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By God’s grace we are building a parish not for ourselves, but for others. Our mission is to build a parish so that those who are seeking Christ as He is understood and worshiped in our Orthodox faith can find Him. Many of them are being prepared as we do our work. Some of them don’t realize that St. Peter’s is where they will end up.<\/p>\n
Yet, as we build for others, we find our own salvation as well. Growth towards God of the kind that enables Him to act in our lives and lets us to move closer to Him only happens when we serve the neighbor. That’s why we build a parish for others and not ourselves. Yet in building it in that way we find salvation too.<\/p>\n
St. Peter’s will never become a self-referencing parish, the kind where service to God rises no higher than membership in a social club. We have the mission to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the community in which we live, and we will do just that. Remember the late Met. Philip’s words to us when he granted us our commission, “Go and tell the people about Jesus Christ and the Orthodox faith.”<\/p>\n
Each one of us are to use our gifts and abilities for the growth and expansion of the parish. We must do it for those who seek Christ but don’t know Him, and those who seek Christ in greater measure but don’t know where to look. This commission is not optional. It is a necessary part of the Christian life that must be fulfilled if we are to be obedient to Christ.<\/p>\n
Each of us must work to add increase to the Church, just like the wise steward who doubled the talent that God gave him. A talent is any store of value — financial, special gifts and abilities, time — anything that can be invested in order to create increase. There is no growth without increase, and the increase that we must create must be the kind that brings Christ to others. That is our mission.<\/p>\n
For that reason too St. Peter’s will never become a parish that focuses exclusively on fund-raising. We all have the means to give, and we are expected to give to the parish. But our larger purpose is not only to pay the expenses, but to create the space where the increase in the souls of men takes place.<\/p>\n
People often ask, “How much should we give?” Give at least an hour’s worth of work a weak. Start there. Calculate your income, divide it into forty hours, and give one hour’s worth a week.<\/p>\n
Then give more — your time, talent, treasure — anything that creates the increase. In so doing you establish a parish that has as its mission the salvation of others and yourself. Accomplish that and the blessing of God will be upon us.<\/p>\n
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Mark your calendars for Saturday, February 13 at 6:00 St. Peter’s Valentine’s Day potluck.<\/p>\n
Our potlucks are great. Everyone loves them. They are low-key affairs with great fellowship and camaraderie. Bring some friends if you like. Often we have people from other parishes attend and they are welcome.<\/p>\n
The food is always really good too!<\/p>\n
Want to know about the real St. Valentine? Read about him here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n If you plan to attend please sign up on the website<\/a>.<\/p>\n Mary Copeland writes about the prosphora class that she and BJ James taught on Monday, “The class went well with the students out shining the teacher.”<\/p>\n Many thanks to Mary and BJ for holding this class. No prosphora, no liturgy. Baking the bread is an important ministry in the Church.<\/p>\n This year we will be using the Holy Week Service Book of the Antiochian Archdiocese during Holy Week. If you would like one for private use please order it from Ancient Faith Publishing<\/a>. The price is $35.00.<\/p>\n Includes the three Bridegroom services, the three Liturgies of the Presanctified Gifts; the service of Holy Unction; the Vesperal Divine Liturgy and 12 Passion Gospels of Holy Thursday; the Royal Hours, Vespers, and Lamentations of Holy Friday; the Vesperal Divine Liturgy of Holy Saturday morning; Great and Holy Pascha; and the Agape Vespers of Sunday afternoon.<\/p>\nThe Students Surpassed the Teachers!<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nHoly Week Service Books<\/h2>\n
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