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
Homily for August 16, 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, June 27, 2013
6/30 announcements
June 30, 2013
All Saints Sunday
Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles
The Church commemorates and remembers all of its saints at three times during the year; in anticipation of Christmas, at the beginning of Lent, and immediately after Pentecost. On all three days we are reminded of the unified body of God's people and of the holiness they have achieved and for which we strive. These two things are not abnormal and removed from us; they are truth and reality. On this day we are especially reminded of the strength of the saints and their victories, and we move from the day of Pentecost, the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit, to join God's people in our victorious procession, through purifying trial and sacrifice, to the Day of the Lord.
I Corinthians 4:9-16: We hear St Paul speak to the Corinthians as their spiritual father and exhort them to imitate him in their actions.
Matthew 10:32- 33, 37-38;19:27-30: In the gospel reading we hear the Lord Jesus teach the meaning of discipleship, and, when asked by Peter, tells him what shall be the reward for those who truly are disciples of His.
Troparion of the Resurrection: O compassionate One, thou didst descend from the heights; thou didst submit to the three-day burial, that thou might deliver us from passion. Thou art our Life and our Resurrection, O Lord, glory to thee.
Troparion of Sts. Peter and Paul: O foremost in the ranks of the Apostles and teachers of the world, intercede with the Master of all to grant safety to the world and to the souls the great mercy.
Troparion of All Saints: Thy Church, O Christ God, hast regaled herself in the blood of thy Martyrs throughout all the world, as in porphyry and purple. Through them she lifts her voice, crying, Turn with thy compassion to thy people, and grant peace to thy city, and to the souls 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 the Saints: To thee, O Lord and Author of all creation, the universe offers as first-fruits of nature the divinity-bearing Martyrs. Wherefore, by their imploring preserve thy Church in perfect safety, for the sake of the Theotokos, O most Merciful.
CALENDAR
Sunday, June 30 (Sunday of All Saints)
8:50 a.m. -- Orthros
10:00 a.m. -- Divine Liturgy
5:30 p.m. -- Youth Group
Monday, July 1 (Cosmas and Damian of Rome)
Office Closed -- Father John's Day Off
Tuesday, July 2 (Deposition of the Robe of the Theotokos)
6:00 a.m. -- Daily Orthros
Wednesday, July 3
6:30 p.m. -- Daily Vespers
7:30 p.m. -- Choir Practice
Thursday, July 4
NO Daily Orthros
Friday, July 5 (Athanasios of Athos)
NO Daily Orthros
Saturday, July 6
5:45 p.m. -- Ninth Hour followed by Great Vespers
Sunday, July 7 (Second Sunday after Pentecost)
8:50 a.m. -- Orthros
10:00 a.m. -- Divine Liturgy
12:30 p.m. -- Baptism of Anna Grace Dansereau
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Basingerss for the Divine Liturgy this morning.
Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:
Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour
June 30 Basinger Skirtech/Skirtech/Parker
July 7 Fahmy D. Root/Dansereau/Dale Cooper
July 14 Baker POT LUCK MEAL
set-up: Meadows/Lasseter/Greene/Strain
July 21 Wood Algood/Bassinger/Yeatts
July 28 Henderson R. Root/Abraham/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#
June 30 Kh. Be'Be' Schelver I Cor. 4:9-16 130
July 7 Tom Willingham Gal. 3:23-4:5 160-161
July 14 Tom Skirtech Titus 3:8-15 322
July 21 Walt Wood Rom. 6:18-23 102
July 28 Sh. Charlotte Algood Rom. 10:1-10 108
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.
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.
Anna Grace Dansereau will be baptized next Sunday following the Divine Liturgy. Please pray for her; her Godmother, Anna Kathryn Stewart; and her parents, Chris and Rebecca Dansereau.
Calendar Items:
* The Men of the parish meet for lunch and fellowship on the first Thursday of the month.
Due to the July Fourth holiday, they will meet on July 11th next month.
* The dates for POT LUCK MEALS this quarter are July n14th, August 11th and September 8th (this Sunday is also the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos).
* The Ladies of St. Peter will have a fundraiser on Sunday, September 29th to replenish funds used for charitable activities. They will be auctioning off casseroles and baked goods during Coffee Hour that Sunday.
Fasting Discipline for July
The traditional fasting (no meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, wine or oil) is observed on all Wednesdays and Fridays of the month.
Major Commemorations for July
June 30 Sunday of All Saints
Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles
July1 Cosmas and Damian of Rome
July 2 Deposition of the Robe of the Theotokos
July 5 Athanasios of Athos
July 11 Euphemia the all-praised
July 17 Great-martyr Marina
July 20 Prophet Elias
July 25 Dormition of Righteous Anna
July 27 Great-martyr Panteleimon
Palm Sunday Feast: If you have not yet paid for your meal at Cock of the Walk on Palm Sunday, please do so as soon as possible. Make checks payable to St. Peter and designate Palm Sunday Feast on the memo line.
Quarterly Schedule Update: When the Quarterly Schedule was compiled for July through September, the dates for POT LUCK MEALS were left off inadvertently. The dates for these meals are July 14th, August 11th and September 8th . Please make a note of these on your Quarterly Schedule.
Happy Birthdays in June/July:
June 30 -- Jeffrey Bassinger
July 10 -- Ramzi Kafoury
July 11 -- Titus Lasseter (#1!)
July 14 -- Emil Ellis (#17!)
July 15 -- Emad Fino
July 22 -- Amy Oliver
-- Thomas Wood
-- Walt Wood
July 25 -- Vickie Curtis
July 26 -- George Curtis (#14!)
Happy Anniversaries in June:
June 30 -- Denis and Tatiana Lavric (#3!)
July 3 -- Emad and Suzi Fino (#25!)
July 25 -- Reader Basil and Brenda Baker (#32!)
July 30 -- Clyde and Mary Ellis (#19!)
Quotable: "Man is dual: exterior and interior, flesh and spirit. The outer man is visible, of the flesh; but the inner man is invisible, spiritual—or what the Apostle Peter terms '. . . the hidden man of the heart, which is not corruptible, . . . a meek and quiet spirit' (I Pet. iii. 4). And St. Paul refers to this duality when he says: 'But though our outer man perish, yet the inward is renewed' (2 Cor. iv. 16). Here the Apostle speaks clearly about the outer and inner man. the outer man is composed of many members, but the inner man comes to perfection through his mind—by attention to himself, by fear of the Lord, and by the grace of God. The works of the outer man are visible, but those of the inner man are invisible, according to the Psalmist: 'the inner man and the heart are very deep' (Ps. lxiii. 7: Septuagint). And St. Paul the Apostle also says: 'For what man knoweth the things of man, save the spirit of man which is in him?' (1 Cor. ii. 11). Only He who tests the innermost hearts and the inward parts knows all the secrets of the inner man."
The Art of Prayer; an Orthodox Anthology compiled by Igumen Chariton of Valamo
Worship: Sunday, July 7, 2013 (Second Sunday after Pentecost)
Scripture: Galatians 3:23-4:5(for St. Kyriake); Matthew 4:18-23
Celebrant: Father John
Epistle Reader: Tom Willingham
Prosphora: Fahmy
Coffee Hour: D. Root/Dansereau/Dale Cooper
Saturday, June 22, 2013
6/23 announcements
June 23, 2013
Pentecost
In several senses, Pentecost marks for us the end of many months of anticipation, commemoration, and celebration and the beginning of the fullness of the life and faith we share. It is a day bringing our focus on the Holy Spirit, the embodiment of divine grace, the supreme gift, the ongoing presence of God in our lives; yet, it is a day directing us to the praise of the Trinity, the three divine persons, and the historical and spatial relationship God's people have with Him. For the disciples, the day marks their spiritual maturity. Their faith began in their nationality, for they were of the nation that God the Father chose to glorify Him. The faith was completed in their confrontation with God the Son, through His presence and the nourishment He gave. The fullness of the faith came with the coming in power of God the Spirit. The disciples had grown in spirit and were ready for their work; the birth of the Church was imminent; the Bride was to be made ready. In the cycle of the calendar, we now stand ready to do likewise, and all weeks from now until our preparation for Advent are the weeks of Pentecost. In the picture of the birth of the Church there are symbols beyond mention here; the unity in the common tongue, the Light that shines brighter than day, the bold proclamation to all men of the Gospel. We look forward from this day to weeks without special celebrations, to days without reference to past days of enormous import--to normal, uneventful days. But these are not uneventful days; they are the days for which we have prepared, the days of the Church, the days of our maturity and growth, the days when, through the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit, we run the good race and cross the finish to bring praise and glory to our glorious God, the eternal Trinity.
Acts 2:1-11: In the reading from Acts we see the pouring out of God's Spirit on the apostles, the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy, and the beginning of the Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.
John 7:37-52, 8:12: Our Lord calls those thirsting for righteousness to Himself, promising to eternally quench their thirst by the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Pharisees, however, view Jesus as a threat to their authority and seek for ways to undermine His authority.
Troparion of Pentecost: Blessed art thou, O Christ our God, who hast revealed the fishermen as most wise, having sent upon them the Holy Spirit, and through them thou hast fished the universe, O Lover of mankind, glory to thee.
Kontakion of Pentecost: When the high One descended, confusing tongues, he divided the nations. And when he distributed the fiery tongues he called all to one unity. Wherefore, in unison we glorify the most Holy Spirit.
CALENDAR
Sunday, June 23 (Pentecost) [NO FASTING THIS WEEK]
8:50 a.m. -- Orthros
10:00 a.m. -- Divine Liturgy
12:00 p.m. -- Pot Luck Meal for Pentecost
6:30 p.m. -- Kneeling Vespers
Monday, June 24 (Nativity of the Forerunner)
Office Closed -- Father John's Day Off
Tuesday, June 25
6:00 a.m. -- Daily Orthros
Wednesday, June 26
6:30 p.m. -- Daily Vespers
7:30 p.m. -- Choir Practice
7:30 p.m. -- Parish Council Meeting
Thursday, June 27
NO Daily Orthros
8:30 a.m. -- Vacation Church School (until 12:30 p.m.)
Friday, June 28
NO Daily Orthros
8:30 a.m. -- Vacation Church School (until 12:30 p.m.)
Saturday, June 29 (Chief Apostles Peter and Paul)
8:30 a.m. -- Vacation Church School (until 12:30 p.m.)
11:15 a.m. -- Serving at Stewpot
5:45 p.m. -- Ninth Hour followed by Great Vespers
Sunday, June 30 (Sunday of All Saints)
8:50 a.m. -- Orthros
10:00 a.m. -- Divine Liturgy
5:30 p.m. -- Youth Group
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Yeatts for the Saturday of the Souls Liturgy yesterday morning and by the Abrahams for the Divine Liturgy this morning. The Koliva for yesterday's liturgy was offered by the Joneses.
Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:
Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour
June 23 Abraham Algood/Meadows/Volunteers
June 29 (Sat. a.m.) Liturgy for Sts. Peter and Paul cancelled due to Church School
June 30 Basinger Skirtech/Skirtech/Parker
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 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.
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.
Many Thanks!! to Fr. James and Dn. Richard, to Fr. Leo and Dn. Terry and to everyone else who helped complete our construction project. We are very thankful to the Lord that we have been able to add this additional space to our facility!
Father John and his family will be on vacation June 20-24th. Please contact Fr. Leo or Fr. James if you need a priest during his absence.
Fasting Discipline for June
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 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
Calendar Items:
* The Men of the parish meet for lunch and fellowship on the first Thursday of the month.
Due to the July Fourth holiday, they will meet on July 11th next month.
* Vacation Church School will be held this week on 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.
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
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: "Consequently the Saint—a bearer of Orthodox spirituality—possess all three of these memories, which act and function simultaneously without influencing one another. A Saint is the most 'natural of men.' He is conscious of the world, involved in various concerns, yet—because his nous has attained to its natural function—'he lives on earth but is a citizen of heaven."
"Therefore, the centre of Orthodox spirituality is the heart, within which man's nous must inherently operate. The energy of the soul—the nous—must return within the soul's essence—in the heart--; and thus by uniting these powers by the grace of God acquire unity and communion with God the Trinity. A spirituality outside of this perspective is not Orthodox but moralistic, pietistic, abstract and rationalistic."
Metropolitan HIEROTHEOS, Orthodox Spirituality
Worship: Sunday, June 30, 2013 (Sunday of All Saints; Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles)
Scripture: I Corinthians 4:9-16; Matthew 10:32-33, 37-38; 19:27-30
Celebrant: Father John
Epistle Reader: Kh. Be'Be' Schelver
Prosphora: Basinger
Coffee Hour: Skirtech/Skirtech/Parker