St. Peter News April 11, 2023

Pascha (Passover)

The Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Pascha

Holy Week comes to an end at sunset of Great and Holy Saturday, as the Church prepares to celebrate her most ancient and preeminent festival, Pascha, the feast of feasts. The time of preparation will give way to a time of fulfillment. The glorious and resplendent light emanating from the empty Tomb will dispel the darkness. Christ, risen from the dead, cracks the fortress of death and takes “captivity captive” (Psalm 67:19). All the limitations of our createdness are torn asunder. Death is swallowed up in victory and life is liberated. “For as by a man came death, by a man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive” (I Corinthians 15:21-22). Pascha is the dawn of the new and unending day. The Resurrection constitutes the most radical and decisive deliverance of humankind.

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The Resurrection has not yet abolished the reality of death. But it has revealed its powerlessness (Hebrews 2:14-15). We continue to die as a result of the Fall. Our bodies decay and fall away. “God allows death to exist but turns it against corruption and its cause, sin, and sets a boundary both to corruption and sin.” Thus, physical death does not destroy our life of communion with God. Rather, we move from death to life – from this fallen world to God’s reign.

Read more about Pascha on the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese website.

Wanted: Foreign Language Speakers for Agape Vespers

During the Agape Vespers we read the Gospel in different languages to signify the gospel being preached to all nations. Do you speak a language other than English? Please bring your bible and be prepared to read John 20:19:25.

We will read the gospel in three sections:

• John 20:19-20
• John 20:21-23
• John 20:23-25

Fr. Hans can provide the following languages: Greek, English, French, Latin, German, Spanish.

Please note: Latin and Turkish have been taken.

Easter Baskets Blessed at Pascha

Parishioners from the Slavic traditions bring Pascha Baskets to Church on Pascha to have them blessed. They are filled with meats, cheeses, gifts and all manner of good things to signify the end of Great Lent and the Resurrection of Christ as a time of bounty and blessing.

We will bless the Baskets at St. Peter’s at the evening Pascha service and again at the Agape Vespers for those who cannot make the Pascha Service.

A Guide for Holy Week

Check out the guide resources about Holy Week on the St. Peter’s website.

Services This Week

HOLY WEEK

• Sun Apr 09 — PALM SUNDAY LIVE STREAM
  Brunch in Social Hall following Divine Liturgy
  Bridegroom Service 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Mon Apr 10 — HOLY MONDAY – Bridegroom Service 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Tue Apr 11 — HOLY TUESDAY – Bridegroom Service 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Wed Apr 12 — HOLY WEDNESDAY – Holy Unction 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Thu Apr 13 — HOLY THURSDAY – Liturgy of the Last Supper 9:30am LIVE STREAM
  Reading of the Twelve Gospels 6:00pm (note earlier time) LIVE STREAM
• Fri Apr 14 — HOLY FRIDAY – Royal Hours 9:00am LIVE STREAM
  Decoration of Tomb of Christ 10:30am
  Taking Christ Down from the Cross 3:00pm LIVE STREAM
  Lamentations 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
  CANCELLED Men of St. Paisios 7:30pm Social Hall
• Sat Apr 15 — HOLY SATURDAY – First Resurrection Service 9:30am LIVE STREAM
  Baptims Emma Weiss baptism following the Liturgy
  Great and Holy Pascha 10:00pm LIVE STREAM
• Sun Apr 16 — Agape Vespers 11:00am LIVE STREAM
  
  Paschal Dinner in Social Hall 1:00pm / Easter egg hunt for children

Pascha Celebration

If there is one thing we do well at St. Peter’s, it’s our community gatherings. Mark you calendars for the Pascha Community Dinner of Sunday, April 16 2023 (around 1pm).

Pascha Dinner Menu

• Roast leg of lamb
• Tossed salad
• Beans
• Baked lasagna

Sign up sheets are available on the tables in the social hall.

Planning for Emergencies in the Church

Safety and security of our parish is a paramount concern.

On Wednesday April 12, the St. Peter Security Advisory Team will meet at noon to go over medical emergency procedures, identify actual pre-trained medical
personnel, review where the Casualty Care Bag, First Aid and AED locations.

On Friday, May 4, from 1 PM to 3 PM the Lee County Sheriff’s office will conduct a Active Shooter Training Seminar at St. Peters. All members of the St. Peters Security Advisory Team are requested to attend. Please contact Joe Repya 612-270-4443 for questions or further information. Joe and Deb Repya will supply refreshments.

Diocese of Miami Parish Life Conference in Miami June 14-17, 2023

For more information visit the DOMSE website.

Let’s Pray the Paraklesis to the Theotokos Daily

Our goal at St. Peter’s is to have one person or family pray the Parakelsis to the Theotokos for at least one day of every month. For each day of the month, individuals or even an entire family can sign up to pray the Paraklesis in their homes on the day/s which they select.

Get more information on how to participate from the St. Peter’s website.

Cafe of Life – Sacrifice is Pleasing to God

God has given us the greatest sacrifice — His only Son Jesus. In doing so, he left us with a true example of what it means to give to the poor and less fortunate. He asks us to sacrifice as an act of worship before Him and when we obey, He will bless us.

According to The Hebrews 13:16: Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

So please be exceptionally generous during this Great Lent and donate for the hungry and homeless in our community.

Thank you, God bless and IC XC NI KA!

Pledge & Income Report – February

Contributions received in February: $31,883.
Amount of money needed to cover expenses: $28,950.
We are ahead by $2,933.

St. Peter Orthodox Church
7470 Hickory Drive
Fort Myers, FL 33967

You can also donate online:

Sign up the the Monthly DOMSE Newsletter on the DOMSE (Diocese of Miami and the Southeast) Website!

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’S GREETERS

APRIL 2023

• Apr 2 Joe and Deb Repya, George Tsikitas   
• Apr 9   Dan Delorenzo, George Tsikitas
• Apr 16  Joe Repya, Dan Delorenzo
• Apr 23  Dan Delorenzo, George Tsikitas
• Apr 30  Tom and Marlene Haley

MAY 2023

• May 07 Will Schwarz, Need Additional Volunteer
• May 14 Joe and Deb Repya, Need Additional Volunteer
• May 21 Joe and Deb Repya, Need Additional Volunteer
• May 28 Will Schwarz, Need Additional Volunteer

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

SOCIAL HALL ALL STARS

APRIL

• BARBARA DIONYSOPOULOS
• Al Joseph
• Bonnie Joseph
• Marianthi Kazakos
• Sandy Krotov
• Niki Locklear
• Ray Locklear
• Eleni Moran
• Koula Ormanidou

The Social Hall All Stars are the men and women that make St. Peter’s Social Hall happen. Thank you All Stars!

Calendar also available on the St. Peter website.

MARCH

APRIL

HOLY WEEK

• Sun Apr 09 — PALM SUNDAY LIVE STREAM
  Brunch in Social Hall following Divine Liturgy
  Bridegroom Service 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Mon Apr 10 — HOLY MONDAY – Bridegroom Service 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Tue Apr 11 — HOLY TUESDAY – Bridegroom Service 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Wed Apr 12 — HOLY WEDNESDAY – Holy Unction 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Thu Apr 13 — HOLY THURSDAY – Liturgy of the Last Supper 9:30am LIVE STREAM
  Reading of the Twelve Gospels 6:00pm (note earlier time) LIVE STREAM
• Fri Apr 14 — HOLY FRIDAY – Royal Hours 9:00am LIVE STREAM
  Decoration of Tomb of Christ 10:30am
  Taking Christ Down from the Cross 3:00pm LIVE STREAM
  Lamentations 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
  CANCELLED Men of St. Paisios 7:30pm Social Hall
• Sat Apr 15 — HOLY SATURDAY – First Resurrection Service 9:30am LIVE STREAM
  Baptims Emma Weiss baptism following the Liturgy
  Great and Holy Pascha 10:00pm LIVE STREAM
• Sun Apr 16 — Agape Vespers 11:00am LIVE STREAM
  
  Paschal Dinner in Social Hall 1:00pm / Easter egg hunt for children

And when sorrow comes, and prayer does not seem to help, do not despair or grumble or give in to disbelief. Remember, without trials one cannot be saved; one cannot even gain experience in life without them. Abbot Nikon Vorobiev

When the mind, taking refuge in Christ and calling upon Him, stands firm and repels its unseen enemies, like a wild beast facing a pack of hounds from a good position of defence, then it inwardly anticipates their inner ambuscades well in advance. Through continually invoking Jesus the peacemaker against them, it remains invulnerable. St. Hesychius the Theologian of Jerusalem, disciple of St. Gregory the Theologian

When I examine my heart, when I behold my false repentance, I can say to the Lord only, “My God, I have never made any beginning in prayer!” Bishop Irenei Steenberg

When you see someone suffering great dishonour, you may be sure that he was carried away by thoughts of self-esteem and is now reaping, much to his disgust, the harvest from the seeds which he sowed in his heart. St Mark the Ascetic

Every act of love towards one’s neighbor brings joy, exalting the human soul and causing it to experience a sense of light, of spiritual delight. Archbishop Averky (Taushev)

• Names will remain on the list for three 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

Christos
Father Demetris
Jamie
Pamela
David
Jessica
Christina (Hildreth)
Georgia and Richard and their unborn child (Chapekis)
Dionysios Chapekis)
Nancy (Forderhase)
Kayla (Palantine)
George (3/23 Chapekis)
Penelope (3/23 Chapekis)
Theodora (3/23)
Victor (3/23)
Barbara (Dusckas 3/23)
James (Dusckas 3/23)
Les (3/23
Lynn (Hurely 1/23)
Irene and unborn baby (Tsikitas 1/23)
Linda (Pappas 1/23)
Ekaterina (Chapekis 1/23)
Mikaela and unborn baby (Irena 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)
Priest Anthony (Karbo 11/22)
Archpriest Dionysius (Valentine 9/12)
Anthony Presbyter (Kerr 10/22)
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)
Peter (Tewis 8/22)
The People of Ukraine and People of Russia and all those who are suffering in the war

Permanent Prayer List

Katheryn (Tolkkinen)
Markisia (Long)
Angela (Long)
Marina (Long)
Eleni (Long)
Raphaella (Long)
Joanne (Haley)
Francine (Anton)
Corwin (Dusckas)
Corgette (Troutman)
Irina (Irina)
Seraphim (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)
Makrina and her unborn baby (Kerr)
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)
Vassiliki (Kontinos)
Vassiliki (Morekeas)
Vassilike (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)
John (Katsigianopoulos)
George (Chionis)
Mary (Spiropoulos)
Gregory (Pappas)
Angela (Coran K
Eugene (Rust)
Robert (Jarvis)
George (Corey)
Patricia (Cotsones)

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.

EPISTLE

This is the day which the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad therein!
O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good; His mercy endureth forever.

The Reading from the Acts of the Apostles. (1:1-8)

In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when He was taken up, after He had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the Apostles whom He had chosen. To them He presented Himself alive after His passion by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God. And while staying with them He charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, He said, “You heard from Me; for John baptized with water, but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” So when they had come together, they asked Him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.”

GOSPEL

The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. John. (1:1-17)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light. The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world knew Him not. He came to His own home, and His own people received Him not. But to all who received Him, who believed in His Name, He gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. (John bore witness to Him, and cried, “This was He of Whom I said, ‘He Who comes after me ranks before me, for He was before me.’”) And from His fullness have we all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.