{"id":10265,"date":"2021-08-03T06:17:17","date_gmt":"2021-08-03T10:17:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/?p=10265"},"modified":"2021-08-03T06:17:17","modified_gmt":"2021-08-03T10:17:17","slug":"st-peter-newsletter-august-3-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/st-peter-newsletter-august-3-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Peter News August 3, 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"
The Transfiguration of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ is celebrated each year on August 6. The feast commemorates the transfiguration or metamorphosis<\/em> of Christ on Mount Tabor, when our Lord appeared in His divine glory before the Apostles Peter, James, and John.<\/p>\n The event of the Transfiguration is recorded in three of the four Gospels: Matthew 17:1-9<\/a>, Mark 9:2-8<\/a>, and Luke 9:28-36<\/a>. Jesus took the Apostles Peter, James, and John with Him up upon a mountain, and while they were on the mountain Jesus was transfigured. His face shone like the sun, and His garments became glistening white.<\/p>\n Moses and Elijah appeared with Christ, talking to Him. Peter declared how good it was for them to be there and expressed the desire to build three booths for Moses, Elijah, and Christ. This reference to the booths could imply that this occurred during the time of the Feast of Tabernacles when the Jews would be camping out in the fields for the grape harvest; for this Feast had acquired other associations in the course of its history, including the memory of the wanderings in the wilderness recorded in the Old Testament book of Exodus.<\/p>\n While Peter was speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them. A voice came from the cloud saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.” When the disciples heard this they fell on their faces filled with awe. Jesus came to them and told them to not be afraid. When the three looked up they saw only Jesus.<\/p>\n As Jesus and His disciples came down the mountain, He told them not to speak of what they had seen until He had risen from the dead.<\/p>\n Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n Mark you calendars for Sunday, August 8, 2021. Following the Divine Liturgy we will bless all Sunday School and regular school students. <\/p>\n Also, we need to update our Sunday School roster. We will also hold registration for Sunday School on that date in the social hall.<\/p>\n Bring your children!<\/p>\n This year the Dormition of the Theotokos falls on a Sunday. Following the Divine Liturgy we will hold a celebration cook-out during Social Hall breaking the Dormition Fast (no meat through August 1-15) and honoring the Mother of God.<\/p>\n August 1 starts the Dormition period in our Orthodox Church. We fast (abstain from meat and dairy as much as possible) from August 1 to August 15. At St. Peter’s the fast ends after the Dormition Liturgy on August 15.<\/p>\n During the first fifteen days of August, Paraklesis to the Theotokos services will be offered on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings starting at 6:30. The services lasts about 45-50 minutes. Plan on attending. <\/p>\n Bring the names of those for whom you want prayers. Supplications offered to the Theotokos are powerful during this period.<\/p>\n The Menu for our Celebration on August 15, 2021 includes:<\/p>\n Ladies (gents too), could you bring a desert?<\/em><\/p>\n The Holy Scriptures tell us that when our Lord was dying on the Cross, He saw His mother and His disciple John and said to the Virgin Mary, “Woman, behold your son!” and to John, “Behold your mother!” (John 19:25-27). From that hour, the Apostle took care of the Theotokos in his own home.<\/p>\n Along with the biblical reference in Acts 1:14 that confirms that the Virgin Mary was with the Holy Apostles on the day of Pentecost, the tradition of the Church holds that she remained in the home of the Apostle John in Jerusalem, continuing a ministry in word and deed.<\/p>\n At the time of her death, the disciples of our Lord who were preaching throughout the world returned to Jerusalem to see the Theotokos. Except for the Apostle Thomas, all of them including the Apostle Paul were gathered together at her bedside. At the moment of her death, Jesus Christ himself descended and carried her soul into heaven.<\/p>\n Following her repose, the body of the Theotokos was taken in procession and laid in a tomb near the Garden of Gethsemane. When the Apostle Thomas arrived three days after her repose and desired to see her body, the tomb was found to be empty. The bodily assumption of the Theotokos was confirmed by the message of an angel and by her appearance to the Apostles.<\/p>\n Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese<\/a> website.<\/em><\/p>\n Monthly Fellowship Luncheons with be held on the SECOND THURSDAY of every month at 12:00pm noon starting on Thursday, September 9, 2021.<\/p>\n MENU<\/b><\/p>\n Join us for some Greek coffee and dessert beginning on Thursday, September 23, 2021 from 3:00pm-5:00pm. The Kafenio is open on the fourth Thursday of every month.<\/p>\n Barbara and Costa Dionysopoulos invite you to attend our first ever \u201cKafenio\u201d for some Greek coffee, \u201cParea\u201d (company) and sweets.<\/p>\n Once again, we ask that you to SIGN UP on or before Sunday, September 19th so that we knowhow many people to prepare for. A small donation is requested to cover the cost of coffee and desserts. All additional proceeds will be donated to the building fund.<\/p>\n If you would like to help make Greek Coffee or donate a dessert to the Kafenio as well, please call Barbara Dionysopoulos ahead of time at 239-826-1655 so that she can coordinate it with what will hopefully be a monthly event.<\/p>\n Our Church is growing and the old ways have to become new ways so that things run smoothly.<\/p>\n First of all, thumbs up to our July volunteers: Barbara Dionysopoulos, Marianthi Kazakos, Niki and Ray Locklear, Maria Mourgis, and Carol Palantine. Thank you and thank you again!<\/p>\n Thank you to Tom and Marlene Haley who organize everything. They do a great job!<\/p>\n Thank you and let’s BREAK BREAD! <\/p>\n God has given us the greatest sacrifice \u2014 his only Son. In doing so, he left us with a true example of what it means to give. He asks us to sacrifice as an act of worship before Him. And, when we obey He will bless us. So please be especially generous and mail or give your tax deductible donations to Father Hans.<\/p>\n Thank you, God bless and IC XC NI KA!<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Donations received in July: $17,468. These numbers reflect the operating costs of the the Hickory Drive property.<\/p>\n Please note:<\/strong>Summer months are always lean and in July we fell behind by $5,292. Please remember to send in your pledge so we can make up the deficit and keep St. Peter’s on a secure financial footing.<\/p>\n St. Peter Orthodox Church You can also donate online:<\/p>\nBiblical Story<\/h4>\n
Services This Week<\/h2>\n
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Services Next Week<\/h2>\n
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Sunday School Registration and the Blessing of the Children on Sunday, August 8, 2021<\/h2>\n
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Dormition of the Theotokos Celebration on Sunday August 15, 2021<\/h2>\n
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Paraklesis to the Theotokos Offered during the First Two Weeks of August<\/h4>\n
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What is the Dormition of the Theotokos?<\/h4>\n
Monthly Fellowship Luncheons Are Back!<\/h2>\n
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But Wait! There’s More! Announcing St. Peter’s \u201cKafenio\u201d (Coffee Cafe)!<\/h2>\n
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New Procedures for Hospitality<\/h2>\n
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NEW PROCEDURES<\/h4>\n
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Cafe of Life Ministry Update<\/h2>\n
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The Safest Way to Come to Church<\/h2>\n
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Pledge & Income Report – July 2021<\/h2>\n
\nAmount of money needed to cover expenses: $22,760.21.
\nWe are behind by $5,292.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n
\n7470 Hickory Drive
\nFort Myers, FL 33967<\/p>\n
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