Reminder: Evangelism Presentation this Sunday
St. Peter’s has been selected to take part in a pilot program on evangelism.
We will hear from Adam Roberts who is spear-heading the program.
The emphasis will be on how to share your Orthodox faith with others. The format will be talk and discussion.
The talk/discussion will occur right after Divine Liturgy. We will receive the antidoron (the blessed bread), get some coffee and refreshments, and then sit down to begin.
Christmas Service Schedule
December 24
9:30am Royal Hours (First, Third, Sixth, and Ninth Hour)
7:00pm Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil
How do we prepare to Divine Liturgy? Very light breakfast, no lunch or a very light lunch if your health requires it, no supper until after Divine Liturgy.
Pray throughout the day. Try as much as possible to put aside the rush and demands of the day, or at least try to practice detachment as you do them. Keep the day holy so the next day (Christmas) can be holy too.
Excerpt from the Enthronement Speech of Met. Joseph
Metropolitan Joseph was enthroned (formally inducted) as the Ruling Hierarch of the Antiochian Archdiocese this past week end. Some highlights of his speech include:
Lastly, I shall use this staff to bring the spiritual, ethical, and moral authority of the Church of Ss. Peter & Paul, “the first to be called Christians,” to restore American society and culture as a whole.
We of the holy Church of Antioch hold a special understanding of the diversity of North America. Antioch’s diversity is even more diverse than America’s! In our ancient great city, we lived for centuries with a great multi-cultural life. Roman, Greek, Arab, Aramaic/Syriac, and Islamic cultures lived side by side informing and supporting each other.
From the beginning our Church has consisted of people from diverse cultures. Over the centuries, we have lived together in relative harmony with a few noteworthy exceptions. Antiochian Orthodox have held a Christian conscience embracing those who are different from us.
We lived considering “our neighbor as our life.” We bring this, our rich experience, to our lives here with all of the peoples of North America of whom we count ourselves a part.
We North Americans are a people who want to make a difference; who love our land, and our distinctive heritages. We are not content to be isolated on the world stage, but rather to be present and make a difference for the good.
Read the entire speech on the Antiochian Archdiocese website.
Parishioner Needs Temporary Lodging
Melanie Pefinis, a parishioner of St Peter's will be buying a home in Bonita Springs but needs a few months to get the lay of the land, check out neighborhoods, and so forth.
If anyone has a short-term rental situation or needs a house sitter, an inlaw apartment, guest house, empty space, or any other situation while she works with her realtors, please let Melanie know. You can call Melanie at 410-812-1268 or email her at pefinis@yahoo.com.
Last Call for Parish Christmas Card
Sign up for the parish Christmas Card. It is a great way to send Christmas greetings to all parishioners in one easy swoop. It is a great way to support your Church too.
Kindly download and print the information form here. Fill it in and bring it to Church.
Or if you prefer you can fill out the form and make your donation online. Deadline is December 14, 2014.
Stewardship for 2015
Stewardship forms for 2015 are available in the back pocket of each chair or on the website.
Your financial support of the Church is very important because it enables us to continue and grow.
We are also instructed to support our Church in scripture.
How much to give? How about the equivalent of one hour of work each week?
St. Paul’s Founders Day
Archpriest Joseph Shaheen
The Parish Council and Parishioners
of St. Paul Antiochian Orthodox Church
Announce with great joy the presence of His Eminence, Metropolitan JOSEPH and
His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN
February 21 and February 22, 2015
Celebrating the 18th Annual St. Paul Founders’ Weekend
Please save these dates and plan to attend.
Watch for details!
Remember in Your Prayers
Please continue pray for Pauline Poulos. She is recuperating at home.
Pauline Poulos
1338 Alkazar Ave.
Ft. Myers, Fl. 33901
Please continue your prayers for Pat and Milam Evanoff. Milam is unable to make it to Church.
The Sunday Scripture Readings
The Gospel Reading
(For the Holy Forefathers)
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (14:16-24)
The Lord spoke this parable: “A man once gave a great banquet, and invited many; and at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come; for all is now ready.’ But, one by one, they all began to make excuses.
The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it; I pray you, have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them; I pray you, have me excused.’
And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ So the servant came and reported this to his master.
Then the householder in anger said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and maimed and blind and lame.’
And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’
And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges, and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.”
The Epistle Reading
(For the Holy Forefathers)
Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the God of our Fathers.
For Thou art just in all that Thou hast done for us.
The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Colossians. (3:4-11)
Brethren, when Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these, the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience. In these you once walked, when you lived in them.
But now put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and foul talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old nature with its practices and have put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator.
Here there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free man, but Christ is all, and in all.