{"id":5638,"date":"2016-12-20T04:44:21","date_gmt":"2016-12-20T09:44:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/?p=5638"},"modified":"2016-12-20T04:44:21","modified_gmt":"2016-12-20T09:44:21","slug":"st-peter-newsletter-december-20-2015-the-nativity-of-our-lord-and-savior-jesus-christ","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/st-peter-newsletter-december-20-2015-the-nativity-of-our-lord-and-savior-jesus-christ\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Peter Newsletter December 20, 2015 &#8211; The Nativity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">The Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ<br \/>The Adoration of the Magi<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5639\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5639\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/nativity-woodcut-500x688.png\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/nativity-woodcut-500x688.png\" alt=\"The Nativity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ\" width=\"500\" height=\"668\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5639\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5639\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Nativity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, hath shined the light of knowledge upon the world;<br \/>\nfor thereby they that worshiped the stars were instructed by a star to worship Thee, the Sun of Righteousness, and to know Thee, the Dayspring from on high.<br \/>\nO Lord, glory be to Thee.<\/p>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n<h2>The Adoration of the Magi<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5640\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5640\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/magi-500x316.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/magi-500x316.png\" alt=\"The Adoration of the Magi\" width=\"500\" height=\"316\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5640\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5640\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Adoration of the Magi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Today, the Virgin bears Him who is transcendent,<br \/>\nand the earth presents the cave to Him who is beyond reach.<br \/>\nAngels, along with shepherds glorify Him.<br \/>\nThe Magi make their way to Him by a star. <br \/>\nFor a new child has been born for us, the God before all ages.<\/p>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n<h2>Christmas Worship Schedule<\/h2>\n<p>Christmas worship is different this year because Christmas falls on a Sunday. The schedule is:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>December 23<\/strong> (Friday) Nativity Royal Hours 9:00am<\/li>\n<li><strong>December 24<\/strong> (Saturday) Nativity Eve Divine Liturgy 9:00am<\/li>\n<li><strong>December 24<\/strong> (Saturday) Great Vespers 6:30pm<\/li>\n<li><strong>December 25<\/strong> (Sunday) Nativity Divine Liturgy, Hours 9:00am, Liturgy 9:30am<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n<h2>Christmas Season Food Drive for NAMI<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/nami-logo-500x245.png\" alt=\"NAMI Logo\" width=\"500\" height=\"245\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5567\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Every Christmas season St. Peter&#8217;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<p>St. Peter&#8217;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<ol>\n<li>Canned and dry goods<\/li>\n<li>Toiletry articles (The small hotel type items work very well)<\/li>\n<li>Diabetic foods<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Bring them to church and we will get them to NAMI. The drive will run through Christmas.<\/p>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<h2>Stewardship Letters in the Mail<\/h2>\n<p>Responsibility towards God includes taking responsibility for His Church. We love God because He first loved us. He established the Church as His body, as the way we find Him and draw closer to Him. We are responsible for maintaining it so that the work of Christ can continue in the world. That&#8217;s how it works.<\/p>\n<p>You will be getting letter next week asking for your commitment to St. Peter&#8217;s. Prayerfully consider your support of St. Peter&#8217;s. The Church is not a charity. The Church is the Body of Christ. It needs to be high on our list.<\/p>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<h2>New Restaurant Opens in Bonita Springs\/Naples<\/h2>\n<p>Christos and Dena Poulias just moved down from Columbus, Ohio and opened a new Greek Restaurant in the shopping complex where Tom and Mercedes Sovjani have their hair salon (Wiggins Pass Road and 41 behind the Walgreens &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/aCc5rHwLk1s\">get map here<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/restaurant-ad-500x284.png\" alt=\"Mykonos Restaurant\" width=\"500\" height=\"284\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5630\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Greek Mediterranean Cuisine<br \/>\nOpen 7 days &#8211; 4pm to 9pm<\/p>\n<p>Christos and Dena have been in the restaurant business for 30 years. All recipes are family owned. They are just starting out in Florida so any business we can give them will help them get a strong start!<\/p>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<h2>2017 Liturgical Calendars Available<\/h2>\n<p>Pick up yours at Church. One per household please. What constitutes a household? If you have kids in college and want to send them a calendar for example, that would count as another household. So go ahead and send it. <\/p>\n<p>If we have any left (we ordered 100) we can move to more than one per household.<\/p>\n<p>The calendar is attractive and useful. It lists the Saint for each day, the scripture readings, fasting schedule, and more.<\/p>\n<h2>Toys for Tots Continues Until Christmas<\/h2>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"> <br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Toys for Tots\" src=\"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/toys-for-tots-500x563.png\" \/><\/div>\n<p>The drive for Toys for Tots leading up to our St. Nicholas Pot Luck was successful and we have decided to continue it another few weeks. Please bring an unwrapped toy to Church and we will make sure it gets to the people who give it to needy children.<\/p>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<h2>Music from Archdiocese Teens<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/grace-shining-forth-music.png\" alt=\"Grace Shining Forth\" width=\"500\" height=\"441\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5622\" \/><\/p>\n<p><em>Grace Shining Forth<\/em>, a beautiful Music CD featuring our teens singing hymns of the Orthodox Church was just released. Sales of this CD provide scholarships for our teens to participate in the Youth Music Ministry (YMM) of the Sacred Music Institute (SMI) held each year. <\/p>\n<p>You can hear a sample of the music and order a CD <a href=\"https:\/\/teensoyo.org\/product\/graceshiningforth\/\">on the Teen SOYO website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<h2>Bible Study Resumes after Theophany<\/h2>\n<p>Date to be announced.<\/p>\n<h2>Calendar At A Glance<\/h2>\n<p>Choir Practice&nbsp;every Tuesday at 6:00pm and&nbsp;Bible Study every Wednesday at 7:00pm&nbsp;unless cancelled as noted below. Divine Liturgy every Sunday at 9:30. Extra services noted below.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>November 15 &#8211; December 24<\/strong> Christmas Fast Period<\/li>\n<li><strong>December 23<\/strong> (Friday) Nativity Royal Hours 9:00am<\/li>\n<li><strong>December 24<\/strong> (Saturday) Nativity Eve Divine Liturgy 9:00am<\/li>\n<li><strong>December 24<\/strong> (Saturday) Great Vespers 6:30pm<\/li>\n<li><strong>December 25<\/strong> (Sunday) Nativity Divine Liturgy, Hours 9:00am, Liturgy 9:30am<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<h2>Wisdom From The Elders<\/h2>\n<p>The sons of the world consider distraction to be innocent, but the Holy Fathers consider it to be the beginning of all evil.<br \/>\n<strong>&mdash;St Pimen the Great<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It sometimes happens that a person in despondency thinks to himself that it would be easier for him to be destroyed, or to be without any feeling and consciousness, than to remain any longer in this unaccountably tormenting state of mind. One should try to get out of it as quickly as possible. Beware of the spirit of despondency, for it gives birth to every evil.<br \/>\n<strong>&mdash;Archbishop Seraphim (Sobolev) of BogucharskSt. Seraphim of Sarov<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Intending to offer up your prayer to God, cast aside all earthly thoughts and cares. Do not engage in the thoughts which come to you at that time, however important or brilliant or necessary they might seem. Render to God the things that are God&rsquo;s and you will have time to render what is necessary for temporal life in its own time.<br \/>\n<strong>&mdash;St. Igantius Brianchaninov<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Be careful, my children, not to judge anyone, especially if he is a man of God. I beg you, guard yourselves from this sin. Look after yourselves and be conscious of your own faults. With this consciousness we will be able to repent.<br \/>\n<strong>&mdash;St. Nephon<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In afflictions, read three chapters from the Gospels.<br \/>\n<strong>&mdash;Archbishop Seraphim (Sobolev) of Bogucharsk<\/strong><\/p>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n<h2>Remember in Your Prayers<\/h2>\n<p>\nJennie<br \/>\nMary<br \/>\nJames<br \/>\nLori<br \/>\nBaby Kyriake<br \/>\nMaximos<br \/>\nMarian<br \/>\nPhotini<br \/>\nNicholas<br \/>\nBrad William<br \/>\nRyan<br \/>\nSarah<br \/>\nRobert Jarvis<br \/>\nPetronia (Wife of Phil Pappas)<br \/>\nAnna Marie Smith Baker<br \/>\nHarry Zifiris<br \/>\nIris Kuring (Bettina Zifiris&#39; mother)<br \/>\nConstantine Houpis<br \/>\nGerhard Kuring (Bettina Zifiris&#39; father)<br \/>\nRon Chromulak<br \/>\nBeverly Chromulak<br \/>\nKaterina<br \/>\nDianne<br \/>\nLoucine Kassis<br \/>\nMary Kassis<br \/>\nBaby Maximus<br \/>\nAnnette Star<br \/>\nChristine<br \/>\nMaria<br \/>\nClaire Livaditis<br \/>\nEva Chandilles<br \/>\nBaby Dani<br \/>\nScott Nedoff<br \/>\nAnthony Mourgis<br \/>\nJohn Hansen<br \/>\nConstandina James<br \/>\nJames Hord<br \/>\nBob Smith<br \/>\nTom and Jean, parents of Patty and Jerry.<\/p>\n<p>How should we pray for the sick? Remember them daily. Say their names (first names are sufficient) and ask God to bestow mercy and grace on them.<\/p>\n<p><em>Add or remove names and print this list for easy reference during your prayer time <a href=\"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/prayer-list\/\">on the St. Peter website<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<h2>Sunday Readings<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/pantokrator-blessing.png\" alt=\"Christ Giving Blessing\" width=\"500\" height=\"275\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-3509\" \/><\/p>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n<h4>Epistle<\/h4>\n<p>Let all the earth worship Thee, and sing to Thee.<br \/>\nShout with joy to God, all the earth.<\/p>\n<p>The reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Galatians. (4:4-7)<\/p>\n<p>Brethren, when the time had fully come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, to redeem those who were under the Law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, &ldquo;Abba! Father!&rdquo; Therefore, you are no longer a slave but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.<\/p>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n<h4>Gospel<\/h4>\n<p>The reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (2:1-12)<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, &ldquo;Where is He who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East, and have come to worship Him.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, &ldquo;In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet: &lsquo;And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judea, are by no means least among the rulers of Judea; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern My people Israel.&rsquo;&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, &ldquo;Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found Him bring me word, that I too may come and worship Him.&rdquo; When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, until it came to rest over the place where the child was.<\/p>\n<p>When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; and going into the house they  saw the child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus ChristThe Adoration of the Magi Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, hath shined the light of knowledge upon the world; for thereby they that worshiped the stars were instructed by a star to worship Thee, the Sun of Righteousness, and to know Thee, the Dayspring from on<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5639,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[48],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5638","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5638","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5638"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5638\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5639"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5638"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5638"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5638"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}