Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee
Tarasios the confessor, archbishop of Constantinople; Hieromartyr Markellos, bishop of Apamea in Syria
The Publican and the Pharisee
What is a Publican and a Pharisee?
A Pharisee was an externally decent and righteous man of religion. The Publican was a sinful tax-collector who was cheating the people.
Though the Pharisee was genuinely righteous under the Law, he boasted before God and was condemned. The Publican, although he was truly sinful, begged for mercy, received it, and was justified by God.
The focus this Sunday is on the Gospel of Luke 18:10-14, in which two men went to the Temple to pray. On this Sunday in the preparation for Great Lent, we are to see that we have not the religious piety of the Pharisee, but the repentance of the Publican. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and everyone who humbles himself will be exalted. (Luke 18:14)
Read more on the Orthdoxwiki website.
Services and Events This Week
- Sun Feb 18 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Tue Feb 20 — PARAKLESIS TO THE THEOTOKOS 8:00am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Feb 21 — EARLY DIVINE LITURGY 6:00am LIVE STREAM
- Fri Feb 23 — ST POLYCARP OF SMYRNA DIVINE LITURGY 8AM LIVE STREAM
- Fri Feb 23 — Brotherhood of St. Paisios 7:00pm
- Sat Feb 24 — Church Safety Committee Meeting at 1:00pm
Web Site Fixed — But Please Be Patient Because…
…It still needs some fine tuning. Websites are fickle beasts but we are almost there. The good news is that the calendar is back. One or two weeks and it will be where we want it to be.
From Fr. John Parker, Dean of St. Tikhon’s Seminary
Father John Parker would like to extend heartfelt gratitude to the parishioners at St. Peter’s for your faithfulness and hospitality. Father John hopes his time with you has proven joyful and edifying, and looks forward to his next opportunity to share time with those in our community. Thank you for your generosity to St Tikhon’s Seminary. To make a one time donation, or to become a monthly sustainer, please visit www.stots.edu/donate, or use the included QR code.
Great Vespers Begin at St. Peter’s
Beginning March 2, 2024 we will begin holding Great Vespers on Saturday evening starting at 5:30pm. Vespers usually run about 45 minutes and are the beginning preparation for the Divine Liturgy on Sunday mornings. We fortunately have two couples the will be able to chant.
Make sure to check the calendar weekly in case there are any changes to the schedule.
Mark Your Calendars
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Sat Feb 24 — Church Safety Committee Meeting at 1:00pm
Church Medical, Safety, and Security Meeting on February 24, 2024
If you are part of the Greeters, Sunday School Team, Food Prep, Medical, and Safety Teams, please attend. All church members are invited to attend.
The team exists to keep members and our Church safe and secure.
The meeting with be held on Saturday February 24 at 1:00pm
2023 Donation Statements Sent Out
This week you should receive your 2023 donation statement, If you do not receive your donation statement by Saturday, please contact Greg Semetis (917) 992-5884 or Ron Franklin (618)-530-5059.
Thank you for your continued support of St. Peter’s.
Bible Bowl Invitation!
All teens are invited to join our Catechism team and study the book of Romans. Actually adults are invited too as we can have an adult team as well.
St. Peter’s teens won 2nd place last year at the Parish Life Conference for the Diocese of Miami and the Southeast.
The competition this year will be held in Georgia, near Atlanta over the weekend of June 13-15. All questions for the competition will be from the book of Romans.
If you are interested in studying Romans, whether you want to travel to the conference in Georgia or just study with the team, please contact Diana Najjar at 317-213-5785 or msdiananajjar@gmail.com. Currently we are studying by zoom, but we plan to meet together when the opportunity arises. Diana is flexible to work with teens at a time that fits their schedule.
Landscape Beautification Fund Goal Reached!
$10,000 is needed to purchase trees and the goal has been reached. Thank you to all who contributed. We will remove the dead and diseased trees, plant new tree along the Hickory Road Border, and clear the grounds on the south side of the rear parking lot. Thank you to Doug Kucera for designing a master plan.
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.
DOMSE MEN’S RETREAT IN MARCH 2024
More information at DOMSE website.
ST. PETER'S GREETERS
FEBRUARY 2024
- FEB 04 — George Karounos – Doug Kucera
- FEB 11 — Joe and Deb Repya –
- FEB 18 — Moriah Peterson – Pavlo Bilych
- FEB 25 — Barb – Costa Dionysopoulos
MARCH 2024
- MAR 03 — George Tsikatis – Joe Repya
- MAR 10 — Joe and Deb Repya
- MAR 17 — George Tsikatis – Alex and Elanie Hildreth
- MAR 24 — George Tsikatis – Joe Repya
- MAR 31 — George Tsikatis – Will Schwarz
Can you volunteer? Please call Joe Repya 612-270-4443.
SOCIAL HALL ALL STARS
FEBRUARY 2024
TEAM #2 – Margie Zimmerman Group
Feb 04 –- Coffee, Bagels and Mixed Fruit
Feb 11 –- Coffee, Donuts and Mixed Fruit
Feb 18 –- Coffee, Cookies and Mixed Fruit
Feb 25 –- Coffee, Coffee Cake and Mixed Fruit
MARCH 2024
TEAM #3 – (Need to appoint a new Team Leader) for March 2024
March 03 – Coffee, Bagels and Mixed Fruit*
March 10 – Coffee, Donuts and Mixed Fruit*
March 17 – Catered Lunch for Theo’s 99th Birthday
March 24 – Coffee, Cookies and Mixed Fruit*
March 31 – Coffee, Coffee Cake and Mixed Fruit*
APRIL 2024
TEAM #1 – Barbara Dionysopoulas Group for April 2024
April 07 – Coffee, Bagels and Mixed Fruit*
April 14 – Coffee, Donuts and Mixed Fruit*
April 21 – Coffee, Cookies and Mixed Fruit*
April 28 – Coffee, Coffee Cake and Mixed Fruit*
MAY 2024
TEAM #2 Margie Zimmerman Group for May 2024
May 05 – Coffee, Bagels and Mixed Fruit*
May 12 – Coffee, Donuts and Mixed Fruit*
May 19 – Coffee, Cookies and Mixed Fruit*
May 26 – Coffee, Coffee Cake and Mixed Fruit*
For Special Events/Koliva please contact BARBARA SASEN and give her a completed Special Events Form which is found in the lobby of the church.
The Social Hall All Stars are the men and women that make St. Peter's Social Hall happen. Thank you All Stars!
FEBRUARY
- Sun Feb 18 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Tue Feb 20 — PARAKLESIS TO THE THEOTOKOS 8:00am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Feb 21 — EARLY DIVINE LITURGY 6:00am LIVE STREAM
- Fri Feb 23 — ST POLYCARP OF SMYRNA DIVINE LITURGY 8AM LIVE STREAM
- Fri Feb 23 — Brotherhood of St. Paisios 7:00pm
- Sat Feb 24 — Church Safety Committee Meeting at 1:00pm
- Sun Feb 25 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Tue Feb 27 — PARAKLESIS TO THE THEOTOKOS 8:00am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Feb 28 — EARLY DIVINE LITURGY 6:00am LIVE STREAM
Wisdom From The Elders
Before all spiritual gifts, undistraction (concentration) is given to the mind by our Lord Jesus Christ, and the invocation in the heart of His holy name with faith. St. Kallistus Xanthopoulos
We don’t understand that happiness is in eternity and not in vanity. Saint Paisios of Mount Athos
Every man of himself is so insignificant and helpless that he receives everything necessary to support his existence, not from himself, but from without; he himself is nothing. And as his body is supported by air, food, and drink, so his soul is supported by prayer, by reading God’s Word, and by the communion of the Holy Mysteries. Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt
The Holy Orthodox Church has determined the rules of preparation for Holy Communion. The main thing is to prepare the heart for uniting with the Lord. Fasting is necessary for calming the body, and once the body is at peace, the soul is at peace, too. Elder Thaddeus(Strabulovich) of Vitovnica
To repent—means to feel in our hearts the falsehood, the madness, the guilt of our sins, it means—to acknowledge that we have offended, by them, our Creator, our Lord, our Father and Benefactor, Who is infinitely holy, and infinitely abhors sin, it means, to desire, with the whole soul, to amend and to expiate our sins. Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt
Excessive conveniences make life difficult for people. Saint Paisios of Mount Athos
The fact that the truths revealed by Christianity communicate to us information about things such as our reason could in no way whatsoever reach by itself, and moreover, these truths solve successfully all our questions about the Author of our being; the beginning of the world; the origin of all creatures, including man; the primitive condition of the latter; the conditions necessary for blessedness; the cause of evils falling upon mankind; the meaning of death; the life hereafter; and the end of all visible things. Yakov Tyagunoff
God’s boundless wisdom has given each person a rcross according to his/her character and strength. If we carry our cross without grumbling, repent of our sins and do not justify ourselves, then like the good thief we shall enter God’s Kingdom. But if we grumble, if we blaspheme God and our neighbor, we shall perish like the wicked thief—in great torment, without the hope of salvation to lessen our grief. The choice lies in our own hands. Abbot Nikon Vorobiev
- 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
Rachel (Voss)
Ken John (Eaton)
Diane (Najar)
William (Semeretis)
David (Orfanos)
Maria (Orfanos)
William (Long)
George (Chionis 11-1)
Haley
Lydia
Mark (Chionis 11-1)
Katheryn (Chionis 11-1)
Jacob (Chionis 11-1)
Ken (Chionis 11-1)
Maxim (Koco)
George (Tsikistas 8/1)
George (Mourgis 8/1)
Barbara (Sason 8/1)
Anthony (Breitenbach 6/1)
Arielle (Ghanem 6/1)
Nicholas (Ghanem 6/1)
Christos
Father Demetris
Jamie
Pamela
David
Jessica
Christina (Hildreth)
Georgia and Richard and their unborn child (Chapekis)
Dionysios Chapekis)
Nancy (Forderhase)
Kayla (Palantine)
George (3/23 Chapekis)
Penelope (3/23 Chapekis)
Theodora (3/23)
Victor (3/23)
Les (3/23
Lynn (Hurely 1/23)
Irene and newborn baby (Tsikitas 1/23)
Linda (Pappas 1/23)
Ekaterina (Chapekis 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)
John Presbyter (Jacobse)
Elain Presbytera (Jacobse)
Constantine(Jacobse)
Chrysoula(Jacobse)
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
Michael (Sovjani)
Maria (Sovjani)
Maria (Sovjani)
Maria (Sovjani)
Katerina (Sovjani)
Frederick (Sovjani)
Arsen (Sovjani)
Irene (Diveris)
Katheryn (Tolkkinen)
Markisia (Long)
Angela (Long)
Marina (Long)
Eleni (Long)
Raphaella (Long)
Joanne (Haley)
Corwin (Dusckas)
Corgette (Troutman)
Irina (Irina)
Lidia (Irina)
Sarina (Ghanem)
Debbie (Breitenbach)
Kathy (Breitenbach)
Hope (Isadore)
s
John (Long)
Pantelis (Tsikita)
Marisa (Tsikita)
Barbara (Dionysopoulos)
Patricia (Evanoff)
Gabriel (Mankus)
Baby Dani (Repya)
Despina (Diversis)
Fredericos (Diveris)
Herman (Kerr)
Innocent (Kerr)
Nicholas (Kerr)
Paola (Jacobse)
Gregory (Yankopolos)
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)
Soterios (Ninos)
George (Ninos)
John (Katsigianopoulos)
George (Chionis)
Mary (Spiropoulos)
Gregory (Pappas)
Angela (Coran K
Eugene (Rust)
Robert (Jarvis)
George (Corey)
Patricia (Cotsones)
Seraphim (Zolio)
Apostolos
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 the Pharisee and Publican
My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.
For He hath regarded the humility of His servant.
The Reading from the Second Epistle of St. Paul to St. Timothy. (3:10-15)
Timothy my son, you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions, and my sufferings; and what befell me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra. What persecutions I endured; yet from them all, the Lord rescued me. Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
GOSPEL
For Sunday of the Pharisee and Publican
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (18:10-14)
The Lord spoke this parable: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank Thee that I am not like other men, extortionists, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to Heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”