Sunday, August 31, 2008
Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
Hebrews 9:1-7: In our reading from Hebrews, we hear the Apostle describe the composition of the two tabernacles, the sanctuary and the Holy of Holies, into which only the high priest could enter, and that but once a year.
Matthew 18:23-35: The Lord Jesus uses a parable to teach that forgiveness is an action to be performed by all who follow Him as well as a gift to be received from God.
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 Theotokos: Thou hast bestowed upon thy city, O ever-virgin Theotokos and shelter of mankind, the robe and the belt of thy pure body, as a secure mantle, which by thy seedless birth-giving have remained without corruption; for by thee are nature and time regenerated. Wherefore, we implore thee to grant thy city safety, and our souls 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 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
Sunday, August 31 (Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost) (Deposition of the Belt of the
Theotokos)
8:50 a.m. – Orthros
10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy
5:30 p.m. – Youth Group
Monday, September 1 (Beginning of the Ecclesiastical New Year)
CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED – FATHER JOHN'S DAY OFF
Tuesday, September 2
6:00 a.m. – Daily Orthros
6:30 p.m. – Choir Practice
Wednesday, September 3
5:00 p.m. – Catechism Class
6:30 p.m. – Daily Vespers
Thursday, September 4
6:00 a.m. – Daily Orthros
– NO Ladies Fellowship This Week!! (Only on 3rd Thursdays)
Friday, September 5
6:00 a.m. – Daily Orthros
Saturday, September 6 (Miracle of the Archangel Michael)
6:30 p.m. – Great Vespers
Sunday, September 7 (Sunday before the Elevation of the holy Cross and the Prefeast
of the Nativity of the Theotokos)
8:50 a.m. – Orthros
9:00 a.m. – Sunday School
10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy
6:30 p.m. – Great Vespers with Litia and Artoklasia (Nativity of the
Theotokos) (No meal following the service)
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Eucharist Bread was offered by the Hendersons for the Divine Liturgy today.
Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:
Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour
September 7 (MORNING) Algoods Karen Cooper
September 7 (EVENING) Katools (artoklasia bread) No Meal
(Great Vespers with Litia and Artoklasis for the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos)
September 14 Meadows Joneses
September 21 Schelvers R. Roots
September 28 Morrises Woods
Schedule for Epistle Readers:
Reader Reading
August 31 Kh. Be'Be' Schelver Hebrews 9:1-7
September 7 Brenda Baker Galatians 6:11-18
The PLC (Parish Life Conference) 2009 Planning Committee will meet next on Thursday, September 18th at 7:00 p.m. at the church.
Volunteers for Sunday School Teachers and Epistle Readers:
Sunday School: If you are interested in teaching Sunday School, please see Sh.Charlotte Algood Sunday School will begin next Sunday – September 7th .
Readers: If you are interested in reading the Epistle during the Liturgy, please see Reader Basil.
Ladies of St. Peter: It's time to pay your annual dues ($20). Please give them to Sh. Margaret Root. Many thanks to Charlotte Wood, Rebecca Root and Sh. Margaret Root who have graciously served as officers. In January it will time to elect new officers. Please think about volunteering for an office. The next meeting will be Sunday, September 21st with lunch together at Macaroni Grill following Liturgy and Coffee Hour. Please make plans to come for the fellowship.
A number of videos and audiotapes belonging to the church's library have been checked out and not returned. Please look through your belongings for any that you may have forgotten about. We are especially looking for the copy of the presentation that was done by Father Ted Pulcini at the 1994 Parish Life Conference that was hosted here. Thank you for your assistance in locating these items.
Kitchen Maintenance: We have a number of perishable items being left in the kitchen (including condiments, etc., in the refrigerator). These tend to spoil and often attract insects. Following any church event (feast, coffee hour, fellowship, etc.), unless specific arrange-ments are made to use left overs very soon, please take them home with you!
Calendar Items:
* The next meeting of the PLC (Parish Life Conference) 2009 Planning Committee will be held at the church Thursday, September 18th at 7:00 p.m.
* The Ladies of St. Peter will be meeting for lunch at Macaroni Grill following the Liturgy and Coffee Hour on Sunday, September 21st .
* The annual fall Clergy Retreat for the Lower Mississippi Valley Deanery will be held here at St. Peter's on November 5-7. We will need places for some of the priests to stay, so Father John may in touch with you about housing them for the retreat.
* St. Peter's will be hosting the Parish Life Conference next year. The dates for the conference will be June 10-14. This will a wonderful opportunity to showcase our parish. More information will be available in the future.
Fasting Discipline for September
The traditional fasting (no meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, wine and oil) is observed on all Wednesdays and Fridays of September; however, a strict fast is observed on September 14th (Elevation of the Precious Cross).
Major Commemorations During September
Sept 1 Beginning of the Ecclesiastical Year
Sept 6 Miracle of the Archangel Michael
Sept 8 Nativity of the Theotokos
Sept 9 Righteous Joachim and Anna
Sept 14 Elevation of the Precious Cross
Sept 16 Great-martyr Euphemia, the All-praised
Sept 20 Great-martyr Eustathios and His Family
Sept 23 Conception of the Forerunner
Sept 24 Protomartyr Thekla, Equal-to-the-Apostles
Sept 26 Repose of the Apostle John, the Theologian
Sept 28 Venerable Chariton
Please supervise your children to avoid spills, ink stains or marks from their writing and drawing on our new chairs. We also ask that you not allow them to stand on the kneelers. Thank you for your help with this.
Quotable: "All of the troubles of life on earth will seem like a drop of salt water in a fresh water river when compared to life in Paradise: 'What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, what the heart of man has not conceived – God has prepared for those who love Him.'"
- St. Nikolai of Zica
Weekly Quote: "'But I say to you,' the Lord says, 'love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, pray for those who persecute you.' Why did He command these things? So that He might free you from hatred, sadness, anger, grudges, and might grant you the greatest possession of all, perfect love, which is impossible to possess except by the one who loves all equally in imitation of God."
- St. Maximos the Confessor
WORSHIP: Sunday, September 7, 2008 (Sunday before the Elevation of the holy Cross and the Prefeast of the Nativity of the Theotokos)
Scripture: Galatians 6:11-18; John 3:13-17 (both readings for the Sunday before The Elevation of the Holy Cross)
Celebrant: Father John
Homily: Father John
Deacon: Deacon Richard
Acolytes: Stephen Chamblee
Prosphora: Algoods
Coffee Hour: Milnors
Teen Hosts: No Meeting