November 7, 2010

Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost

Ephesians 2:14-19: In our reading from Ephesians, we are reminded that Christ not only brought us into union with Himself, but also into union with each other and the faithful saints who have gone before us to be with the Lord.

Luke 8:41-56:  From the Gospel of Luke we hear of Jesus healing a woman with a hemorrhage   and raising a young girl from death; showing His desire to heal suffering and to respond to the faith of those who come to Him.

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 of the Martyrs:  Thy Martyrs, O Lord, in their courageous contest for Thee received as the prize the crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our immortal God.  For since they possessed Thy strength, they cast down the tyrants and wholly destroyed the demons= strengthless presumption.  O Christ our God, by their prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful.

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 for Usual Sundays:  O undisputed intercessor of Christians, O mediatrix, who is unrejected by the Creator, turn not away from the voice of our petitions though we be sinners; come to us in time, who cry to thee in faith, for thou art good.  Hasten to us with intercessions, O Theotokos, who didst ever intercede for those who honor thee.

CALENDAR

Sunday, November 7   (Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost)

            8:50 a.m.         -- Orthros

            9:00 a.m.         -- Christian Education

            10: a.m.                       -- Divine Liturgy

            1:00 p.m.         -- Young Adults

Monday, November 8  (Archangels Michael and Gabriel)

            Office Closed  -- Father John's Day Off

Tuesday, November 9   (St. Nektarios) 

            6:00 a.m.         -- Daily Orthros

Wednesday, November 10

            5:00 p.m.         -- Catechism Class

            6:30 p.m.         -- Daily Vespers

            7:30 p.m.         -- Choir Practice

Thursday, November 11   

            6:00 a.m.         -- Daily Orthros

Friday, November 12  

            6:00 a.m.         -- Daily Orthros

Saturday, November 13   (Repose of St. John Chrysostom)   

5:00 p.m.         -- Catechism Class

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

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

            8:50 a.m.         -- Orthros

            9:00 a.m.         -- Christian Education

            10: a.m.                       -- Divine Liturgy

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

            1:00 p.m.         -- Young Adults

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Fahmys for the feast of St. Raphael yesterday and by the Bakers 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 7                          Bakers                                     Fahmys

         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 7                Warren Strain                     Eph. 2:14 to end                      207

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 Women of St. John Orthodox Church in Memphis will be holding their annual retreat on November 12-13^th.  Subdeacon Joshua Armitage will be speaking on Prayer, Imagination, and the Name of Jesus.  The cost is $35 (including meals) or $15 (without meals).  Flyers are available in the foyer.

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 Women of St. John's annual retreat in Memphis is November 12-13^th.

·         The Fast of the Nativity begins on November 15^th.  Paraklesis Services will be held on Wednesday evenings in place of Daily Vespers during the fast.

·         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.  (We will not have a meal on the first Sunday of the month.)

·         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 8     Archangels Gabriel and Michael

         November 9     St. Nektarios the Wonder-worker

         November 13   St. John Chrysostom (repose)

         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

Quotable:  "As you are aware, man in his words, does not die; he is immortal in them, and they will speak after his death.  I shall not die, but shall speak even after my death.  How many immortal words are in use amongst the living which were left by those who have died long ago, and which sometimes still live in the mouths of whole people!  How powerful is the word even of an ordinary man!  Still more so is the Word of God; it will live throughout all ages, and will always be living and acting."

Fr. John of Kronstadt