The theme of the third Sunday before Lent is RETURN FROM EXILE and the Gospel lesson of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) is read.  We are taught by this lesson that even as we stray from God, a banquet is set for our return.  And we find that nothing in this fallen world truly satisfies, and thus we find ourselves on a pilgrimage of repentance - returning to God.

 

I Corinthians 6:12-20:  In our reading from I Corinthians we hear St Paul remind us that we have been bought with a price and that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit; therefore we should turn from immorality and glorify God.

 

Luke 15:11-32:  The parable of the prodigal son as told by our Lord serves to illustrate how precious in the sight of the Lord is one who repents from his sin and is returned to the fold.

 

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 Unmercenaries Cyros and John:  O you silver-hating, wonder-working saints, visit our sicknesses.  Freely received you, freely give unto us.

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: Thou, O Christ God, who by your Birth, didst sanctify the Virgin's womb, and as is meet, didst bless Simeon's arms, and didst also come to save us, preserve thy fold in wars, and confirm them whom thou didst love; for thou alone art the Lover of mankind.

 

 

 

Sunday, January 31 (Prodigal Son)
 8:50 a.m. – Orthros
 9:00 a.m. – Christian Education
 10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy

 

Monday, February 1
 Office Closed – Father John's Day Off
 6:30 p.m. – Great Vespers with Litia and Artoklasia

 

Tuesday, February 2 (Presentation of our Lord in the Temple)
    Many years before the coming of Christ there lived a very pious and saintly man called Simeon.  He was one of the most intelligent Jewish scholars of his day.  Simeon prayed for the day that the Saviour would come and deliver all Israel (and the world) from sin.  One evening while kneeling in prayer, Simeon heard the voice of God saying to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  Holy Tradition tells us that Simeon waited many long years.  Some Holy Fathers inform us that Simeon was over 150 years old when the Promise of God was fulfilled. The Holy Scriptures tell us that 40 days after the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ  the Virgin Mary brought the Christ Child to the Temple for Presentation.  It was a law that the first born son of a family should be offered to God and His service, as soon as a period of purification was past.  It was here that Simeon waited patiently that day, as he had done for so many years.  The Spirit of the Lord brought him to the baby Jesus.  Simeon took the infant Child in his trembling hands and recited the following beautiful prayer which is recited in the Orthodox Church every evening during Vesper services:
 "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word. 
 For mine eyes have seen Thy Salvation which thou hast prepared before the
 face of all peoples.  A Light to enlighten the Gentiles and to be the glory of
 thy people Israel."
    Thus the promise to the aged Simeon was finally fulfilled.  The next day Simeon died in peace, thankful to Almighty God that he was honored to see the coming of Christ.
    This custom has continued down to our own day for both male and female children, and every mother who brings her new-born child to Church on the fortieth day is remembering the Great Feast of the Presentation of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple.   

 

 6:00 a.m. – Festal Orthros

 

Wednesday, February 3 (St. Simeon the God-receiver) 
 5:00 p.m. – Catechism Class
 6:30 p.m. – Daily Vespers followed by Parish Council Meeting
 7:30 p.m. – Choir Practice

 

Thursday, February 4
 6:00 a.m. – Daily Orthros

 

Friday, February 5
 6:00 a.m. – Daily Orthros
     
Saturday, February 6   (Saturday of the Souls)
 9:00 a.m. – Orthros/Divine Liturgy
 5:00 p.m. – Catechism Class
 5:45 p.m. – Ninth Hour and Great Vespers
 
Sunday, February 7 (Meatfare and Sunday after the Presentation)
 8:50 a.m. – Orthros
 9:00 a.m. – Christian Education
 10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy
 5:30 p.m. – Young Adults

 

 

Eucharist Bread: ...was offered by the Morrises for the Divine Liturgy this morning.

 

Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:
                                       Eucharist Bread     Coffee Hour
 January 31                            Morrises               Milnors
 February 1 (Mon. evening)      D. Roots (Artoklasia Bread)
  Feast of the Presentation of our Lord in the Temple
 February 6 (Sat. morning)      Joneses 
  Saturday of the Souls
 February 7                           Milnors                   R. Roots
 February 14                         Meadows                Woods/Teens
 February 21                         Joanna Meadows     Hendersons
 February 28                         Freundts                 Freundts

 

Please be very careful with the Blessed Bread when you take after communion or at the end of the liturgy.  Because this bread has been blessed, we should take care not to let crumbs fall on the floor.  Parents, especially, please help your children to choose a small piece and treat it carefully.

 

Schedule for Epistle Readers   –  Page numbers refer to the Apostolos (book of the Epistles) located on the front pew.  Please be sure to use this book when you read.
                                          Reader                     Reading              Page #
January 31                     Warren Strain              I Cor. 6:12-20              265
February 6 (Sat. a.m.)     Brenda Baker              I Cor. 10:23-26             271
February 7                      Mildred Morris             I Cor. 8:8 - 9:2             273
February 14                    Kh. Be'Be' Schelver     Rom. 13:11 - 14:4        279
February 21                    Tom Willingham          Heb. 11:24-26, 32-40    281
February 28                    Tom Skirtech              Heb. 1:10 - 2:3             283

 

Please remember the following in your prayers: Sh. Charlotte Algood, Deacon Terry and their family; Fr. James and Kh. Linda Ellison, Amy and Michael Surratt; Lee Greene; Bobby and Sue Webb (Deborah Finley's parents); Tom Skirtech, Amy and Brantley Oliver;  Reader Basil's family (sister Betty; uncle and aunt, James and Sarah Powell),  Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Jared and Stacy Autrey and their daughter Olivia Kate (St. Ignatius in Franklin).

 

House Blessings! A sign-up sheet is available in the fellowship hall to sign up for your house blessing.  Please schedule these as soon as possible.  Everyone should have their house blessed.  However, the responsibility for scheduling lies with individuals and not Father John.  No house blessings will be done once Great Lent starts (February 15th this year).

 

The Sara Cooper Memorial Fund will remain open until further notice.  Please designate the fund on your checks if you are making donations.

 

 
 * We will celebrate the feast of the Presentation of Lord in the Temple with Great Vespers with Litia and Artoklasia on Monday evening, February 1st at 6:30 p.m.  There will not be a meal associated with this service.

 

Sunday Pot Luck!!  On the first Sunday of each month instead of Coffee Hour we have a Pot Luck meal.  There will be a sign-up sheet posted on the Bulletin Board in the Fellowship Hall in the weeks prior to the meal, so that we can have an idea of the food that will be brought.  If you can't bring a dish, sign up for set-up or clean-up.  Participation is open to all (men as well as children!!)  This is a wonderful chance for some fellowship.  Please be sure to mark it on your calendars!!

 

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.
 
If you are the last to leave the building, please make sure that the heating and cooling unit in the Fellowship Hall is set to the optimum temperature for the building when unoccupied.

 

 

Fasting Discipline for February
The traditional fasting (no meat, poultry, fish eggs, dairy, wine and oil) is observed on Wednesdays and Fridays of the month until Monday, February 8th .  Sunday, February is Judgement Sunday (Meatfare), the last day until Pascha that meat, poultry and fish are permitted. But during the following week, beginning Monday, February 8th , dairy products (milk, cheese, eggs, etc.) are permitted, even on Wednesday and Friday.  February 14th is Forgiveness Sunday (Cheesefare), the last day until Pascha that cheese, dairy and wine (some also include oil) are permitted.  Monday, February 15th , is Clean Monday, the first day of Great Lent when the traditional fasting discipline is observed on all days of the week until Pascha (except Annunciation on March 25th and Palm Sunday on March 28th, when fish, wine and oil are permitted).

 

Major Commemorations During January/February
 January 31  Unmercenaries Cyros and John
   Sunday of the Prodigal Son and Sunday before the Presentation
   of our Lord in the Temple
 February 2  Presentation of our Lord in the Temple
 February 3  Righteous Simeon the God-receiver
 February 6  Saturday of the Souls
 February 7  Sunday of Meatfare
 February 10 Heiromartyr Haralampos
 February 14 Sunday of Cheesefare
 February 15 Clean Monday
 February 21 1st Sunday of Lent; Sunday of Orthodoxy
 February 24 1st and 2nd Discoveries of the Head of the Forerunner
 February 28 2nd Sunday of Lent; Commemoration of Gregory of Palamas)

 

Quotable: "I implore you, my brothers, let the things you yearn for be things that lead to salvation and the preservation of your souls so that you won't put off something one day for the next and so spend two days as strangers to the good things of God."
    - St. Macarius the Spirit-bearer

 

WORSHIP: Sunday, February 7, 2010 (Sunday of Meatfare and Sunday after the Presentation of our Lord in the Temple)
   
 Scriptures:  I Corinthians 8:8 to 9:2; Matthew 25:31-46
 Celebrant:  Father John
 Deacon:  Deacon Richard
 Epistle Reader: Mildred Morris
 Prosphora:  Milnors
 Coffee Hour: R. Roots

 

 

 

 

    The theme of the fourth Sunday before Lent is HUMILITY and the Gospel lesson of the Publican and the Pharisee (Luke 18:10-14) is read.  Here we are taught to avoid the arrogant thoughts of the Pharisee and to emulate the humble prayer of the Publican "God be merciful to me a sinner."

 

II Timothy 3:10-15:  In St Paul's second letter to Timothy we are reminded that godliness will bring persecutions;  and we are encouraged to continue doing those things that we have been taught so as to gain the wisdom that leads to salvation in Christ.

 

Luke 18:10-14:  In the parable of the Pharisee and the tax-gatherer, Jesus teaches us that justification does not come to those who are proud and arrogant, but rather to those who are humble and repentant.

 

Troparion of the Resurrection:  O compassionate One, thou didst descend from the heights; thou didst submit to the three-day burial, that thou might deliver us from passion.  Thou art our Life and our Resurrection, O Lord, glory to thee.

 

Troparion of Blessed Xenia:  Through thee the divine likeness was securely preserved, O Mother Xenia; for thou didst carry the cross and followed Christ.  By example and precept thou didst teach us to ignore the body because it is perishable, and to attend to the concerns of the undying soul.  Therefore, doth thy soul rejoice with the angels.

 

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: Thou, O Christ God, who by your Birth, didst sanctify the Virgin's womb, and as is meet, didst bless Simeon's arms, and didst also come to save us, preserve thy fold in wars, and confirm them whom thou didst love; for thou alone art the Lover of mankind.

 

No fasting during this week

 
Sunday, January 24 (Publican and the Pharisee)
 8:50 a.m. – Orthros
 9:00 a.m. – Christian Education
 10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy
 12:00 noon – Pot Luck Meal and Fund-raising Auction
 5:30 p.m. – Young Adults

 

Monday, January 25  (St. Gregory the Theologian)
 Office Closed – Father John's Day Off

 

Tuesday, January 26
 6:00 a.m. – Daily Orthros

 

Wednesday, January 27 (St. John Chrysostom) 
 5:00 p.m. – Catechism Class
 6:30 p.m. – Daily Vespers
 7:30 p.m. – Choir Practice

 

Thursday, January 28
 6:00 a.m. – Daily Orthros

 

Friday, January 29
 6:00 a.m. – Daily Orthros
 MS Valley Deanery Youth Retreat at John W. Kyle State Park
     
Saturday, January 30
 5:00 p.m. – Catechism Class
 5:45 p.m. – Ninth Hour and Great Vespers
 
Sunday, January 31 (Prodigal Son)
 8:50 a.m. – Orthros
 9:00 a.m. – Christian Education
 10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy
 NO Youth Group (Teen Retreat this weekend)

 

 

Eucharist Bread: ...was offered by the Schelvers for the Divine Liturgy this morning.

 

Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:
                                   Eucharist Bread       Coffee Hour
 January 24                       Schelvers                Pot Luck
 January 31                       Morrises                 Milnors
 February 1 (Mon. evening) D. Roots (Artoklasia Bread)
  Feast of the Presentation of our Lord in the Temple
 February 6 (Sat. morning)  Joneses 
  Saturday of the Souls
 February 7                       Milnors                   R. Roots
 February 14                     Meadows                Woods/Teens
 February 21                     Joanna Meadows     Hendersons
 February 28                     Freundts                 Freundts

 

Schedule for Epistle Readers   –  Page numbers refer to the Apostolos (book of the Epistles) located on the front pew.  Please be sure to use this book when you read.
                                         Reader                     Reading                 Page #
January 24                     Walt Wood                 II Tim. 3:10-15               258
January 31                     Warren Strain              I Cor. 6:12-20               265
February 6 (Sat. a.m.)     Brenda Baker              I Cor. 10:23-26              271
February 7                      Mildred Morris             I Cor. 8:8 - 9:2              273
February 14                    Kh. Be'Be' Schelver     Rom. 13:11 - 14:4         279
February 21                    Tom Willingham          Heb. 11:24-26, 32-40     281
February 28                    Tom Skirtech              Heb. 1:10 - 2:3              283

 

Please be very careful with the Blessed Bread when you take after communion or at the end of the liturgy.  Because this bread has been blessed, we should take care not to let crumbs fall on the floor.  Parents, especially, please help your children to choose a small piece and treat it carefully.

 

Please remember the following in your prayers: Sh. Charlotte Algood, Deacon Terry and their family; Fr. James and Kh. Linda Ellison, Amy and Michael Surratt; Lee Greene; Karen Cooper; Bobby and Sue Webb (Deborah Finley's parents); Tom Skirtech; Amy and Brantley Oliver;  Reader Basil's family (sister Betty; uncle and aunt, James and Sarah Powell);  Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Jared and Stacy Autrey and their daughter Olivia Kate (St. Ignatius in Franklin).

 

House Blessings! A sign-up sheet is available in the fellowship hall to sign up for your house blessing.  Please schedule these as soon as possible.  Everyone should have their house blessed.  However, the responsibility for scheduling lies with individuals and not Father John.  No house blessings will be done once Great Lent starts (February 15th this year).

 

The Sara Cooper Memorial Fund will remain open until further notice.  Please designate the fund on your checks if you are making donations.

 

Auction.....the Ladies of St. Peter will hold their fund-raising auction TODAY.  Please plan to stay for the meal and the fun!!  The Ladies are raising money for the new monastery of St. Thekla that is being built at the Antiochian Village.

 

Saturday of the Souls will be celebrated with Orthros and Divine Liturgy on Saturday, February 6th beginning at 9:00 a.m.  February 7th will be Meatfare Sunday, with Cheesefare falling on February 14th and Great Lent beginning on the 15th .  More information will be available soon on services during the Fast.

 

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.

 

 
 * We will celebrate the feast of the Presentation of Lord in the Temple with Great Vespers with Litia and Artoklasia on Monday evening, February 1st at 6:30 p.m.  There will not be a meal associated with this service.

 
 * The MS Valley Deanery will hold its annual Teen Retreat NEXT week-end at John W. Kyle State Park in Sardis, MS.  Father James Coles, pastor of St. Ignatius Mission in Mesa, AZ, will be the speaker.  His topic will be "How to Experience the Peace of God in a Chaotic World."  More details will be available at a later date.

 

Sunday Pot Luck!!  On the first Sunday of each month instead of Coffee Hour we have a Pot Luck meal.  There will be a sign-up sheet posted on the Bulletin Board in the Fellowship Hall in the weeks prior to the meal, so that we can have an idea of the food that will be brought.  If you can't bring a dish, sign up for set-up or clean-up.  Participation is open to all (men as well as children!!)  This is a wonderful chance for some fellowship.  Please be sure to mark it on your calendars!!

 

Fasting Discipline for January
There is no fasting during the week following the Sunday of Publican and the Pharisee (January 25 - 30th).

 

Major Commemorations During January
 January 24  Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee
 January 25  St. Gregory the Theoplogian
 January 27  St. John Chrysostom
 January 30  Three Hierarchs
 January 31  Unmercenaries Cyros and John
   Sunday of the Prodigal Son and Sunday before the Presentation
   of our Lord in the Temple

 

If you are the last to leave the building, please make sure that the heating and cooling unit in the Fellowship Hall is set to the optimum temperature for the building when unoccupied.
 
Quotable: "Our inner lives never get put into the proper order all of a sudden.  What is always required and what lies ahead is intensified labor over one's inner self, by the assimilation of good intention and the enabling of grace through the Mysteries.  This labor is directed toward destroying the disorder that reigns inside; in its place it establishes order and harmony, after which follows inner peace and a continual joyful mood of the heart."
    - St. Theophan the Recluse
   

    - St. Nikon of Optina

 

 

 Scriptures:  I Corinthians 6:12-20; Luke 15:11-32
 Celebrant:  Father John
 Deacon:  Deacon Richard
 Epistle Reader: Warren Strain
 Prosphora:  Morrises
 Coffee Hour: Milnors

 

 

 

 

 

Hebrews 13:17-21:  Reading in Hebrews, we hear St. Paul encourage us to obey our spiritual leaders and obey them, for they watch over our souls.  He tells us that they should do so with joy, and conduct themselves honorably.

 

Luke 19:1-10:   In the story of Zaccheus we are reminded of why the Only-begotten Son of the Father became incarnate:  to save mankind from our sin and its consequences.

 

Troparion of the Resurrection: Thou didst shatter death by thy Cross; thou didst open paradise to the thief; thou didst turn the mourning of the ointment-bearing women into joy, and didst bid thine Apostles proclaim warning that thou hast risen, O Christ, granting the world Great Mercy.

 

Troparion for St. Anthony the Great: Emulating the ways of Elias the zealot, and following the straight paths of the Baptist, O Father Anthony, thou madest the wilderness a city and didst support the world by thy prayers.  Wherefore intercede with Christ our 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 of the Presentation: Thou, O Christ God, who by your Birth, didst sanctify the Virgin's womb, and as is meet, didst bless Simeon's arms, and didst also come to save us, preserve thy fold in wars, and confirm them whom thou didst love; for thou alone art the Lover of mankind.

 

 

 

Sunday, January 17  (St. Anthony the Great)
 8:50 a.m. – Orthros
 10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy
 9:00 a.m. – Christian Education
 5:30 p.m. – Youth Group

 

Monday, January 18  (Sts. Athanasios and Cyril of Alexandria)
 Office Closed – Father John's Day Off

 

Tuesday, January 19
 6:00 a.m. – Daily Orthros

 

Wednesday, January 20 (St. Euthymios the Great) 
 5:00 p.m. – Catechism Class
 6:30 p.m. – Daily Vespers
 7:30 p.m. – Choir Practice

 

Thursday, January 21
 NO Daily Orthros

 

Friday, January 22
 NO Daily Orthros
     
Saturday, January 23
 9:00 a.m. – Orthros/Divine Liturgy
 NO Catechism Class
 5:45 p.m. – Ninth Hour and Great Vespers
 
Sunday, January 24 (Publican and the Pharisee)
 8:50 a.m. – Orthros
 9:00 a.m. – Christian Education
 10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy
 12:00 noon – Pot Luck Meal and Fund-raising Auction
 5:30 p.m. – Young Adults

 

 

 

Eucharist Bread: ...was offered by the Katools for the Divine Liturgy this morning.

 

Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:
                       Eucharist Bread      Coffee Hour
 January 17         Katools                     Strains
 January 24         Schelvers                  Pot Luck
 January 31         Morrises                   Milnors

 

Schedule for Epistle Readers   –  Page numbers refer to the Apostolos (book of the Epistles) located on the front pew.  Please be sure to use this book when you read.
                    Reader               Reading       Page #
January 17  Tom Skirtech      Heb. 13:17-21     343
January 24  Walt Wood         II Tim. 3:10-15     258
January 31  Warren Strain      I Cor. 6:12-20     265

 

Please be very careful with the Blessed Bread when you take after communion or at the end of the liturgy.  Because this bread has been blessed, we should take care not to let crumbs fall on the floor.  Parents, especially, please help your children to choose a small piece and treat it carefully.

 

Memory Eternal!  The Reader Basil's father, Mr. Bill Baker, fell asleep in the Lord this past week after a long battle with illness.  Please remember the Bakers in your prayers.  May his memory be eternal!

 

Please remember the following in your prayers: Sh. Charlotte Algood, Deacon Terry and their family; Fr. James and Kh. Linda Ellison, Amy and Michael Surratt; Lee Greene; Bobby and Sue Webb (Deborah Finley's parents); Tom Skirtech, Amy and Brantley Oliver;  Reader Basil's family (sister Betty; uncle and aunt, James and Sarah Powell),  Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Jared and Stacy Autrey and their daughter Olivia Kate (St. Ignatius in Franklin).

 

The Sara Cooper Memorial Fund will remain open until further notice.  Please designate the fund on your checks if you are making donations.

 

House Blessings! A sign-up sheet is available in the fellowship hall to sign up for your house blessing.  Please schedule these as soon as possible.  Everyone should have their house blessed.  However, the responsibility for scheduling lies with individuals and not Father John.  No house blessings will be done once Great Lent starts (February 15th this year).

 

Auction.....the Ladies of St. Peter will hold their fund-raising auction next Sunday, January 24th, which will also be the date for our monthly Pot Luck meal.  Please plan to stay for the meal and the fun!!  The Ladies are raising money for the new monastery of St. Thekla that is being built at the Antiochian Village.

 

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.

 
 * Fr. John will be in St. Petersburg, FL for the Mid-winter Delegates Meeting, January 22 - 24th .

 
 * January 24th  – Pot Luck Meal and Fund-raising Auction for the Ladies of St. Peter.

 
 * The MS Valley Deanery will hold its annual Teen Retreat the week-end of January 29-31, 2010 at John W. Kyle State Park in Sardis, MS.  Father James Coles, pastor of St. Ignatius Mission in Mesa, AZ, will be the speaker.  His topic will be "How to Experience the Peace of God in a Chaotic World."  More details will be available at a later date.

 

Sunday Pot Luck!!  On the first Sunday of each month instead of Coffee Hour we have a Pot Luck meal.  There will be a sign-up sheet posted on the Bulletin Board in the Fellowship Hall in the weeks prior to the meal, so that we can have an idea of the food that will be brought.  If you can't bring a dish, sign up for set-up or clean-up.  Participation is open to all (men as well as children!!)  This is a wonderful chance for some fellowship.  Please be sure to mark it on your calendars!!

 

Fasting Discipline for January
The traditional fasting (no meat, poultry, fish eggs, dairy, wine and oil) is observed on Wednesdays and Fridays of the month.  However, there is no fasting during the week following the Sunday of Publican and the Pharisee (January 25 - 30th).

 

Major Commemorations During January
 January 18  Sts. Athanasios and Cyril of Alexandria
 January 20  Venerable Euthymios the Great
 January 24  Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee
 January 25  St. Gregory the Theoplogian
 January 27  St. John Chrysostom
 January 30  Three Hierarchs
 January 31  Unmercenaries Cyros and John
   Sunday of the Prodigal Son and Sunday before the Presentation
   of our Lord in the Temple

 

If you are the last to leave the building, please make sure that the heating and cooling unit in the Fellowship Hall is set to the optimum temperature for the building when unoccupied.
 
Quotable:  "Likewise, in the Church it is the person of the incarnate Logos who makes every human being a unique person, thus establishing a communion of persons in the image of the three divine Persons.  The incarnate Logos transferred the divine unity to the human level as a personal communion.  The incarnate Logos becomes the ontological foundation of the new people.  This means that there can be unity of the people because there is Christ.  It is the person of the incarnate Logos who reveals the authentic human person and makes every human person a unique person in communion with others."
    - Dr. Christopher Veniamin, Ecclesial Being
   

    - St. Seraphim of Sarov

 

 

 Scriptures:  II Timothy 3:10-15; Luke 18:10-14
 Celebrant:  Father John
 Deacon:  Deacon Richard
 Epistle Reader: Walt Wood
 Prosphora:  Schelvers
 Coffee Hour: POT LUCK

 

 

 

 

 

Ephesians 4:7-13:  From our reading in Ephesians we hear St Paul explain how Christ gave apostles and prophets to the Church in order that through their work we might attain maturity in Christ Jesus.

 

Matthew 4:12-17:  Jesus settles in Capernaum after the imprisonment of John the Baptist and there began His public ministry, preaching a gospel of repentance.

 

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 Theophany:  By thy baptism, O Lord, in the River Jordan, worship to the Trinity has made its appearance; for the voice of the Lord didst come forth to thee with the testimony, naming thee beloved Son; and the Spirit in the likeness of a dove, confirming the truth of the word. Wherefore, O thou who didst appear and light the world, glory to thee.

 

Troparion of St. Gregory of Nyssa: O God of our Fathers, ever dealing with us according to Thy gentleness: take not Thy mercy from us, but by their entreaties guide our life in peace.

 

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 Theophany:  Today thou hast appeared to the universe, O Lord, and thy light hast been shed upon us, who praise thee with knowledge, saying, Thou hast come and appeared, O unapproachable Light.

 

 

 

Sunday, January 10  (Sunday after Theophany)
 8:50 a.m. – Orthros
 10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy
 9:00 a.m. – Christian Education
 4:00 p.m. – Great Blessing of the Waters – at the Reservoir, Old Trace Park
 6:00 p.m. – Young Adults

 

Monday, January 11  (Theodosius, Head of Monastaries)
 Office Closed – Father John's Day Off

 

Tuesday, January 12
 6:00 a.m. – Daily Orthros
  
Wednesday, January 13
 5:00 p.m. – Catechism Class
 6:30 p.m. – Daily Vespers
 7:30 p.m. – Choir Practice

 

Thursday, January 14
 6:00 a.m. – Daily Orthros

 

Friday, January 15
 6:00 a.m. – Daily Orthros
     
Saturday, January 16  (Chains of St Peter)
 9:00 a.m. – Orthros/Divine Liturgy
 5:00 p.m. – Catechism Class
 5:45 p.m. – Ninth Hour and Great Vespers
 
Sunday, January 17  (St. Anthony the Great)
 8:50 a.m. – Orthros
 10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy
 9:00 a.m. – Christian Education
 5:30 p.m. – Youth Group

 

 

 

Eucharist Bread: ...was offered by the Woods for the Feast of Theophany last Tuesday and by the Dn Richard Roots for the Divine Liturgy this morning.

 

Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:
                                   Eucharist Bread          Coffee Hour
 January 10                         R. Roots             Joneses/Stewarts
 January 16 (Saturday a.m.) Hendersons         Hendersons
 January 17                         Katools               Strains
 January 24                         Schelvers            Pot Luck
 January 31                         Morrises             Milnors

 

Schedule for Epistle Readers   –  Page numbers refer to the Apostolos (book of the Epistles) located on the front pew.  Please be sure to use this book when you read.
    Reader   Reading Page #
January 10                      Brenda Baker          Eph. 4:7-13         364
January 16 (Sat. a.m.)     Tom Willingham       Acts 12:1-11     50-51
January 17                      Tom Skirtech          Heb. 13:17-21      343
January 24                      Walt Wood             II Tim. 3:10-15      258
January 31                      Warren Strain          I Cor. 6:12-20      265

 

Please be very careful with the Blessed Bread when you take after communion or at the end of the liturgy.  Because this bread has been blessed, we should take care not to let crumbs fall on the floor.  Parents, especially, please help your children to choose a small piece and treat it carefully.

 

Please remember the following in your prayers: Sh. Charlotte Algood, Deacon Terry and their family; Fr. James and Kh. Linda Ellison, Amy and Michael Surratt; Lee, Greene, Mary Catherine Long; Bobby and Sue Webb (Deborah Finley's parents); Tom Skirtech, Amy and Brantley Oliver ;  Reader Basil's family (Dad, Bill; sister Betty; and uncle and aunt, James and Sarah Powell),  Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Jared and Stacy Autrey and their daughter Olivia Kate (St. Ignatius in Franklin).

 

The Sara Cooper Memorial Fund will remain open until further notice.  Please designate the fund on your checks if you are making donations.

 

Sign-up info will be available in the near future for house blessings following the feast of Theophany.  Please be thinking now about a time to have your home blessed and sign up as soon as the sheet becomes available.

 

Auction Rescheduled.....the Ladies of St. Peter have rescheduled their fund-raising auction that was planned for November 1st .  It will now be held January 24th, which will also be the date for our monthly Pot Luck meal. (We will not be having Pot Luck on January 3rd, due to the business of the season.)

 

 
 * Blessing of the Waters at Ross Barnett Reservoir will be held today at 4:00 p.m.  The location will be Old Trace Park as in the past.  Those who want will be going to Cock of the Walk for supper afterwards.

 
 * Fr. John will be in St. Petersburg, FL for the Mid-winter Delegates Meeting, January 22 - 24th .

 
 * January 24th  – Pot Luck Meal and Fund-raising Auction for the Ladies of St. Peter. (Please note that the auction has been rescheduled)

 
 * The MS Valley Deanery will hold its annual Teen Retreat the week-end of January 29-31, 2010 at John W. Kyle State Park in Sardis, MS.  Father James Coles, pastor of St. Ignatius Mission in Mesa, AZ, will be the speaker.  His topic will be "How to Experience the Peace of God in a Chaotic World."  More details will be available at a later date.

 

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.

 

Sunday Pot Luck!!  On the first Sunday of each month instead of Coffee Hour we have a Pot Luck meal.  There will be a sign-up sheet posted on the Bulletin Board in the Fellowship Hall in the weeks prior to the meal, so that we can have an idea of the food that will be brought.  If you can't bring a dish, sign up for set-up or clean-up.  Participation is open to all (men as well as children!!)  This is a wonderful chance for some fellowship.  Please be sure to mark it on your calendars!!

 

If you are the last to leave the building, please make sure that the heating and cooling unit in the Fellowship Hall is set to the optimum temperature for the building when unoccupied.

 

Fasting Discipline for January
The traditional fasting (no meat, poultry, fish eggs, dairy, wine and oil) is observed on Wednesdays and Fridays of the month.  However, there is no fasting during the week following the Sunday of Publican and the Pharisee (January 25 - 30th).

 

Major Commemorations During January
 January 11  Venerable Theodosios the Head of Monasteries
 January 16  Veneration of the Chains of St. Peter
 January 18  Sts. Athanasios and Cyril of Alexandria
 January 20  Venerable Euthymios the Great
 January 24  Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee
 January 25  St. Gregory the Theoplogian
 January 27  St. John Chrysostom
 January 30  Three Hierarchs
 January 31  Unmercenaries Cyros and John
   Sunday of the Prodigal Son and Sunday before the Presentation
   Of our Lord in the Temple

 

Quotable: "Meekness has it source in humility.  In banishing pride from the heart, we have no more occasion for anger, no more of the false refinements which so strongly make us feel the offenses against us."

    - St. Gregory of Nyssa
   

    - St. Innocent of Alaska

 

 

 Scriptures:  Hebrews 13:17-21; Luke 19:1-10
 Celebrant:  Father John
 Deacon:  Deacon Richard
 Epistle Reader: Tom Skirtech
 Prosphora:  Katools
 Coffee Hour: Strains

 

 

 

 

 

II Timothy 4:5-8:  St Paul encourages Timothy to persevere in his calling, knowing that our perseverance in the battle before us will be rewarded with the crown of righteousness.

 

Mark 1:1-8: From the Gospel of St Mark we hear how John the Baptist prepared the way for  Jesus' public ministry by calling for the people to repent from their sins and be baptized.

 

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 Forefeast of Theophany: Be thou ready, Zabulon; prepare thyself, O Nephthalim.  River Jordan, stay thy course and skip for gladness to receive the Sovereign Master, Who cometh now to be baptized.  O Adam, be thou glad with our first mother, Eve; hide not as ye did of old in Paradise.  Seeing you naked, He hath appeared now to clothe you in the first robe again.  Christ hath appeared, for He truly willeth to renew all creation.

 

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 Forefeast of Theophany: In the running waters of the Jordan River, on this day the Lord of all crieth to John: Be not afraid and hesitate not to baptize Me, for I am come to save Adam, the first-formed man..

 

 

 

Sunday, January 3
 8:50 a.m. – Orthros
 10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy
 9:00 a.m. – Christian Education
 5:30 p.m. – Youth Group

 

Monday, January 4
 Office Closed – Father John's Day Off

 

Tuesday, January 5
 6:00 a.m. – Royal Hours
 6:00 p.m. – Orthros/Divine Liturgy (Feast of Epiphany)
  
Wednesday, January 6  (Feast of Theophany)
    This Feast Day is one of the greatest days of the Christian year.  In English, we are accustomed to hearing this Feast Day called "Epiphany," a word which means "manifestation" or "appearance."  On this day, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River by St. John the Baptist (he is called "the Baptist" because he baptized Christ).  Epiphany is also called "Theophany" which means "God shows Himself to us."  The importance of this Feast Day lies in the fact that for the first time the Holy Trinity was revealed for all mankind to know and believe (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit).  When Jesus Christ was baptized in the River Jordan, a voice was heard from the heavens above saying, "This is my Son in whom I am well pleased."  The Father whose voice was heard from the heavens was God.  The white dove was the symbol of the Holy Spirit which descended upon Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  Thus, we have the Holy Trinity being revealed to all that day, almost 2000 years ago.  This is why we call this day the day of illumination (light) and manifestation (appearance).  Th Holy Trinity made its appearance, and we have been illuminated by this wonderful truth and blessing.  On this day we have the traditional blessing of the waters.  Since the waters of the Jordan were blessed in the presence of Jesus Christ, it is a source of Divine Grace and blessing, and we bless ourselves and our homes with the waters of the "Sanctification Service" which is held during the Epiphany Services.
    Theophany Day is a day of illumination and sanctification.  Let us pledge ourselves to a greater participation in the sacramental life of the Church of Christ.  When the Priest blesses our homes, let us all pray that the blessing of the Theophany Season be with us throughout the year and may our homes be sanctified with our prayers, Christian living and spiritual direction in our lifetime.
 5:00 p.m. – Catechism Class 
 6:30 p.m. – Daily Vespers
 7:30 p.m. – Choir Practice

Thursday, January 7  (Synaxis of the Forerunner)
 6:00 a.m. – Daily Orthros

 

Friday, January 8
 6:00 a.m. – Daily Orthros
     
Saturday, January 9
 5:00 p.m. – Catechism Class
 5:45 p.m. – Ninth Hour and Great Vespers
 
Sunday, January 10   (Sunday after Theophany)
 8:50 a.m. – Orthros
 10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy
 9:00 a.m. – Christian Education
 3:30 p.m. – Blessing of the Waters at the Ross Barnett Reservoir
 6:00 p.m. – Young Adults

 

 

Eucharist Bread: ...was offered by the Daniel Roots for the Divine Liturgy this morning and the Artoklasia bread was offered by the Bakers for the feast of the Circumcision of our Lord and the feast of St. Basil the Great this past Thursday evening..

 

Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:
                                       Eucharist Bread    Coffee Hour
 January 3                             Fahmys             Meadows
 January 5 (Tuesday p.m.)      Woods               Dansereaus
 January 10                           R. Roots            Joneses/Stewarts
 January 16 (Saturday a.m.)    Hendersons       Hendersons
 January 17                           Katools              Strains
 January 24                           Schelvers           Pot Luck
 January 31                           Morrises            Milnors

 

Schedule for Epistle Readers   –  Page numbers refer to the Apostolos (book of the Epistles) located on the front pew.  Please be sure to use this book when you read.
                                            Reader                       Reading               Page #
January 3                      Mildred Morris               II Tim. 4:5-8                    354
January 5 (Tue. p.m.)     Kh. Sharon Meadows     Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7         361
January 10                    Brenda Baker                Eph. 4:7-13                    364
January 16 (Sat. a.m.)    Tom Willingham            Acts 12:1-11                50-51
January 17                    Tom Skirtech                 Heb. 13:17-21                343
January 24                    Walt Wood                   II Tim. 3:10-15                 258
January 31                    Warren Strain                I Cor. 6:12-20                 265

 

Please be very careful with the Blessed Bread when you take after communion or at the end of the liturgy.  Because this bread has been blessed, we should take care not to let crumbs fall on the floor.  Parents, especially, please help your children to choose a small piece and treat it carefully.

 

Please remember the following in your prayers: Sh. Charlotte Algood, Deacon Terry and their family; Resa Ellison and her parents Fr. James and Kh. Linda, Amy and Michael Surratt; Lee, Greene, Mary Catherine Long; Bobby and Sue Webb (Deborah Finley's parents); Tom Skirtech, Amy and Brantley Oliver ;  Reader Basil's family (Dad, Bill; sister Betty; and uncle and aunt, James and Sarah Powell),  Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Jared and Stacy Autrey and their daughter Olivia Kate (St. Ignatius in Franklin).

 

The Sara Cooper Memorial Fund will remain open until further notice.  Please designate the fund on your checks if you are making donations.

 

Sign-up info will be available in the near future for house blessings following the feast of Theophany.  Please be thinking now about a time to have your home blessed and sign up as soon as the sheet becomes available.

 

Auction Rescheduled.....the Ladies of St. Peter have rescheduled their fund-raising auction that was planned for November 1st .  It will now be held January 24th, which will also be the date for our monthly Pot Luck meal. (We will not be having Pot Luck on January 3rd, due to the business of the season.)

 

 
 * Blessing of the Waters at Ross Barnett Reservoir will be held next Sunday at 3:00 p.m.  The location will be Old Trace Park as in the past.

 
 * Fr. John will be in St. Petersburg, FL for the Mid-winter Delegates Meeting, January 22 - 24th .

 
 * January 24th  – Pot Luck Meal and Fund-raising Auction for the Ladies of St. Peter. (Please note that the auction has been rescheduled)

 
 * The MS Valley Deanery will hold its annual Teen Retreat the week-end of January 29-31, 2010 at John W. Kyle State Park in Sardis, MS.  Father James Coles, pastor of St. Ignatius Mission in Mesa, AZ, will be the speaker.  His topic will be "How to Experience the Peace of God in a Chaotic World."  More details will be available at a later date.

 

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.

 

Sunday Pot Luck!!  On the first Sunday of each month instead of Coffee Hour we have a Pot Luck meal.  There will be a sign-up sheet posted on the Bulletin Board in the Fellowship Hall in the weeks prior to the meal, so that we can have an idea of the food that will be brought.  If you can't bring a dish, sign up for set-up or clean-up.  Participation is open to all (men as well as children!!)  This is a wonderful chance for some fellowship.  Please be sure to mark it on your calendars!!

 

If you are the last to leave the building, please make sure that the heating and cooling unit in the Fellowship Hall is set to the optimum temperature for the building when unoccupied.

 

Fasting Discipline for January
From December 25th through January 4th there is no abstinence of any sort and all types of food are permitted.  The forefeast of Theophany (January 5th) is observed as a strict fast day (no meat, poultry, fish eggs, dairy, wine and oil).  The traditional fasting is observed on Wednesdays and Fridays of the month.  However, there is no fasting during the week following the Sunday of Publican and the Pharisee (January 25 - 30th).

 

Major Commemorations During January
 January 5  Forefeast of Theophany
 January 6  Theophany
 January 7  Synaxis of the Forerunner
 January 11  Venerable Theodosios the Head of Monasteries
 January 16  Veneration of the Chains of St. Peter
 January 18  Sts. Athanasios and Cyril of Alexandria
 January 20  Venerable Euthymios the Great
 January 24  Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee
 January 25  St. Gregory the Theoplogian
 January 27  St. John Chrysostom
 January 30  Three Hierarchs
 January 31  Unmercenaries Cyros and John
   Sunday of the Prodigal Son and Sunday before the Presentation
   Of our Lord in the Temple

 

Quotable: "As our thoughts are, so is our life."
    - Elder Thaddeus of Vitovica, Serbia

 

    - St. Maximos the Confessor

 

 Scriptures:  Ephesians 4:7-13; Matthew 4:12-17
 Celebrant:  Father John
 Deacon:  Deacon Terry
 Epistle Reader: Brenda Baker
 Prosphora:  Dn Richard Roots
 Coffee Hour: Joneses/Stewarts