{"id":5303,"date":"2016-08-09T05:53:52","date_gmt":"2016-08-09T09:53:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/?p=5303"},"modified":"2016-08-09T05:53:52","modified_gmt":"2016-08-09T09:53:52","slug":"st-peter-newsletter-august-0-2016-dormition-of-the-theotokos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/st-peter-newsletter-august-0-2016-dormition-of-the-theotokos\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Peter Newsletter – August 0, 2016 — Dormition of the Theotokos"},"content":{"rendered":"
Dormition of the Theotokos<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
From August 1 through 15 we commemorate the Dormition of the Theotokos. “Dormition” means “falling-asleep,” the term St. Paul uses for those who have died in Christ. Death in Christ is like a falling asleep and then awakening with Christ. <\/p>\n
The Holy Scriptures tell us that when our Lord was dying on the Cross, He saw His mother and His disciple John and said to the Virgin Mary, “Woman, behold your son!” and to John, “Behold your mother!” (John 19:25-27). From that hour, the Apostle took care of the Theotokos in his own home.<\/p>\n
The season ends on August 15 with a special Divine Liturgy held in the evening. During the two weeks leading up to that day, we will hold a smaller service called “The Paraklesis to the Theotokos” on Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 6:30pm.<\/p>\n
This is also a fasting period. The basic discipline is no meat from August 1 to 15.<\/p>\n
Liturgy for the Dormition (Falling Asleep) of the Theotokos will be held Monday, August 15, 2016 at 6:30pm.<\/p>\n
Worship is the doorway into the presence of God. Only by entering into God’s presence can we be conformed to Him. Only by being conformed to God do we experience who we are and what we were created to be.<\/p>\n
Do you have a couch you don’t need? Cafe of Life is resettling a family and they need a couch. If you have one please mention it to Zannos Grekos.<\/p>\n
Let the Children Come unto Me<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Sunday School begins September 11, 2016 — the first Sunday after Labor Day and parents need to register their children!<\/p>\n
You can register you child in three ways:<\/p>\n
Please register early. Sunday School is growing and we need to plan. It is only about 7 weeks away.<\/p>\n
We will hold Paraklesis Service at 6:30pm.<\/p>\n
Choir practice resumes on Wednesday, August 17 at 6:00pm.<\/p>\n
We will hold Paraklesis Service at 6:30pm.<\/p>\n
Bible Study resumes on Wednesday, August 17, 2016 at 7:00pm.<\/p>\n
Our wickedness shall not overpower the unspeakable goodness and mercy of God; our dullness shall not overpower God’s wisdom, nor our infirmity God’s omnipotence.<\/p>\n
—St. John of Kronstadt<\/strong><\/p>\n Beloved brother, the peace that makes you think your way is right is simply insensitivity and unawareness of your sinfulness due to your negligent life.<\/p>\n —St. Ignatius Brianchaninov<\/strong><\/p>\n The intellect does many good and bad things without the body, whereas the body can do neither good nor evil without the intellect. This is because the law of freedom applies to what happens before we act.<\/p>\n —Saint Kosmas Aitolos<\/strong><\/p>\n God does not come near to where flesh is in charge: God’s contact with man is through his spirit, and the spirit in such a person is out of its proper order. He will feel God’s calling for the first time when his spirit begins to claim its rights in the voice of conscience and the fear of God. <\/p>\n And when a man finally makes his free deliberate choice for the spirit, then God will join that man and dwell in him. From that moment on begins the conversion of his soul and body, the whole inner and outer man, until “God may be all in all” (1 Cor. 15:28), and the man which once was carnal, transforms into a spiritual being and becomes sanctified.<\/p>\n What a marvelous privilege of mankind, and how few of us know about it, appreciate it and seek it!<\/p>\n —St. Theophan the Recluse<\/strong><\/p>\nPrayer List on the St. Peter website<\/h2>\n