{"id":7421,"date":"2019-02-12T08:40:37","date_gmt":"2019-02-12T13:40:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/?p=7421"},"modified":"2019-02-12T08:40:37","modified_gmt":"2019-02-12T13:40:37","slug":"st-peter-newsletter-february-12-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/st-peter-newsletter-february-12-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Peter Newsletter February 12, 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Sunday of the Pharisee and the Publican<\/h2>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\">The Holy Great-Martyr Theodore the Soldier (\u2018Tyro\u2019); Emperor Marcian &#038; Empress Pulcheria of Constantinople<\/h4>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4365\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4365\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/publican-pharisee-500x328.png\" alt=\"The Publican and the Pharisee\" width=\"500\" height=\"328\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4365\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4365\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Publican and the Pharisee<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<h4>What is a Publican and a Pharisee?<\/h4>\n<p>A Pharisee was an externally decent and righteous man of religion. The Publican was a sinful tax-collector who was cheating the people.<\/p>\n<p>Though the Pharisee was genuinely righteous under the Law, he boasted before God and was condemned. The Publican, although he was truly sinful, begged for mercy, received it, and was justified by God.<\/p>\n<p>The focus this Sunday is on the Gospel of Luke 18:10-14, in which two men went to the Temple to pray. On this Sunday in the preparation for Great Lent, we are to see that we have not the religious piety of the Pharisee, but the repentance of the Publican. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and everyone who humbles himself will be exalted. (Luke 18:14)<\/p>\n<p><em>Read more on the <a href=\"https:\/\/orthodoxwiki.org\/Sunday_of_the_Publican_and_Pharisee\">Orthdoxwiki website<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: center; margin: 1em 1em\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"border: 0;\" src=\"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/divider-2.png\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/fr-thomas-hopko-the-publican-and-the-pharisee\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/hopko-speaking-logo.png\" alt=\"Click to listen to Fr. Hopko\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-704\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>To learn more about the Parable of the Publican and the Pharisee, listen to Fr. Thomas Hopko\u2019s podcast on <a href=\"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/fr-thomas-hopko-the-publican-and-the-pharisee\/\">the St. Peter website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Fr. Tom teaches on the parable of the Publican and the Pharisee as we prepare for the Lenten season.<\/p>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<h2>House and Business Blessings for 2019<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/house-blessing-500x334.png\" alt=\"Get you house blessed\" width=\"500\" height=\"334\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5678\" \/><\/p>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<p>Fr. Hans has started house and business blessings.<\/p>\n<p>You can schedule your blessing by:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Filling in the <a href=\"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/house-blessings\/\">form on the website<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Texting Fr. Hans at 239-248-4775 (leave a few good dates and times and your address &#8211; Fr. Hans will confirm)<\/li>\n<li>Talking to Fr. Hans at Social Hall<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/contact\/\">Emailing<\/a> the Church<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Phone calls are fine too but only as a last resort please. <\/p>\n<p>Please a several available dates ready. The schedule fills up fast but Fr. Hans will make every possible accommodation to meet it.<\/p>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<h2>New Member Classes and Bible Studies Continue<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/bible-study-tile-500x204.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"204\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7343\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Cathechumen\/New Member class on Mondays at 7:00pm. Catechumens are required to attend but anyone seeking a better understanding of the Orthodox faith is encouraged to attend as well. <\/p>\n<p>General and Mens Bible studies on alternating Wednesdays. See schedule below.<\/p>\n<p>St. Demetrios Brotherhood meetings (for young men) moved to Thursdays at 7:00pm.<\/p>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<h2>NAMI Walk on February 16, 2019<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.namicollier.org\/nami-of-collier-countys-17th-annual-walk\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/nami-walk-2019.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"647\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7378\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The walk will start around 830 or 9 o&#8217;clock in the morning with a light breakfast before the walk. Water and energy drinks and coffee fresh fruit offered during the walk. A light lunch will be provided after the walk with some entertainment<\/p>\n<p>If anyone would like to join Bill and Mary&#8217;s Copeland&#8217;s team please contact us in church or call 239-498-1331.<\/p>\n<p>We are asking our church family to support NAMI financially with a small contribution to help fund local activities for the mentally challenged individuals that live in Collier and Lee County.<\/p>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<h2>St. Valentine&#8217;s Day Dance on Saturday Evening February 16, 2019 at 6:00pm<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/valentine-potluck-499x346.jpg\" alt=\"St. Valentine Day Potluck Dance\" width=\"499\" height=\"346\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7379\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The St. Valentines Day Dance will be held on Saturday evening, February 16, 2019 starting at 6:00pm in the Social Hall.<\/p>\n<p>Enjoy an evening with family and friends.<\/p>\n<p>Dancing (American dance music) and SURPRISE ENTERTAINMENT will be offered.<\/p>\n<p>Please bring a Heavy Hors D&#8217;oeuvre item for all to enjoy.<\/p>\n<p>Feel free to bring your refreshments of choice. Setups will be provided.<\/p>\n<p>Please call Tina Kucera with questions at 239-980-1520.<\/p>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<h2>Our Stewardship to St. Peter&#8217;s: The Tree Must Bear Fruit<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/apple-tree-500x389.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"389\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7322\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Please return your Stewardship Support of St. Peter&#8217;s for 2019.<\/p>\n<p>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<p>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<p>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<p>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<p>We must increase what we have been given by God.<\/p>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<h2>St. Paul&#8217;s Founders Day Brunch, Sunday, March 3, 2019<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/founders-day-2019.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"772\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7422\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Our sister parish of St. Paul&#8217;s in Naples is holding their Founder&#8217;s Day Brunch on Sunday, March 3, 2019 following their Hierarchical Divine Liturgy. Bishop Nicholas will be attending.<\/p>\n<p>The brunch will be held at the Quail Creek Country Club (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/iz6xC2htYA32\">get map and directions<\/a>). If you plan to attend, leave soon after liturgy.<\/p>\n<p>This is a good way to support our sister parish. So far about 10 people are committed to going including our Parish Council Members and Fr. Hans. If you plan to attend, please contact the number listed on the flyer.<\/p>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<h2>Antiochian Archdiocese National Convention <\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/ac2019gr.org\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/convention-flyer-489x863.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"489\" height=\"863\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7409\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<h2>Calendar At A Glance<\/h2>\n<p><strong>FEBRUARY<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Wednesday, February 14<\/strong> &mdash; Community Bible Study at 7:00pm<\/li>\n<li><strong>Thursday, February 14<\/strong> &mdash; St. Demetrios Brotherhood at 7:00pm<\/li>\n<li><strong>Saturday, February 16<\/strong> &mdash; NAMI Walk 8:00am<\/li>\n<li><strong>Saturday, February 16<\/strong> &mdash; St. Valentine&#8217;s Day Dance\/Potluck 6:00pm<\/li>\n<li><strong>Monday, February 18<\/strong> &mdash; Catechumen\/New Member Class at 7:00pm<\/li>\n<li><strong>Wednesday, February 20<\/strong> &mdash; Mens Bible Study at 7:00pm<\/li>\n<li><strong>Thursday, February 21<\/strong> &mdash; St. Demetrios Brotherhood at 7:00pm<\/li>\n<li><strong>Monday, February 25<\/strong> &mdash; Catechumen\/New Member Class at 7:00pm<\/li>\n<li><strong>Wednesday, February 27<\/strong> &mdash; Community Bible Study at 7:00pm<\/li>\n<li><strong>Thursday, February 28<\/strong> &mdash; St. Demetrios Brotherhood at 7:00pm<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>UPCOMING &#8211; Mark your calendars!<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Sunday, March 10<\/strong> &mdash; General Assembly Meeting following Liturgy<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sunday, May 12<\/strong> &mdash; Mother&#8217;s Day Brunch following Liturgy<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sunday, June 16<\/strong> &mdash; Father&#8217;s Day Barbecue following Liturgy<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sunday, April 21<\/strong> &mdash; Palm Sunday Brunch following Liturgy<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sunday, April 28<\/strong> &mdash; PASCHA Community Dinner following Agape Vespers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<h2>Wisdom From The Elders<\/h2>\n<p>Very few men can accurately recognize all their own faults; indeed, only those can do this whose intellect is never torn away from the remembrance of God. <strong>St. Diadochos of Photiki<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>When God recedes in order to educate us, this brings great sadness, humility and even some measure of despair to the soul. The purpose of this is to humble the souls tendency to vanity and self-glory, for the heart at once is filled with fear of God, tears of thankfulness, and great longing for the beauty of silence. <strong>St. Diadochus of Photiki<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Reading, vigils and prayer&#8211; these are the things that lend stability to the wandering mind. <strong>Evagrius Ponticus<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Prayer that rises up in someone&#8217;s heart serves to open up for us the door of heaven: that person stands in converse with the Divinity and gives pleasure to the Son of God. <strong>Venerable Ephraim the Syrian<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A guilty conscience is so burdensome that it punishes itself without a judge, and wishes for covering, and yet is bare before God. <strong>St. Ambrose of Milan<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>One cannot love God if one has unkind feelings for even a single human being. <strong>Abbot Nikon Vorobiev<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Only Orthodox ascetic efforts and virtues can bring about sanctity (holiness). <strong>Venerable Justin of Chelije in Serbia<\/strong><\/p>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n<h2>Remember in Your Prayers<\/h2>\n<p>\nBryan, Carolina, their unborn baby<br \/>\nAthanasia<br \/>\nAlexandra<br \/>\nConstantina<br \/>\nMaryanne (E)<br \/>\nRon (E)<br \/>\nTim<br \/>\nRobert (J)<br \/>\nMary (J)<br \/>\nHelen (Rogers)<br \/>\nDoug Spencer<br \/>\nKathy Spencer<br \/>\nKathy D<br \/>\nAndreas<br \/>\nSofia Te\u0161anovic<br \/>\nPaul<br \/>\nDennis H. and Family<br \/>\nVictor Evan<br \/>\nAnn<br \/>\nJames<br \/>\nVasiliki<br \/>\nEfstratia<br \/>\nAlexandra<br \/>\nNikos<br \/>\nGeorgia<br \/>\nIoannis<br \/>\nCostandino<br \/>\nJeffrey<br \/>\nVaso<br \/>\nDave<br \/>\nDimitri &#8211; Presbyter<br \/>\nVassiliki<br \/>\nOctavio<br \/>\nTom<br \/>\nCarl<br \/>\nRena<br \/>\nNikolay (5 year old boy in Bulgaria whose parents asked us to pray)<br \/>\nDavid<br \/>\nEva K.<br \/>\nRosie<br \/>\nKathryn <br \/>\nJeremy<br \/>\nConstantine<br \/>\nRobert<br \/>\nJane<br \/>\nTheodora<br \/>\nDavid<br \/>\nGina<br \/>\nMicheal<br \/>\nHaralambos<br \/>\nLillian<br \/>\nPresbytera Rosy<br \/>\nValentina<br \/>\nEva W.<br \/>\nBarbara<br \/>\nAngela<br \/>\nCarol Ann<br \/>\nMatthew<br \/>\nChrysostom<br \/>\nTim<br \/>\nPat<br \/>\nChristina<br \/>\nMaria Louise<br \/>\nMaximos<br \/>\nMarian<br \/>\nPhotini<br \/>\nNicholas<br \/>\nSarah<br \/>\nConstantine Houpis<br \/>\nAnna Marie Smith Baker<br \/>\nRon Chromulak<br \/>\nBeverly Chromulak<br \/>\nKaterina<br \/>\nMary Kassis<br \/>\nBaby Maximus<br \/>\nChristine<br \/>\nMaria<br \/>\nAnnette Star<br \/>\nClaire Livaditis<br \/>\nEva Chandilles<br \/>\nBaby Dani<br \/>\nScott Nedoff<br \/>\nJames Hord<br \/>\nTom<\/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<div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\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>For Sunday of the Pharisee and Publican<\/p>\n<p>Make vows to the Lord thy God, and perform them.<br \/>\nIn Judah God is known; His Name is great in Israel.<\/p>\n<p>The Reading from the Second Epistle of St. Paul to St. Timothy. (3:10-15)<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Timothy my son, you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions, and my sufferings; and what befell me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra. What persecutions I endured; yet from them all, the Lord rescued me. <\/p>\n<p>Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n<h4>Gospel<\/h4>\n<p>For Sunday of the Pharisee and Publican<\/p>\n<p>The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (18:10-14)<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>The Lord spoke this parable: \u201cTwo men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, \u2018God, I thank Thee that I am not like other men, extortionists, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.\u2019 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to Heaven, but beat his breast, saying, \u2018God, be merciful to me a sinner!\u2019 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div style=\"text-align: center; margin: 1em 1em\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"border: 0;\" src=\"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/divider-2.png\" alt=\"St. Peter Orthodox Church\" \/><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Publican and the Pharisee, St. Valentine&#8217;s Day Dance, Bible Studies, Mark You Calendars, Lent Approaching&#8230;more<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4365,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[48],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7421","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7421","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=7421"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7421\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4365"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7421"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7421"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7421"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}