November 14, 2010

Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost

Holy Apostle Philip

Acts 8:26-39:  In the passage from Acts, we read of the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch by Philip.  One of the main points of this passage is that one does not make oneself a Christian.  Baptism is a crucial act of entry into salvation - into the Church.  The apostolic pattern of conversion is: (1) hearing Christ preached, (2) acceptance of Christ by faith, and (3) baptism.

Luke 10:25-37:  From the Gospel reading we hear the parable of the Good Samaritan in which    the Lord teaches us that to love one's neighbor requires giving of our time and money in addition to prayers and good words.

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 St. Philip:  O Holy Apostle Philip, intercede with our merciful God to grant our souls forgiveness of sins.

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 14   (Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost; Holy Apostle Philip)

            8:50 a.m.         -- Orthros

            9:00 a.m.         -- Christian Education

            10:00 a.m.       -- Divine Liturgy

            12:00 p.m.       -- Ladies of St. Peter

            5:30 p.m.         -- Youth Group

Monday, November 15    FAST OF THE NATIVITY BEGINS

            Office Closed  -- Father John's Day Off

Tuesday, November 16   (Apostle Mathew) 

            6:00 a.m.         -- Daily Orthros

Wednesday, November 17

            5:00 p.m.         -- Catechism Class

            6:30 p.m.         -- Paraklesis Service followed by Parish Council Meeting

            7:30 p.m.         -- Choir Practice

Thursday, November 18   

            6:00 a.m.         -- Daily Orthros

Friday, November 19  

            6:00 a.m.         -- Daily Orthros

Saturday, November 20  

8:30 a.m.         -- Workday at the Church

5:00 p.m.         -- Catechism Class

            5:45 p.m.         -- Ninth Hour Prayers followed by Great Vespers

Sunday, November 21   (Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple)

            8:50 a.m.         -- Orthros

            9:00 a.m.         -- Christian Education

            10:00 a.m.       -- Divine Liturgy

            12:00 p.m.       -- Pot Luck Meal

            1:00 p.m.         -- Young Adults

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Woods for the Divine Liturgy today.

Please be very careful with the Blessed Bread when you take it after communion.  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.

Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:

                                                      Eucharist Bread                     Coffee Hour

         November 14                        Woods                                     Pigotts

         November 21                        R. Roots                                   POT LUCK MEAL           

                                                                 (Set-up/Clean-up:  Danereaus, D. Roots, Meadows)

         November 28                        Hendersons                              Morrises    

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#

November 14              Mildred Morris                   Acts 8:26-39                            42

November 21              Kh. Be'Be' Schelver           Heb. 9:1-7                               337

November 28              Brenda Baker                     Eph. 6:10-17                           223

Please remember the following in your prayers:  Sandra Strain, Warren, Tiffany and Brandon; Mrs. Gouras, Ken, Anastasia and their family; the Longa and Dn. Sidney Elliott families from St. John's in Memphis; Sh. Charlotte Algood,   Dn. Terry and their family; Fr. James and Kh. Linda Ellison; Bobby and Sue Webb (Deborah Finley's parents); Tom Skirtech, Amy and Brantley Oliver; Reader Basil's family; Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Jared and Stacy Autrey and their daughter Olivia Kate  (St. Ignatius in Franklin).

Please continue to pray for the health of His Grace, bishop ANTOUN.        

During the upcoming Fast of the Nativity we will celebrate the Paraklesis service on Wednesday evenings instead of Daily Vespers., beginning November 17^th.  These services are an important part of our preparation for the Feast of the Nativity.  Therefore, you should make every effort to attend them.

St. Nicholas Offering:  This year the money that we collect from our St. Nicholas offering on Sunday, December 5^th will be sent to the Little Lighthouse to help children with disabilities.

The Madison Christmas Parade will be held on Saturday, December 4^th.  Anna Kathryn Stewart and Cliff Stewart will head this up once again.  We need volunteers to help with the float and also to ride it and to walk beside it during the parade.  If you can help with this, please contact Anna Kathryn or Cliff (SOON).

Calendar Items:

·         The Men of the parish have begun meeting for lunch and fellowship on the first Thursday of the month.  

·         The Fast of the Nativity begins TOMORROW.  Paraklesis Services will be held on Wednesday evenings in place of Daily Vespers during the fast.

·         Workday at the Church NEXT Saturday, beginning with breakfast at 8:30 a.m.

·         The Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple is November 21^st.  Since it falls on Sunday this year, we will celebrate with a Pot Luck Meal.

·         Madison Christmas Parade takes place on Saturday, December 4^th.

·         The Feast of St. Nicholas will be celebrated with Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy Monday morning, December 6^th at 6:00 a.m.

·         We will hold a One Year Memorial for Sara Cooper on Sunday, December 19^th.

Fasting Discipline for November

The traditional fasting (no meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, wine and oil) is observed on all Wednesdays and Fridays in the first half of the month.  Then beginning on November 15^th, the first day of the Nativity Fast, the traditional fasting is observed each day of the week.  Note, however, that through December 19^th there is a katalysis on Tuesdays and Thursdays when wine and oil are permitted, and on Saturdays and Sundays when fish, wine and oil are permitted.

Major Commemorations During November

         November 14   Apostle Philip

         November 16   Apostle and Evangelist Matthew

         November 21   Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple

         November 23   St. Amphilochios of Iconium

         November 25   St. Catherine the Great-martyr

         November 30   Apostle Andrew, the First-called

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:  "To what end do fasting and penitence lead?  For what purpose is this trouble taken?  They lead to the cleansing of the soul from sins, to peace of heart, to union with God; they fill us with devotion and sonship, and give us boldness before God."

                                                Fr. John of Kronstadt  

Worship:         Sunday, November 21, 2010 (Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple)

         Scripture:                     Hebrews 9:1-7; Luke 10:38 to end, 11:27-38

         Celebrant:                    Father John

         Epistle Reader:             Kh. Be'Be' Schelver

         Prosphora:                   Dn. Richard Roots

         Coffee Hour:                POT LUCK MEAL  (Set-up/Clean-up:  Danereaus,

                                                                               D. Roots, Meadows)