The Orthodox Messenger Vol. III, No. 31 – Sunday, August 8, 2004 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
A CHURCH
OF OUTREACH AND MISSION In the July 24-25, 2004 edition of the National Herald, Archbishop Demetrios of our Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America was interviewed. Speaking about the missionary and outreach work of the Church Archbishop Demetrios addressed specifically the kind of work our mission has to spread our Orthodox Faith and establish our Church in Hernando County, Florida. Here is what His Eminence said: “Can a Church without missionary work flourish? Can a Church like ours, beyond all her missionary needs outside of the U.S.A., ignore the fact that a significant number of people of the Omogeneia (meaning, “cradle Orthodox”) have been estranged from her and need to be brought back? Our Orthodox Church in America has been called, as I have repeatedly emphasized, to play a pioneering role of Orthodox presence and witness in our days and in the years to follow. She has been called by God to offer to America the authentic, whole and unchanged Jesus Christ. She has been called to offer to this Land the Whole Christ, the genuine, unchanged and eternal Jesus Christ of Orthodoxy, the Christ of the Saints, of the Martyrs, of the Ecumenical Synods, of the Fathers, the Christ of the Holy Scriptures and of the Holy Tradition, a tradition that has incorporated the elements of the Hellenic cultural heritage in the most beautiful way. It might sound daring, but our calling, destiny, goal and vision is, as members of the entire body of the Church, to reproduce the whole Christ of Orthodoxy through our life and witness on American soil; to be the Archdiocese, which, with increased strength and passion, will breathe, preach and transmit Jesus Christ consciously, wisely, powerfully and convincingly to American society, which needs Him more than ever. American society needs Him as the only Giver of love, freedom, joy, peace, justice and truth. We firmly believe that God is with us for the realization of this holy vision, a vision that belongs with the eternal order and mission of the Church . . . .” Today, we find ourselves between the Feasts of the Transfiguration of Christ and the Dormition of the Theotokos. In this holy period let us at Christ the Savior Church renew our commitment of outreach, as the Church of Christ the Savior. Service hours: Sundays and Feast days: Orthros at 9:30 am; Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am. Evening Services as Announced Saints: Aimilianos the Confessor, Archbishop of Cuzica (+820); Myron, Archbishop of Crete, the Wonderworker (+350); Neomartyr Trantaphyllos of Stara Zagora (+1680); Neomartyr Anastasios of Thessalonike (+1894); Gregory, iconographer of Kiev.
SUNDAY AFTER THE TRANSFIGURATION - 10th SUNDAY OF MATTHEW GOSPEL ENTRANCE AND OTHER HYMNSDismissal Hymns – Transfiguration and Tone 1 (Sung in Greek by leaders before the Entrance) for the Transfiguration ("Metemorphothes en to orei"). (Sing in English after the Entrance-Tone 1). ("The stone was sealed"). Hymnal, 80-81. Dismissal Hymn of the Transfiguration of Christ (Read) You were transfigured upon the mountain, / O Christ our God, / showing to Your disciples / Your glory as much as they could bear. / Do also in us, / sinners though we be, / shine Your everlasting light, / through the intercessions of the Theotokos, / O Giver of light. / Glory to You. 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 Transfiguration of Christ (August 6) (Read) O Christ God, / you were transfigured on the Mountain, / and you disciples / saw as much of your glory as they could bear, / so that seeing you crucified / they would know You had willed / to suffer your passion / and would proclaim to the world / that You are truly / the Reflection of the Father. Return to a page 26 for “Holy God”and for the Epistle and Gospel ReadingsEPISTLE – 1 Corinthians 4:9-16 (10th Sunday) + 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 Sunday of 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." MANY THANKS to Fr. Germasimos Murphy who led our worship last Sunday and preached the Word of God to all in attendance. We are grateful to Fr. Jerry for his love and support of our Mission parish. Many years! FOR THE RECORD: July 25, 2004: Attendance-57; Offering-$78; Candles-$72; Adamis Philanthropic Fund-$92; Hospitality-$40; Pave It!-$50. August 1, 2004; Attendance-48; Offering-$133; Candles-$47; Hospitality-$44; Pavit It!-$135. Thank you! SUPPLICATORY SERVICES TO THE THEOTOKOS for the Fast, will be conducted today, following the Divine Liturgy Sunday, August 8 and on Wednesday, August 11 at 5 p.m. followed by a Lenten Covered Dish Supper. PRAYER LIST FOR THE LIVING: On the table at the entrance (Narthex) you will find a form for your prayer list for the living, whom you want to be commemorated at each of the Supplicatory Services to the Theotokos to be offered during the Dormition Fast. Fill the sheet out and give to the attendants at the Candle Stand. PROSFORON BAKERS: Gloria Vardakis 8/8; Argyris & Carol Gymnaos 8/15 (Dormition of the Theotokos); Presbytera Emily Harakas 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). Prosforon Coordinator, George Nikas at 597-1375. PARISH EDUCATION PROGRAM (P.E.P.) ANNOUNCEMENT In September, Christ the Savior Church will resume our P.E.P. classes, but with a new feature. We will continue our study of the Gospel of St. John and discuss other topics alternately. As was the case in the past, we will meet on Friday afternoons at 2:00 p.m. followed by refreshments. We will call this Friday session “P.E.P. -1.” In order to accommodate those who cannot attend during the daytime, an evening class will be conducted on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. We will be using the book Of Salvation and Life as our study guide. Before we launch this “P.E.P. -2” class we need to know if there is interest. We need a minimum of 10 people to start “P.E.P. 2.” Please let us know that you will attend this evening session by calling Fr. Harakas at 688-2382. BULLETIN SPONSORS NEEDED for August 22 and all of September. Call Connie Mourgides686-0589. Only $25. Thank you! WELCOME TO NEW STEWARDS Fred and Elaine Underwood. Please add their name and address to your Parish Directory: 10312 Ridge Top Loop, Weeki Wachee, FL 34613. Telephone 597-9544. May the blessings of Christ the Savior be with you! PARISH DINNER/CRUISE AUGUST 28! Something new! Something fun!
On August 28, 2004 our Church is sponsoring a Parish Dinner/Cruise. Sail on beautiful Homosassa River and enjoy a delicious dinner following the cruise. All this fun and fellowship costs only $19.95 per person, to benefit our Church. call Betty Roussos at 683-2135 to add your name(s) to the list. Today’s Bulletin SponsorS: bill and ruby hazivasilis In Appreciation For the Love and Prayers for our Newest Grandson Nicholas From our Christ the Savior Family Come to Church On Sunday During the Summer!
CHRIST THE SAVIORGREEK ORTHODOX CHURCHP.O. BOX 5566 SPRING HILL, FL 34611 “A Pan-Orthodox Christian Community”
I Say “ PAVE IT!” FUND DRIVE Cost: $7,618 08/01/04 Donated: $4,542 Still Needed: $3,076 Send Your Contribution Today! |
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