Sunday, February 8, 2026
Sunday of the Prodigal Son
&
After-feast of the Presentation (Meeting) of Christ
I Corinthians (6:12-20) Brethren, all things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be enslaved by anything. Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food; but God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by His power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who joins himself to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two shall become one flesh.” But he who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him. Shun immorality. Every other sin which a man commits is outside the body; but the immoral man sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Luke (15:11-32) The Lord spoke this parable: “There was a man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that falls to me.’ And he divided his living between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living. And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have fed on the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to make merry. Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid that I might make merry with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”
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 Presentation of Christ: Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, full of grace, for from thee arose the Sun of justice, Christ our God, lighting those who are in darkness. Rejoice and be glad, O righteous elder, carrying in thine arms the Deliverer of our souls, Who granteth us Resurrection.
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 Presentation of Christ: Thou Who didst sanctify the Virgin’s womb by Thy birth, and didst bless Simeon’s hands as was meet, by anticipation hast even now saved us, O Christ God. But grant peace in the midst of wars unto Thy commonwealth and strengthen the hierarchs whom Thou hast loved, O only Friend of man.
Calendar
Sunday, February 8, 2026 (Sunday of the Prodigal Son & After-feast of the Presentation (Meeting) of Christ)
8:50 AM – Orthros
9:00 AM – Christian Education
10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy
Monday, February 9, 2026
Fr. Herman off
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
No Services
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
6:30 PM – Daily Vespers
Thursday, February 12, 2026
No Services
Friday, February 13, 2026
No Service
Saturday, February 14, 2026: (Saturday of the Souls)
9:00 AM – Orthros and Divine Liturgy
4:45 PM – Catechesis
6:00 PM – Great Vespers
Sunday, February 15, 2026 (Sunday of the Last Judgment (Meat Fare))
8:50 AM – Orthros
9:00 AM – Christian Education
10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy
12:00 PM – Potluck
Special Announcements
The Eucharist Bread was provided by the YAF for the Divine Liturgy this morning.
Eucharist Bread Schedule:
Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour
February 8 YAF Algood/Pacruari/Lavric
February 14 (Sat a.m.) Baker Lockhart/Karam/Snell
Saturday of the Souls
February 15 Henderson Algood/Rodriguez
Meatfare Potluck
February 22 Algood Baker/Jimmy Jones
Sunday of Forgiveness &
Cheesefare
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#
February 8 Reader Basil Baker I Cor 6:12-20 265
February 14 Reader Chad Miller I Cor 10:23-26 271-272
February 15 Brandon Strain I Cor 8:8-9:2 273
February 22 Athena Zouboukos Rom 13:11-14:4 279
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
Please make sure to check and subscribe to the Google calendar for all updated services and events at the parish
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 next
lunch is scheduled for March 5 at 11:00 a.m.
* The men will also meet for breakfast once a month. The next breakfast meeting will be on
Saturday, February 21 at 8:30 a.m.
* The Ladies meet for dining on the last Tuesday of the month. Times will vary.
* The Ladies meet at the church at 10:00 a.m. on the second Saturday of the month to pray the
Akathist. Alternating on behalf of our children and our sick.
* The Ladies of St Peter will meet every third Sunday during Coffee Hour.
* The next Church Workday is on Saturday, March 21 at 8:30 a.m.
*Great Lent begins on February 23.
* Stewpot on May 2, and November 7
Fasting Discipline for February
The traditional fasting is observed the second and third week of February. (Wed and Fri: Abstain from meat, dairy, eggs, fish, olive oil and wine.)
Great Lent begins the following week on February 23 and runs through April 11. Please see the Fasting Calendar for daily abstinences.
Major Commemorations for February
February 15 – Meatfare
February 22 – Forgiveness Sunday
Cheesefare
February 24 – The Forerunner (1st and 2nd Discoveries)
Quote: “It is not an external enemy we dread. Our foe is shut up within ourselves. An internal warfare is daily waged by us.”
+ St. John Cassian
Worship: Sunday, February 15, 2026 (Sunday of the Last Judgment (Meat Fare))
Scripture: I Cor 8:8-9:2; Matt25:31-46
Epistle Reader: Brandon Strain
Prosphora: Henderson
Coffee Hour: Algood/Rodriguez
Saint Peter Antiochian Orthodox Church 
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