{"id":7573,"date":"2019-03-19T04:52:20","date_gmt":"2019-03-19T08:52:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/?p=7573"},"modified":"2019-03-19T04:52:20","modified_gmt":"2019-03-19T08:52:20","slug":"st-peter-newsletter-march-18-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/st-peter-newsletter-march-18-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Peter Newsletter March 18, 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Second Sunday of Great Lent
\nSt. Gregory Palamas<\/h2>\n

Venerable Zachariah the Recluse and Artemon, Bishop of Seleucia; New-Hieromartyr Parthenios, Patriarch of Constantinople<\/h4>\n
\"St.
St. Gregory Palamas, Abp. Of Thessaloniki<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From “A Man Fully Alive<\/a>” by Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick.<\/p>\n

On the Second Sunday of Great Lent we celebrate St. Gregory Palamas, the archbishop of Thessalonica in Greece for a number of years in the 14th century, right around the same time that Geoffrey Chaucer was born, the man who wrote The Canterbury Tales.<\/p>\n

But before he became an archbishop, Gregory was a monk on the holy mountain of Athos. During his time there and also when he later became an archbishop, Gregory was involved in a controversy that cut straight to the heart of this longing for life that all of us who are sons and daughters of Adam share.<\/p>\n

At that time, there was a certain heretic named Barlaam, who was from the southern part of Italy, which was Greek-speaking at the time. Barlaam made the claim that the highest possible knowledge of God that anyone could have was through the mind, that the philosophers knew God better than the prophets and even the apostles.<\/p>\n

Gregory answered that the human mind, while a great gift from God, was not actually capable of the kind of intimate knowledge and communion that Adam had received from God, that there was something much deeper, that the Christian could actually know God and see Him with the heart, as a light shining in. And indeed, sometimes this heart knowledge of God was so powerful and so pervasive that some people were actually seeing the light of God with their physical eyes.<\/p>\n

Isn’t that why we’re here? Don’t we want to see God? Aren’t we here not just to learn about God with our minds, but truly to know Him with our hearts?<\/p>\n

Read Fr. Damick’s complete essay<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Read a brief history of St. Gregory Palamas<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Annunciation Liturgy on Monday, March 25 at 6:30pm<\/h2>\n
\"The
The Annunciation of the Theotokos<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Feast of the Annunciation of Our Most Holy Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary is celebrated on March 25 each year. The Feast commemorates the announcement by the Archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Son of God, would become incarnate and enter into this world through her womb.<\/p>\n

Fr. Thomas Hopko on The Annunciation<\/h4>\n

\"Click<\/p>\n

On March 25, exactly 9 months before Nativity, the Church celebrates the Annunciation to the Theotokos that she will be the Mother of God. God’s declaration through the angel Gabriel, however, had a contingency attached.<\/p>\n

Listen to find out what it was.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Listen here:<\/p>\n

\"Click<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

St. Basil Liturgy During Lent<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

On the Sundays of Lent we worship with the Liturgy of St. Basil instead of the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. What is the difference between the two? The Liturgy of St Basil is a bit longer because the priests prayers a longer, say 10 minutes or so.<\/p>\n

The Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom is derived from the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Learn About Lent<\/h2>\n

\"Click<\/a><\/p>\n

Check out the rich resoures about Lent and Holy Week on the Antiochian website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Would you Like to take a Deep Dive into the Events of the Resurrection?<\/h2>\n
\n\"The<\/p>\n

The Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

If so, email Deacon John Howard at frdnjohn@gmail.com<\/a> as soon as possible.<\/p>\n

10-week course ONLINE (from your home) beginning this Thursday, March 7th at 7 pm – 8:30 pm EST<\/p>\n

We will learn why understanding the events surrounding the Resurrection are so critical in our lives and deserves study<\/strong><\/p>\n

We will examine how our faith and the bible are historically reliable<\/strong><\/p>\n

Finally we will go deep into the Resurrection Accounts<\/strong><\/p>\n

Interested? If so, email Deacon John at frdnjohn@gmail.com<\/a> as soon as possible.<\/p>\n

NOTE:<\/strong> This in an ONLINE<\/strong> course that will meet every Thursday night at 7 pm EST starting this week March 7th, Thursday night.<\/p>\n

I will be using ZOOM software. It is a very easy download the first time you connect. All you need is a computer, an internet connection, a bible and a quiet place. A headset would be good but not necessary.<\/p>\n

Again, if interested email me back soon! Thank you.<\/p>\n

Gods Blessings,<\/p>\n

Deacon John Howard<\/p>\n

 <\/div>\n

St. Peter Second Annual Bake Sale<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Order your treats for Pascha by March 24 and pick them up on Sunday, April 7 or April 14.<\/p>\n

Items include: Spanikopita (Spinach Pie), Tiropita (Cheese Pie), Baklava, and Koulourakia (Cookies). <\/p>\n

Order forms, pick up instructions, and more are available at Church and also on the St. Peter website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Please note:<\/strong> All orders must be in by March 24, 2019.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/div>\n

Stewardship Drive Report<\/h2>\n

\"Pledge<\/p>\n

In order to meet our operating Budget goal for 2019 we need to take in $16,666.00 each month.<\/p>\n

In January We Took In $23,716, approximately $7,000 above our goal. However, giving is high in January as some people pay their stewardship for the whole year. Extra accrued in January goes into savings for leaner months.<\/p>\n

In February we took in $16,577, just a few dollars short of our monthly needs.<\/p>\n

Please pledge in order to meet our goal. Pledge forms are available on the table in the narthex.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/div>\n

Lent and Holy Week Schedule Posted<\/h2>\n

Click the image to view and print. Copies will also be available at Church.<\/p>\n

\"Click<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/div>\n

Lenten Supper Schedule<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Following the Presanctified Liturgies on Wednesday evenings during Great Lent, we share in a Lenten supper. During the supper a short program will be held. This year’s theme is “Orthodox Saints.”<\/p>\n