Sunday, December 14, 2025

Sunday of the Forefathers (Ancestors) of Christ

Colossians (3:4-11) Brethren, when Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these, the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience. In these you once walked, when you lived in them. But now put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and foul talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old nature with its practices and have put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator. Here there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free man, but Christ is all, and in all.

Luke (14:16-24) The Lord spoke this parable: “A man once gave a great banquet, and invited many; and at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come; for all is now ready.’ But, one by one, they all began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it; I pray you, have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them; I pray you, have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ So the servant came and reported this to his master. Then the householder in anger said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and maimed and blind and lame.’ And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges, and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.”

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 Forefathers: Thou hast justified by faith the ancient Forefathers, and through them Thou hast gone before and betrothed unto Thyself the Church of the Gentiles. Let the saints, therefore, take pride in glory; for from their seed sprouted forth a noble fruit, and it was she who gave birth to Thee without seed. Wherefore, by their pleadings, O Christ God, save our souls.

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 Preparatory for Nativity: On this day the Virgin cometh to the cave to give birth to * God the Word ineffably, * Who was before all the ages. * Dance for joy, O earth, on hearing * the gladsome tidings; * with the Angels and the shepherds now glorify Him * Who is willing to be gazed on * as a young Child Who * before the ages is God.

Calendar

Sunday, December 14, 2025 (Sunday of the Forefathers (Ancestors) of Christ)

8:50 AM – Orthros

9:00 AM – Christian Education

10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy

12:00 PM – Santa Lucia Celebration Program

Monday, December 15, 2025

Father Herman off

5:45 PM – YAF Book Study

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

No Services

Wednesday, December 17, 2025

5:20 PM – Catechesis

6:30 PM -Advent Paraklesis

Thursday, December 18, 2025

No Service

Friday, December 19, 2025

No Service

Saturday, December 20, 2025

6:00 PM – Great Vespers

Sunday, December 21, 2025 (Forefeast of & Sunday before the Nativity of Christ

(The Genealogy))

8:50 AM – Orthros

9:00 AM – Christian Education

10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy

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 children will be having their Saint Lucia program during coffee hour today. Please make plans to stay for coffee hour to be a part of this wonderful celebration!

The Eucharist Bread was provided by the Schelvers for the Divine Liturgy this morning.

Eucharist Bread Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

December 14 Schelver Danereau/Brock

December 21 Jones Meadows/Alateeawi

December 24 (Wed PM) Meadows Ellis/Zouboukos/Miller/D. Root

Nativity

December 28 Baker Lockhart/Karam/Snell

December 31 (Wed PM) Pacurari (Artos) No Meal

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#

December 14 Reader Basil Baker Col 3:4-11 233

December 21 Reader Chad Miller Heb 11:9-1,32-40 348

December 24 Brandon Strain Gal 4:47 351

December 28 Athena Zouboukos Gal 1:11-19 188

The Ladies of St Peter has adopted a family for this Christmas season through MAADCAP. Information for this family is on the table in the Fellowship Hall. Please see Cheryl Pigott for information.

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. Nicholas Fund Donations that are made to this fund will go toward a family, or individual, who has a certain need. Please consider making a donation toward this charity this Nativity season. Donations will be collected through December 28. This will be the last day to make a donation. Please mark your donation as St. Nicholas Fund.

Nativity Feast, December 24 – The church will once again provide the meal from Newk’s. There will be a basket out for those who wish to donate to help offset the cost of the catering.

WAMP! Registration for winter camp has opened for ages 12-17. If your teen would like to attend, please see Fr. Herman for registration information if you do not already have it. Winter camp will be held back at Asbury Hills in Cleveland, SC again this year. Transportation to and from camp will be the responsibility of the parents as the church will not be providing vans for winter camp.

WINTER RETREAT! A Save the Date email has been sent out regarding the upcoming dates for the 2026 DOMSE Winter Retreat. The retreat will, again, be hosted by St. Elias Antiochian parish in Atlanta, GA. The dates for the retreat are January 30-31. Registration has opened and was emailed out by Fr. Herman. If you did not receive this, please see him for registration information. Hope to see you there!

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 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 Young Adult Fellowship (YAF) meets on alternating Mondays for Book Study. Please see

Brandon Strain for questions.

* Royal hours for The Nativity of Christ will be on December 24 at 7 a.m. Orthros and Divine

Liturgy begin at 5:30 p.m. that same evening followed by a meal provided by the church.

Fasting Discipline for December

The Fast of the Nativity continues through December 24th.

December 14-15, and 20-21 abstain from meat, dairy, eggs and fish

December 16-19, and 22-24 abstain from meat dairy, eggs, fish, olive oil, and wine.

(Please see the Fasting Calendar on the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America website for reference)

There will be no fasting whatsoever from December 25 through January 5.

Major Commemorations for December

December 15 Heiromartyr Eleutherios

Forefathers of Christ

December 20 Ignatius of Antioch

December 22 Sunday before the Nativity of Christ

December 25 Nativity of our Lor Jesus Christ

December 26 Synaxis of the Theotokos

December 27 Protomartyr Stephen

December 29 Sunday after the Nativity of Christ

Quote: “Are you fighting against your passions? Fight, fight, and be good soldiers of Christ! Do not give in to evil and do not be carried away by weakness of the flesh. During the time of temptation, flee to the Physician, crying out with the Holy Church, our mother: ‘O God, number me with the thief, the harlot, and the publican, and save me’

+St. Anatoly of Optina

Worship: December 21, 2025 (Sunday of the Forefathers (Ancestors) of Christ)

Scripture: Heb 11:9-10, 32-40; Matt 1:1-25

Epistle Reader: Chad Miller

Prosphora: Jones

Coffee Hour: Meadows/Alateeaw