The Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
The Twelfth Sunday of Matthew
Leave-taking of the commemoration of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist
Alexander, Paul the New, and John, Patriarchs of Constantinople; Venerable Phantinos of Calabria; Repose of Venerable Alexander of Svir; Translation of the relics of Alexander Nevsky, Prince of Novgorod; Cyril and Makarios, Patriarchs of Serbia
Two Upcoming Liturgies
St. Phanourios — Thursday August 27, 2020 at 9:30am
The holy, glorious and right-victorious Great-martyr Phanourios (also Fanurius, Fanourios, Phanurius, Phanourius) the Newly Appeared of Rhodes, the Miracle-Worker, is commemorated by the Church on August 27. There is no literature available in the church prior to discovering his little church in Rhodes so not much is known about St. Phanourios’s life other than the images of his martyrdom on his icon.
In the Church we have the tradition of patron saints. St. Phanourios has become famous for assisting the faithful in revealing lost or hidden spiritual matters of the heart, objects, directing or revealing actions that should be taken, restoring health and similar situations. He is then honored by the faithful through a symbolic cake, called the “Phanouropita” which can be brought to the church, at any time, for a blessing.
We will celebrate the Liturgy for St. Phanourios on Thursday, August 27, 2020 at 9:30am.
Learn how to make Phanouropita on the St. Peter Orthodox Church website.
Read more about St. Phanourios on the OrthodoxWiki website.
The Beheading of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist John — Saturday August 29, 2020 at 9:30am
The Beheading of the Prophet, Forerunner of the Lord, John the Baptist: The Evangelists Matthew (Mt.14:1-12) and Mark (Mark 6:14-29) provide accounts about the martyric end of John the Baptist in the year 32 after the Birth of Christ.
Following the Baptism of the Lord, Saint John the Baptist was locked up in prison by Herod Antipas, the Tetrarch (ruler of one fourth of the Holy Land) and governor of Galilee. (After the death of king Herod the Great, the Romans divided the territory of Palestine into four parts, and put a governor in charge of each part. Herod Antipas received Galilee from the emperor Augustus).
The prophet of God John openly denounced Herod for having left his lawful wife, the daughter of the Arabian king Aretas, and then instead cohabiting with Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip (Luke 3:19-20). On his birthday, Herod made a feast for dignitaries, the elders and a thousand chief citizens. Salome, the daughter of Herod, danced before the guests and charmed Herod. In gratitude to the girl, he swore to give her whatever she would ask, up to half his kingdom.
The vile girl on the advice of her wicked mother Herodias asked that she be given the head of John the Baptist on a platter. Herod became apprehensive, for he feared the wrath of God for the murder of a prophet, whom earlier he had heeded. He also feared the people, who loved the holy Forerunner. But because of the guests and his careless oath, he gave orders to cut off the head of Saint John and to give it to Salome.
We will celebrate the Liturgy for St. Phanourios on Saturday, August 29, 2020 at 9:30am.
Read the entire history on the Orthodox Church in America website.
Carmine Riccioli and Charles Wolffe Start A New Business
Both Carmine and Charles are members of St. Peter’s, Carmine was baptized and christmated over a year ago along with his wife Elizabeth and baby John (Carmine Jr.). You may remember baby Carmine as the infant that received the miracle healing from God through His servant St. Luke.
Charles joined our Church several months ago and will soon be a catechumen along with his wife Amanda and two young daughters. We welcome them and are grateful to God they have joined St. Peter’s.
Both men have started a business that they hope to grow to support their families. Charlie has extensive experience in the field and Carmine has served as his apprentice. Both men know what they are doing.
At St. Peter’s we support the businesses of our parishioners. We want to see our entrepreneurs succeed. If you can use the services of Grout Like New or if you can recommend them to people who can, please do so.
Coming Soon: Introduction to Orthodoxy Classes
Fr. Hans will be offering Introduction to Orthodoxy Classes starting in September.
The classes will be held on Sundays, following the Social Hour. All seekers and catechumens are required to attend, but the class will be open to everyone. Details will follow?
Why hold the class on Sundays? Because it makes the class available to more people.
Starting date and details forthcoming.
Pledge & Income Report – July 2020
Donations received in July: $23,531.00
Amount of money needed to cover expenses: $18,167.00
We are ahead by $5,364.00
Please note:Thank you for your response to our July Appeal Letter. Please continue your generous support as the summertime is always a difficult time for us financially. If you cannot make it to church please mail in your donation to:
St. Peter Orthodox Church
24850 Old 41 Road Suite 6
Bonita Springs, FL 34135
You can also donate online (scroll to bottom of page):
Byzantine Chant Workshop Tuesday August 25, 2020 (tonight) at 7:00pm
Led by Dn. Nicholas Reid of St. Paul Orthodox Church, participants will learn the basics of the tone of the week — its characteristics, scale, and various forms — and will get a chance to participate in group practice.
No prior chanting experience is required.
This will also be an opportunity to deepen our Orthodox faith by better understanding the role each tone plays in liturgical worship so that we can apply them more fruitfully in our parish life as well as in the worship of the “Little Church” – our own homes.
All lessons will be held at St. Paul Orthodox Church in Naples (get directions).
Bishop NICHOLAS Offers a Weekly Live Stream
These are short thirty minute presentations where His Grace Bp. Nicholas speaks on one theme in Sunday readings for fifteen minutes followed by questions from the listeners. It’s worth tuning in. Get instructions on the St. Peter website on how to use the Band App on your phone or computer to participate.
Calendar At A Glance
AUGUST
- Sun Aug 23 — Orthros 8:30am / Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Tue Aug 25 — Byzantine Chant Workshop at St. Paul Naples 7:00pm
- Thu Aug 27 — ST. PHANOURIOS Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Sat Aug 29 — BEHEADING OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Sun Aug 30 — Orthros 8:30am / Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
SEPTEMBER
- Tue Sep 1 — ST. SYMEON THE STYLITE / START OF ECCLESIASTICAL NEW YEAR Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Tue Sep 1 — Byzantine Chant Workshop at St. Paul Naples 7:00pm
- Sat Sep 5 — STS. ZACHARIAH AND ELIZABETH Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Sun Sep 6 — Orthros 8:30am / Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Tue Sep 8 — NATIVITY OF THE THEOTOKOS Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Tue Sep 8 — Byzantine Chant Workshop at St. Paul Naples 7:00pm
- Wed Sep 9 — THE HOLY AND RIGHTEOUS ANCESTORS OF THE LORD JOACHIM AND ANNA Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Sun Sep 13 — Orthros 8:30am / Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Mon Sep 14 — ELEVATION OF THE CROSS Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Tue Sep 15 — Byzantine Chant Workshop at St. Paul Naples 7:00pm
- Wed Sep 16 — ST. EPHEMIA Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Sun Sep 20 — Orthros 8:30am / Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Tue Sep 22 — Byzantine Chant Workshop at St. Paul Naples 7:00pm
- Wed Sep 23 — CONCEPTION OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Sun Sep 24 — Orthros 8:30am / Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Wisdom From The Elders
Be zealous – yourselves also in preserving faith and love in your hearts; Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt
That you may be able to keep yourself from sin more surely in the course of the coming day, try while it is still morning to think over everything that may happen to you during the day. Try to examine what you are going to do and with whom you will spend time. What occasions of sin might you encounter? Metropolitan Gregory (Postnikov) of St. Petersburg
Try, then, to remember unceasingly all the blessings that have been given to you by God. St Mark the Ascetic
If a man does not humble himself, he will never become a monk. God will not reveal himself to him, as the Lord, as He Who Is what He Is, and not as in books and stories of other people, but through personal revelation and experience. Without humility, years and decades will be wasted. Archimandrite Tikhon (Shevkunov)
As in offering physical help, in offering spiritual help we must also follow a special rule mainly: before helping others we should heed the needs of people that God’s Providence has closely bound us with, such as our children, relatives, friends, benefactors, employees. He who strives to instruct, correct and awaken the conscience in strangers while his own children or employees run out of control and fall into sins and error, does not fulfill the commandment of love for his neighbor. Metropolitan Gregory (Postnikov) of St. Petersburg
If, during service, your brother does anything irregularly, or somewhat negligently, do not become irritated, either inwardly or outwardly with him, but be generously indulgent to his fault, remembering that during your life you yourself commit many, many faults. Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt
Remember in Your Prayers
The Prayer List has been revamped. To bring order to the list we will do the following:
- Names will remain on the list for two 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 (Updated August 24 / Resets October 1)
Barbara (Dusckas 11/20)
Brendan (Wolffe 11/20)
Douglas (Dusckas 10/22)
Sophia (Irina 10/22)
Nicholas (Zeena 10/22)
Ruthann (Zeena 10/22)
Charles Timothy (Wolfe 10/22)
Sergio (Mary Kazakos10/22)
Libby Ann (Riccioli 10/22)
Andrea (Sarros 10/22)
Basil (Sarros 10/22)
Margaret (Sarros 10/22)
Susan (Wolffe 9/20)
Grant [Van Berkom] (Zeena 9/20)
Barbara (Dusckas 9/20)
John (Troutman 9/20)
Dave (Dusckas 9/20)
Constandina (Stephania 9/20)
Steven (Breitenbach 9/20)
Irini (Tsikitas 9/20)
Lori (Dusckas 8/20)
Patricia (Copeland 8/20)
Demetrios (Copeland 8/20)
Efstathios (Mourgis 8/20)
Permanent Prayer List
Stamatia (Evelyn)
Demetrios (Kuchera)
Margaret (Palis)
Theodosios (Palis)
Theodora (Webb)
Helen (Rogers)
Robert (Smith)
Robert (Jarvis)
Mary (Jarvis)
Presbytera Rosy (in Pakistan)
James (Hord)
Ann (Rellis)
Vassiliki (Kontinos)
Vassiliki (Morekeas)
Bud (Repya)
Founders, Members, and Benefactors 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)
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
For the Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
Sing praises to our God, sing praises.
Clap your hands, all ye nations.
The Reading from the First Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians. (15:1-11)
Brethren, I would remind you in what terms I preached to you the Gospel, which you received, in which you stand, by which you are saved, if you hold it fast—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He rose on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. Then He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then He appeared to James, then to all the Apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared also to me. For I am the least of the Apostles, unfit to be called an Apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God, which is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
Gospel
For the Twelfth Sunday of Matthew
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (19:16-26)
At that time, a young man came up to Jesus, kneeling and saying, “Good Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?” And He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” He said to Him, “Which?” And Jesus said, “You shall not kill, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness, honor your father and mother, and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to Him, “All these I have observed; what do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
When the young man heard this, he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions. And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
