Christ is Risen! Truly He has Risen!
Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women, Pious Joseph of Arimathaea and Righteous Nicodemus
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.
Sharing the Light
Fr. Hans received requests about sharing the light, the flame from the Paschal Candle, that many people like to bring home.
Since we can’t meet, Fr. Hans will keep votive candles lit with the light from the Paschal Candle. He will keep them burning until we resume the services at the Church. If you would like to take the Paschal light home after the parish is opened, you will be able to get them from these candles.
So this is what we will do. On the first Sunday after opening, Fr. Hans will anoint everyone with Holy Oil after the Divine Liturgy with oil he has saved from the Holy Unction service last year. Then we will go to the Social Hall and have a celebratory meal. On the way out you can light a candle to bring the Holy Light home and bless your homes.
God bless all the good people of St. Peter’s. God is with you. Stay faithful to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and to each other.
Christ is Risen!
Constantine (Dino) Houpis – Memory Eternal
With sadness but with joy in the Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ we have to announce that Constantine Houpis (we knew him as Dino) passed away on April 9. He daughter reports that he passed peacefully in his sleep.
Dino loved St. Peter’s. Before his health took a turn for the worse and he had to move back to Ohio, Dino would come almost every Sunday when we were first at the hotel and later in our present location. His daughter said the Sunday worship and fellowship was one of the highlights of his week. He spoke of St. Peter’s often and had a deep fondness for all the members.
His funeral was private because of the coronavirus lock down but his family plans to hold the makaria (funeral dinner) in Ohio on his one year memorial. We at St. Peter’s will offer Trisagion Prayers this Sunday for Dino and offer Memorial Prayers on the one year anniversary on April 11, 2021.
We will also add Dino’s name to our list of founders and friends of St. Peter’s.
A short obituary can found on the Dayton Funerals website.
May his memory be eternal.
The Parish Life Conference is Going Virtual!
Please Don’t Forget to Fulfill Your Pledge and Donations
We received some last minute donations in March and exceeded our March budget goal. We were able to cover our February shortfall as a result. Thank you very much for all who contributed for your care and stewardship of St. Peter’s. We should all draw great encouragement from this. A complete financial tally is found below.
Please keep current with your pledge. The financial health and stability of our parish requires us to do our part.
You can mail your check to:
St. Peter Orthodox Church
24850 Old 41 RD Suite 6
Bonita Springs, FL 34135
You can also donate online (scroll to bottom of page):
Pledge & Income Report – March 2020
Donations received in February: $21,308
Amount of money needed to cover expenses: $18,121.00
AHEAD: $3,000.00
Our March overage made up for our February shortfall. Thank you for your continued support.
You can fill out a pledge form on the St. Peter website.
Leoni’s Pizza Delivers Hot Meals
Click the image to go to Leoni’s Pizza website
Also, Leoni’s Pizza has offered to deliver food for anyone who needs a hot meal.
Leoni’s can deliver to Bonita Springs, Estero, San Carlos Park, or Naples Park. Leoni’s delivers within a 15 mile radius from I-75 to the Gulf Coast.
You can order online at leonispizza.com.
Tom and Joanne Venetis, friends and supporters of St. Peter’s, own and operate Leoni’s.
Calendar At A Glance
Live Streamed Services This Week
UPDATE: St. Peter Live Stream is now available on the St. Peter website (as well as Facebook). Click go to the website, “Watch Live Stream” and wait for the service to begin.
To Live Stream a service on FACEBOOK: Go to the St. Peter Facebook page. Scroll down to “posts” (use the navigation bar on the left). You do not need a Facebook account to view.
May
- May May 03 — Orthros 8:30am / Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- May May 10 — Orthros 8:30am / Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- May May 17 — Orthros 8:30am / Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- May May 24 — Orthros 8:30am / Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- May May 31 — Orthros 8:30am / Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Wisdom From The Elders
It is not enough to simply make your confession to the Spiritual Father; you must also truly repent of what you have done. Elder Paisios of Mount Athos
But as soon as Grace sees that a little self-esteem has begun to steal into a man’s thoughts, and that he has begun to think great things of himself, she immediately permits the temptations opposing him to gain in strength and prevail, until he learns his weakness, and takes to flight, and clings to God in humility. St. Isaac the Syrian
Abba Sisoes used to say that the way that leads to humility is abstinence, unceasing prayer to God, and the struggle to be lower than every man. Archbishop Chrysostomos of Etna
In the same way the grace of God is preserved by the practice of the commandments, and the observance of these commandments is laid down like foundations through the gift of God. The grace of the Spirit cannot remain with us without the practice of the commandments, but the practice of the commandments is of no help or advantage to us without the grace of God. St. Symeon the New Theologian
It is a wonderful thing that, no matter how much we trouble about our health, however much care we take of ourselves, whatever wholesome and pleasant food we eat, whatever wholesome drinks we drink, however much we walk in the fresh air, still, notwithstanding all this, in the end we are subjected to maladies and corruption; whilst the saints, who despised their flesh, and mortified it by continual abstinence and fasting, by lying bare on the earth, by watchfulness, labours, unceasing prayer, have made both their souls and bodies immortal. St. John of Kronstadt
Your children should not hear you arguing even once, not even if you raise the tone of your voices to one another. Elder Porphyrios
Irene (Tsikitas 6/20)
Dimtrios (Jacobse 6/20)
George (Elpida 6/20)
Pantellis (Anna T 6/20)
Angelo/Evangelos (Constan 6/20)
Christine (Kanellos 6/20)
Edna (Mitchell 6/20)
Pauline (Jacobse 6/20)
Eleni (6/20)
Elizabeth (6/20)
Priest Benjamin (6/20)
Louis (Repya 6/20)
Iakavos (Diveris 6/20)
Heriklia (Diveris 6/20)
Macy James (6/20)
Joan (Breitenbach 6/20)
Mary (Rauch 6/20)
Diomidis (Kanellos 6/20)
Anastasia (Constan 6/20)
Ben (Ben 6/20)
Thomas (Ben 6/20)
Irene (Diveris 6/20)
Vasiliki (Diveris 6/20)
Efrosini (Diveris 6/20)
Bud (Repya)
Scott (Repya 6/20)
Permanent Prayer List
Theodora (Webb)
Helen (Rogers)
Constantine (Houpis)
Robert (Smith)
Robert (Jarvis)
Mary (Jarvis)
Presbytera Rosy (in Pakistan)
James (Hord)
Ann (Rellis)
Vassiliki (Kontinos)
Vassiliki (Morekeas)
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 murmuredagainst the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. And the Twelvesummoned the body of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching theword of God to serve tables. Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven men of goodrepute, 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 wholemultitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, andProchorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaos, a proselyte of Antioch. Thesethey set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands upon them. And the word of Godincreased; and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of thepriests were obedient to the faith.
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 alsohimself looking for the Kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate, and asked for the bodyof Jesus. And Pilate wondered if He were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he askedhim 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 Himin the linen shroud, and laid Him in a tomb, which had been hewn out of the rock; and he rolled astone 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.