September 15, 2024

Sunday after the Elevation of the Holy Cross

Galatians 2:16-20: Brethren, you know that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. Even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we ourselves were found to be sinners, is Christ then an agent of sin? Certainly not! But if I build up again those things which I tore down, then I prove myself a transgressor. For I through the Law died to the Law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ Who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Mark 8:34-9:1: The Lord said, “If any man would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for My sake and the Gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” And He said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Kingdom of God come with power.”

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, September 15 (Sunday after the Elevation of the Cross)

8:50 a.m. – Orthros

9:00 a.m. – Christian Education

10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy (webcast)

Monday, September 16

Father Herman off

Tuesday, September 17

NO Services

Wednesday, September 18

6:30 p.m. – Daily Vespers

Thursday, September 19

NO Services

Friday, September 20

NO Services

Saturday, September 21

8:30 a.m. – Workday at the Church

4:30 p.m. – Choir Practice

6:00 p.m. – Great Vespers

Sunday, September 22 (Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost)

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 Joneses for the Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Elevation of the Cross yesterday morning and by the Davises for the Divine Liturgy this morning.

Eucharist Bread Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

September 15 Davis Dansereau/Weatherly

September 22 D. Root Lasseter/Pacurari/Lavric

September 29 Karam Lockhart/Karam/Snell

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#

September 15 Brandon Strain Gal. 2:16-20 193

September 22 Katie Miller I Cor. 16:13-24 152

September 29 Mary Martha Ellis II Cor. 1:21-2:4 158

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; Sh. Charlotte 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; Joseph, Amanda and Hunter Hines; Fr. John and Kh. Janet Henderson and their family; Galina Singletary; Emily and Cole Parker; Dane and Stephanie Skirtech.

Antidoron (Greek meaning “instead of the gifts”) is the blessed bread partaken of as a ‘fast breaker’ and an extra blessing after receiving Holy Communion. It is remaining bread from the loaf used in the pre-Liturgy service preparing the bread on the diskos and the wine in the chalice. This ‘extra’ bread is blessed during the hymn to the Theotokos during the Anaphora of the Divine Liturgy. Importantly, it is NOT consecrated to become the Body of Christ — and must be carefully distinguished from that — but NEVERTHELESS, we must do our best to treat it with due reverence and care.

Portions that are uneaten are disposed of by being placed outside where they are consumed by the elements or by animals. Unfortunately, we have recently been seeing an increase in crumbs being found on the nave floor after Divine Liturgy. Parents, please help the young ones to be careful to consume their pieces of antidoron completely, and, if crumbs should fall, be proactive in picking them up and placing them on the ground outside.

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.

His Grace, Bishop NICHOLAS will be visiting St. Peter again on October 20-21st. He will be in Vicksburg earlier that week-end and will come to us following the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy there on Sunday. More details will be available in the future.

We will be showing the documentary film Sacred Alaska at Mississippi College on Friday evening, November 1st, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The date was changed from the original date selected to accommodate MC’s student schedule and also MC’s Homecoming celebration. Further details will be available in the very near future.

NO children are allowed to be in the pantry or in the refrigerator and children under the age of 12 are not allowed in the kitchen without the presence of a parent or a responsible adult. Children under the age of 12 are not allowed to access the icemaker. Parents, we ask for your assistance with enforcing this policy. Thank you.

** We ask that families go through the Coffee Hour line together, so that children are under the supervision of their parents. **

The 2024 Fall Retreat will be held September 20-21 and will be hosted by St. Ignatius in Franklin, TN. Registration opened recently. Early Bird special will run until September 4th, after that the price for the retreat will increase. The link for registration was emailed out by Fr. Herman recently as well. If you did not receive it, please let him know as soon as possible. Hope to see you all there!

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 Ladies of St. Peter will meet during Coffee Hour TODAY.

* The Diocesan Fall Retreat will be held September 20-21 at St. Ignatius in Franklin, TN.

* MARK YOUR CALENDARS: His Grace, Bishop NICHOLAS will be visiting St. Peter October 20-21st.

* Remaining Stewpot date for 2024 will be November 30th.

Fasting Discipline for September

The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil) is observed on all Wednesdays and Fridays of the month. The feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross on September 14th is also a strict fast day.

Major Commemorations for September

September 23 Conception of the Forerunner

September 24 Proto-martyr Thekla

September 26 Apostle John the Theologian (repose)

September 28 Venerable Chariton

Quotable: “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, A Monk of Mount Athos

Worship: Sunday, September 22, 2024 (Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost)

Scripture: I Corinthians 16:13-24; Luke 5:1-11

Epistle Reader: Katie Miller

Prosphora: D. Root

Coffee Hour: Lasseter/Pacurari/Lavric

September 8, 2024

Sunday before the Elevation of the Cross

Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos

The first feast of the liturgical year celebrates the birth of the Holy Virgin Mary, most blessed of women, chosen to bear God the Son, partaker in the Incarnation as the dwelling place of God. To celebrate her birth and give honor to her life is unavoidably to anticipate the coming of the Messiah and to adore His person. To remember her worthiness is to remember God’s grace. To wonder at her faith is to arouse ourselves to emulate her strength of will and her depth of trust. As we enter the cycle of the year, we turn first to honor the Holy Virgin, she who by her role in history and by her place among the saints most reminds us of the coming of the Saviour and the life He gives us, who by the Incarnation became the ladder between Heaven and Earth, who as the Mother of Christ is also the Mother of all His brethren.

Galatians 6:11-18: Brethren, see with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that would compel you to be circumcised and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who receive circumcision do not themselves keep the Law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh. But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. Peace and mercy be upon all, who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God. Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.

John 3:13-17: The Lord said, “No one has ascended into heaven but He who descended from heaven, the Son of man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent His Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”

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 Nativity of the Theotokos: Thy nativity, O Theotokos, hath proclaimed joy to the whole universe; for from thee did shine forth the Sun of justice, Christ our God, annulling the curse, and bestowing the everlasting blessing, abolishing death and granting us life everlasting.

Kontakion of the Nativity of the Theotokos: By thy holy birth-giving, O pure one, Joachim and Anne 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.

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, September 8 (Nativity of the Theotokos)

8:50 a.m. – Orthros

9:00 a.m. – Christian Education

10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy (webcast)

12:00 p.m. – POT LUCK MEAL

5:30 p.m. – Book Study with Father John

Monday, September 9 (Righteous Joachim and Anaa)

Father Herman off

Tuesday, September 10

NO Services

Wednesday, September 11

6:30 p.m. – Daily Vespers

7:30 p.m. – Parish Council Meeting (Please note change in date for this month)

Thursday, September 12

NO Services

Friday, September 13 (Dedication of the Church of the Anastasis)

NO Services

Saturday, September 14 (Elevation of the Precious Cross)

This feast is celebrated as one of the most important in the Church Year because it commemorates two events of great significance. After St. Helen had found at Jerusalem the cross upon which Christ was crucified, she built a Church on Mount Calvary to hold the precious relic. The Christians held the Holy Cross in such high regard that they soon began to celebrate this feast in honor of the finding of the Cross.

In the year 614, the Persians invaded the Empire and took Jerusalem, and sent the case containing the Cross back to their country. For fifteen years the Greek Emperor Heraclius waged war against the Persians, and finally in 629 defeated them, forcing them to make peace, and to restore the Holy Cross to him. It is said that the case containing the sacred relics was returned to him with the seals still unbroken. The Relics were replaced in the Church with great rejoicing, and to the original Feast in honor of the finding of the Cross was added another, in honor of its safe return to Jerusalem.

A special feature of the Church Services on this day, is the procession in which the Cross is borne aloft on a tray of flowers and placed in the midst of the Church; the Priest then elevates it to the four corners of the compass, blessing thrice with it as he does so, and praying that God will protect and preserve the President and the Civil Authorities of our country and the Armed Forces, and guard and guide the Hierarchs and clergy of the Church, and protect and preserve all His faithful people from every evil. [STRICT FAST DAY]

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, September 15 (Sunday after the Elevation of the Cross)

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 Schelvers for the Divine Liturgy this morning. The Artos bread for the Litia and Artoklasia last night for the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos was offered by the Meadows

Eucharist Bread Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

September 8 Schelver POT LUCK MEAL

(Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos) Ellis/Zouboukos/Waites

September 14 (Sat. a.m.) Jones D. Root/Lively

(Feast of the Elevation of the Cross)

September 15 Davis Dansereau/Weatherly

September 22 D. Root Lasseter/Pacurari/Lavric

September 29 Karam Lockhart/Karam/Snell

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#

September 8 Reader Basil Baker Gal. 6:11-18 198

September 14 (Sat. a.m.) Reader Chad Miller I Cor. 1:18-24 311

September 15 Brandon Strain Gal. 2:16-20 193

September 22 Katie Miller I Cor. 16:13-24 152

September 29 Mary Martha Ellis II Cor. 1:21-2:4 158

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; Sh. Charlotte 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; Joseph, Amanda and Hunter Hines; Fr. John and Kh. Janet Henderson and their family; Galina Singletary; Emily and Cole Parker; Dane and Stephanie Skirtech.

Antidoron (Greek meaning “instead of the gifts”) is the blessed bread partaken of as a ‘fast breaker’ and an extra blessing after receiving Holy Communion. It is remaining bread from the loaf used in the pre-Liturgy service preparing the bread on the diskos and the wine in the chalice. This ‘extra’ bread is blessed during the hymn to the Theotokos during the Anaphora of the Divine Liturgy. Importantly, it is NOT consecrated to become the Body of Christ — and must be carefully distinguished from that — but NEVERTHELESS, we must do our best to treat it with due reverence and care.

Portions that are uneaten are disposed of by being placed outside where they are consumed by the elements or by animals. Unfortunately, we have recently been seeing an increase in crumbs being found on the nave floor after Divine Liturgy. Parents, please help the young ones to be careful to consume their pieces of antidoron completely, and, if crumbs should fall, be proactive in picking them up and placing them on the ground outside.

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.

His Grace, Bishop NICHOLAS will be visiting St. Peter again on October 20-21st. He will be in Vicksburg earlier that week-end and will come to us following the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy there on Sunday. More details will be available in the future.

We will be showing the documentary film Sacred Alaska at Mississippi College on Friday evening, November 1st, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The date was changed from the original date selected to accommodate MC’s student schedule and also MC’s Homecoming celebration. Further details will be available in the very near future.

NO children are allowed to be in the pantry or in the refrigerator and children under the age of 12 are not allowed in the kitchen without the presence of a parent or a responsible adult. Children under the age of 12 are not allowed to access the icemaker. Parents, we ask for your assistance with enforcing this policy. Thank you.

** We ask that families go through the Coffee Hour line together, so that children are under the supervision of their parents. **

The 2024 Fall Retreat will be held September 20-21 and will be hosted by St. Ignatius in Franklin, TN. Registration opened recently. Early Bird special will run until September 4th, after that the price for the retreat will increase. The link for registration was emailed out by Fr. Herman recently as well. If you did not receive it, please let him know as soon as possible. Hope to see you all there!

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. However, we will NOT have the Akathist on September 14th due to Orthros and Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Elevation of the Cross.

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

* The Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross will be celebrated with Festal Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy on Saturday morning, September 14th, beginning at 9:00 a.m.

* The Ladies of St. Peter will meet during Coffee Hour on Sunday, September 15th.

* The Diocesan Fall Retreat will be held September 20-21 at St. Ignatius in Franklin, TN.

* MARK YOUR CALENDARS: His Grace, Bishop NICHOLAS will be visiting St. Peter October 20-21st.

* Remaining Stewpot date for 2024 will be November 30th.

Fasting Discipline for September

The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil) is observed on all Wednesdays and Fridays of the month. The feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross on September 14th is also a strict fast day.

Major Commemorations for September

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

Quotable: “The snares of the enemy are very fine, and thus not easily perceived. Only humility can escape them.”

St. Evagrios the Solitary

Worship: Sunday, September 15, 2024 (Sunday after the Elevation of the Cross)

Scripture: Galatians 2:16-20; Mark 8:34-9:1

Epistle Reader: Brandon Strain

Prosphora: Davis

Coffee Hour: Dansereau/Weatherly

September 1, 2024

Beginning of the Indiction: Ecclesiastical New Year

September 1 marks the beginning of the ecclesiastical year. The liturgical year is a body of sacred “signs” which have a present effect. Each liturgical feast renews and actualizes the event of which it is the symbol; it takes the event out of the past and makes it immediate; it offers us the appropriate grace; it becomes the “effectual sign.” The liturgical year is a special means of union with Christ. Every Eucharist unites us intimately with Christ, for in it He is “both He who offers and He who is offered.” Every prayer, being the prayer of the members of the mystical body, shares in the prayer of Him who is the Head of the Body and the only One whose prayer is perfect. We are called to relive the whole life of Christ: from Christmas to Easter, from Easter to Pentecost, we are exhorted to unite ourselves to Christ in his birth and in his growth, to Christ suffering, to Christ dying, to Christ in triumph and to Christ inspiring His Church. The liturgical year forms Christ in us; the liturgical year is Christ Himself, annus est Christus. It includes the cycle of feasts of the saints, the glorified members of the body of Christ. Their sanctity is but an aspect, a shining ray of the holiness of Christ Himself. To celebrate the feast of a saint is to celebrate a special grace that flows from Christ to that saint and so to us. In the same way that the feasts of our Lord in a mysterious way renew the events of His life, so the feasts of the saints make their lives, their merits and their deaths mysteriously actual. Commemorations of the martyrs renew the grace of their violent deaths, so that, as these were a participation in the passion of Christ, this passion is relived in remembering the martyrs. The liturgical year has but one and the same object, Jesus Christ; whether we contemplate Him directly or through the members of His body. Great graces and great spiritual opportunities are offered us during the course of the liturgical year. It provides a frame and support for Christian piety; it gives it a style which is sober and objective; it maintains a bond of unity among believers. Above all, it communicates an inspiration and transmits a life. It acquires its true meaning to the extent that it becomes an adoration in spirit, in truth.

(Excerpted and paraphrased from The Year of Grace of the Lord)

I Timothy 2:1-7: Timothy, my son, first of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way. This is good, and it is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony to which was borne at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

Luke 4:16-22: At that time, Jesus came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and He went to the synagogue, as His custom was, on the Sabbath day. And He stood up to read; and there was given to Him the book of the prophet Isaiah. Jesus opened the book and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor and to heal the broken hearted. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” And Jesus closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke well of Him, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth.

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 for the Indiction: O Maker of all creation, Who hast established the times and seasons in Thine own power: bless the crown of this year with Thy goodness, O Lord, and keep our rulers and Thy flock in peace, by the intercessions of the Theotokos, and save us.

Troparion of the Synaxis of the Theotokos: Rejoice, thou who art full of grace, O Virgin Theotokos, haven and protection of the race of man; for the Redeemer of the world became incarnate of thee; for thou alone art both mother and virgin, ever blessed and glorified. Intercede with Christ God that peace be granted unto all the world.

Troparion for the Righteous Simeon the Stylite: Thou becamest a pillar of patience and didst emulate the Forefathers, O righteous one: Job in his sufferings, Joseph in temptations, and the life of the bodiless while in the body. O Simeon, our righteous Father, intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved.

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 for the Indiction: O God of all, Thou Who hast made all the ages, O Sovereign Lord, truly transcendent in essence, bestow Thy grace and blessing on the year to come; and, O Most Compassionate, in Thine infinite mercy save all them that worship Thee, Who alone art our Master, and that with fear, O Savior, cry to Thee: Grant unto all men a fruitful and godly year.

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, September 1 (Indiction of the Ecclesiastical Year)

8:50 a.m. – Orthros

10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy (webcast)

Monday, September 2

Father Herman off

Tuesday, September 3

NO Services

Wednesday, September 4

6:30 p.m. – Daily Vespers

Thursday, September 5

NO Services

11:00 a.m. – Men’s Lunch

Friday, September 6 (Miracle of the Archangel Michael)

NO Services

Saturday, September 7

4:30 p.m. – Choir Practice

6:00 p.m. – Great Vespers with Litia and Artoklasia

Sunday, September 8 (Nativity of the Theotokos)

8:50 a.m. – Orthros

9:00 a.m. – Christian Education

10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy (webcast)

12:00 p.m. – POT LUCK MEAL

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

Eucharist Bread Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

September 1 Algood Miller/Alaeetawi

September 7 (Sat. p.m.) Meadows (Artoklasia Bread)

September 8 Schelver POT LUCK MEAL

(Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos) Ellis/Zouboukos/Waites

September 14 (Sat. a.m.) Jones D. Root/Lively

(Feast of the Elevation of the Cross)

September 15 Davis Dansereau/Weatherly

September 22 D. Root Lasseter/Pacurari/Lavric

September 29 Karam Lockhart/Karam/Snell

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#

September 1 Walt Wood I Tim. 2:1-7 303

September 8 Reader Basil Baker Gal. 6:11-18 198

September 14 (Sat. a.m.) Reader Chad Miller I Cor. 1:18-24 311

September 15 Brandon Strain Gal. 2:16-20 193

September 22 Katie Miller I Cor. 16:13-24 152

September 29 Mary Martha Ellis II Cor. 1:21-2:4 158

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; Sh. Charlotte 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; Joseph, Amanda and Hunter Hines; Fr. John and Kh. Janet Henderson and their family; Galina Singletary; Emily and Cole Parker; Dane and Stephanie Skirtech.

Antidoron (Greek meaning “instead of the gifts”) is the blessed bread partaken of as a ‘fast breaker’ and an extra blessing after receiving Holy Communion. It is remaining bread from the loaf used in the pre-Liturgy service preparing the bread on the diskos and the wine in the chalice. This ‘extra’ bread is blessed during the hymn to the Theotokos during the Anaphora of the Divine Liturgy. Importantly, it is NOT consecrated to become the Body of Christ — and must be carefully distinguished from that — but NEVERTHELESS, we must do our best to treat it with due reverence and care.

Portions that are uneaten are disposed of by being placed outside where they are consumed by the elements or by animals. Unfortunately, we have recently been seeing an increase in crumbs being found on the nave floor after Divine Liturgy. Parents, please help the young ones to be careful to consume their pieces of antidoron completely, and, if crumbs should fall, be proactive in picking them up and placing them on the ground outside.

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.

Beginning TODAY, we will discontinue our parish practice of venerating the Cross during the recessional at the end of the Divine Liturgy.

Father Herman and Family will be out of town September 2-7. If you need a priest during that time, please call one of the other priests.

We will be showing the documentary film Sacred Alaska at Mississippi College on Friday evening, November 1st, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The date was changed from the original date selected to accommodate MC’s student schedule and also MC’s Homecoming celebration. Further details will be available in the very near future.

NO children are allowed to be in the pantry or in the refrigerator and children under the age of 12 are not allowed in the kitchen without the presence of a parent or a responsible adult. Children under the age of 12 are not allowed to access the icemaker. Parents, we ask for your assistance with enforcing this policy. Thank you.

** We ask that families go through the Coffee Hour line together, so that children are under the supervision of their parents. **

The 2024 Fall Retreat will be held September 20-21 and will be hosted by St. Ignatius in Franklin, TN. Registration opened recently. Early Bird special will run until September 4th, after that the price for the retreat will increase. So please make sure you register before Septmber 4th! The link for registration was emailed out by Fr. Herman this past week as well. If you did not receive it, please let him know as soon as possible. Hope to see you all there!

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. However, we will NOT have the Akathist on September 14th due to Orthros and Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Elevation of the Cross.

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

* We will celebrate the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos with Great Vespers with Litia and Artoklasia on Saturday evening, beginning at 6:00 p.m. with Festal Orthros and Divine Liturgy for the feast on Sunday morning at the usual times.

* The Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross will be celebrated with Festal Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy on Saturday morning, September 14th, beginning at 9:00 a.m.

* The Ladies of St. Peter will meet during Coffee Hour on Sunday, September 15th.

* The Diocesan Fall Retreat will be held September 20-21 at St. Ignatius in Franklin, TN.

* Remaining Stewpot date for 2024 will be November 30th.

Fasting Discipline for September

The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil) is observed on all Wednesdays and Fridays of the month. The feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross on September 14th is also a strict fast day.

Major Commemorations for September

September 1 Indiction of the Ecclesiastical New Year

September 6 Miracle of the Archangel Michael

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

Quotable: “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because I see everything else.”

C. S. Lewis

Worship: Sunday, September 8, 2024 (Nativity of the Theotokos)

Scripture: Galatians 6:11-18; John 3:13-17

Epistle Reader: Reader Basil Baker

Prosphora: Schelver

Coffee Hour: POT LUCK MEAL

Ellis/Zouboukos/Waites