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
Homily for September 13, 2015
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
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Saint Peter Antiochian Orthodox Church
Madison, Mississippi
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
6/2 announcements
June 2, 2013
Sunday of the Samaritan Woman
This Sunday concludes the week which includes mid-Pentecost. The scriptures for that day make reference to the great and final feast and the Lord's words concerning fountains of living water and the nourishment of the spirit. The episode of the Samaritan woman at Jacob's Well and Jesus's further description of Himself as living water continue this theme. There are innumerable nuances to the message of this episode, ranging from the allusion to the patriarch Joseph to the faith of those who believe without seeing, but let us concentrate on the woman who comes into the presence of her God. Christ asks service of her, asks her to ignore their traditional enmity, confuses her with parables, confronts her with her sins, and claims to be her Messiah and Lord. She enters the scene with skepticism, but she does not let circumstances blind her, for the words of the man before her ring with unmistakable authority and truth. Whether she wants to or not, she must believe herself to be in the presence of the Son of God; she not only believes, but she quickly bears witness to the others of her town. We join her in her faith, and we, too, partake of the Water of Life.
Acts 11:19-30: Reading in Acts, we see the establishment of the first predominately Gentile church in Antioch under the leading of Barnabas and Saul.
John 4:5-42: In Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman we see our Lord's concern with the truth, both in our dealings with others and in our worship of God. We also see that spreading the eternal gospel of the Kingdom is a corporate action and not that of just one or two.
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 for mid-Pentecost: In the midst of this Feast, O Saviour, give my thirsty soul to drink of the waters of true worship; for thou didst call out to all, saying, Whosoever is thirsty, let him come unto me and drink. Wherefore, O Christ our God, Fountain of life, 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 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, June 2 (Sunday of the Samaritan Woman)
8:50 a.m. -- Orthros
9:00 a.m. -- Christian Education
10:00 a.m. -- Divine Liturgy
Monday, June 3
Office Closed -- Father John's Day Off
Tuesday, June 4 (Metrophanes of Constantinople)
6:00 a.m. -- Festal Orthros
Wednesday, June 5
6:30 p.m. -- Great Vespers
7:30 p.m. -- Choir Practice
Thursday, June 6
NO Daily Orthros
11:30 a.m. -- Men's Lunch
Friday, June 7
NO Daily Orthros
Saturday, June 8 (Theodore the General)
5:45 p.m. -- Ninth Hour followed by Great Vespers
Sunday, June 9 (Sunday of the Blindman)
8:50 a.m. -- Orthros
10:00 a.m. -- Divine Liturgy
5:30 p.m. -- Young Adults
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Morrises for the Divine Liturgy this morning.
Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:
Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour
June 2 Morris TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED
June 9 Jones DUE TO CONSTRUCTION
June 12 (Wed. p.m.) Meadows
June 16 Davis
June 22 (Sat. a.m.) Yeatts Koliva: Anastasia Jones
June 23 Abraham
June 29 (Sat. a.m.) Liturgy for Sts. Peter and Paul cancelled due to Church School
June 30 Basinger
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#
June 2 Walt Wood Acts 11:19-30 52
June 9 Sh. Charlotte Algood Acts 16:16-34 58
June 12 (Wed. p.m.) Kh. Sharon Meadows Acts 1:1-12 63
June 16 Warren Strain Acts 20:16-18, 28-36 66
June 22 (Sat. a.m.) Phillip Lasseter Acts 28:4-31 72
June 23 Mildred Morris Acts 2:1-11 77
June 29 (Sat. a.m.) Liturgy for Sts. Peter and Paul cancelled due to Church School
June 30 Kh. Be'Be' Schelver I Cor. 4:9-16 130
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 remember Charles and Vivian Hadad in your prayers. They are members of Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church and have been dear friends of St. Peter's for many years. Both are experiencing issues with their health and Vivian is currently hospitalized.
Continue to pray for Metropolitan Paul (who is also the brother of our Patriarch) and the Syriac Archbishop John of Aleppo who were abducted recently while on a humanitarian mission in Syria.
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.
Congratulations!! …to Dorin and Carolina on the news of an upcoming addition to their family!
…to Fr. James and Kh. Sharon (and of course to Amanda and Joseph!) on the news that they will be grandparents in January!
Calendar Items:
* The Men of the parish meet for lunch and fellowship on the first Thursday of the month.
* The Paschal season will come to a close with Paschal Vespers for the Leave-taking of Pascha on Tuesday evening, June 11th, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
* We will celebrate the Feast of the Ascension with Orthros and Divine Liturgy on Wednesday evening, June 12th, beginning at 6:00 p.m.
* Parish Life Conference in New Orleans – June 12-16th.
* We will celebrate Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy for Saturday of the Souls on Saturday morning, June 22nd, beginning at 9:00 a.m.
* The Feast of Pentecost will be celebrated on June 23rd. As is the usual custom in our parish, the Kneeling Vespers will be held that Sunday evening, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
* Vacation Church School will be held June 27-29, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
* There will be no liturgy this year for Sts. Peter and Paul due to Vacation Church School.
Fasting Discipline for June
The 12th the traditional fasting (no meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, wine or oil) is observed on all Wednesdays and Fridays of the month until the Feast of Pentecost. There is no fasting of any kind during the week following Pentecost (June 24-28th). Due to the lateness of Pentecost this year, there will be no fast of the Apostles.
Major Commemorations for June
June 2 Sunday of the Samaritan Woman
June 4 Metrophanes of Constantinople
June 8 Theodore the General (transfer of relics)
June 9 Sunday of the Blindman
June 11 Apostles Bartholomew and Barnabas
June 13 Feast of the Ascension
June 16 Sunday of the Holy Fathers of Nicea
June 22 Saturday of the Souls
June 23 Pentecost
June 24 Nativity of the Forerunner
June 29 Chief Apostles Peter and Paul
June 30 Sunday of All Saints
Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles
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.
Happy Birthdays in June:
June 1 -- Fr. James Meadows
June 5 -- George Wood
June 6 -- Michel Root (2012)
June 12 -- Ellie Yeatts (1998)
June 13 -- Lou Turner
June 17 -- Sh. Margaret Root
June 21 -- Sandra Strain
June 22 -- Isabelle Goss (2010)
June 29 -- Jennifer Skirtech
June 30 -- Jeffrey Bassinger
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.
Happy Anniversaries in June:
June 8 -- Nader and Lily Dabit (2008)
June 10 -- Dorin and Carolina Lavric (2011)
June 14 -- Ken and Anastasia Jones (1970)
-- Saliba and Lamia Dabit (1964)
June 22 -- Fr. Leo and Kh. Be'Be' Schelver (1974)
June 31 -- Denis and Tatiana Lavric (2010)
Quotable: "'And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.' (Rom. 5,5)
The nous , on the other hand, is the energy of the soul. According to the Fathers, the nous is also called the eye of the soul. Its natural place is to be found within the heart; to be united with the essence of the soul and to experience the unceasing memory of God. Its movement goes contrary to nature when it is enslaved by the creatures of God and the passions. Orthodox tradition makes a distinction between nous and reason.
Reason is a function in the brain whereas the nous operates out of and is united with the heart in its natural state. In the saintly person, who is the manifestation and bearer of Orthodox spirituality, reason works and is conscious of the surrounding world while the nous is within the heart, praying unceasingly. The separation of the nous from reason constitutes the state of a spiritually healthy person, and this is the goal of Orthodox spirituality."
Metropolitan HIEROTHEOS, Orthodox Spirituality
Worship: Sunday, June 9, 2013 (Sunday of the Blindman)
Scripture: Acts 16:16-34; John 9:1-38
Celebrant: Father John
Epistle Reader: Sh. Charlotte Algood
Prosphora: Jones
Coffee Hour: Temporarily Suspended due to Construction
Friday, May 24, 2013
5/26 announcements
May 26, 2013
Sunday of the Paralytic
In the miracle of the healing of the paralytic at the pool of Bethesda, we see the Son's power over life and sin, power which becomes fully evident in the Resurrection. The paralytic is a man crippled in body and spirit, for, even as He heals the body, Jesus warns against results of further sin. Christ frees us from our bodies of corruption and grants us flesh glorified in Him; He also frees us from the power of sin and grants us perfection in His Spirit. As the man at the pool accepted God's grace and found life, so let us walk in His light and come into His presence.
Acts 9:32-42: Empowered by the Holy Spirit, St Peter heals a paralyzed man and raises a woman from the dead; both acts lead to many people believing in the Lord.
John 5:1-15: Jesus demonstrates His lordship over creation and the Sabbath when He heals a sick man at the pool of Bethsaida.
Troparion of the Resurrection: Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad; for the Lord hath done a mighty act with his own arm. He hath trampled down death and become the First-born from the dead. He hath delivered us from the depths of hades, granting the world the Great Mercy.
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 26 (Sunday of the Paralytic)
8:50 a.m. -- Orthros
9:00 a.m. -- Christian Education
10:00 a.m. -- Divine Liturgy
5:30 p.m. -- Young Adults
Monday, May 27
Office Closed -- Father John's Day Off
Tuesday, May 28
6:00 a.m. -- Daily Orthros
Wednesday, May 29
6:30 p.m. -- Great Vespers
7:30 p.m. -- Choir Practice
Thursday, May 30
NO Daily Orthros
Friday, May 31
NO Daily Orthros
Saturday, June 1 (Justyn Martyr)
5:45 p.m. -- Ninth Hour followed by Great Vespers
Sunday, June 2 (Sunday of the Samaritan Woman)
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 Schelvers for the Divine Liturgy this morning.
Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:
Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour
May 26 Schelver TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED
June 2 Morris DUE TO CONSTRUCTION
June 9 Jones
June 12 (Wed. p.m.) Meadows
June 16 Davis
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 26 Tom Skirtech Acts 9:32-42 45
June 2 Walt Wood Acts 11:19-30 52
June 9 Sh. Charlotte Algoos Acts 16:16-34 58
June 12 (Wed. p.m.) Kh. Sharon Meadows Acts 1:1-12 63
June 16 Warren Strain Acts 20:16-18, 28-36 66
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 remember Charles and Vivian Hadad in your prayers. They are members of Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church and have been dear friends of St. Peter's for many years. Both are experiencing issues with their health and Vivian is currently hospitalized.
Continue to pray for Metropolitan Paul (who is also the brother of our Patriarch) and the Syriac Archbishop John of Aleppo who were abducted recently while on a humanitarian mission in Syria.
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.
Calendar Items:
* The Men of the parish meet for lunch and fellowship on the first Thursday of the month.
* The Paschal season will come to a close with Paschal Vespers for the Leave-taking of Pascha on Tuesday evening, June 11th, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
* We will celebrate the Feast of the Ascension with Orthros and Divine Liturgy on Wednesday evening, June 12th, beginning at 6:00 p.m.
* Parish Life Conference in New Orleans – June 12-16th.
* We will celebrate Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy for Saturday of the Souls on Saturday morning, June 22nd, beginning at 9:00 a.m.
* The Feast of Pentecost will be celebrated on June 23rd. As is the usual custom in our parish, the Kneeling Vespers will be held that Sunday evening, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
* Vacation Church School will be held June 27-29, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
* There will be no liturgy this year for Sts. Peter and Paul due to Vacation Church School.
Fasting Discipline for May/June
The 12th the traditional fasting (no meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, wine or oil) is observed on all Wednesdays and Fridays of the month until the Feast of Pentecost. There is no fasting of any kind during the week following Pentecost (June 24-28th). Due to the lateness of Pentecost this year, there will be no fast of the Apostles.
Major Commemorations for May/June
May 26 Sunday of the Paralytic
June 1 Justyn Martyr
June 2 Sunday of the Samaritan Woman
June 4 Metrophanes of Constantinople
June 8 Theodore the General (transfer of relics)
June 9 Sunday of the Blindman
June 11 Apostles Bartholomew and Barnabas
June 13 Feast of the Ascension
June 16 Sunday of the Holy Fathers of Nicea
June 22 Saturday of the Souls
June 23 Pentecost
June 24 Nativity of the Forerunner
June 29 Chief Apostles Peter and Paul
June 30 Sunday of All Saints
Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles
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.
Happy Anniversaries in May/June:
May 30 -- Tom and Jennifer Skirtech (#36!)
June 8 -- Nader and Lily Dabit (2008)
June 10 -- Dorin and Carolina Lavric (2011)
June 14 -- Ken and Anastasia Jones (1970)
-- Saliba and Lamia Dabit (1964)
June 22 -- Fr. Leo and Kh. Be'Be' Schelver (1974)
June 31 -- Denis and Tatiana Lavric (2010)
Happy Birthdays in MayJune:
May 26 -- David Turner
May 27 -- Luke Habeeb (#8!)
May 30 -- Dn. Terry Algood
May 31 -- Stephen Chamblee
June 1 -- Fr. James Meadows
June 5 -- George Wood
June 6 -- Michel Root (2012)
June 12 -- Ellie Yeatts (1998)
June 13 -- Lou Turner
June 17 -- Sh. Margaret Root
June 21 -- Sandra Strain
June 22 -- Isabelle Goss (2010)
June 29 -- Jennifer Skirtech
June 30 -- Jeffrey Bassinger
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: "According to patristic tradition, the essence of the soul, which is called heart, is found within an organ, not in a vessel where the physical organ of the heart is. This should be interpreted in reference to what it was said before, that the soul holds the body and gives life to it; it is not contained by the body but it contains the person's body. It is within this perspective that St. Nicodemos the Hagiorite speaks of the heart as a biophysical (natural) centre, since the blood is circulated to all parts of the body from there; as an affected (contrary to nature) centre, since the passions prevail therein, and as a supernatural centre since the grace of God operates there, as many passages of the Holy Scripture state:
'But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart' (Matt. 5,28)
'But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgement of God' (Rom. 2,5)
'That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith' (Eph. 3,17)"
Metropolitan HIEROTHEOS, Orthodox Spirituality
Worship: Sunday, June 2, 2013 (Sunday of the Samaritan Woman)
Scripture: Acts 11:19-30; John 4:5-42
Celebrant: Father John
Epistle Reader: Walt Wood
Prosphora: Morris
Coffee Hour: Temporarily Suspended due to Construction