The Fourth Sunday of Lent / St. Mary of Egypt
On the Fifth Sunday of Lent the Orthodox Church commemorates our Righteous Mother Mary of Egypt. The feast day of Saint Mary of Egypt is April 1, however, she is also commemorated on this Sunday due to her recognition by the Church as a model of repentance.
Our holy mother Mary was born in Egypt. She had left her parents at the age of twelve to go to Alexandria, where she spent the next seventeen years in debauchery and the greatest profligacy. Living on charity and linen-weaving, she nevertheless offered her body to any man, not being forced to it by dire necessity as were so many poor women, but as though she were consumed by the fire of a desire that nothing was able to appease.
Read the rest of the story here
March 25, 6pm – Liturgy of the Annunciation
The Feast of the Annunciation of Our Most Holy Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary is celebrated on March 25 each year. The Feast commemorates the announcement by the Archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Son of God, would become incarnate and enter into this world through her womb.
Learn more here.
Lenten Schedule This Week (March 23-28)
Wednesday March 25
6:00pm — Vesperal Liturgy for the Annunciation
Download and print the service.
Friday March 27
Akathist Hymn
Download and print the service.
Lenten Service Schedule Next Week (March 29 – April 4)
Monday March 30
6:00pm Great Compline
Download and print the service.
Wednesday April 1
6:00pm Presanctified Liturgy
Download and print the service.
Friday April 3
6:00pm Great Compline with Verses for St. Lazarus
Download and print the service.
Saturday April 4
9:30am Saturday of Lazarus Liturgy
11am Making of Palm Sunday Crosses
Learn More About Lent
Mark Your Calendar
Jimmy and BJ James have graciously offered their home for our Palm Sunday Brunch following the Divine Liturgy on Palm Sunday, April 5, 2015. They live only about five minutes away from the Church too.
More details soon!
St. Peter Community Easter Card
Once again you can help sponsor the St. Peter Community Easter card.
This is a great way to offer your best wishes to other members of our parish family and support your church at the same time.
Kindly print out the form and give it to Barbara Zeena or mail it to the address below.
St. Peter 2014 Easter Card
St. Peter Orthodox Mission
24850 Old 41 Road Suite #6
Bonita Springs, FL 34135
If you prefer, you can fill in the form and contribute online.
Deadline to be included in the card is Sunday March 29, 2014.
Remember in Your Prayers
John Hansen is recovering well. We should see him soon!.
Pat and Milam Evanoff. Milam had a small bout with pneumonia and is recovering at Health Park Rehab in Fort Myers.
John, the brother of Pauline Poulos who is suffering from cancer.
Tom and Jean, parents of Patty and Jerry.
Greg and his wife Margaret. Greg is the founder of Project Mexico and has cancer.
How should we pray for the sick? Remember them daily. Say their names and ask God to bestow mercy and grace on them.
The Sunday Scripture Readings
The Gospel Reading
For the Fifth Sunday of Great Lent
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark. (10:32-45)
At that time, Jesus took His twelve Disciples, and began to tell them what was to happen to Him, saying, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles. And they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit upon Him, and kill Him; and after three days He will rise.”
And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to Him, and said to Him, “Teacher, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire” And Jesus said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And they said to Him, “Grant us to sit, one at Thy right hand and one at Thy left, in Thy glory.”
But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” And they said to Him, “We are able.”
And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized. But to sit at My right hand or at My left is not Mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”
And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. And Jesus called them to Him and said to them, “You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be servant of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
The Epistle Reading
For the Fifth Sunday of Great Lent
Make your vows to the Lord our God, and perform them.
God is known in Judah; His Name is great in Israel.
The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews. (9:11-14)
Brethren, when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation), He entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but His own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.
For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?