St. Peter News April 27, 2021

Pascha (Passover)

The Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Pascha

Holy Week comes to an end at sunset of Great and Holy Saturday, as the Church prepares to celebrate her most ancient and preeminent festival, Pascha, the feast of feasts. The time of preparation will give way to a time of fulfillment. The glorious and resplendent light emanating from the empty Tomb will dispel the darkness. Christ, risen from the dead, cracks the fortress of death and takes “captivity captive” (Psalm 67:19). All the limitations of our createdness are torn asunder. Death is swallowed up in victory and life is liberated. “For as by a man came death, by a man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive” (I Corinthians 15:21-22). Pascha is the dawn of the new and unending day. The Resurrection constitutes the most radical and decisive deliverance of humankind.

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The Resurrection has not yet abolished the reality of death. But it has revealed its powerlessness (Hebrews 2:14-15). We continue to die as a result of the Fall. Our bodies decay and fall away. “God allows death to exist but turns it against corruption and its cause, sin, and sets a boundary both to corruption and sin.” Thus, physical death does not destroy our life of communion with God. Rather, we move from death to life – from this fallen world to God’s reign.

Read more about Pascha on the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese website.

Pascha Dinner following Agape Vespers on Sunday, May 2, 2021

Agape Vespers begins at 11am and runs for an hour or so. Around 12:30pm-1:00pm we will begin the Pascha celebration. Great food (lamb and pork), great sides, and great fellowship.

Plans have changed. The dinner will be held in the social hall. We will not have a tent.

What can you do? Bring a dessert!

Ten volunteers to help with Pascha Dinner clean up are needed. Can you help?

We need ten volunteers to help Tom and Marlene Haley with clean up and it needs to be organized. Please report to the social hall at 10:45am, fifteen minutes before the start of Agape Vespers at 11:00am for your assignment.

Wanted: Foreign Language Speakers for Agape Vespers

During the Agape Vespers we read the Gospel in different languages to signify the gospel being preached to all nations. Do you speak a language other than English? Please bring your bible (you can also print out the gospel in your language from the internet) and be prepared to read John 20:19:25.

We will read the gospel in three sections:

• John 20:19-20
• John 20:21-23
• John 20:23-25

Fr. Hans can provide the following languages: Greek, English, French, Latin, German, Spanish.

Easter Baskets Blessed at Pascha

Parishioners from the Slavic traditions bring Pascha Baskets to Church on Pascha to have them blessed. They are filled with meats, cheeses, gifts and all manner of good things to signify the end of Great Lent and the Resurrection of Christ as a time of bounty and blessing.

We will bless the Baskets at St. Peter’s at the evening Pascha service and again at the Agape Vespers for those who cannot make the Pascha Service.

A Guide for Holy Week

Check out the guide resources about Holy Week on the St. Peter’s website.

Services this Week

• Sunday April 25 — Palm Sunday LIVE STREAM
  Greeters: Pavlo, Zannos Grekos
  Brunch in Social Hall following Divine Liturgy
  Bridegroom Service 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Mon Apr 26 — HOLY MONDAY – Bridegroom Service 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Tue Apr 27 — HOLY TUESDAY – Bridegroom Service 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Wed Apr 28 — HOLY WEDNESDAY – Holy Unction 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Thu Apr 29 — HOLY THURSDAY – Liturgy of the Last Supper 9:30am LIVE STREAM
  Reading of the Twelve Gospels 6:00pm (note earlier time)
• Fri Apr 30 — HOLY FRIDAY – Royal Hours 9:00am LIVE STREAM
  Decoration of Tomb of Christ 10:30am
  Taking Christ Down from the Cross 3:00pm LIVE STREAM
  Lamentations 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Sat May 1 — HOLY SATURDAY – First Resurrection Service 9:30am LIVE STREAM
  Great and Holy Pascha — 10:00pm LIVE STREAM
• Sun May 2 — Agape Vespers 11:00am LIVE STREAM
  Paschal Dinner in Social Hall 1:00pm / Easter egg hunt for children

Donations for Holy Week Flowers Needed

Flowers beautify the Church and are essential part of Orthodox worship during Holy Week and Pascha. Please give your donation for flowers to Marianthi who is overseeing this project this year.

Order Your Holy Week Service Books

At St. Peter’s we don’t have the resources to provide Holy Week service books to our parishioners. Those who would like a book can order their private copy from Ancient Faith Press or the Antiochian Book Store.

Books cost $37 each. Five copies ordered through the Antiochian Bookstore offers a $25 discount. Perhaps some parishioners could order five and donate four to St. Peter’s so that we can start a library for future years.

If anyone would care to donate toward service books please see Fr. Hans.

A of the Greek Orthodox Holy Week book (Papadeas) works too because the order of services are the same. The English will vary from the Antiochian book in a few places however.

Two Things to Remember About Our Church at Hickory Drive

1. The Presbyterian Church will be using the Social Hall for their worship until they find a place to relocate. Do not enter the Social Hall before 10am on Sundays.
2. US 41 is a busy highway and the intersection at Hickory Drive does not have a stop light. We recommend turning on Sanibel Boulevard and following Coconut Road instead.

Coming Soon: Antiochian Men!

The new parish means new responsibilities and the men can step up. A lot of men already have with the move contributing hours of work and sweat to bring the building into shape. We could also do other things too, say breakfast one Saturday a month. It would be a great time for fellowship.

Stay tuned! The Church needs you men.

We Need Help in the Social Hall!

As the church grows so do the jobs. Everyone in the parish needs to take on a job. Please see Tom Haley to volunteer in these areas:

• Coffee Lead
• Table Lead
• Clean Up

Cafe of Life Ministry

Volunteers will meet next Thursday, May 13th at 1:00 pm in the social hall of St. Peter’s Orthodox Church to make the sandwiches for the homeless and hungry.

You are all encouraged to partake in this very important mission. For those who are unable to join us and would like to donate, checks ( made out to St. Peter’s Church) or cash can be given to Father Hans.

Thank you, God bless and IC XC NI KA!

Women’s Book Club

The next meeting for the Women’s book club will be held on Wednesday May 5, 2021 after Holy Pascha.

Pledge & Income Report – March 2021

Donations received in March: $23,199.
Amount of money needed to cover expenses: $22,760.21.
We are ahead by $1,800.

These numbers reflect the operating costs of the the Hickory Drive property.

Please note:Please continue your generous support. If you cannot make it to church please mail in your donation to:

St. Peter Orthodox Church
7470 Hickory Drive
Fort Myers, FL 33967

You can also donate online:

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.

HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE

• Sunday April 25 — Palm Sunday LIVE STREAM
  Greeters: Pavlo, Zannos Grekos
  Brunch in Social Hall following Divine Liturgy
  Bridegroom Service 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Mon Apr 26 — HOLY MONDAY – Bridegroom Service 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Tue Apr 27 — HOLY TUESDAY – Bridegroom Service 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Wed Apr 28 — HOLY WEDNESDAY – Holy Unction 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Thu Apr 29 — HOLY THURSDAY – Liturgy of the Last Supper 9:30am LIVE STREAM
  Reading of the Twelve Gospels 6:00pm (note earlier time)
• Fri Apr 30 — HOLY FRIDAY – Royal Hours 9:00am LIVE STREAM
  Decoration of Tomb of Christ 10:30am
  Taking Christ Down from the Cross 3:00pm LIVE STREAM
  Lamentations 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Sat May 1 — HOLY SATURDAY – First Resurrection Service 9:30am LIVE STREAM
  Great and Holy Pascha — 10:00pm LIVE STREAM
• Sun May 2 — Agape Vespers 11:00am LIVE STREAM
  Paschal Dinner in Social Hall 1:00pm / Easter egg hunt for children

Wisdom From The Elders

Living simply means not judging. Do not judge anyone. For example, here comes Elikonida. She passed by, and that is all. This is what thinking simply means. Otherwise, at seeing Elikonida passing by, you could think about her bad side: she is such and such, her character is thus and so. That is not simple. Elder Ambrose of Optina

Nothing done in humility for the sake of God is bad. St. Peter of Damaskos

Show love simply, with out any deviation into cunning thoughts, without any trivial, worldly, covetous calculations, remembering that love is God Himself. Remember that He sees all your ways, sees all the thoughts and movements of your heart. Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt

The spiritual person must attain such a spiritual condition that even it God does not grant him Paradise, he will not be disturbed. Saint Paisios of Mount Athos

You are pleased when people help you when you are in need. Therefore strive yourself, as much as you can, to help your neighbor in all of his needs. Metropolitan Gregory (Postnikov) of St. Petersburg

“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?” Luke 9:24-25

Remember in Your Prayers

• 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.

Updated April 10 / Resets May 1

Current Prayer List

Stephanie and unborn child (Dusckas 7/21)
Nancy P (Dusckas 7/21)
Mark. M (Dusckas 7/21)
Georgia (Jacobse 6/21)
Margaret (Breitenbach 6/21)
Maryann (Breitenbach 6/21)
David (Dusckas 6/21)
Steven (Dusckas 6/21)
Jean (Wolffe 6/21)
Robin (Wolffe 6/21)
Debbie (Breitenbach 6/21)
Michael (Jacobse 4/21)
Kathy (Jacobse 4/21)
Raphaela (4/21)
Michael (Wolffe 4/21)
Fredericos (Diveris 4/21)
Vasiliki (Diveris 4/21)
Panagiota (Jacobse 4/21)
Michelene (Repya 4/21)
Colleen ((Repya 4/21)
Fr. Demetrios (Copeland 4/21)
Kondylia (Chapekis 4/21)
Brian (Colis 4/21)
Maria(Colis 4/21)

Permanent Prayer List

Sophia (D. Constantine)
Herman (Kerr)
Innocent (Kerr)
Nicholas (Kerr)
Paola (Jacobse)
Gregory (Yankopolos)
Soterios (Ninos)
Pauline (Poulos)

Sergio (Kazakos)
Rae (Semeretis)
Fran (Hansen)
Nina (Krotov)
George the Priest (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)
John (Katsigianopoulos)
Gregory (Pappas)

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

This is the day which the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad therein!
O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good; His mercy endureth forever.

The Reading from the Acts of the Apostles. (1:1-8)

In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, untilthe day when He was taken up, after He had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to theApostles whom He had chosen. To them He presented Himself alive after His passion by manyproofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God. And whilestaying with them He charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise ofthe Father, which, He said, “You heard from Me; for John baptized with water, but before manydays you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” So when they had come together, they askedHim, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for youto know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by His own authority. But you shall receivepower when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem andin all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.”

GOSPEL

The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. John. (1:1-17)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Hewas in the beginning with God; all things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might

believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light. The true light that enlightens everyman was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world knew Him not. He came to His own home, and His own people received Him not. But to all who received Him, who believed in His Name, He gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld His glory,glory as of the only Son from the Father. (John bore witness to Him, and cried, “This was He of Whom I said, ‘He Who comes after me ranks before me, for He was before me.’”) And from His fullness have we all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.