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
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...
January 10, 2025
There is Class/Bible study Jan 15th, at 6pm in the hall.
Collections for Project Mexico are on the 1st Sunday of the month, next collection will be Sunday February 2nd.
Fr Andrew Smith will be here Saturday the 18th to give a talk about the Thriving Parish Project after Vespers.
As we are now 7 weeks from starting the Great Fast we will be needing wine. If you would like to donate wine it is Manischewitz concord grape wine.
The Annual Meeting will be held on January 26th, 2025. There will be a potluck luncheon at coffee hour and then the meeting.
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.
If you wish to have your House Blessed please let Fr. Mikel know.
Tomorrow Jan 12th there will be the Memorial service for Elizabeth Michel at the end of Liturgy, and the coffee hour will be sponsored by the Myrrh- bearing women.
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 Kodiak Island in Alaska for the last week of July. If you wish to attend please see Steve or Fr. Mikel.
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 November our income was slightly more than our expenses by $78.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; Ephesians 6:10-17
