{"id":6458,"date":"2018-01-30T03:36:12","date_gmt":"2018-01-30T08:36:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/?p=6458"},"modified":"2018-01-30T03:36:12","modified_gmt":"2018-01-30T08:36:12","slug":"st-peter-newsletter-january-30-2018-sunday-of-the-prodigal-son","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/st-peter-newsletter-january-30-2018-sunday-of-the-prodigal-son\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Peter Newsletter January 30, 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/p>\n
The Sunday of the Prodigal Son is the second Sunday of pre-Lent, the weeks of preparation preceding Great Lent. It is the Sunday after the Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee and Sunday before Meatfare Sunday. This pre-Lent is the start of the Easter cycle of worship in the Orthodox Church.<\/p>\n
On this Sunday in the preparation for Great Lent, Orthodox Christians are read Christ’s parable about God’s loving <\/p>\n
forgiveness (Luke 15:11-24). They are to see themselves as being in a foreign country far from the Father’s house and to make the movement of return to God, where we truly belong. The parable gives assurance that the Father will receive them with joy and gladness in their journey through Great Lent, their journey home.<\/p>\n
From Orthodoxwiki<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n We will pick up the class the following week.<\/p>\n On Thursday February 1, 2017 at 6:30pm we will celebrate the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple on the eve of this important feast day.<\/p>\n Forty days after Christ was born He was presented to God in the Jerusalem Temple according to the Mosaic Law. At this time as well His mother Mary underwent the ritual purification and offered the sacrifices as prescribed in the Law. Thus, forty days after Christmas, on the second of February, the Church celebrates the feast of the presentation called the Meeting (or Presentation or Reception) of the Lord.<\/p>\n Learn more on the Orthodox Church in America website<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n Every year St. Peter’s joins the NAMI walk organized by Bill and Mary Copeland.<\/p>\n Registration starts at 8-9am, at Cambria Park, Naples, FL. The walk starts at 9:30am.<\/p>\n There are refreshments before and after the walk provided for free. There will be fun for all age groups to participate in before and after.<\/p>\n Let Mary Copeland know if you want to join our team.<\/p>\n Learn more about NAMI here<\/a>.<\/p>\n At St. Peter’s we are pro-business especially towards the businesses of our parishioners. Stable incomes contribute to stable families, and when the business grows and can employ others even more stability is created. We ask God to bless businesses and offer prosperity for this reason.<\/p>\n Two other reasons that businesses are blessed is so that the poor can be helped (you can’t give to the poor if you have nothing to give) and also for the support of the Church.<\/p>\n Recently St. Peter’s parishioners Dr. Sorina Ilie and her husband Christian opened at dental office not far from the Church. If you need a dentist or know anyone who does, consider visiting or recommending them.<\/p>\n Dr. Sorina Ilie graduated from the New York University, School of Dentistry. Dr. Ilie worked in a number of offices in New York and New Jersey before moving to Florida, where she currently resides. Dr. Sorina Ilie is an accomplished general dentist with over 15 years of experience.<\/p>\n Visit the Sorina Dental website<\/a> for more information.<\/em><\/p>\n St. Paul’ Antiochian Church, our sister parish, is holding a brunch following Divine Liturgy on Sunday, February 11, 2018 at the Olde Cypress Country Club.<\/p>\n To order tickets please call the number on the flyer. Deadline for ordering tickets is February 1<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The brunch will be held at the Olde Cypress Country Club,7165 Treeline Dr, Naples, FL 34119 (view their website<\/a> or get directions<\/a>).<\/p>\n Since St. Paul’s will be celebrating a hierarchical liturgy that Sunday there should be enough time for St. Peter’s parishioners to get to Olde Cypress before the brunch begins.<\/p>\n Interfaith Charities has asked us to help supply:<\/p>\n They also need:<\/p>\n Bring bring all items you can to St. Peter’s and we will get them to Interfaith Charities.<\/p>\n Interfaith Charities is a coalition of churches and business that help the poor in the San Carlos and south Fort Myers area (view their website<\/a>). We partner with them to help the working poor in our area as part of our mission to serve the poor around us.<\/p>\n Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Port Charlotte invites all parishioners to attend their annual Greek Festival from February 16-18. The food and entertainment will be great.<\/p>\n Visit the Holy Trinity website<\/a> for more information. Get directions to Holy Trinity<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Lenten Retreat for women will be held at St. Peter’s on Saturday, March 3, 2018. The women from St. Paul’s will join us.<\/p>\n The topic will be on the Theotokos as our teacher and guide. Fr. Hans and Fr. Paul Girgis will be the presenters. Details will be announced in a few weeks.<\/p>\n February<\/strong><\/p>\n March<\/strong><\/p>\n Lenten Schedule<\/strong><\/p>\n God is good and all-goodness, and you, His image, must also be good. He is bountiful to all, and you too must be generous, and avoid avarice and grudging your neighbor anything material, perishable, as the greatest calamity and foolishness.St John of Kronstadt<\/strong><\/p>\n I always emphasize that young person should try to live as spiritually as they can before marriage, since preserving their chastity secures their physical and spiritual health.St. Paisios of Mount Athos<\/strong><\/p>\n Your children should not hear you arguing even once, not even if you raise the tone of your voices to one another. Ever let mercy outweigh all else in you. Let our compassion be a mirror where we may see in ourselves that likeness and that true image which belong to the Divine nature and Divine essence. A heart hard and unmerciful will never be pure.St. Isaac the Syrian<\/strong><\/p>\n When you rise from sleep, your first thought should be of God, your first word should be a prayer to God—your Father and Creator.Elder Anthony of Optina<\/strong><\/p>\n One may have a good worldly relationship with non-believers, but one cannot have a relationship in prayer and one must not carry on arguments about religion so that the name of God not be offended during an argument.St. Nektary of Optina<\/strong><\/p>\n \nAnne B. 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>\nLiving the Orthodox Faith Class Wednesday, January 31 is CANCELLED<\/h2>\n
Presentation of the Lord in the Temple Divine Liturgy, February 1, 2018 at 6:30pm<\/h2>\n
NAMI Walkathon on February 17, 2018<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n
New Dentistry Office Opens<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n
St. Paul Founder’s Day Brunch<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n
Interfaith Charities Needs Our Help!<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church Festival held February 16-18 in Port Charlotte<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n
Ladies, Mark Your Calendar: Lenten Women’s Retreat on Saturday, March 3, 2018<\/h2>\n
Calendar At A Glance<\/h2>\n
\n
\n
\n
Wisdom From The Elders<\/h2>\n
\nElder Porphyrios<\/strong><\/p>\nRemember in Your Prayers<\/h2>\n
\nEva K.
\nRosie
\nJill
\nConnie
\nSean Helgeland (great nephew to Steve and Anne Brietenbach)
\nKathryn
\nJeremy
\nRobert
\nJane
\nTheodora
\nBaby Brynn L.
\nMicheal
\nHaralambos
\nLillian
\nPresbytera Rosy
\nValentina
\nJohn
\nEva W.
\nBarbara
\nAngela
\nSonya
\nKenneth
\nCarol Ann
\nMatthew
\nChrysostom
\nTim
\nRon
\nIvy-Jean
\nPat
\nChristina
\nMaria Louise
\nMaximos
\nMarian
\nPhotini
\nNicholas
\nSarah
\nPetronia (Wife of Phil Pappas)
\nConstantine Houpis
\nAnna Marie Smith Baker
\nRon Chromulak
\nBeverly Chromulak
\nKaterina
\nLoucine Kassis
\nMary Kassis
\nBaby Maximus
\nChristine
\nMaria
\nAnnette Star
\nClaire Livaditis
\nEva Chandilles
\nBaby Dani
\nScott Nedoff
\nAnthony Mourgis
\nJohn Hansen
\nJames Hord
\nTom<\/p>\n