Christ the Savior Greek Orthodox Church

There's no question about it. Christmas has been kidnapped! Throughout the world, even in places such as Japan, where Christianity is a minority religion, Christmas is big business.

Some, who want to give some other kind of significance to the holiday, tell us about "The real meaning of Christmas." It is, we are told, the celebration of kindness, tolerance, love, good cheer, helping those less fortunate than ourselves. Every Christian values these virtues.

But the really real meaning of Christmas is deeper than all those things. Christmas is about the birth of Jesus Christ. But if all we assume that Christmas is about a scene with a baby in a manger surrounded by animals and angels, we are still missing the message.

Here is the really real meaning of Christmas: "God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:15). This is serious. This says that Christmas has cosmic and eternal meaning. It commemorates a unique world-shaking event.

We are speaking about the Incarnation. God the Father, sent the second person of the Holy Trinity, His divine Son into the created world. There, the Virgin Mary, through the Holy Spirit, gave to Him human nature, physical and spiritual. He was born as a child and thus became a unique person who was fully human and fully divine. In Greek the word we use to describe the Incarnated Jesus Christ is "Theanthropos." "Theos" means God. "Anthropos" means human being. Together they mean one person with two complete natures, divine and human.

St. Athanasius explains, "That which is not assumed, cannot be healed." God desired the salvation of humanity. Because of our sinful condition, we cannot save ourselves. Only God could save us. But the human had to be involved. Hence, the need for a "Theanthropos."

Christmas celebrates this world-changing event. The Incarnation is the first concrete step in the salvation of the world. One of the hymns of the Church directed to the Mother of our Lord summarizes "You have given birth, O Maiden, to one of the Trinity in an inexplicable manner, dual in nature, dual in act, but one in Person." The wondrous Incarnation! That is the really real meaning of Christmas! Say with your heart, "Christ is Born! Glorify Him!"

Gospel Entrance and Other Hymn Changes

Dismissal Hymn - 2nd Tone
   (Sing in Greek before the Entrance) ("Ote katelthes").Hymnal, 81-82.
   (Sing in English after the Entrance) ("When you descended"). (Same)
Dismissal Hymn of the Forefathers
   (Read) By faith You vindicated the Fore-Fathers, / having through them / betrothed to Yourself / the Church that come out of the nations. The Saints are boasting in glory; / for the glorious fruit, / the Virgin, / who without seed gave birth to You, / is from their descendents. / Through their prayers, / O Christ our God, / save our souls.
Dismissal Hymn of the ForeFeast
   (Read) O Bethlehem, prepare, / Eden is opened to all. / And be ready, Ephrata, / for the Tree of life / has blossomed forth in the grotto / from the Virgin. / Indeed her womb / is shown to be spiritually / a Paradise, / in which is found the God-planted tree. / And if we eat from it / we shall live, / and shall not die, / as did Adam of old. / Christ is born, so that He might raise up / the formerly fallen image.
Dismissal Hymn of the Ancestors of Christ
   (Read) Magnificent are Faith’s accomplishments! / The three holy Youths / exultingly stood in the fountain of fire / as if beside the still waters of rest. / And Daniel the Prophet / was shown to be / a shepherd of lions. / At their entreaty, / O Christ God, / save our souls.
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 Preparation for Christmas
   The Leaders sing “E Parthenos semeron, ton proaionion logon”
   (Read) Today the Virgin is on her way / to the cave / where she will give birth / to the Eternal Word of God / in an indescribable manner. / Rejoice therefore, O Universe / when you hear this news, / and glorify with the angels and the shepherds, / Him who shall appear as a new Child / being God from all eternity.

EPISTLE – Hebrews 11:9-10, 32-40
(Pre-Nativity)Brethren, by faith Abraham sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city which has foundation, whose builder and maker is God. And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets - who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated - of whom the world was not worthy - wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us,that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

GOSPEL – Matthew 1:1-25
(Pre-Nativity)The book of the Genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asa, and Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ. So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations. Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel" (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife, but knew her not until she had borne a son; and he called his name Jesus.

FOR THE RECORD: Sunday, December 7, 2003: Attendance - 44; Candles - $48; Offering - $65; Building Fund. Thank you!

A 9 MONTH TRISAGION SERVICE was conducted at our church last Sunday, December 14 for the rest of the soul of Katherine Gregerson. May her memory be eternal!

NOTICE!! Spero Lemonedes, our treasurer says please continue to make checks payable to Hellenic Orthodox Mission of Hernando County (HOMHC) until further notice.

God’s Billboard-Get involved…the world is run by people who show up.

P.E.P CLASS: No class Friday, December 27. Next Class, January 3, 2004

CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE: Wednesday, December 24, Day Before Christmas. 10:00 a.m. –Service of the Nativity Hours. Christmas Services on December 24: 4:30 p.m. – Orthros of the Nativity; 5:00 p.m. Divine Liturgy of the Nativity. Carol Singing Program.

GIVE A RIDE! A retired lady wants to come to our church but has no car. She lives south of Spring Hill Dr. and West of Mariner, near Barclay and Anderson Snow Roads. Please consider bringing her to church on Sundays. For details, call Fr. Stanley at 688-2382.

DID YOU? Did you send in your Stewardship cards? If you did, thank you very much. If you haven’t sent your Stewardship cards in as yet, please do as soon as you can!

BULLETIN SPONSORS NEEDED FOR 2004! Starting in January 2004, the contribution to sponsor an issue of the Orthodox Messenger will be $25 per issue. Please help! See Connie Mourgides to reserve a Sunday.

CLEANING UP: Would you be willing to help clean our facilities at a time and day convenient for you? To volunteer please see or call George Nikas at 352-597-1375.

CHRISTMAS POINTSETTIAS: Helen Nicolelis announces that we are selling Poinsettias for $10.00 which will adorn our church for the holidays and can be taken home after the Epiphany Feast, January 6. The flowers can be for the blessing of a family, the health, recovery or in memory of a loved one. Contact Helen at 352-684-1219 or see her after Liturgy to make your contribution to this Mission Fundraiser.

A Note to Visitors about Holy Communion: We welcome to this celebration those Christians who are not united with us. It is a sad consequence of the divisions in Christianity that we cannot extend a general invitation to receive Holy Communion. We thank you for joining us in prayer and invite you to partake of the blessed bread at the conclusion of the liturgy. We also invite you to sign the guest book and join us for fellowship in the dining hall after the Liturgy.

PROSFORON BAKERS: Betty Roussos (Sunday Before Christmas) 12/21; Venice Cosmadelis (Christmas Eve Liturgy) 12/24; Emily Thomas 12/28; George and Maria Angeliades (New Prosforon Bakers! Welcome!) (St. Basil)1/1/04. Fran Mather 1/4/2004; Gloria Vardakis (Day Before Epiphany) 1/5; Connie Mourgides 1/11; Bette Ferriero 1/18; Presbytera Emily 1/25; George Nikas 2/1; Patricia Lilore 2/2 (Presentation of Christ); Eleni Nicolelis 2/8. Many thanks to all who prepare the Prosforon for our Divine Liturgies!

From the Fathers:

The Word of God, Jesus Christ, on account of His great love for humankind, became what we are in order to make us what He is Himself. Irenaeus, Against Heresies.

ELECTED to the Parish Council on Thursday, December 18 were Demetri Hazivasilis, Nick Kastelan, Spero Lemonedes, Tyke Nicolelis, Dorothy Triantafilon, and John Tsausis. The Secretary cast a single vote for the slate at the regular Parish Council meeting. Congratulations! They join the six continuing members of the Council to conduct the month by month business of our Christ the Savior Greek Orthodox Church, beginning in Jan. of 2004.
THE DECORATION of our Church took place this past week with the work of Nanka Kastelan, Venice Cosmadelis, Betty Roussos, and James Roussos. We thank you most sincerely for this stewardship of beauty.

ST. NICHOLAS SPAGHETTI LUNCHEON – DECEMBER 7, 2003

The Kitchen Crew Prepares the Spaghetti Serving the Food Takes Many Hands!

(With the Help of Yanni’s Restaurant) (A Stewardship of Service!)

The Moonlighters Quartet Entertains Us As We Enjoy the Meal!

BAKE SALE – NOVEMBER 20 & 25, 2003

Today’s bulletin sponsor: connie pappas
in memory of My mother and father, Eugenie & Nicholas – eternal memory!

Come To Church Regularly!

CHRIST THE SAVIOR GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH
P.O. BOX 5566
SPRING HILL, FL 34611
“A Pan-Orthodox Christian Community”

our 2004 Stewardship is Important!
SEND IN YOUR STEWARDHSIP CARDS TODAY!

Sunday of the forefathers

Gospel Entrance and Other Hymn Changes