Eighth Sunday After Pentecost
Eighth Sunday Of Matthew
Saints for Special Needs
“We should seek the intercessions and the fervent prayers of the saints, because they have special ‘boldness’ (parresia), before God.” Saint John Chrysostom
THROUGH THEIR INTERCESSIONS . . .
The Orthodox Church is a living and vibrant community of faithful Christians made up of the members of the Church militant and the church triumphant. The Church militant are those of us who are still part of this world, diligently striving to live our lives according to God’s teachings and commandments. The Church triumphant are those individuals who have been called by God to be with Him in paradise and continue to pray for us.
Holiness or sainthood is a gift given by God to mankind through the Holy Spirit. Man’s effort to become a participant in the life of divine holiness is indispensable, but sanctification itself is the work of the Holy Trinity, especially through the sanctifying power of Jesus Christ.
See a list of Saints for special needs on the St. Peterwebsite.
Fr. Hans in Greece July 17-31.
Fr. Hans is in Greece traveling with his family from July 17-31. He will be visiting the monastery of St. Paisios in Thessaloniki as well as making a pilgrimage to St. Nektarios monastery in Egina, among other things. Both Saints are active in the St. Peter’s parish.
Fr. Stephanos Sigoury has kindly accepted to fill in and can handle any pastoral emergencies that may arise. You may contact him at 239-789-7793.
Orthodox Nursing Home Opens in Clearwater, Florida
From Most Holy Theotokos Rescuer of the Perishing:
Recently, a pan-Orthodox group banded together and started Most Holy Theotokos Rescuer of the Perishing. It is a house of prayer and repentance which ministers to the physical and spiritual needs of Orthodox elderly in the Tampa Bay area. We are located just south of downtown Clearwater and less than a quarter mile from the largest hospital in the area, Morton Plant.
The board of directors is pan-Orthodox representing every major Orthodox jurisdiction currently serving in the area. We have priests serving on the board from the Antiochian Archdiocese, the Moscow Patriarchate, the Serbian Diocese of North America, the OCA, and a layman from the Greek Archdiocese.
Presently, we have a collaborative agreement with the owner of Magnolia Manor (where Most Holy Theotokos Rescuer of the Perishing is located). Magnolia Manor will continue to look after the physical needs of the residents while we will minister to the spiritual needs of the Orthodox residents. We will hold services, including Divine Liturgies, at the residence and have a full schedule of daily services for the residents’ spiritual edification.
We are now accepting applications from prospective Orthodox residents who would like to join us. We are seeking those who desire to live a more intense spiritual life in an Orthodox atmosphere of love and community. While we are located in the Tampa Bay area, we are pleased to welcome Orthodox residents from other parts of the country.
Please visit our website to learn more.
Fr. Hans is the Antiochian representative of this endeavor.
Interfaith Charities Reaches Out to St. Peter’s
Interfaith Charities reached out to us last week to provide peanut butter, jelly, and Ramen noodles to feed hungry kids in our area this summer. When school gets out, the need gets greater.
Please bring these items to church and we will get them to Interfaith Charities. St. Peter’s is committed to meeting the needs of people locally and Interfaith Charities is one way we fulfill that commission.
Learn more about Interfaith Charities on their website.
Coming in September: Through the Bible in One Year
Would you like to read the entire bible? Would you like to take on this challenge with friends for encouragement and support?
On September 1, the start of the new Church Year, St. Peter’s will start a program to read the bible in one year. Information will be posted on the website in August.
Start thinking about it now.
Calendar At A Glance
- July 17-31, 2017 Fr. Hans in Greece
Wisdom From The Elders
He who loses his cross loses his Christianity.
Metropolitan Saba (Esber)
Much effort and labor is needed, for a man to be changed and to be the good tree that brings forth good fruit. Strive, then, for nothing else but to change, renew, and correct yourself. And pray for this…
St. Tikhon of Zadonsk
Thirst for eternal life is found in the person who feels constrained by the mundane world. He feels his own spiritual peril in the society of pop culture and waning morals.
from a sermon on the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman
A believer is not one who thinks that God can do everything, but one who believes that he will obtain all things. Faith paves the way for what seems impossible…
St. John Climacus
Live through lowliness of mind instead of going to your death through pretentious pride.
Dorotheos of Gaza
Remember in Your Prayers
Katherine
Douglas
Corwin
Jim
Tracy
John
Eva W.
John Dusckas
Barbara
Melissa
David
Lisa
Nancy
Bob
Angela
James L.
Anthony
Marcie
Michele
Sonya
Kenneth
Carol Ann
Matthew
Gerhard
Valerie
Chrysostom
Tim
Ron
Ivy-Jean
Pat
Christina
Baby Samuel
Jennie
Mary
Baby Kyriake
Maximos
Marian
Photini
Nicholas
Brad William
Ryan
Sarah
Robert Jarvis
Petronia (Wife of Phil Pappas)
Anna Marie Smith Baker
Iris Kuring (Bettina Zifiris' mother)
Constantine Houpis
Ron Chromulak
Beverly Chromulak
Katerina
Dianne
Loucine Kassis
Mary Kassis
Baby Maximus
Annette Star
Christine
Maria
Claire Livaditis
Eva Chandilles
Baby Dani
Scott Nedoff
Anthony Mourgis
John Hansen
James Hord
Bob Smith
Tom and Jean
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
For the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
The Lord will give strength to His people.
Ascribe to the Lord, O sons of God, ascribe to the Lord honor and glory.
The Reading from the First Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians. (1:10-17)
Brethren, I appeal to you, by the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no dissension among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brethren. What I mean is that each one of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.”
Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispos and Gaius; lest anyone should say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the Gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
Gospel
For the Eighth Sunday of Matthew
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (14:14-22)
At that time, when Jesus went ashore he saw a great throng; and he had compassion on them, and healed their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to Him and said, “This is a lonely place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They said to Him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” And He said, “Bring them here to Me.”
Then He ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass; and taking the five loaves and the two fish He looked up to Heaven, and blessed, and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. Then Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds.