August 2, 2006
STATEMENT ON THE CRISIS IN THE MIDDLE EAST
BY
ARCHBISHOP DEMETRIOS
Dearly Beloved,
These are terrible times, times we never
thought we would see again. These are times of mourning,
mourning for the hundreds who have already perished and the
thousands who have been injured, or are homeless and living
as refugees. These are times also for praying, praying to
the almighty God that the violence will stop and that peace,
justice, tranquility and prosperity will prevail for all the
inhabitants of the Middle East, and especially in Israel and
Lebanon, where the latest cycle of violence, war, and
bloodshed has erupted.
The present hostilities between Hezbollah
and Israel have brought destruction and loss of life to both
Lebanon and Israel. These are brought to our attention
daily by the mass media.
We are not and cannot be indifferent to
the suffering of the inhabitants of Lebanon and Israel,
Muslims, Christians and Jews.
We express our profound grief for all who
have died and their mourning families and communities, for
all who have lost their homes and their livelihood, and for
the vast destruction of the land involved in the war.
We call upon our government and the United
Nations to intercede and to initiate strong diplomatic
efforts to envision, formulate, and enforce an immediate
ceasefire and a just and lasting peace, since we painfully
see that the bombing and destruction continues unabated.
We call upon our President to speak for
peace, and to support dialogue and diplomacy as the
appropriate solution to conflicts.
We call upon all Greek Orthodox Christians
in America to join us in prayer to the merciful God as we
begin the fast for the Dormition of the Theotokos, on August
1. Let us all call upon the most-holy Mother of God to
intercede for our suffering brothers and sisters throughout
the Middle East.
Recognizing the humanitarian crisis
resulting from the violence, we appeal to all our faithful
to open their hearts and to offer whatever possible to their
parishes for transmission to International Orthodox
Christian Charities (IOCC) for its efforts to provide
humanitarian assistance on our behalf directly to the
vulnerable and suffering people and communities.
With fervent prayers to the merciful and
almighty God,
+DEMETRIOS
Archbishop of America
Service Hours: Sundays and Feast Days: Orthros at
9:30 a.m.; Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m.
Evening Services as Announced
Saints for Today: Restitution of
the Feast of the Transfiguration; Relocation of the Relics
of St. Maximos the Confessor; Empress Eudokia (+460);
Empress Irene; Righteous Dositheos;
==================================================================
9th
SUNDAY OF MATTHEW – RESTITUTION OF THE TRANSFIGURATION FEAST
Second Antiphon:
“Save us O Son of God, who was transfigured on Mount
Tabor, we sing to you, Alleluia.”
Dismissal Hymn of the
Transfiguration
(Sung in Greek
before the Entrance by the leaders) ("Metemorfotheis en
to Orei").
Priest’s Entrance Hymn:
“With You, O Lord, is the fountain of life and in your
light we shall see light.
People sing: “Save
us O Son of God, who was transfigured on Mount Tabor,
we sing to you, Alleluia.”
Dismissal Hymn of the
Resurrection - Plagal 4th Tone
(Sing in English
after the Entrance) ("From on high did you descend")
Hymnal, 89.
Dismissal Hymn of the
Feast
(Read) You were
transfigured on the Mountain, / O Christ God, / showing your
disciples as much of your glory as they could hold. Let your
eternal light shine also upon us sinners, / through the
prayers of the Mother of God. / O giver of light, glory to
you.
Dismissal Hymn of the
Presentation of Christ
(Sing)
from the Sheet in the Pew.
Kontakion for the Feast
of the Transfiguration (August 6)
Sung in Greek by
the leaders: “Epi tou Orous metemorfotheis.”
(Read)
On the Mountain You were transfigured, / O Christ our God, /
and your Disciples saw / as much of your glory as they could
hold, / so that when they should see you crucified, / they
would know that You suffered willingly, / and would proclaim
to the world / that You are truly the Splendor of the
Father.
Return to p. 26
of the Hymnal, to sing “Holy God . . . .”
EPISTLE –1st
Corinthians 3:9-17 (9th Sunday)
Brethren, we are God's fellow workers; you
are God's field, God's building. According to the grace of
God given to me, like a skilled master builder. I laid a
foundation, and another man is building upon it. Let each
man take care how he builds upon it. For no other foundation
can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus
Christ. Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold,
silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw - each man's work
will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because
it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what
sort of work each one has done. If the work which any man
has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a
reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss,
though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's
Spirit dwells in you? If any one destroys God's temple, God
will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and that temple
you are.
GOSPEL
– Matthew 14:22-34 (9th Sunday)
At that time, Jesus made the disciples
get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while
he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the
crowds, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. When
evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time
was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the
waves; for the wind was against them. And in the fourth
watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But
when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were
terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for
fear. But immediately he spoke to them, saying "Take heart,
it is I; have no fear." And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it
is you, bid me come to you on the water." He said, "Come."
So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and
came to Jesus; but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and
beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." Jesus
immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to
him, "O man of little faith, why did you doubt?" And when
they entered the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the
boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
And when they had crossed over, they came to land at
Gennesaret.
Communion Hymn
(In place of “Praise the Lord” Hymnal, 66)
Sung by the leaders – “En to
foti tes doxes sou.”
(Read) We shall walk, / O Lord, / in
the light of your countenance forever. / Alleluia.
(In place of “We have seen the light, Hymnal
70), the leaders sing the Dismissal Hymn of the Feast “Metemorfotheis
en to orei.”
(Read) You were
transfigured on the Mountain, / O Christ God, / showing your
disciples as much of your glory as they could hold. Let your
eternal light shine also upon us sinners, / through the
prayers of the Mother of God. / O giver of light, glory to
you.
TWO TRAYS TODAY 1) FOR
Stewardship &
Visitors’ DONATIONS &
2) BUILDING FUND DONATIONS
FOR THE RECORD: July
23-Candles $76; Visitors’ Offering $164; Attendance 85.
July 30-Candles $62; Visitors’ Offering $107;
Stewardship $700; Building Fund $10; Fund Raising $120;
Attendance 43. August 6-Candles $68; Stewardship
$1060; Visitors’ Offering $102; Diakonia Magazine
$12; Attendance 44. We thank all who support the work of
Christ the Savior Church.
SUPPLICATORY SERVICE (PARAKLESIS):
An abbreviated form of the Supplicatory Service to
the Theotokos will be sung today following the Divine
Liturgy. Enclosed is a sheet for you to write the names of
the living members of your family and others for whom we
will pray for health and wellbeing if you have not done
so previously.
COFFEE HOUR SPONSORS
for today are Bill and Harriet Pasisis.Many thanks! We are
grateful for this stewardship. Sign up to sponsor the Coffee
Hour.
The Christ the Savior “ CARD MINISTRY”
will be assumed by a new parishioner of Christ the
Savior Church, Frances Porter, who has offered to do
this ministry of Time and Talent. Many Thanks to Frances
for assuming this important service to our Church!
PROSFORON
BAKERS: Connie Mourgides 8/13; Argiris & Carol Gynmaos
8/20; Fran Triantafilon 8/27; Helen Nicolelis 9/3; Gloria
Vardakis 9/10; George Nikas 9/17. Venice Cosmadelis 9/24;
Presbytera Emily Harakas 10/1; George Nikas 10/8.George
Nikas is Chair.
THE DORMITION OF THE THEOTOKOS, Tuesday, August 15.
Orthros at 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m. Come
to Church for this Important Church Feast.
ST.
KATHERINE SOCIETY: We are pleased to announce that at
the request of the Executive Committee, Patricia Heuer has
accepted to serve as Treasurer of the Society until the next
elections. We are grateful to Patricia for offering this
Stewardship.
BULLETIN SPONSORS ARE NEEDED NOW! See Gloria Vardakis,
President. $25.
WELCOME VISITORS! We are happy that you are worshiping with us today.
Please know that HOLY COMMUNION is offered in the Orthodox Church only to
Orthodox Christians in good spiritual standing. If you are not an Orthodox
Christian, please receive the blessed bread at the end of the Divine Liturgy and
join us at Coffee Hour. To learn more about the Orthodox Church, contact Fr.
Stanley at 796-2377.
