Installation of the drywall is continuing in the nave of the church.  They continuing work on the cabinets for the kitchen and bathrooms.  The drywall in the vestry is finished. The new front porch has been poured and they are almost through with work on the overhang for the front doors. The electronics for the bells has arrived.  Work continues for the new driveway out front.  Tile has been laid for the hallway outside the new bathrooms and the janitor's closet.  Most of the fixtures have been installed in the bathrooms and the drinking fountain has been put in place in the hall.  They are still waiting to install the sinks and granite countertops in the bathrooms. We actually had a coffee hour this past Sunday on the beautiful patio out front!!  The construction work continues to be more or less on schedule, and we hope to be in the new addition for services by the feast of the Nativity.  God has been very gracious to us.  Please continue to pray for our parish as we continue the construction process.

 

The Quote for the Week is again from St. John of Kronstadt:
"Look upon everything in this world as upon a fleeting shadow, and do not cling with your heart to anything; do not consider anything in this world great, and do not lay your hopes upon anything earthly.  Cling to the One imperishable, invisible, most wise God.  'We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal' (2 Corinthians 4:18)."

 

Twenty-sixth  Sunday after Pentecost
Leave-taking of the Entrance of the Theotokos
St. Catherine the Great-martyr
Galatians 3:23-29;4:1-5:  In this reading from Galatians we hear St. Paul explain that prior to the coming of Christ, we were under the Law and hence divided, but now that Christ has come we are justified by faith in Christ and have become one, belonging to Christ.  Therefore, we are no longer under bondage to the Law and the world, but are now free as children of God.

 

Luke 18:18-27:   In the Gospel according to St Luke we hear our Lord tell us via an encounter with a rich, young ruler that to obtain eternal life we must be willing to  give up everything that we possess in service to the Kingdom of God.

 

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 Presentation of the Theotokos:  Today the Virgin is the foreshadowing of the pleasure of God, and the beginning of the preaching of the salvation of mankind.  You have appeared in the Temple of God openly and have gone before, preaching Christ to all.  Let us shout with one  thrilling voice, saying, Rejoice, O you who are the fulfillment of the Creator's dispensation.

 

Troparion of St. Catherine: Let us extol the all-lauded bride of Christ, Catherine, the guardian of Sinai, who is our succour and our support; for by the power of the Spirit she silenced brilliantly the nobility of liars.  And now that she hath been crowned as a Martyr, she seeketh for all the Great Mercy.

 

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 Presentation of the Theotokos:  The all-pure temple of the Saviour, the most precious bridal-chamber and Virgin, the treasure-house of the glory of God, today enters the Temple of the Lord, bringing with her the grace which is in the divine Spirit; whom also the angels of God do celebrate in song; for she is the heavenly tabernacle.

 

 CALENDAR

 

Sunday, November 25
 8:50 a.m. – Orthros
 10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy
 6:00 p.m. – Young Adults

 

Monday, November 26
 CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED (Father John's Day Off)

 

Tuesday, November 27
 6:00 a.m. – Daily Orthros
 6:30 p.m. – Choir Practice
 
Wednesday, November 28
 5:00 p.m. – Catechism Class
 6:30 p.m. – Advent Paraklesis, followed by Parish Council Meeting

 

Thursday, November 29
 6:30 a.m. – Daily Orthros
 12:30 p.m. – Ladies Reading Group at the Algoods
  
Friday, November 30 (Apostle Andrew the First Called)
 6:30 a.m. – Festal Orthros
        
Saturday, December 1
 8:30 a.m. –Ladies' Prayer Group at the church
 9:00 a.m. – Madison Christmas Parade
 6:30 p.m. – Great Vespers

 

 

 

Sunday, December 2
 8:50 a.m. – Orthros
 10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy
 6:00 p.m. – Youth Group
 
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

The Eucharist Bread was offered by Rebecca Root for the Divine Liturgy today and the artoklasia bread for the feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos was offered by the Meadows this past Tuesday..

 

Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:
     Eucharist Bread    
 November 25   Rebecca Root
 December 2   Joanna Meadows
 December 5 (Wed p.m.) Hendersons (St Nicholas) (Artoclasia Bread)
 December 9   Freundts
 December 16   Fahmys
 December 23   Woods
 December 24 (Mon p.m.) Roots (Feast of the Nativity)
 December 30   Algoods
 December 31 (Mon p.m.) Bakers (St Basil and the Circumcision of Our Lord) (Artoclasia Bread)

 

Altar Servers!  Yes, we still need altar servers, even while we are in a temporary location for the Divine Liturgy.  Parents, please help by keeping up with the schedule and making sure your son(s) are at the services on time to help with important service to the church.

 

Calendar Items:
 *  During the Fast of the Nativity this year we will celebrate the Advent Paraklesis on Wednesday evenings in place of daily vespers.
 * His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN will be making his arch-pastoral visit to St. Peter's on January 13, 2008.  Be sure to mark your calendars now!
 * The Mississippi Valley Deanery Youth Retreat will be held February 23-24, 2008 at Wall Doxey State Park.  Fr. Kevin Scherer, the Director of OCF, will be the speaker.  More details will be available as the time draws near.

 

Fasting Discipline for November/December
Beginning November 15th, the first day of the Nativity Fast, the traditional fasting (no meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, wine and oil) is observed each day of the week.  Note, however, that through December 19th there is katalysis on Tuesdays and Thursdays when wine and oil are permitted, and on Saturdays when fish, wine and oil are permitted.  From December 20-24 the traditional fasting discipline is observed on all days.  From December 25 through January 4 there is no abstinence of any kind and all types of food and drink may be con-sumed.
 
Major Commemorations During November/December
 November 25  St. Catherine the Great-martyr
 November 30  Apostle Andrew the First-called
 December 4  Great-martyr Barbara
 December 5  Venerable Sava the Sanctified
 December 6  St. Nicholas of Myra, the Wonder-worker
 December 9  Conception of the Theotokos
 December 12  St. Spyridon of Trimythous
 December 15  Hieromartyr Eleftherios
 December 20  Hieromartyr Ignatius of Antioch and 1st Day of Pre-Feast
 December 24  Forefeast of the Nativity
 December 25  NATIVITY OF OUR LORD, GOD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST
 December 26  Synaxis of the Most Holy Theotokos
 December 27  Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen
 January 1  St. Basil the Great and the New Year

 

Quotable: "Faith is a quality inherent in our nature.  It begets in us the fear of God, and fear of God instills that keeping of the commandments which constitutes the practice of the virtues."
      St. Theodoros

 

WORSHIP: Sunday, December 2, 2007 (Twenty-seventh Sunday after Pentecost)

 

  Scripture:  Ephesians 6: 10-17; Luke 18: 35-end
 Celebrant:  Father John
 Homily:  Father James
 Deacon:  Deacon Richard
 Acolytes:  John Wood
 Prosphora  Joanna Meadows
 Coffee Hour  Suspended During Construction
 Teen Hosts  Katools