First Sunday of Great Lent
The Triumph of Orthodoxy
Venerable Alexios the ‘Man of God;’ Patrick, bishop of Armagh and Enlightener of Ireland; Venerable Theosteriktos the Confessor of Pelecete Monastery; Venerable Makarios of Kalyazin
The Sunday of Forgiveness, the last of the preparatory Sundays before Great Lent, has two themes: it commemorates Adam’s expulsion from Paradise, and it accentuates our need for forgiveness. There are obvious reasons why these two things should be brought to our attention as we stand on the threshold of Great Lent.
One of the primary images in the Triodion is that of the return to Paradise. Lent is a time when we weep with Adam and Eve before the closed gate of Eden, repenting with them for the sins that have deprived us of our free communion with God. But Lent is also a time when we are preparing to celebrate the saving event of Christ’s death and rising, which has reopened Paradise to us once more (Luke 23:43). So sorrow for our exile in sin is tempered by hope of our re-entry into Paradise.
The second theme, that of forgiveness, is emphasized in the Gospel reading for this Sunday (Matthew 6:14-21) and in the special ceremony of mutual forgiveness at the end of the Vespers on Sunday evening. Before we enter the Lenten fast, we are reminded that there can be no true fast, no genuine repentance, no reconciliation with God, unless we are at the same time reconciled with one another.
A fast without mutual love is the fast of demons. We do not travel the road of Lent as isolated individuals but as members of a family. Our asceticism and fasting should not separate us from others, but should link us to them with ever-stronger bonds.
Read more on the Greek Orthodox website.
Learn About Lent
Check out the rich resoures about Lent and Holy Week on the Antiochian websitehttp://ww1.antiochian.org/lent.
St. Basil Liturgy During Lent
On the Sundays of Lent we worship with the Liturgy of St. Basil instead of the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. What is the difference between the two? The Liturgy of St Basil is a bit longer because the priests prayers a longer, say 10 minutes or so.
The Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom is derived from the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.
St. Peter / St. Paul Spiritual Saturday Women’s Retreat on Saturday, March 16, 2019
All women invited!
Please RSVP to Anne Breitenbach at either:
- 239-313-0749 (text or phone)
- anne-breitenbach@hotmail.com
- at Church on Sundays
Would you Like to take a Deep Dive into the Events of the Resurrection?
If so, email Deacon John Howard at frdnjohn@gmail.com as soon as possible.
10-week course ONLINE (from your home) beginning this Thursday, March 7th at 7 pm – 8:30 pm EST
We will learn why understanding the events surrounding the Resurrection are so critical in our lives and deserves study
We will examine how our faith and the bible are historically reliable
Finally we will go deep into the Resurrection Accounts
Interested? If so, email Deacon John at frdnjohn@gmail.com as soon as possible.
NOTE: This in an ONLINE course that will meet every Thursday night at 7 pm EST starting this week March 7th, Thursday night.
I will be using ZOOM software. It is a very easy download the first time you connect. All you need is a computer, an internet connection, a bible and a quiet place. A headset would be good but not necessary.
Again, if interested email me back soon! Thank you.
Gods Blessings,
Deacon John Howard
St. Peter Second Annual Bake Sale
Order your treats for Pascha by March 24 and have them delivered on Sunday, April 7 or April 17.
Items include: Spanikopita (Spinach Pie), Tiropita (Cheese Pie), Baklava, and Koulourakia (Cookies).
Order forms, pick up instructions, and more are available at Church and also on the St. Peter website.
Please note: All orders must be in by March 24, 2019.
Lent and Holy Week Schedule Posted
Click the image to view and print. Copies will also be available at Church.
Lenten Supper Schedule
Following the Presanctified Liturgies on Wednesday evenings during Great Lent, we share in a Lenten supper. During the supper a short program will be held. This year’s theme is “Orthodox Saints” and it is being organized by Nancy Forderhase.
- March 13 Wednesday Corgette Troutman
- March 20 Wednesday Corgette Troutman
- March 27 Wednesday Barbara Dionysopoulos
- April 03 Wednesday Katina Protopapadakis
- April 10 Wednesday Mary Copeland
- April 17 Wednesday Anne Breitenbach
Thank you ladies!
New Member Classes and Bible Studies
Cathechumen/New Member still need to be completed. New schedule posted shortly.
Bible studies cancelled until after Holy Week.
Our Stewardship to St. Peter’s: The Tree Must Bear Fruit
Please return your Stewardship Support of St. Peter’s for 2019.
We are responsible to increase what God has given us. In the Parable of the Talents, the master gave his servants talents that they are expected to nurture and grow. This is a responsibility we cannot avoid.
The Church is both a place where the increase begins on the inside of us, and to which we much give some our increase. This too is a responsibility we must take on.
A contribution form will be included in the letter you receive. Our goal this year is $200,000. We must meet this goal to avoid using our reserves. If we spend our reserves, we will not be able to obtain a mortgage to buy or build when the time comes to do so (and it will come sooner than later).
All of us may have to squeeze a bit to meet this goal. But if give, the Church flourishes and that flourishing spills over into our lives as well and the lives of our families.
We must increase what we have been given by God.
Calendar At A Glance
Note: Lent and Holy Week Schedule available on the St. Peter website.
MARCH
- Mon Mar 11 — Great Compline with Canon St. Andrew at 6:30pm
- Tue Mar 12 — Great Compline with Canon St. Andrew at 6:30pm
- Wed Mar 13 — Presanctified Liturgy at 6:30pm
- Thu Mar 14 — Great Compline with Canon St. Andrew at 6:30pm
- Fri Mar 15 — First Stanza Salutations to the Theotokos at 6:30pm
- Sat Mar 16 — Womens Retreat at St. Pauls 9:00am
- Sun Mar 17 — SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY
- Sun Mar 17 — CANCELED Sunday of Orthodox Vespers
- Mon Mar 18 — Great Compline at 6:30pm
- Wed Mar 20 — Presanctified Liturgy at 6:30pm
- Fri Mar 22 — Second Stanza Salutations to the Theotokos at 6:30pm
- Sun Mar 24 — SUNDAY OF ST. GREGORY PALAMAS
- Sun Mar 25 — CANCELED Annunciation Great Vespers at St. Paul’s
- Mon Mar 25 — Divine Liturgy Annunciation of the Theotokos 6:30pm
- Wed Mar 27 — Presanctified Liturgy at 6:30pm
- Fri Mar 29 — Third Stanza Salutations at 5:30pm NOTE EARLIER TIME
- Sun Mar 31 — SUNDAY OF THE VENERATION OF THE CROSS
- Mon Apr 1 — Great Compline at 6:30pm
- Wed Apr 3 — Presanctified Liturgy at 6:30pm
- Fri Apr 5 — Fourth Stanza Salutations to the Theotokos at 6:30pm
- Sun Apr 21 — Palm Sunday Brunch following Liturgy
- Sun Apr 28 — PASCHA Community Dinner following Agape Vespers
- Sun May 12 — Mother’s Day Brunch following Liturgy
- Sun Jun 16 — Father’s Day Barbecue following Liturgy
UPCOMING – Mark your calendars!
Wisdom From The Elders
Afflictions are a great teacher; afflictions show us our weaknesses, passions, and the need of repentance; afflictions cleanse the soul, they make it sober, as from drunkenness, they bring down grace into the soul, they soften the heart, they inspire us with a loathing for sin, and strengthen us in faith, hope, and virtue. Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt
The task of any person is to see to it that every act corresponds to the will of God. To do this one must ask God to reveal His plan for the particular person who is asking. Priest Daniel Sysoev
One thing I know: those who live a worldly life because they were not helped and went astray, or were forcibly pushed into evil ways when in fact they had a good disposition, such people move God to action and God will help them. He will use various means to help them find their way; He won’t abandon them. Even if it is at the time of their death, God will ensure that they are in a good spiritual state. Saint Paisios of Mount Athos
Christian love is evaporating from the face of the earth. Fr. Gerasim of New Valaam
The cleansing of the intellect is not a dialectical, discursive and theoretical activity, but an act of grace through experience and is ethical in every respect. The intellect is purified by fasting, vigils, silence, prayer, and other ascetic practices. Venerable Justin of Chelije in Serbia
The beginning and sum of the passions is unholy self-esteem. St. John Climacus
Remember in Your Prayers
Bryan, Carolina, their unborn baby
Athanasia
Alexandra
Constantina
Maryanne (E)
Ron (E)
Tim
Robert (J)
Mary (J)
Helen (Rogers)
Doug Spencer
Kathy Spencer
Kathy D
Andreas
Sofia Tešanovic
Paul
Dennis H. and Family
Victor Evan
Ann
James
Vasiliki
Efstratia
Alexandra
Nikos
Georgia
Ioannis
Costandino
Jeffrey
Vaso
Dave
Dimitri – Presbyter
Vassiliki
Octavio
Tom
Carl
Rena
Nikolay (5 year old boy in Bulgaria whose parents asked us to pray)
David
Eva K.
Rosie
Kathryn
Jeremy
Constantine
Robert
Jane
Theodora
David
Gina
Micheal
Haralambos
Lillian
Presbytera Rosy
Valentina
Eva W.
Barbara
Angela
Carol Ann
Matthew
Chrysostom
Tim
Pat
Christina
Maria Louise
Maximos
Marian
Photini
Nicholas
Sarah
Constantine Houpis
Anna Marie Smith Baker
Ron Chromulak
Beverly Chromulak
Katerina
Mary Kassis
Baby Maximus
Christine
Maria
Annette Star
Claire Livaditis
Eva Chandilles
Baby Dani
Scott Nedoff
James Hord
Tom
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
Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
For Thou art just in all that Thou hast done for us.
The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews. (11:24-26, 32-40)
Brethren, by faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets; who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, and put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated—of whom the world was not worthy—wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
Gospel
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. John. (1:43-51)
At that time, Jesus decided to go to Galilee. And He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, “We have found Him of Whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” Nathanael said to Jesus, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God! Thou art the King of Israel!” Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these.” And Jesus said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.”
