CHRIST THE SAVIOR – FOR ALL PEOPLE
St. Moses the Ethiopian
Today, August 28
the Orthodox Church commemorates the memory of St. Moses
the Ethiopian, sometimes called St. Moses the Black. His
life is instructive to us. For the first part of his
life, Moses was hardly holy or virtuous. Born in the 4th
Century in Ethiopia as a slave, he escaped and lived as
a thief. Very large in stature and cruel in character he
became the head of a robber band of more than seventy
men. One day, while attacking a monastery he was
confronted by the abbot, St. Isidore, who treated him
with love and peacefulness. This kindness caused Moses
to repent and bitterly weep for his sins. He asked St.
Isidore to let him stay in the monastery where he
learned from his mentor to repent and struggle against
his sins.
Slowly, he overcame his bad habits through prayer,
fasting, worship, spiritual struggle and the doing of
works of love for others. He eventually called the men
who used to follow him in crime, to lives of faith in
his own monastery. Many people came to find him for
spiritual counsel. He always remained fully aware of the
sinful life he had abandoned.
Once he was forced to go to another monastery to
judge a monk who had sinned grievously. As he traveled
to the monastery, he carried a bucket of water in which
he had punched a few small holes. As he walked, he kept
repeating, “My sins flow out behind me as this water,
but I see them not, and I am come to judge failings
which are not mine!” Upon seeing this, the other monks
quickly forgave the sinful monk.
At the end of his life he foresaw that brigands
would attack and destroy his monastery. He sent all the
monks away except for six, and remained there, knowing
that they would be martyred. And so, in the year 405
A.D., he died, repeating Christ’s words, “All who take
the sword will perish by the sword” (Matthew 26:52), but
his martyrdom also teaches us as the Lord says, “Be
faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of
life” (Revelation 2:10).
St. Moses is, for a church like our Christ the Savior
church, an object lesson. He was black skinned and was
an example of the broad outreach of our Orthodox Faith
that includes people of all backgrounds. As a
pan-Orthodox community, we focus on our Orthodox
Christian identity and seek to be inclusive as possible.
Neither ethnicity, race nor heritage is as important as
faith in Christ the Savior and the decision to live as
faithful Orthodox Christians. Join us in worship,
spiritual life, and service to the Lord.
Service Hours: Sundays and Feast Days: Orthros at 9:30
am; Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am
Evening Services as Announced
Saints:
Moses of Ethiopia; Diomedes, Daman
and Lawrence, Martyrs; Acacios the new; King
Hezekiah; Anna the Prophetess who met the Lord in
the Temple; the 33 Martyrs of Heracleia; Susanna,
Queen of Georgia; Sava of Pskov; Rumwold, Prince of
Northumbria.
10th
SUNDAY OF MATTHEW
GOSPEL ENTRANCE AND OTHER HYMN
Dismissal Hymn of the
Resurrection - 1st Tone
(Sing in Greek before the
Entrance) ("Tou lithou sfragisthenos").Hymnal,
80-81.
(Sing in English after
the Entrance) ("The stone was sealed"). (Same)
Dismissal Hymn of the Presentation of Christ - (Sing)
From sheet in the pew.
Kontakion of the Nativity of the Theotokos
(Read) By your holy birth-giving, / O pure one, /
Joachim and Anna were delivered / from the reproach of
barrenness; / and Adam and Eve / were delivered from the
corruption of death; / your people celebrate it, /
having been saved from the stain of iniquity, / crying
out to you, / ‘The barren one gives birth to the
Theotokos, / who nourishes our life.
Return to p. 26
of the Hymnal, to sing “Holy God . . . .”
EPISTLE –
1 Corinthians 4:9-16 (10th Matthew) + Brethren,
God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men
sentenced to death; because we have become a spectacle
to the world, to angels and to men. We are fools for
Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak,
but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in
disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we
are ill-clad and buffeted and homeless, and we labor,
working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when
persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we try to
conciliate; we have become, and are now, as the refuse
of the world, the off-scouring of all things. I do not
write this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as
my beloved children. For though you have countless
guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I
became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I
urge you, then, be imitators of me.
GOSPEL –
Matthew 17:14-23 (10th Matthew) + At that
time, a man came up to Him and kneeling before Him said,
"Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and
he suffers terribly; for often he falls into the fire,
and often into the water. And I brought him to Your
disciples, and they could not heal him." And Jesus
answered, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long
am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you?
Bring him here to me." And Jesus rebuked him, and the
demon came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly.
Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said,
"Why could we not cast it out?" He said to them,
"Because of your little faith. For truly I say to you,
if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will
say to this mountain, 'Move hence to yonder place,' and
it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you." As
they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The
Son of man is to be delivered into the hands of men, and
they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third
day."
FOR THE RECORD:
August 21, 2005: Attendance 36;
Stewardship $157; Candles $83; Building Fund $20. Many
thanks!
A
TRAY FOR THE DINO ADAMIS PHILANTHROPIC FUND WILL BE
PASSED TODAY
40 DAY MEMORIAL –
A 40 Memorial Service (Mnemosynon) with
Kolyva will be offered today for the rest of the soul of
the late Kyriaki (Kay) Athan. The family is also
sponsoring the Coffee Hour following the Divine Liturgy.
Eternal memory!
PROSFORON BAKERS: Presbytera
Emily Harakas 8/28; Argyris and Carol Gymnaos 9/4;
Gloria Vardakis 9/11; Fran Triantafilon 9/14 (Elevation
of Holy Cross); Connie Mourgides 9/18; George Nikas
9/25;You, too, can make Prosforon Bread. For the recipe
and instructions call George Nikas, Prosforon Bakers
Chairperson at 597-1375.
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 THIS COMING
Sunday,
September 4 and Sunday, September 11. Classes
will begin on Sunday, September 18. Don’t forget . . .
A FAMILY THAT PRAYS TOGETHER,
STAYS TOGETHER!
ENJOYED BY ALL IN ATTENDANCE
was the Chicken Barbeque last Sunday. It was a nice time
of fellowship and delicious food! We earned $294 to
support our treasury! Thank you for your generous
support!
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!
INTERESTED IN HELPING TEACH IN THE
SUNDAY SCHOOL? Your help is needed! Contact Venice
Cosmadelis (686-1199). Classes resume on September 16.
FR. STANLEY’S PERSONAL BUILDING FUND
APPEAL: We have received some additional
contributions from the national fund drive which Fr.
Stanley has conducted among his former School of
Theology Students for our Building Fund We wish to
thank the following Priests and their Parishes for
their generous donations to our Building Fund:
Fr. Panagiotis Giannakopoulos – St. George
Greek Orthodox Church, Hyannis/Centerville, MA -
$500.
Fr. Christopher Talleos – Holy Cross Greek
Orthodox Church, Middletown, NY – (personal
donation) $500.
Fr. Paul Costopoulos – Holy Trinity-Holy
Cross Cathedral, Birmingham, AL -$100.
Fr. Anthony Stratis – Holy Trinity
Cathedral, New Orleans, LA - $250.
Fr. Stanley expresses deep gratitude and
appreciation to these fellow Priests and to their
parishioners for these expressions of love and
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!
CONGRATULATIONS! Christ the
Savior Stewards
Ed & Gloria Zahka have a new grandson!
Vince Edward was born 8-17-05 to their daughter and son
in law, Mr. & Mrs. David (Lisa) Cassarino of Tolland,
CT. Congratulations and “Many years!”
DISTRICT PHILOPTOHOS “Agape
Luncheon” October 8, St. George NPR. $30.
+ ALICE BOLIO,
long time Steward of our Mission passed
away on Tuesday, August 23, 2005 at her home after a
long illness. The wake was held in Tarpon Springs on
Wednesday, August 24. She was buried next to her late
husband later on Friday at Hartford, CT. We pray, “May
her memory be eternal” and that God comfort her children
Barbara Chigos and Peter Argiros, her grandchildren and
family members.
ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (P.E.P.):
On Friday, September 16 we
will begin our Parish Education Program (P.E.P.)
meeting every Friday from 2-4 p.m. with Bible Study
alternating with other topics weekly. We look forward to
seeing you!
WE WERE SADDENED to learn of the
sudden passing of Antonio Zayas, husband of Kristen
(Noyes) Zayas, who were married at St. Nicholas
Cathedral this past June. Kristen and Antonio attended
our Chapel several times. Christ the Savior Church
extends deep sympathy to Kristen and the Noyes family on
this tragic loss. May his memory be eternal!
OCTOBER 6-8 (Thursday-Saturday):
Parish-Wide Yard Sale! Start cleaning out that the
house useful and valuable Yard Sale Items. Bring them to
the Church Hall now! Thanks!
HOSPITALIZED: Holy Cross
Hospital (Fr. Lauderdale): Achilleas Koulouvaris.
Oak Hill: Maria Skaroulis, Emanuel Kalfas. We pray
for their rapid recovery!
