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The genealogies in the gospels of Saints Matthew and Luke are made to and from Joseph. This is not to give the impression that Jesus came from Joseph’s seed. Both gospels are absolutely clear on this point. Jesus is born from the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit. The point is rather that Joseph is Jesus’ father according to the law, and it is from the father that one’s lawful descent is to be traced. Jesus’ legal father is “Joseph, son of David,” the legal husband of Mary (Mt 1:20).<\/p>\n
One other important point is made in listing the human generations which led to the birth of Jesus. This is the fact that God is faithful to His promises even though His chosen people are often not faithful. Among the people from whom Jesus came are both sinners and heathens. In a word, Jesus comes not only from the righteous and holy, but from the wicked and sinful. And He comes not only from Jews, but from Gentiles. The names of the four women specifically mentioned in St. Matthew’s list— Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and the wife of Uriah (Bathsheba)— were noted, not to say notorious, Gentiles, including one of David’s own wives, the mother of Solomon. The point to be seen here is one beautifully made in an early Christian hymn quoted in the Bible in the second letter to Timothy:<\/p>\n
If we have died with Him, we shall also live with Him;<\/p>\n
If we endure, we shall also reign with Him;<\/p>\n
If we deny Him, He also will deny us;<\/p>\n
If we are faithless, He remains faithful— for He cannot deny Himself. (2 Tim 2:11-13)<\/p>\n
This is the wonderful witness of the genealogies of Jesus: If we are faithless, the Lord God remains faithful— for he cannot deny Himself!<\/p>\n
Source: Antiochian Archdiocese Website<\/a>.<\/p>\n Dr. Cheryl Johnson from Annuciation GOC and Cliff Tewis, a pre-med student at Florida Atlantic University and a member of St. Peter’s went to Kenya this summer on a medical mission trip sponsored by Orthodox Christian Missions. You can learn more about their trip here<\/a>. <\/p>\n On Sunday, December 23 they will offer a short presentation about their trip in the Social Hall following the Divine Liturgy. <\/p>\n Many of us know Dr. Cheryl and Cliff and we welcome their presentation and service to the Orthodox Church in Africa.<\/p>\n For photos of Cliff Tewis in Kenya visit the gallery on the St. Peter website<\/a>.<\/p>\n A lot of work has been done behind the scenes updating our record keeping, parish lists, and financial tracking. <\/p>\n One area that has been improved is record keeping of our members.<\/p>\n To bring everything up to date we need current information. Please fill in the form on the website<\/a>, fill in a paper form at Church, or complete the stewardship form you will be receiving shortly.<\/p>\n You can fill in the form on the website here<\/a>.<\/p>\n You will soon be receiving a letter asking for your Stewardship Support of St. Peter’s in 2019.<\/p>\n We are responsible to increase what God has given us. In the Parable of the Talents, the master gave his servants talents that they are expected to nurture and grow. This is a responsibility we cannot avoid.<\/p>\n The Church is both a place where the increase begins on the inside of us, and to which we much give some our increase. This too is a responsibility we must take on.<\/p>\n A contribution form will be included in the letter you receive. Our goal this year is $200,000. We must meet this goal to avoid using our reserves. If we spend our reserves, we will not be able to obtain a mortgage to buy or build when the time comes to do so (and it will come sooner than later). <\/p>\n All of us may have to squeeze a bit to meet this goal. But if give, the Church flourishes and that flourishing spills over into our lives as well and the lives of our families. <\/p>\n We must increase what we have been given by God.<\/p>\n St. Stephen was a Jew living in the Hellenic provinces, related to the Apostle Paul and one of the first seven deacons ordained by the Apostles to serve the Church in Jerusalem (thus making him an Archdeacon). In the words of Asterias: St Stephen was “the starting point of the martyrs, the instructor of suffering for Christ, the foundation of righteous confession, since Stephen was the first to shed his blood for the Gospel.”<\/p>\n The Holy Spirit worked powerfully through his faith, enabling him to perform many miracles and always defeat those who would dispute with him. The Jews in their hatred of St. Stephen lied about him to the people, but St. Stephen with his face illumined reminded the people of the miracles God had worked through him and even rebuked the Jews for killing the innocent Christ.<\/p>\n The people were enraged by what they thought was blasphemy and ‘gnashed their teeth’ at Stephen. It was then that he saw his Christ in the heavens and declared it so. Hearing this, they took him outside the city and stoned him to death, with his kinsman Saul (later St. Paul) holding their coats while they did it. Afar off on a hill was the Virgin Mary and St. John the Theologian who witnessed this first martyrdom for the Son of God and prayed for him while he was being stoned. This occurred about a year after the first Pentecost.<\/p>\n Source: OrthodoxWiki<\/a>.<\/p>\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 <\/div>\nMissions Presentation in the Social Hall on Sunday, December 23, 2018<\/h2>\n
![\"Dr.](\"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/dr-cheryl-johnson-cliff-tewis-500x229.png\")
<\/div>\nChristmas Worship Schedule<\/h2>\n
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<\/div>\nPlease Help on Church Directory Updates<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\n <\/div>\nOur Stewardship to St. Peter’s: The Tree Must Bear Fruit<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\n <\/div>\nSt. Stephen the Proto-Martyr (First Martyr) Divine Liturgy on December 27 at 6:30pm<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\n<\/div>\nChristmas Fast Continues<\/h2>\n
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