St Peter News March 3, 2026

Second Sunday of Great Lent
St. Gregory Palamas

The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil

Theophylact the Confessor, bishop of Nicomedia; Apostle Hermas of the Seventy

From “A Man Fully Alive” by Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick.

On the Second Sunday of Great Lent we celebrate St. Gregory Palamas, the archbishop of Thessalonica in Greece for a number of years in the 14th century, right around the same time that Geoffrey Chaucer was born, the man who wrote The Canterbury Tales.

But before he became an archbishop, Gregory was a monk on the holy mountain of Athos. During his time there and also when he later became an archbishop, Gregory was involved in a controversy that cut straight to the heart of this longing for life that all of us who are sons and daughters of Adam share.

At that time, there was a certain heretic named Barlaam, who was from the southern part of Italy, which was Greek-speaking at the time. Barlaam made the claim that the highest possible knowledge of God that anyone could have was through the mind, that the philosophers knew God better than the prophets and even the apostles.

Gregory answered that the human mind, while a great gift from God, was not actually capable of the kind of intimate knowledge and communion that Adam had received from God, that there was something much deeper, that the Christian could actually know God and see Him with the heart, as a light shining in. And indeed, sometimes this heart knowledge of God was so powerful and so pervasive that some people were actually seeing the light of God with their physical eyes.

Isn’t that why we’re here? Don’t we want to see God? Aren’t we here not just to learn about God with our minds, but truly to know Him with our hearts?

Read a brief history of St. Gregory Palamas.

Services and Events This Week

• SUN Mar 01 — SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY DIVINE LITURGY – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• SUN Mar 01 — Sunday of Orthodoxy Pan-Orthodox Vespers at St. Paul Antiochian Church 5:00pm
• Mon Mar 02 — Great Compline 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Wed Mar 04 — Presanctified Liturgy followed by Lenten Supper 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Fri Mar 06 — Second Stanza Salutations to the Theotokos (Akathist) 6:30pm
• Fri Mar 06 — Men of St Paisios (following Salutations)
• Sat Mar 07 — GREAT VESPERS 5:30pm LIVE STREAM

St. Peter’s Ladies Book Club and Prayer Group Continues on Fridays at 11:00am

We are making a pivot and will start the book “Where is the Wound” by Mother Silouana of Romania.

This book also comes highly recommended by Met. Saba of the Antiochian Archdiocese. Met. Saba wrote a review of the book that can be found on the Antiochian website. He writes:

(Mother Silouana) distinguishes between life as mere survival and life as a gift from God. The life for which God created us becomes possible only when we open ourselves to His grace through prayer and the keeping of His commandments. She gives great importance to discovering God as a living Person, active in every moment of the soul and life of Orthodox Christians. She writes, “God is enamored of us.”

She speaks of the effect of deep-seated trauma stored in the subconscious, noting that some philosophies suggest avoiding or ignoring it. She explains that the thoughts emerging from repressed wounds poison the soul. Therefore, “we must pay attention to them, to what lies beneath them, to what we feel through them—and we must offer them to the Lord for healing.” She calls this offering to God “the body of prayer.”

Please spread the word and invite a friend to attend!

Lent is Here. What Do We Do?

Preparation begins with a resolution in the heart to do better this year than we did last year. Lent requires more of us but the requirement is never a demand but an invitation because God is not coercive. He freely gives so that we may freely receive.

But God is what the scripture calls a “jealous God.” This does not mean that God is jealous, but that the requirements for salvation, the things that are necessary to experience His salvation do not change. For us Americans it might be easier to understand it this way: God’s directives are not subject to negotiation or compromise.

More is expected from us. The Sunday services will be longer because we perform the Liturgy of St. Basil instead of St. John Chrysostom. The prayers are longer and we will pray them all because we don’t negotiate or compromise with what the Fathers have handed down to us.

We are expected to fast from certain foods during Lent. Why? Because bodily discipline is necessary for the healing of the soul.

We are expected to attend more services? Why? Because prayer and worship are necessary to draw us closer to God. When we draw closer to God, He draws closer to us St. Paul teaches.

We are expected to aid the poor more. Why? Because he who cares for the poor finds honor from his maker.

Save the Date!

Renowned author Frederica Matthews-Greene will be our guest speaker for the St. Peter – St. Paul Lenten Women’s Retreat in 2026.

Dates for the retreat are March 27-29, 2026.

This promises to be a very engaging and informative event.

Frederica Mathewes-Green is a wide-ranging author who has published ten books and 800 essays, in such diverse publications as the Washington Post, Christianity Today, Smithsonian, and The Wall Street Journal. She has been a regular commentator for National Public Radio (NPR), a columnist for the Religion News Service, Beliefnet.com, AND a podcaster for Ancient Faith Radio.

She has appeared as a speaker over 600 times at Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Wellesley, Cornell, Calvin, Baylor, and Westmont, among others. She received an honorary Doctor of Letters from King University. She now lives with her husband, the Rev. Gregory Mathewes-Green, in Johnson City, TN. Their three children are grown and married, and they have fifteen grandchildren.

Please Fill in Your Pledge Forms

The forms are available on the counter in the Narthex.

When You Give to the Good Samaritan Mercy Fund, You Fulfill the Law of Christ

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ (Galations 6:2)

St. Paul teaches us that God’s law, to love God and neighbor, is fulfilled when we bear one another’s burdens. The Good Samaritan Mercy fund helps us do that by helping parishioners who because of catastrophic circumstances face problems that we can help them with. This year is proving greater than past years so any donation you can make to our fund enables us to carry those burdens of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

All support is local, within our parish. Donations are approved by Fr. Hans and Ron Franklin our Parish Council President. Donations remain confidential.

St. John Chrysostom says those who can give receive their abundance from God in order to give. When we give from our abundance a double blessing occurs — one to the recipient in need, and another to him who gives.

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 Greeters

JANUARY 2026 – CHURCH GREETERS

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

SUNDAY COFFEE HOURS – Winter Months 2026

Please note: A fruit bowl, veggie or hummus tray may be added to a week’s menu.

• March 2026 – Sunday Coffee Hours – Team #3
• Sunday, March 1 – Coffee and bagels
• Sunday, March 8 – Coffee and donuts
• Sunday, March 15 – Coffee and coffee cake
• Sunday, March 22 – Coffee and muffins
• Sunday, March 29 – Coffee and bagels

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 – GREAT LENT BEGINS

• SUN Mar 01 — SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY DIVINE LITURGY – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• SUN Mar 01 — Sunday of Orthodoxy Pan-Orthodox Vespers at St. Paul Antiochian Church 5:00pm
• Mon Mar 02 — Great Compline 6:30pm
• Wed Mar 04 — Presanctified Liturgy followed by Lenten Supper 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Fri Mar 06 — Second Stanza Salutations to the Theotokos (Akathist) 6:30pm
• Fri Mar 06 — Men of St Paisios (following Salutations)
• Sat Mar 07 — GREAT VESPERS 5:30pm LIVE STREAM

• SUN Mar 08 — SUNDAY OF ST. GREGORY PALAMAS Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Mon Mar 09 — Great Compline 6:30pmr 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Wed Mar 11 — Presanctified Liturgy followed by Lenten Supper 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Fri Mar 13 — Third Stanza Salutations 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Fri Mar 03 — Men of St Paisios (following Salutations)
• Sat Mar 14 — Great Vespers 5:30pm 6:30pm LIVE STREAM

• SUN Mar 15 — SUNDAY OF THE VENERATION OF THE CROSS DIVINE LITURGY – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Mon Mar 16 — Great Compline 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Wed Mar 18 — Presanctified Liturgy 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Fri Mar 20 — Fourth Stanza Salutations 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Sat Mar 21 — Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM

• SUN Mar 22 — SUNDAY OF ST. JOHN OF THE LADDER DIVINE LITURGY – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Mon Mar 23 — Great Compline 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Tue Mar 25 — Annunciation Divine Liturgy 9:00am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Mar 25 — Full Canon of St. Andrew w/ Life of St. Mary of Egypt 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Thu Mar 26 — Presanctified Liturgy 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Fri Mar 27 — Complete Salutations/Akathist Hymn 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Sat Mar 28 — Great Vespers 5:30pm 6:30pm LIVE STREAM

• SUN Mar 29 — SUNDAY OF ST. MARY OF EGYPT DIVINE LITURGY – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Mon Mar 30 — Great Compline 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Wed Apr 01 — Presanctified Liturgy 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Fri Apr 03 — Small Compline with Canon of St. Lazarus 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Sat Apr 04 — Lazarus Saturday Orthos 8:30 / Divine Liturgy 9:30am / Make crosses / Pancake breakfast / Children confessions – Full Schedule TBA
• Sat Apr 04 — Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM

Wisdom From The Elders

That there is a devil, that there are demons, and that these beings wage an active war against mankind and its salvation is so foundational a testimony of the Church that it is shocking it needs clarifying among Christians; yet too often it does. Bishop Irenei Steenberg

The Lord is so holy, so simple in His holiness, that one single evil or impure thought deprives us of Him, of the sweet and most sweet, of the pure and most pure peace and light of our souls. Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt

As God is ever-flowing, infinite goodness, he desires and ever seeks to impart His goodness to His creatures, if only they turn to Him with faith, hope, and love, like children to their father, recognising their sinfulness, poverty, need, blindness, and infirmity without Him. Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt

Ask, then, unremittingly and without doubting, however poor your efforts to gain holiness, however weak your strength; and you will receive great gifts, far beyond anything that you deserve. St. John of Karpathos

Do not be surprised that you fall every day; do not give up, but stand your ground courageously. And assuredly, the angel who guards you will honour your patience. St. John Climacus

Current Prayer List

Donna Eardley (Pateras)
Jack Eardley (Pateras)
Efstrathios Papadopoulos (Pateras)
Vera Pateras Stathes (Pateras)
Maureen (Breitenbach)
Doug (Kucera)
Katrina (Marianthi)
Katherina (Sovjani)
Arsen (Sovjani)
Arion (Sovjani)
David (Sovjani)
Joe (Repya)
Bp. Nicholas
Mary Teresa (Dusckas)
Adam (Krotov)
Ariyon (Sovjani)
Diana (Veraj)
Arjan (Veraj)
Thoma (Sovjani)
Lucia
Ioannes
Stratton (Leopold)
Mary (Copeland)
Robert (Tewis)
Gene (Forderhase)
Ruth (Mudd)
Barbara (Duskas)
Maria (Duskas)
Rachel (Voss)
Ken John (Eaton)
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)
Arielle (Ghanem 6/1)
Nicholas (Ghanem 6/1)
Christos
Father Demetris
Jamie
Pamela
David
Jessica
Christina (Hildreth)
Dionysios Chapekis)
Nancy (Forderhase)
Kayla (Palantine)
George (3/23 Chapekis)
Penelope (3/23 Chapekis)
Theodora (3/23)
Victor (3/23)
Les (3/23
Lynn (Hurley 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)
Archpriest Dionysius (Valentine 9/12)
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)
The People of Ukraine and People of Russia and all those who are suffering in the war

Permanent Prayer List

Kh. Denise (Breitenbach)
Fr. Patrick (Breitenbach)
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)
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)

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
Raymond (Zeena)
Vassilike (Hord)
Helen (Mitchell)

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.

Sunday Readings

EPISTLE

O Lord, Thou wilt preserve us and keep us from this generation.
Save me, O Lord, for the godly man hath disappeared.

The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews. (1:10-2:3)

“In the beginning, Thou, O Lord, didst found the earth, and the heavens are the work of Thy hands; they will perish, but Thou remainest; they will all grow old like a garment, like a mantle Thou wilt roll them up, and they will be changed. But Thou art the same, and Thy years will never end.” But to what angel has He ever said, “Sit at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies a stool for thy feet”? Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation? Therefore, we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For if the message, declared by angels, was valid and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard Him.

GOSPEL

The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark. (2:1-12)

At that time, when Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that Hewas at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, not even about the door; and He was preaching the Word to them. And they came, bringing to Jesus a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near Jesus because of the crowd,they removed the roof above Him; and when they had made an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now, some of the scribes were sitting there, reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak thus? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

And immediately Jesus, perceiving in His spirit that they thus reasoned within themselves, said to them,“Why do you reason thus in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your pallet and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” – He said to the paralytic – “I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home.” And he rose, and immediately took up the pallet and went out before them all. So that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”