{"id":7914,"date":"2019-09-17T05:00:32","date_gmt":"2019-09-17T09:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/?p=7914"},"modified":"2019-09-17T05:00:32","modified_gmt":"2019-09-17T09:00:32","slug":"st-peter-orthodox-church-newsletter-september-16-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/st-peter-orthodox-church-newsletter-september-16-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Peter Orthodox Church Newsletter September 16, 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost<br \/>\nThe First Sunday of Luke <\/h2>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\">Hieromartyr Phocas, Bishop of Sinope; Apostle Quadratos of the Seventy: Martyr Phocas the Gardener; New-martyrs Isaac and Martin<br \/>\n<\/h4>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7910\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7910\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/st-phocas-of-sinope.jpg\" alt=\"St. Phocas of Sinope\" width=\"500\" height=\"575\" class=\"size-full wp-image-7910\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7910\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">St. Phocas of Sinope<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Who is the Hieromartyr Phocas, Bishop of Sinope?<\/h2>\n<p>Hieromartyr Phocas was born in the city of Sinope. From youth he led a virtuous Christian life, and in his adult years he became Bishop of Sinope. Saint Phocas converted many pagans to faith in Christ. At the time of a persecution against Christians under the emperor Trajan (98-117), the governor demanded that the saint renounce Christ. After fierce torture they enclosed Saint Phocas in a hot bath, where he died a martyr&rsquo;s death in the year 117.<\/p>\n<p>In the year 404, the relics of the saint were transferred to Constantinople (July 22).<\/p>\n<p>The Hieromartyr Phocas is especially venerated as a defender against fires, and also as a helper of the drowning.<\/p>\n<p><em>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oca.org\/saints\/lives\/2017\/09\/22\/102695-hieromartyr-phocas-bishop-of-sinope\">Orthodox Church in America<\/a> website.<\/em><\/p>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<h2>We Need Some People to Help Barbara Dusckas Move<\/h2>\n<p>Barbara is moving and could use some help packing and a few other things. Here is the schedule:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Tuesday-Thursday, September 24-26, 10-4pm &mdash; help pack up boxes.<\/li>\n<li>The move is on Saturday September 28 (movers have been hired) but help throughout the day especially with unpacking is appreciated. Workday begins at 9:00am.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These are the hours she is working, not the hours you are being asked to work. If you are free and could help Barbara for even a few hours, it would be much appreciated.<\/p>\n<p>If you could help please call Barbara at 239-220-7383.<\/p>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n<h2>Men: Join AMEN<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/domse-logo-225x225.png\" alt=\"Antiochian Diocese of Miami and the South East\" width=\"225\" height=\"225\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-7741\" \/><\/p>\n<p>AMEN is growing in the Miami Diocese, very fast actually, and there is a lot of good energy behind it. Fr. Hans has been appointed the Spiritual Advisor to the group by Bp. Nicholas. Steve Breitenbach is our local president.<\/p>\n<p>What will AMEN do? It will bring together the men of the parish for friendship, fellowship, and work.<\/p>\n<p><em>She could really use the help, if even for only a few hours.<\/em><\/p>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n<p>St. Peter&#8217;s Men: <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>SIGN UP for the AMEN Newsletter. Send an email to: <a href=\"mailto:amendomse@gmail.com\">AMEN Newsletter<\/a><\/li>\n<li>JOIN AMEN on the BAND app (IOS and Android): Instructions <a href=\"http:\/\/antiochianmen.org\/\">on the Antiochian Men website<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Visit the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCcuhk0bAl2E5hzn1daUOg3Q\">AMEN YouTube page<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n<h2>Income Report &#8211; July 2019<\/h2>\n<p>In order to meet our operating Budget goal for 2019 we need to take in $16,777.00 each month.<\/p>\n<p>In July we took in $18,104.00 in total contributions. Our monthly goal is $16,777.00. Thank you to everyone who responded to our letter of appeal. So far we are meeting our budget and have remained in the black in these more difficult summer months.<\/p>\n<p>We also apologize for the late report. Our bookkeeper is very busy this summer and was only to compile the report recently.<\/p>\n<p><em>Please pledge in order to meet our goal. Pledge forms are available on the table in the narthex.<\/em><\/p>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<h2>Bible Studies<\/h2>\n<p><img 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>Bible Studies will resume Wednesday, September 18, 2019<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Wed Sep 18<\/strong> &mdash; Community Bible Study 7:00pm<\/li>\n<li><strong>Wed Sep 25<\/strong> &mdash; Men&#8217;s &amp; Women&#8217;s Bible Study (Held separately) 7:00pm<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The Community Bible Study is for the entire community.<\/p>\n<p>The Men&#8217;s and Women&#8217;s Bible Study are separate studies but held concurrently.<\/p>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n<h2>Pledge &amp; Income Report &#8211; August 2019<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2109-pledge-report-august-31.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7915\" \/><\/p>\n<p>In August we took in $15,536 in total donations. Our monthly goal is $16,777.00 leaving us $1,241 short for August.<\/p>\n<p>These are good numbers for August and we appreciate the response to our mid-summer appeal. Thank you for your support to date.<\/p>\n<p>Please be generous in your giving between now and the end of the year so that we can meet our expenses.<\/p>\n<p><em>It is not too late to pledge. Pledge forms are available on the table in the narthex.<\/em><\/p>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<h2>Interfaith Charities Needs Our Help<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/interfaith-charities-logo-500x115.png\" alt=\"Interfaith Charities Logo\" width=\"500\" height=\"115\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5565\" \/><\/p>\n<p>They need:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ramen noodles<\/li>\n<li>Canned tuna<\/li>\n<li>Vegetables<\/li>\n<li>Beans<\/li>\n<li>Soups<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>and&#8230;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Used clothing<\/li>\n<li>Used household items<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Bring the items to church and we will get them to Interfaith Charities. Interfaith Charities is a coalition of local churches helping the poor in our immediate community. See more <a href=\"https:\/\/www.icslee.org\/\">on their website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<h2>Calendar At A Glance<\/h2>\n<p><strong>SEPTEMBER<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Wed Sep 18<\/strong> &mdash; Community Bible Study 7:00pm<\/li>\n<li><strong>Mon Sep 23<\/strong> &mdash; Conception of St. John Baptist Divine Liturgy 9:30am<\/li>\n<li><strong>Wed Sep 25<\/strong> &mdash; Men&#8217;s &amp; Women&#8217;s Bible Study (Held separately) 7:00pm<\/li>\n<li><strong>Thu Sep 26<\/strong> &mdash; Apostle John Divine Liturgy 9:30am<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<h2>Wisdom From The Elders<\/h2>\n<p>The goal of our profession, as we have said, is the kingdom of God. Its immediate purpose, however, is purity of heart, for without this we cannot reach our goal. <strong>Abba Moses<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Let us not be scared, practicers of the prayer of Jesus, either by winds or waves! By winds I mean diabolic thoughts and imaginings, and by waves the revolt of the passions aroused by thoughts and reveries. From the midst of the most furious storm, with perseverance, courage and weeping you will cry to the Lord Jesus Christ, and He will rebuke the winds and waves. <strong>St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov), Bishop of the Caucasus and the Black Sea<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Orthodox Christians are Orthodox because they maintain a continuous sense of divine-human catholicity which they preserve and kindle through prayer and humility. They never preach about themselves; they never boast; they never remain entirely within their base human nature; they never idealize humanism. <strong>Venerable Justin (Popovic) of Chelije in Serbia<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Only by being illuminated with the light of the God-man Christ does the world open the blossom of its essence to us and thus reveals its true meaning and value. That is why the Savior said: &#8220;I am the light of the world&#8221; (John 8: 12; 9: 5). <strong>Venerable Justin (Popovic) of Chelije in Serbia<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>You ask the Lord that you may love Him with a love, strong as death, or until death. Suppose, now, that the Lord sends you a terrible inward disease that may bring you nigh unto death itself. Do not, then, murmur against the Lord, but bear it bravely, thanking the Lord for His fatherly visitation. <strong>Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Lord especially values virginity and loves monks. At first it is very difficult and one needs constantly to compel oneself, but in the end the Savior&rsquo;s words are fulfilled: &#8220;For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light&#8221; (Matthew 11:30). <strong>Archbishop Seraphim (Sobolev) of Bogucharsk<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Remember the words: &#8220;Set, O Lord, a watch before my mouth&#8221; (Psalm 140:3). Do not teach if you are not asked!<br \/>\n <strong>Archbishop Seraphim (Sobolev) of Bogucharsk<\/strong><\/p>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<h2>Remember in Your Prayers<\/h2>\n<p>\nAlan L (B Duskcas)<br \/>\nCharles (Oberg)<br \/>\nChristine (Kouzes)<br \/>\nNina (Kovalev)<br \/>\nHugh (Jacquie)<br \/>\nViolet (Jacquie Mom)<br \/>\nTammie (Jacquie friend)<br \/>\nPhillip<br \/>\nBaby Luke<br \/>\nGeorge<br \/>\nPriest Kyprianos<br \/>\nSavannah (Jonson)<br \/>\nBud<br \/>\nSilvana<br \/>\nNicole<br \/>\nEvan<br \/>\nMegan<br \/>\nBill R.<br \/>\nPat R.<br \/>\nAglaia<br \/>\nGeorge<br \/>\nHieromonk Serapion<br \/>\nPriest Kyprianos<br \/>\nAthanasia<br \/>\nAlexandra<br \/>\nConstantina<br \/>\nMaryanne (E)<br \/>\nRon (E)<br \/>\nTim<br \/>\nRobert (J)<br \/>\nMary (J)<br \/>\nPatricia<br \/>\nGregory<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 &ndash; 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 \/>\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 \/>\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\n<\/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<h4>Epistle<\/h4>\n<p>For the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost<\/p>\n<p>Thou, O Lord, wilt keep and preserve us.<br \/>\nSave me, O Lord, for the godly man has failed.<\/p>\n<p>The Reading from the Second Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians. (1:21-2:4)<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Brethren, it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has commissioned us; He has put his seal upon us and given us His Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. But I call God to witness against me&mdash;it was to spare you that I refrained from coming to Corinth. Not that we lord it over your faith; we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith. For I made up my mind not to make you another painful visit. For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. For I wrote you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n<h4>Gospel<\/h4>\n<p>For the First Sunday of Luke<\/p>\n<p>The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (5:1-11)<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>At that time, Jesus was standing by the lake of Gennesaret. And He saw two boats by the lake; but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon&rsquo;s, Jesus asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when Jesus had finished speaking, He said to Simon, &ldquo;Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.&rdquo; And Simon answered, &ldquo;Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at Thy word I will let down the nets.&rdquo; <\/p>\n<p>And when they had done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish; and as their nets were breaking, they beckoned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus&rsquo; knees, saying, &ldquo;Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.&rdquo; For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the catch of fish, which they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, &ldquo;Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men.&rdquo; And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\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>First Sunday of Luke, Help Barbara Dusckas move, Bible Studies begin, Interfaith Charities needs our help, more&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3720,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[48],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7914","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7914","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=7914"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7914\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3720"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7914"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7914"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7914"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}