Category Archives: Announcements

9/11 announcements

September 11, 2022

Sunday before the Elevation of the Holy Cross

After-feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos

Galatians 6:11-18: Brethren, see how large a letter I have written to you with my own hand. As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, they compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not be persecuted for the Cross of Christ. For not even those who are circumcised do themselves keep the Law; but they desire to have you circumcised, that they may boast in your flesh. But God forbid that I should boast, except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. Henceforth, let no one trouble me; for I bear in my body the brand-marks of the Lord 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: 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 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.

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 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.

Sunday, September 11 (Sunday before the Elevation of the Holy Cross)

8:50 a.m. — Orthros (webcast)

9:00 a.m. — Christian Education

10:00 a.m. — Divine Liturgy (webcast)

12:00 p.m. — Pot Luck Meal

Monday, September 12

Father Herman off

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

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

Wednesday, September 14 (Elevation of the Holy 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. Helena 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]

6:30 p.m. — Daily Vespers

7:15 p.m. — Chanters’ Practice

Thursday, September 15

NO Services

Friday, September 16

NO Services

Saturday, September 17

8:30 a.m. — Workday at the Church


4:45 p.m. — Choir Practice

6:00 p.m. — Great Vespers

Sunday, September 18 (Sunday after the Elevation of the Holy Cross)

8:50 a.m. — Orthros (webcast)

9:00 a.m. — Christian Education

10:00 a.m. — Divine Liturgy (webcast)

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Dn. Richard Roots for the Divine Liturgy this morning. The Artos for the Litia and Artoklasia for the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos this past Wednesday evening was offered by the Meadows.

Eucharist Bread Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

September 11 R. Root POT LUCK MEAL

Algood/Schelver

September 13 (Tues. .m.) Pacurari Lasseter/Pacurari/Miller

(Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross)

September 18 Baker D. Root/Baker/Cooper

September 25 Henderson Henderson/Jones

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.

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 11 Walt Wood Gal. 6:11-18 198

September 13 (Tues. p.m.) Kh. Sharon Meadows I Cor. 1:18-24 311-312

September 18 Sh. Charlotte Algood Gal. 2:16-20 193

September 25 Ian Jones II Cor. 4:6-15 163

Continue to pray for Metropolitan Paul (who is also the brother of our Patriarch) and the Syriac Archbishop John of Aleppo who were abducted while on a humanitarian mission in Syria.

Please remember Fr. Joseph and Kh. Joanna Bittle, and their daughter Abigail, in your prayers.

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; Kathy Willingham; Marilyn (Kyriake) Snell; Jack and Jill Weatherly; Lottie Dabbs (Sh. Charlotte Algood’s mother), Sh. Charlotte and their family; Maria Costas (currently at St. Catherine’s Village); Reader Basil and Brenda Baker and their family; Buddy Cooper.

Calendar Items:

* The men of the parish meet for lunch at 11:30 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 on the last Tuesday of the month.

* The Feast of the Precious and Life-giving Cross will be celebrated with Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy on Tuesday evening, September 13th, beginning at 6:00 p.m.

Instructions for streaming our services can be found on the parish website.

PARENTS, a problem has arisen due to the nursery room being left messy after Coffee Hour. No food of any kind should be taken into that room. Also, it is necessary for a parent to be in the room whenever their children are in there playing. Thank you for your assistance with this.

Fasting Discipline for September

In 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 Cross on September 14th is also a strict fast day.

Major Commemorations for September

September 13 Dedication of the Church of the Anastasis

September 14 Elevation of the Precious Life-giving Cross

September 23 Conception of the Forerunner

September 24 Proto-martyr Thekla

September 26 Apostle John the Theologian (repose)

Quotable: “The authority of the commandments of God is a living entity, not a theory. Thus, there is no reason to look for theories for why God’s laws are justified. If, for example, someone tells us that something is poison, we will believe them and not touch it. We won’t then proceed to try to figure out for ourselves if it’s really poison, we won’t do any chemical tests to try to decide for ourselves.”

Elder Sergei of Vanves

Worship: Sunday, September 18, 2022 (Sunday after the Elevation of the Holy Cross)

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

Celebrant: Father Herman

Epistle Reader: Sh. Charlotte Wood

Prosphora: Baker

Coffee Hour: D. Root/Baker/Cooper

9/4 announcements

September 4, 2022

Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

I Corinthians 15:1-11: Brethren, I would remind you in what terms I preached to you the Gospel, which you received, in which you stand, by which you are saved, if you hold it fast—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He rose on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. Then He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then He appeared to James, then to all the Apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared also to me. For I am the least of the Apostles, unfit to be called an Apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God, which is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

Matthew 19:16-26: At that time, a young man came up to Jesus, kneeling and saying, “Good Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?” And He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” He said to Him, “Which?” And Jesus said, “You shall not kill, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness, honor your father and mother, and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to Him, “All these I have observed; what do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions. And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Troparion of the Resurrection: Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad; for the Lord hath done a mighty act with his own arm. He hath trampled down death and become the First-born from the dead. He hath delivered us from the depths of hades, granting the world the Great Mercy.

Troparion of St. Babylas of Antioch: By choosing the Apostles’ way of life, thou hast succeeded to their throne. Inspired by God, thou didst find the way to divine contemplation through the practice of virtue. After teaching the Word of Truth without error, thou didst defend the Faith to the very shedding of thy blood, O Hieromartyr Babylas. Entreat the Lord our God to save our souls.

Troparion of the Chains of St. Peter: O Holy Apostle, Peter, thou dost preside over the Apostles by the precious chains which thou didst bear. We venerate them with faith and beseech thee that by thine intercessions we be granted the great mercy.

Kontakion 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.

Sunday, September 4 (Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost)

8:50 a.m. — Orthros (webcast)

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

Monday, September 5

Father Herman off

Tuesday, September 6 (Miracle of the Archangel Michael)

NO Services

Wednesday, September 7 (Deposition of the Belt of the Theotokos)

6:30 p.m. — Great Vespers with Litia and Artoklasia

Thursday, September 8 (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.

NO Services

Friday, September 9 (Righteous Joachim and Anna)

NO Services

Saturday, September 10

10:00 a.m. — Ladies meet for Akathist


4:45 p.m. — Choir Practice

6:00 p.m. — Great Vespers

Sunday, August 28

8:50 a.m. — Orthros (webcast)

9:00 a.m. — Christian Education resumes

10:00 a.m. — 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.

Continue to pray for Metropolitan Paul (who is also the brother of our Patriarch) and the Syriac Archbishop John of Aleppo who were abducted while on a humanitarian mission in Syria.

Please remember Fr. Joseph and Kh. Joanna Bittle, and their daughter Abigail, in your prayers.

Eucharist Bread Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

September 4 Brock Meadows/Pigott

September 7 (Wed. p.m.) Meadows (Artoklasia bread) NO Coffee Hour

(Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos)

September 11 R. Root POT LUCK MEAL

Algood/Schelver

September 13 (Tues. .m.) Pacurari Lasseter/Pacurari/Miller

(Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross)

September 18 Baker D. Root/Baker/Cooper

September 25 Henderson Henderson/Jones

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.

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 4 Sam Habeeb I Cor. 15:1-11 146

September 11 Walt Wood Gal. 6:11-18 198

September 13 (Tues. p.m.) Kh. Sharon Meadows I Cor. 1:18-24 311-312

September 18 Sh. Charlotte Algood Gal. 2:16-20 193

September 25 Ian Jones II Cor. 4:6-15 163

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; Kathy Willingham; Marilyn (Kyriake) Snell; Jack and Jill Weatherly; Lottie Dabbs (Sh. Charlotte Algood’s mother), Sh. Charlotte and their family; Maria Costas (currently at St. Catherine’s Village); Reader Basil and Brenda Baker and their family; Buddy Cooper.

We welcome His Grace Bishop NICHOLAS! May God grant him Many Years!

Congratulations and Many Years to George and Tiffany Mychaskiw who were married yesterday! They will soon be settling into their new life in California. Please continue to keep them in your prayers.

Please mark your calendars now for this year’s Diocesan Fall Retreat. It will be hosted by St. Ignatius in Franklin, TN again this year, on September 9-10.

Instructions for streaming our services can be found on the parish website.

Calendar Items:

* The men of the parish meet for lunch at 11:30 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 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 Wednesday evening, September 8th, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

* Church School will resume on Sunday September 11th at 9:00 a.m.

* The Feast of the Precious and Life-giving Cross will be celebrated with Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy on Tuesday evening, September 13th, beginning at 6:00 p.m.

PARENTS, a problem has arisen due to the nursery room being left messy after Coffee Hour. No food of any kind should be taken into that room. Also, it is necessary for a parent to be in the room whenever their children are in there playing. Thank you for your assistance with this.

Fasting Discipline for September

In 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 Cross on September 14th is also a strict fast day.

Major Commemorations for September

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 Life-giving Cross

September 23 Conception of the Forerunner

September 24 Proto-martyr Thekla

September 26 Apostle John the Theologian (repose)

Quotable “So many temptations come to us because we do not pray, because the house is empty. However, many temptations also come to us when we pray. Oftentimes, when we are praying hard, the memory of an old sin comes to us with great strength. It’s like a fire has been lit in us that all at once reaches our mind, our heart, and our feelings. It seems to us that we cannot resist this fire, but despite its strength against us, we must not think the sin is inevitable. It is but a thought, coming from the devil himself. You cannot let yourself be conquered by sin. Make an effort, try to get yourself moving in the right direction. Believe that God is stronger than the sin and that through Him you will be victorious.”

Elder Sergei of Vanves

Worship: Sunday, September 11, 2022 (Sunday before the Elevation of the Holy Cross)

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

Celebrant: Father Herman

Epistle Reader: Walt Wood

Prosphora: R. Root

Coffee Hour: POT LUCK MEAL

Algood/Schelver