Parish Life
Welcome to the Parish Life section of Saint Peter Orthodox Church website. This is where we post news, events, photographs and more.
Welcome to the Parish Life section of Saint Peter Orthodox Church website. This is where we post news, events, photographs and more.
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Saint Peter Antiochian Orthodox Church
Madison, Mississippi
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
2/5 announcements
February 5, 2012
Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee
Sunday after the Meeting of our Lord in the Temple
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: 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: Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, full of grace; for from thee arose the Sun of justice, Christ our God, lighting those who are in darkness. Rejoice and be glad, O righteous old man, carrying in thine arms the Deliverer of our souls, who granteth us resurrection.
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.
CALENDAR
Sunday, February 5 (Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee)
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
1:00 p.m. -- Young Adults
Monday, February 6 (No fasting this week)
Office Closed -- Father John's Day Off
Tuesday, February 7
6:00 -- Daily Orthros
Wednesday, February 8
5:00 p.m. -- Catechism Class
6:30 p.m. -- Daily Vespers
7:30 p.m. -- Choir Practice
Thursday, February 9
6:00 a.m. -- Daily Orthros
Friday, February 10 (Hieromartyr Haralampos)
6:00 a.m. -- Festal Orthros
Saturday, February 11 (Blaise, Bishop of Sebaste)
7:30 a.m. -- Bible Study with Breakfast
5:45 p.m. -- Ninth Hour followed by Great Vespers
Sunday, February 12 (Sunday of the Prodigal Son)
8:50 a.m. -- Orthros
9:00 a.m. -- Christian Education
10:00 a.m. -- Divine Liturgy
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Meadows for the Feast of the meeting of the Lord in the Temple this past Wednesday evening and by Joanna Meadows for the Divine Liturgy today.
Please be reminded of the following:
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.
Also, at the end of the liturgy, maintain a prayerful disposition during the veneration of the cross as the prayers of thanksgiving after communion are still underway. Please exchange your greetings with each other in the Fellowship Hall during Coffee Hour.
Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:
Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour
February 5 Joanna Meadows D. Roots/Dansereaus
February 12 Dansereaus Pigotts
February 18 (Sat. a.m.) D. Roots
(Saturday of the Souls – Koliva: Charlotte Algood)
February 19 Yeatts Morrises
February 26 Freundts YOUTH GROUP
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#
February 5 Walt Wood II Tim. 3:10-15 258
February 12 Tom Skirtech I Cor. 6:12-20 265
February 18 (Sat. a.m.) Kh. Sharon Meadows I Cor. 10:23-26 271
February 19 Warren Strain I Cor. 8:8-9:2 273
February 26 Phillip Lasseter Rom. 13:11-14:4 279
Please be reminded that the Sacristy/Vestry which is adjacent to and behind the altar in our church is considered by the Orthodox Church to be part of the Sanctuary (Altar area) and should not be entered without the blessing of the priest for a specific purpose. If you need to speak with a member of the clergy while they are in the Sanctuary, please ask them to come to you in the nave.
Congratulations and Many Years! to Jordan and Lauri Henderson (and to Fr. John and Kh. Janet as well) on the birth of their son Lucas Deniakos Henderson on Tuesday evening. Lucas was 21 inches long and weighed 7 pounds and 14 ounces. Mother and baby are doing well.
Please remember Fr. Joseph and Kh. Joanna Bittle and their daughter Abigail in your prayers.
Please continue to pray for the health of His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN.
Please remember the following in your prayers: Maria Costas; Amy and Michael Surratt and Amy's family; Tom and Jennifer Skirtech and Jennifer's mother, Jessamine Hinkson; Warren and Sandi Strain and their family; Fr. Leo, Kh. Be'Be', Stephen and Amy, Justyn and Jeffrey; Steve, Sheryl and Stephen Chamblee; Amy and Brantley Oliver; Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Sam and Lamia Dabit; David Turner's mother Mary Jean; Georgia Buchanan, George Johns (Georgia's grandson) and his family; Dorin and Carolina Lavric and Victor (Carolina's brother); Mary Greene (Lee and Kh. Sharon's sister); Joanna Meadows and Jay Davis (as they prepare for their wedding).
Calendar Items:
* The Men of the parish meet for lunch and fellowship on the first Thursday of the month.
* The Annual Deanery Youth Retreat will be held NEXT WEEKEND at John W. Kyle State Park in Sardis. Joel and Sarah Finley will be addressing the topic of the Culture of Dating.
* Father Thomas Hopko will be speaking at Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church in Clinton February 14-16, 2012. More information will be available at a later date.
* Bridal Shower for Joanna Meadows – February 25th at the home of Mildred Morris.
* The Youth Group is planning to hold their annual Cheesefare Fundraising Luncheon on Sunday, February 26th.
* Great Lent begins with Clean Monday on February 27th. As is our parish custom, we will celebrate the Presanctified Liturgy on Wednesday evenings and the Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos on Friday evenings during the time of the fast.
* The schedule of services for the first week of Great Lent is as follows (all services begin at 6:30 p.m.):
Sunday, February 26th Forgiveness Vespers
Monday, February 27th Great Compline with the Canon of St. Andrew of Crete
Tuesday, February 28th Great Compline with the Canon of St. Andrew of Crete
Wednesday, February 29th Presanctified Liturgy followed by Soup Supper
Thursday, March 1st Great Compline with the Canon of St. Andrew of Crete
Friday, March 2nd Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos
* On Sunday evening, March 4th we will celebrate Sunday of Orthodoxy vespers with the other Orthodox churches in the area. Time and location TBA.
* The Ladies of St. Peter will hold their annual fund-raising lunch and auction on Sunday morning, March 25th.
* His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN will be here the weekend of May 6, 2012 to help us celebrate our 25th anniversary as a parish. The planning committee is working very hard to make our celebration a memorable one. There will be an evening event at the MS Museum of Art on Saturday, May 6th. Other events are being planned and more information will be available in the coming months.
Welcome! Lynda Costas has moved her membership officially from Holy Trinity and St. John the Theologian Orthodox Church to St. Peter's and we welcome her as an "official" member!
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 home blessed. However, the responsibility for scheduling lies with individuals and not Father John. No house blessings will be done once Great Lent starts (February 27th this year).
Please be sure to turn in your pledge letters as soon as possible. If you did not receive one in the recent weeks, please let Kh. Sharon know.
Breakfast and Bible Study: we are continuing to meet every 2-3 weeks for Bible Study on Saturday morning at 7:30 a.m. with breakfast. This is open to all who are interested. Be sure to come and enjoy the fellowship.
Camping Scholarships: We have received the request form for Scholarships to attend one of the Archdiocese camps this summer. If your camper needs financial assistance to attend Camp St. Thekla or the Antiochian Village, please see Kh. Sharon for a form. Father John must submit these forms to the Department of Camping no later than March 1, 2012 (no exceptions).
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. However, there is no fasting during the week following the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee (February 5th). Following Meatfare Sunday (February 19th) meat will not be eaten again until Pascha. During the week following Meatfare Sunday, dairy products (millk, cheese, eggs, etc.) are permitted, even on Wednesday and Friday. February 26th is Cheesefare Sunday, the last day until Pascha that cheese, dairy and wine are permitted. Monday, February 27th 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 April 8th, when fish, wine and oil are permitted).
Major Commemorations for February
February 5 Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee
February 10 Hieromartyr Haralampos
February 11 Blaise, Bishop of Sebaste
February 12 Sunday of the Prodigal Son
February 19 Judgement Sunday (Meatfare)
February 24 The Forerunner (1st and 2nd Discoveries)
February 26 Forgiveness Sunday (Cheesefare)
February 27 Clean Monday (Great Lent begins)
If you are the last to leave the building, please make sure that the heating and cooling unit in the Fellowship Hall is turned off.
Happy Birthdays in February:
February 11 -- Cassie Freundt (#19!)
-- Zoe Freundt (#19!)
-- Demetrius Zouboukos (#19!)
February 13 -- Clyde Ellis
February 15 -- Mary Guy Lockhart
February 17 -- Anthony Zouboukos
February 18 -- Tom Willingham
February 22 -- Kh. Sharon Meadows
February 24 -- Nimr Fahmy
February 28 -- Cole Parker (#7!)
Happy Anniversaries in February:
February 7 --- Ben and Meghan Brock (#3!)
February 18 -- David and Lou Turner (#6!)
February 21 -- Michael and Amy Surratt (#14!)
February 25 -- Daniel and Elizabeth Root (#6!)
Quotable: "It is necessary to make a clear distinction between thoughts that we have when we make an effort to think; thoughts that have us, which seem to emerge automatically; and thoughts that come from an altogether deeper awareness which we may call discernment or intuition. Describing these three forms of thought (and there may be many others) is not simply a matter of theorizing about such things. The distinction between them has very important practical implications for our spiritual development.
Leaving the third to the experts (remembering that saints do not tend to advertise themselves), most people can recognize the difference between using thought and being used by thought. The ability to think logically plays an important part in our fundamental role as God's cocreators. However, the stream of automatic thoughts which almost all of us recognize in ourselves needs to be regarded with some suspicion, as, according to the experience of the Church, it originates from a mind that is broken, divorced from the heart. It is these thoughts (logismoi) of a person that eventually turn into passions—those behaviors that cut us off from God. They stand in opposition to passionlessness, which the Fathers envisage as a state on the path to spiritual healing. Passionlessness (in Greek apatheia) does not mean a lack of love or concern, as it tends to sound to Western ears, but rather a state of being unaffeceted by the passions as defined above."
Archimandrite. Meletios Webber, Bread and Water, Wine and
Oil: an Orthodox Christian Experience of God
Worship: Sunday, February 12, 2012 (Sunday of the Prodigal Son)
Scripture: I Corinthians 6:12-20; Luke 15:11-32
Celebrant: Father John
Epistle Reader: Tom Skirtech
Prosphora: Dansereaus
Coffee Hour: Pigotts
