{"id":27042,"date":"2025-04-14T16:22:43","date_gmt":"2025-04-14T16:22:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/?p=27042"},"modified":"2025-04-14T16:38:06","modified_gmt":"2025-04-14T16:38:06","slug":"st-peter-news-april-15-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/st-peter-news-april-15-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Peter News April 15, 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"
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 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 and be prepared to read John 20:19:25.<\/p>\n We will read the gospel in three sections:<\/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 Bp Nicholas will be visiting St. Peter’s for the Reading of the Twelve Gospels on Holy Thursday, April 17.<\/p>\n This is an important service and an important day with the visit of our Bishop. Plan to attend. A small refreshment luncheon will be offered following the service. <\/p>\n Please note: The service will begin at 6:00pm.<\/p>\n ALL ARE INVITED!<\/em><\/p>\n We are ordering flowers to decorate Christ’s Tomb and the interior of the church for the Lamentation Service on Holy Friday evening.<\/p>\n Donations for the flowers will be greatly appreciated. Please give your donations to Georgia in the office.<\/em><\/p>\n At the close of service, it is traditional—after venerating the Epitaphios tapestry of Christ in repose—to take a blessed flower for the home icon stand or altar.<\/p>\n We would like to keep the decorated Kouvouklion in tact through Bright Week. Fr.Hans would like—-as is customary—to give each parishioner a flower.<\/p>\n Dear Parents:<\/p>\n Pascha is fast approaching, and we are getting ready, in particular, for Holy Friday–one of the most holy days of the year.<\/p>\n We begin with the Royal Hours at 9:00 a.m., followed by the Parish women gathering to decorate the Kouvouklion (Tomb of Christ) with flowers.<\/p>\n Christ is taken down from the cross at 3:00 p.m.. This is an especially meaningful service for all the children. It is approximately 45 to 60 minutes long. During the Lamentations at 6:30, Myroforis–who were the women who followed Christ, attended to him and prepared his body for burial–are needed to We will provide a white choir-like robe, flower headdress and white basket with flower petals to be tossed unto the Kouvouklion as they walk in a circle. Persephone and Alexis Johnson are in charge of this beautiful assignment. Please feel free to ask them or me any questions you may have.<\/p>\n Georgia We will begin, “Thinking Orthodox”, by, Dr Eugenia (Jeannie) Constantinou. The book can be purchased on-line at Ancient Faith Store<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n All women are welcome and encouraged to attend. Coffee will be served. We can’t wait to gather together!<\/p>\n Beginning on Sunday, May 4th, and running the Sundays of May 11, and May 18, in the church social hall our security team will be asking everyone to participate in planning for the 2025 Hurricane season.<\/p>\n The safety of our parishioners is our upmost concern. The best way to deal with adverse weather is to have a solid plan ahead of the emergency. Your security team at Saint Peters needs everyone to help and participate in the following efforts:<\/p>\n A finalized plan will be distributed prior to the beginning of the 2025 Hurricane Season beginning June 1, 2025. Joe Repya will coordinate and requests volunteers willing to assist in the planning and execution of our hurricane plan.<\/p>\n These are very difficult times for some of our parishioners. We need to replenish the Good Samaritan Fund to be able to help them. Can you donate? Please write a check and note “Good Samaritan Fund” in the memo box. If you would like to donate cash please put it in envelope marked “Good Samaritan Fund.”<\/p>\n When you bless a neighbor in need, you bless God.<\/p>\n Contributions received in March were $42,443 If you have not already done so, please complete a 2025 pledge form. Your pledge will play a vital role in helping us meet our 2025 budget goals and will support ourpreparations for refinancing our mortgage in March 2026.<\/em><\/p>\n St. Peter Orthodox ChurchWanted: Foreign Language Speakers for Agape Vespers on Sunday, April 20 at 12:00pm<\/h2>\n
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Easter Baskets Blessed at Pascha and Agape Vespers<\/h2>\n
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A Guide for Holy Week<\/h2>\n
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Services and Events This Week<\/h2>\n
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\n\t\t\tBrunch in Social Hall following Divine Liturgy
\n\t\t\tBridegroom Service 6:30pm<\/li>\n
\n\t\t\tReading of the Twelve Gospels 6:00pm (note earlier time) LIVE STREAM<\/li>\n
\n\t\t\tDecoration of Tomb of Christ 10:30am
\nTaking Christ Down from the Cross 3:00pm LIVE STREAM
\n\t\t\tLamentations 6:30pm LIVE STREAM<\/li>\n
\n\t\t\tGreat and Holy Pascha<\/strong> 10:00pm LIVE STREAM<\/li>\nBishop Nicholas Visiting St. Peter’s on Holy Thursday<\/h2>\n
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Paschal Dinner and Celebration Follows Agape Vespers on Pascha Sunday<\/h2>\n
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Flowers For The Kouvouklion\/Christ’s Tomb<\/h2>\n
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Holy Week Events for Children — Look for MyroForos (The Myrrh Bearing Women)<\/h2>\n
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\nAs is traditional, the children pay their respects by crossing under the Kouvouklion to be blessed.<\/p>\n
\nparticipate in the service. We need young ladies ages 9 to 13.<\/p>\n
\nThe girls should wear a white or light colored dress and white shoes or sandals.<\/p>\n
\nYour Sunday School Administrator<\/p>\nWomen’s Book Club Meets Friday 11am in the Social Hall Cancelled During Holy Week<\/h2>\n
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Saint Peter\u2019s Hurricane Response Planning<\/h2>\n
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We Need Donations for the Good Samaritan Fund<\/h2>\n
Pledge and Income Report — March 2025<\/h2>\n
\nThe amount\u00a0of\u00a0money needed to cover expenses: $33,785.
\nFor this month we are ahead by $8,658.
\nYear-to-date, we are ahead by $7,028.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n7470 Hickory Drive
\nFort Myers FL 33967<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Sign up the the Monthly DOMSE Newsletter on the DOMSE (Diocese of Miami and the Southeast) Website!<\/h2>\n
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