S A I N T P E T E R T H E A P O S T L E C H U R C H

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MessengerJanuary Calendar

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Parish Activities Shares Cards, 2016 Coffee Hour, etc.

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Prepared Hans, Prepared Hearts… By Edith Humphry

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January 2016

Stewardship 2016 Join our list of Stewards for 2016...

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40 Day Memorial for

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St. Steven's Cathedral in Alhambra

The Divine Child By Fr. Alexander Schmemann

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Monthly Newsletter of St. Peter the Apostle Church. Fresno California Issue No. 1 / January 2016From the Parish Records…

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The Divine Child Father Alexander Schmemann

“The eternal God was born as a little child.” One of the main hymns of Christmas ends with these words, iden-tifying the child born in a Bethlehem cave as “the eter-nal God.” This hymn was composed in the sixth century by the famous Byzantine hymnographer Roman the Melodist: Today the Virgin gives birth to the Tran-scendent One, And the earth offers a cave to the Unap-proachable One! Angels, with shepherds, glorify him! The wise men journey with the star! Since for our sake the eternal God was born as a little child!

(Kontakion of Christmas)   The Child as God, God as Child…Why does joyful excitement build over the Christmas season as people, even those of lukewarm faith and unbelievers, behold that unique, incomparable sight of the young mother holding the child in her arms, and around them the “wise men from the East,” the shepherds fresh from night-watch in their fields, the animals, the open sky, the star? Why are we so certain, and discover again and again, that on this sorrowful planet of ours there is nothing more beautiful and joyful than this sight, which the passage of centuries has proven incapable of uprooting from our memory? We return to this sight whenever we have

nowhere else to go, whenever we have been tormented by life and are in search of something that might deliv-er us…

It is the words “child” and “God” which give us the most striking revelation about the Christmas mystery. In a certain profound way, this is a mystery directed toward the child who continues to secretly live within every adult, to the child who continues to hear what the

adult no longer hears, and who responds with a joy which the adult, in his mundane, grown-up, tired and cynical world, is no longer capable of feeling. Yes, Christmas is a feast for children, not just because of the tree that we decorate and light, but in the much deeper sense that children alone are unsur-prised that when God comes to us on earth, he comes as a child.

This image of God as child con-tinues to shine on us through icons and through innumerable works of art, revealing that what is most essential and joyful in

Christianity is found precisely here, in this eternal childhood of God. Adults, even the most sympathetic to “religious themes,” desire and expect religion to give explanations and analysis; they want it to be intelligent and serious. Its opponents are just as serious, and in the end, just as boring, as they confront religion with a hail of “rational” bullets. In our society, nothing better conveys our contempt than to say “it’s childish.” In

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Prepared Hands, Prepared Hearts, Prepared People Edith Humphrey, Ph.D.

TheearthistheLORD’s,andallitsfullness,theworldandthosewhodwelltherein.ForHehasfoundeditupontheseas,andestablishedituponthewaters.WhomayascendintothehilloftheLORD?OrwhomaystandinHisholyplace?Theonewhohascleanhandsandapureheart,whosesoulisnotlifteduptovainthings,andwhohasnotsworndeceitfully.ThatoneshallreceiveblessingfromtheLORD,savingjus-ticefromtheGodofhissalvation.SuchisthegenerationofthosewhoseekHim,whoseekthefaceoftheGodofJacob!Liftupyourheads,Oyougates!Andbeliftedup,youever-lastingdoors!AndtheKingofgloryshallcomein.WhoisthisKingofglory?TheLORDstrongandmighty,TheLORDmightyinbattle!Liftupyourheads,Oyougates!Liftthem

up,youeverlastingdoors!AndtheKingofgloryshallcomein.WhoisthisKingofglory?TheLORDofhosts,HeistheKingofglory.Psalm24

PictureforamomenttheopeningsequenceoftheDisneymovie,TheLionKing.Themusic,withitsZuluchant,communicatesamessageofanticipationandwelcome.Hereisatranslation:“Herecomesalion,Fa-ther!Oyes,it’salion!We’regoingtoconquer!”Animalsofeverykindhavegathered,comingacrosstheplainsandjunglesformiles.Themusicswells,comingtoaclimaxasthepriestlyprimatepresentsthenewbornprincetothehostofani-malsfarbelow.“Ohyes,it’salion;we’regoingtoconquer!”Thecrowdisready.Theeprince-cubonthecragfarabovethemispresentedceremoniously.Helooksdown,wide-eyed,asanimalsofeverykindstampforjoy.Arayofgloryfromtheunveilingcloud-coveristrainedupontheyoungmessiah,andthewholeassemblybowsthekneeandclosestheireyesinreverence.TheOirsttimeIsawthis,itsjoyousso-brietybroughttearstomyeyes,de-spitetheaccompanyingtritelyricsabout“thecircleoflife.”Oldandyoung,awkwardandbeautiful,openandclosedeyes,nearandfar:these

contrastsshowuslifewithallitscomplexityandsimplicity.Wehavebeenwooedbywonder,bytheun-abashedanticipationofthecartoonanimals.

Whenwearetogether,gatheredforprayerandthemysteries,weare,notinimaginationlikethismovie,butintruth,inthepresenceoftheonlyKing!Inourworshipwehave“cometoMountZionandthecityofthelivingGod,theheavenlyJerusalemandtoinnumerablean-gelsinfestalgathering,andtotheassemblyoftheOirstbornwhoareenrolledinheavenandtothejudgewhoisLordofall”(Hebrews12:22).Nodoubtwearenotfullyprepared,eventhoughwehavespentsomesolemntimetogetheratVespersandOrthros,inprayeralready.AspeopleoftheTwenty-FirstCentury,wemaynotaseasilygrasptheim-portanceofpreparationforwor-ship,asdidourbrothersandsistersfrompastgenerations.Wearesousedtoinstantresults,fromfastfoodtomail-orderdiplomas.Thoseofuswhoarebookwormsdon’tevenhavetowaitifweownaKin-dle:afewtouchesofthekeyboard,andIhavethenewreleasethatsointerestsme.InstantgratiOication!

Weknow,however,thatthemost

other words, it’s not for adults, for the intelligent and serious. So children grow up and become equally seri-ous and boring. Yet Christ said “become like children” (Mt 18:3). What does this mean? What are adults missing, or better, what has been choked, drowned or deafened by a thick layer of adulthood? Above all, is it not that capacity, so characteristic of children, to wonder, to rejoice and, most importantly, to be whole both in joy and sorrow? Adulthood chokes as well the ability to trust, to let go and give one’s self completely to love and to believe with all one’s being. And finally, children take seriously what adults are no longer capable of accepting: dreams, that which breaks through our everyday experience and our cynical mis-trust, that deep mystery of the world and everything within it revealed to saints, children, and poets.

Thus, only when we break through to the child living hidden within us, can we inherit as our own the joyful mystery of God coming to us as a child. The child has

neither authority nor power, yet the very absence of authority reveals him to be a king; his defenselessness and vulnerability are precisely the source of his pro-found power. The child in that distant Bethlehem cave has no desire that we fear him; He enters our hearts not by frightening us, by proving his power and author-ity, but by love alone. He is given to us as a child, and only as children can we in turn love him and give our-selves to him. The world is ruled by authority and pow-er, by fear and domination. The child God liberates us from that. All He desires from us is our love, freely giv-en and joyful; all He desires is that we give him our heart. And we give it to a defenseless, endlessly trust-ing child.

Through the feast of Christmas, the Church reveals to us a joyful mystery: the mystery of freely given love imposing itself on no one. A love capable of seeing, recognizing and loving God in the Divine Child, and becoming the gift of a new life.

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importantthingsinlifetakeagooddealofpreparation–ninemonthsinthecaseofanewbaby,discern-mentinthecaseofavocationorapossiblemarriage,yearsofnurtureinthecaseofourchildren.AndtheentireBible,OldandNewTesta-ment,emphasizespreparation,justthroughtherichnessofitsvocabu-lary.InHebrew,thereisonewordassociatedwithpreparationforameal,anotherforritualreadinessbeforeconOlict,onethatevokessta-bilityandOirmness,andanotherthatdepicts“turning”orpoisingoneself.TheNewTestamentusesatleastthreeterms,onehavingtodowitheagerness,onepicturingasol-dierorworkerwhoiswell-equipped,andonethatreferstosupplyingwhatisnecessaryforatask.It’snotjustamatterofthebib-licalwords,isit?Fromthebegin-ningofthegospelthroughtotheend,wehearabouttheimportanceofbeingready.WebeginwiththeBaptist’stask,whichisto“makereadyapeoplepreparedfortheLORD”(Luke1:17–18).Thepeoplefromaroundthecountrysidecame,interruptingtheirdailyroutines,goingtojointhisstrangeprophetinthedesert,andpunctuatingtheirlifebybeingplungedintotheJor-dan.InHisownteaching,Jesustoldthatuncomfortableparableaboutthebridesmaids(Matthew25:10–11),ortheweddingguestwhowasnotready.AswehearHisword,thatsuchanunpreparedoneshouldberemovedfromtheparty,perhapsitsoundsharsh,andopposedtoourusualunderstandingofgrace!Whydidthefoolishvirginsneedoil,whydidtheguestneedaweddinggar-ment?

Clearly,thoughGod’sgenerosityisindescribable,thereissomethingrequiredofushumans–wearenottobepresumptuous,buttodowhatwecantoprepareforwhatGodispreparingforus!ThenthereisHiswarningtoHisdisciples“Youalsobeready:fortheSonofManwillcomeunexpectedly”(Luke12:40).Letusnotforget,too,Hisgenerousexplanationtothesleepingdisci-ples,aftertheyhadfailedonthat

heart-breakingnight:“thespiritistrulyready,buttheOleshisweak”(Mark14:38).Inallthesepassages,thethemeofpreparationsounds.MostluminousisthatlastnightofourLord’sministry:First,inJohn13:10,JesusspeakstotheApostlePeteroftheimportanceofwashedfeet(evenforthosewhoarealreadylargelyclean!);later,inJohn15:3,HespeaksofHisdisciplesasbrancheswhomustbepurged,ormadecleanbyGod’sword.

InPsalm24,thepsalmistspeaksaboutbeingpreparedtoenterGod’smajesticpresencebyhaving“cleanhands”anda“pureheart.”DidyoualsonoticethatthePsalmspeaksbothabouteachofuspersonallyandabouta“generation”ofthosewhoseekthefaceoftheLORD?Eachofusandallofustogetherneedtobereadyforworship–physically(ourhandsandtherestofourbody),internally(ourheartsandminds),andtogetherasagroup.Howthen,aretobepreparedforthisencounterthatisfarmoresigniOicantthanallothermeetings?ThegoodnewsisthattheradicalpreparationhasbeendoneintheGod-Man,Jesus,whoisnotashamedtocallusbrothersandsisters,andwhohasmadeusboldtopray,“OurFather.”Thegoodnews,too,isthatHeisevennowintercedingwithusbeforetheFather,whiletheHolySpiritintercedesinandamonguswhenweareweak.AsthestrikingsceneofheavenlyworshipdepictedinHebrews12unfolds,weOindthatwehavecomenotonlytoajudge,but“tothespiritsofjustonesmadeperfectandtoJesus,themediatorofanewcovenant!”(Hebrews12:23–24).Indeed,thenewcovenant,thenewagreementforgedbyourLordgivesushopethatHewillpreserveus,bodyandsoulandspirit,blame-lessforthattimewhenweshallseeHimface-to-face(1Thessalonians5:23).Wemay,then,beemboldenedbythepastworkofGod,whilere-membering,asJesusputsit,thattheFatherisalwaysworking!

YetboldnesstocallGodFatherisnotthesameaspresumptionand

carelessness.AndthegraceofGodisnotmagic!Goddoesnotworkagainstourwills.Sothefactre-mainsthat,personally,corporatelyandliturgically,weneedtobepre-paredtoenterGod’spresence.ItwastoChristianswhohadalreadyheardthegoodnewsthatthewritertotheHebrewsgavethewarning,“Sincewearereceivingakingdomthatcannotbeshaken,letusbethankful,andsoworshipGodac-ceptablywithreverenceandawe,forour‘GodisaconsumingOire’”(Hebrews12:25–29).SowehavebequeathedtousnumerousaidsfromthewisdomoftheChurchtohelpuspreparetomeetwitheachother,andtomeetinHispres-ence.OurentranceintothetimeofLentis,ofcourse,themostobviousprovision,helpingustobepreparedfortheaweofHolyWeekandthejoyofEaster.

Weknow,bymeansofallthecarefulliturgicalmomentsthatweseeandgothrough,thatpreparationforen-teringGod’spresenceisnotsome-thingtobeaccomplishedquicklyandatthelastminute.Itistobeourentirewayoflife,asitwasforMary,whofoundtheonethingnecessaryatJesus’feet.Wehavebeengiventhisgift,aliturgicaltimeoftheyearinwhichweareinvitedto“rampup”thepreparationthatistobeanintegralpartofourentirelife.Inhistory,GodspentagooddealoftimepreparingHispeoplefortheAdventoftheMessiah,throughtheirlife-story,andthroughthecommentaryandinstructionoftheLawandtheProphets.Similarly,JesuscalledHisdisciplestopreparefortheeventsthatwouldbefallthem(andespeciallyHim!)inJerusalem.

Recently,Ihavebeenreadinginsnatches,andinFrenchtranslation,theworkofaRussiantheologian(BorisBoborinsky)onthemysteryoftheChurch.HesayssomethingIhavefoundveryhelpful:“TheChurchrelivesthisOldTestamentwaitingperiod,ananticipationthatisbothjoyfulandsorrowful….Wearetaughttoprepareourselvesin

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viewofthecomingoftheSaviour.ThiswaitingfortheIncarnationisabasicdimensionoftheChurch’slifeandaprincipleofthespirituallife,too,[asweremember]thatthebe-ginningofwisdomisthefearoftheLord.”Fr.BoborinskywastalkingaboutAdventinthesewords,butwhathesaidappliesequallytoEaster.OurwaitingforHolyWeek,ouraweatwhatwasaccomplishedthereforus,ourwaitingforthegrandcelebrationofEaster,andouranticipationofourownresurrec-tionwhenHecomesagain–suchwaitingrequirespatienceanddisci-pline,anditisaprincipleofthespirituallife.

Awe,fear,respect:wearebacktothesceneoftheLionKing.AndweknowfromhistorythatthecomingoftheLordwasnotgreetedwithuniformpreparation,wasit?Oh,somehadprepared,aswellastheycould,theirlives,theirhands,theirhearts,theirimaginations–Zechari-ah,Simeon,Anna,Mary.AsforourLord’sdeath,theApostlePeterthoughtthathewasprepared:“Iwillneverdenyyou!”YetwhenthelightdawnedandwhentheSaviorshowedtheextentofHislove,hu-mandeterminationwasexposedasfrailandfeeble.Thatisthewayitiswithushumanbeings–wearefullofcontradictions.Godhaspreparedaplaceforusbeforethefounda-tionsoftheworld,andsowecannotexpecttomatchthatgloriousplaceinstantly,andwithouteffort.So,letuscommitourselvestotheatten-tivenessconstantlyenjoineduponusintheLiturgy,andembracethedisciplinesofeachpenitentialsea-sontohelpusinthiswatchfulness.Certainly,itispossibletousetheseresourcesmechanically,asifroteprayersandabstinencefromfoodwereamagickey,unlockingthegatetoGod’shouse.Atourbest,wewillrespondinsteadtotheSpirit’swork,andcrywiththePsalmist,“IwillprepareHimmyheart.”Suchinnerpreparationincludeswhatourbodiesaredoing,forwearemadewithbodies,soulsandspiritsjoined.Theseresourceshighlightthemood,themechanics,thevehi-

cleofourpraise,ratherthanpoint-ingtotheLORD.WhatadifferenceifeverydaywehavebeenseekingtheLord,andthenifwecometowor-shiptogetherwithquiethearts,de-terminingtosetasidecompetingthoughts,andtoenterintoworshipfromthebeginning!ThewordsofthePreacheraresalutary:“GuardyourstepswhenyougotothehouseofGod….Drawneartolis-ten….Benotrashwithyourmouth,norletyourheartbehastytoutterawordbeforeGod,forGodisinheavenandyouareonearth.There-foreletyourwordsbefew”(Eccle-siastes5:1–2).

Thereare,ofcourse,afewwordsthatarehelpfulbeforeGod;forex-ample,thatlittlephrase,“Iamsor-ry”–sorryformybrashness,formycarelessness,forallthosethingsthatIhavedonebothdeliberatelyandunwittingly.Repentance,intheScripturesandintheTraditionoftheChurch,isnotsimplyanen-trancerequirementtothefollowingofJesus,butitisongoing.IntheGospelofJohn,forexample,thereisn’tasingleturningpoint,butmul-tipleturningstowardstheLord;evenontheresurrectionmorning,whenMaryMagdalene,ThomasandPeter,severaltimesareledtoturnaround.Letuspause,justforamo-ment,andOlash-forwardfromLenttothinkaboutMaryMagdaleneonthatEastermorning,thatgreatturningpointofthelifeoftheworld.Rememberhowearlyshewent,withtheothers,tothetomb.Hadshebeenupallnight,preparingfortheordealofpreparingJesus’body,orwashersleeptroubledintheweehoursofthemorningbydreamsthatmatchedtheemotionalturmoilofthepastfewdays?ThedaybeforehadbeentheOirstSab-baththatshehadspentwithoutthepresenceofJesusforaverylongtime.NodoubtitseemedlikenoSabbathatall.Hermasterandheal-erhadreleasedherfromthetor-mentofthedemonic.Perhapstheagony,thevoid,andthedarknessnowmadeherquestionwhetherhersanitywastemporary,orwhetheritevenreallymattered.

TherewasnorestforSt.Maryandherdevastatedfriends,fortheynolongerenjoyedthepresenceoftheOnewhocametogivethemrest.Whethercompletelysleep-de-prived,oronlypartlyso,Marywenttothetombwhileitwasstilldark.Nodoubtthewholethingseemedsurreal,thehappeningsofthepastweeklikeadreamfromwhichshewishedshecouldawake.Moreover,shewashardlypreparedforwhatwouldhappen!And,indeed,thiswasthepre-dawnnotonlyofMary’sawakening,butoftheawak-eningofthewholeworld.Itwasdark,buttheevangelisttellsusitwastheOirstdayoftheweek,thatdaythatwouldsoonbecomethedayoftheLord.

Itwasdark,buttherewasthehintoflightonthehorizon.Itwasdark,butsoonshewouldbeface-to-facewiththeOnewhohadthepowertopronounce,“Lettherebelight.”Shearrivesattheinexplicablyopenedtomb;hadshe,inhergrief,mistak-enwheretheyhadlaidHim?No,thisisit:whatonearthhashap-pened?Indisbelief,sheiscom-pelledtoenter,andthere,inthedarkershadowsofthecave,sheglimpsesavisionoftwoangels.Theyaskher,“Woman,whyareyouweeping?”Whatabizarrequestion!Whywouldn’tshebecrying?Thensheturnsawayfromtheinnerdarkness,andlooksoutsideto-wardstheworld.SheseesaOigurestanding,insilhouetteagainsttheearlymorninglight:yetshedoesnotknowHim.Whywouldsheex-pecttoseeaslainmanstanding?Whywouldsheexpecttoseethedawnafteraneternalnight?Againcomesthequestion,thistimefromHim,“Woman,whyareyouweep-ing?”Thenanotherquestion:“Whoareyoulookingfor?”

OurLordistheconsummateteacher.HeinstructsbystartlingMarywithHispresence,byspeak-ingtoher,eveninthedarkness,byaskingusquestions.Atamomentwhenwethinkthatallisover,thatthereisnothinglefttohear,Hesi-lencesuswithastonishment,and

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teachesustolistenagain.ThoughwhatHespeaksisofcosmicpropor-tions,GodspeaksHiswords,ad-dressesHisquestions,tous.Itwasthiswayatthebeginningofourdy-ingworld:“Adam,whereareyou?”“Woman,whathaveyoudone?”(God,however,asksnoques-tionoftheserpent,sincethereisnothinglefttodobutrenderjudg-mentwherethatcharacteriscon-cerned.)Hereagainontheresurrectionmorning,atthedawnofanewworld,anewcreation,thelivingOneengagestheoneHeloves,oneofHisown,withquestions,invitingMaryintoHiscouncil:“Whoareyoulookingfor?”

Mary,however,isintentuponherownprogram,andcontinuesinthetrainofthoughtthatHehassoughttointerrupt.Whereisthebody?Maryislookingforabody;therisenOneinviteshertolookforaperson.HergriefpreventsherfromhearingJesus’question,andsoHecallsherbyname.AsHenamesher,sheknowsHim,whomsheisboundupwith,andwhoHeis.Shewaslook-ingforadeadman,andissurprisedbyjoy.Hereissomethingforwhichshewasnotconsciouslylooking:hereistheOnewhomakesallthings,includingherself,new.YetifshehadnotkepttheLordinherheart,ifshehadnotgonetothetomb,ifshehadnotbelievedthattherewassomethingworthkeep-ing,shewouldnothavehadtheprivilegeofbeingthatwomanwhoplayedapostletotheapostles!Shewasaspreparedasanyonecouldreasonablyexpect,forherheartwasturnedtowardstheLordshethoughtshehadlost.

ThisEastervignettecanbeapoignanthopeforusduringthistimeofLent.Atthistimeofyearwedealwiththedarkandthecold,asMarydid:springseemsmonths

away.Yetweknowthatthelightiscoming.Werememberthein-evitabilityofthatcominglightintheBridegroomservices,aswe“tryon”thetwoidentitiesofthebridesmaids:Behold,theBride-groomcomethinthemiddleofthenight,andblessedisthatservantwhomHeshallOindwatching;andagainunworthyistheonewhomHeshallOindheedless.Beware,there-fore,Omysoul,lestthoubeover-comewithsleep,lestthoubegivenuptodeath,andbeshutoutfromtheKingdom.Butrousethyselfandcry:“Holy,Holy,HolyartThou,OGod;throughtheMotherofGod,havemercyonus.”

Weseethesamesoberrealisminthatsongwherewetakeontheplightoftheundressedweddingguest,andaskforGod’sowngar-mentoflight:Thybridalchamber,OmySaviour,doIbeholdalladorned,andagarmentIhavenotthatImayentertherein.Illuminethegarmentofmysoul,OGiverofLight,andsaveme!

Thesesongsissuebothawarningandencouragement.Themessagecomesbothforeachoneofusandforallofustogether“Rouseyour-self!Prepare!Turn!”Weneedtobecontinuallyrealigned,fortheOlesh–whatweareasfallenhumanbeings–isweak.So,then,letusprepare,bothpersonallyandcorporately,whenwecomeintoGod’spresence.TheLiturgyitselfblessedlyleadsus,bysingingandprayer,byhearingandresponsetotheWord,byre-pentantandcontritewordssaidtogether,andthenbytheMysteriesthemselves,theEucharist.AsJesusdeclared,theWordmakesusclean(John15:3).Then,cleansedbyHisproclaimedWord,weenterintoHislife,receivingfromHim.Wehelpeachotherintheservice,aswecometogetherbeforetheLord.Thereisbothkneelingandstand-

ing,posturesofpenitenceandboldnessbeforeourFather.Pro-claimingpeace(andifneedbe,ask-ingforgiveness)witheachotherisarequisitetothegreateventitself.TheentireLiturgyis,asFr.Alexan-derSchmemannputit,onegreatactionofentrance,andentrance,andevenmoreentrance.LikeC.S.Lewis’sReepicheepinthelandbe-yondNarnia,wearecalled“furtherupandfurtherin.”Asweleavebe-hindourworries,wedonotleavebehindtheworldthatwelove,butcarryitinourprayersbeforeGod’sthrone.

Lent(andAdvent)areagift,then,atimewhenwecanfocusupontheworkthatGodhaslaidoutforus:preparationofourhands,ourminds,ourhearts,andourcommu-nities,tocomedeeperanddeeperintothepresenceofthatOnewhohasshockinglyenteredtheworldHemade,asahumanbeingwhowastodie.Hehasmadeforusarevolution,aturning.Eachofus,daybyday,andallofustogether,mayseekHisfaceandturnawayfromidlethings.ThatTeacher,theonetrueMaster,haslaidapattern.HehasgiventheHolySpirit,sothatwemightwalkthetruecoursetogreetHim,andopenwideallthedoorsthathavehandlesturnedto-wardsus:“Openupthegates!Openupthedoors!”Thatdying,risen,ascendedandcomingJesusisHim-selftheLordofhosts,theKingofglorywhoisourstrongdefenseinourdailybattleagainstevilandsin–inourselves,intheChurch,intheworld!We,too,canproclaim,inhope,“We’regoingtoconquer!”ForHehasdonesoalready.

EdithHumphrey,Ph.D.St.GeorgeOrthodoxCathedral,Oakland(Pittsburgh)ProfessorofNewTestament,PittsburghTheologicalSeminary

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Parish activities... S.H.A.R.E.S. Cards: We are currently raising funds for the parish schol-arship fund through the program by Save Mart and Food Maxx Supermarkets, which gives up to 3% of your purchases to our St. Peter Scholarship Fund. All you need to do is swipe your SHARES card before you pay for your groceries. SHARES cards are available in the narthex. For the 3rd quarter of 2015 we received $394.55. Pick one up today and start shopping!

Parish Website:Miss church one Sunday?  Did you know that we post the weekly bulletin on the web?  Simply go to www.stpeterfresno.com and view the bulletin at home.

Coffee Hour Schedule...It is time to start planning our Sunday Coffee Hour schedule for 2016. We thank all parishioners who participated during the past year in this wonderful fellowship ministry! Coffee Hour is an opportunity for us to wel-come and greet the many visitors who attend Liturgy and for parishioners to be able to visit with one another. We are planning the schedule for 2016 and if you have a date

that you would prefer next year please contact Shirley Bundros at 940-9216 or by email at sbundros@gmail.com. Otherwise you will be scheduled during the same month as last year. If you have never sponsored and prepared a coffee hour or are new to the parish please consider be-coming a coffee hour sponsor in 2916!

Friendly reminder...We remind everyone to send in the balance of your pledge commitment for 2015. You can con-tact financial secretary Janice McAtee at 447-9665 or janicemcatee@hotmail.com to check on your 2015 balance. 2015 donation statements will only be mailed out by request. Contact Janice if you would like to receive a copy for income tax pur-poses.

Annual AssemblyOur Annual Assembly was held on Sunday, De-cember 13, 2015. There were 44 Stewards in at-tendance. Fr. George, the Parish Council officers, committee chairpersons and the parish auxiliary organizations, presented reports. The budget for 2016 was also approved.

Elected to serve in 2016 are:President: Anthony Olivo1st Vice-president: Jim Ward2nd Vice-president: Jonathan HartRecording Secretary: Deborah HartTreasurer: Marilyn JurkovichFinancial Secretary: Janice McAtee

From the parish records… Baptism: Sage Featherstone, on December 13, 2015 Harrison Graham, son of Vincent and Allyson (Penny) Wall, on December 20, 2015

Rosalie Katherine, daughter of David and Jenna Wisar, on December 27, 2015 Chrismation: Jacob Alexander, son of Vincent and

Allyson (Penny) Wall, on December 20, 2015

Many Years!

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Members-at-large: Jason Epperson, Michael Cas-tro, Ron Tarailo, Andrej RomanenkoAuditors: Eric Miller, chairperson; Christopher Bundros, .Tutors: Bill Cucuk, Vera Naden, Tim Penny, Andrej Romanenko, Natalie Sidel, Jonathan Hart, Jim Ward

Congratulations to our newly elected officers! We en-courage all parishioners to assist them in their work in the year ahead. Many thanks also to our stewards that stayed and participated in the Annual Assembly! We are awaiting approval of our annual election from the Diocesan Administrative Board and plan to have the Oath of Office administered on Sunday, January 18 at the end of the Divine Liturgy

Theophany House Blessings: The traditional blessing of homes will begin after the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord on January 19. Please note that the sched-ule of services for January has been adjusted to reflect that Father George has not yet received the physician’s au-thorization to re-turn back to work full time. House blessings will also be adjusted accord-ingly.

If you would like to have your home blessed, please contact Father George by email: stpeter@me.com or call him at 696-7015 to sched-ule an appointment. When Father arrives, please have the following ready: a bowl for holy water, an icon of Theophany or of Christ, a candle, and separate lists of living and departed loved ones for remembrance. Radios, televisions, and other elec-tronic devices should be turned off.. Anyone wish-ing to have the house blessed will be accommo-dated.

We will have the annual blessing of water at the Theophany Liturgy on January 19 at 9:30 a.m. Please bring your own clean bottles or containers if you wish to take Holy Water home

Ministry opportunity: The Pregnancy Care Center needs English-speak-ing and bilingual female and male volunteers! We invite you to join us for an Orientation on Thurs-day, January 21, 2016 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Come explore your calling to be a volunteer client advocate, ambassadors etc., and we urgently need RNs. We now have a Men’s Ministry at PCC!! We need male advocates, RV drivers, and mentors. Training is provided for each area of service. Reg-istration is suggested. Call 237-0789 to RSVP or for further information.

Christmas Eve Fellowship:On Wednesday, January 6 following the Vigil Ser-vice for the Nativity of our Lord at 7:00 p.m., the Mothers’ Club Board will be preparing the fellow-ship hour. They ask parishioners to please bring lenten desserts. You may drop off your desserts in the hall kitchen prior to going into the church for the service. Thank you!

Our Appreciation:In November we offered parishioners two alms-giving opportunities. On Sunday, November 22 a collection was taken for International Orthodox Christian Charities on IOCC Sunday. $646.00 was collected at the end of the Liturgy and forwarded to IOCC.

On November 22 we also completed our month-long Thanksgiving Food Drive. Your donations of non perishable food items, along with $560.00 to-wards fresh vegetables and meats was delivered to the Evangel Home. Evangel Home is a rehabilita-tion program for homeless mothers with young children who are overcoming addictions. Thank you and God bless all who participated!

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" December 20158

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You are invited to spend an enjoyable day with us at our annual Saint Sava Day Celebration

Savindan Sunday, January 31

Liturgy at 9:30 a.m. Followed by the blessing of the festal bread, luncheon and program! Luncheon donation: Adults $10.00 /17 & under no charge!

Everyone Welcome! Come and support our

Church School children!

ChurchSchoolNewsHey Kids, it's time to get ready for our Church School St. Sava Day Program!

On Saturday, January 16 we will have our first St. Sava program rehearsal and a bowling outing! All Church School students will meet at the Education Building at 1:00 p.m. for our St. Sava program rehearsal. At 2:30 we will go bowling at Fresno State Lanes located at the Student Union. We will bowl until 4:30 p.m. and re-turn to church for Vespers at 5:00. There will be no cost for the bowling. Parental supervision is needed for the outing. If you cannot go to the bowling lanes, you must arrange for your child's transportation and supervision with another family from church. Questions? Call Father George at 696-7015.

We will also have practice on Saturday, January 17 and 24 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The St. Sava Program will be on January 31 beginning with Liturgy at 9:30 a.m. followed by the Luncheon. We will start the Program promptly after lunch!

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December 2015 "9

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Church Clean-up Day SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2016

10:00AM START-UP TIMEAFTER CLEANING UP WE WILL DECORATE FOR CHRISTMAS!

All parishioners and their families are invited to attend to help care for our spiritual home.

A great way to dedicate our Time to Christ!

We look forward to seeing you!

Stewardship Reflection  In acquiring this Spirit of God consists the true aim of Christian life, while prayer, vigil, fast-ing, almsgiving and other good works done for Christ's sake are merely means for acquiring the Spirit of God. That's it, Your Godliness. In acquiring this Spirit of God consists the true aim of our Christian life, while prayer, vigil, fasting, almsgiving and other good works done for Christ's sake are merely means for acquiring the Spirit of God.

Acquiring is the same as obtaining. You understand, of course, what acquiring money means? Acquiring the Spirit of God is exactly the same. You know well enough what it means in a worldly sense, your Godliness, to acquire. The aim in life of ordinary worldly people is to ac-quire or make money, and for the nobility it is in addition to receive honours, distinctions and other rewards for their services to the government. The acquisition of God's Spirit is also capi-tal, but grace-giving and eternal, and it is obtained in very similar ways, almost the same ways as monetary, social and temporal capital.

God the Word, the God-Man, our Lord Jesus Christ, compares our life with a market, and the work of our life on earth He calls trading, and says to us all: Trade till I come (Lk. 19:13), re-deeming the time, because the days are evil (Eph. 5:16). That is to say, make the most of your time for getting heavenly blessings through earthly goods. Earthly goods are good works done for Christ's sake and conferring on us the grace of the All-Holy Spirit.

In the parable of the wise and foolish virgins, when the foolish ones lacked oil, it was said: 'Go and buy in the market.' But when they had bought, the door of the bride-chamber was already shut and they could not get in. Some say that the lack of oil in the lamps of the foolish virgins means a lack of good deeds in their lifetime.

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" December 201510

Team 1January 10 & 24Braeden EppersonMason EppersonJoseph HartMichael WorkJustus Alfaro

Team 2January 3, 17 & 31Luke AlsobrookCaleb AlsobrookLance VukajovićNickolas VukajlovićJosiah Alfaro

January Altar Schedule:

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Stewardship 2016

Epistle Readers Schedule:

January 3 Lazarus McAtee January 10 Joseph Alsobrook January 17 Jonathan Hart January 24 Lazarus McAtee

January 31 Joseph Alsobrook

Our heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to the parishioners who were Stewards of St. Peter’s in 2015! God bless them and may He lift up His countenance upon us to help us make the forthcoming stewardship year that began on Sunday November 15 as fruitful as this past year. If you have not received our stewardship appeal for the coming year, please contact the church office at stpeter@me.com.

Plan to join the list of Stewards of our parish in 2016!

Angelich, OlgaBahn, MarilynBatrich-Smith, StacyBaziuk, John/SuzannaBrickey, Gabe/MikaBrooks, Alisa RakichBukilica, SallyBundros, Christopher/ShirleyCastro, Mike/AnnabelleChaplain, MauraChern, Oleg/ElenaChristensen, EleanorClemensen, Wayne/LisaCoffeen, VeraContreras, Alexander IICucuk, BarbaraDeYoung, J. Ryan/CarrieDuran, Jesus/YvonneFoley, Jack/HeidiGligich, DanielGruich, GregoryHart, Jonathan/DeborahIsaak, Tamara

Klingel, Friedhelm/TatianaKojovich, HelenMarinovich, BrankoMatthews, Dn. Brad/PeggyMay, LyudmylaMcAtee, Randy/JaniceMilinich, BarbaraMiller, Eric/YolyMyovich, Kyle/NikiNaden, VeraOlivo, Anthony/CicilyOxford, Tom/LynnPavic, DejanPavlovich, GeorgePenny, Tim/NancyPestorich, MatthewPestorich, John/StaciPestorich, Vera/LarryPetrosian, John/LizaPoulsen, Christian/NatalieRadoicich, FrancesRadojkovich, NadaRadovich, Savo/Milka

Romanenko, Andrej/CarolynScamagas, Peter/KatinaSidel, NatalieSidel, SandraSkochko, Steve/AllisonSmirnov, Nicholas/GayleSmith, CassidySpadier, DarinkaSpadier, Dushan/JulianaSpolsdoff, James/AlaSpolsdoff, AllisonSpolsdoff, KatherineStijovic, MimaTarailo, Ron/RadmilaTarailo, ZorkaVodak, Gary/JamieVukajlovic, LarryVukajlovic, Mark/CristinaWard, Jim/SvetlanaWoolley, James/MarjorieZenovich, Vera

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Parish Directory

Contact Information: Church Office: (559) 227-2840 Church Hall: (559) 227-5565 FAX: (559) 227-0501 Email: stpeter@me.com Website: www.stpeterfresno.com

Parish Clergy: V. Rev. George Gligich (559) 696-7015Protodeacon Brad Matthews (Retired)

Choir Director: Peggy Matthews (559) 960-2151

Worship Services:

Saturday Vespers at 5:00 p.m.Confessions on Saturdays after vespers or during the week by appointment.

Sunday Liturgy at 9:30 a.m.Church School on Sundays from September through May following Holy Communion.

Weeknight Vespers at 7:00 p.m.

Weekday Liturgy (Holy Days) at 9:00 a.m.

Liturgy & CS 9:30 a.m.

Liturgy & C.S. 9:30 a.m.Parish Council mtg. 12:30p

Liturgy & C.S. 9:30 a.m.Mothers’ Club Installation

Luncheon 11:30a

Liturgy & C.S. 9:30 a.m.

St. Sava practice & Bowling

outing at 1:00p

Vespers 5:00p

No Liturgy

Vespers & confession

5:00p

Vespers & confession

5:00p

St. Sava practice 3:00pVespers & confession

5:00p

St. Sava practice 3:00pVespers & confession

5:00p

No Liturgy

6th Hour Prayers at Noon

Vigil Service 7:00p /

Blessing of the Badnjak &

Social Hour

6th Hour Prayers at Noon

Divine Liturgy 9:30a

Divine Liturgy 9:30aChristmas Social 11:30a

Divine Liturgy 9:30aSt. Sava Luncheon &

Program at 11:30a

Liturgy 9:30a

No Liturgy

Vigil Service 7:00p Divine Liturgy 9:30a /

Blessing of Water

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

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St. Stephen the Archdeacon

CHRSTMAS/Nativity of our Lord

Holy Fathers Christmas Eve

Circumcision / St. Basil

Theophany Eve

Synaxis of the Theotokos

THEOPHANY Synaxis of St. John the Baptist

St. Sava

Sun. after Nativity

Sun. before Theophany

Sun. after Theophany

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St. Peter Serbian Orthodox Church3502 N. First Street

Fresno, CA 93726-6802

Return Service Requested

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

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St. Peter the Apostle Church Monthly Newsletter January 2016