read?” And the lawyer answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” And Jesus said to him, “You have answered right; do this, and you will live.” But the lawyer, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion, and went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; then he set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” The lawyer said, “The one who showed mercy on him.” And Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
APOLYTIKIA AND THEOTOKIA:
Troparion of the Resurrection: Thou didst abolish death by Thy Cross; Thou didst open Paradise to the thief; Thou didst transform the myrrh-bearers’ lamentation, and didst bid Thine Apostles to preach that Thou art risen, O Christ God, granting great mercy to the world.
Troparion for Sts. Guria, Shamuna, and Habib:Since Thou hast given us the miracles of Thy holy Martyrs Guria, Shamuna and Habib as an invincible battlement, by their entreaties scatter the counsels of the heathen, O Christ our God, and strengthen the faith of Orthodox Christians, since Thou art good and the Lover of mankind.
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.
Special Announcements and News
Bishop Nichoals Visit Schedule:
– Sunday, November 15: Vespers with tonsuring of Readers- 6:30pm
Meeting with Inquirers, Catechumens, and Newly Illumined- 7:45pm
– Monday, November 16: Lunch with Clergy- 1:30pm
Meeting with Young Adults- 5:30pm
Meeting with Teens- 6:45pm
St. Peter Orthodox Church is blessed to have four members of the Antiochian Archdiocese National Choir. The National Choir will gather in Washington, D.C., for its Winter Concert, with daily rehearsals beginning December 10 and culminating in a concert on Saturday, December 12, at 3:00 p.m. Please keep our choir members and all participants in your prayers as they prepare for this special event, and please prayerfully consider a donation to help support their participation and to offset travel costs. Be sure to write “Choir” on your donation checks. Or if you prefer to donate online, please be sure to select “Choir fund” under Designation.
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. St Peter has also set up an option to donate through our website via the QR code included in the bulletin or by going to http://stpeterorthodox.org.
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 the following in your prayers:
Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Mary Greene (Lee and Kh. Sharon’s sister); Jay and Joanna
Davis; Kh. Be’Be’ Schelver and family; Jack and Jill Weatherly; Dn.Terry Algood and their family; Fr. John and Kh. Janet Henderson and their family
This Week’s Calendar
Sunday, November 15, 2026 (Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost)
8:50 AM – Orthros
9:00 AM – Christian Education
10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy
6:30 PM – Great Vespers with Tonsuring of Readers
7:45 PM – Inquirers, Catechumens, and Newly Illumined meeting with
Bishop Nicholas
Monday, November 16, 2026
1:30 PM – Clergy Lunch with Bishop Nicholas
5:30 PM – Young Adults Meeting with Bishop Nicholas
6:45 PM – Teens Meeting with Bishop Nicholas
Tuesday, November 17, 2026
No Services
Wednesday, November 18, 2026
6:30 PM – Advent Paraklesis
Thursday, November 19, 2026
No Services
Friday, November 20, 2026
No Services
Saturday, November 21, 2026 (Entrance of the Theotokos)
9:00 AM – Orthros
10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy with Baptism and Chrismation
6:00 PM – Great Vespers
Sunday, November 22, 2026 (Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost)
8:50 AM – Orthros
9:00 AM – Christian Education
10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy
12:00 PM – Ladies Meeting
Please make sure to check and subscribe to the Google calendar for all updated services and events at the parish.
Upcoming Events
* The men of the parish will meet for lunch at 11:00 on December 3.
* The men will meet for breakfast on December 19 at 8:30 a.m. at Primo’s for breakfast.
* The Ladies meet for dining once a month. Date and time to be determined.
* December 24: Nativity of Christ. 5:30 Orthros and Divine Liturgy followed by a meal
catered from Newk’s.
* Dec 31 at 6:30: Great Vespers with Litia and Artoklasia for the Circumcision of the
Lord and St. Basil the Great.
COFFEE HOUR AND POTLUCKS:
Catered Meal from Newk’s will be provided on Thursday, December 24 for Nativity
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.
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. *
Eucharist Schedule:
The Eucharist Bread was provided by the Joneses on Friday evening for the Feast of St. Raphael and by the Jones for the Divine Liturgy this morning.
Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour
November 15 Meadows Dansereau/Alaeetawi
November 21 (Sat a.m.) D. Root Meadows/Brock
Entrance of the Theotokos
November 22 Karam Winstead/Stewart
November 29 Brock Ellis/Zouboukos
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#
November 15 Katie Miller Eph 2:14-22 207
November 21 (Sat a.m.) Doru Pacurari Heb 9:1-11 337
November 22 Mary Martha Ellis Eph 2:14-22 212
November 29 Reader Basil Baker Eph 5:8-19 217
Greeter Schedule:
Please arrive at the Parish by 9:45 a.m. to greet everyone coming in.
Greeter
November 15 Andrew Spiehler
November 22 Charlotte Algood
November 29 Jenny Rodriguez
Fasting Discipline for November
In November, the traditional fast (Abstain from meat, dairy, eggs, fish, olive oil, wine) is observed on Mondays and Wednesday, with exceptions on 11, 13, and 25 when olive oil and wine are allowed. (See Major Commemorations) The Fast of the Nativity begins on November 15 and ends on December 24.
Major Commemorations for November
November 16 Apostle Matthew
November 21 Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple
November 25 Great martyrs Catherine and Mercurios
November 30 Apostle Andrew, the First-called
Quote
“How can you find out if you are living within the will of God? Here is the sign: If you are
troubled about anything, this means that you have not completely given yourself over to the will of God. A person who lives in the will of God is not concerned over anything. And if he needs anything, he gives both it and himself over to God. And if he does not receive the necessary thing, he remains calm nevertheless, as if he had it. The soul which has been given over to the will of God is afraid of nothing, not of thunder nor of thieves – nothing. But whatever happens, she says, "Thus it pleases God." If she is sick, she thinks: this means that I need to be sick, or else God would not have given it to me. Thus peace is preserved in both soul and body.”
+St. Silouan the Athonite, Writings, VI.4
Next Week’s Schedule:
Saturday, November 21, 2026 (Entrance of the Theotokos)
Scripture: Heb 9:1-11; Luke 10:38-42, 11:27-28
Epistle Reader: Doru Pacurari
Prosphora: D. Root
Coffee Hour: Meadows/Brock
Sunday, November 22, 2026 (Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost)
Scripture: Eph 4:1-7; Luke 12:16-21
Epistle Reader: Mary Martha Ellis
Prosphora: Karam
Coffee Hour: Winstead/Stewart