St. Peter News December 4, 2023

Twenty-seventh Sunday after Pentecost
Tenth Sunday of Luke

Martyrs Menas, Eugraphos and Hermogenes of Alexandria; Venerable Thomas Dephourkinos of Bithynia

Who were Martyrs Menas, Eugraphos and Hermogenes?

The Holy Martyrs Hermogenes, Menas, and Eugraphus suffered for their faith in Christ under the emperor Maximian (305-313).

Saint Menas was sent by the emperor from Athens to Alexandria to suppress the riots that had arisen between the Christians and the pagans. Distinguished for his gift of eloquence, Menas instead openly began to preach the Christian Faith and he converted many pagans to Christ. Learning of this, Maximian sent Hermogenes to Alexandria to place the saints on trial. Moreover, he gave orders to purge the city of Christians.

Hermogenes, although he was a pagan, was distinguished by his reverent bearing. And struck by the endurance of Saint Menas under torture and by his miraculous healing after the cruel torments, he also came to believe in Christ. Maximian himself then arrived in Alexandria. Neither the astonishing stoic endurance of Saints Menas and Hermogenes under torture, nor even the miracles manifested by God in this city, mollified the emperor. Instead, they vexed him all the more. The emperor personally stabbed Saint Eugraphus, the secretary of Saint Menas, and then gave orders to behead the holy Martyrs Menas and Hermogenes.

The relics of the holy martyrs, cast into the sea in an iron chest, were afterwards found (see February 17) and transferred to Constantinople in the ninth century. The emperor Justinian built a church in the name of the holy Martyr Menas of Alexandria. Saint Joseph the Hymnographer (April 4) composed a Canon in honor of these holy martyrs.

Source: Orthodox Church in America.

Read the complete history on the Mystagogy website.

Services and Events This Week

• Sun Dec 03 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Mon Dec 04 — St. Barbara the Great Martyr Divine Liturgy 8:00am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Dec 06 — Early St. Nicholas Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
• Fri Dec 08 — St. Paisios Brotherhood 7:00pm
• Sat Dec 09 — Parish Council Meeting 9:00am
• Sat Dec 09 — “The Holy Things for the Holy” Adult Education 10:00am LIVE STREAM

Parish Children and Teens Help with Christmas Decorations

Introduction to Firearms Course on Saturday December 16, 2023

This course is presented by Jon Tomlinson of 5Badgers Consulting Group and specifically addresses the concerns by many women in the parish who want to become more familiar with firearms, but haven’t had a safe environment and opportunity to do so.

This course is open to the entire congregation, family and friends of church members regardless of previous firearms knowledge.

The class will run from 10:00am to 12:00am.

Mark Your Calendars

CHRISTMAS SERVICES

• Fri Dec 22 — NATIVITY ROYAL HOURS 8:00am LIVE STREAM
• Sun Dec 24 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Sun Dec 24 — NATIVITY GREAT VESPERS 7:00pm LIVE STREAM
• Mon Dec 25 — THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM

THEOPHANY SERVICES 2024

• Fri Jan 05 — THEOPHANY ROYAL HOURS 8:00am LIVE STREAM
• Fri Jan 05 — THEOPHANY DIVINE LITURGY / GREAT BLESSING OF THE WATERS Orthros 6:00pm Divine Liturgy 7:00pm LIVE STREAM

UPCOMING EVENTS 2024

• Sat Feb 10 — Valentine’s Day Gala

Christmas Fast Continues

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.

Fasting always works in conjuction with prayer and giving alms (helping the poor, giving to worthy charities, etc.). Fasting helps us reorder the interior life, but the reordering does not occur with greater prayer and greater concern for the poor.

The reordering is a clarification — we end up seeing things more clearly, we get stronger in the fight against sin and temptation. The fast always ends on a great Feast Day of our Lord.

For a complete list, visit the Antiochian website or click on the image below:

Looking for Books About the Saints for Children?

Ancient Faith Publishing has an extensive series of books that are perfect for children. You can order them from Ancient Faith here.

PRESENTED THIS SATURDAY: St. Peter Adult Education: The Holy Things for the Holy

On Saturday, December 9, 2023 from 10:00am to 12:pm, Fr. Hans will overview of secularism in our lives and in the parish. Everyone is encouraged to attend.

Decades ago, Fr. Alexander Schmemann, formerly the President of St. Vladimir’s Seminary and a widely known theologian in America was able to locate one the most serious challenge facing Orthodoxy Christianity in America. That challenge was secularism, the idea that Orthodox Christianity was just another religion, instead of the road to God that offers transformation, healing, and hope.

Orthodoxy is not a religion. Orthodoxy is a way of life, a walking of the narrow road that reveals God to us and makes us fully human. If we have trouble seeing this, most likely it’s because we have adopted secular ideals and don’t even know it. This spills into our life, and if it spills into our life, it also spills into the Church. If that happens the Church ceases to become the true body of Christ. It just turns into another denomination.

Fr. Alexanders essay is posted on the website.

The meeting will also be available on ZOOM at this link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88061553942?pwd=5vjaGXtmhbEKGphW1twrW2A46JfBut.1

Parish Council Members: Please note that the Parish Council meeting will begin at 8:30am and conclude at 10:00am that morning. All members are required to attend.

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.

You can also donate online:

Get more information here.

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.

DOMSE MEN’S RETREAT IN MARCH 2024

Only 62 spaces left so register early.

More information at DOMSE website.

ST. PETER'S GREETERS

DECEMBER 2023

• DEC 3 Will Schwarz – Ray Locklear – George Tsikitas
• DEC 10 Joe Repya – Ray Locklear
• DEC 17 Candice Rosen – Ray Locklear
• DEC 24 Will Schwarz – Candice Rosen
• DEC 31 Moriah Peterson – Joe Repya

JANUARY 2024

• JAN 7 Joe Repya – Will Schwarz
• JAN 14 Paula Kambaros – Candice Rosen
• JAN 21 Paula Kambaros – Candice Rosen
• JAN 28

George Tsikatis – Joe Repya

FEBRUARY 2024

1. FEB 4 George Karounos – Doug Kucera
2. FEB 11 Joe and Deb Repya –
3. FEB 18 Moriah Peterson – Pavlo Bilych
4. FEB 25 Barb – Costa Dionysopoulos

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

SOCIAL HALL ALL STARS

NOVEMBER 2023

TEAM #2 – Margie Zimmerman Group for November
Nov 5 –- Coffee, Cake and Mixed Fruit
Nov 12 –- Coffee, Bagels and Mixed Fruit
Nov 19 –- Coffee, Donuts and Mixed Fruit
Nove 26 –- Coffee, Cookies and Mixed Fruit

For Special Events/Koliva please contact BARBARA SASEN and give her a completed Special Events Form which is found in the lobby of the church.

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

DECEMBER

• Sun Dec 03 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Mon Dec 04 — St. Barbara the Great Martyr Divine Liturgy 8:00am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Dec 06 — Early St. Nicholas Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
• Fri Dec 08 — St. Paisios Brotherhood 7:00pm
• Sat Dec 09 — Parish Council Meeting 9:00am
• Sat Dec 09 — “The Holy Things for the Holy” Adult Education 10:00am LIVE STREAM

• Sun Dec 10 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Tue Dec 12 — St. Spyridon Divine Liturgy 8:00am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Dec 13 — Early Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
• Fri Dec 15 — CANCELLED St. Paisios Brotherhood 7:00pm
• Fri Dec 16 — Introduction to Firearms Course

• Sun Dec 17 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Tue Dec 19 — Paraklesis to the Theotokos 8:00am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Dec 20 — Early St. Ignatios of Antioch Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
• Fri Dec 22 — Paraklesis to the Theotokos 8:00am LIVE STREAM
• Fri Dec 22 — St. Paisios Brotherhood 7:00pm

• Sun Dec 17 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Tue Dec 19 — Paraklesis to the Theotokos 8:00am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Dec 20 — Early St. Ignatios of Antioch Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
• Fri Dec 22 — NATIVITY ROYAL HOURS 8:00am LIVE STREAM
• Fri Dec 22 — St. Paisios Brotherhood 7:00pm

• Sun Dec 24 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Sun Dec 24 — NATIVITY GREAT VESPERS 7:00pm LIVE STREAM
• Mon Dec 25 — THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Dec 27 — Early Divine Liturgy St. Stephen the Martyr 6:00am LIVE STREAM
• Thu Dec 28 — Divine Liturgy 20,000 Martyrs Burned in Nicomedia 8:00am LIVE STREAM
• Fri Dec 29 — Divine Liturgy The Holy Innocents 8:00am LIVE STREAM
• Fri Dec 29 — St. Paisios Brotherhood 7:00pm

DECEMBER/JANUARY

• Sun Dec 31 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Mon Jan 02 — St. Basil the Great / The Circumcision of Christ Divine Liturgy 8:00am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Jan 03 — Early Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
• Fri Jan 05 — THEOPHANY ROYAL HOURS 8:00am LIVE STREAM
• Fri Jan 05 — THEOPHANY DIVINE LITURGY / GREAT BLESSING OF THE WATERS Orthros 6:00pm Divine Liturgy 7:00pm LIVE STREAM
• Fri Dec 29 — CANCELLED St. Paisios Brotherhood 7:00pm

Wisdom From The Elders

Who will not thank Thee, O our Lord? For Thy justice is good and Thy punishment is a gift of grace. Thou art truly good in all Thy doings. Venerable Ephraim the Syrian

Let us humble ourselves under God’s mighty right hand, and the Lord will not be slow to grant us joy. The most important things for salvation are meekness and humility. Archbishop Seraphim (Sobolev) of Bogucharsk

In our prayers we should ask only for the salvation of our soul. Elder Porphyrios

Human pride, instead of following the teachings given to man by God, began disputing about the truth and seeking it in human reason instead of looking for it in God. Thus man fell into many mistakes. I. Archangelsky

If we preserve, as we should, that purity of heart or watch and guard of the intellect whose image is the New Testament, this will not only uproot all passions and evils from our hearts; it will also introduce joy, hopefulness, compunction, sorrow, tears, an understanding of ourselves and of our sins, mindfulness of death, true humility, unlimited love of God and man, and an intense and heartfelt longing for the divine. St. Hesychius the Theologian of Jerusalem, disciple of St. Gregory the Theologian

• 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

George (Chionis 11-1)
Mark (Chionis 11-1)
Katheryn (Chionis 11-1)
Jacob (Chionis 11-1)
Ken (Chionis 11-1)
Maxim (Koco)
George (Tsikistas 8/1)
George (Mourgis 8/1)
Barbara (Sason 8/1)
Anthony (Breitenbach 6/1)
Arielle (Ghanem 6/1)
Nicholas (Ghanem 6/1)
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 newborn baby (Tsikitas 1/23)
Linda (Pappas 1/23)
Ekaterina (Chapekis 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)
John Presbyter (Jacobse)
Elain Presbytera (Jacobse)
Constantine(Jacobse)
Chrysoula(Jacobse)
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

Michael (Sovjani)
Maria (Sovjani)
Maria (Sovjani)
Maria (Sovjani)
Katerina (Sovjani)
Frederick (Sovjani)
Arsen (Sovjani)
Irene (Diveris)
Katheryn (Tolkkinen)
Markisia (Long)
Angela (Long)
Marina (Long)
Eleni (Long)
Raphaella (Long)
Joanne (Haley)
Corwin (Dusckas)
Corgette (Troutman)
Irina (Irina)
Lidia (Irina)
Sarina (Ghanem)
Debbie (Breitenbach)
Kathy (Breitenbach)
Hope (Isadore)
s
John (Long)
Pantelis (Tsikita)
Marisa (Tsikita)
Barbara (Dionysopoulos)
Patricia (Evanoff)
Gabriel (Mankus)
Baby Dani (Repya)
Despina (Diversis)
Fredericos (Diveris)
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)
George (Ninos)
John (Katsigianopoulos)
George (Chionis)
Mary (Spiropoulos)
Gregory (Pappas)
Angela (Coran K
Eugene (Rust)
Robert (Jarvis)
George (Corey)
Patricia (Cotsones)
Seraphim (Zolio)
Apostolos

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

For the Twenty-Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

The Lord is my strength and my song.
With chastisement hath the Lord chastened me.

The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Ephesians. (6:10-17)

Brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand, therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; besides all these, taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

GOSPEL

For the Tenth Sunday of Luke

The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (13:10-17)

At that time, Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And there was a woman who had had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. And when Jesus saw her, He called her and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your infirmity.” And He laid His hands upon her, and immediately she was made straight, and she praised God.

But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, “There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.”

Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrite! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the manger, and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” As Jesus said this, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by Him.