Thirty-first Sunday after Pentecost
Fourteenth Sunday of Luke
Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg, Fool for Christ
Righteous Mother Xenia the merciful of Rome; Hieromartyr Babylas of Sicily; Venerable Philotheos, founder of Philotheou monastery on Athos
Who is Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg, Fool for Christ?
Our righteous Mother Xenia of Petersburg was born about the year 1730. She was married to a Colonel named Andrew; when she was twenty-six years old, her husband died suddenly, having been drinking with his friends. Left a childless widow, Xenia gave away all that she had, and vanished from Saint Petersburg for eight years; it is believed that she spent this time in a hermitage, learning the spiritual life.
When she returned to Saint Petersburg, she wore her husband’s military clothing, and would answer only to the name Andrew, that is, the name of her late husband. She took up the life of a homeless wanderer, and was abused by many as insane; she bore this with great patience, crucifying the carnal mind through the mockery she endured, and praying for her husband’s soul. She was given great gifts of prayer and prophecy, and often foretold things to come; in 1796 she foretold the death of Empress Catherine II.
Having lived forty-five years after her husband’s death, she reposed in peace at the age of seventy-one, about the year 1800. Her grave became such a source of miracles, and so many came to take soil from it as a blessing, that it was often necessary to replace the soil; when a stone slab was placed over her grave, this too disappeared over time, piece by piece.
Saint Xenia is especially invoked for help in finding employment, lodging, or a spouse.
Source: Greek Orthodox of America website.
Services This Week
- Mon Jan 18 — ST. ATHANASIOS / CYRIL Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Jan 20 — RIGHTEOUS EUTHYMIOS Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Thu Jan 21 — ST. MAXIMOS THE CONFESSOR Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Serving the Poor in Bonita Springs
We want to thank all those who donated to feed the hungy and homeless in the Bonita Springs community. The volunteers meet on the second Thursday of every month at 1:00pm in the Social Hall of St. Peter Orthodox Church to make the sandwiches.
You are all encouraged to partake of this imporant mission. For thos what unable to join us and would like to donate, checks (made out to St. Peter’s Church ) or cash can be given to Fr. Hans.
God bless!
IC XC NI KA
Stewardship 2021
Two things determined our flourishing in the past year: God’s benevolence towards us and your faithfulness. Your support of St. Peter’s enables us to experience God’s benevolence.
People who follow Christ need to come together. Our parish offers that. Without a place to meet, there would be no Divine Liturgy, no Eucharist, no place for anointing when we are sick, no place where those who are seeking Christ can call home, no place to meet dear friends every week, no place for baptisms and weddings, no place where the children can grow up with their Church friends, and much more.
We are again in the season where we have to consider our financial commitment to St. Peter’s. Our budget is growing because the parish is growing. We estimate is that our budget will increase 19% in 2021.
Please click the image to read the full message and prayerfully consider your support of St. Peter’s for 2021.
It Is Time For House Blessings!
To sign up for house blessings please text Fr. Hans at 239-248-4775 with some available dates and times that work, or send an email to info@stpeterorthodoxchurch.com, or sign up in the Social Hall. Fr. Hans will call you to set up the appointment.
If you call there is a good chance I cannot pick up, and if I am in the car I cannot write down the information anyway. That’s why texting is preferred.
Capital Campaign Update — January 3, 2021
UPDATE: We are still accepting Capital Campaign Donations as we have not yet made our goal. Our goal is $750K and we now have $482K. Thank you for your generous contributions to date.
The Church now has set up a Brokerage account so if anyone wishes to donate stocks or bonds, the Church can accept them.
Our Capital Campaign is going well. So far $482,000 of the $750,000 we need to secure a mortgage to make a bid on the new Church property has been received. That’s over half of our goal!
Download a pledge form on the St. Peter website.
Please remember, churches are hard to come by in Southwest Florida. This property meets our needs because:
- We can afford it (the mortgage will cost no more than what we currently pay in rent; it may even be a little less),
- It has buildings on site that are move-in ready,
- It can accommodate the growth we are experiencing and that will continue.
Many of you have seen our Capital Campaign video. Take a look at it again. It lays out our vision that has guided us to where we are and explains why a move is necessary now.
We are grateful to everyone who has supported our Capital Campaign. Thank you very much for your confidence and trust, and the hope you have in the flourishing of St. Peter’s parish.
Introduction to Orthodoxy Classes on Sunday, January 24, 2020
Next class Sunday, January 24, 2020. Assignment: Chapters 19 and 20.
The class is required for seekers and catechumens and also open to any parishioner who would like to attend. The syllabus will be posted on the website at soon as it is completed and handed out the first day of class.
We will meet after social hall. Get some coffee, have some food and fellowship, and then we break for class.
2021 DOMSE Virtual Winter Retreat — Save the Date
Pledge & Income Report – December 2020
Donations received in December $25,959.00
Amount of money needed to cover expenses: $18,167.00
We are ahead by $7,792
Thank you for your generosity. Although we are ahead in December, most of the surplus were prepayments of 2021 pledges. When the prepayments are deducted from the December income, we are slight behind for the month.
Please note:Please continue your generous support. 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):
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
Calendar also available on the St. Peter website.
JANUARY
- Sun Jan 17 — Orthros 8:30am / Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Mon Jan 18 — ST. ATHANASIOS / CYRIL Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Jan 20 — RIGHTEOUS EUTHYMIOS Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Thu Jan 21 — ST. MAXIMOS THE CONFESSOR Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Sun Jan 24 — Orthros 8:30am / Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Mon Jan 25 — ST. GREGORY THE THEOLOGIAN Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Jan 27 — Women’s Book Club 5:00pm
- Thu Jan 28 — RIGHTEOUS EPHRAIM AND ISAAC THE SYRIANS Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Fri Jan 29 — DOMSE Virtual Retreat
- Sat Jan 30 — DOMSE Virtual Retreat
Wisdom From The Elders
If you become attached to wealth, it will immediately draw you towards countless vices and put you in an extremely dangerous state of soul. Metropolitan Gregory (Postnikov) of St. Petersburg
The frenzied, neurotic tempo of modern-day life makes it difficult to find calm and peace for tired, worn-out souls. It carries away everyone, making them feel as if they are merely some kind of pitiful, weak-willed cogs in the gigantic mechanism of modern life, which has lost the Christian spirit of freedom, Archbishop Averky (Taushev)
O Lord our God… Stop the rushing of passions, and quench the burning of bodily tension. Grant us to live chastely in word and act, that we may live a life of heroic virtue and not fall away from Thy promised blessings. Evening Prayers
If you want the Lord to be merciful to you, always repent, be merciful to the suffering, and comfort them. “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy” (Matthew 5:7). Archbishop Seraphim (Sobolev) of Bogucharsk
Do not become drunk, for God turns all the more away from a drunkard, since a drunkard is more quickly able to do every bad deed than a sober man. BSt. Theophan the Recluse
We should zealously cultivate watchfulness, my brethren; and when — our mind purified in Christ Jesus — we are exalted by the vision it confers, we should review our sins and our former life, so that shattered and humbled at the thought of them we may never lose the help of Jesus Christ our God in the invisible battle. St. Hesychius the Theologian of Jerusalem, disciple of St. Gregory the Theologian
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 January 11 / Resets February 1)
TL (Dusckas 2/21)
Paul (Dusckas 2/21)
Barbara (Dusckas 2/21)
Paola (Jacobse 3/21>
John (Katsigianopoulos 3/21)
Bryce (NA 3/21)
Jean (Dusckas 2/21)
CM and Family (Dusckas 2/21)
David (Dusckas 2/21)
Debbie (Breitenbach 2/21)
Mary (Marianthi 2/21)
Sarah (Wolffe 2/21)
Pauline (Jacobse 2/21)
Benjamin (Jacobse 2/21)
Marcie (Breitenbach 2/21)
Jo Ann (Breitenbach 2/21)
Angela (Fred 12/21)
Despina (Diveris 2/21)
Ronald (Sovjani 2/21)
Katherine (Dusckas 2/21)
Marlene (Tewis 2/21)
Gail (Jacobse 1/21)
Robert (Tewis 1/21)
Sergio (Mary Kazakos 1/21)
Rae (Semeretis 1/21)
Mary (Semeretis 1/21)
Heather (Waterman 1/21)
Zachary (Constantine 1/21)
Peter (Foltz 1/21)
Alexa (Buchanan 1/21)
Rebecca (Aguado 1/2021)
Jacob (Aguado 1/2021)
Baby Mackenzie (Zafiris 12/20
Nolan (Zafiris 12/20)
Permanent Prayer List
Fran (Hansen)
Nina (Krotov)
George (Chapekis)
Franklin (Pyrrson)
George (Chionis)
Stamatia (Jacobse)
Stamatia (Evelyn)
Demetrios (Kuchera)
Theodosios (Palis)
Theodora (Webb)
Helen (Rogers)
Robert (Smith)
Robert (Jarvis)
Presbytera Rosy (in Pakistan)
James (Hord)
Ann (Rellis)
Vassiliki (Kontinos)
Vassiliki (Morekeas)
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)
Mary (Jarvis)
Panagiota Margarita (Palis)
Maria (Ninos)
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 Thirty-first Sunday after Pentecost
O Lord, save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance.
Unto Thee have I cried, O Lord, my God.
The Reading from the First Epistle of St. Paul to St. Timothy. (1:15-17)
Timothy, my son, the saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. And I am the foremost of sinners; but I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display His perfect patience for an example to those who were to believe in Him for eternal life. To the King of Ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory to the ages of ages. Amen.
GOSPEL
For the Fourteenth Sunday of Luke
The reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (18:35-43)
At that time, as Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging; and hearing a multitude going by, he inquired what this meant. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” And he cried, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped, and commanded him to be brought to Him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me receive my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.