Ninth Sunday of Luke Sunday
Forefeast of the Entrance of the Theotokos
Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple
The Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple, also called The Presentation, is one of the Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church, celebrated on November 21. Among those Orthodox Christians who use the "Old" (Julian) calendar as their Church calendar, the date of this feast corresponds to December 4 in the secular calendar.
According to Tradition, the Theotokos was taken – presented – by her parents Joachim and Anna into the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem as a young girl, where she lived and served as a Temple virgin until her betrothal to St. Joseph. One of the earliest sources of this tradition is the non-canonical Protoevangelion of James, also called the Infancy Gospel of James.
Mary was solemnly received by the temple community which was headed by the priest Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist. She was led to the holy place to become herself the "holy of holies" of God, the living sanctuary and temple of the Divine child who was to be born in her. The Church also sees this feast as a feast which marks the end of the physical temple in Jerusalem as the dwelling place of God.
Divine Liturgy Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple – Monday, November 21, 6:30pm
Liturgy begins at 6:30pm for this important feast day.
We've Entered the Christmas Fasting Period
The Christmas fasting period runs from November 15 to December 24. Guidelines for proper fasting during the Christmas fast can be found on the Antiochian Archdiocese website. Look at the schedule, conform to the fast as you are able, and if you have questions consult Fr. Hans.
Fasting is important but sometimes circumstances require adjustments to the directions. We are not bound to directions (fasting is voluntary) but we should not use our liberty as an excuse for slackness or negligence either.
Why fast? It helps us focus on Christ more in our interior lives. As we learn to master our interior life, our exterior life changes for the better too. We fast faithfully and in secret, not judging others, and not holding ourselves up as an example.
From the Antiochian Archdiocese Website:
The Purpose of Fasting
The purpose of fasting is to focus on the things that are above, the Kingdom of God. It is a means of putting on virtue in reality, here and now. Through it we are freed from dependence on worldly things.
Fasting in itself is not a means of pleasing God. Fasting is not a punishment for our sins. Nor is fasting a means of suffering and pain to be undertaken as some kind of atonement. Christ already redeemed us on His Cross. Salvation is a gift from God that is not bought by our hunger or thirst.
We fast to be delivered from carnal passions so that God’s gift of Salvation may bear fruit in us.
We fast and turn our eyes toward God in His Holy Church. Fasting and prayer go together.
Fasting is not irrelevant. Fasting is not obsolete, and it is not something for someone else. Fasting is from God, for us, right here and right now.
Most of all, we should not devour each other. We ask God to “set a watch and keep the door of our lips.”
Do Not Fast
between December 25 and January 5 (even on Wednesdays and Fridays);
if you are pregnant or nursing a newborn;
during serious illness;
without prayer;
without alms-giving;
according to your own will without guidance from your spiritual father
May Their Memory Be Eternal
Upcoming Memorials at St. Peter's include:
Sunday, December 4: Bea (Panagiota) Chionis (40 days) by husband George and the entire Chionis family.
Christmas Season Food Drive for NAMI
Every Christmas season St. Peter's runs a food drive for NAMI (National Association for Mental Illness)serving local people in need. NAMI helps people with serious and persistent mental illnesses, as well as their parents, children, spouses, siblings and friends.
St. Peter's has contributed to NAMI emergency food bank care for six years. Donations go to the Sarah Ann Drop In Center in Naples, FL. Three categories of items are needed:
Canned and dry goods
Toiletry articles (The small hotel type items work very well)
Diabetic foods
Bring them to church and we will get them to NAMI. The drive will run through Christmas.
Women's Group CANCELLED in November
The Women's Group meeting schedule for Thursday, November 17 is CANCELLED.
Thank You From Interfaith Charities
Food collected during the last drive
Most Recent Donation to Interfaith Charities
A note to St. Peter's from Interfaith Charities:
Dear St. Peter's,
On behalf of ICSL, I want to thank you for the 734.5 pounds of food that you donated so far this year. That is simply amazing!
We continue to focus on ending hunger in our community. Your donation will help to make that easier.
As the need in our community for basic items such as food and shelter continue to be an issue, people like you make a great impact. We are blessed to have your support!
Thank you so very much.
Nancy Martin
Executive Director
Events This Fall
As we enter into the new Ecclesiastical Year, St. Peter's will hold at least one monthly parish social event. Please mark you calendars.
December 3 (Saturday – 6pm) Christmas pot luck
More details as we move closer to the dates.
Choir Practice on Tuesday, November 22, 2016
Choir practice this Tuesday, November 15, 2016.
Bible Study on Wednesday, November 23, 2016 at 7pm
Bible study also this Wednesday, November 16, 2016 at 7pm..
Calendar At A Glance
Choir Practice every Tuesday at 6:00pm and Bible Study every Wednesday at 7:00pm unless cancelled as noted below. Divine Liturgy every Sunday at 9:30. Extra services noted below.
November 12 (Saturday/Sunday) Christmas Lent Retreat
November 15 (Thursday) Women's Group Meeting CANCELLED
November 15 – December 24 Christmas Fast Period
November 21 (Monday) Liturgy Entrance of the Theotokos 6:30pm
December 3 (Saturday) St. Nicholas Pot Luck
December 4 (Sunday) Memorial Bea Chionis
December 5 (Monday) St. Nicholas Liturgy 6:30pm
Wisdom From The Elders
Do not judge others, for this alone will intercede for us during any judgement before God. —St. Macarius of Optina
Watch, therefore, for you know not on what day your Lord cometh. —Apostle Matthew, Matthew: 24
So first of all you must learn to sit with yourself and to face boredom…Once you have learned not to fidget, then you can do anything, at any speed, with any amount of attention and briskness… —Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh
Adam, God's first-formed man, transgressed: could He[God] not at once have brought death upon him? But see what the Lord does, in His great love towards man. He casts him out from Paradise, for because of sin he was unworthy to live there; but He puts him to dwell over against Paradise: that seeing whence he had fallen, and from what and into what a state he was brought down, he might afterwards be saved by repentance. —St. Cyril of Jerusalem
Prayer must arise from repentance, contrition, and above all, humility. —Elder Sergei of Vanves
Remember in Your Prayers
Baby Kyriake
Maximos
Marian
Photini
Nicholas
Brad William
Ryan
Sarah
Robert Jarvis
Petronia (Wife of Phil Pappas)
Anna Marie Smith Baker
Harry Zifiris
Iris Kuring (Bettina Zifiris' mother)
Constantine Houpis
Gerhard Kuring (Bettina Zifiris' father)
Ron Chromulak
Beverly Chromulak
Katerina
Dianne
Loucine Kassis
Mary Kassis
Baby Maximus
Annette Star
Christine
Maria
Claire Livaditis
Eva Chandilles
Baby Dani
Scott Nedoff
Anthony Mourgis
John Hansen
Constandina James
James Hord
Bob Smith
Tom and Jean, parents of Patty and Jerry.
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 Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost
Thou, O Lord, shalt preserve us and keep us from this generation.
Save me, O Lord, for the godly man hath disappeared.
The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Galatians. (6:11-18)
Brethren, see with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that would compel you to be circumcised and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who receive circumcision do not themselves keep the Law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh. But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. Peace and mercy be upon all, who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God. Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.
Gospel
For the Ninth Sunday of Luke
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (12:16-21)
The Lord spoke this parable: “The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” As He said this, Jesus called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
