{"id":10491,"date":"2021-11-08T18:44:12","date_gmt":"2021-11-08T23:44:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/?p=10491"},"modified":"2021-11-08T18:44:12","modified_gmt":"2021-11-08T23:44:12","slug":"st-peter-news-november-9-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/st-peter-news-november-9-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Peter News November 9, 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"
Our holy Father Gregory was born in Constantinople in 1296 of aristocratic parents who had emigrated from Asia Minor in the face of the Turkish invasion, and were attached to the court of the pious Emperor Andronicus II Palaeologus (1282-1328).<\/p>\n
About the year 1316, Gregory decided to abandon the vanities of the world. His mother, two sisters, two brothers and a great many of his servants entered upon the monastic life with him. He and his two brothers went on foot to the holy Mountain of Athos, where they settled near the Monastery of Vatopedi.<\/p>\n
After only three years, the early death of his brother Theodosius, followed by that of the Elder Nicodemus, led Gregory and his second brother, Macarius, to attach themselves to the Monastery of the Great Lavra. Gregory was appointed chanter.<\/p>\n
The incessant raids of Turkish pirates soon obliged Gregory and his companions to leave their hermitage. Together with twelve monks, he wanted to make the pilgrimage to the Holy Places and to seek refuge at Mount Sinai; but this did not prove feasible. Instead, he spent some time in Thessalonica, where he joined the group around the future Patriarch Isidore, who was endeavoring to spread the practice of the Jesus prayer among the faithful so that they might profit from the experience of the monks. In 1326, Gregory was ordained a priest, having understood in a vision that this was indeed the will of God.<\/p>\n
He suffered a long illness and, some time before his death, Saint John Chrysostom appeared to him with the invitation to join the choir of holy hierarchs immediately after his own feast. And, indeed, on November 14, 1359 the Saint gave up his soul to God.<\/p>\n
Read the complete biography on the Greek Orthodox website<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n The divine Nektarios of Aegina, is one of the most widely known of Greek Orthodox Saints. He was born on October 1st, 1846 in Silyvria, in Asia Minor (now occupied by Turkey).His great service to the Church, prolific writings and teachings, energy and zeal led Fr Nektarios to be ordained as the Metropolitan of Pentapolis in Egypt.<\/p>\n In 1904, our Saint founded a monastery for women in Aegina, the Holy Trinity Convent. Under his guidance the Convent flourished. In 1908, the Blessed Nektarios, at the age of 62, retired from the Rizarios Ecclesiastical School and withdrew to Holy Trinity Convent in Aegina. There, for the rest of his life as a true monk and ascetic. He served as a confessor and spiritual guide to the nuns and even priests from as far as Athens and Piraeus. His Holy and pious life shone forth like a guiding light to all near him. Many would come to him for healing. Saint Nektarios was a great \u00ebWonder-worker\u00ed even while alive.<\/p>\n On September 20, 1920 one of the nuns took him to the local hospital, in spite of his protest. He was convulsing in pain from a long-standing ailment. He was admitted, and placed into a ward reserved for the poor and unwanted. There he stayed for two months among the sick and dying. At 10:30 in the evening of November 8th, although in the midst of terrible pains, in peace and at prayer he gave up his spirit unto God at the age of 74.<\/p>\n As soon as the Saint gave up his Spirit, a nurse came to prepare him for transfer to Aegina for burial. As the nurse removed the Saints sweater, she inadvertently placed it on the next bed, on which a paralytic lay. And O, strange wonder!, the paralytic immediately began to regain his strength and arose from his bed healthy, and glorifying God.<\/p>\n Read the complete story on the Orthodox Christian Info<\/a> website.<\/em><\/p>\n St. John Chrysostom Interpreting the Epistles of Paul<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Saint John was surnamed Chrysostom (“Golden-mouth”) because of his eloquence. He made exhaustive commentaries on the divine Scriptures and was the author of more works than any other Church Father, leaving us complete commentaries on the Book of Genesis, the Gospels of Saints Matthew and John, the Acts, and all the Epistles of Saint Paul. His extant works are 1,447 sermons and 240 epistles. Twenty-two teachers of the Church have written homilies of praise in his honour. Besides his feasts today and on January 27, he is celebrated as one of the Three Hierarchs on January 30, together with Saint Basil the Great and Saint Gregory the Theologian.<\/p>\n Read the entire history on the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese<\/a> website.<\/em><\/p>\n Thanksgiving is about the only American Civil Holiday left that has not be completely secularized (de-Christianized), and we celebrate it to keep the Christian founding of America alive. The Orthodox missionary imperative is to affirm the good wherever you find it and build on it, even if the good is not yet complete. For that reason we celebrate Thanksgiving every year with a Divine Liturgy, most often, but not exclusively, on the eve of the holiday.<\/p>\n The Saint we commemorate in the Divine Liturgy is St. Katherine.<\/p>\n Click the image to learn more about Orthodox practice during the Nativity Season<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n November 15 is the beginning of the Nativity Fast, one of the four Canonical Fasting Seasons in the Church year. This is a joyous fast in anticipation of the Nativity of Christ.<\/p>\n In the weeks between now and December 25, Orthodox Christians prepare themselves to celebrate the birth in the flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ. As we begin the fast, we encourage both believing Orthodox and inquirers to review the reflections and resources in the special Nativity section on the Antiochian Archdiocese website<\/a>.<\/p>\n For additional general resources on the Orthodox Christian tradition of feasting and fasting, visit the Feasts and Fasts section of Discover Orthodox Christianity<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every Christmas season St. Peter’s parishioners contribute to Toys for Tots which gives children who otherwise would receive no gifts some presents on Christmas Day.<\/p>\n There are two boxes one in the narthex and one in the community center. Please bring in an unwrapped toy for a boy or a girl and place in box.<\/p>\n If you prefer to make a monetary contribution and have Mary Copeland go shopping for you, please contact Mary.<\/p>\n We have until December 15 to fill the two boxes. <\/p>\n Every Christmas season St. Peter’s supports 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.<\/p>\n St. Peter’s has contributed to NAMI emergency food bank care for nine years. Donations go to the Sarah Ann Drop In Center in Naples, FL. Three categories of items are needed:<\/p>\n Bring them to church with “Mary Copeland” written on the bag and she will get them to NAMI.<\/p>\n The drive runs through December 15, 2021.<\/p>\n Visit the DOMSE Website<\/a> (scroll to the bottom, fill in the form on the left side) to sign up for “The Light” Newsletter and DOMSE emails.<\/em><\/p>\n Remember what the Church used to look like?<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Soon the contributors to our Capital Campaign (which made the purchase of our new location possible) will be receiving a letter with a gentle reminder that we are approaching the due date of our next contribution. <\/p>\n The money being raised through our Capital Campaign has helped us with our initial down payment on the purchase of our new church building and property and it helped us make the significant improvements and renovations that you see every Sunday. In addition, all remaining contributions pledged are necessary to pay off our $120K Second Mortgage. Your continued and generous support is greatly appreciated.<\/p>\n If you have not previously participated in our Capital Campaign but you would like to do so nowover the next 2 years, please fill out a Capital Campaign Pledge form and return with your contribution OR send a check marked “Capital Campaign” on the memo line of your check. The Capital Campaign Pledge forms are available on the counter in the church Narthex OR you can download the form from the church website<\/a>.<\/p>\n Some parishioners have requested a needs list they could contribute to. Below are the special projects we still need to get done. If you can help please mention it to Fr. Hans, Jack Long, or John Simon.<\/p>\n We will hold our Parish Assembly Meeting following the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, November 14, 2021 in the Social Hall.<\/p>\n This meeting will discuss 2022 goals, approve the 2022 budget, reports from the Parish Council and Fr. Hans, and other business. We will keep the meeting short and to the point.<\/p>\n One of the greatest enemies of our spiritual freedom is the cancer of greed. The quickest way to become slaves to our selfishness is to fail to actively develop the spiritual discipline of generosity. <\/p>\n We all know that generosity is the eternal truth that what we have been given must be given away if we are ever going to enjoy what we’ve been given. <\/p>\n Let us look not only to our own interests but also to the interests of others.<\/p>\n So please be generous with your tax- deductible check for the hungry and you will be enriched in every way.<\/p>\n Thank you, God bless and IC XC NI KA!<\/p>\n This is some of what remains to do with our building:<\/em><\/p>\n INSIDE CHURCH:<\/strong><\/p>\n OUTSIDE CHURCH:<\/strong><\/p>\n SUNDAY SCHOOL ROOMS:<\/strong><\/p>\n …but check the website<\/a> to see what has already been done!<\/em><\/p>\n Donations received in September: $21,018. These numbers reflect the operating costs of the the Hickory Drive property.<\/p>\n St. Peter Orthodox Church You can also donate online:<\/p>\n The Social Hall All Stars are the men and women that make St. Peter’s Social Hall happen. Thank you All Stars!<\/em><\/p>\n November 7 – November 28<\/strong><\/p>\n December 5 – December 26<\/strong><\/p>\n Please note: If you would like to bring in your own prepared food, please contact Tom Haley at 239-887-0753 a week before<\/em> the upcoming Sunday. That way we know not to prepare any food for Sunday.<\/p>\nServices This Week<\/h2>\n
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Services Next Week<\/h2>\n
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St. Nectatrios of Aegina Divine Liturgy on Tuesday, November 9, 2021 at 9:30am<\/h2>\n
St. John Chrysostom Divine Liturgy Saturday, November , 2021 at 9:30am<\/h2>\n
Thanksgiving Liturgy on the Eve of Thanksgiving, Wednesday, November 24, 2021 at 6pm<\/h2>\n
Nativity Fast Begins November 15, 2021<\/h2>\n
\n<\/a><\/p>\nToys for Tots Drive Begins Through December 15<\/h2>\n
Christmas Season Toiletry Supplies Drive for NAMI Begins Through December 15<\/h2>\n
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Sign up the the Monthly DOMSE Newsletter on the DOMSE (Diocese of Miami and the Southeast) Website!<\/h2>\n
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\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\nCapital Campaign Progress Report<\/h2>\n
Could You Support a Special Project?<\/h2>\n
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\n$30,000.00<\/li>\n
\n$8000.00<\/li>\nUpgrade Church sound system
\n$1700.00<\/s> Donated.<\/em><\/li>\n
\n$6,300.00<\/li>\n
\n$3600<\/ul>\nLife at St. Peter’s<\/h2>\n
Mark Your Calendar! Parish Assembly Meeting November 14, 2021<\/h2>\n
Cafe of Life Ministry Update<\/h2>\n
Work to Be Done At St. Peter’s<\/h2>\n
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Pledge & Income Report – September 2021<\/h2>\n
\nAmount of money needed to cover expenses: $22,760.
\nWe are behind by $1,742.<\/p>\n
\n7470 Hickory Drive
\nFort Myers, FL 33967<\/p>\n
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Procedures for Hospitality<\/h2>\n
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