St. Peter News April 8, 2024

Fourth Sunday of Great Lent
St. John of the Ladder

The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil

Apostles Aristarchos, Pudens and Trophymos of the Seventy

Our venerable and God-bearing Father John Climacus (ca. 579 – 649), also known as John of the Ladder, John Scholasticus, and John Sinaites, was a seventh century monk at St. Catherine’s monastery at the base of Mount Sinai.

He came to the monastery and became a novice when he was about 16 years old, and when he died in 649 he was the monastery’s abbot. He wrote a number of instructive books, the most famous of which is The Ladder of Divine Ascent. (It is because of this book that John is known as “Climacus,” which means “of the ladder”.)

It describes how to raise one’s soul to God, as if on a ladder. This book is one of the most widely read among Eastern Orthodox Christians, especially during the season of Great Lent which immediately precedes Pascha (Easter), and on the fourth Sunday of Great Lent he is especially commemorated.

Quotes from St. John

• Repentance is the renewal of baptism.
• Repentance is a contract with God for a second life.
• A penitent is a buyer of humility.
• Repentance is constant distrust of bodily comfort.
• Repentance is self-condemning reflection, and carefree self-care.
• Repentance is the daughter of hope and the renunciation of despair.
• A penitent is an undisgraced convict.
• Repentance is reconciliation with the Lord by the practice of good deeds contrary to the sins.
• Repentance is purification of conscience.
• Repentance is the voluntary endurance of all afflictions.
• A penitent is the inflicter of his own punishments.
• Repentance is a mighty persecution of the stomach, and a striking of the soul into vigorous awareness.

Read more on the Orthodoxwiki website.

Fr. Thomas Hopko on “St. John of the Ladder”

Originally broadcast on March 11, 2008 Length: 13:24

It is at this point in our Lenten journey that the Church contemplates the instruction of St. John Climacus and his Ladder of Divine Ascent.

Fr. Tom takes us step by step through this treasure and makes it practical for us non-monastics!

Listen here:

Services and Events This Week

• SUN Apr 07 — SUNDAY OF THE VENERATION OF THE CROSS Orthros 8:30am, Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Mon Apr 08 — Great Compline 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Wed Apr 10 — Presanctified Liturgy 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Fri Apr 12 — Fourth Stanza Salutations 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Fri Apr 12 — Men of St. Paisios 7:30pm
• Sat Apr 13 — Parish Council Meeting 10:00am
• Sat Apr 13 — Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM

Presanctified Lenten Suppers

Every Wednesday after Presanctified Liturgy on the Wednesdays during Lent, we gather for fellowship over a simple Lenten supper.

Journey to Pascha

Decorating the Kovouklon (Tomb of Christ)

Decoration of the Kovouklion is scheduled for May 3 at 10:00am. Please donate for the flowers. Donations can be given to Angela Long, Ron Franklin, or Fr. Hans.

Can You Help Support St. Peter Good Samaritan Fund?

Occasionally members of St. Peter’s on fixed incomes are having a hard time making ends meet particularly when an emergency arises. We support our members through the Good Samaritan Fund, an earmark in our budget to aid parish families through the occasional hard times that come. With the weakening economy and particularly with the high inflation, the needs are increasing and the funds are running low.

We would like to raised $10,000 to $15,000 to replenish the fund. Your gift will remain anonymous (it will be recorded on your year end statement as a charitable donation) as well as those who receive it.

Please contribute a separate check with the notation “Good Samaritan Fund” in the memo line. Give it to Fr. Hans or Ron Franklin or drop it in the offering box.

Orthodoxy 101 Class Continues

Subdeacon Joseph will lead the classes. The classes will run every Sunday following Social Hour. Schedule and syllabus will be handed out at the next class this Sunday.

We will use Fr. Spyridon Bailey’s “Small Steps into the Kingdom” available from Amazon here.

All catechumens are required to attend but the class is open to everyone.

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.

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.

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 Parish Life Retreat in Hiram Georgia

More information at DOMSE website.

ST. PETER'S GREETERS

APRIL 2024

• Apr 07 — George Tsikatis — Candice Rosen — Joe Repya
• Apr 14 — George Tsikatis — Pavlo Bilych — Moriah Peterson
• Apr 21 — George Tsikatis — Candice Rosen
• Apr 28 — George Tsikatis — Will Schwarz

Can you volunteer? Please call Joe Repya 612-270-4443.

SOCIAL HALL ALL STARS

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 — Pascal Dinner at 1:00pm
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!

APRIL

• SUN Apr 07 — SUNDAY OF THE VENERATION OF THE CROSS Orthros 8:30am, Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Mon Apr 08 — Great Compline 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Wed Apr 10 — Presanctified Liturgy 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Fri Apr 12 — Fourth Stanza Salutations 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Fri Apr 12 — Men of St. Paisios 7:30pm
• Sat Apr 13 — Parish Council Meeting 10:00am
• Sat Apr 13 — Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM

• SUN Apr 14 — SUNDAY OF ST. JOHN OF THE LADDER Orthros 8:30am, Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Mon Apr 15 — Great Compline 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Wed Apr 17 — Full Canon of St. Andrew / Canon of St. Mary of Egypt LIVE STREAM
• Thu Apr 18 — Presanctified Liturgy 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Fri Apr 19 — Complete Salutations/Akathist Hymn 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Fri Apr 05 — Men of St. Paisios 7:30pm
• Sat Apr 20 — Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM

• SUN Apr 21 — SUNDAY OF ST. MARY OF EGYPT Orthros 8:30am, Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Mon Apr 22 — Great Compline 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Wed Apr 24 — Presanctified Liturgy 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Fri Apr 26 — Small Compline with Canon of St. Lazarus 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Sat Apr 27 — Lazarus Saturday Liturgy 9:30am / Make crosses / Pancake breakfast / Children confessions — Full Schedule TBA LIVE STREAM

When we approach someone with pain and true love, then this true love of Christ transforms our neighbor. Saint Paisios of Mount Athos

Edifying words, the writings of the Holy Fathers, prayers, and especially the words of the Word Himself, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, are indeed living water. Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt

So, then, it is in the Cross that we, too, will find our resurrection. There we will find our prayer. There we will find our salvation. Bishop Irenei Steenberg

Take care to distinguish between your thoughts, as the Fathers teach. Stop and look, decide which ones are good and which ones are bad. Then, disassociate from any that you find to be bad, believe nothing they tell you, do not believe for an instant that they are a part of who you are. This is of the utmost importance, because if we accept bad thoughts, then they will stay with us and make us believe that they are actually a part of us. Elder Sergei of Vanves

Dispassion is not freedom from attack by the demons, for to be free from such attack we must, as the Apostle says, ‘go out of the world* (1 Cor. 5:10); but it is to remain undefeated when they do attack. St. Diadochus, bishop of Photike in Epirus

• 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

Barbara (Duskas)
Doug S (Duskas)
Marc C. (Duskas)
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

Bonnie Joseph
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 the Third Sunday of Great Lent

O Lord, how magnified are Thy works. In wisdom hast Thou made them all.
Bless the Lord, O my soul.

The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews. (4:14-5:6)

Brethren, since we have a High Priest, Who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Sonof God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathizewith our weaknesses, but One Who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not exalt Himself tobe made a high priest, but was appointed by Him Who said to Him, “Thou art My Son, today I have begotten Thee”; as He says also in another place, “Thou art a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”

GOSPEL

For the Third Sunday of Great Lent

The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark. (8:34-9:1)

The Lord said, “If any man would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up hiscross and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life forMy sake and the Gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world andforfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Meand My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed,when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” And Jesus said to them, “Truly,I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Kingdom ofGod come with power.”