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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Homily for Tuesday, January 10, 2018
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second set of announcements for 9/20
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Homily for August 30, 2015
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Homily for August 16, 2015
8/23 announcements
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Saint Peter Antiochian Orthodox Church
Madison, Mississippi
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Thursday, May 24, 2012
5/27 announcements
May 27, 2012
Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the First Council of Nicea
Today is the Sunday of the Holy Fathers of Nicea. This day commemorates the Holy Fathers who sat in council at Nicea, the first of the ecumenical councils. Through them we see the commitment to the immutable truth of God for all the faithful, especially those who lead in the faith. The men of this council bear special note by the significance of their creed, for it is the fundamental statement of orthodox Christology and an enduring guide to our faith. The events of the ascension and the scriptures of this day emphasize to us the nature and action of Christ, and the history of these fathers puts us in mind of the work of the Holy Spirit in the church, work proclaimed by the glorious events which we now anticipate in the preparation for Pentecost.
Acts 20:16-18,28-36: In the reading from Acts, we hear St Paul speak to the elders of the church at Ephesus, encouraging them to follow his example in their shepherding, and bidding them his final farewell as he approached his imprisonment at Rome.
John 17:1-13: In the passage from John, Jesus prays for His disciples, that they would be united as one and kept from evil.
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 the Ascension: Thou hast ascended in glory, O Christ our God, and gladdened thy disciples with the promise of the Holy Spirit, having become confident of the blessing. Verily, thou art the Son of God, and Deliverer of the world.
Troparion of the Holy Fathers: Thou, O Christ, art our God of exceeding praise who didst establish our holy Fathers as luminous stars upon earth, and through them didst guide us unto the true Faith, O most merciful One, glory to thee.
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 Ascension: When thou didst fulfill thy dispensation for our sakes, uniting the terrestrials with the celestials, thou didst ascend in glory, O Christ our God, inseparable in space, but constant without separation, and crying unto thy beloved, I am with you, and no one shall be against you.
CALENDAR
Sunday, May 27 (Sunday of the Holy Fathers of Nicea)
8:50 a.m. -- Orthros
10:00 a.m. -- Divine Liturgy
12:00 p.m. -- Coffee Hour and Baby Shower for Lasseters
5:30 p.m. -- Youth Group
Monday, May 28
Office Closed -- Father John's Day Off
Tuesday, May 29
6:00 a.m. -- Daily Orthros
Wednesday, May 30
5:00 p.m. -- Catechism Class
6:30 p.m. -- Daily Orthros followed by Parish Council Meeting
Thursday, May 31
6:00 a.m. -- Daily Orthros
Friday, June 1 (Justyn Martyr)
6:00 a.m. -- Festal Orthros
Saturday, June 2 (Saturday of the Souls)
9:00 a.m. -- Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy
5:45 p.m. -- Ninth Hour followed by Great Vespers
Sunday, June 3 (Pentecost)
8:50 a.m. -- Orthros
10:00 a.m. -- Divine Liturgy
12:00 p.m. -- Pot Luck Meal
6:30 p.m. -- Kneeling Vespers
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Bakers for the Feast of the Ascension this past Wednesday and by the Fahmys for the Divine Liturgy today.
Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:
Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour
May 27 Fahmy R. Root/Algood
June 2 (Sat. a.m.) R. Root Dansereau/Cooper
(Koliva: Abraham)
June 3 Henderson Schelver/Henderson
June 10 Algood Meadows/Lasseter
June 17 Katool Ellis/Zouboukos
June 24 Schelver Fahmy/Pigott
June 28 (Thurs. p.m.) Morris
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#
May 27 Tom Skirtech Acts 20:16-18, 28-36 66
June 2 (Sat. a.m.) Kh. Sharon Meadows Acts 28:4-31 72
June 3 Walt Wood Acts 2:1-11 76
June 10 Sh. Charlotte Algood Heb. 11:33-12:2 84
June 17 Warren Strain Rom. 2:10-16 90
June 24 Mildred Morris Rom. 13:11-14:1-4 279
(reading is for the Forerunner)
June 28 (Thurs. p.m.) Kh. Sharon Meadows II Cor. 11:21-33; 12:1-9 389
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.
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.
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 and Sammie; 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 start their married life together); Fr. Stephen Tewfik; Dn. Howard Shannon.
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.
Baby Shower: Today we will have a "Coffee Hour/Baby Shower" in honor of Nikki and Phillip Lasseter following the liturgy. The hostesses are Lynda Costas, Sh. Margaret Root, Anastasia Jones, Sh. Charlotte Algood, and Kh. Be'Be' Schelver. Come and help us celebrate a new addition to our church!
Pentecost Feast: Next Sunday, June 3rd, is the Feast of Pentecost. We will have a "directed pot luck." with Kh. Janet Henderson and Kh. Be'Be' Schelver as the hostesses in charge. There is a sign-up sheet posted on the bulletin board in the fellowship hall. Please make an effort to sign up for this and plan to attend this joyous occasion.
Calendar Items:
* The Men of the parish meet for lunch and fellowship on the first Thursday of the month.
* On Saturday morning, June 2nd we will have Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy for Saturday of the Souls, beginning at 9:00 a.m.
* Pentecost is Sunday, June 3rd. We will have a meal following the Divine Liturgy. Kneeling Vespers will be held that evening, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
* There will be no fasting during the week following Pentecost. The Fast of the Apostles will begin Monday, June 11th and run through June 28th.
* Father John will be attending the Parish Life Conference June 13-17 in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Kh. Sharon will be representing our Ladies.
* Stewpot schedule (together with Holy Resurrection) – July 21st and December 29th.
Fasting Discipline for May/June
The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, wine and oil) is observed on all Wednesdays and Fridays of the month. There will be no fasting during the week following Pentecost (June 3rd). The traditional fasting discipline is again observed on all days during the Fast of the Apostles (June 11-28).
Major Commemorations for May/June
June 1 Justyn Martyr
June 2 Saturday of the Souls
June 3 Penetcost
June 4 Metrophanes of Constantinople
June 8 Theodore the General (transfer of relics)
June 10 Sunday of All Saints
June 11 Apostles Bartholomew and Barnabas
June 24 Nativity of th Forerunner
June 29 Chief Apostles Peter and Paul
June 30 Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles
When you host Coffee Hour or the meal for a Feast please make sure that the oven, warmer, and coffee maker are turned off afterwards. On several occasions in the past, the cleaning ladies have found the oven still on when they came in to clean later during the week.
Happy Anniversaries in May/June:
May 30 -- Tom and Jennifer Skirtech (#35!)
June 8 -- Nader and Lily Dabit (#4!)
June 10 -- Dorin and Carolina Lavric (#1!)
June 14 -- Ken and Anastasia Jones (#42!)
-- Saliba and Lamia Dabit (#48!)
June 22 -- Fr. Leo and Kh. Be'Be' Schelver (#38!)
June 31 -- Denis and Tatiana Lavric (#2!)
Happy Birthdays in May/June:
May 27 -- Luke Habeeb (#7!)
May 30 -- Dn. Terry Algood
May 31 -- Stephen Chamblee
June 1 -- Fr. James Meadows
June 5 -- George Wood
June 12 -- Ellie Yeatts (#14!)
June 13 -- Lou Turner
June 17 -- Sh. Margaret Root
June 21 -- Sandra Strain
June 29 -- Jennifer Skirtech
Quotable: "It is not until we learn to quiet our thoughts that there is even the possibility of learning to use our hearts. Apart from everything else, the mind uses noise constantly to reassure itself of its own existence. The language of the heart, on the other hand, is silence. Here I am not referring to an empty silence, one that is simply waiting for something to happen. Rather, I refer to the overflowing silence, the silence that is the heart's means of communication, a full and profound experience of being, and a deep awareness of God."
Archimandrite Meletios Webber, Bread and Water, Wine and Oil: an Orthodox Christian Experience of God
Worship: Sunday, June 3, 2012 (Feat of Pentecost)
Scripture: Acts 2:1-11; John 7:37-52, 8:12
Celebrant: Father John
Epistle Reader: Walt Wood
Prosphora: Henderson
Coffee Hour: POT LUCK MEAL
(Set-up:Schelver/Henderson)
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
5/20 announcements
May 20, 2012
Sunday of the Blind Man
Today is the Sunday of the Blind Man. Though the Gospel account of the healing of the blind man touches many subjects, there is but one theme: Christ is the divine Light which illuminates the hearts of those who behold Him in faith. Despite the intimidation of the authorities, despite the confusion of the people who know him, despite the fear of his parents, the blind man given sight refuses to deny what he knows is the truth: Jesus has given him sight, has healed the affliction he has born from birth, and one who does such good is from God. To deny his healer is to deny the truth, and he prefers persecution and rejection to that denial. More than his eyes have been opened; his heart has been opened to true and eternal Light. As were the Israelites cast into the dark despair of his fear, as are we all blinded by the frustration of sin and of our weakness, so this man was trapped by his closed eyes; and, as may all be, he was freed by the coming of the Messiah. In faith we open our eyes to the radiant glory of our Lord and King.
Acts 16:16-34: In our reading from Acts we see Paul and Silas imprisoned unjustly; but the Lord uses the circumstances to bring the jailer to Himself by means of a dramatic rescue.
John 9:1-38: After Jesus heals a man born blind, we see the hypocrisy and unbelief of the Pharisees as they seek to learn how the man came to see. After being put out of the temple, the formerly blind man again encounters Jesus, whom he worships as his savior.
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 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 Pascha: When Thou didst descend into the grave, O Immortal, Thou didst destroy the power of Hades. In victory didst Thou arise, O Christ God, proclaiming ARejoice@ to the myrrh-bearing women, granting peace to Thine apostles and bestowing resurrection on the fallen.
CALENDAR
Sunday, May 20 (Sunday of the Blindman)
8:50 a.m. -- Orthros
9:00 a.m. -- Christian Education
10:00 a.m. -- Divine Liturgy
1:00 p.m. -- Young Adults
Monday, May 21 (Sts. Constantine and Helen)
Office Closed -- Father John's Day Off
Tuesday, May 22
6:00 a.m. -- Daily Orthros
6:30 p.m. -- Paschal Vespers for the Leave-taking of Pascha
Wednesday, May 23
NO Catechism Class
6:00 p.m. -- Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy
Thursday, May 24 (Feast of the Ascension)
NO Daily Orthros
Friday, May 25 (The Forerunner – 3rd Discovery)
6:00 a.m. -- Festal Orthros
Saturday, May 26
7:30 a.m. -- Breakfast with Bible Study
5:45 p.m. -- Ninth Hour followed by Great Vespers
Sunday, May 27 (Sunday of the Holy Fathers of Nicea)
8:50 a.m. -- Orthros
10:00 a.m. -- Divine Liturgy
12:00 p.m. -- Coffee Hour and Baby Shower for Lasseters
5:30 p.m. -- Youth Group
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Woods for the Divine Liturgy today.
Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:
Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour
May 20 Wood Fahmy/Pigott
May 23 (Wed. p.m.) Baker
May 27 Fahmy R. Root/Algood
June 2 (Sat. a.m.) R. Root Dansereau/Cooper
(Koliva: Abraham)
June 3 Henderson Schelver/Henderson
June 10 Algood Meadows/Lasseter
June 17 Katool Ellis/Zouboukos
June 24 Schelver Fahmy/Pigott
June 28 (Thurs. p.m.) Morris
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#
May 20 Tom Willingham Acts 16:36-34 58
May 23 (Wed. p.m.) Brenda Baker Acts 1:1-12 63
May 27 Tom Skirtech Acts 20:16-18, 28-36 66
June 2 (Sat. a.m.) Kh. Sharon Meadows Acts 28:4-31 72
June 3 Walt Wood Acts 2:1-11 76
June 10 Sh. Charlotte Algood Heb. 11:33-12:2 84
June 17 Warren Strain Rom. 2:10-16 90
June 24 Mildred Morris Rom. 13:11-14:1-4 279
(reading is for the Forerunner)
June 28 (Thurs. p.m.) Kh. Sharon Meadows II Cor. 11:21-33; 12:1-9 389
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.
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.
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 and Sammie; 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 start their married life together); Fr. Stephen Tewfik; Dn. Howard Shannon.
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.
Congratulations and Many Years! to Joanna and Jay Davis who were married yesterday!
Congratulations to Melissa Curtis who was a member of the Madison Central Academic Decathlon Team that won third place in the National Competition in Albuquerque, NM! Melissa had the highest score on her team.
Congratulations to George Wood on his graduation from Mississippi College!
Baby Shower: Next Sunday, May 27th, we will have a "Coffee Hour/Baby Shower" in honor of Nikki and Phillip Lasseter following the liturgy. The hostesses will be Lynda Costas, Sh. Margaret Root, Anastasia Jones, Sh. Charlotte Algood, and Kh. Be'Be' Schelver. If you'd like to buy a baby gift for Titus, they're registered at Target and Babies-R-Us. Come and help us celebrate a new addition to our church!
Pentecost Feast: On June 3rd, Pentecost, we will have a "directed pot luck." Kh. Janet Henderson and Kh. Be'Be' Schelver are the hostesses in charge. There will be a sign-up sheet posted on the bulletin board in the fellowship hall. Please make an effort to sign up soon for this and plan to attend this joyous occasion.
Annual GreekFest Celebration: Holy Trinity and St. John the Theologian Greek Orthodox Church will be holding their annual GreekFest May 18th-20th at the church (located on Pear Orchard Road across from Christ United Methodist Church). For more information, see one of the flyers on the information table in the hallway outside the nave.
Calendar Items:
* The Men of the parish meet for lunch and fellowship on the first Thursday of the month.
* Coffee Hour honoring Melissa Curtis' graduation from high school today.
* We will celebrate the Leave-taking of Pascha with Paschal Vespers on Tuesday evening, May 22nd, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
* We will celebrate the Feast of the Ascension with Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy on Wednesday evening, May 23rd, beginning at 6:00 p.m.
* Coffee Hour and Baby Shower for Nikki and Phillip Lasseter on Sunday, May 27th.
* On Saturday morning, June 2nd we will have Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy for Saturday of the Souls, beginning at 9:00 a.m.
* Pentecost is Sunday, June 3rd. We will have a meal following the Divine Liturgy. Kneeling Vespers will be held that evening, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
* There will be no fasting during the week following Pentecost. The Fast of the Apostles will begin Monday, June 11th and run through June 28th.
* Father John will be attending the Parish Life Conference June 13-17 in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Kh. Sharon will be representing our Ladies.
* Stewpot schedule (together with Holy Resurrection) – July 21st and December 29th.
Fasting Discipline for May
The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, wine and oil) is observed on all Wednesdays and Fridays of the month.
Major Commemorations for May
May 20 Sunday of the Blindman
May 21 Sts. Constantine and Helen
May 24 Feast of the Ascension
May 25 The Forerunner (3rd Discovery)
May 27 Sunday of the Holy Fathers of Nicea
When you host Coffee Hour or the meal for a Feast please make sure that the oven, warmer, and coffee maker are turned off afterwards. On several occasions in the past, the cleaning ladies have found the oven still on when they came in to clean later during the week.
Happy Anniversaries in May:
May 12 -- Cliff and Anna Kathryn Stewart (#5!)
May 14 -- Lorencz and Geraldine Quirk (#52!)
May 30 -- Tom and Jennifer Skirtech (#35!)
Happy Birthdays in May:
May 5 -- Dale Cooper
-- Joanna Meadows
-- Mary Greene
May 7 -- Tiffany Strain (#15!)
May 8 -- Kh. Janet Henderson
May 10 -- Fr. Leo Schelver
May 11 -- Meghan Brock
May 15 -- Tom Skirtech
May 21 -- Jacob Skirtech (#5!)
May 24 -- Paul Katool
-- Daniel Root
May 26 -- David Turner
May 27 -- Luke Habeeb (#7!)
May 30 -- Dn. Terry Algood
May 31 -- Stephen Chamblee
Quotable: "The stream of thoughts is negative because the mind dwells in a land of unrelenting desire and boundless fear, and it attempts to influence us to experience these two areas as our rightful home. Almost anyone who has ever lain awake at four in the morning listening to the workings of the mind knows what this feels like. Some people actually hear an almost constant stream of conversation going on in their heads throughout the day, encouraging them to want and need, to be afraid, to feel alienated and alone. Many people experience the mind as a commentary. Still others, though denying that they can actually hear anything, will quickly agree that it is a very difficult thing to keep the mind quiet. Any attempt at counting from one to ten without having an intervening thought (including those inevitable ones like 'gosh, I'm able to count without having a thought') will reveal just how difficult it is."
Archimandrite Meletios Webber, Bread and Water, Wine and Oil: an Orthodox Christian Experience of God
Worship: Sunday, May 20, 2012 (Sunday of the Holy Fathers of Nicea)
Scripture: Acts 20:16-18, 28-36; John 17:1-13
Celebrant: Father John
Epistle Reader: Tom Skirtech
Prosphora: Fahmy
Coffee Hour: R. Root/Algood