St. Peter News February 7, 2023

Sunday of the Prodigal Son

Meletios, Archbishop of Antioch; New-martyr Christos of Constantinople

The Sunday of the Prodigal Son is the second Sunday of pre-Lent, the weeks of preparation preceding Great Lent. It is the Sunday after the Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee and Sunday before Meatfare Sunday. This pre-Lent is the start of the Easter cycle of worship in the Orthodox Church.

On this Sunday in the preparation for Great Lent, Orthodox Christians are read Christ’s parable about God’s loving

forgiveness (Luke 15:11-24). They are to see themselves as being in a foreign country far from the Father’s house and to make the movement of return to God, where we truly belong. The parable gives assurance that the Father will receive them with joy and gladness in their journey through Great Lent, their journey home.

Sermon on the Prodigal Son by Bp. Timothy Ware

When we take one step towards God, He takes 10 steps toward us.

Services This Week

• SUN Feb 05 — SUNDAY OF THE PUBLICAN AND PHARISEE / LENTEN TRIODION BEGINS Orthros 8:30am, Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Feb 08 — Theodore the Commander Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Thu Feb 09 — CANCELLED Divine Liturgy / St. Nicholas Academy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Fri Feb 10 — St. Haralambos the Hieromartyr Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM

The Holy Icon of St. Anna Visits St. Paul’s on Friday February 10, 2023 at 6:15pm

Fr. Sergius, Abbot of St. Tikhons Monastery in PA, will be visiting St. Paul’s Orthodox Church in Naples, Florida with the holy icon of St. Anna. Please arrive by 6PM in as much as you can so the church is full in order to welcome Fr. Sergius and the holy icon of St. Anna – the mother to the Theotokos!

The Icon of St. Anna had been commissioned by Fr. Athanasy in 1998, in the Mount of Olives Convent in Jerusalem. He himself had served there in 1980-1981. In 1998, the Icon was completed, blessed at the Sepulcher of our Lord in the Jerusalem Church of the Resurrection, and brought to Philadelphia.

As of Fall 2012, the Icon resides at St. Tikhon’s Monastery and has a wonderful heavenly fragrance but is not currently weeping. Assistance and healings are still wrought by the miraculous Icon of St. Anna and She continues to work wonders for those who approach with faith.

Help Needed for Homebound Parishioner

Barbara Dusckas is recovering from hip surgery and asking for visitors while she is recovering. She needs some help with rides to physical therapy and food and light housekeeping.

Her number is 239-220-7383.

Cathechumen Classes Continue This Sunday February 12, 2023 and Will Be Extended for Two Weeks

We will meet after Social Hall in the Church. Classes will also continue for two weeks beyond the schedule.

Be My Valentine! Valentine’s Day Celebration and Fellowship Saturday, February 11, 2023 at 5:00pm in the Parish Fellowship Hall

Valentine’s Day Celebration and Fellowship
Saturday, February 11, 2023, 5:00pm in our Parish Fellowship Hall
Enjoy Dinner, Desserts and Dancing
Bring your own drinks/refreshments
RSVP to Tina Kucera at 239-980-1520 by February 5, 2023
Donations Accepted

Mark Your Calendars for an Retreat!

Saturday, March 4, 2023 – St. Peter’s Women’s Retreat “The Prayer of Ephraim” by Presbytera Susan
What the prayer means, when and how to pray the prayer, how it ties into our personal sanctification during Lent. The retreat follows the Saturday of the Souls Divine Liturgy that morning.

Leaving a Legacy – Remembering St. Peter’s in Our Estate Planning

The growth and success of St. Peter’s is certainly inspiring. Through it we see the benevolent work of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the commitment, generosity, and fortitude of our members and friends who worked and contributed to the growth of our parish. St. Paul says that we are to become “co-laborers with Christ” and our support of St. Peter’s is one way that happens.

That work can continue long after our work on this earth is completed. Through planned giving today, we can leave a legacy that helps ensure the good work of St. Peter’s in the future.

For more information including an informational packet that answers many questions please see Fr. Hans.

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 – Defend the RIghts of the Poor and Needy

Most men and women lead lives of quiet desperation and “What if” scenarios. They make themselves slaves to their external realities.

FEAR and their lack of faith in Jesus Christ drive them to hopelessness.

According to the Scriptures (Proverbs 31:9: Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy. Thus, it is our duty as Orthodox Christians to guide and help them.

So please reach deep into your pockets and give generously to those impoverished. Any amount is appreciated.

Thank you and IC XC NI KA!

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

FEBRUARY 2023

• Feb 05 George Tsikitas Doug and Tina Kucera
• Feb 12 Joe and Deb Repya, George Tsikitas
• Feb 19 George Tsikitas, Joe Repya
• Feb 26 Doug and Tina Kucera, Tom and Marlene Haley

MARCH 2023

• Mar 05 Will Schwarz, Nader Sahawneh
• Mar 12 Al Joseph, Joe and Deb Repya
• Mar 19 Barb and Costa Dionysopoulos, * Need Additional Volunteer
• Mar 26 Will Schwarz, * Need Additional Volunteer

We have a few Sunday’s in March with only one person or couple that we need to fill. If anyone else would like to volunteer, please call Joe Repya 612-270-4443.

SOCIAL HALL ALL STARS

FEBRUARY

• MARGIE ZIMMERMAN
• Leon Dephkalion
• Glow Franklin
• Moriah Peterson
• Barbara Sasen
• Will Schwarz
• Anna Tsikitas

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.

FEBRUARY

• SUN Feb 05 — SUNDAY OF THE PUBLICAN AND PHARISEE / LENTEN TRIODION BEGINS Orthros 8:30am, Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• SUN Feb 05 — Catechism Class 12:15pm
• Wed Feb 08 — Theodore the Commander Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Thu Feb 09 — CANCELLED Divine Liturgy / St. Nicholas Academy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Fri Feb 10 — St. Haralambos the Hieromartyr Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Fri Feb 10 — Men of St. Paisios 7:00pm Social Hall
• Sat Feb 11 — Parish Council Meeting 10:00am
• Sat Feb 11 — Thanksgiving Valentine Gala 5:00pm Social Hall

• SUN Feb 19 — SUNDAY OF THE LAST JUDGMENT Orthros 8:30am, Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Thu Feb 23 — Divine Liturgy / St. Nicholas Academy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Fri Feb 24 — Men of St. Paisios 7:00pm Social Hall
• Sat Feb 25 — Divine Liturgy Saturday of the Souls 9:30am LIVE STREAM

FEBRUARY-MARCH

• SUN Feb 26 — SUNDAY OF FORGIVENESS Orthros 8:30am, Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• SUN Feb 26 — Forgiveness Vespers 12:30pm
• Mon Feb 27 — LENT BEGINS / CLEAN MONDAY
• Mon Feb 27 — Great Compline with Canon of St. Andrew 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Tue Feb 28 — Great Compline with Canon of St. Andrew 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Wed Mar 01 — Presanctified Liturgy 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Thu Mar 02 — Great Compline with Canon of St. Andrew 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Fri Mar 03 — Salutations First Stanza 6:30pm 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Fri Mar 03 — Men of St. Paisios 7:30pm Social Hall

It is a sin to spend time in idleness. To substitute church services and one’s prayer rule with work is also a sin. St. Ambrose of Optina

If a person wants to get an idea about the pyramids of Egypt, he must either trust those who have been in immediate proximity to the pyramids, or he must get next to them himself. There is no third option. In the same way a person can get an impression of God: He must either trust those who have stood and stand in immediate proximity to God, or he must take pains to come into such proximity himself. St. Nicholai Velimirovic of Serbia

No one whose stomach is full can fight mentally against the demon of unchastity. Our initial struggle therefore must be to gain control of our stomach and to bring our body into subjection not only through fasting but also through vigils, labours and spiritual reading, and through concentrating our heart on fear o£ Gehenna and on longing for the kingdom of heaven. St. John Cassian

We are not mightier than Samson, wiser than Solomon, more knowledgeable about God than David, and we do not love God better than did Peter, prince of the apostles. So let us not have confidence in ourselves; for he who has confidence in himself will fall headlong. St. Hesychius the Theologian of Jerusalem, disciple of St. Gregory the Theologian

If one understands the mysteries of spiritual life and the mystical way in which God works, he ceases worrying over what happens to him, because he accepts joyfully the bitter medicines that God gives him for the health of his soul. Such a person considers everything to be the result of his prayer, since he constantly asks from God to purify his soul. Saint Paisios of Mount Athos

• 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 (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)
Soterios (Ninos)
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)
John (Katsigianopoulos)
George (Chionis)
Mary (Spiropoulos)
Gregory (Pappas)
Angela (Coran K
Eugene (Rust)
Robert (Jarvis)
George (Corey)

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 Sunday of the Prodigal Son

Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us.
Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.

The Reading from the First Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians. (6:12-20)

Brethren, all things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be enslaved by anything. Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food; but God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by His power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who joins himself to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two shall become one flesh.” But he who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him. Shun immorality. Every other sin which a man commits is outside the body; but the immoral man sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

GOSPEL

For Sunday of the Prodigal Son

The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (15:11-32)

The Lord spoke this parable: “There was a man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that falls to me.’ And he divided his living between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living.

And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have fed on the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.”’

And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to make merry.

Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid that I might make merrywith my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!’