February 23, 2025

Sunday of the Last Judgement

Sunday of Meat Fare

The theme of the second Sunday before Lent is THE LAST JUDGEMENT (meat fare) and the Gospel lesson is Matthew 25:31-46 in which Christ describes the last judgement. It is a lesson about Christian love. For we all need love and each have been given the gift and grace of Christ’s love. Thus, on whether or not we have accepted this responsibility (of Christ’s gift), and on whether we have loved or refused to love, shall we be judged. For “inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto Me….”

I Corinthians 8:8-9:2: Brethren, food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. Only take care, lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if any one sees you—a man of knowledge—at table in an idol’s temple, might he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak man is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of my brother’s falling, I will never eat meat, lest I cause my brother to fall. Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

Matthew 25:31-46: The Lord said, “When the Son of man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. Before Him will be gathered all the nations, and He will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and He will place the sheep at His right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the King will say to those at His right hand, ‘Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed Me, I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you visited Me, I was in prison and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see Thee hungry and feed Thee, or thirsty and give Thee drink? And when did we see Thee a stranger and welcome Thee, or naked and clothe Thee? And when did we see Thee sick or in prison and visit Thee?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ Then He will say to those at his left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave Me no food, I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome Me, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see Thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to Thee?’ Then He will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to Me.’ And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Troparion of the Resurrection: When thou, O immortal Life, didst humble thyself unto death, then didst thou destroy death by the brightness of thy Godhead; and when thou didst raise the bowels of the earth, then all the heavenly powers exclaimed, O Christ, thou art the Giver of life! Glory to thee, O our God!

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 Meat Fare Sunday: When thou comest, O God, to earth with glory, and all creatures tremble before thee, and the river of fire floweth before the Altar, and the books are opened and sins revealed, deliver me then from that unquenchable fire, and make me worthy to stand at thy right hand, O righteous Judge.

CALENDAR

UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE: All services listed on the calendar will be available through streaming and webcast. (Instructions can be found on the parish website.)

Sunday, February 23 (Sunday of the Meat Fare)

8:50 a.m. – Orthros

9:00 a.m. – Christian Education

10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy (webcast)

Monday, February 24 (The Forerunner – 1st & 2nd Discoveries)

Father Herman off

Tuesday, February 25

NO Services

Wednesday, February 26

6:30 p.m. – Daily Vespers

Thursday, February 27

NO Services

Friday, February 28

NO Services

Saturday, March 1

4:30 p.m. – Choir Practice

6:00 p.m. – Great Vespers

Sunday, March 2 (Sunday of Cheese Fare)

8:50 a.m. – Orthros

9:00 a.m. – Christian Education

10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy (webcast)

12:00 p.m. – TEENS Fundraising Meal

6:30 p.m. – Forgiveness Vespers

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Davises for the Saturday of the Souls liturgy yesterday and by the Daniel Roots for the Divine Liturgy this morning. The Koliva for the Saturday of the Souls liturgy was offered by Anastasia Jones.

Eucharist Bread Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

February 23 D. Root Ken Jones/Stewart

March 2 Karam TEENS FUNDRAISER MEAL

March 9 Brock Meadows/Brock

March 16 R. Root Dansereau/Alaeetawi

March 23 Pacurari Ellis/Zouboukos/Waites

March 24 (Mon. p.m.) Lasseter D. Root/Meadows

(Feast of the Annunciation)

March 30 Milnor Miller/Weatherly

Schedule for Epistle Readers – Page numbers refer to the Apostolos (book of the Epistles) located on the Chanters’ stand at the front of the nave. Please be sure to use this book when you read.

Reader Reading Page#

February 23 Walt Wood I Cor. 8:8-9:2 273

March 2 Brenda Baker Rom. 13:11-14:4 279

March 9 Katie Miller Heb. 11:24-26, 32-40 281

March 16 Mary Martha Ellis Heb. 1:10-2:3 283

March 23 Kh. Sharon Meadows Heb. 4:14-5:6 285

March 24 (Mon. p.m.) Brenda Baker Heb. 2:11-18 376

March 30 Katie Miller Heb. 6:13-20 287

Also, please remember that we still need your tithes and offerings which may be placed in the tray that is passed during the 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 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.

We are currently in the beginning 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 one of these information sheets and get it back to Fr. Herman or Kh. Sharon by March 10. (Please be sure to PRINT as neatly as you can.) Thank you for your timely cooperation with this.

Thank you to Jenny Rodriquez who will be serving as the new church secretary beginning March 1st. Also, a huge thank you to Kh. Sharon Meadows for her service to the church in this position for so many years. Please keep them both in your God-pleasing prayers!

Seating spaces in the Nave: As a gentle reminder, please be mindful of seating spaces in the Nave during Sunday Divine Liturgy. Due to our growth over the past few years seating has become a little more limited and there has been an overflow toward the back of the Nave near the Narthex, which makes it “tight” for the clergy to make the Great Entrance. While this is a good problem to have, and until we can begin work on the new Temple, please make sure there are enough spaces available in the “seating” area of the Nave for as many people as possible. This means we may have “squtch in” on the rows. Thank you for your help in this.

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.

* This year’s dates for serving at Stewpot Ministries are Saturday, March 1st and Saturday, September 27th.

* Great Lent begins this year on Clean Monday, March 3rd. More details on services, etc. will available in the coming weeks.

* St. Peter will be hosting the Sunday of Orthodoxy vespers this year on Sunday afternoon, March 9th, beginning at 4:00 p.m. More information will be available very soon.

Fasting Discipline for February

The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil) is observed on Wednesdays and Fridays during the first and third weeks in February. February 23rd is Meatfare Sunday after which meat will no longer be eaten until Pascha. During the week that follows, dairy products may be eaten on all days, including Wednesday and Friday.

Major Commemorations for February

February 22 Saturday of the Souls

February 23 Meatfare Sunday

February 24 The Forerunner (1st and and Discoveries)

Quotable: “When you practice noetic prayer and reverently repeat it as you should, and the grace of the Holy Spirit visits your soul, then the name of Christ that you are meditating upon with your intellect becomes greatly consoling and sweet to your mind and soul, so much that you could never repeat it enough.”

The Watchful Mind; Teachings on the Prayer of the Heart

Worship: Sunday, March 2, 2025 (Sunday of Cheese Fare; Forgiveness Sunday)

Scripture: Romans 13:11-14:4; Matthew 6:14-21

Epistle Reader: Brenda Baker

Prosphora: Karam

Coffee Hour: TEENS FUNDRAISING MEAL

February 16, 2025

Sunday of the Prodigal Son

The theme of the third Sunday before Lent is RETURN FROM EXILE and the Gospel lesson of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) is read. We are taught by this lesson that even as we stray from God, a banquet is set for our return. And we find that nothing in this fallen world truly satisfies, and thus we find ourselves on a pilgrimage of repentance – returning to God.

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: The stone being sealed by the Jews, and thy pure body being guarded by the soldiers, thou didst arise on the third day, O Saviour, granting life to the world. Wherefore, the heavenly powers acclaimed thee, O Giver of life, crying, Glory to thy Resurrection, O Christ! Glory to thy kingdom! Glory to thy gracious providence, O only 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.

Kontakion of the Prodigal Son: Foolishly I sprang away from Thy great fatherly glory, and dispersed in wicked deeds the riches that Thou didst give me. With the Prodigal I therefore cry unto Thee now: I have sinned against Thee, O compassionate Father. But receive me in repentance; make me as one of Thy hired servants, O Lord.

CALENDAR

UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE: All services listed on the calendar will be available through streaming and webcast. (Instructions can be found on the parish website.)

Sunday, February 16 (Sunday of the Prodigal Son)

8:50 a.m. – Orthros

9:00 a.m. – Christian Education

10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy (webcast)

Monday, February 17

Father Herman off

Tuesday, February 18

NO Services

Wednesday, February 19

5:20 p.m. – Catechism Class

6:30 p.m. – Daily Vespers

7:30 p.m. – Parish Council meeting

Thursday, February 20

NO Services

Friday, February 21

NO Services

Saturday, February 22 (Saturday of the Souls)

9:00 a.m. – Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy

4:30 p.m. – Choir Practice

5:00 p.m. – Catechism Class

6:00 p.m. – Great Vespers

Sunday, February 23 (Sunday of Meat Fare)

8:50 a.m. – Orthros

9:00 a.m. – Christian Education

10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy (webcast)

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Meadows for the Divine Liturgy this morning.

Eucharist Bread Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

February 16 Meadows Baker/Jimmy Jones

February 22 (Sat. a.m.) Davis Pigott/Ian Jones

(Saturday of the Souls) Koliva: Anastasia Jones

February 23 D. Root Ken Jones/Stewart

March 2 Karam TEENS FUNDRAISER MEAL

March 9 Brock Meadows/Brock

March 16 R. Root Dansereau/Alaeetawi

March 23 Pacurari Ellis/Zouboukos/Waites

March 24 (Mon. p.m.) Lasseter D. Root/Meadows

(Feast of the Annunciation)

March 30 Milnor Miller/Weatherly

Schedule for Epistle Readers – Page numbers refer to the Apostolos (book of the Epistles) located on the Chanters’ stand at the front of the nave. Please be sure to use this book when you read.

Reader Reading Page#

February 16 Ian Jones I Cor. 6:12-20 265

February 22 (Sat. a.m.) Kh. Sharon Meadows Thess. 4:13-17 412

February 23 Walt Wood I Cor. 8:8-9:2 273

March 2 Brenda Baker Rom. 13:11-14:4 279

March 9 Katie Miller Heb. 11:24-26, 32-40 281

March 16 Mary Martha Ellis Heb. 1:10-2:3 283

March 23 Kh. Sharon Meadows Heb. 4:14-5:6 285

March 24 (Mon. p.m.) Brenda Baker Heb. 2:11-18 376

March 30 Katie Miller Heb. 6:13-20 287

Also, please remember that we still need your tithes and offerings which may be placed in the tray that is passed during the 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 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.

Fr. Herman will be out of town February 14th-17th for Winter Camp St. Thekla. If you need a priest during this time, please contact Fr. James.

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.

* This year’s dates for serving at Stewpot Ministries are Saturday, March 1st and Saturday, September 27th.

* Great Lent begins this year on Clean Monday, March 3rd. More details on services, etc. will available in the coming weeks.

* St. Peter will be hosting the Sunday of Orthodoxy vespers this year on Sunday afternoon, March 9th, beginning at 4:00 p.m. More information will be available very soon.

Fasting Discipline for February

The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil) is observed on Wednesdays and Fridays during the first and third weeks in February. However, there is no fasting during the week following the Sunday of the Pharisee and the Publican (February 9th). February 23rd is Meatfare Sunday after which meat will no longer be eaten until Pascha. During the week that follows, dairy products may be eaten on all days, including Wednesday and Friday.

Major Commemorations for February

February 16 Sunday of the Prodigal Son

February 22 Saturday of the Souls

February 23 Meatfare Sunday

February 24 The Forerunner (1st and and Discoveries)

Seating spaces in the Nave: As a gentle reminder, please be mindful of seating spaces in the Nave during Sunday Divine Liturgy. Due to our growth over the past few years seating has become a little more limited and there has been an overflow toward the back of the Nave near the Narthex, which makes it “tight” for the clergy to make the Great Entrance. While this is a good problem to have, and until we can begin work on the new Temple, please make sure there are enough spaces available in the “seating” area of the Nave for as many people as possible. This means we may have “squtch in” on the rows. Thank you for your help in this.

Quotable: “When a man leaves on a journey, he must know where he is going. Thus with Lent. Above all, Lent is a spiritual journey and its destination is Easter, ‘the Feast of Feasts’. It is the preparation for the ‘fulfillment of Pascha, the true Revelation’. We must begin, therefore, by trying to understand this connection between Lent and Easter, for it reveals something very essential, very crucial about our Christian faith and life.”

Alexander Schmemann, Great Lent

Worship: Sunday, February 23, 2025 (Sunday of Meat Fare; Sunday of the Last Judgement)

Scripture: I Corinthians 8:8-9:2; Matthew 25:31-46

Epistle Reader: Walt Wood

Prosphora: D. Root

Coffee Hour: Ken Jones/Stewart