The Orthodox Messenger

Vol. V, No. 53– Sunday, December 24, 2006

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

 Website: http://orthodoxhernandocountyfl.org     

      FROM ARCHBISHOP DEMETRIOS’ CHRISTMAS LETTER

Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
   On this very holy day of the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I greet you in the love and peace that was revealed to all of humanity through the Incarnation and sacred birth of the Son of God

   Our celebration of this feast is certainly a time of intense spiritual experience.  We read the Holy Scriptures and sing the hymns that proclaim the birth of the Son of God, an event that occurred over two thousand years ago in a small cave in Bethlehem.  We hear about shepherds who were amazed by the angels and came to see and reverence the Christ child. We envision the Magi from the East, who were enlightened by faith and journeyed to worship the Lord with gifts.  We contemplate the very humble beginnings of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, who chose to experience our human condition so that He might redeem us from the curse of sin.  We join with all the heavenly powers in offering praise and glory to Christ for becoming flesh through His love for us.

    This is truly a great and glorious feast!

   On this great feast of our Lord we need to affirm our calling to be witnesses of holiness. God created us to be holy as He is holy. He calls us to live holy lives; and the life of holiness has always been a part of His divine plan for our salvation.  In the person of Jesus Christ the holiness of God dispelled the darkness of deceptions and falsehoods with the light of truth that offered hope and peace. In the midst of spiritual blindness and ignorance, our Lord brought the knowledge of salvation to all humankind.  

    As we celebrate in a spirit of true joy the Holy Nativity of our Lord, and Savior Jesus Christ, let us contemplate the holiness of His glorious Incarnation.   Let us receive this Christmas as an opportunity given to us by the Incarnate God in order to renew and strengthen our commitment to helping others find Christ and know truth and the way to salvation through the holiness of our lives.  And may you and your families have a blessed Feast of the Nativity and a joyous and healthy New Year.

                                                                       With paternal love in Christ,
                                                                                 + DEMETRIOS
                                                                            Archbishop of America

A BLESSED AND HOLY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

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

Evening Services as Announced

SUNDAY BEFORE THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST

GOSPEL ENTRANCE AND OTHER HYMNS

Dismissal Hymn of the Resurrection - 3rd  Tone

   (Sing in Greek before the Entrance) ("Efrainestho ta Ourania"). Hymnal,  83-84.

   (Sing in English after the Entrance)"Let all things rejoice"). (Same).

Pre-Nativity Dismissal Hymn

    (Read) At that time, / since Mary was of the house of David, / she registered with the Venerable Joseph / in Bethlehem. / She was with child, / having conceived virginally. / Her time was come and they could find no room in the inn, / but the cave seemed a joyful palace for the Queen. Christ is born / to renew the likeness / that had been lost of old.

Dismissal Hymn of the Presentation of Christ (from sheet in the pew).

Pre-Nativity Kontakion  Sung in Greek by the Leader - “E Parthenos Semeron”.

   (Sing) Today the Virgin comes / to the cave to give birth / in an ineffable manner / to the Word before all ages. / Therefore, rejoice O universe, / and when you hear this, / Glorify, with the Angels and the shepherds, / Him who shall appear as a new Babe; / and as God before the Ages.  

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

   EPISTLE –Hebrews 11:9-10, 32-40 (Sunday Before 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 (Sunday Before 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:   December 17 -Candles $70; Visitor’s Donations $345 Stewardship $329. Attendance 47. We are grateful to all who support Christ the Savior Church!  

    MAKE YOUR DECLARATION FOR 2007 Are you one of the Christ the Savior Stewards have not returned your 2007 Stewardship Declarations? If you Have not yet  sent in your 2007 Stewardship Declaration Cards, please do so this week. Let’s try to have 100% by the New Year! Do it today!

   HOSPITALIZED:  Spring Hill Regional-Metaxia Porter, Elias John Manolis. We pray for a rapid recovery! Please pray for those who are sick.

   A SERVICE OF REPOSE was conducted this past Monday for Blanche Valtsiotes. Christ the Savior Church expresses sympathy to her husband Niko Valtsiotes and to her four daughters and grandsons. May her memory be eternal!

   PROSFORON BAKERS: Presbytera Emily Harakas 12/31; George Nikas 1/1 (Monday, St. Basil); Argiris & Carol Gymnaos 1/5 (Day Before Epiphany);. Fran Triantafilon 1/7 (St. John the Baptist); Gloria Vardakis  1/14; Bette Ferriero 1/21 Venice Cosmadelis 1/28.

  JANUARY COFFEE HOUR SPONSORS: 1/7-Presbytera Emily & Nancy Kastelan. 1/14 (Vasilopita) Christina, Emily & Curtis Thomas & Harriet Pasisis. 1/21-Janice Jabbour & Gloria Zahka. 1/28-Bette Ferriero. Please sign up for February Coffee Hours. 

  CHRISTMAS FOOD & GIFT DISTRIBUTIONS took place with the help of many parishioners. Over a dozen families, with fifty four children received assistance. Thanks to all who contributed the gifts. This St. Katherine Ladies Society project was co-chaired by Stacy Underwood and Carol Gymnaos. We are grateful to God that we were able to bring joy into the lives of these families. Thanks also to Pine Grove Elementary School!

   CHRISTMAS SERVICES: Tonight! Dec. 24, Sunday Before Nativity –7:30 pm Great Vespers of the Nativity, Carol Sing; Monday, Dec. 25, NATIVITY OF CHRIST, 9:30 am Orthros; 10 am DIVINE LITURGY OF THE NATIVITY, CAROL SING. Honor Christ’s Birth this year by attending Church Services for Christmas.

-----Bulletin Sponsors Needed! – See George Nikas-----

CHRIST THE SAVIOR

GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

P.O. BOX 5566

SPRING HILL, FL 34611

The Birth of Christ is the
REASON FOR THE SEASON! 

COME TO CHURCH!

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