{"id":26435,"date":"2017-12-12T11:57:31","date_gmt":"2017-12-12T16:57:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/?p=6358"},"modified":"2017-12-12T11:57:31","modified_gmt":"2017-12-12T16:57:31","slug":"st-peter-newsletter-december-12-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/st-peter-newsletter-december-12-2017\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Peter Newsletter December 12, 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sunday of the Forefathers (Ancestors) of Christ<\/h2>\n

Prophet Daniel and the Three Holy Youths Ananias, Azarias and Mishael; Dionysios of Zakynthos, the wonderworker; New Martyrs Paisios the hieromonk and his disciple Habakkuk the deacon of Belgrade<\/h4>\n
\n\"The<\/p>\n

The Forefathers of Christ<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Sermon on the Sunday Before Nativity (The Forefathers)<\/h4>\n

By Fr. Thaddeus Hardenbrook<\/p>\n

On the second Sunday before Nativity, the Gospel reading leaves off its progression based on Pentecost and aligns itself with the approaching Nativity. This is a sign for us; a message of urgency regarding what is about to happen. Worries, distractions, and cares must now be set aside for the sake of not missing out on the greatest of the Father’s gifts to us, which is His Son in human flesh. Every other mystical and sacred gift is secondary to the Incarnation.<\/p>\n

We have been preparing for the feast by fasting. And now that we have moved past the midpoint of the fast, the pace quickens in anticipation of Christ’s birth. We commemorate the Holy Forefathers who were part of mankind’s preparation for the Messiah. Without them, there would be no God-man, no Christ, for prophecy foretold His birth from their lineage. Therefore their flesh, their prophecies, and their piety prepared the way for the coming of Christ.<\/p>\n

Without the Incarnation, there is no salvation as we know it, there is no Cross, there is no Resurrection, there is no partaking in the divine energies of God and no deification. Even paradise and immortality submit to the mystical superiority of the Incarnation. For both paradise and immortality were given to man before the fall. Without the Incarnation, Paradise and eternal life only result in being perfectly and eternally joined to God as His servants.<\/p>\n

But when the Father gives His Son to redeem mankind, you and me, redeemed from the curse of the Fall wherein God commanded that “surely you will die,” and His Son deifies human flesh and makes it a communicant with the Holy Trinity through Himself, the second Person of the Trinity, no longer are we called to be servants in His Kingdom, but adopted sons and daughters of God the Father.<\/p>\n

“You who are led by the Spirit of God, you are sons of God . . . you have not received the spirit of bondage again but the Spirit of adoption.” (Rom. 8:14)<\/p>\n

“Blessed be God, who has given us every spiritual blessing in heaven through Christ, foreordaining us to adoption through Jesus Christ to Himself [the Father].” (Eph. 1:3)<\/p>\n

In Great Vespers on Saturday, we praise the glorious men from before and during the Old Covenant Law. We honor Adam, Abel, Seth, Enoch, Noah, Melchizedek, Samson, Barak, Jephthah, Nathan, Eleazar, Josiah, Job, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Joshua, Samuel, David, Solomon, Elijah, Elisha and all the prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, “and all the rest,” especially Daniel and the three holy youths, Zachariah, John the Baptist, and all those who proclaimed Christ.<\/p>\n

Likewise, we sing praises to the holy women who were made “strong in the days of old by the might of Your Strength, O Lord: Hannah, Judith, Deborah, Huldah, Jael, Esther, Sarah, Miriam, Rachel, Rebecca, and Ruth.”<\/p>\n

Orthodox Christians never forget where we come from. We not only remember that we are from the dust of the earth, but we also remember those who have preceded us, and are joined to us, in piety, and in faith, and in the spiritual struggle. History is chronological, but the Kingdom of God is ever-present, and we commune with all the righteous who were before us and await us. As brothers and sisters in Christ, they are our forefathers too!<\/p>\n

The days of preparation for receiving the Incarnation with joy and understanding are drawing to a close. We may come to church on the feast, but if we have not prepared our hearts, we will miss the fullness of what happens there. Everything of value in life is worthy of preparation. Attend services, pray, read, be charitable, love your neighbor, and give gifts of love and devotion.<\/p>\n

Source: Pravmir<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/div>\n

Living the Orthodox Faith Class Continues Wednesday, December 13 at 7:00pm<\/h2>\n

“Living the Orthodox Faith” will look at why our Church does things the way it does, and how to do it properly. We will learn about the sign up the cross, how to enter the Church properly (candles and veneration), how to make a home altar, and more. This is a very practical class, not theological as much as how to live the Orthodox life as an Orthodox Christian.<\/p>\n

Can’t make the class? Join in on Facebook Live<\/a>! You can also view last week’s class too. <\/p>\n

Topic for this week: The Seasons of the Church and How it Orders our Life<\/p>\n

Starting next week classes will be suspended during the Nativity and Theophany Season and resume in early January.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/div>\n

Thank you to Everyone Contributing to the St. Nicholas Celebration<\/h2>\n
\n\"St.\n<\/div>\n

The evening was a success due to the work of everyone who made it happen. It is important that we teach our children about our faith because their faith, especially how to live it and find God through it, is the only thing standing between them and a soul crushing secularism in the world around them.<\/p>\n

These events are important because God is real and so are the Saints. If we don’t teach them this however, who will?<\/p>\n

That is why it is important to bring your kids to church and why we must work for our church and support it. Increasingly the church is becoming the only island of sanity and stability in an increasing fragmenting world.<\/p>\n

 <\/div>\n

Christmas Season Food Drive for NAMI Continues<\/h2>\n
\n\"Please\n<\/div>\n

Every Christmas season St. Peter’s runs a food drive for 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 six years. Donations go to the Sarah Ann Drop In Center in Naples, FL. Three categories of items are needed:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Canned and dry goods<\/li>\n
  2. Toiletry articles (The small hotel type items work very well)<\/li>\n
  3. Diabetic foods<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Bring them to church and we will get them to NAMI. The drive will run through Christmas.<\/p>\n

     <\/div>\n

    Christmas Fast Continues<\/h2>\n

    The Nativity Fast is one of the four Canonical Fasting Seasons in the Church year. This is a joyous fast in anticipation of the Nativity of Christ. That is the reason it is less strict than other fasting periods. The fast is divided into two periods. The 1st period is November 15th through December 19th when the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, fish, wine, and oil) is observed. There is dispensation given for wine and oil on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Similarly, fish, wine, and oil are permitted on Saturdays and Sundays.<\/p>\n

    The 2nd period is December 20th through 24th when the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, fish, wine, and oil) is observed. There is dispensation given for wine and oil only on Saturday and Sunday during this period.<\/p>\n

    Fasting always works in conjuction with prayer and giving alms (helping the poor, giving to worthy charities, etc.). Fasting helps us reorder the interior life, but the reordering does not occur with greater prayer and greater concern for the poor.<\/p>\n

    The reordering is a clarification — we end up seeing things more clearly, we get stronger in the fight against sin and temptation. The fast always ends on a great Feast Day of our Lord.<\/p>\n

    For a complete list, visit the Antiochian website<\/a> or click on the image below:<\/p>\n

    \n
    \n\"Click<\/a>\n<\/div>\n
     <\/div>\n

    Calendar At A Glance<\/h2>\n

    December<\/strong><\/p>\n