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
Friday, April 12, 2013
4/14 announcements
April 14, 2013
Fourth Sunday of Lent
St. John of the Ladder
Self-denial for self-glory is equally as vain as any endeavor not directed toward divine love and the glory of God. In St. John Climacus, seventh-century hermit and ascetic, we have a model of sacrifice directed to the love of fellow men. St. John knew that emptying himself of the things of this world was the act of renouncing his own efforts and accepting God's grace and mercy as true sustenance. The season of prayer and fasting is a time of true humility and complete submission to the Father's will. We proceed to the Great Feast, following a path of reconciliation and contemplation, seeking the adoration of the Son and His sacrifice, and emphasizing leaving the things of this world to attain perfect submission.
Hebrews 6:13-end: In his letter to the Hebrews, the Apostle reminds us that the promise of God to Abraham was fulfilled when Jesus Christ entered through the veil as a priest according to the order of Melchizedek, and that He is our hope and the anchor of our souls.
Mark 9:16-30: Our Lord casts a demon out of a young boy and in so doing show that faith is essential for actions to bear good fruit. He then gives a prophecy of His coming death and resurrection.
Troparion of the Resurrection: Having learned the joyful message of the Resurrection from the angel, the women Disciples cast from them their parental condemnation, and proudly broke the news to the Disciples, saying, Death has been spoiled. Christ God is risen, granting the world Great Mercy.
Troparion of St. John of the Ladder: With the rivers of thy tears thou hast made the barren desert fertile, and with the sighs of sorrow from thy heart thou hast made thy labours to bear fruit a hundredfold. With the glory of thy miracles thou hast become a light to the inhabited earth. O John our holy father, pray to Christ our God for the salvation of our souls.
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 Annunciation: To thee the champion leader, I thy servant offer thanks for victory, O Theotokos, thou who hast delivered me from terror. As thou hast power invincible, free me from every danger that I may cry unto thee: Rejoice, O bride without bridegroom.
CALENDAR
Sunday, April 14 (Fourth Sunday of Lent; St. John Climacus)
8:50 a.m. -- Orthros
9:00 a.m. -- Christian Education
10:00 a.m. -- Divine Liturgy
5:30 p.m. -- Youth Group
Monday, April 15
Office Closed -- Father John's Day Off
Tuesday, April 16
6:00 a.m. -- Lenten Orthros
Wednesday, April 17
6:30 p.m. -- Canon of St. Andrew of Crete & Life of St. Mary of Egypt
(No Soup Supper afterwards)
Thursday, April 18
NO Daily Orthros
Friday, April 19
NO Daily Orthros
6:30 p.m. -- Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos
Saturday, April 20
5:45 p.m. -- Ninth Hour prayers followed by Great Vespers
Sunday, April 21 (Fifth Sunday of Lent; St. Mary of Egypt)
8:50 a.m. -- Orthros
9:00 a.m. -- Christian Education
10:00 a.m. -- Divine Liturgy
1:00 p.m. -- Young Adults
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Bakers for the Saturday of the Souls liturgy yesterday morning and by the Freundts for the Divine Liturgy this morning. the Koliva for yesterday's liturgy was offered by the Algoods.
Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:
Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour
April 14 Freundt Strain/Dabit
April 21 Bassinger R. Root/Abraham/Davis
April 27 (Sat. a.m.) Fahmy Elizabeth Root
(Lazarus Saturday)
April 28 Abraham MEAL AT COCK OF THE WALK
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#
April 14 Warren Strain Heb. 6:13-20 287
April 21 Sh. Charlotte Algood Heb. 9:11-14 290
April 27 (Sat. a.m.) Kh. Sharon Meadows Heb. 12:28-13:8 291
April 28 Mildred Morris Phil. 4:4-9 294
Please remember Fr. Joseph and Kh. Joanna Bittle, and their daughter Abigail, in your prayers.
Please remember the following in your prayers: Steve, Sheryl and Stephen Chamblee; Amy and Brantley Oliver; Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Sam and Lamia Dabit and Sammie; Georgia Buchanan, George Johns (Georgia's grandson) and his family; Mary Greene (Lee and Kh. Sharon's sister); Fr. Stephen Tewfik; Sh. Gail Shannon; Dn. Sidney and Sh. Mary Elliot;
Fr. Alexander Atty, the Dean of St. Thikon's who is battling cancer.
Please continue to pray for the health of His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN.
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 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.
Confessions: As we prepare our hearts and minds for Lent and the celebration of Holy Pascha, please be sure to schedule a time for confession. Please go ahead and schedule these so that we do not have all confessions to be scheduled just prior to Holy Week. No confessions will be heard after Great and Holy Wednesday. Father John strongly prefers confessions to be made before Holy Week begins unless there are extenuating circumstances.
Calendar Items:
* The Men of the parish meet for lunch and fellowship on the first Thursday of the month.
* Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy will be celebrated for Lazarus Saturday on April 27th, beginning at 9:00 a.m.
* Palm Sunday Fish Meal at Cock of the Walk restaurant following the Divine Liturgy (for more information, see the notice that follows).
* Schedule of services for Holy Week:
Sunday, April 28th -- Bridegroom Matins, 6:30 p.m.
Monday, April 29th -- Bridegroom Matins, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 30th -- Bridegroom Matins, 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 1st -- Holy Unction Service, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 2nd -- Vesperal Liturgy, 6:00 a.m.
-- Reading of the Twelve Passion Gospels, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, May 3rd -- Royal Hours, 6:00 a.m.
-- Taking Down from the Cross, 3:00 p.m.
-- Lamentations Service, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 4th -- Vesperal Liturgy (followed by Baptisms), 9:00 a.m.
-- Paschal Service, 10:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 5th -- Agape Vespers, Time and Location TBA
* Parish Life Conference in New Orleans – June 12-16th.
* Vacation Church School will be held June 27-29, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
We welcome Andrew and Renee Caldecott to the fellowship of St. Peter's Orthodox Church. They are transferring their membership from Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church in Clinton. Welcome to St. Peter's, Andrew and Renee!
Palm Sunday Feast: Due to our construction project, we will not be able to hold our Palm Sunday Fish Fry here at the church as usual. Instead we will be going to Cock of the Walk for our meal on Sunday, April 28th following the Divine Liturgy. A sign-up sheet will be available in the coming weeks to give the restaurant a headcount for the meal. They will be providing a separate room for us and will be offering the same menu that they give us when they serve us at the church (all-you-can-eat catfish, French fries, coleslaw, cornbread and tea). The cost of the meal with gratuities is $18.00 per adult. The restaurant has requested that we write one check. You may write your checks to St. Peter and designate them for the Palm Sunday Feast. If anyone wishes to donate extra, they may do so. If anyone has a financial difficulty with the cost of the meal, please see Fr. John. We do not want anyone to miss the meal because of financial reasons.
Paschal Feast: There will be a feast following the Pascal Liturgy on May 4. Cheryl Pigott and Kh. Be'Be' Schelver are in charge. They have posted a sign-up sheet in the fellowship hall, and need everyone to help by bringing items. We will need some folks to help with clean up after the feast as well.
Bible Study with Breakfast: We will suspend the biweekly Bible Study with Breakfast until after Pascha.
Vacation Church School …The Christian Education department will hold a Vacation Church School June 27-29 from 8:30-12:30 each day. The curriculum will be "Ark of our Salvation – Feast Days of the Theotokos." Parents, please be sure to mark your calendars now.
Fasting Discipline for April
The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, wine or oil) is observed on all days of the week until Pascha (except Palm Sunday on April 28th, when fish, wine and oil are permitted).
Major Commemorations for April
April 14 4th Sunday of Lent; St. John Climacus
April 21 5th Sunday of Lent; St. Mary of Egypt
April 23 Great-martyr George
April 25 Apostle Mark
April 27 Lazarus Saturday
April 28 Palm Sunday
April 29-May 4 Holy Week
Directory Updates: Please add the following to your Directories.
Samer and Rula Dabit (and baby Julian) Andrew and Renee Caldecott
2301 5th Street 130 Thornwood Drive
Meridian, MS 39301 Clinton, MS 39056
Samer – 601-880-6688 Andrew – 601-951-7676 (c)
Rula – 601-678-7276 601-939-9866 (w)
601-948-3305 (w)
Happy Birthdays in April:
April 4 -- Denis Lavric
April 6 -- John Wood (#20!)
April 11 -- Brandon Strain (#11!)
April 12 -- Lily Dabit
April 26 -- Alexander Andrei (#1!)
Happy Anniversaries in April:
April 12 -- Mike and Cheryl Piggott (#32!)
April 28 -- Anthony and Athena Zouboukos (#23!)
Parish Life Conference 2013: This year St. Basil Orthodox Church in Metairie, LA will be hosting the Parish Life Conference for our Diocese on June 12-16. His Grace, Bishop JOHN Abdallah will be the speaker. There will also be a special presentation by Fr. Philip Rogers on keeping our children in the Orthodox Christian Church. Parents are especially encouraged to hear his presentation. Please mark your calendars now and make plans to attend.
Quotable: "St. Gregory of Nyssa states characteristically that the soul is not held by the body but it is she who contains the body. In other words, the body does not function as a vessel or a wine-skin, containing the soul, but rather the body is within her. The soul acts throughout the whole of man's body."
Metropolitan HIEROTHEOS, Orthodox Spirituality
Worship: Sunday, April 21, 2013 (Fifth Sunday of Lent; St. Mary of Egypt)
Scripture: Hebrews 9:11-14; Mark 10:32-45
Celebrant: Father John
Epistle Reader: Sh. Charlotte Algood
Prosphora: Basinger
Coffee Hour: R. Root/Abraham/Davis
