{"id":10503,"date":"2021-11-15T13:21:53","date_gmt":"2021-11-15T18:21:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/?p=10503"},"modified":"2021-11-15T13:21:53","modified_gmt":"2021-11-15T18:21:53","slug":"st-peter-news-november-16-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/st-peter-news-november-16-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Peter News November 16, 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Source: Orthodoxwiki<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n St. Matthew (also called Levi the son of Alphaeus (Mark 2:14)) was a brother of St. James the Younger and was a tax <\/p>\n collector. The First Gospel is attributed to him, and, according to many scholars, was first written for the Hebrews. According to Church tradition, St. Matthew preached to the Jews first, and then traveled to Ethiopia, Macedonia, Syria and Persia, dying a natural death, according to one tradition, or by martyrdom, according to another. His Feast Day is November 16.<\/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 A special thank you to those who volunteered their time on the second Thursday of every month to make sandwiches for the impoverished and then to the donors who generously gave to this philanthropic cause.<\/p>\n Remember, ”Give and it will be given to you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. for with the measure you use it will be measured back to you” (Luke 6:38).<\/p>\n So please reach deep into your pockets. Any amount is appreciated.<\/p>\n Thank you, God bless and IC XC NI KA!<\/p>\n The retreat will be held on ZOOM. The ZOOM link will be sent via email. Be sure to subscribe to the AMEN newsletter<\/a> to receive the Zoom link!<\/p>\n We will be upgrading the electrical system. All power will be shut down for two days.<\/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 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 Donations received in October: $22,884. 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. Matthew the Apostle Divine Liturgy on Tuesday, November 16, 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>\nCafe of Life Ministry Update<\/h2>\n
AMEN (Antiochian Men) Virtual Retreat this Saturday, November 20, 2021<\/h2>\n
3rd Annual AMEN Virtual Retreat \u2013 November 20, 2021<\/h4>\n
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Church Closed December 7-8, 2021. We Are Upgrading!<\/h2>\n
Toys 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>\nCould You Support a Special Project?<\/h2>\n
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\n$30,000.<\/li>\n
\n$8000.<\/li>\nUpgrade Church sound system
\n$1700.00<\/s> Donated.<\/em><\/li>\n
\n$6,300.<\/li>\nUpgrade Church Electrical System
\n$3600<\/s> Donated.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nPledge & Income Report – October 2021<\/h2>\n
\nAmount of money needed to cover expenses: $22,760.
\nWe are ahead by $124.<\/p>\n
\n7470 Hickory Drive
\nFort Myers, FL 33967<\/p>\n
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Procedures for Hospitality<\/h2>\n
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