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 March 15, 2015
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Homily for Feb 22, 2015
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Saint Peter Antiochian Orthodox Church
Madison, Mississippi
Saturday, April 04, 2015
4/5 announcements
April 5, 2015
Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday begins the observance of the eight days that encapsulate all of time and eternity as relates to man. The days begin with the proclamation on earth of the entry of the Messiah into Jerusalem and end with the Eternal King rising in incomprehensible victory to establish the heavenly Jerusalem and His eternal reign. On Palm Sunday, we begin the days of the full exhibition of the awful corruption sin has spread in mankind and the measureless love that heals and deifies our humanity. Today we thrill at the picture of Christ and the praises of the people, the object of adoration yet the perfection of humility. The imagery of the scene is beyond description: the King amidst His people, the palm and olive branches symbolizing His victory, His anointing, His peace; the cloaks and garments cast before Him symbolizing our complete submission to His will; the cries of adoration, of "Hosanna," the coming of the Lord. Yet, on this day we are also near enough to feel acutely the dread of His passion, the desolation of the trial and Golgotha. This day also begins the week of the Eighth Day, the entry to eternity. As we observe Palm Sunday, we observe all history and the fulfillment of all history.
Philippians 4:4-9: The Apostle Paul encourages us in the reading from his letter to the Philippians: we are to rejoice in the Lord and to let our concerns and desires be made known to God in prayer and supplication. By doing so, he tells us that the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds.
John 12:1-18: In anticipation of her Lord's passion, Mary anoints Jesus' feet with costly ointment, foreshadowing His coming death. Jesus then enters Jerusalem shortly before Passover in fulfillment of Zechariah's prophecy.
First Troparion of Palm Sunday: O Christ God, when thou didst raise Lazarus from the dead before thy Passion, thou didst confirm the universal resurrection. Wherefore, we, like babes, carry the insignia of triumph and victory, and cry to thee, O Vanquisher of death, Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord.
Second Troparion of Palm Sunday: O Christ God, when we were buried with thee in Baptism, we became deserving of thy Resurrection to immortal life. Wherefore, we praise thee, crying, Hosanna in the highest, blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord.
Kontakion of Palm Sunday: Seated upon Thy throne in heaven, and a foal on earth, O Christ our God, Thou didst receive the praise of the angels and the hymns of the children: Blessed is He that cometh to recall Adam.
CALENDAR
Sunday, April 5 (Palm Sunday)
8:50 a.m. -- Orthros
9:00 a.m. -- Christian Education
10:00 a.m. -- Divine Liturgy
12:00 p.m. -- Fish Fry Meal
6:30 p.m. -- Bridegroom Matins
Monday, April 6 (Great and Holy Monday)
Office Closed -- Father John's Day Off
6:30 p.m. -- Bridegroom Matins
Tuesday, April 7 (Great and Holy Tuesday)
6:30 p.m. -- Bridegroom Matins
Wednesday, April 8 (Great and Holy Wednesday)
6:30 p.m. -- Service of Holy Unction
Thursday, April 9 (Great and Holy Thursday)
6:00 a.m. -- Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil
6:30 p.m. -- Reading of the Twelve Passion Gospels
Friday, April 10 (Great and Holy Friday)
6:00 a.m. -- Royal Hours
3:00 p.m. -- Taking down from the Cross
6:30 p.m. -- Lamentations Service
Saturday, April 11 (Great and Holy Saturday)
9:00 a.m. -- Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil
10:30 p.m. -- Paschal Service
Sunday, April 12 (PASCHA)
4:00 P.M. -- Agape Vespers at Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church in Clinton
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Abrahams for Lazarus Saturday yesterday morning and by the Karams for the Divine Liturgy today.
Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:
Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour
April 5 Karam FISH FRY MEAL
(set-up: Woods)
April 9 (Thur. am) Brock Kh. Sharon Meadows
April 11 (Sat. am) Fahmy Debbie Abraham
April 11 (Sat. pm) Wood Kh. Be'Be' Schelver and
Kh. Sharon Meadows
April 19 R. Root Henderson/Lockhart
April 26 Henderson Karam/Stewart/Meadows
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 5 Phillip Lasseter Phil. 4:4-9 294
April 9 (Thur. am) Kh. Sharon Meadows I Cor. 11:23-32 295
April 11 (Sat. am) Tom Willingham Rom. 6:3-11 300
April 11 (Sat. pm) Walt Wood Acts 1:1-8 25
April 19 Sh. Charlotte Algood Acts 5:12-20 32
April 26 Warren Strain Acts 6:1-7 38
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 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 continue to pray for the health of His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN.
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 UMMC, having suffered 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.
Mrs. Betty Long, the mother of Dn Basil Long, was moved to hospice this past week. She suffered a stroke a few years ago and has been in poor health since. Please keep her, Dn. Basil, Sh. Josie and all their family in your prayers.
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, April 19th .
Pledge Letters have been mailed. Please fill these out and return them to the office as soon as possible. Your pledges make it possible to plan a budget for the coming year.
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. However, since Pascha falls on the second week-end this year, we will meet for the Akathist on the Third Saturday of April.
* We will hold our annual catfish dinner TODAY following the Divine Liturgy. Meals will be $10 for adults and children 12 and over, and $6 for children 5-11.
* Schedule for Holy Week services are as follows:
Sunday, April 5th -- Bridegroom Matins at 6:30 p.m.
Monday, April 6th -- Bridegroom Matins at 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 7th -- Bridegroom Matins at 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 8th -- Service of Holy Unction at 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 9th -- Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil at 6:00 a.m.
-- Reading of the Twelve Passion Gospels at 6:30 p.m.
Friday, April 10th -- Royal Hours at 6:00 a.m.
-- Taking down from the Cross at 3:00 p.m.
-- Lamentations Service at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 11th -- Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil at 9:00 a.m.
-- Paschal Service at 10:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 12th -- Agape Vespers at 4:00 p.m. at Holy Resurrection
* Vacation Church School will be held Thursday, July 2nd through Saturday, July 4th.
Fasting Discipline for April
During Great Lent the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil) is observed on all days of the week until Pascha (except Annunciation on March 25th and Palm Sunday on April 5th, when fish wine and oil are permitted). During Bright Week (the week following Pascha) there is no fasting of any kind. Following Bright Week, the traditional fasting discipline will be observed on the remaining Wednesdays and Fridays of the month.
Major Commemorations for April
April 5 Palm Sunday
April 6-11 Holy Week
April 12 PASCHA
April 19 Thomas Sunday
April 23 Great-martyr George
April 25 Apostle Mark
April 26 Sunday of the Holy Myrrh-bearers
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).
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.
Happy Birthdays in April:
April 4 -- Denis Lavric
April 6 -- John Wood
April 11 -- Brandon Strain (#13!)
April 12 -- Lily Dabit
April 15 -- Anna Grace Dansereau (#2!)
April 26 -- Alexander Andrei (#3!)
Happy Anniversaries in April:
April 11 -- Simon and Rola Karam (#5!)
April 12 -- Mike and Cheryl Pigott (#34!)
April 28 -- Anthony and Athena Zouboukos (#25!)
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: "Do you call yourself a Christian? Are you a Christian in actual fact? Do you live as a Christian should live, that is, do you fervently desire and earnestly seek after that which a true Christian desires and seeks after? The blessings that the lord promises the true Christian in the future life are to be highly desired. And inexpressibly horrible is the misfortune into which sin plunges us, if we do not desire and do not seek what a Christian must desire most fervently and seek after most earnestly. What will happen if you do not receive the promised blessings and are cast into eternal torments? You have already lived a considerable time, but have you ever asked yourself these and similar questions? In particular, have you ever contemplated them seriously?"
How to Live a Holy Life by Metropolitan GREGORY of
St. Petersburg
Worship: Sunday, April 12, 2015 (PASCHA)
Scripture: Philippians 4:4-9; John 12:1-18
Celebrant: Father John
Epistle Reader: Walt Wood
Prosphora: Wood
Coffee Hour: POT LUCK MEAL
(set-up: Kh. Be'Be' Schelver/Kh. Sharon Meadows)
