Nativity Fast Continues 2019<\/h2>\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. 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. Here are the guidelines:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Meat<\/strong><\/td>\n	Dairy<\/strong><\/td>\n	Fish<\/strong><\/td>\n	Wine<\/strong><\/td>\n	Oil<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
beef, chicken, pork, turkey, elk, veal, lamb, deer, rabbit, buffalo, and so forth<\/td>\n	milk, eggs, cheese, butter, yogurt, cream, and so forth<\/td>\n	fish with a backbone (not including shrimp, octopus, shellfish, squid, or other seafood.<\/td>\n	(some include all types of alcohol in this category)<\/td>\n	(some include all types of oil in this category)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Abstain.<\/strong><\/td>\n	Abstain.<\/strong><\/td>\n	Permitted<\/strong> only on Saturdays and Sundays before December 20. (some permit fish Tuesdays and Thursdays also)<\/td>\n	Permitted<\/strong> only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, & Sundays before December 20.<\/td>\n	Permitted<\/strong> only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, & Sundays before December 20.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n The Purpose of Fasting<\/h4>\n The purpose of fasting is to focus on the things that are above, the Kingdom of God. It is a means of putting on virtue in reality, here and now. Through it we are freed from dependence on worldly things. We fast faithfully and in secret, not judging others, and not holding ourselves up as an example.<\/p>\n \n \n Fasting in itself is not a means of pleasing God. Fasting is not a punishment for our sins. Nor is fasting a means of suffering and pain to be undertaken as some kind of atonement. Christ already redeemed us on His Cross. Salvation is a gift from God that is not bought by our hunger or thirst.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n \n We fast to be delivered from carnal passions so that God’s gift of Salvation may bear fruit in us.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n \n We fast and turn our eyes toward God in His Holy Church. Fasting and prayer go together.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n \n Fasting is not irrelevant. Fasting is not obsolete, and it is not something for someone else. Fasting is from God, for us, right here and right now.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n \n Most of all, we should not devour each other. We ask God to “set a watch and keep the door of our lips.”<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/div>\n Diocese of Miami Winter Retreat<\/h2>\n \n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n Bible Studies<\/h2>\n \n\n<\/div>\n Please note:<\/strong> Bible Studies have been postoned until January, 2020.<\/em><\/p>\n November<\/strong><\/p>\n \n Wed Nov 27<\/strong> — CANCELLED Men’s & Women’s Bible Study (Thanksgiving Divine Liturgy held instead) 7:00pm<\/li>\n No Bible Studies in December<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n The Community Bible Study is for the entire community.<\/p>\n The Men’s and Women’s Bible Study are separate studies but held concurrently.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n Thankyou to Everyone who Donated to Toys for Tots!<\/h2>\n \n\n<\/div>\n At St. Peter’s we help the poor and disadvantaged. It is part of our mission. Organizations we support include Interfaith Charities, NAAMI, and Toys for Tots.<\/p>\n Thank you to everyone who donated to Toys for Tots. Your gift brought some joy to a child this Christmas.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n Sunday School Holiday Food Drive<\/h2>\n \n\n<\/div>\n Our Sunday School children would like to make Thanksgiving and Christmas a little happier for those in need. <\/p>\n Towards that effort, they are asking our parishioners to donate Holiday food items such as:<\/p>\n \n Stuffing<\/li>\n Cranberry Sauce<\/li>\n Instant Potatoes<\/li>\n Canned Vegetables<\/li>\n Rice<\/li>\n Beans<\/li>\n Pie Shells\/Cake Fillings<\/li>\n Cake Mixes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n The food will be donated to Interfaith Charities.<\/p>\n A collection basket will be placed outside the Sunday School classroom.<\/p>\n The collection begins this Sunday.<\/p>\n Whatever you can do will be appreciated!<\/p>\n <\/div>\n Upcoming Liturgies<\/h2>\n St. Nicholas Christmas Liturgy and Program, Thursday, December 5, 5:30pm<\/h4>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n St. Spyridon Divine Liturgy, Thursday, December 12, 9:30pm<\/h4>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n St. Ignatios of Antioch Divine Liturgy, Friday, December 20, 9:30pm<\/h4>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n Nativity Divine Liturgy on Tuesday, December 24, 2019 at 6:30pm<\/h4>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n Synaxis of the Theotokos Divine Liturgy on Thursday, December 26, 2019 at 9:30pm<\/h4>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n St. Stephen the Proto-Martyr Divine Liturgy on Friday, December 27, 2019 at 9:30pm<\/h4>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n Pledge & Income Report – October 2019<\/h2>\n In October we took in $17,201 in total donations. Our monthly goal is $16,777.00 leaving us $424 above our monthly expenses for.<\/p>\n These are very good numbers for September.<\/p>\n Please continue giving and thank you for it. We are on track to meet all of our 2019 expenses.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n Interfaith Charities Needs More Food Items<\/h2>\n \n\n<\/div>\n They need:<\/p>\n \n Ramen noodles<\/li>\n Canned tuna<\/li>\n Vegetables<\/li>\n Beans<\/li>\n Soups<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Please note<\/strong>: Interfaith Charities is no longer accepting clothing or household items so we won’t be accepting them at St. Peter’s either.<\/em><\/p>\n Bring the food 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 on their website<\/a>.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n Calendar At A Glance<\/h2>\n December<\/strong><\/p>\n \n Thu Dec 5<\/strong> — St. Nicholas Divine Liturgy and Program starting at 5:30pm<\/li>\n Thu Dec 12<\/strong> — St. Spyridon Divine Liturgy 9:30am<\/li>\n Fri Dec 20<\/strong> — St. Ignatius of Antioch Divine Liturgy 9:30am<\/li>\n Fri Dec 20<\/strong> — Parish Council Meeting 3:00pm<\/li>\n Tue Dec 24<\/strong> — Nativity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Divine Liturgy 6:30pm<\/li>\n Tue Dec 26<\/strong> — Synaxis of the Theotokos Divine Liturgy 9:30pm<\/li>\n Tue Dec 27<\/strong> — St. Stephen the Proto-Martyr Divine Liturgy 9:30pm<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Please note the extra remaining liturgies scheduled for November\/December:<\/strong><\/p>\n \n Thu Dec 5<\/strong> — St. Nicholas Divine Liturgy and Children’s Program, 5:30pm<\/li>\n Thu Dec 12<\/strong> — St. Spyridon Divine Liturgy 9:30am<\/li>\n Fri Dec 20<\/strong> — St. Ignatius of Antioch Divine Liturgy 9:30am<\/li>\n Tue Dec 24<\/strong> — Nativity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Divine Liturgy 6:30pm<\/li>\n Tue Dec 26<\/strong> — Synaxis of the Theotokos Divine Liturgy 9:30pm<\/li>\n Tue Dec 27<\/strong> — St. Stephen the Proto-Martyr Divine Liturgy 9:30pm<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n  <\/div>\n Wisdom From The Elders<\/h2>\n Whether it’s a mirror or a cover from a tin can, unless the rays of the sun fall upon it, it won’t shine. The Saints were enlightened by the rays of the Grace of God, just as the stars receive light from the sun. Saint Paisios of Mount Athos<\/strong><\/p>\n It is impossible to love God if one has bad feelings towards even a single individual. Understandably so. Love and hostility cannot exist in the same soul. Abbot Nikon Vorobiev<\/strong><\/p>\n When your heart is disturbed in spirit by any passion, and you are deprived of peace, and are filled with agitation, and words of displeasure and animosity to your neighbour fall from your tongue, do not linger in this condition, so destructive to you, but immediately bend your knees and confess your sin before the Holy Spirit. Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt<\/strong><\/p>\n Everything is gained by prayer. You are only approaching the first step, you haven’t yet ascended it, only approach it and you still have to enter the door, but you can’t go in by any effort if God’s mercy is not there. That is why you first of all need to ask, “Open unto me the doors of Thy compassion, O Lord! St. Nikon of Optina<\/strong><\/p>\n You see people abusing and reviling holy and sacred things and others not saying anything. Being meek on such an occasion is demonic. Saint Paisios of Mount Athos<\/strong><\/p>\n Do not indulge the flesh by anything; either by pleasures, fine views, dainty food, and drink, or by sleep, idleness, and slothfulness, by shameful deeds, games, idle travelling, or frivolous books and sights. Love the one God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your thoughts, and your neighbour as yourself, and be indifferent to everything else in the world. Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt<\/strong><\/p>\n  <\/div>\n Remember in Your Prayers<\/h2>\n \nDiomidis (Kanellos) \nAnastasia (Ann Constan) \nBen (Ben) \nThomas (Ben) \nIrene (C. Diveris) \nVasiliki (C.Diveris) \nEfrosini (C. diveris) \nCharles (Oberg) \nChristine (Kouzes) \nNina (Kovalev) \nHugh (Jacquie) \nViolet (Jacquie Mom) \nTammie (Jacquie friend) \nPhillip \nBaby Luke \nGeorge \nPriest Kyprianos \nSavannah (Jonson) \nBud \nSilvana \nNicole \nEvan \nMegan \nBill R. \nPat R. \nAglaia \nGeorge \nHieromonk Serapion \nPriest Kyprianos \nAthanasia \nAlexandra \nConstantina \nMaryanne (E) \nRon (E) \nTim \nRobert (J) \nMary (J) \nPatricia \nGregory \nAndreas \nSofia Te\u0161anovic \nPaul \nDennis H. and Family \nVictor Evan \nAnn \nJames \nVasiliki \nEfstratia \nAlexandra \nNikos \nGeorgia \nIoannis \nCostandino \nJeffrey \nVaso \nDave \nDimitri – Presbyter \nVassiliki \nOctavio \nTom \nCarl \nRena \nNikolay (5 year old boy in Bulgaria whose parents asked us to pray) \nDavid \nRosie \nKathryn \nJeremy \nConstantine \nRobert \nJane \nTheodora \nDavid \nGina \nMicheal \nHaralambos \nLillian \nPresbytera Rosy \nValentina \nEva W. \nBarbara \nAngela \nCarol Ann \nMatthew \nChrysostom \nTim \nPat \nChristina \nMaria Louise \nMaximos \nMarian \nPhotini \nNicholas \nSarah \nConstantine Houpis \nAnna Marie Smith Baker \nKaterina \nMary Kassis \nBaby Maximus \nChristine \nMaria \nAnnette Star \nClaire Livaditis \nEva Chandilles \nBaby Dani \nScott Nedoff \nJames Hord\n<\/p>\n 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 Add or remove names and print this list for easy reference during your prayer time on the St. Peter website<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n  <\/div>\n Sunday Readings<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n Epistle<\/h4>\n For the Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost<\/p>\n Make your vows to the Lord our God and perform them. \nGod is known in Judah; His Name is great in Israel.<\/p>\n The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Ephesians. (4:1-7)<\/p>\n \n Brethren, I, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, Who is above all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n <\/div>\n Gospel<\/h4>\n For the Tenth Sunday of Luke<\/p>\n The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (13:10-17)<\/p>\n \n At that time, Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And there was a woman who had had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. And when Jesus saw her, He called her and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your infirmity.” And He laid His hands upon her, and immediately she was made straight, and she praised God. But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, “There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrite! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the manger, and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” As Jesus said this, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by Him.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Tenth Sunday of Luke, St. Nicholas Children’s Program, Upcoming Liturgies, Grekos Wedding Invitation,…more<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8039,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[48],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8041","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8041","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=8041"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8041\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8039"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8041"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8041"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8041"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}