St. Peter News February 21, 2023

The Expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden
Sunday of Forgiveness (Cheese Fare)

Porphyrios, bishop of Gaza; Great-martyr Photeini the Samaritan Woman and those with her

The Expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden

The Sunday of Forgiveness, the last of the preparatory Sundays before Great Lent, has two themes: it commemorates Adam’s expulsion from Paradise, and it accentuates our need for forgiveness. There are obvious reasons why these two things should be brought to our attention as we stand on the threshold of Great Lent.

One of the primary images in the Triodion is that of the return to Paradise. Lent is a time when we weep with Adam and Eve before the closed gate of Eden, repenting with them for the sins that have deprived us of our free communion with God. But Lent is also a time when we are preparing to celebrate the saving event of Christ’s death and rising, which has reopened Paradise to us once more (Luke 23:43). So sorrow for our exile in sin is tempered by hope of our re-entry into Paradise.

The second theme, that of forgiveness, is emphasized in the Gospel reading for this Sunday (Matthew 6:14-21) and in the special ceremony of mutual forgiveness at the end of the Vespers on Sunday evening. Before we enter the Lenten fast, we are reminded that there can be no true fast, no genuine repentance, no reconciliation with God, unless we are at the same time reconciled with one another.

A fast without mutual love is the fast of demons. We do not travel the road of Lent as isolated individuals but as members of a family. Our asceticism and fasting should not separate us from others, but should link us to them with ever-stronger bonds.

Read more on the Greek Orthodox website.

Forgiveness Vespers follows Social Hour This Sunday

Following the Social Hall, we will hold Forgiveness Vespers, a short service followed by the asking of forgiveness of each other to prepare us for Lent. All parishioners are encouraged to attend.

Services This Week

SUN Feb 19 — SUNDAY OF THE LAST JUDGMENT Orthros 8:30am, Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Fri Feb 24 — Divine Liturgy / St. Nicholas Academy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Sat Feb 25 — Divine Liturgy Saturday of the Souls 9:30am LIVE STREAM

Panagiota (Patricia) Cotsones Memory Eternal

Our heartfelt condolences are extended to the entire family of George Karounos, the brother of Patricia Cotsones who passed away early on Sunday morning.

May her memory be eternal.

Among they Saints give rest O Christ, to the soul of Your servant, in a place where there is no pain, sorrow, or suffering, but only life everlasting.

Lenten Women’s Retreat On Saturday March 4 at 9:00am — “The Prayer of Ephrem

What the prayer means, when and how to pray the prayer, how it ties into our personal sanctification during Lent.

More details this week!

Leaving a Legacy – Remembering St. Peter’s in Our Estate Planning

The growth and success of St. Peter’s is certainly inspiring. Through it we see the benevolent work of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the commitment, generosity, and fortitude of our members and friends who worked and contributed to the growth of our parish. St. Paul says that we are to become “co-laborers with Christ” and our support of St. Peter’s is one way that happens.

That work can continue long after our work on this earth is completed. Through planned giving today, we can leave a legacy that helps ensure the good work of St. Peter’s in the future.

For more information including an informational packet that answers many questions please see Fr. Hans.

Let’s Pray the Paraklesis to the Theotokos Daily

Click the image to get more information on how to participate from the St. Peter’s website

Our goal at St. Peter’s is to have one person or family pray the Parakelsis to the Theotokos for at least one day of every month. For each day of the month, individuals or even an entire family can sign up to pray the Paraklesis in their homes on the day/s which they select.

Get more information on how to participate from the St. Peter’s website.

Cafe of Life – God Loves a Cheerful Giver

A big thank to all those who have donated their time and monetary contribution for the poor, homeless and hungry in our community. Please help us to continue this important mission by giving generously.

Please remember, “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (Corinthians 9:6-7).

Thank you and IC XC NI KA!

Pledge & Income Report – January

Contributions received in January: $$41,981.
Amount of money needed to cover expenses: $24,114.
We are ahead by $13,131.

St. Peter Orthodox Church
7470 Hickory Drive
Fort Myers, FL 33967

You can also donate online:

Sign up the the Monthly DOMSE Newsletter on the DOMSE (Diocese of Miami and the Southeast) Website!

Visit the DOMSE Website (scroll to the bottom, fill in the form on the left side) to sign up for “The Light” Newsletter and DOMSE emails.

ST. PETER’S GREETERS

FEBRUARY 2023

Feb 05 George Tsikitas Doug and Tina Kucera
Feb 12 Joe and Deb Repya, George Tsikitas
Feb 19 George Tsikitas, Joe Repya
Feb 26 Doug and Tina Kucera, Tom and Marlene Haley

MARCH 2023

Mar 05 Will Schwarz, Nader Sahawneh
Mar 12 Al Joseph, Joe and Deb Repya
Mar 19 Barb and Costa Dionysopoulos, * Need Additional Volunteer
Mar 26 Will Schwarz, * Need Additional Volunteer

We have a few Sunday’s in March with only one person or couple that we need to fill. If anyone else would like to volunteer, please call Joe Repya 612-270-4443.

SOCIAL HALL ALL STARS

FEBRUARY

MARGIE ZIMMERMAN
Leon Dephkalion
Glow Franklin
Moriah Peterson
Barbara Sasen
Will Schwarz
Anna Tsikitas

The Social Hall All Stars are the men and women that make St. Peter’s Social Hall happen. Thank you All Stars!

Calendar also available on the St. Peter website.

FEBRUARY

SUN Feb 19 — SUNDAY OF THE LAST JUDGMENT Orthros 8:30am, Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Thu Feb 23 — Divine Liturgy / St. Nicholas Academy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Fri Feb 24 — Men of St. Paisios 7:00pm Social Hall
Sat Feb 25 — Divine Liturgy Saturday of the Souls 9:30am LIVE STREAM

FEBRUARY-MARCH

SUN Feb 26 — SUNDAY OF FORGIVENESS Orthros 8:30am, Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
SUN Feb 26 — Forgiveness Vespers 12:30pm
Mon Feb 27 — LENT BEGINS / CLEAN MONDAY
Mon Feb 27 — Great Compline with Canon of St. Andrew 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
Tue Feb 28 — Great Compline with Canon of St. Andrew 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
Wed Mar 01 — Presanctified Liturgy 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
Thu Mar 02 — Great Compline with Canon of St. Andrew 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
Fri Mar 03 — Salutations First Stanza 6:30pm 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
Fri Mar 03 — Men of St. Paisios 7:30pm Social Hall
Sat Mar 04 — Women’s Retreat “The Prayer of St. Ephrem” 9:00am ZOOM

SUN Mar 05 — SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY Orthros 8:30am, Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Mon Mar 06 — Great Compline 6:30pmLIVE STREAM
Wed Mar 08 — Presanctified Liturgy 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
Thu Mar 09 — NOTE DATE CHANGE Second Stanza Salutations 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
Fri Mar 09 — CANCELLED ~~Men of St. Paisios 7:30pm Social Hall~~
Fri-Sat Mar 10-11 — FR. HANS OUT OF TOWN

SUN Mar 12 — SUNDAY OF ST. GREGORY PALAMAS Orthros 8:30am, Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Mon Mar 13 — Great Compline 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
Wed Mar 15 — Presanctified Liturgy 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
Fri Mar 17 — Third Stanza Salutations 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
Fri Mar 17 — Men of St. Paisios 7:30pm Social Hall
Sat Mar 18 — Parish Council Meeting 10am

SUN Mar 19 — SUNDAY OF THE VENERATION OF THE CROSS Orthros 8:30am, Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Mon Mar 20 — Great Compline 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
Wed Mar 22 — Presanctified Liturgy 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
Fri Mar 24 — Great Vespers for Annunciation 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
Fri Mar 24 — CANCELLED ~~Men of St. Paisios 7:30pm Social Hall~~
Sat Mar 25 — Annunciation of the Theotokos Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM

SUN Mar 26 — SUNDAY OF ST. JOHN OF THE LADDER Orthros 8:30am, Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Mon Mar 27 — Great Compline 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
Wed Mar 29 — Presanctified Liturgy 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
Fri Mar 31 — Complete Salutations/Akathist Hymn 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
Fri Mar 31 — Men of St. Paisios 7:30pm Social Hall

The fundamental things which arouse and draw one towards sin are: arbitrariness of mind (or curiosity) in the mental faculty, self-will in the faculty of will, and pleasures in the faculty of feeling. St. Theophan the Recluse, bishop of Tambov

Everything that brings disgrace upon us, whether prompted by man or demons, occurs through God’s just judgment in order to humble the overwhelming vanity of our soul. Nikitas Stithatos

He who accepts present afflictions in the expectation of future blessings has found knowledge of the truth; and he will easily be freed from anger and remorse. Saint Kosmas Aitolos

My neighbour is a being with equal rights as myself, a man, like me also made after the image of God; and as he is the same as I am I must love him as I love myself, Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt

Guard your heart against all that you will see in the world. Whatever you touch with your hand, do not allow to touch your heart. Whatever you eat with your mouth, let not your heart take delight in it. When you use your feet to walk, let there be peace within you. And whatever you do outwardly, let not your mind be disturbed by it. St. John fellow ascetic of Venerable Symeon the fool for Christ

Names will remain on the list for three months.
If you would like to keep them on longer please mention it to Fr. Hans. We will keep the names on the list for as long as the person needs prayers.
Names will include the person who requested the prayers and the month the name will be removed.
The permanent list includes friends and members of St. Peter’s and others including shut-ins.

Were names dropped that should have remained? Please mention it to Fr. Hans. He will add them back.

Current Prayer List

George (3/23 Chapekis)
Penelope (3/23 Chapekis)
Theodora (3/23)
Victor (3/23)
Barbara (Dusckas 3/23)
James (Dusckas 3/23)
Les (3/23
Lynn (Hurely 1/23)
Irene and unborn baby (Tsikitas 1/23)
Linda (Pappas 1/23)
Ekaterina (Chapekis 1/23)
Mikaela and unborn baby (Irena 1/23)
Lee (Hurley 1/23)
Emmanuel (Kalousdis 1/23)
Katherine (Dusckas 1/23)
Vassiliki (Diveris 1/23)
Zena Touma (Contorelli 1/23
Lamia Touma (Contorelli 1/23
Matthew (Contorelli 1/23
Emmanuel (Kaloudis 1/23)
Nicholas
Marlene (Tewis 12/22)
Tina (Johnson 12/22)
Nicholas (De Lorenzo 12/22)
Priest Anthony (Karbo 11/22)
Archpriest Dionysius (Valentine 9/12)
Anthony Presbyter (Kerr 10/22)
Angel (Ghanem 10/22)
Edgar (Chapekis 9/22)
Evthriki (Jacobse 9/22)
Christos (Johnson 8/22)
Jon Paul (Andrew 8/22)
William (Brubaker 8/22)
Peter (Tewis 8/22)
The People of Ukraine and People of Russia and all those who are suffering in the war

Permanent Prayer List

Katheryn (Tolkkinen)
Markisia (Long)
Angela (Long)
Marina (Long)
Eleni (Long)
Raphaella (Long)
Joanne (Haley)
Francine (Anton)
Corwin (Dusckas)
Corgette (Troutman)
Irina (Irina)
Seraphim (Irina)
Lidia (Irina)
Sarina (Ghanem)
Debbie (Breitenbach)
Kathy (Breitenbach)
Hope (Isadore)
John (Long)
Pantelis (Tsikita)
Marisa (Tsikita)
Barbara (Dionysopoulos)
Patricia (Evanoff)
Gabriel (Mankus)
Baby Dani (Repya)
Despina (Diversis)
Fredericos (Diveris)
Makrina and her unborn baby (Kerr)
Herman (Kerr)
Innocent (Kerr)
Nicholas (Kerr)
Paola (Jacobse)
Gregory (Yankopolos)
Soterios (Ninos)
Pauline (Poulos)
Sergio (Kazakos)
Fran (Hansen)
Nina (Krotov)
Franklin (Pyrrson)
Demetrios (Kuchera)
Theodosios (Palis)
Theodora (Webb)
Robert (Smith)
Presbytera Rosy (in Pakistan)
James (Hord)
Vassiliki (Kontinos)
Vassiliki (Morekeas)
Vassilike (Hord)

Founders, Members, Benefactors and Friends Departed this Life

John (Hansen)
Anatoly (Kurdsjuk)
Thareni (Brooks)
Milan Evanoff
Jean (Sam)
Eleni (Pearson)
Richard (Pearson)
Fr. Stephanos (Shagoury)
Panagiota (Bea Chionis)
Anthony (Mourgis)
Anthony (Mankus)
Constantine (Houpis)
Constantine (Joseph)
Mary (Jarvis)
Panagiota Margarita (Palis)
Maria (Ninos)
John (Katsigianopoulos)
George (Chionis)
Mary (Spiropoulos)
Gregory (Pappas)
Angela (Coran K
Eugene (Rust)
Robert (Jarvis)
George (Corey)

How should we pray for the sick? Remember them daily. Say their names (first names are sufficient) and ask God to bestow mercy and grace on them.

Add or remove names and print this list for easy reference during your prayer time on the St. Peter website.

EPISTLE

For Sunday of Forgiveness

Sing praises to our God, sing praises.
Sing praises to our King, sing praises.
O clap your hands, all ye nations.

The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans. (13:11-14:4)

Brethren, salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. B

ut put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not for disputes over opinions. One believes he may eat anything, while the weak man eats only vegetables.

Let not him who eats despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains pass judgment on him who eats; for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Master is able to make him stand.

GOSPEL