The Orthodox Messenger

Vol. III, No. 33 – Sunday, August 22, 2004

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

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

                                             Website: http://orthodoxhernandocountyfl.org

GUIDELINES FOR OUR CHURCH’S LIFE

   Recently, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios was interviewed in the Greek-American newspaper, The National Herald. There was one question that seemed to provide for our Christ the Savior Mission guidelines for our life as an Orthodox Christian Community. This is the answer of His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios.

     In my formal speech at the Holy Trinity Cathedral of New York on September 18, 1999, upon assuming my duties as Archbishop, I had asked the entire Greek Orthodox Omogeneia (membership) to work with zeal, method, and persistence for the achievement of three goals: The cultivation and growth of the Orthodox faith; the cultivation of real, limitless love; and the strengthening of an unbreakable unity. The almost five years that have passed since, have been years of continuous labor and incessant efforts for the realization of this triptych of dynamic faith, boundless love, and unbreakable unity in the life of the Church.

    I thank God and give glory to Him, for in this case he gave us “abundantly far more than all we can ask or think (Ephesians 3:20).” Our Hierarchs, and the Clergy and Laity from all corners of the USA have given superb examples of faith, love and unity. They have confirmed the truth that the spiritual and cultural potential of our Church in America is enormous indeed, because our Church here is predestined by God to pay an important role in spreading the Orthodox message to the contemporary world. This has been my daily experience and understanding during the five years of my ministry here.

    Those three goals – the cultivation and growth of our Orthodox Faith, the cultivation of real, limitless love among us, and the strengthening of our unbreakable unity, are essential for us, as well, here at Christ the Savior Greek Orthodox Church.

    It is just as important for us to affirm together with Archbishop Demetrios that we must continue to work with zeal, method and persistence to put those goals into practice.

                Service hours: Sundays and Feast days: Orthros at 9:30 am; Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am.

 

POST-DORMITION OF THE THEOTOKOS-12 SUNDAY OF MATTHEW

GOSPEL ENTRANCE AND OTHER HYMNS

Dismissal Hymns – of the Dormition

   (Sung in Greek by leaders before the Entrance) "En te gennesi".

Dismissal Hymn of the Resurrection in the 3^rd Tone

   (Sing in English after the Entrance). "Let all things rejoice."Hymnal,  83-84.

Dismissal Hymn of the Dormition

   (Read) In giving birth / you retained your virginity, / and in 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 the sheet in the pew.

   (Text): “Hail, O Mother of God, Virgin full of Grace. Through you did arise the Sun of righteousness, Christ our God, enlightening those in darkness. And you made glad righteous Elder Simeon, receiving and embracing the liberation of our souls; also giving to us the resurrection.”

Kontakion of the Dormition

   (Read) The Theotokos, / unsleeping in intercession / and the immovable hope of protection, / could not be retained by any tomb or death. / For being Life’s own Mother, she was transferred to life by Him, / who dwelt in the ever-virgin womb.

Return to a page 26 for “Holy God”and for the Epistle and Gospel Readings

   EPISTLE – 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 (12^th Matthew) +  Brethren, I would remind you in what terms I preached to you the gospel, which you received, in which you stand, by which you are saved, if you hold it fast - unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God which is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

   GOSPEL – Matthew 19:16-26 (12^th Matthew) +  At that time, a young man came up to Jesus, kneeling and saying, "Good Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?" And he said to him, "Why do you call me good? One there is who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments." He said to him, "Which?" And Jesus said, "You shall not kill, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and You shall love your neighbor as yourself." The young man said to him, "All these I have observed; what do I still lack?" Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions. And Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly, I say to you, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." When the disciples heard this they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?" But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

  

   “Hurricane Charley was coming straight at us here in Hernando County . . .

. . .  but it swerved East and we were spared of its terrible destruction. We all should be so grateful and reach out with compassion to the victims in Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte, Orlando and Daytona Beach . . .”  Said by a Christ the Savior Orthodox Church Mission Council Member

 

 

Don’t Delay – Do it Today!

 

SPECIAL MESSAGE

FROM THE MISSION COUNCIL

August 22, 2004

 

Dear Christ the Savior Stewards and Friends,

 

   We are all very pleased with the near capacity attendance at Sunday Liturgy during the summer months.

   Your Mission Council, however, is concerned about the comfort and safety of our parishioners, especially in the light of our members who have “gone North” and will be soon returning soon to our church, creating a question of space and security.

   For this reason, we have decided to temporarily remake the Fellowship Hall into a church to accommodate everybody comfortably and safely during the Winter months.

   In this task we are being helped with the loan of church items for our use by the “Outreach and Evangelism Department” of our Archdiocese and the possible loan of a portable Iconostasis by a neighboring Orthodox Church.

   In the meantime, we must prepare the Fellowship Hall for this step. We need Stewards and Friends to share of their time and talents to make this happen by the beginning of October. Can you help with moving items out of the Fellowship Hall? . . .  carpenter work?. . . sewing of needed coverings? . . .  repairing and installing the pews? . . . working on the walkway to the Dining Hall? . . . etc.

   So, Coffee Hour will be held from now on, in the Dining Hall.

 

To volunteer your help, speak to George Nikas Chair of the Facilities and Grounds Committee. Or call him at 597-1375.

                

FOR THE RECORD: :  August 15, 2004: Attendance-61; Offering-$130; Candles-$71; Hospitality-$56; Pave It!-$75. Thank you!

   NEW STEWARDS: We are pleased to receive Stewardship Declarations from Stephen and Patricia Heuer, who were Chrismated last week along with their daughter Susanne and were spiritually received into the Orthodox Church. Welcome! Please write their names and address (10279 Rayburn Ct., Spring Hill, FL 34608, 684-6663) in your 2004-2005 Parish Directory.

  COMMUNION WINE: Many thanks to Argyris and Carol Gymnaos for the donation of two bottles of Communion Wine. We are grateful!

   HOSPTALIZED: HealthSouth: Chrysokaty Georgacopulos. Rapid Recovery!

   THE PAVE IT! DRIVE HONOR ROLE will be published on September 19, 2004 in The Orthodox Messenger, listing all of those who contributed to the drive. Please make out your check to CSGOC, mark “Pave It!” on the memo line and send your contribution to the “Pave It! Drive,” CSGOC, P.O. Box 5566, Spring Hill, FL, 34611.

   A COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING on our petition to erect two new signs for our Church on Sunshine Grove at the Olympic Village Lane intersection will probably be held this Tuesday August 24. We will inform you as soon as we can.

   OUR HURRICANE CHARLEY SUPPORT, at the direction of His Eminence, Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta, today, there will be a collection to benefit the victims. Our churches in Port Charlotte, Ft. Meyers and Orlando suffered damage. Parishioners’ homes and businesses were destroyed. Send your contribution to Christ the Savior Church, P.O. Box 5566, Spring Hill, FL 34611, with “Hurricane Charley” on the memo line. We will forward all collections to the Metropolis Philoptohos.

   Parish Education Program (P.E.P.) – 1 Adult Education Classes will resume on Friday, September 17, 2004 at 2:00 p.m. We will continue our study of the Gospel of John. Plan on attending. Refreshments served. Parish Education Program (P.E.P.) – 2 Adult Education Classes will begin on Thursday, September 16, 2004 at 7:30 p.m. Please call Fr. Harakas to let him know that you are going to attend. 688-2382. We will be studying Fr. Stanley’s book Of Salvation and Life (Text supplied free of charge). Refreshments served. We need 6 more to sign up to have the class.

  PARISH DINNER CRUISE on the Homosassa River.  August 28, 2004. $19.95 per person. Call Betty Roussos at 683-2135 to reserve a place.

   PROSFORON BAKERS: Patricia Lilore 8/22; Fran Mather 8/29; Fran Triantafilon 9/5; George Nikas 9/12; Connie Mourgides 9/14 (Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross). Gloria Vardakis 9/19; Presbytera Emily Harakas 9/26; Argyris & Carol Gymnaos 10/5. Many thanks to all for this special ministry of service. You, too, can become a Prosforon baker! Call Prosforon Coordinator George Nikas at 597-1375.
 

Come to Church On Sunday During the Summer!

 

CHRIST THE SAVIOR

GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

P.O. BOX 5566

SPRING HILL, FL 34611

“A Pan-Orthodox Christian Community”

 

           I Say  “ PAVE IT!”

        FUND DRIVE

 

       Cost:                         $7,618

        08/15/04 Donated:   $4,727

     Still Needed:     $2,891

                    
Send Your Contribution Today!

 

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