{"id":8500,"date":"2020-04-28T10:04:43","date_gmt":"2020-04-28T14:04:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/?p=8500"},"modified":"2020-04-28T10:04:43","modified_gmt":"2020-04-28T14:04:43","slug":"st-peter-newsletter-april-28-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/st-peter-newsletter-april-28-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Peter Newsletter April 28, 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"

Christ is Risen! Truly He has Risen!<\/h2>\n

Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women, Pious Joseph of Arimathaea and Righteous Nicodemus<\/h2>\n

Pious Joseph of Arimathaea, Righteous Nicodemus and the holy Myrrh-bearing Women; of the Martyrs Timothy the reader and his wife Maura of Egypt; Peter, Archbishop of Argolis; Ekumenios, bishop of Trikala; Venerable Luke of Mt. Stirion; and Venerable Theodosios of the Kiev Caves, founder of Russian monasticism.<\/h4>\n
\"The
The Holy Myrrhbearers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Myrhh Bearing Women<\/h4>\n

The third Sunday of Holy Pascha is observed by the Orthodox Church as the Sunday of the Holy Myrrhbearers. The day commemorates when the women disciples of our Lord came to the tomb to anoint his body with myrrh-oils but found the tomb empty. As the woman wondered what this meant, angels appeared proclaiming that Christ had risen from the dead.<\/p>\n

Of those whose names are known are the following: first of all, the most holy Virgin Mary, who in Matthew 27:56 and Mark 15:40 is called “the mother of James and Joses” (these are the sons of Joseph by a previous marriage, and she was therefore their step-mother); Mary Magdalene (celebrated July 22); Mary, the wife of Clopas; Joanna, wife of Chouza, a steward of Herod Antipas; Salome, the mother of the sons of Zebedee; Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus; and Susanna. As for the names of the rest of them, the evangelists have kept silence.<\/p>\n

Together with them we celebrate also the secret disciples of the Savior, Joseph and Nicodemus. Of these, Nicodemus was probably a Jerusalemite, a prominent leader among the Jews and of the order of the Pharisees, learned in the Law and instructed in the Holy Scriptures. He had believed in Christ when, at the beginning of our Savior’s preaching of salvation, he came to Him by night. Furthermore, he brought some one hundred pounds of myrrh-oils and an aromatic mixture of aloes and spices out of reverence for the divine Teacher (John 19:39).<\/p>\n

Joseph, who was from the city of Arimathea, was a wealthy and noble man, and one of the counselors who were in Jerusalem. He went bodly unto Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus, and together with Nicodemus he gave Him burial. Since time did not permit the preparation of another tomb, he placed the Lord’s body in his own tomb which was hewn out of rock, as the Evangelist says (Matthew 27:60).<\/p>\n

Read the entire story on the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese website<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Sharing the Light<\/h2>\n
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Fr. Hans received requests about sharing the light, the flame from the Paschal Candle, that many people like to bring home. <\/p>\n

Since we can’t meet, Fr. Hans will keep votive candles lit with the light from the Paschal Candle. He will keep them burning until we resume the services at the Church. If you would like to take the Paschal light home after the parish is opened, you will be able to get them from these candles. <\/p>\n

So this is what we will do. On the first Sunday after opening, Fr. Hans will anoint everyone with Holy Oil after the Divine Liturgy with oil he has saved from the Holy Unction service last year. Then we will go to the Social Hall and have a celebratory meal. On the way out you can light a candle to bring the Holy Light home and bless your homes. <\/p>\n

God bless all the good people of St. Peter’s. God is with you. Stay faithful to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and to each other. <\/p>\n

Christ is Risen!<\/p>\n

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Constantine (Dino) Houpis – Memory Eternal<\/h2>\n
\"Constantine
Constantine (Dino) Houpis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With sadness but with joy in the Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ we have to announce that Constantine Houpis (we knew him as Dino) passed away on April 9. He daughter reports that he passed peacefully in his sleep.<\/p>\n

Dino loved St. Peter’s. Before his health took a turn for the worse and he had to move back to Ohio, Dino would come almost every Sunday when we were first at the hotel and later in our present location. His daughter said the Sunday worship and fellowship was one of the highlights of his week. He spoke of St. Peter’s often and had a deep fondness for all the members.<\/p>\n

His funeral was private because of the coronavirus lock down but his family plans to hold the makaria (funeral dinner) in Ohio on his one year memorial. We at St. Peter’s will offer Trisagion Prayers this Sunday for Dino and offer Memorial Prayers on the one year anniversary on April 11, 2021.<\/p>\n

We will also add Dino’s name to our list of founders and friends of St. Peter’s.<\/p>\n

A short obituary can found on the Dayton Funerals<\/a> website.<\/p>\n

May his memory be eternal.<\/p>\n

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The Parish Life Conference is Going Virtual!<\/h2>\n
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Please Don’t Forget to Fulfill Your Pledge and Donations<\/h2>\n

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We received some last minute donations in March and exceeded our March budget goal. We were able to cover our February shortfall as a result. Thank you very much for all who contributed for your care and stewardship of St. Peter’s. We should all draw great encouragement from this. A complete financial tally is found below.<\/p>\n

Please keep current with your pledge. The financial health and stability of our parish requires us to do our part.<\/p>\n

You can mail your check to:<\/p>\n

St. Peter Orthodox Church
\n24850 Old 41 RD Suite 6
\nBonita Springs, FL 34135<\/p>\n

You can also donate online (scroll to bottom of page):<\/p>\n

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Pledge & Income Report – March 2020<\/h2>\n

Donations received in February: $21,308
\nAmount of money needed to cover expenses: $18,121.00
\nAHEAD: $3,000.00<\/p>\n

Our March overage made up for our February shortfall. Thank you for your continued support.<\/p>\n

You can fill out a pledge form on the St. Peter website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Leoni’s Pizza Delivers Hot Meals<\/h2>\n
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\n\"Click
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Click the image to go to Leoni’s Pizza website<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Also, Leoni’s Pizza has offered to deliver food for anyone who needs a hot meal.<\/p>\n

Leoni’s can deliver to Bonita Springs, Estero, San Carlos Park, or Naples Park. Leoni’s delivers within a 15 mile radius from I-75 to the Gulf Coast.<\/p>\n

You can order online at leonispizza.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Tom and Joanne Venetis, friends and supporters of St. Peter’s, own and operate Leoni’s.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Calendar At A Glance<\/h2>\n

Live Streamed Services This Week<\/strong><\/p>\n

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UPDATE: St. Peter Live Stream is now available on the St. Peter website (as well as Facebook). Click go to the website<\/a>, “Watch Live Stream” and wait for the service to begin.<\/p>\n

To Live Stream a service on FACEBOOK: Go to the St. Peter Facebook page<\/a>. Scroll down to “posts” (use the navigation bar on the left). You do not need a Facebook account to view.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"St.<\/div>\n

May<\/strong><\/p>\n