St. Peter News May 3, 2022

Christ is Risen! Truly He has Risen!

Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian; Venerable Arsenios the Great

Pious Joseph of Arimathaea, Righteous Nicodemus and the holy Myrrh-bearing Women; of the Martyrs Timothy the reader and his wife Maura of Egypt; Peter, Archbishop of Argolis; Ekumenios, bishop of Trikala; Venerable Luke of Mt. Stirion; and Venerable Theodosios of the Kiev Caves, founder of Russian monasticism.

The Myrhh Bearing Women

The third Sunday of Holy Pascha is observed by the Orthodox Church as the Sunday of the Holy Myrrhbearers. The day commemorates when the women disciples of our Lord came to the tomb to anoint his body with myrrh-oils but found the tomb empty. As the woman wondered what this meant, angels appeared proclaiming that Christ had risen from the dead.

Of those whose names are known are the following: first of all, the most holy Virgin Mary, who in Matthew 27:56 and Mark 15:40 is called “the mother of James and Joses” (these are the sons of Joseph by a previous marriage, and she was therefore their step-mother); Mary Magdalene (celebrated July 22); Mary, the wife of Clopas; Joanna, wife of Chouza, a steward of Herod Antipas; Salome, the mother of the sons of Zebedee; Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus; and Susanna. As for the names of the rest of them, the evangelists have kept silence.

Together with them we celebrate also the secret disciples of the Savior, Joseph and Nicodemus. Of these, Nicodemus was probably a Jerusalemite, a prominent leader among the Jews and of the order of the Pharisees, learned in the Law and instructed in the Holy Scriptures. He had believed in Christ when, at the beginning of our Savior’s preaching of salvation, he came to Him by night. Furthermore, he brought some one hundred pounds of myrrh-oils and an aromatic mixture of aloes and spices out of reverence for the divine Teacher (John 19:39).

Joseph, who was from the city of Arimathea, was a wealthy and noble man, and one of the counselors who were in Jerusalem. He went bodly unto Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus, and together with Nicodemus he gave Him burial. Since time did not permit the preparation of another tomb, he placed the Lord’s body in his own tomb which was hewn out of rock, as the Evangelist says (Matthew 27:60).

Read the entire story on the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese website.

Services This Week

• Wed May 4 — Paraklesis to the Theotokos LIVE STREAM

Coming Soon: Orthodoxy 101 – A Study of the Basics of the Orthodox Faith

Shortly after Bright Week we will begin a study of the Orthodox Basics (less philosophical, more factual and practical) of such things as worship, history, theology and more. This is for anyone and everyone who wants to understand our Orthodox faith and practice more thoroughly.

Dates will be determined but Saturday morning from 9:00am to 10:00 class time followed by a half hour optional discussion seems to work best for many people. Please let Fr. Hans know what works for you. We will begin when the summer starts and everyone’s schedule is more flexible.

In the meantime check out the videos on the website Welcome to the Orthodox Church by Frederica Mathews-Green to prepare.

Stewardship 2022

Stewardship letters have been mailed out. God has blessed St. Peter’s. Please fill in your pledge so the work that we have been called to do will continue.

You can also print and download the form on the St. Peter website.

Helping Victims of the War in Ukraine

Galyna Seabrooke who has spoken on several occasions on the situation in Ukraine on behalf of our Ukranian parishioners mentioned opportunities to help the victims of the war.

One way to offer humanitarian aid is through a Go Fund Me page. Another is to donate essential items for Ukranian refugees. These items include:

1. Medications (no liquid or sprays allowed)
2. Pain killers / Fever Reducer (aspirin, Tylenol, ibuprophen)
3. Sterile gauzes
4. Elastic bandage wraps
5. Elastic bandages
6. Hydrogel burn bandages
7. Camouflage clothes
8. Knee pads
9. Tactic gloves
10. Thermal underwear for men
11. Hats, gloves, socks

No food items please.

A box will be set up in the church for donations.

We pray that war in Ukraine will end quickly.

SECURITY ALERT! Keep Your Car Locked

On Saturday, April 30th, there was a car broken into in our church parking lot and a wallet was stolen. The car was unlocked. Although we believe this to be an isolated incident, we would like to remind everyone to please lock your cars in the church parking lot.

Greek Language School Continues

Classes meet on Thursdays at 3:30pm in the Sunday School room.

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: Don’t Forget the Poor in the Summer

Summer is just around the corner and plans for barbecuing, picnics, family reunions, vacations and traveling overseas are in the making.

That is all wonderful but be mindful that the Cafe of Life depends on donations like St. Peter’s to feed the hungry and homeless. So please keep those donations coming in and remember “God wants us to be cheerful, generous givers with humble hearts. He asks us to give as a response to His grace in our lives — even if what we have to offer is all that we have.”

Thank you!

CHRISTOS ANESTI and IC XC NI KA!

Save the Date! DOMSE Parish Life Conference June 15-18, 2022

Learn more on the DOMSE website.

Pledge & Income Report – March 2022

Contributions received in March: $25,847.
Amount of money needed to cover expenses: $24,114.
We are ahead by $1,733.

Thank you to all who paid their 2022 stewardship in advance!

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.

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

May

• MARJORIE ZIMMERMAN 239-887-0753
• Leon Dephkalion 239-405-3887
• Will Schwarz 239-776-4776
• Anna Tsikitas 718-309-1250

June

• TOM HALEY 239-887-0735
• Marlene Haley 239-405-8298
• Cheryl Morse 612-210-1444
• Tim Morse
• Diana Najjar 317-213-5785
• Deb Repya 651-485-4817
• Elaine Semeretis 305-978-9714
• Gregory Semeretis 917-992-5884

Procedures for Hospitality

Please note: If you would like to bring in your own prepared food, please contact Tom Haley at 239-887-0753 a week before the upcoming Sunday. That way we know not to prepare any food for Sunday.

1. On most Sundays we will serve lighter refreshments like coffee, sweets, hummus, olives, feta, pita and similar items. Please continue bringing these items. Even though we have a range (unlike our former facility), we appreciate items that are “ready to be served.”
2. Please do not donate coffee. We have a space age coffee brewer that we acquired at no cost if we buy our coffee from one supplier. If you bring in coffee, we can’t use it.
3. We cannot continue preparing meals for Memorials, Name Days, Anniversaries, and other celebrations. We don’t have the appliances or manpower to do it well. We do, however, have the name of two catering companies that can prepare and deliver the food if you would like to sponsor a celebration. Please call Tom Haley at 239-887-0753 for details and to make arrangements.
4. If you would like to bring in your own prepared food, please contact Tom Haley at 239-887-0753 a week before the upcoming Sunday. That way we know not to prepare any food for Sunday.

The Safest Way to Come to Church

US 41 is a busy highway and the intersection at Hickory Drive does not have a stop light. We recommend turning on Sanibel Boulevard and following Coconut Road instead.

Helping Our Seniors With Parking

With the church growing the parking lot is close to full every Sunday. Younger parishioners, could you park in the grass lot even if spaces are open in the paved area? That way our seniors can park closer to the entrance and avoid the grassy area where it is easier to stumble and fall.

Calendar At A Glance

Calendar also available on the St. Peter website.

MAY

• Wed May 4 — Paraklesis to the Theotokos LIVE STREAM

• SUN MAY 08 — SUNDAY OF THE MYRRH BEARING WOMEN Orthros 8:30am, Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Wed May 11 — Sts Cyril and Methodios Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM

• SUN MAY 15 — SUNDAY OF THE PARALYTIC Orthros 8:30am, Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Wed May 18 — Mid-Pentecost Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Wed May 21 — Sts Constantine and Helen Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM

• SUN MAY 22 — SUNDAY OF THE SAMARITAN WOMAN Orthros 8:30am, Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Wed May 25 — Finding of the Head of St. John the Baptist Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Fri May 27 — Paraklesis to the Theotokos LIVE STREAM

MAY – JUNE

• SUN MAY 29 — SUNDAY OF THE BLIND MAN Orthros 8:30am, Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Tue May 31 — Paraklesis to the Theotokos LIVE STREAM
• Thu Jun 02 — Paraklesis to the Theotokos LIVE STREAM

Wisdom From The Elders

Pray carefully and constantly. Pray in fear and trembling before the greatness of the name of Jesus. St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov), Bishop of the Caucasus and the Black Sea

Unexpected trials are sent by God to teach us to practice the ascetic life; and they lead us to repentance even when we are reluctant. Saint Kosmas Aitolos

You must force yourself to do something good for your enemies, even if it is against your own will. But mainly do not take revenge on them, and be careful not to offend them with an appearance of contempt and humiliation. St. Ambrose of Optina

As the passions are perversions of natural impulses, particu­larly grounded in self-love and the disfigured appetite that seeks sensual pleasure, it is understandable that they have a distinct root. The Fathers identify this root as a singular perversion of will: that of arrogance, of pride. Bishop Irenei Steenberg

The Saviour Himself calls all to learn humility from Him—not fasting, not prayer, not even love for one’s neighbor, but humility. Only through humility does a person become as one spirit with the Lord, who humbled Himself to being spat upon, to endure beatings and death on the Cross. Abbot Nikon Vorobiev

Remember in Your Prayers

List has been updated. If you want some names restored, please mention it to Fr. Hans.

• 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.

Updated March 27 / Resets May 1.

Current Prayer List

Johanna (Dimartino 7/22)
Sarah (Tomlinson 7/22)
Natasha (Tomlinson 7/22)
Christine (Brubaker 7/22)
Elena (Brubaker 7/22)
Stella (Brubaker 7/22)
George (Corey 7/22)
Steven (Breitenbach)
Gabrielle (Lowell 5/22)
Andrea, Yelena, newborn baby (Protpapadakis 4/22)
George (Haynes 4/21)
Kayla (Palentine 4/21)
Katherine (Jacobse 3/22)
Basil (Jacobse 3/22)
Linda M. (Dusckas 3/22)
Barbara (Dusckas 3/22)
Fr John (Jacobse 3/22)
Angel (Ghanem 3/22)
John (Duskas 3/22)
Nancy (Coin 3/22)
Nicholas (Ghanem 1/22)
Arielle (Ghanem 1/22)
Georgia (Sarros 1/22)
Kerri (Dusckas 1/21)

Permanent Prayer List

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)
Kasiani, Jordan and their unborn child (Chapekis)
Debbie (Breitenbach)
Kathy (Breitenbach)
Hope (Isadore)
John (Long)
Pantelis (Tsikita)
Marisa (Tsikita)
Barbara (Dionysopoulos)
Patricia (Evanoff)
Gabriel (Mankus)
Baby Dani (Repya)
Maria and her newborn baby (Diveris)
Despina (Diversis)b
Fredericos (Diveris)
Sophia (D. Constantine)
Herman (Kerr)
Innocent (Kerr)
Nicholas (Kerr)
Paola (Jacobse)
Gregory (Yankopolos)
Soterios (Ninos)
Pauline (Poulos)
Sergio (Kazakos)
Fran (Hansen)
Nina (Krotov)
Franklin (Pyrrson)
George (Chionis)
Stamatia (Evelyn)
Demetrios (Kuchera)
Theodosios (Palis)
Theodora (Webb)
Robert (Smith)
Robert (Jarvis)
Presbytera Rosy (in Pakistan)
James (Hord)
Vassiliki (Kontinos)
Vassiliki (Morekeas)

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)

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

The Reading from the Acts of the Saintly and Pure Apostles. (6:1-7)

The Lord is my strength and my song.
The Lord has chastened me severely.

In those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists murmured against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. And the Twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

And what they said pleased the whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaos, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands upon them. And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.

GOSPEL

The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark. (15:43-16:8)

At that time, Joseph of Arimathaea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the Kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. And Pilate wondered if He were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether Jesus was already dead. And when he learned from the centurion that He was dead,he granted the body to Joseph. And he bought a linen shroud, and taking Him down, wrapped Him in the linen shroud, and laid Him in a tomb, which had been hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where He was laid.

And when the Sabbath was passed, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices so that they might go and anoint Him. And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?” And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back—it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, “Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, Who was crucified. He has risen, He is not here; see the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His Disciples and Peter that He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see Him, as He told you.” And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.