December 2024
I pray that the Nativity Fast is going well for everyone. We should always remember that the fast is not just about food, but about putting away all evil and sin in our life, and preparing ourselves for the birth of Christ. In this way we can go through the Fast remembering that it is the birth of our Lord and Saviour that we will be celebrating, and so we should not get so caught up in the trappings of the season that we forget why we are fasting.
Christ tells us that He was born to suffer, die, and resurrect, to save us from hell and eternal torment and to give us the path to the heavenly Kingdom. We should take this time of the fast to briefly pause to reflect on our life, our judgment to come, eternity, and what answer we will give to God for our life. He is the Word which became flesh; that is, the Son of God, Who is co-eternal with God the Father and with the Holy Spirit. He became human, having become incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary. We recite and remember this every time we say the Creed in our personal prayers and in the Divine Liturgy. This is such a wondrous, awesome and saving mystery one cannot help but be humbled that our Good God would come to earth to show us the path to the kingdom!
Then, shortly after the Nativity, we will bring in a new civil year where most people make New Year's resolutions. We should not wait until then but resolve during the Nativity Fast to pray more, read Holy Scripture more, and live our life according to the way Christ asks us to live: as humble, obedient servants of his.
Let us take some time to be at peace with everyone and forgive those who have hurt or offended us. As we go through the rest of the fast, we can contemplate all that God has done for mankind and for us personally. Then, we can joyfully welcome the Christ child into the world and begin the New Year in peace.
May we all have a blessed fast.
Fr. Mikel
Weds Dec 11th 6pm Class/ Bible Study
Thurs Dec 12th 6pm Vespers
Fri Dec 13th 840am Hours/Divine Liturgy
Sat Dec 14th 5pm Vespers
Sun Dec 15th 840am Hours/Divine Liturgy
Weds Dec 18th 6pm Class/ Bible Study
Church decorating volunteers are needed to help in the church on Saturday, December 21st at 9:00 AM.
Sat Dec 21st 5pm Vespers
Sun Dec 22nd 840am Hours/Divine Liturgy
Tues Dec 24th 8am Abbreviated Royal Hours/Vesperal Divine Liturgy 5pm
Compline 6pm Holy Supper
Weds Dec 25th 840am Hours/Divine Liturgy No Bible Study/Class
Thurs Dec 26th 6pm Vespers
Fri Dec 27th 840am Hours/Divine Liturgy
Sat Dec 28th 5pm Vespers
Sun Dec 29th 840am Hours/Divine Liturgy
Tues Dec 31st 6pm Vespers
Weds Jan 1st 840am Hours/Divine Liturgy of St Basil/ New Year Molieben No
Bible study/class
Fri Jan 3rd 8am Royal Hours
Volunteers are needed on Friday Jan. 3rd at 9:30 AM immediately following Royal Hours Liturgy to help take the decorations down.
Sat Jan 4th 10am Baptism 5pm Vespers
Sun Jan 5th 840am Hours/Divine Liturgy w/ Blessing of Water 12 noon Vespers
Mon Jan 6th 840am Hours/Divine Liturgy of St Basil 12 noon Blessing of waters
at Tempe Lake
Sat Jan 11th 5pm Vespers
Sun Jan 12th 840am Hours/Divine Liturgy
Regular Services
Saturday: Vespers, 5:00 pm
Sunday: Divine Liturgy, 9:00 am
Address
1614 E. Monte Vista Rd.
Phoenix, Az 85006
Phone / Email
Fr. Mikel: 907-444-8545
Church: 602-253-9515
Directions To Saints Peter & Paul
This Week...
December 7, 2024
Bible study this Weds Dec 11th, at 6pm in the church hall.
Thursday Dec 12th Vespers, Friday Dec 13th is St Herman’s day, Liturgy will be at 9am. St Herman is the Patron saint of North America. There will be other priests and churches attending.
St Nicholas will visit on Dec 15th and the Sunday school will have a play for us to view.
The Myrrh Bearers will have their bake sale on Dec 22nd during coffee hour.
The nuns from St Mary of Egypt monastery will be selling their goods on Dec 22nd.
During the Nativity Fast is a good time to be sure we are having Confession especially if we are participating in Holy Communion on Sunday’s.
December 24th Great Compline will be at 5pm and Holy Supper will be at 6pm.
Here is info on Elizabeth Michel’s funeral; http://www.fgozogfuneralhome.com/obituary/Elizabeth-MichelRadasky?utm_campaign=marquee-share-button&utm_term=share-email&utm_content=Share
Forms for the Nativity card are on the tables in coffee hour, the money collected will be donated to St Macarius Monastery.
Collections for Project Mexico are on the 1st Sunday of the month, next collection will be January 5th.
Cross Road Institute is now taking applications for 2025. This is a 10 day Institute for Junior and Senior High School students. There are 2 posters in the church hall to read, or you can go on-line at https://crossroadinstitute.org/ . The deadline for applications is January 21st for priority, and February 18th for regular. Financial aid is available.
Monday, January 6th is the Great Feast of Theophany, Divine Liturgy will be at 9am. The Great Blessing of water outdoors will be held at Tempe Town Lake at noon.
If you wish to have your House Blessed after Theophany please let Fr. Mikel know.
Feb 9th is Super Bowl Sunday, FOCA will be having their tailgate party that was postponed in October.
Steve Doerksen is seeking to organize a mission trip to the village of Akhiok in Kodiak Island for the last week of July. The Protection of the Theotokos Church is in need of restoration in order to get it ready for its 100th anniversary. There is much to be done: installing new windows, doors, flooring, drywall/texture, painting, cleaning, organizing, etc. Whether you are a "handyman" or not, you are still invited as there are things you can help with. He will give a short talk during coffee hour and have a sign up sheet for those interested. You can reach Steve at 928-714-6190 or steve.doerksen@yahoo.com
We should always remember to tithe, as this is very important to keep the church running, and it is also an offering to God. For the month of October our income was less than our expenses by $2007.
Food is not evil, but gluttony is. Childbearing is not evil, but fornication is. Money is not evil, but avarice is. Glory is not evil, but vainglory is. Indeed, there is no evil in existing things, but only in their misuse. St. Maximus the Confessor
