Sunday, August 30, 2026
Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
THE EPISTLE:
(For the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost)
O Lord, how marvelous are Thy works. In wisdom hast Thou made them all. Bless the Lord, O my soul!
I Corinthians (16:13-24) Brethren, be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, and be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. Now, brethren, you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints; I urge you to be subject to such men and to every fellow worker and laborer. I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence; for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such men. The churches of Asia send greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord. All the brethren send greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss. I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.
THE GOSPEL:
(For the Thirteenth Sunday of Matthew)
Matthew (21:33-42) The Lord spoke this parable: “There was a householder who planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country. When the season of fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants, to get his fruit; and the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first; and they did the same to them. Afterward he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ And they took him and cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.” Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?’”
APOLYTIKIA AND THEOTOKIA:
Troparion of the Baptist’s Beheading: The memory of the righteous is celebrated with songs of praise, but the Lord’s testimony is sufficient for thee, O Forerunner. Thou wast shown indeed to be the most honorable of the prophets, for in the waters thou didst baptize Him Whom they had proclaimed. After suffering with joy in behalf of the truth, thou didst proclaim even to those in Hades the God Who appeared in the flesh, Who taketh away the sin of the world, and granteth us Great Mercy.
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 Nativity of the Theotokos: By thy holy nativity, O pure one, Joachim and Anna were delivered from the reproach of barrenness; and Adam and Eve were delivered from the corruption of death; thy people do celebrate it, having been saved from the stain of iniquity, crying unto thee: The barren doth give birth to the Theotokos, who nourisheth our life.
Special Announcements and News
The Ladies of St. Peter will have a meeting today after Divine Liturgy.
The Supper Club Ministry invites you to consider hosting a dinner for our Young Adults. This is a wonderful opportunity to get to know one another better and build lasting connections within our parish community. If you are interested in participating, please contact Grady Fisher for more details.
Church School will begin September 13. We are looking for volunteers to be primary teachers and assistant teachers. To be a primary teacher one will need to have been a member of the parish for at least three years and receive the blessing from Fr. Herman to teach. Please prayerfully consider serving the parish in this ministry by helping educate our children and teens in the Orthodox faith. If you feel like you would like to become a church school teacher please see Daniel Root for further information.
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.
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
Please make sure to check and subscribe to the Google calendar for all updated services and events at the parish.
This Week’s Calendar
Sunday, August 30, 2026 (Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost)
8:50 AM – Orthros
10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy
Monday, August 31, 2026
Fr. Herman Off
Tuesday, September 1, 2026
No Services
Wednesday, September 2, 2026
5:30 PM – Teen Meeting
6:30 PM – Daily Vespers
Thursday, September 3, 2026
No Services
11:00 AM – Men’s Lunch
Friday, September 4, 2026
No Services
6:00 PM – Great Vespers
Sunday, September 6, 2026 (Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost)
8:50 AM – Orthros
9:00 AM – Christian Education
10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy
12:30 PM – Catechesis
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
* The Ladies meet for dining once a month. Date and time to be determined.
* Vespers with Litia and Artoklasia for Nativity of the Theotokos on September 7 at 5:30
* Stewpot November 7 @ 11:30 a.m.
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.
Eucharist Schedule:
The Eucharist Bread was provided by the Karams for the Divine Liturgy this morning.
Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour
August 30 Karam Miller/D. Root
September 6 Brock Lasseter/Pacurari/Lavric
September 7 (Mon p.m.)Anastasia Jones No Meal
Nativity of the Theotokos
September 13 R. Root Lockhart/Karam/Snell-Potluck
September 20 Pacurari Algood/Rodriguez
September 27 Lasseter Kumar/Jimmy Jones
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 30 Reader Bill Baker I Cor 16:13-24 152
September 6 Sophie Dansereaux II Cor 1:21-2:4 158
September 7 (Mon p.m.) *No Reading*
September 13 Ian Jones Gal 6:11-18 198
September 20 Athena Zouboukos Gal 2:16-20 193
September 27 Grady Fisher II Cor 6:16-7:1 173
Greeter Schedule:
Please arrive at the Parish by 9:45 a.m. to greet everyone coming in.
Greeter
August 30 Kyriaki Snell
September 6 Dane Skirtech
September 13 Jenny Rodriguez
September 20 Charlotte Algood
September 27 Andrew Spiehler
Fasting Discipline for September
In the month of September, we will continue the traditional fast on Wednesdays and Fridays. Monday, September 14 is also a fasting day in Commemoration of Elevation of the Precious Cross.
Major Commemorations for September
August 31 The Placing of the Honorable Belt of the Most Holy Theotokos
September 1 Indication of the Ecclesiastical New Year
September 6 Miracle of Archangel Micael
September 8 Nativity of the Theotokos
September 9 Righteous Joachim and Anna
September 13 Dedication of the Church of the Anastasis
September 14 Elevation of the Precious Cross
September 23 Conception of the Forerunner
September 24 Proto-martyr Thekla
September 26 Apostle John the Theologian (repose)
September 28 Venerable Chariton
Quote:
"That whoever wishes to be deemed worthy of the gift of noetic prayer must ask God for it with a fervent heart, living a noble, pure, blameless, and toilsome life; and he should continue his supplication to God even if he does not receive it quickly until he does receive it from the Father of Lights, for God oftentimes does not immediately give what one asks for in order for the supplicant’s enduring patience to be manifested, and thus he will become even more fervent than before”
–The Watchful Mind; Teachings on the Prayer of the Heart
Next Week’s Schedule:
Sunday, September 6, 2026 (Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost)
Scripture: I Cor 1:21-2:4; Matthew 22:2-14
Epistle Reader: Sophie Dansereaux
Prosphora: Brock
Coffee Hour: Lasseter/Pacurari/Lavric
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