{"id":26796,"date":"2024-09-03T00:37:16","date_gmt":"2024-09-03T00:37:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/?p=26796"},"modified":"2024-09-03T00:37:38","modified_gmt":"2024-09-03T00:37:38","slug":"st-peter-news-september-3-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/st-peter-news-september-3-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Peter News September 3, 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"
Nativity of the Theotokos<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The Feast of the Nativity of Our Most Holy Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary is celebrated on September 8 each year. The Feast commemorates the birth of the Mother of Jesus Christ, our Lord.<\/p>\n
The birth and early life of the Virgin Mary is not recorded in the Gospels or other books of the New Testament, however this information can be found in a work dating from the second century known as the Book of James or Protevangelion.<\/p>\n
According to the story found in this book, Mary’s parents, Joachim and Anna, were childless for many years. They remained faithful to God, but their prayers for a child were unanswered. One day, when Joachim came to the temple to make an offering, he was turned away by the High Priest who chastised him for his lack of children. To hide his shame, Joachim retreated to the hill country to live among the shepherds and their flocks.<\/p>\n
As Joachim was praying, his wife Anna was praying at the same time at their house in Jerusalem. An angel appeared to both of them and announced that Anna would have a child whose name would be known throughout the world. Anna promised to offer her child as a gift to the Lord. Joachim returned home, and in due time Anna bore a daughter, Mary.<\/p>\n
[…]<\/p>\n
Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America<\/a> website.<\/em><\/p>\n Saint Helen, the mother of Saint Constantine the Great, when she was already advanced in years, undertook, in her great piety, the hardships of a journey to Jerusalem in search of the cross, about the year 325. A temple to Aphrodite had been raised up by the Emperor Hadrian upon Golgotha, to defile and cover with oblivion the place where the saving Passion had been suffered. <\/p>\n The venerable Helen had the statue of Aphrodite destroyed, and the earth removed, revealing the Tomb of our Lord, and three crosses. Of these, it was believed that one must be that of our Lord, the other two of the thieves crucified with Him; but Saint Helen was at a loss which one might be the Wood of our salvation. At the inspiration of Saint Macarius, Archbishop of Jerusalem, a lady of Jerusalem, who was already at the point of death from a certain disease, was brought to touch the crosses, and as soon as she came near to the Cross of our Lord, she was made perfectly whole.<\/p>\n Consequently, the precious Cross was lifted on high by Archbishop Macarius of Jerusalem; as he stood on the ambo, and when the people beheld it, they cried out, “Lord have mercy.” <\/p>\n It should be noted that after its discovery, a portion of the venerable Cross was taken to Constantinople as a blessing. The rest was left in Jerusalem in the magnificent church built by Saint Helen, until the year 614. At that time, the Persians plundered Palestine and took the Cross to their own country (see Jan. 22, Saint Anastasius the Persian). Late, in the year 628, Emperor Heraclius set out on a military campaign, retrieved the Cross, and after bringing it to Constantinople, himself escorted it back to Jerusalem, where he restored it to its place.<\/p>\n Last year’s winners.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Study sessions for the Gospel of Luke (the topic of this year’s Bible Bowl) have started. All teens invited! Please contact Diane Najjar to participate.<\/p>\n The Bible Bowl is held during the Parish Life Conference every year (this year it will be Jacksonville, Florida). Teens study and test their skills against other teens in the Diocese. Last year we came in second. This year we are aiming higher!<\/p>\n We hope you had an enjoyable school break, and now we are looking forward to the upcoming Sunday School year. Classes will begin on the Sunday after Labor Day, September 8th.<\/p>\n No need to fill out the registration form if your child\/children were previously registered, but wewould like to make certain the data we have is up to date. Registration Sundays will beAugust 25th and September 1st in the Social Hall.<\/p>\n We will have three classes:<\/p>\n We look forward to working with the parents to provide a fulfilling and happy experience for thechildren as they learn about our Orthodox Religion, its history and traditions.<\/p>\n We would like to take this opportunity to thank Joan Simon and her assistant, Tina Kucera, fortheir beautiful work last school year. We are most appreciative for their help.<\/p>\n Georgia Katsigianopoulos Catechumen classes begin November 3 following Social Hall (around 12:30pm). The classes is open to everyone but those seeking baptism and chrismation into the Orthodox Church are required to attend. <\/p>\n The class will be taught by Subdeacon Joseph (he returns mid-March) and we will use the book “Small Steps into the Kingdom”). The books will be preordered and available for purchase in the bookstore.<\/p>\n Giving tends to slow down in the summer but unfortunately our obligations don’t. There is still rent, electricity, and other necessities that we have to pay. <\/p>\n The letter below was sent to all parishioners as a gentle reminder to remain current on their pledges and giving. That we we stay in the black and remain on a sound financial footing. <\/p>\n Please stay current on your pledge and giving to help keep St. Peter’s strong.<\/p>\nServices and Events This Week<\/h2>\n
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Elevation of the Holy Cross Divine Liturgy, Saturday, August 14, 2024 at 9:00am<\/h4>\n
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Attention Bible Bowl Participants!<\/h2>\n
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Sunday School Registration Begins<\/h2>\n
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\nSunday School Administrator<\/p>\nMARK YOU CALENDAR – Catechumen Classes begin Sunday, November 3, 2024<\/h2>\n
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2024 Summer Appeal<\/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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