{"id":10901,"date":"2022-04-19T13:28:17","date_gmt":"2022-04-19T17:28:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/?p=10901"},"modified":"2022-04-19T13:28:17","modified_gmt":"2022-04-19T17:28:17","slug":"st-peter-news-april-19-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/st-peter-news-april-19-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Peter News April 19, 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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.<\/p>\n
[…]<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Read more about Pascha on the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese website<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n Agape Vespers begins at 12pm and runs for an hour or so. Around 1:30pm we will begin the Pascha celebration. Great food fellowship. <\/p>\n MENU:<\/strong><\/p>\n What can you do? Bring a dessert!<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n We will read the gospel in three sections:<\/p>\n Fr. Hans can provide the following languages: Greek, English, French, Latin, German, Spanish. <\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Click image to learn about Lent, Holy Week, and Pascha<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Check out the guide resources about Holy Week on the St. Peter’s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n Stewardship letters have been mailed out. God has blessed St. Peter’s. Please fill in your pledge so the work that we have been called to do will continue.<\/p>\n Click the image to download and print the form<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n You can also print and download the form on the St. Peter website<\/a>.<\/p>\n Galyna Seabrooke who has spoken on several occasions on the situation in Ukraine on behalf of our Ukranian parishioners mentioned opportunities to help the victims of the war. <\/p>\n One way to offer humanitarian aid is through a Go Fund Me page<\/a>. Another is to donate essential items for Ukranian refugees. These items include:<\/p>\n No food items please.<\/em><\/p>\n A box will be set up in the church for donations.<\/p>\n We pray that war in Ukraine will end quickly.<\/p>\n Please sign up so we know how much to order.<\/em><\/p>\n Classes meet on Thursdays at 3:30pm in the Sunday School room.<\/p>\n Click the image to get more information on how to participate from the St. Peter’s website<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Our goal at St. Peter’s is to have one person or family pray the Parakelsis to the Theotokos for at least one day of every month. For each day of the month, individuals or even an entire family can sign up to pray the Paraklesis in their homes on the day\/s which they select.<\/p>\n Get more information on how to participate from the St. Peter’s website<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n Shortly after Bright Week we will begin a study of the Orthodox Basics (less philosophical, more factual and practical) of such things as worship, history, theology and more. This is for anyone and everyone who wants to understand our Orthodox faith and practice more thoroughly.<\/p>\n Dates will be determined but Saturday morning from 9:00am to 10:00 class time followed by a half hour optional discussion seems to work best for many people. Please let Fr. Hans know what works for you. We will begin when the summer starts and everyone’s schedule is more flexible. <\/p>\n In the meantime check out the videos on the website Welcome to the Orthodox Church<\/a> by Frederica Mathews-Green to prepare. <\/p>\n As we gather together this week to celebrate our Pascha and enjoy the traditional lamb luncheon in the social hall, let’s remember those who are hungry and homeless. <\/p>\n Send in or give your donations to Father Hans and let’s call to mind what the Scripture says in Acts 20:35: In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’<\/p>\n Thank you, God bless and IC XC NI KA!<\/p>\n Learn more on the DOMSE website<\/a>.<\/p>\n Contributions received in March: $25,847. Thank you to all who paid their 2022 stewardship in advance!<\/em><\/p>\n St. Peter Orthodox Church You can also donate online:<\/p>\nPascha Dinner following Agape Vespers on Sunday, April 24, 2022<\/h2>\n
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Wanted: Foreign Language Speakers for Agape Vespers<\/h2>\n
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Easter Baskets Blessed at Pascha<\/h2>\n
A Guide for Holy Week<\/h2>\n
\n<\/a><\/p>\nServices This Week<\/h2>\n
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\n\t\t\tBrunch in Social Hall following Divine Liturgy<\/span>
\n\t\t\tBridegroom Service 6:30pm LIVE STREAM<\/span><\/li>\n
\n\t\t\tReading of the Twelve Gospels 6:00pm (note earlier time) LIVE STREAM<\/span><\/li>\n
\n\t\t\tDecoration of Tomb of Christ 10:30am<\/span>
\n\t\t\tTaking Christ Down from the Cross 3:00pm LIVE STREAM<\/span>
\n\t\t\tLamentations 6:30pm LIVE STREAM<\/span><\/li>\n
\n\t\t\tGreat and Holy Pascha 10:00pm LIVE STREAM<\/span><\/li>\n
\n\t\t\tPaschal Dinner in Social Hall 1:30pm \/ Easter egg hunt for children<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nStewardship 2022<\/h2>\n
\n<\/a><\/p>\nHelping Victims of the War in Ukraine<\/h2>\n
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Greek Language School Continues<\/h2>\n
Let’s Pray the Paraklesis to the Theotokos Daily<\/h2>\n
\n<\/a><\/p>\nComing Soon: Orthodoxy 101 – A Study of the Basics of the Orthodox Faith<\/h2>\n
Cafe of Life: Remember the Words of the Lord: It is More Blessed to Give than to Receive<\/h2>\n
Save the Date! DOMSE Parish Life Conference June 15-18, 2022<\/h2>\n
Pledge & Income Report – March 2022<\/h2>\n
\nAmount of money needed to cover expenses: $24,114.
\nWe are ahead by $1,733.<\/p>\n
\n7470 Hickory Drive
\nFort Myers, FL 33967<\/p>\n
\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\nSign up the the Monthly DOMSE Newsletter on the DOMSE (Diocese of Miami and the Southeast) Website!<\/h2>\n
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