The Sunday of Forgiveness
O Lord, we were estranged before from paradise, because of eating from the tree. Therefore, lead us into it again by Thy Cross and by Thy Passion, my Savior and my God. Fortify us therein that we may fulfill our fast with becoming purity, and worship Thy divine Resurrection and Passover of salvation, by the intercessions of Thy Mother. From Orthros, Tone 2
For those observing the Lenten Fast, Cheese-Fare Sunday is the last day on which eggs and dairy are eaten before Pascha.
On Cheese-Fare Sunday, we also commemorate the expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise, entering into the Lenten fast in remembrance of mankind’s separation from God through disobeying his commandment to fast from the fruit of the tree. We ponder the Lord’s words: If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your heavenly Father forgive you your trespasses (Matt. 6:14).
Lenten Services at St. Paul’s
As discussed last Sunday, we looked at the feasibility of holding Pre-Sanctified Liturgies on Wednesday at the hotel. Unfortunately it is not possible. Consistency in services is very important and after inquiring we saw that it would not work
.
All services will be held at St. Paul’s (get map) starting at 5:30pm. Services this week include:
Pre-Sanctified Liturgy on Wednesday, March 5 at 5:30pm.
Salutations on Friday, March 7 at 5:30pm.
St. Paul’s will host a Lenten Supper fundraiser immediately following the service.
Lenten Supper
Fatoush – Pita Bread Salad
Baked New England Scrod
Homos
Mujuddarah – Lentils and Rice
Pita Bread
Spinach Pies
Baklawa / Baklava
Coffee and Iced Tea
Adults – $15 Children under 12 – $5
All proceeds to St. Paul
Saturday of the Souls (on Sundays)
We will be holding memorials for the Saturday of the Souls on the next three Sundays following Divine Liturgy.
When we finally have a permanent location for the parish we will of course have Memorial Saturdays (the last three Saturdays during Lent) held on a Saturday. Until then we will hold the memorials on Sunday.
Please write the names of your loved ones that you would like to remember on a slip of paper and give it to Fr. Hans. We will read their names in the Proskomede (the preparation prayers before Divine Liturgy) and during the Memorial after the Liturgy.
If you would prefer, you can use the form on the website.
Need Lenten Resources?
An overview of services and Holy week can be found on the Antiochian website.
Two good instructions for fasting include an article by Fr. Steven Ritter which discusses the reasons we fast; and another article by Fr. Stephen Freeman that contains practical instructions on how to fast on the St. Peter website.
A podcast that teaches about the necessity of forgiveness by Fr. Thomas Hopko, former dean of St. Vladimir’s Seminary, can be found on the St. Peter website.
Painting with a Russian Master Icon Workshop
The Lee County Alliance for the Arts is offering an iconography workshop for anyone interested in learning more about the craft from March 4 – April 1 on Tuesday evenings.
The workshop is offered by iconographer Vladimir Blagonadezhdin. In this course students will learn the ancient Christian art form of iconography. They will learn how to work with traditional materials, recipes and methods used by both ancient and modern artists in order to create masterpieces using the egg tempera technique.
Classes will be held at the Alliance for the Arts in Fort Myers.
For more information please go to the Alliance for the Arts website.
We Need a Secretary/Administrator!
St. Peter's needs your help!
There is some administrative/secretarial work to do to keep St. Peter's running smoothly. We need someone to help us for the next year.
Basically it involves such things as keeping track of who does the Sunday Fellowship hour, sending out thank you notes, notifying members of board meetings, keep track of necessary announcements, that sort of thing. (Think of what Mary Copeland has been doing.)
Most of this can be done at home through email.
If you can volunteer, please speak to either Jack Long, John Hansen, or Fr. Hans.
A special thank you to Mary Copeland who has handled so much of this over the past few years.
Sunday Scripture Readings
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. But 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
(For Sunday of Forgiveness)
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (6:14-21)
The Lord said to His Disciples: If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father Who is in secret; and your Father Who sees in secret will reward you. Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.