{"id":5664,"date":"2017-01-03T12:50:36","date_gmt":"2017-01-03T17:50:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/?p=5664"},"modified":"2017-01-03T12:50:36","modified_gmt":"2017-01-03T17:50:36","slug":"st-peter-newsletter-january-3-2017-sunday-after-theophany-practice-reverence-in-the-church-vasilopita-sunday-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/st-peter-newsletter-january-3-2017-sunday-after-theophany-practice-reverence-in-the-church-vasilopita-sunday-more\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Peter Newsletter January 3, 2017 — Sunday after Theophany, Practice Reverence in the Church, Vasilopita Sunday…more"},"content":{"rendered":"
We must practice reverence in the temple, whether during services or when we step into the church to light a candle and venerate the holy icons. The temple is the place set apart for the worship of the Holy Trinity and is the place where the Bloodless Sacrifice is offered before the Throne of God.<\/p>\n
It is in the temple that we receive the Body and Blood of our Saviour unto remission of sins and unto life everlasting. It is the holy place where we are cleansed of our sins through the threefold immersion of baptism, becoming members of One Body, the Church.<\/p>\n
The temple is the place where we seek to be reconciled with God through the Mystery of Penance and enter into the life of the Spirit. The temple is God’s house and must be entered with awe and fear.<\/p>\n
The cutting of the Vasilopita (St. Basil’s bread) will take place on Sunday, January 8 following the Divine Liturgy.<\/p>\n
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’s how it works.<\/p>\n
You will be getting letter next week asking for your commitment to St. Peter’s. Prayerfully consider your support of St. Peter’s. The Church is not a charity. The Church is the Body of Christ. It needs to be high on our list.<\/p>\n