August 11, 2024

Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

Romans 15:1-7: Brethren, we who are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good for his edification. For Christ also did not please Himself; but, as it is written: “The reproaches of those who reproached Thee fell on Me.” For whatever was written beforehand was written for our learning, that we might have hope, through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures. Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be of the same mind with one another, according to Christ Jesus, that with one accord and one mouth you may glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, receive one another, even as Christ has also received you, to the glory of God.

Matthew 9:27-35: At that time, as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud: “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” When He entered the house, the blind men came to Him; and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.” And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly charged them, “See that no one knows it.” But they went away and spread His fame through all that district. As they were going away, behold, a dumb demoniac was brought to Him. And when the demon had been cast out, the dumb man spoke; and the crowds marveled, saying, “Never was anything like this seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the prince of demons.” And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity.

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 Transfiguration: When, O Christ our God, thou wast transfigured on the mountain, thou didst reveal thy glory to thy Disciples in proportion as they could bear it. Let thine everlasting light also enlighten us sinners, through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Bestower of light, 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 Transfiguration: Thou wast transfigured on the mount, and thy Disciples, in so far as they were able, beheld thy glory, O Christ our God; so that, when they should see thee crucified, they would remember that thy suffering was voluntary, and could declare to all the world that thou art truly the effulgent Splendor of the Father.

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, August 11 (Seventh Sunday after Pentecost)

8:50 a.m. – Orthros

10:00 a.m. – Hierarchical Divine Liturgy (webcast)

12:00 p.m. – Pot Luck Meal

Monday, August 12

Father Herman off

6:30 p.m. – Paraklesis Service

Tuesday, August 13

NO Services

Wednesday, August 14

6:00 p.m. – Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy

Thursday, August 15 (Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos)
We celebrate this month the Feast of the Dormition (or “Falling Asleep”) of the Theotokos. Church Tradition states that the Virgin Mary died in her early fifties. The icon shows her lying upon her funeral bier. On either side of the bier stand the Apostles; the group on the left is led by St. Peter who stands at the head of the bier; the group on the right is led by St. Paul who stands at the foot of the bier. At the time of her death many of the Apostles were scattered throughout the world preaching the Gospel. However, they all returned to Jerusalem upon learning of her death. All arrived in time for the burial except St. Thomas. Standing by the bier is her Son, who had come to receive His Mother’s soul into heaven. He holds in His arms an infant in white symbolizing the soul of the Theotokos. The Orthodox Church, although it has never had the need to make it a dogma (as has the Roman Catholic Church), also believes in the Virgin Mary’s “assumption” or bodily resurrection into heaven. Tradition relates that when the other disciples showed St. Thomas (who arrived in Jerusalem after the burial) the tomb in Gethsemane where the Theotokos had been buried near her parents, they discovered that the tomb was empty.

NO Services

Friday, August 16

NO Services

Saturday, August 17

4:30 p.m. – Choir Practice

5:00 p.m. – Catechism Class

6:00 p.m. – Great Vespers

Sunday, August 18 (Eighth Sunday after Pentecost)

8:50 a.m. – Orthros

10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy (webcast)

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Dn. Richard Roots for the Feast of the transfiguration this past Monday evening and by the Pacuraris for the Divine Liturgy this morning.

Welcome and Many Years to His Grace, Bishop NICHOLAS as he makes his arch-pastoral visit with us this week-end!

Eucharist Bread Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

August 11 Pacurari POT LUCK MEAL

Pigott/Ian Jones

August 14 (Wed. p.m.) Lasseter Baker/Jimmy Jones

(Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos)

August 18 Baker Ken Jones/Stewart

August 25 Henderson Meadows/Brock

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#

August 11 Katie Miller Rom. 15:1-7 119

August 14 (Wed. p.m.) Mary Martha Ellis Phil. 2:5-11 403

August 18 Ian Jones I Cor. 1:10-17 124

August 25 Brenda Baker I Cor. 3:9-17 130

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; 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.

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. **

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 Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy on Saturday morning, September 14th, beginning at 9:00 a.m.

* 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 August

Following the 15th, the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil) is observed on the remaining Wednesdays and Fridays of the month. The feast of the Beheading of the Forerunner on August 29th is also a strict fast day.

Major Commemorations for August

August 15 Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos

August 25 Apostles Bartholomew and Titus

August 29 Beheading of the Forerunner

August 31 Deposition of the Belt of the Theotokos

The 2024 Fall Retreat will be held September 20-21 and will be hosted by St. Ignatius in Franklin, TN. Registration opened this past week. 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!

Quotable: “Indulgence in pleasure only pushes a man into a further attempt to escape from pain in further pleasure. While man by his will can renounce pleasure, he can never wholly avoid pain and sorrow. He can only overcome his sorrow, that is to say, remain in it, carrying his cross, without taking refuge in a new pleasure which would bring with it a new pain, and so on till at the end of his life, death will come as the final sorrow. Christ overcame pleasure, that is to say, the human tendency towards pleasure, by remaining in grief, victoriously bearing the cross, as the ultimate pain”

― Dimitru Staniloae, The Victory of the Cross

Worship: Sunday, August 18, 2024 (Eighth Sunday after Pentecost)

Scripture: I Corinthians 1:10-17; Matthew 14:14-22

Epistle Reader: Ian Jones

Prosphora: Baker

Coffee Hour: Ken Jones/Stewart

August 4, 2024

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

Romans 12:6-14: Brethren, having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; he who teaches, in his teaching; he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who contributes, in liberality; he who gives aid, with zeal; he who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, and serve the Lord. Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.

Matthew 9:1-8: At that time, Jesus got into a boat, crossed over and came to His own city. And behold, they brought to Him a paralytic, lying on his bed; and when Jesus saw their faith He said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—He then said to the paralytic “Rise, take up your bed and go home.” And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they marveled, and they glorified God, Who had given such authority to men.

Troparion of the Resurrection: Let us believers praise and worship the Word, co-eternal 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 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 Transfiguration: Thou wast transfigured on the mount, and thy Disciples, in so far as they were able, beheld thy glory, O Christ our God; so that, when they should see thee crucified, they would remember that thy suffering was voluntary, and could declare to all the world that thou art truly the effulgent Splendor of the Father.

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, August 4 (Sixth Sunday after Pentecost)

8:50 a.m. – Orthros

10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy (webcast)

12:00 p.m. – Baby Shower for Ashley Presley

Monday, August 5

Father Herman off

6:00 p.m. – Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy

Tuesday, August 6 (Feast of the Transfiguration of Christ)

Before His Passion, Jesus ascended Mount Tabor with His disciples Peter, James and John, for the purpose of prayer. There the three disciples beheld Him transfigured and saw a vision in which Moses the Lawgiver (shown on the icon on the right holding the tablets of the Law) and Elijah the Prophet appeared and spoke with Him. “And He was transfigured before them, and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with Him” (Matt. 17:2-3). The fact that Moses and Elijah appeared at the Transfiguration is very significant in that these two men were the leading figures of the Old Testament – which confirms the fact that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets (see Matthew 5:17). Their presence confirmed that Jesus was indeed the Christ, the Messiah whom the people of the Old Testament had been anticipating. The Gospel account also says that a voice from a bright cloud said “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased, listen to Him” (Matt. 17:5), further confirming the person of Jesus as the divine Messiah. When the three disciples saw and heard these things they fell on their faces and were filled with awe (this is shown on the icon by the way Peter, James and John are depicted at the foot of the mount). When they came down the mountain Jesus told His disciples to “tell no one the vision, until the Son of man is raised from the dead” (Matt. 17:9). Jesus did not want everyone to know what had happened until the time was right. The Kontakion of the feast gives understanding as to why Jesus allowed Peter, James and John to be present at His transfiguration: “On the mountain wast Thou transfigured, O Christ God, and Thy disciples beheld Thy glory as far as they could see it; so that when they would behold Thee crucified, they would understand that Thy suffering was voluntary, and would proclaim to the world that Thou art truly the Radiance of the Father.”

NO Services

Wednesday, August 7

6:30 p.m. – Paraklesis Service

Thursday, August 8

NO Services

Friday, August 9

6:30 p.m. – Paraklesis Service

Saturday, August 10

10:00 a.m. – Ladies meet for Akathist

4:30 p.m. – Choir Practice

5:45 p.m. – Reception of the Bishop

6:00 p.m. – Great Vespers

Sunday, August 11 (Seventh Sunday after Pentecost)

8:50 a.m. – Orthros

10:00 a.m. – Hierarchical Divine Liturgy (webcast)

12:00 p.m. – Pot Luck Meal

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

His Grace Bp. NICHOLAS will make his next Arch-pastoral visit August 10-12. The schedule for this visit will be forthcoming.

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.

Eucharist Bread Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

August 4 Brock Algood/Schelver

August 5 (Mon. p.m.) R. Root Lockhart/Karam/Snell

(Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord)

August 11 Pacurari POT LUCK MEAL

Pigott/Ian Jones

August 14 (Wed. p.m.) Lasseter Baker/Jimmy Jones

(Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos)

August 18 Baker Ken Jones/Stewart

August 25 Henderson Meadows/Brock

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#

August 4 Reader Chad Miller Rom. 12:6-14 112

August 5 (Mon. p.m.) Brandon Strain II Pet. 1:10-19 401

August 11 Katie Miller Rom. 15:1-7 119

August 14 (Wed. p.m.) Mary Martha Ellis Phil. 2:5-11 403

August 18 Ian Jones I Cor. 1:10-17 124

August 25 Brenda Baker I Cor. 3:9-17 130

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.

Congratulations to Jenny Rodriquez, Grady Fisher, Bryce Henderson and Kurtis Petren who were received into the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church yesterday morning. Please continue to keep them, and their sponsors, in your God-pleasing prayers.

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. **

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 Fast of the Dormition begins on August 1st and runs through the 15th. As is our parish custom we will pray the Paraklesis service to the Theotokos on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings during the fast with the exception of Monday the 5th and Wednesday the 14th. On those evenings we will have Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy in celebration of the Feasts of the Transfiguration of our Lord and the Dormition of the Theotokos.

* His Grace, Bishop NICHOLAS will be with us August 10-12 (Schedule TBA).

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

Fasting Discipline for August

The Fast of the Dormition begins on August 1st and runs through August 15th. During this time the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil) will be observed on all days of the week (except for the Feast of the transfiguration when fish, wine and oil are allowed). Following the 15th, the traditional fasting discipline is observed on the remaining Wednesdays and Fridays of the month. The feast of the Beheading of the Forerunner on August 29th is also a strict fast day.

Major Commemorations for August

August 6 Feast of the Transfiguration of Christ

August 15 Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos

August 25 Apostles Bartholomew and Titus

August 29 Beheading of the Forerunner

August 31 Deposition of the Belt of the Theotokos

Quotable: “The Lord does not show Himself to a proud soul. The proud soul, no matter how any

books it reads, will never know God, since by its pride it does not give place for the grace of the

Holy Spirit, while God is known only by the humble soul.”

+St. Silouan the Athonite, Writings, III.11

Worship: Sunday, August 11, 2024 (Seventh Sunday after Pentecost)

Scripture: Romans 15:1-7; Matthew 9:27-35

Epistle Reader: Katie Miller

Prosphora: Pacurari

Coffee Hour: POT LUCK MEAL

Pigott/Ian Jones