Sunday, June 1, 2025

Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council

After-feast of the Ascension

Today is the Sunday of the Holy Fathers of Nicea. This day commemorates the Holy Fathers who sat in council at Nicea, the first of the ecumenical councils. Through them we see the commitment to the immutable truth of God for all the faithful, especially those who lead in the faith. The men of this council bear special note by the significance of their creed, for it is the fundamental statement of orthodox Christology and an enduring guide to our faith. The events of the ascension and the scriptures of this day emphasize to us the nature and action of Christ, and the history of these fathers puts us in mind of the work of the Holy Spirit in the church, work proclaimed by the glorious events which we now anticipate in the preparation for Pentecost.

Acts 20:16-18, 28-36: In those days, Paul was determined to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening, if possible, to be at Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost. And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the priests of the church. And when they came to him, he said to them: “Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you bishops, to shepherd the church of the Lord and God, which He purchased with His own blood. For I know that after my departure ravenous wolves will enter among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore, remain watchful, remembering that for three years I did not cease to admonish every one, night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities, and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by such laboring we ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He Himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” And when he had spoken thus, he knelt down on his knees with them all, and prayed.

John 17:1-13: At that time, Jesus lifted up His eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Thy Son that the Son may glorify Thee, since Thou hast given Him power over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom Thou hast given Him. And this is eternal life, that they know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ Whom Thou hast sent. I glorified Thee on earth, having accomplished the work which Thou gavest Me to do; and now, Father, glorify Thou Me in Thy own presence with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was made. I have manifested Thy Name to the men whom Thou gavest Me out of the world; Thine they were, and Thou gavest them to Me, and they have kept Thy word. Now they know that everything that Thou hast given Me is from Thee; for I have given them the words which Thou gavest Me, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from Thee; and they have believed that Thou didst send Me. I am praying for them; I am not praying for the world but for those whom Thou hast given Me, for they are Thine; all Mine are Thine, and Thine are Mine, and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to Thee. Holy Father, keep them in Thy Name, which Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, even as We are one. While June 01, 2025 Liturgy Variables 3 Holy Fathers of Nicaea I was with them, I kept them in Thy Name, which Thou have given Me; I have guarded them, and none of them is lost but the son of perdition, that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to Thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.”

Troparion of the Resurrection: When Mary stood at thy grave looking for thy sacred body, angelic powers shone above thy revered tomb, and the soldiers who were to keep guard became as dead men. Thou led hades captive and wast not tempted thereby. Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst give life to the world; O thou who art risen from the dead! O Lord, glory to thee.

Troparion of the Ascension: Thou hast ascended in glory, O Christ our God, and gladdened thy disciples with the promise of the Holy Spirit, having become confident of the blessing. Verily, thou art the Son of God, and Deliverer of the world.

Troparion of the Holy Fathers: Thou, O Christ, art our God of exceeding praise who didst establish our holy Fathers as luminous stars upon earth, and through them didst guide us unto the true Faith, O most merciful One, glory to thee.

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 Ascension: When thou didst fulfill thy dispensation for our sakes, uniting the terrestrials with the celestials, thou didst ascend in glory, O Christ our God, inseparable in space, but constant without separation, and crying unto thy beloved, I am with you, and no one shall be against you.

Calendar

Sunday, June 1

8:50 AM -Orthros

10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy

Monday, June 2

Father Herman off

Tuesday, June 3

No Services

Wednesday, June 4

6:30 PM -Daily Vespers

Thursday, June 5

No Services

11:00 AM -Men’s Lunch

Friday, June 6

No Services

Saturday, June 7

9:00 AM -Saturday of Souls Orthros and Divine Liturgy

6:00 pm -Great Vespers

Sunday, June 8

8:50 AM -Orthros

10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy

Special Announcements

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

Eucharist Bread Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

June 1 Lasseter D. Root/Jimmy Jones

June 7 (Sat AM) Milnor Ken Jones/Stewart

(Saturday of the Souls) Koliva: R. Root

June 8 Baker PICNIC POT LUCK

Pigott/Ian Jones/Meadows/Brock

June 15 Henderson Dansereau/Alaeetawi

June 22 Algood Ellis/Zouboukos/Waites

June 29 Schelver Baker/Lively

Please remember the following in your prayers: Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Lamia Dabit and her family; Mary Greene (Lee and Kh. Sharon’s sister); Jay and Joanna Davis; Fr. Leo and Kh. Be’Be’ Schelver and their family; Marilyn (Kyriake) Snell; Jack and Jill Weatherly; Dn.Terry Algood and their family; Fr. Joseph Bittle; Rick Carlton; Very Rev. Fr. Nicholas and Kh. Jan Speier; Lee Greene; Fr. John and Kh. Janet Henderson and their family; Galina Singletary; Emily and Cole Parker.

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#

June 1 Katie Miller Acts 20:16-18, 28-36 66

June 7 (Sat AM) Mary Martha Ellis 1 Thess 4:13-17 412

June 8 Grady Fisher Acts 2:1-11 77

June 15 Ian Jones Heb 11:33;12:2 84

June 22 Walt Wood Rom. 2:10-16 90

June 29 Kh Sharon Meadows II Cor 11:21;12:9 389

Also 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.

Prayers for Fr. Paul Yerger from Holy Resurrection: Please continue to keep in your God-pleasing prayers Fr. Paul. He is slowly recovering from the injuries he suffered several weeks ago due to a fall. He is currently attending physical therapy at Methodist Rehabilitation and continues to improve each day. Glory to God for all things!

Prayers for His Grace Bp. Nicholas: Please keep in your God-pleasing prayers Bp. Nicholas who underwent a “preventive measure” procedure on his heart last week. He will be recovering over the next several weeks and hopes, by your prayers, to make a speedy recovery. May God grant him many years!

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 at the church at 10:00 a.m. on the second Saturday of the month to pray the

Akathist to the Mother of God, Nurturer of Children on behalf of our children.

* The Ladies meet for lunch at 1:00 p.m. on the last Tuesday of the month.

* The remaining date for serving at Stewpot Ministries is Saturday, September 27th.

* We will celebrate Saturday of the souls on Saturday morning, June 7 beginning at 9:00 am.

* The Feast of Pentecost will be celebrated on Sunday, June 8 with a PICNIC POT LUCK

following the Liturgy.

Registration for the 2025 DOMSE Parish Life Conference has opened and was emailed out to the parish. If you did not receive this email and would like to attend, please see Father Herman for registration information. This year’s conference will be hosted by St. George Parish in Jacksonville, FL. June 11-14th.

Registration for the Archdiocese National Convention has also opened. It is being hosted by St George Parish in Cicero, IL (just outside of Chicago) July 20-27th. If you are interested in attending, please see Father Herman and he will get you the registration information and link.

Fasting Discipline for June

The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil) will be observed on the first Wednesday and Friday of the month. There will be no fasting the week following Pentecost (June 9-13). The Fast of the Apostles begins Monday, June 16th and runs through Saturday, June 28th. During this time the traditional fasting discipline will be observed on all days of the week. (However we are permitted fish and olive oil except on Wednesdays and Fridays during the Fast)

Major Commemorations for June

June 1 Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council /

Justin Martyr

June 4 Metrophanes of Constantinople

June 7 Saturday of the Souls

June 8 Pentecost/

Theodore the General (transfer of relics)

June 11 Apostles Bartholomew & Barnabas

June 15 Sunday of All Saints

June 24 Nativity of the Forerunner

June 29 Chief Apostles Peter and Paul

June 30 Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles

Quotable: "When we call upon the Saints in prayer, if we pronounce their names from the heart, it already means that we bring them near our heart itself. Therefore ask their prayers and intercession undoubtingly for yourself. They will hear you, and will speedily lay your prayers before the Lord, in the twinkling of an eye, for He is omnipresent and omniscient."

St. John of Kronstadt

Worship: Sunday, June 8, 2025 (Holy Pentecost)

Scripture: Acts 2:1-11; John 7:37-52, 8:12

Epistle Reader: Ian Jones

Prosphora: Baker

Coffee Hour: PICNIC POT LUCK

Pigott/Ian Jones/Meadows/Brock

Due to schedule – there will be no Great Vespers this evening

Sunday, May 25, 2025

Third finding of the Baptist’s Head & Sunday of the Blindman

Today is the Sunday of the Blind Man. Though the Gospel account of the healing of the blind man touches many subjects, there is but one theme: Christ is the divine Light which illuminates the hearts of those who behold Him in faith. Despite the intimidation of the authorities, despite the confusion of the people who know him, despite the fear of his parents, the blind man given sight refuses to deny what he knows is the truth: Jesus has given him sight, has healed the affliction he has born from birth, and one who does such good is from God. To deny his healer is to deny the truth, and he prefers persecution and rejection to that denial. More than his eyes have been opened; his heart has been opened to true and eternal Light. As were the Israelites cast into the dark despair of his fear, as are we all blinded by the frustration of sin and of our weakness, so this man was trapped by his closed eyes; and, as may all be, he was freed by the coming of the Messiah. In faith we open our eyes to the radiant glory of our Lord and King

.

II Corinthians 4:6-15: Brethren, it is the God Who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” Who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. While we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So, death is at work in us, but life in you. Since we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we too believe, and so we speak, knowing that He Who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into His presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

John 9:1-38: At that time, when Jesus was passing, he saw a man blind from his birth. And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him. I must work the works of Him who sent Me, while it is day; night comes, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” As he said this, he spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle and anointed the man’s eyes with the clay, saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam,” which means “Sent.” So he went and washed and came back seeing. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar, said, “Is not this the man who used to sit and beg?” Some said, “It is he;” others said, “No, but he is like him.” He said, “I am the man.” They said to him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash’; so I went and washed and received my sight.” They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.” They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. The Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for He does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” There was a division among them. So they again said to the blind man, “What do you say about Him, since He has opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.” The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight, and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” His parents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age, he will speak for himself.” His parents said this because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess him to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue. Therefore, his parents said, “He is of age, ask him.” So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, “Give God the praise; we know that this man is a sinner.” He answered, “Whether he is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see.” They said to him, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?” He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you too want to become His disciples?” And they reviled him, saying, “You are His disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where He comes from.” The man answered, “Why, this is a marvel! You do not know where He comes from, and yet He opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.” They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out. Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him He said, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” He answered, “And who is He, Sir, that I may believe in Him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen Him, and it is He who speaks to you.” He said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped Him.

Resurrectional Troparion Let us believers praise and worship the Word; coeternal with the Father and the Spirit, born of the Virgin for our salvation. For, He took pleasure in ascending the Cross in the flesh to suffer death; and to raise the dead by His glorious Resurrection.

Troparion of the Forerunner’s Head Discovery: Christ God hath revealed to us thy truly ven’rable head * as a divine treasure that had been concealed in the earth, O Prophet and Forerunner. * Wherefore, as we gather on the feast of its finding, * with our hymns inspired of God, we praise Christ the Savior, * Who by thy mighty prayers saveth us from every kind of harm.

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 Pascha: When Thou didst descend into the grave, O Immortal, Thou didst destroy the power of Hades. In victory didst Thou arise, O Christ God, proclaiming Rejoice! to the myrrh-bearing women, granting peace to Thine apostles and bestowing resurrection on the fallen.

Calendar

Sunday, May 25

8:50 AM -Orthros

10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy

Monday, May 26

Father Herman off

Tuesday, May 27

6:30 pm – Paschal Vespers for the Leave-taking of Pacha

Wednesday, May 28

6:00 pm – Ascension: Orthros and Divine Liturgy

Thursday, May 29

No Services

Friday, May 30

No Services

Saturday, May 31

6:00 pm – Great Vespers

Sunday, June 1

8:50 AM -Orthros

10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy

Special Announcements

The Eucharist Bread…was provided by the R. Root for the Divine Liturgy this morning.

Eucharist Bread Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

May 28 (Wed PM) Pacurari Algood/Schever

(Feast of the Ascension)

June 1 Lasseter Baker/Jimmy Jones/Rodriguez

June 7 (Sat AM)

(Saturday of the Souls) Milnor Ken Jones/Stewart

June 8 Baker PICNIC POT LUCK

Pigott/Ian Jones/Meadows/Brock

June 15 Henderson Dansereau/Alaeetawi

June 22 Algood Ellis/Zouboukos/Waites

June 29 Schelver D. Root/Miller/Weatherly

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#

May 28 (Wed PM) Reader Chad Miller Acts 1:1-12 63

June 1 Katie Miller Act 20:16-18;28-36 66

June 7 (Sat AM) Mary Martha Ellis 1 Thess 4:13-17 412

June 8 Ian Jones Acts 2:1-11 77

June 15 Grady Fisher Heb 11:33;12:2 84

June 22 Walt Wood Rom. 2:10-16 90

June 29 Kh Sharon Meadows II Cor 11:21;12:9 389

Also 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.

Food for Hungry People: Thank you to all who donated toward this ministry. The total collected as $1,500.00. Food for hungry People have sent a very nice letter to the parish that is posted on the bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall.

Please remember the following in your prayers: Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Lamia Dabit and her family; Mary Greene (Lee and Kh. Sharon’s sister); Jay and Joanna Davis; Fr. Leo and Kh. Be’Be’ Schelver and their family; Marilyn (Kyriake) Snell; Jack and Jill Weatherly; Dn.Terry Algood and their family; Fr. Joseph Bittle; Rick Carlton; Very Rev. Fr. Nicholas and Kh. Jan Speier; Lee Greene; Fr. John and Kh. Janet Henderson and their family; Galina Singletary; Emily and Cole Parker.

Prayers for Fr. Paul Yerger from Holy Resurrection: Please continue to keep in your God-pleasing prayers Fr. Paul. He is slowly recovering from the injuries he suffered several weeks ago due to a fall. He is currently attending physical therapy at Methodist Rehabilitation and continues to improve each day. Glory to God for all things!

Prayers for His Grace Bp. Nicholas: Please keep in your God-pleasing prayers Bp. Nicholas who underwent a “preventive measure” procedure on his heart last week. He will be recovering over the next several weeks and hopes, by your prayers, to make a speedy recovery. May God grant him many years!

Registration for the 2025 DOMSE Parish Life Conference has opened and was emailed out to the parish. If you did not receive this email and would like to attend, please see Father Herman for registration information. This year’s conference will be hosted by St. George Parish in Jacksonville, FL. June 11-14th.

Registration for the Archdiocese National Convention has also opened. It is being hosted by St George Parish in Cicero, IL (just outside of Chicago) July 20-27th. If you are interested in attending, please see Father Herman and he will get you the registration information and link.

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 at the church at 10:00 a.m. on the second Saturday of the month to pray the Akathist to the Mother of God, Nurturer of Children on behalf of our children.

* The Ladies meet for lunch at 1:00 p.m. on the last Tuesday of the month.

* The remaining date for serving at Stewpot Ministries is Saturday, September 27th.

* We will celebrate the leave-taking of Pascha with Paschal Vespers on Tuesday, May 27th, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

* The Feast of the Ascension of the Lord will be celebrated with Orthros followed by

* Divine Liturgy on Wednesday, May 28th beginning at 6:00 p.m. We will have a Pot Luck meal following the liturgy.

* We will celebrate Saturday of the souls on Saturday morning, June 7 beginning at 9:00 am.

*The Feast of Pentecost will be celebrated on Sunday, June 8 with a PICNIC POT LUCK following the Liturgy.

Fasting Discipline for June

The Holy Synod of Antioch has given instructions that there will be no fasting during the entirety of the Paschal Season. June 16-28, the Fast of the Apostles is observed. The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil) will be observed for the remainder of the month on all Wednesdays and Fridays.

Major Commemorations for June

May 29 Feast of the Ascension

June 1 Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council /

Justin Martyr

June 4 Metrophanes of Constantinople

June 7 Saturday of the Souls

June 8 Pentecost /

Theodore the General (transfer of relics)

June 11 Apostles Bartholomew & Barnabas

June 15 Sunday of All Saints

June 24 Nativity of the Forerunner

June 29 Chief Apostles Peter and Paul

June 30 Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles

Dates Fr. Herman will be out:

May 26-June 6-vacation

June 10-13-PLC in Jacksonville, FL

July 21-26-National Convention in Chicago, IL

Quotable: “Do not grow despondent and enfeebled in spirit, seeing the constant struggle within you of evil against good, but like a good and valiant soldier of Jesus Christ, our great Founder, struggle courageously against evil, looking at the crown, prepared by the Lord for all who conquer evil in this world and in their flesh. ‘To him that overcometh, will I grant to sit with Me in My Throne’ (Rev. 3:21).”

St. John of Kronstadt

Worship: Sunday, June 1, 2025 (Sunday of the Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council)

Scripture: Acts 20:16-18, 28-36

Epistle Reader: Katie Miller

Prosphora: Lasseter

Coffee Hour: Baker/Jimmy Jones

Sunday, May 18, 2025

Sunday of the Samaritan Woman

This Sunday concludes the week which includes mid-Pentecost. The scriptures for that day make reference to the great and final feast and the Lord’s words concerning fountains of living water and the nourishment of the spirit. The episode of the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s Well and Jesus’ further description of Himself as living water continue this theme. There are innumerable nuances to the message of this episode, ranging from the allusion to the patriarch Joseph to the faith of those who believe without seeing, but let us concentrate on the woman who comes into the presence of her God. Christ asks service of her, asks her to ignore their traditional enmity, confuses her with parables, confronts her with her sins, and claims to be her Messiah and Lord. She enters the scene with skepticism, but she does not let circumstances blind her, for the words of the man before her ring with unmistakable authority and truth. Whether she wants to or not, she must believe herself to be in the presence of the Son of God; she not only believes, but she quickly bears witness to the others of her town. We join her in her faith, and we, too, partake of the Water of Life.

Acts 11:19-30: In those days, when the apostles were scattered because of the tribulation that arose over Stephen, they traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one, except to Jews only. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who upon coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number that believed turned to the Lord. The report concerning them reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas, to go as far out as Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad; and he exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they should cleave to the Lord; for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great multitude was added unto the Lord. Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul; and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year, they were gathered together in the church, and they taught a great multitude of people, and the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabos stood up and signified by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over the whole world; and this took place in the days of Claudius Caesar. And the disciples, every one according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren who dwelt in Judaea; and they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

John 4:5-42: At that time, Jesus came to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and so Jesus, wearied as He was with his journey, sat down beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” For His Disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to Him, “How is it that Thou, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and Who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, Thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep; where do you get that living water? Art Thou greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, and his sons, and his cattle?” Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst forever; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.” Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” The woman answered Him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and he whom you now have is not your husband; this you said truly.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that Thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain; and Thou sayest that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for such the Father seeks to worship Him. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming [He
Who is called Christ]; when He comes, He will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I Who speak to you am He.” Just then His Disciples came. They marveled that He was talking with a woman, but none said, “What dost Thou wish?” or, “Why art Thou talking with her?” So the woman left her water jar, and went away into the city, and said to the people, “Come, see a man Who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” They went out of the city and were coming to Him. Meanwhile the Disciples besought Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” But He said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.” So the Disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought Him food?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him Who sent Me, and to accomplish His work. Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see how the fields are already white for harvest. He who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor; others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.” Many Samaritans from that city believed in Him because of the woman’s testimony, “He said to me all that I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to Him, they asked Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. And many more believed because of His words. They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of your words that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”

Resurrectional Troparion Having learned the joyful message of the Resurrection from the angel, the women Disciples cast from them their parental condemnation, and proudly broke the news to the Disciples, saying, Death has been spoiled. Christ God is risen, granting the world Great Mercy.

Troparion for mid-Pentecost: In the midst of this Feast, O Saviour, give my thirsty soul to drink of the waters of true worship; for thou didst call out to all, saying, Whosoever is thirsty, let him come unto me and drink. Wherefore, O Christ our God, Fountain of life, glory to thee.

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 Pascha: When Thou didst descend into the grave, O Immortal, Thou didst destroy the power of Hades. In victory didst Thou arise, O Christ God, proclaiming Rejoice! to the myrrh-bearing women, granting peace to Thine apostles and bestowing resurrection on the fallen.

Calendar

Sunday, May 18

8:50 am – Orthros

9:00 am – Christian Education

10:00 am – Divine Liturgy

12:00 pm -Pot Luck Dinner

Monday, May 19

Father Herman off

Tuesday, May 19

No services

Wednesday, May 21

5:20 pm – Catechesis

6:30 pm – Daily Vespers

7:30 pm – Parish Council

Thursday, May 22

No Services

Friday, May 23

No Services

Saturday, May 24

5:00 pm – Catechesis

6:00 pm – Daily Vespers

Sunday, May 25

8:50 AM -Orthros

10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy

Special Announcements

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

Eucharist Bread Schedule:
Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

May 18 Brock POT LUCK MEAL
Karam/Pacurari/Lockhart/Ellis

May 25 R. Root Lockhart/Lavric/Snell

May 28 (Wed PM) Pacurari Algood/Schever

(Feast of the Ascension)

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#

May 18 Reader Basil Baker Acts 11:19-30- 52

May 25 Brandon Strain II Cor. 4:6-15 163

May 28 (Wed PM) Reader Chad Miller Acts 1:1-12 63

Also 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.

Food for Hungry People: Thank you to all who donated toward this ministry. The total collected in April was $770.00.

Please remember the following in your prayers Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Lamia Dabit and her family; Mary Greene (Lee and Kh. Sharon’s sister); Jay and Joanna Davis; Fr. Leo and Kh. Be’Be’ Schelver and their family; Marilyn (Kyriake) Snell; Jack and Jill Weatherly; Dn. Terry Algood and their family; Reader Basil and Brenda Baker and their family; Fr. Joseph Bittle; Rick Carlton; Very Rev. Fr. Nicholas and Kh. Jan Speier; Lee Greene; Fr. John and Kh. Janet Henderson and their family; Galina Singletary; Emily and Cole Parker.

Prayers for Fr. Paul Yerger from Holy Resurrection: Please keep in you God-pleasing prayers Fr. Paul. This past Thursday he suffered a terrible fall in the driveway of his home in Clinton and had to be rushed to the ER at UMMC. As a result of the fall he sustained a substantial gash to the back of his head, bruising to the front of his brain, and a cracked vertebrae. He is still currently at UMMC being treated. The family appreciates your prayers during this time.

Agape Vespers: A huge thank you to all who helped the Agape meal go as smoothly as it did. So many of you chipped in to help with varying aspects and it was truly a blessing.

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 at the church at 10:00 a.m. on the second Saturday of the month to pray the Akathist to the Mother of God, Nurturer of Children on behalf of our children.

* The Ladies meet for lunch at 1:00 p.m. on the last Tuesday of the month.

* The remaining date for serving at Stewpot Ministries is Saturday, September 27th.

* We will celebrate the leave-taking of Pascha with Paschal Vespers on Tuesday, May 27th, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

* The Feast of the Ascension of the Lord will be celebrated with Orthros followed by

* Divine Liturgy on Wednesday, May 28th beginning at 6:00 p.m. We will have a Pot Luck meal following the liturgy.

We are continuing the process of updating our church directory. On the bureau in the foyer there are information sheets to be filled out by each family and individual. We are asking EVERYONE to please fill out these information sheets and get it back to Fr. Hercman or Kh. Sharon. (please be sure to PRINT as neatly as you can). Thank you for your timely cooperation with this.

Fasting Discipline for May

The Holy Synod of Antioch has given instructions that there will be no fasting during the entirety of the Paschal Season.

Major Commemorations for May

May 18 Sunday of the Samaritan Woman

May 21 Sts Constantine and Helen

May 25 Sunday of the Blind Man

The Forerunner (3rd Discovery)

May 29 Feast of the Ascension

Registration for the 2025 DOMSE Parish Life Conference has opened and was emailed out to the parish. If you did not receive this email and would like to attend, please see Father Herman for registration information. This year’s conference will be hosted by St. George Parish in Jacksonville, FL. June 11-14th.

Registration for the Archdiocese National Convention has also opened. It is being hosted by St George Parish in Cicero, IL (just outside of Chicago) July 20-27th. If you are interested in attending, please see Father Herman and he will get you the registration information and link.

Quotable: “If someone does not have the love for God in his heart, it is impossible for him to see God’s glory. For when the love of God is absent from the heart, then a person does not even know what it means to shed tears out of love for God. When someone does not weep for God, how can his intellect and mind be cleared of the fog of sin? By sin I mean everything that obstructs the intellect from shedding tears out of love for God.”

The Watchful Mind, A monk of Mount Athos

Worship: Sunday, May 25, 2025 (Sunday of the Blind Man; Third Finding of the Baptist’s

Head)

Scripture: II Corinthians 4:6-15; John 9:1-38

Epistle Reader: Brandon Strain

Prosphora: R. Root

Coffee Hour: Lockhart/Lavric/Snell