The Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost
The Thirteenth Sunday of Luke
After-Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos
Clement, Bishop of Rome; Hieromartyr Peter, Bishop of Alexandria; Hermogenes, Bishop of
Agrigentum; Martyrs Philoumenos and Christopher; Martyr Alexander of Corinth
Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple on Thursday, November 21 at 9:30am
The liturgy will be followed by the baptism of Joshua Liriano, a young man who attends church in St. Petersburg, FL but who Fr. Hans has been catechizing.
Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple
Nativity Fast Continues 2019
The Nativity Fast is one of the four Canonical Fasting Seasons in the Church year. This is a joyous fast in anticipation of the Nativity of Christ. That is the reason it is less strict than other fasting periods. The fast is divided into two periods. The 1st period is November 15th through December 19th when the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, fish, wine, and oil) is observed. There is dispensation given for wine and oil on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Similarly, fish, wine, and oil are permitted on Saturdays and Sundays. The 2nd period is December 20th through 24th when the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, fish, wine, and oil) is observed. There is dispensation given for wine and oil only on Saturday and Sunday during this period. Here are the guidelines:
| Meat | Dairy | Fish | Wine | Oil |
| beef, chicken, pork, turkey, elk, veal, lamb, deer, rabbit, buffalo, and so forth | milk, eggs, cheese, butter, yogurt, cream, and so forth | fish with a backbone (not including shrimp, octopus, shellfish, squid, or other seafood. | (some include all types of alcohol in this category) | (some include all types of oil in this category) |
| Abstain. | Abstain. | Permitted only on Saturdays and Sundays before December 20. (some permit fish Tuesdays and Thursdays also) | Permitted only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, & Sundays before December 20. | Permitted only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, & Sundays before December 20. |
The Purpose of Fasting
The purpose of fasting is to focus on the things that are above, the Kingdom of God. It is a means of putting on virtue in reality, here and now. Through it we are freed from dependence on worldly things. We fast faithfully and in secret, not judging others, and not holding ourselves up as an example.
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Fasting in itself is not a means of pleasing God. Fasting is not a punishment for our sins. Nor is fasting a means of suffering and pain to be undertaken as some kind of atonement. Christ already redeemed us on His Cross. Salvation is a gift from God that is not bought by our hunger or thirst.
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We fast to be delivered from carnal passions so that God’s gift of Salvation may bear fruit in us.
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We fast and turn our eyes toward God in His Holy Church. Fasting and prayer go together.
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Fasting is not irrelevant. Fasting is not obsolete, and it is not something for someone else. Fasting is from God, for us, right here and right now.
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Most of all, we should not devour each other. We ask God to “set a watch and keep the door of our lips.”
Diocese of Miami Winter Retreat
Bible Studies
Please note: Bible Studies have been postoned until January, 2020.
November
- Wed Nov 6 — CANCELED Community Bible Study 7:00pm
- Wed Nov 13 — CANCELED Men’s & Women’s Bible Study (Held separately) 7:00pm
- Wed Nov 20 — CANCELED Community Bible Study 7:00pm
- Wed Nov 27 — CANCELLED Men’s & Women’s Bible Study (Thanksgiving Divine Liturgy held instead) 7:00pm
The Community Bible Study is for the entire community.
The Men’s and Women’s Bible Study are separate studies but held concurrently.
Third Annual Toys for Tots Drive Up and Running!
At St. Peter’s we help the poor and disadvantaged. It is part of our mission. Organizations we support include Interfaith Charities, NAAMI, and Toys for Tots. Our third annual Toys for Tots drive has begun!
Please bring an unwrapped toy and put it in the box.
Sunday School Holiday Food Drive
Our Sunday School children would like to make Thanksgiving and Christmas a little happier for those in need.
Towards that effort, they are asking our parishioners to donate Holiday food items such as:
- Stuffing
- Cranberry Sauce
- Instant Potatoes
- Canned Vegetables
- Rice
- Beans
- Pie Shells/Cake Fillings
- Cake Mixes
The food will be donated to Interfaith Charities.
A collection basket will be placed outside the Sunday School classroom.
The collection begins this Sunday.
Whatever you can do will be appreciated!
Upcoming Liturgies
St. Katherine the Great Martyr on Monday, November 25, 2019 at 9:30am
St. Katherine of Alexandria the Great Martyr
Thanksgiving Divine Liturgy on Wednesday, November 27, 2019 at 6:30pm
St. Nicholas Divine Liturgy on Friday, December 6, 2019 Time TBA
Nativity Divine Liturgy on Tuesday, December 24, 2019 at 6:30pm
Pledge & Income Report – October 2019
In October we took in $17,201 in total donations. Our monthly goal is $16,777.00 leaving us $424 above our monthly expenses for.
These are very good numbers for September.
Please continue giving and thank you for it. We are on track to meet all of our 2019 expenses.
Interfaith Charities Needs More Food Items
They need:
- Ramen noodles
- Canned tuna
- Vegetables
- Beans
- Soups
Please note: Interfaith Charities is no longer accepting clothing or household items so we won’t be accepting them at St. Peter’s either.
Bring the food items to church and we will get them to Interfaith Charities. Interfaith Charities is a coalition of local churches helping the poor in our immediate community. See more on their website.
Calendar At A Glance
November
- Wed Nov 20 — CANCELLED Community Bible Study 7:00pm
- Thu Nov 21 — Entrance of the Theotokos Divine Liturgy 9:30am
- Mon Nov 25 — St. Katherine Divine Liturgy 9:30am
- Wed Nov 27 — CANCELLED Men’s & Women’s Bible Study (Held separately) 7:00pm
- Wed Nov 27 — Thanksgiving Divine Liturgy 6:30pm
December
- Fri Dec 6 — St. Nicholas Divine Liturgy Time TBA
- Thu Dec 12 — St. Spyridon Divine Liturgy 9:30am
- Fri Dec 20 — St. Ignatius of Antioch Divine Liturgy 9:30am
- Fri Dec 20 — Parish Council Meeting 3:00pm
- Tue Dec 24 — Nativity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Divine Liturgy 6:30pm
- Tue Dec 27 — St. Stephen the Proto-Martyr Divine Liturgy 9:30pm
Please note the extra remaining liturgies scheduled for November/December:
- Thu Nov 21 — Entrance of the Theotokos Divine Liturgy 9:30am
- Mon Nov 25 — St. Katherine Divine Liturgy 9:30am
- Wed Nov 27 — Thanksgiving Divine Liturgy 6:30pm
- Fri Dec 6 — St. Nicholas Divine Liturgy Time TBA
- Thu Dec 12 — St. Spyridon Divine Liturgy 9:30am
- Fri Dec 20 — St. Ignatius of Antioch Divine Liturgy 9:30am
- Tue Dec 24 — Nativity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Divine Liturgy 6:30pm
- Tue Dec 27 — St. Stephen the Proto-Martyr Divine Liturgy 9:30pm
Wisdom From The Elders
We must say each prayer—no matter how in spired we are, no matter what sweetness the Lord has granted us— we must pray chiefly as the publican: Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner. Everything, even this sigh, everything is a gift from God. Abbot Nikon Vorobiev
Those who have by God’s Grace realized the vanity of this life have actually received the greatest gift. Saint Paisios of Mount Athos
One cannot eat and drink and smoke continually. One cannot turn human life into constant eating, drinking, and smoking (although there are men who do eat, drink, and smoke almost uninterruptedly); and thus the spirit of evil has turned life into smoking, and made the mouth, which ought to be employed in thanking and praising the Lord, into a smoking furnace. Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt
Always firmly keep the thought that, “I am nothing. Whatever good I have, it is from God, through the prayers of my Elder. If grace deserts me, I will immediately fall again.” Elder Arsenios Galanopoulos, the Cave Dweller
The images of the saints ought to be our home and Church teachers. Read their lives, and engrave them upon your heart, and endeavour to bring your life into conformity with theirs. Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt
We were created for eternal life by our Creator, we are called to it by the word of God, and we are renewed by holy Baptism. And Christ the Son of God came into the world for this, that He should call us and take us there, and He is the one thing needful. For this reason your very first endeavor and care should be to receive it. Without it everything is as nothing, though you have the whole world under you. Abba Epiphanios
Remember in Your Prayers
Diomidis (Kanellos)
Anastasia (Ann Constan)
Ben (Ben)
Thomas (Ben)
Irene (C. Diveris)
Vasiliki (C.Diveris)
Efrosini (C. diveris)
Charles (Oberg)
Christine (Kouzes)
Nina (Kovalev)
Hugh (Jacquie)
Violet (Jacquie Mom)
Tammie (Jacquie friend)
Phillip
Baby Luke
George
Priest Kyprianos
Savannah (Jonson)
Bud
Silvana
Nicole
Evan
Megan
Bill R.
Pat R.
Aglaia
George
Hieromonk Serapion
Priest Kyprianos
Athanasia
Alexandra
Constantina
Maryanne (E)
Ron (E)
Tim
Robert (J)
Mary (J)
Patricia
Gregory
Andreas
Sofia Tešanovic
Paul
Dennis H. and Family
Victor Evan
Ann
James
Vasiliki
Efstratia
Alexandra
Nikos
Georgia
Ioannis
Costandino
Jeffrey
Vaso
Dave
Dimitri – Presbyter
Vassiliki
Octavio
Tom
Carl
Rena
Nikolay (5 year old boy in Bulgaria whose parents asked us to pray)
David
Rosie
Kathryn
Jeremy
Constantine
Robert
Jane
Theodora
David
Gina
Micheal
Haralambos
Lillian
Presbytera Rosy
Valentina
Eva W.
Barbara
Angela
Carol Ann
Matthew
Chrysostom
Tim
Pat
Christina
Maria Louise
Maximos
Marian
Photini
Nicholas
Sarah
Constantine Houpis
Anna Marie Smith Baker
Katerina
Mary Kassis
Baby Maximus
Christine
Maria
Annette Star
Claire Livaditis
Eva Chandilles
Baby Dani
Scott Nedoff
James Hord
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 Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost
O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance.
To Thee, O Lord, have I cried, O my God.
The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Ephesians. (2:4-10)
Brethren, God, Who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and made us sit with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God—not because of works, lest any man should boast. For, we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Gospel
For the Thirteenth Sunday of Luke
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (18:18-27)
At that time, a man came testing Jesus and asking, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery. Do not kill. Do not steal. Do not bear false witness. Honor your father and mother.’” And the man said, “All these I have observed from my youth.” And when Jesus heard it, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
But when the man heard this he became sad, for he was very rich. Jesus, seeing him sad, said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus said, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.”