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.
Previous Posts
Homily for Tuesday, January 10, 2018
Homily for September 13, 2015
second set of announcements for 9/20
9/13 announcements
9/6 announcements
Homily for August 30, 2015
Homily for August 16, 2015
8/30 announcements
Homily for August 16, 2015
8/23 announcements
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Saint Peter Antiochian Orthodox Church
Madison, Mississippi
Thursday, May 28, 2015
5/31 announcements
May 31, 2015
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, May 31 (Pentecost)
8:50 a.m. -- Orthros
10:00 a.m. -- Divine Liturgy
12:00 p.m. -- Picnic Pot Luck Meal
6:00 p.m. -- Kneeling Vespers [PLEASE NOTE CHANGE IN TIME]
Monday, June 1 (Justyn Martyr)
Office Closed -- Father John's Day Off
Tuesday, June 2
6:00 a.m. -- Daily Orthros
Wednesday, June 3
6:30 p.m. -- Daily Vespers
7:15 p.m. -- Choir Practice
Thursday, June 4 (Metrophanes of Constantinople)
6:00 a.m. -- Daily Orthros
11:30 a.m. -- Men's Lunch
Friday, June 5
Saturday, June 6
5:45 p.m. -- Ninth Hour followed by Great Vespers
Sunday, June 7 (Sunday of the All Saints)
8:50 a.m. -- Orthros
10:00 a.m. -- Divine Liturgy
5:00 p.m. -- Young Adults
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Meadows yesterday morning for Saturday of the Souls and by the Davises for the Divine Liturgy today. The Koliva for Saturday of the Souls was offerered by the Dn. Richard Roots.
Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:
Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour
May 31 Davis POT LUCK MEAL
(Feast of Pentecost) (Set-up: Elizabeth Root
Brittany Salisbury)
June 7 D. Root Algood/Lasseter
June 14 Abraham R. Root/Abraham/Habeeb
June 21 Karam Schelver/Lavric/Turner
June 28 Brock Henderson/Baker/Lockhart
June 29 (Mon. am) Fahmy Kh. Sharon Meadows
(Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul)
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 31 Tom Willingham Acts 2:1-11 77
June 7 Walt Wood Heb. 11:33-12:2 84
June 14 Sh. Charlotte Algood Rom. 2:10-16 90
June 21 Warren Strain Rom. 5:1-11 96
June 28 Phillip Lasseter Rom. 6:18-23 102
June 29 (Mon. am) David Turner II Cor. 11:21-33, 12:6-9 389
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.
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 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 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.
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.
* This evening we will have Vespers with the Kneeling Prayers of Pentecost, beginning at 6:00 p.m. [PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE IN TIME FOR THIS SERVICE.]
* There will be no fasting of any kind during the week following Pentecost. The Fast of the Apostles will then begin on Monday, June 8th and last through June 28th. We will celebrate the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul with Divine Liturgy (only) on Monday morning, June 29th, beginning at 6:00 a.m.
* Vacation Church School will be held Thursday, July 2nd through Saturday, July 4th.
Fr. Matthew Baker, the 37-year-old Orthodox priest (and dear friend of Ian Jones) who died in a car accident on March 1st while pursuing a doctorate in Theology at Fordham University, was awarded a degree posthumously on May 16th. An article about Fr. Matthew may be found in the University Newsletter at the following link: http://news.fordham.edu/faith-and-service/fordham-awards-posthumous-degree-to-theology-doctoral-student-2/
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).
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.
Fr. David Alexander, an Antiochian priest who is also a Marine Corps Chaplain, will be here with his wife on June 7-9 to visit Ian Jones. Please make them welcome.
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, June 7th and 21st.
Fasting Discipline for June
The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil) will be observed on all Wednesdays and Fridays of the month.
Major Commemorations for June
May 31 Feast of Pentecost
June 1 Justyn Martyr
June 4 Metrophanes of Constantinople
June 7 Sunday of All Saints
June 8 Theodore the General (transfer of relics)
June 24 Nativity of the Forerunner
June 29 Chief Apostles Peter and Paul
June 30 Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles
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 Anniversaries in June:
June 8 -- Nader and Lily Dabit (#7!)
June 10 -- Dorin and Carolina Lavric (#4!)
June 14 -- Ken and Anastasia Jones (#45!)
-- Saliba and Lamia Dabit (#51!)
June 22 -- Fr. Leo and Kh. Be'Be' Schelver (#41!)
June 31 -- Denis and Tatiana Lavric (#5!)
Happy Birthdays in June:
June 1 -- Fr. James Meadows
June 5 -- George Wood
June 6 -- Michel Root (#3!)
June 7 -- Simon Karam
June 12 -- Ellie Yeatts (#17!)
June 13 -- Lou Turner
June 17 -- Sh. Margaret Root
June 21 -- Sandra Strain
June 22 -- Isabelle Goss (#5!)
June 29 -- Jennifer Skirtech
Fr. John will be attending the Parish Life Conference in Franklin, TN June 10-14 and the Archdiocese Convention in Boston July 17-25. If you need a priest during these times, please contact Fr. Leo or Fr. James.
Quotable: "How Should We Conduct Ourselves in the Morning?
After having washed and dressed, stand before the holy icons and say those morning prayers as specified and in the order specified by the Holy Church, the interpreter and guardian of the path to salvation.
So that you may pray unimpeded, especially if you do not know how to read, learn by heart at least the beginning morning prayers. Is this difficult? And how could you not know by heart even the Lord's Prayer, that is the prayer 'Our Father, Who art in the heavens.' Learn it! This is the most important prayer and the most salvific for all occasions."
How to Live a Holy Life by Metropolitan GREGORY of
St. Petersburg
Worship: Sunday, June 7, 2015 (First Sunday after Pentecost; Sunday of All Saints)
Scripture: Hebrews 11:33-12:2; Matthew 10:32-33, 37-38; 19:27-30
Celebrant: Father John
Epistle Reader: Walt Wood
Prosphora: D. Root
Coffee Hour: Algood/Lasseter
Monday, May 25, 2015
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
5/24 announcements
May 24, 2015
Sunday of the After-Feast of the Ascension
Commemoration of the Holy Father of Nicea
Today is the Sunday of the Holy Fathers of Nicea. This day commemorates the Holy Fathers who sat in council at Nicea, the first of the ecumenical councils. Through them we see the commitment to the immutable truth of God for all the faithful, especially those who lead in the faith. The men of this council bear special note by the significance of their creed, for it is the fundamental statement of orthodox Christology and an enduring guide to our faith. The events of the ascension and the scriptures of this day emphasize to us the nature and action of Christ, and the history of these fathers puts us in mind of the work of the Holy Spirit in the church, work proclaimed by the glorious events which we now anticipate in the preparation for Pentecost.
Acts 20:16-18, 28-36: In the reading from Acts, we hear St Paul speak to the elders of the church at Ephesus, encouraging them to follow his example in their shepherding, and bidding them his final farewell as he approached his imprisonment at Rome.
John 17:1-13: In the passage from John, Jesus prays for His disciples, that they would be united as one and kept from evil.
Troparion of the Resurrection: When Mary stood at thy grave looking for thy sacred body, angelic powers shone above thy revered tomb, and the soldiers who were to keep guard became as dead men. Thou led hades captive and wast not tempted thereby. Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst give life to the world; O thou who art risen from the dead! O Lord, glory to thee.
Troparion of the Ascension: Thou hast ascended in glory, O Christ our God, and gladdened thy disciples with the promise of the Holy Spirit, having become confident of the blessing. Verily, thou art the Son of God, and Deliverer of the world.
Troparion of the Holy Fathers: Thou, O Christ, art our God of exceeding praise who didst establish our holy Fathers as luminous stars upon earth, and through them didst guide us unto the true Faith, O most merciful One, 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 the Ascension: When thou didst fulfill thy dispensation for our sakes, uniting the terrestrials with the celestials, thou didst ascend in glory, O Christ our God, inseparable in space, but constant without separation, and crying unto thy beloved, I am with you, and no one shall be against you.
CALENDAR
Sunday, May 24 (Sunday of the Holy Fathers of Nicea)
8:50 a.m. -- Orthros
10:00 a.m. -- Divine Liturgy
5:30 p.m. -- Youth Group
Monday, May 25 (The Forerunner – 3rd Discovery)
Office Closed -- Father John's Day Off
Tuesday, May 26
6:00 a.m. -- Daily Orthros
11:30 a.m. -- Ladies Lunch
Wednesday, May 27
6:30 p.m. -- Daily Vespers
7:15 p.m. -- Choir Practice
7:30 p.m. -- Parish Council Meeting
Thursday, May 28
6:00 a.m. -- Daily Orthros
Friday, May 29
Saturday, May 30 (Saturday of the Souls)
9:00 a.m. -- Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy
5:45 p.m. -- Ninth Hour followed by Great Vespers
Sunday, May 31 (Pentecost)
8:50 a.m. -- Orthros
10:00 a.m. -- Divine Liturgy
12:00 p.m. -- Picnic Pot Luck Meal
6:30 p.m. -- Kneeling Vespers
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Morrises for the Feast of the Ascension this past Wednesday evening and by the Joneses for the Divine Liturgy today.
Eucharist Bread and Coffee Hour Schedule:
Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour
May 24 Jones D. Root/Dansereau
May 30 (Sat. am) Meadows Kh. Sharon Meadows
(Saturday of the Souls) Koliva:
May 31 Davis POT LUCK MEAL
(Feast of Pentecost) (Set-up: Elizabeth Root
Brittany Salisbury)
June 7 D. Root Algood/Lasseter
June 14 Abraham R. Root/Abraham/Habeeb
June 21 Karam Schelver/Lavric/Turner
June 28 Brock Henderson/Baker/Lockhart
June 29 (Mon. am) Fahmy Kh. Sharon Meadows
(Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul)
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 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
June 7 Walt Wood Heb. 11:33-12:2 84
June 14 Sh. Charlotte Algood Rom. 2:10-16 90
June 21 Warren Strain Rom. 5:1-11 96
June 28 Phillip Lasseter Rom. 6:18-23 102
June 29 (Mon. am) David Turner II Cor. 11:21-33, 12:6-9 389
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.
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 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.
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.
* Next Sunday we will celebrate the Feast of Pentecost with a Picnic Pot Luck following the Divine Liturgy. Please bring your favorite picnic dishes to share!!
* Sunday evening, May 31st, we will have Vespers with the Kneeling Prayers of Pentecost, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
* There will be no fasting of any kind during the week following Pentecost. The Fast of the Apostles will then begin on Monday, June 8th and last through June 28th. We will celebrate the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul with Divine Liturgy (only) on Monday morning, June 29th, beginning at 6:00 a.m.
* Vacation Church School will be held Thursday, July 2nd through Saturday, July 4th.
Fr. Matthew Baker, the 37-year-old Orthodox priest (and dear friend of Ian Jones) who died in a car accident on March 1st while pursuing a doctorate in Theology at Fordham University, was awarded a degree posthumously on May 16th. An article about Fr. Matthew may be found in the University Newsletter at the following link: http://news.fordham.edu/faith-and-service/fordham-awards-posthumous-degree-to-theology-doctoral-student-2/
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).
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.
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, June 7th and 21st.
Fasting Discipline for May
The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil) will be observed on all Wednesdays and Fridays of the month.
Major Commemorations for May
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.
Happy Anniversaries in May:
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!)
Happy Birthdays in May:
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
Quotable: "How Should We Conduct Ourselves in the Morning?
Second, after having woken and washed, we should immediately stand before the Lord God with our morning prayers. And we would never dare to appear before even any of our lower-ranking earthly bosses without having dressed properly.
And finally, if you have dressed decently immediately after sleep, you will guard yourself from two dangers to which unfortunately very many people are subjected in our times, namely: from the danger of causing temptation for others and from the danger of becoming infected with the spirit of shamelessness. My friend, what can we expect in midday and evening from one who is shameless even in the morning?"
How to Live a Holy Life by Metropolitan GREGORY of
St. Petersburg
Worship: Sunday, May 31, 2015 (Pentecost)
Scripture: Acts 2:1-11; John 7:37-52, 8:12
Celebrant: Father John
Epistle Reader: Tom Willingham
Prosphora: Davis
Coffee Hour: PICNIC POT LUCK MEAL
(Set-up: Elizabeth Root/Brittany Salisbury)