The Orthodox Messenger
 Vol. IV, No. 34 – Sunday, August 21, 2005

Christ the Savior Greek Orthodox Church - Presentation of Christ at the Temple

The Hellenic Orthodox Mission of Hernando County, Florida - “A Pan-Orthodox Christian Community”

Ecumenical Patriarchate + Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America + Metropolis of Atlanta

13460 Olympic Village Lane, Brooksville, FL -  (352) 796-8482

Website: http://orthodoxhernandocountyfl.org

Fr. Stanley S. Harakas,  Th.D. D.D., (352) 688-2382; Cell (352) 263-3005; Fax (352) 688-9846; Email: Rharakas@aol.com

THE KNOCKING AT THE DOOR
By Fr. Andrew Demotses

     Some people would have us believe that we are nothing more than thinking animals, and the objects of the blind forces of nature. The whole of our Judeo-Christian tradition, however, teaches us that we are the “crown of all creation” having been accorded the distinction of having both the ability and freedom to choose or reject a relationship with God.

     The magnificent book of Revelation portrays Jesus as saying, “Behold, I stand at your door and knock.” (3:2). This raises the question of why Jesus does not come in. Does he not have the power to enter wherever he wishes? Elsewhere, in fact, Scripture tells us “the disciples were gathered together behind locked doors . . . when Jesus came and stood among them.” (Jn 20:19). Why, then, does He choose to stand outside, knocking at the door of each frail human heart? Could He not break down that door in a moment, and eliminate any opposing barrier? Yes, but in doing so he would also destroy what is unique in each of us, for what makes us human is precisely that ability to open the door.

     If we did not have the power to both open the door and keep it closed, we would not be responsible, or accountable. God might then do with us what he wanted, but we would not be worth His possession. We would simply be like the unconscious stars that He fills with light and the winds which He directs on their way.

     But if the stars and the winds had been enough, God would never have said, “Let us make man in Our image, according to our likeness.” (Gen. 1:26) He made us in his image and according to His likeness, precisely because He meant us to be more than a star. He meant us to respond to Himself, to open at His knocking at our door, and to enter into a relationship with Him.

      Have you heard the knocking at your door? Have you opened it to invite Him to enter? Remember that in all of Creation, only we can say “yes or “no” to God.                                                   

Service Hours: Sundays and Feast Days: Orthros at 9:30 am; Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am

Evening Services as Announced

Saints: Thaddeus the Apostle; Vassa, the Martyr and her children Theognos, Agapios and Pistos; Samuel the Prophet (1075 B.C.);  Heliodoros and Photine, Martyrs; Lucius the Senator (3rd c.); Abramios, Wonderworker of Smolensk; Sarmean, Catholikos of Georgia.

9th SUNDAY OF MATTHEW

GOSPEL ENTRANCE AND OTHER HYMN

Dismissal Hymn of the Resurrection - Plagal 4th  Tone

   (Sing in Greek before the Entrance) ("Ex ypsous katelthes").Hymnal,  89.

   (Sing in English after the Entrance) ("From on high did you descend"). (Same)

Dismissal Hymn of the Dormition

  (Read)  In giving birth,  / you retained your virginity, / and in the Dormition / you did not forsake the world, / O Theotokos. / You were translated unto life, / being the Mother of Life. / And thus by virtue of your intercessions / you deliver our souls from death.

Dismissal Hymn of the Presentation of Christ - (Sing) From sheet in the pew.

Kontakion of the Dormition

(Read) Truly, the Theotokos, / who is ever watchful in intercessions, / who is never rejected, / neither tomb nor death could control. / But being the Mother of Life, / He who dwelt in her ever-virgin womb / did translate her to life.

                        Return to p. 26 of the Hymnal, to sing “Holy God . . . .”

   EPISTLE – 1 Corinthians  3:9-17 (9th Matthew) + 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 Matthew) + 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

  

PARISH EVENTS JUNE-JULY-AUGUST, 2005 

                                           Metropolis Clergy-Laity, Mobile,  AL 6/1-5/05

Fr. Stanley & Paul Cosmadelis
Relaxing In the Hotel Lobby

Metropolitan Alexios, Paul &
Venice in Deep Conversation        

Chancellor Fr. George Tsahakis, Presbytera Emily & Fr. Stanley 

Parish Picnic – Delta Woods Park -  7/16/05
The Thomas’ Around the   Table With Evan at the Center!   Betty, Nanka, Fran, Dee, Helen  And Guest  

Amy, Yanni, Nicole, Karen And Brianna

7/31/05
40 Day Churching of Myra Moshonisiotis & Son Alexander

8/9/05
Delivery of School Supplies From Christ the Savior Church to Pine Grove Elementary

 

FOR THE RECORD: August 14, 2005:  Attendance 35; Stewardship $205; Visitors’ Offering  10; Candles $67; Building Fund $103.  Many thanks!

NO TRAY WILL BE PASSED TODAY – MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS AT THE ENTRANCE TABLE

   PROSFORON BAKERS: Connie Mourgides 8/15 (Dormition of the Theotokos); George Nikas 8/21; Presbytera Emily Harakas 8/28;  Argyris and Carol Gymnaos 9/4; Gloria Vardakis 9/11; Fran Triantafilon 9/14 (Elevation of Holy Cross). You, too, can make Prosforon Bread. For the recipe and instructions call George Nikas, Prosforon Bakers Chairperson at 597-1375.

   WISDOM FROM THE FATHERS OF THE CHURCH: “Be zealous within your soul in love for God, without showing it in the least, either by visible sign, or by word, or by hint. And you will only do this when you stop looking down on your neighbor.”  St. John of the Ladder.

   PARENTS! You are urged to enroll your children in the Christ the Savior Sunday School for the 2005-2006 school year. Enrollment will take place on Sunday, September 4 and Sunday, September 11. Classes will begin on Sunday, September 18. Don’t forget . . .A FAMILY THAT PRAYS TOGETHER, STAYS TOGETHER!
 

CHICKEN BARBEQUE! TODAY, AUGUST 21

                            A great family time!

  Chicken Barbeque after church services TODAY.

Ticket prices for a full meal including the main course, vegetables, salad and dessert are $8 for adults, $4 for children 6 to 12, and free for children 5 and under. Plan to join the fun!

   

    ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (P.E.P.): On Friday, September 16 we will begin our Parish Education Program (P.E.P.). We will meet every Friday from 2-4 p.m. with Bible Study alternating with other topics weekly. We look forward to seeing you!

     ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (EVENING SPIRITUAL LIFE GROUP): For those who cannot attend in the daytime P.E.P. classes we are planning an Organizational Meeting for and Evening Spiritual Life Group with Bible Study, the Study of Orthodox Books, Video Presentations and Discussion. The Organizational Meeting will be held at the Church at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 28. Plan on attending!

   OFFER: For a brief time, an offer was made to buy our property at our asking price, but it was withdrawn. Our real estate dealer, Bickel Realty, will continue to market our property so as to raise funds toward the construction of a modest but accessible church and hall nearer to the center of Hernando County.

    INTERESTED IN HELPING TEACH IN THE SUNDAY SCHOOL? Your help is needed! Contact Presbytera Emily Harakas (688-2382) or Venice Cosmadelis (686-1199). Sunday School classes resume on September 16.

CHURCH BULLETIN BOARD MESSAGE:

“An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind” – Ghandi.

   EAT FREE! Did you know that Chick-fil-A’ Restaurant at 13143 Cortez Blvd. in Brooksville will exchange a copy of this bulletin for a free sandwich? But never on Sunday! The store is open Monday through Saturday.

   LOOKING FORWARD 1 – SEPTEMBER 25: Mark your calendar! We will be enjoying a Spaghetti Dinner fund raiser on Sunday, September 25 after the Divine Liturgy. Details will soon be announced. Plan on it!

   LOOKING FORWARD 2 – OCTOBER 6-8 (Thursday-Saturday): Parish-Wide Yard Sale! Start cleaning out that garage, those closets, the bookshelves, for all kinds of useful and valuable Yard Sale Items. You can start bringing them to the Church Hall now. We want to make this a really special fund-raiser for our mission parish!

                      FR. STANLEY’S PERSONAL BUILDING FUND APPEAL

    As an effort to raise funds for our Building Fund, Fr. Stanley has written letters to some of his former students whom he taught at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, MA, asking them to donate through their parishes, to our Building Fund. Several wrote to Fr. Stanley that their own parishes were involved in building projects and could not assist our Mission. However, several have already responded, and we expect more responses in the near future. We wish to thank the following Priests and their Parishes for their generous donation to our Building Fund:

   Fr. Constantine Mersinos – Saints Markella and Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, Fort Walton Beach, FL (they are presently building a church) -$100.

   Fr. Alexander Goussetis & Fr. Alexander Veronis – Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, Lancaster, PA - $500.

   Fr. Harry Pappas – St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church, Minneapolis, MN -$250.

   Fr. Michael Courey – St. Katherine Greek Orthodox Church Philoptohos Society, Redondo Beach, CA - $1,000.

   Fr. Stanley expresses deep gratitude and appreciation to these fellow Priests and to their parishioners for these expressions of love and support. As a Mission seeking to grow and build an Orthodox presence in Hernando County, we are also most thankful to our fellow Orthodox Christian Parishes from throughout the country, all of which have their own needs, for their generous support. We hope that some day in the near future, we will be able to send them photographs of our new church and hall, as we ourselves practice sacrificial giving to make it a reality! As new responses to this appeal come in, they will be reported in the Orthodox Messenger. We are grateful!

   OVERCOMING BAD HABITS: “Let us not procrastinate till tomorrow. For we ‘know not what the next day may bring forth,’ nor let us say ‘we shall conquer the habit little by little,’ since this ‘little by little’ will never come to an end.”  St. John Chrysostom.

   HOSPITALIZED: Please pray for Achilleas Koulouvaris who is hospitalized once again at Holy Cross Hospital in Fr. Lauderdale. We pray for his rapid recovery.

    MANY THANKS to Venice Cosmadelis, who very artistically framed the antique icon of the Presentation of Christ at the Temple donated to our church by His Eminence, Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta. It is beautifully done and is now in the Chapel. We are indeed grateful for this most generous stewardship of time and talent! Many thanks!          

    BULLETIN SPONSORS ARE NEEDED for the balance of August and September! You can observe the memory of a beloved relative or friend, celebrate a birthday or anniversary, or congratulate someone on an accomplishment or milestone in their lives. It costs $25 and helps cover some of the costs of printing and mailing The Orthodox Messenger. Call Connie Mourgides, Treasurer at 686-0589.             

BULLETIN SPONSOR: HARRIET PASISIS
“In Loving Memory of My Good Friend Kyriake (Kay) Athan. May Her Memory Be Eternal!”

THE FAMILY THAT PRAYS TOGETHER, STAYS TOGETHER – COME TO CHURCH!

 
CHRIST THE SAVIOR
GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

P.O. BOX 5566

SPRING HILL, FL 34611

 


 "REPENTANCE is reconciliation with the Lord by the practice of good deeds that are the opposite of the sins we commit.”  

St. John of the Ladder

 

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