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 April 19, 2015
Homily for April 5, 2015
4/19 announcements
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Homily for March 15, 2015
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Homily for March 8, 2015
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Saint Peter Antiochian Orthodox Church
Madison, Mississippi
Thursday, April 23, 2015
4/26 announcements
April 26, 2015
Sunday of the Holy Myrrh-bearers
About the beginning of His thirty-second year, when our Lord was going throughout Galilee, preaching and working miracles, many women who had received of His beneficence left their homeland and from then on followed after Him. They ministered unto Him out of their own possessions, even until His crucifixion and entombment; and afterwards, neither losing faith in Him after His death, nor fearing the wrath of the Jewish rulers, they came to His sepulcher, bearing the myrrh-oils they had prepared to anoint His body. It is because of the myrrh-oils that these God-loving women brought to the tomb that they are called the Myrrh-bearers. Of those whose names are known are the following: first of all the most holy Virgin Mary, who in Matthew 27:56 and Mark 15:40 is called Athe mother of James and Joses@ (these are the sons of Joseph by a previous marriage, and she was therefore their step-mother); Mary Magdalene; Mary, the wife of Cleopas; Joanna, wife of Chouza, a steward of Herod Antipas; Salome, the mother of the sons of Zebedee; Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus; and Susanna. As for the names of the rest of them, the evangelists have kept silence.
On this day we also make commemoration of Joseph of Arimathea, who was a secret disciple, and also of Nicodemus, who was a disciple by night. Joseph went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus, and together with Nicodemus, he gave Him burial out of reverence and love.
Acts 6:1-7: In the reading from Acts we see the establishment of the office of diaconate as an order of Church government with a purpose of serving the people and caring for their needs.
Mark 15:43-16:8: St Mark describes how Joseph of Arimathea claims the body of our Lord from Pilate to place it in his own tomb. On the third day, the three women learn from an angel that the Lord has risen from the dead.
Troparion of the Resurrection: When thou, O immortal Life, didst humble thyself unto death, then didst thou destroy death by the brightness of thy Godhead; and when thou didst raise the bowels of the earth, then all the heavenly powers exclaimed, O Christ, thou art the Giver of life! Glory to thee, O our God!
Troparia of the Holy Myrrh-Bearers: The pious Joseph, having brought down thy pure body from the Tree, wrapped it in fine linen, embalmed it with ointment, provided for it, and laid it in a new tomb. But thou didst truly rise, after three days, O Lord, granting the world the Great Mercy.
Verily, the angel came to the tomb and said to the ointment-bearing women, The ointment is meet for the dead, but Christ is shown to be remote from corruption. But cry ye, The Lord is risen, 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, April 26 (Sunday of the Holy Myrrh-bearers)
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 27
Office Closed -- Father John's Day Off
Tuesday, April 28
6:00 a.m. -- Daily Orthros
11:30 a.m. -- Ladies Lunch
Wednesday, April 29
6:30 p.m. -- Daily Vespers
7:30 p.m. -- Choir Practice
Thursday, April 30
Friday, May 1
Saturday, May 2 (Athanasios the Great)
5:45 p.m. -- Ninth Hour followed by Great Vespers
Sunday, May 3 (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
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Hendersons for the Divine Liturgy today.
Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:
Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour
April 26 Henderson Karam/Stewart/Meadows
May 3 Algood Ellis/Zouboukos/Fahmy
May 10 Katool POT LUCK MEAL
(set-up: Pigott/Dabit/Strain)
May 17 Schelver Skirtech/Skirtech/Parker
May 20 (Wed. pm) Morris Kh. Janet Henderson
(Feast of the Ascension) Mary Guy Lockhart
May 24 Jones D. Root/Dansereau
May 30 (Sat. am) Meadows Brittany Salisbury
(Saturday of the Souls) Koliva:
May 31 Davis POT LUCK MEAL
(Feast of Pentecost) (Set-up: Elizabeth Root
Brittany Salisbury)
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.
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 26 Warren Strain Acts 6:1-7 38
May 3 David Turner Acts 9:32-42 45
May 10 Mildred Morris Acts 11:19-30 52
May 17 Phillip Lasseter Acts 16:16-34 58
May 20 (Wed. pm) Kh. Be'Be' Schelver Acts 1:1-12 63
May 24 Brenda Baker Acts 20:16-18, 28-36 66
May 30 (Sat. am) David Turner Acts 28:1-31 72
May 31 Tom Willingham Acts 2:1-11 77
Continue to pray for Metropolitan Paul (who is also the brother of our Patriarch) and the Syriac Archbishop John of Aleppo who were abducted while on a humanitarian mission in Syria.
Please continue to pray for the health of His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN.
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 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;
Walt and Charlotte Wood and their family; Tom and Jennifer Skirtech and their family; Tom and Kathy Willingham; Athena and Anthony Zouboukos and their family.
Please remember Fr. Joseph and Kh. Joanna Bittle, and their daughter Abigail, in your prayers.
Vivian Haddad from Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church in Clinton is at home again, having been hospitalized earlier with a stroke. She and her husband Charles have been dear friends of many here at St. Peter. Please keep them and their family in your prayers.
Parish Life Conference 2015: This year St. Ignatius Orthodox Church in Franklin, TN will be hosting the Parish Life Conference for our Diocese on June 10-14. His Grace, Bishop JOHN Abdallah will be the speaker. Registration forms are available in the office or you can go online at www.saint-ignatius.org to register. The Conference will take place at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs and the last day to book the special conference rate is May 20th.
Calendar Items:
* The Men of the parish meet for lunch and fellowship on the first Thursday of the month.
* The Ladies of St. Peter will meet at 10:00 a.m. on the second Saturday of the month to pray the Akathist to the Mother of God, Nurturer of Children. Those who are able will go out for lunch and fellowship afterwards.
* We will be serving at the Stewpot on Saturday, May 23rd, along with members of Holy Resurrection and Holy Trinity/St. John the Theologian Orthodox Churches.
* Vacation Church School will be held Thursday, July 2nd through Saturday, July 4th.
Young Adults Study Group: The Young Adults agreed to begin meeting twice a month. One of these meetings will feature a teaching by Fr. John on various aspects of the Orthodox Christian faith. Topics will include education, ethics and parenting children. The next meetings will be Sunday, May 3rd and 17th.
Our Pot Luck Meal on May 10th will also be our Special Coffee Hour to honor Tiffany Strain our graduating High School Senior!
Fasting Discipline for April/May
Following Bright Week, the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil) will be observed on the remaining Wednesdays and Fridays of the month.
Major Commemorations for April/May
April 26 Sunday of the Holy Myrrh-bearers
May 2 Athanasios the Great
May 3 Sunday of the Paralytic
May 8 Apostle John the Theologian
May 10 Apostle Simon the Zealot
Sunday of the Samaritan Woman
May 17 Sunday of the Blindman
May 21 Feast of Ascension
Sts Constantine and Helen
May 24 Sunday of the holy Fathers of Nicea
May 25 The Forerunner (3rd Discovery)
May 30 Saturday of the Souls
May 31 Feast of Pentecost
Thermostats in the Fellowship Hall: There are two thermostats in the Fellowship Hall—one in the main room to control the air in the main room, and a second one in the Nursery room that controls the air in all four of the Sunday School rooms. Please be sure when you leave the building that both thermostats are set to 80 degrees in warm weather or 60 degrees in cold weather.
Parents, please supervise your children with food in the Fellowship Hall. We are getting stains on the new carpet (and also the chairs in the nave).
Happy Birthdays in April/May:
April 26 -- Alexander Andrei (#3!)
May 5 -- Dale Cooper
-- Joanna Davis
May 7 -- Tiffany Strain (#18!)
May 8 -- Kh. Janet Henderson
May 10 -- Fr. Leo Schelver
May 11 -- Meghan Brock
May 15 -- Tom Skirtech
May 21 -- Jacob Skirtech (#8!)
May 24 -- Paul Katool
-- Daniel Root
May 26 -- David Turner
-- Julian Dabit (#3!)
May 27 -- Luke Habeeb (#10!)
May 30 -- Dn. Terry Algood
May 31 -- Stephen Chamblee
Happy Anniversaries in April/May:
April 28 -- Anthony and Athena Zouboukos (#25!)
May 12 -- Cliff and Anna Kathryn Stewart (#8!)
May 19 -- Jay and Joanna Davis (#3!)
May 25 -- Nicholas and Carrie Henderson (#1!)
May 30 -- Tom and Jennifer Skirtech (#38!)
Suggestions on use of the Cry Room:
-- Please remember you're in liturgy when you're in the cry room.
-- Its main purpose should be a place for parents to take their children if they're being disruptive during liturgy, staying for 5-10 minutes (or until the child is calmed down) and then returning to liturgy.
-- It should not be used as a main sitting area during the liturgy.
-- Children should not be eating snacks or watching electronic devices while in the cry room.
Quotable: "How Should We Conduct Ourselves in the Morning?
In the morning, conduct yourself in the following manner:
1. Upon awakening, try first of all to direct your thoughts to the Lord God. Directing our thoughts to the Lord God shouls be our most natural activity at every other time of the day as well, because there is absolutely no one who could be so necessary for us, so dear and precious for us as God. For absolutely everything that we have now and that we have ever had, including even our very being—absolutely everything is a gift of God. The person who is the most needed, the most precious, the dearest of all for us is the one who usually first comes to our minds in the morning. As soon as we wake up in the morning, the thought of whoever or whatever is the most needed and dear to us wakes up as well. This always happens in the natural course of things. Therefore, it is always natural for our thoughts to turn first of all to the Lord God with some heartfelt appeal, such as 'Glory to Thee, O Lord! Glory to Thee, O All-Merciful One!' We would be unworthy of the name of Christian if, waking from sleep, we were to open only our physical eyes, and not our spiritual ones, and were to think first of the earth and earthly things, and not of the Lord God."
How to Live a Holy Life by Metropolitan GREGORY of
St. Petersburg
Worship: Sunday, May 3, 2015 (Sunday of the Paralytic)
Scripture: Acts 9:32-42; John 5:1-15
Celebrant: Father John
Epistle Reader: David Turner
Prosphora: Algood
Coffee Hour: Ellis/Zouboukos/Fahmy
