{"id":6320,"date":"2017-11-14T03:00:41","date_gmt":"2017-11-14T08:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/?p=6320"},"modified":"2017-11-14T03:00:41","modified_gmt":"2017-11-14T08:00:41","slug":"st-peter-newsletter-november-14-the-prophet-obadiah-presentation-of-the-theotokos-liturgy-thanksgiving-liturgy-st-nicholas-celebration-christmas-fast-begins-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/st-peter-newsletter-november-14-the-prophet-obadiah-presentation-of-the-theotokos-liturgy-thanksgiving-liturgy-st-nicholas-celebration-christmas-fast-begins-more\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Peter Newsletter November 14, 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"

Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Ninth Sunday of Luke<\/h2>\n

The Holy Prophet Obadiah<\/h4>\n
\n\"The<\/p>\n

The Prophet Obadiah<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The Holy Prophet Obadiah [or Abdia] is the fourth of the Twelve Minor Prophets, and he lived during the ninth century B.C. He was from the village of Betharam, near Sichem, and he served as steward of the impious Israelite King Ahab. In those days the whole of Israel had turned away from the true God and had begun to offer sacrifice to Baal, but Obadiah faithfully served the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in secret.<\/p>\n

When Ahab’s wife, the impious and dissolute Jezebel, hunted down all the prophets of the Lord (because of her quarrel with the Prophet Elias), Obadiah gave them shelter and food (3\/1 Kgs 18:3 ff). Ahab’s successor King Okhoziah [Ahaziah] sent three detachments of soldiers to arrest the holy Prophet Elias (July 20). One of these detachments was headed by Saint Obadiah. Through the prayer of Saint Elias, two of the detachments were consumed by heavenly fire, but Saint Obadiah and his detachment were spared by the Lord 4\/2 Kgs 1).<\/p>\n

From that moment Saint Obadiah resigned from military service and became a follower of the Prophet Elias. Afterwards, he himself received the gift of prophecy. The God-inspired work of Saint Obadiah is the fourth of the Books of the Twelve Minor Prophets in the Bible, and contains predictions about the New Testament Church. The holy Prophet Obadiah was buried in Samaria.<\/p>\n

Source: The Orthodox Church in America<\/a> website.<\/em><\/p>\n

Read a more complete history on the Mystagogy<\/a> website.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Entrance of the Theotokos Divine Liturgy on Monday, November 20, 2017 at 6:30pm<\/h2>\n
\n\"Entrance\n<\/div>\n

The Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple, also called The Presentation, is one of the Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church, celebrated on November 21.<\/p>\n

According to Tradition, the Theotokos was taken – presented – by her parents Joachim and Anna into the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem as a young girl, where she lived and served as a Temple virgin until her betrothal to St. Joseph. One of the earliest sources of this tradition is the non-canonical Protoevangelion of James, also called the Infancy Gospel of James.<\/p>\n

Mary was solemnly received by the temple community which was headed by the priest Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist. She was led to the holy place to become herself the “holy of holies” of God, the living sanctuary and temple of the Divine child who was to be born in her. The Church also sees this feast as a feast which marks the end of the physical temple in Jerusalem as the dwelling place of God.<\/p>\n

Source: The OrthodoxWiki<\/a> website.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Living the Orthodox Faith Class Continues Wednesday, November 15 at 7:00pm<\/h2>\n

“Living the Orthodox Faith” will look at why our Church does things the way it does, and how to do it properly. We will learn about the sign up the cross, how to enter the Church properly (candles and veneration), how to make a home altar, and more. This is a very practical class, not theological as much as how to live the Orthodox life as an Orthodox Christian.<\/p>\n

Can’t make the class? Join in on Facebook Live<\/a>! You can also view last week’s class too. <\/p>\n

 <\/div>\n

Services for Thanksgiving<\/h2>\n

From His Eminence Metropolitan JOSEPH: On Thursday, November 23, the U.S. celebrates Thanksgiving in the midst of the After-feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos. His Eminence Metropolitan JOSEPH asks that parishes offer divine services in thanksgiving to God for all of His abundant blessings upon us.<\/p>\n

St. Peter’s will offer an Akathist of Thanksgiving on November 22 at 6:30pm. On Thanksgiving Day we will hold a Divine Liturgy starting at 9am.<\/p>\n

Christmas Fast Begins November 15, 2017<\/h2>\n

The Nativity Fast is one of the four Canonical Fasting Seasons in the Church year. This is a joyous fast in anticipation of the Nativity of Christ. That is the reason it is less strict than other fasting periods. The fast is divided into two periods. The 1st period is November 15th through December 19th when the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, fish, wine, and oil) is observed. There is dispensation given for wine and oil on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Similarly, fish, wine, and oil are permitted on Saturdays and Sundays.<\/p>\n

The 2nd period is December 20th through 24th when the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, fish, wine, and oil) is observed. There is dispensation given for wine and oil only on Saturday and Sunday during this period.<\/p>\n

Fasting always works in conjuction with prayer and giving alms (helping the poor, giving to worthy charities, etc.). Fasting helps us reorder the interior life, but the reordering does not occur with greater prayer and greater concern for the poor.<\/p>\n

The reordering is a clarification — we end up seeing things more clearly, we get stronger in the fight against sin and temptation. The fast always ends on a great Feast Day of our Lord.<\/p>\n

For a complete list, visit the Antiochian website<\/a> or click on the image below:<\/p>\n

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\n\"Click<\/a>\n<\/div>\n
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St. Nicholas Celebration and Pot-Luck on Tuesday, December 5, 2017<\/h2>\n
\n\"Who\n<\/div>\n

Mark you calendars for the St. Nicholas Day Celebration and Pot-Luck on Tuesday December 5, 2017. We will begin will worship followed by a presentation on the real Santa Claus (hint: he was really a bishop from Myra in the fourth century), followed by the Pot-Luck.<\/p>\n

For the Pot-Luck, please bring a dish in this category and sign up in the Social Hall:<\/p>\n