Thirty-Second Sunday after Pentecost
Fifteenth Sunday of Luke — The Sunday of Zaccheaus
Holy and Wonderworking Unmercenaries Cyrus and John
Martyrs Athanasia and her daughters Theodota, Theoktiste and Eudoxia of Egypt; New-Martyr Elias in the Peloponnesus; Nikita of the Kiev Caves, Bishop of Novgorod
The Sunday of Zacchaeus
The Apostle Zacchaeus was a rich publican at Jericho. Since he was short of stature, he climbed a sycamore tree in order to see the Savior passing by. After the Ascension of the Lord, St. Zacchaeus accompanied St. Peter on his travels. Tradition says he followed St. Peter to Caesarea, where Peter appointed him the Bishop of Caesarea in Palestine. He died in peace.
The Sunday of Zacchaeus is also the first warning that Lent is around the corner. It is time to prepare ourselves for the coming of Lent. Start thinking about it now.
Read the complete story on the Orthodoxwiki website.
Holy and Wonderworking Unmercenaries Cyrus and John
The Holy and Wonderworking Unmercenaries Cyrus and John
Born in Alexandria of Egypt in the third century A.D. to faithful Christian parents, St. Cyrus was raised to be a true follower of Christ from an early age. St. Cyrus attended the university in Alexandria becoming a medical physician. He treated his patients without pay or rewards. St. Cyrus healed in the name of Jesus Christ with prayers and by reciting passages from the Old Testament. After his patients were healed he would advise them that in order to stay healthy they must obey God’s commandments and not sin as most of the time sickness comes through sin.
As St. Cyrus became popular the citizens of Alexandria built him a hospital, which was converted into a church after his martyrdom. It was a place where miracles occurred even after his repose due to the grace of the Holy Spirit and the prayers of the saint.
Aside from his healing and hospital duties St. Cyrus was a strong Christian teaching Christianity to the population of Alexandria. Many baptisms were performed and the church of Alexandria grew.
Read the complete story on the Orthodoxwikie website.
Read the entire article on the Orthodoxwiki.
Services This Week
- Sun Jan 24 — Orthros 8:30am / Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Mon Jan 25 — ST. GREGORY THE THEOLOGIAN Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Thu Jan 28 — RIGHTEOUS EPHRAIM AND ISAAC THE SYRIANS Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Serving the Poor in Bonita Springs
The Cafe of Life depends on donations like St. Peter’s to feed the hungry and homeless. So please continue to donate and remember we will meet on Thursday, February 11, 2021 at 1:00pm in the Social Hall to make the sandwiches.
Thank you and IC XC NI KA!
Capital Campaign Update — January 3, 2021
UPDATE: We are still accepting Capital Campaign Donations as we have not yet made our goal. Our goal is $750K and we now have $482K. Thank you for your generous contributions to date.
The Church now has set up a Brokerage account so if anyone wishes to donate stocks or bonds, the Church can accept them.
Our Capital Campaign is going well. So far $482,000 of the $750,000 we need to secure a mortgage to make a bid on the new Church property has been received. That’s over half of our goal!
Download a pledge form on the St. Peter website.
Please remember, churches are hard to come by in Southwest Florida. This property meets our needs because:
- We can afford it (the mortgage will cost no more than what we currently pay in rent; it may even be a little less),
- It has buildings on site that are move-in ready,
- It can accommodate the growth we are experiencing and that will continue.
Many of you have seen our Capital Campaign video. Take a look at it again. It lays out our vision that has guided us to where we are and explains why a move is necessary now.
We are grateful to everyone who has supported our Capital Campaign. Thank you very much for your confidence and trust, and the hope you have in the flourishing of St. Peter’s parish.
Introduction to Orthodoxy Classes on Sunday, January 31, 2020
Next class Sunday, January 31, 2020. Assignment: Chapters 19 and 20.
The class is required for seekers and catechumens and also open to any parishioner who would like to attend. The syllabus will be posted on the website at soon as it is completed and handed out the first day of class.
We will meet after social hall. Get some coffee, have some food and fellowship, and then we break for class.
2021 DOMSE Virtual Winter Retreat — Save the Date
Pledge & Income Report – December 2020
Donations received in December $25,959.00
Amount of money needed to cover expenses: $18,167.00
We are ahead by $7,792
Thank you for your generosity. Although we are ahead in December, most of the surplus were prepayments of 2021 pledges. When the prepayments are deducted from the December income, we are slight behind for the month.
Please note:Please continue your generous support. If you cannot make it to church please mail in your donation to:
St. Peter Orthodox Church
24850 Old 41 Road Suite 6
Bonita Springs, FL 34135
You can also donate online (scroll to bottom of page):
Bishop NICHOLAS Offers a Weekly Live Stream
These are short thirty minute presentations where His Grace Bp. Nicholas speaks on one theme in Sunday readings for fifteen minutes followed by questions from the listeners. It’s worth tuning in. Get instructions on the St. Peter website on how to use the Band App on your phone or computer to participate.
Calendar At A Glance
Calendar also available on the St. Peter website.
JANUARY
- Sun Jan 24 — Orthros 8:30am / Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Mon Jan 25 — ST. GREGORY THE THEOLOGIAN Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Jan 27 — Women’s Book Club 6:00pm
- Thu Jan 28 — RIGHTEOUS EPHRAIM AND ISAAC THE SYRIANS Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Fri Jan 29 — DOMSE Virtual Retreat
- Sat Jan 30 — DOMSE Virtual Retreat
FEBRUARY
- Sun Jan 31 — Orthros 8:30am / Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Tue Feb 02 — PRESENTATION OF CHRIST IN THE TEMPLE Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Feb 03 — THE SYNAXIS OF THE HOLY AND RIGHTEOUS SYMEON THE GOD-RECEIVER AND THE HOLY PROPHETESS ANNA Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Sat Feb 06 — St. Paisios Brotherhood Retreat in Venice FL
- Sun Feb 07 — Orthros 8:30am / Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Mon Feb 08 — THEODORE THE COMMANDER AND GREAT MARTYR Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Feb 10 — ST. HARALAMBOS THE HIEROMARTYR Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Sun Feb 14 — Orthros 8:30am / Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Feb 17 — THEODORE THE TYRO, GREAT MARTYR Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Fri Feb 19 — PARAKLESIS TO THE THEOTOKOS 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Sun Feb 21 — Orthros 8:30am / Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Feb 24 — FIRST AND SECOND FINDING OF THE VENERABLE HEAD OF JOHN THE BAPTIST Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Fri Feb 26 — PARAKLESIS TO THE THEOTOKOS 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Wisdom From The Elders
I always emphasize that young person should try to live as spiritually as they can before marriage, since preserving their chastity secures their physical and spiritual health. St. Paisios of Mount Athos
Your children should not hear you arguing even once, not even if you raise the tone of your voices to one another.
Elder Porphyrios
Ever let mercy outweigh all else in you. Let our compassion be a mirror where we may see in ourselves that likeness and that true image which belong to the Divine nature and Divine essence. A heart hard and unmerciful will never be pure. St. Isaac the Syrian
When you rise from sleep, your first thought should be of God, your first word should be a prayer to God—your Father and Creator. Elder Anthony of Optina
One may have a good worldly relationship with non-believers, but one cannot have a relationship in prayer and one must not carry on arguments about religion so that the name of God not be offended during an argument. St. Nektary of Optina
Prayer revives the Divine breath which God breathed into Adam’s nostrils. Father Sophrony
How can we overcome the sinfulness that is already firmly established within us? We must use force. St. John of Karpathos
Repentance is the renewal of life. This means we must free ourselves of all our negative traits and turn toward absolute good. No sin is unforgivable except the sin of unrepentance. Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica
Remember in Your Prayers
The Prayer List has been revamped. To bring order to the list we will do the following:
- Names will remain on the list for two 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 (Updated January 11 / Resets February 1)
Lee Joseph (Irina 3/21)
TL (Dusckas 2/21)
Paul (Dusckas 2/21)
Barbara (Dusckas 2/21)
Paola (Jacobse 3/21>
John (Katsigianopoulos 3/21)
Bryce (NA 3/21)
David (Dusckas 2/21)
Debbie (Breitenbach 2/21)
Mary (Marianthi 2/21)
Sarah (Wolffe 2/21)
Pauline (Jacobse 2/21)
Benjamin (Jacobse 2/21)
Marcie (Breitenbach 2/21)
Jo Ann (Breitenbach 2/21)
Angela (Fred 12/21)
Despina (Diveris 2/21)
Ronald (Sovjani 2/21)
Katherine (Dusckas 2/21)
Marlene (Tewis 2/21)
Gail (Jacobse 1/21)
Robert (Tewis 1/21)
Sergio (Mary Kazakos 1/21)
Rae (Semeretis 1/21)
Mary (Semeretis 1/21)
Heather (Waterman 1/21)
Zachary (Constantine 1/21)
Peter (Foltz 1/21)
Alexa (Buchanan 1/21)
Rebecca (Aguado 1/2021)
Jacob (Aguado 1/2021)
Baby Mackenzie (Zafiris 12/20
Nolan (Zafiris 12/20)
Permanent Prayer List
Fran (Hansen)
Nina (Krotov)
George (Chapekis)
Franklin (Pyrrson)
George (Chionis)
Stamatia (Jacobse)
Stamatia (Evelyn)
Demetrios (Kuchera)
Theodosios (Palis)
Theodora (Webb)
Helen (Rogers)
Robert (Smith)
Robert (Jarvis)
Presbytera Rosy (in Pakistan)
James (Hord)
Ann (Rellis)
Vassiliki (Kontinos)
Vassiliki (Morekeas)
Founders, Members, and Benefactors 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)
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 Thirty-second 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 St. Timothy. (4:9-15)
Timothy, my son, the saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, Who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things. Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, attend to the public reading of scripture, to preaching, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophetic utterance when the council of elders laid their hands upon you. Practice these duties; devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress.
GOSPEL
For the Fifteenth Sunday of Luke — “Zacchaeus”
The reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (19:1-10)
At that time, Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector, and rich. And he sought to see Who Jesus was, but could not, on account of the crowd, because he was small of stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Jesus, for He was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. And when they saw it they all murmured, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of man came to seek and to savethe lost.”