The First Sunday of Luke
Saint Luke, was of Greek origin born in the Hellenistic city of Antioch, and was extremely educated. His studies included Greek philosophy, medicine, and art in his youth. He was also a professional physician. St. Luke came to Jerusalem where he came to believe in the Lord. He and Cleopas met the resurrected Lord on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24).
After Pentecost, Luke returned to Antioch and worked with the Apostle Paul, traveling with him to Rome, and converting Jews and pagans to the Christian Faith. “Luke, the beloved physician… greets you,” writes the Apostle Paul to the Colossians (Colossians 4:14). At the request of Christians, St. Luke wrote his Gospel in the first century. According to some accounts this took place around 60 A.D., and according to others around 80 A.D.
After the martyrdom of St. Paul, St. Luke embarked on a profound journey of preaching the Gospel across Italy, Dalmatia, Macedonia, and various other regions. Notably, he demonstrated his remarkable artistic talent by creating not one, but three icons of the Most-holy Theotokos, along with depictions of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. Due to these significant contributions, St. Luke is widely acknowledged as the pioneering figure in the realm of Christian iconography. If you’re interested in delving deeper into this fascinating history, you can find a free guide that explores the life and works of St. Luke, shedding light on his immense impact on Christian art and spirituality.
In his old age, he visited Libya and Upper Egypt; from Egypt he returned to Greece, where he continued to preach and convert many with great zeal despite his age.
In addition to his Gospel, St. Luke wrote the Acts of the Apostles and dedicated each of these works to Theophilus, the governor of Achaia. Luke was 84 years old when the wicked idolaters tortured him for the sake of Christ and hanged him from an olive tree in the town of Thebes, in Beothia of Greece.
Learn more about St. Like on the Orthodox Wiki website.
Orthodoxy 101 Classes to Start in October
Fr. Hans will hold Orthodoxy 101 on Wednesday evenings starting in October. During the classes, choir practice will move to Wednesdays and Bible Study will be suspended until the classes are completed. Watch for more details soon.
In the meantime Bible Study and choir practice continue on Tuesday.
Time to Think About Stewardship
Soon you will be receiving a letter about supporting St. Peter’s parish for the upcoming year.
By the grace of God we have made much progress this past year and the future looks very bright.
Our financial support of St. Peter’s is important. We love God because He first loved us. We give back to God because He first gave to us.
Wisdom from St. Nicholai of Zica
“When a man begins to train himself in keeping silent, silence to him seems to be lesser than speech; but when he is trained in silence then he knows that speech is lesser than silence.”
– St. Nicholai of Zica
New Instructional Videos on Website
Check out the new videos on the St. Peter’s website that teach us about our Orthodox faith. Four are taught by Orthodox author Frederica Mathewes-Green and a fifth teaches about the Jesus Prayer.
Good Samaritan Fund
The Parish Council has designated all donations collected during Coffee Hour will go to the Good Samaritan Fund.
What is the Good Samaritan Fund? Occasionally Fr. Hans is made aware of needs that require some financial assistance. The Fund will be a reserve collected from which we can draw when necessary.
Choir Practice Continues on Tuesday at 6pm
Please consider joining the choir. “He who sings prays twice.”
Bible Study Continues on Tuesday at 7pm
We are studying Acts (The Acts of the Apostles), the first written history of the Christian Church.
Remember in Your Prayers
Bonnie Joseph
Mary Spiropoulos, mother of Joan Simon.
Bob Smith
Tom and Jean, parents of Patty and Jerry.
How should we pray for the sick? Remember them daily. Say their names and ask God to bestow mercy and grace on them.
Sunday Readings
Epistle
For the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
Make your vows to the Lord our God and perform them.
God is known in Judah; His Name is great in Israel.
The Reading from the Second Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians. (6:16-7:1)
Brethren, we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will live in them and move among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them,” says the Lord, “and touch nothing unclean; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, and make holiness perfect in the fear of God.
Gospel
For the First Sunday of Luke
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (5:1-11)
At that time, Jesus was standing by the lake of Gennesaret. And He saw two boats by the lake; but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, Jesus asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the people from the boat.
And when Jesus had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at Thy word I will let down the nets.”
And when they had done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish; and as their nets were breaking, they beckoned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.
But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the catch of fish, which they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon.
And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.