Twenty-fifth Sunday after
Pentecost
Ninth Sunday of Luke
St. John Kronstadt: Think About Higher Things
If God had not been incarnate upon earth, if He had not made us godly, if He had not taught us in His Own person how to live, what to hope for and expect, if He had not pointed out to us another perfect and eternal life, if He had not suffered and died and risen from the dead—then we should still have had some reason to live, as we all now live—that is to mostly lead a carnal, earthly life.
But, now, we ought to meditate upon higher things, and count all earthly things but dung, for, everything earthly is nothing, in comparison with heavenly things.
Meanwhile, the Devil, the father of lies, in spite of the Savior’s teaching and His spirit, teaches us to attach ourselves to earthly goods, and forcibly nails our sensual heart to them.
The heart naturally seeks happiness—and the Devil gives a false direction to this tendency, and allures it by earthly happiness, that is—by riches, honors, splendor of dress, furniture, silver, equipages, gardens and various amusements.
+ St. John of Kronstadt
Read the entire article on the Orthodox Church Quotes website.
Thanksgiving/St. Katherine Liturgy, Wednesday, Nov 25 at 6pm
Join us for a Thanksgiving and St. Katherine Feast Day Liturgy on Wednesday, November 25 at 6pm.
This is a very good way to retain Thanksgiving as a day of thanksgiving to God.
Helping the Poor in Bonita Springs
And the King shall answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you have done it to one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it to me. (Matthew 25:40).
On Saturday November 21 parishioners who want to help the poor in Bonita Springs will meet at the Church at 9:00 to assemble Thanksgiving food bags to be distributed to the poor of our area.
On Wednesday, November 25 at 9:30am (the day before Thanksgiving) we will meet at Leitner Park in Bonita Springs to distribute the food (get directions from Google or the Cafe of Life website). See the St. Peter website for more information.
St. Peter’s has partnered with the local food bank Cafe of Life and our contributions will go to people and families who have no special dinners for Thanksgiving. Cafe of Life clients are 90% working poor (families work but do not make enough money to survive) and 10% homeless.
We also support:
Food for the Hungry
As we do ever year, the months approaching Christmas is when we collect foor for neighborhood foodshelves.
Please bring a canned item to Church with you on Sundays. Bins will be set up to collect them.
Cash/check donations work too. Please give your donation to Mary Copeland and notate “Food Donation” on the memo line.
The drive will run through December 29. All donations will be distributed locally.
See more information on the website.
No Choir Practice or Orthodoxy 101 Class Wednesday, November 25, 2015
Practice and class will resume Wednesday, December 2, 2015.
Get the class syllabus and complete information on the website.
St. Nicholas Pot Luck on Saturday, December 5 at 5:30pm
On Saturday December 5 we will hold a Vesper Service at 5:30 followed by a Pot Luck Supper to honor St. Nicholas. His Feast Day occurs on Sunday, the next day.
St. Peter’s to Expand
Great wews! We will expand into the unit behind the back wall of our present location.
This will meet our needs prompted by our growth and include an expanded sanctuary, social hall, Sunday school, bible study, offices, teen lounge and especially important a place to hold our potluck fellowship dinners.
We hope to have the area fully functioning by January 1.
Upcoming Memorials
Sunday, Nov. 22nd, 40-day Memorial for MARY SPIROPOULOS, mother of Joan Simon
May her Memory be Eternal.
Remember in Your Prayers
Tony Backos – That his business would be restored quickly.
Soterios Ninos father of Angela Long.
Bonnie Joseph
Bob Smith
Tom and Jean, parents of Patty and Jerry.
How should we pray for the sick? Remember them daily. Say their names and ask God to bestow mercy and grace on them.
Sunday Readings
Epistle
For the Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
Make your vows to the Lord our God and perform them.
God is known in Judah; His Name is great in Israel.
The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Ephesians. (4:1-7)
Brethren, I, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, Who is above all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
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.”