The Orthodox Messenger
Vol. VI, No. 49 – Sunday, December 9, 2007
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
Fr. Stanley S.
Harakas, Th.D.,D.D. (352) 796-2377; Cell (352) 263-3005; Fax
(352-796-9081)
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
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In a humble manger a Child is born,
and the skies are adorned with celestial light.
A
Child is born, and from shepherds to kings,
humanity is touched by the Divine.
A
Child is born, and love, peace and joy are brought as precious
gifts
to
a world longing for hope.
A
Child is born, and life has new meaning.
A Child is born, and
the souls
of men are saved! |
May every joy and
blessing of this Holy Season be yours!
Merry
Christmas and
Happy New Year from
His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios
V. Rev. Fr. George Tsahakis, Chancellor
And the Metropolis of Atlanta staff Cindy Stanton,
Executive Secretary Michelle Cassimus, Youth, Education & Hellenic
Culture Coordinator Joanne Mertzanis, Assistant to the Chancellor,
Registry & Finance Karen Powers, Corresponding Secretary
Athena Burke,
Development
Service
Hours: Sundays and Feast Days: Orthros at 9:30 a.m.; Divine Liturgy at
10:00 a.m.
Evening Services as Announced
Today’s Saints: Conception
of St. Anna, Mother of the Theotokos; Prophetess Hannah, the mother of
Samuel the Prophet; Patapios the Righteous (8th c.);
Sosthenos, Apollo, Cypha & Tychikos, of the 70 Apostles; Stephen of
Antipas; Patriarch Methodios, Emperor Theophilos
14TH SUNDAY OF LUKE -
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).
Dismissal Hymn of the Conception of St. Anna
(Read) Today the bonds of barrenness are loosed. / God
has heard the prayers / of Joachim and Anna. / He has promised against
all hope / the birth of the Maiden of God / from whom the Infinite
Himself / is to be born as a man, / He who had ordered the Angel / to
cry out to her: / “Hail O woman full of grace!
Dismissal Hymn of the Presentation of Christ (See paper in the
pews)
Kontakion for the Feast
(Sung) by the leader in Greek “Eortazei semeron e
oikoumene . . .”
(Read) Today the universe rejoices, / for Anna has conceived
the Mother of God / in a manner provided by God Himself. / For Anna has
borne the One / who is to give birth to the Word / in a manner beyond
all telling.
Return to
page 26 of the Hymnal, to sing "Holy God..."
EPISTLE –
Galatians 4:22-27 (The Feast)
RETHREN, Abraham had two sons, one by a slave and one by a free woman.
But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, the son of the
free woman through promise. Now this is an allegory: these women are two
covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is
Hagar. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the
present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the
Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written,
"Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and shout, you who
are not in travail; for the children of the desolate one are many more
than the children of her that is married."
GOSPEL – Luke
13:10-17 (10th Luke)
t that time, Jesus was
teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And there was a woman
who had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years; she was bent over and
could not fully straighten herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called
her and said to her, "Woman, you are freed from your infirmity." And he
laid his hands upon her, and immediately she was made straight, and she
praised God. But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had
healed on the sabbath, said to the people, "There are six days on which
work ought to be done; come on those days and be healed, and not on the
sabbath day." Then the Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Does not each
of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and
lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of
Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on
the sabbath day?" As he said this, all his adversaries were put to
shame; and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were
done by him.
FOR THE RECORD: Sunday, December 2: Candles $87;
Visitors’ Donations $105; Stewardship
2007 $655; Stewardship 2008 $90
Attendance 62; Christmas Donations $120.
BIRTHDAY & ANNIVERSARY BLESSINGS for December will be
offered today following the Divine Liturgy. “Many Years!” to all who
celebrate!
Two Trays Today for: Stewardship Offerings and Building Fund
HOSPITALIZED:
Brooksville Regional:
Michael Liolios. Spring Hill Regional:
Dino Moshonisiotis, recuperating at home. We pray for a rapid recovery!
Please let Fr. Stanley know when a member of your family is
hospitalized.
COFFEE HOUR SPONSORS FOR DECEMBER:
12/9 Harriet Pasisis; 12/16 Diane Covington; 12/23 Helen Arvanitis;
12/30 Carol Gymnaos & Kanella Hantzis. Please do your share! Take your
turn! Sign up for January, 2008! For details see Harriet.
PARISH
COUNCIL ELECTION RESULTS
Because of a resignation from the Parish Council as of Dec. 31, 2007
the following five candidates have been elected to the Parish
Council beginning January, 2008: Argyris Gymnaos, George Maniates,
Jennie Palmenteri,
Achilles Thomas & Emily Thomas. Sam Jabbour withdrew his candidacy
before the election. We thank all who voted and all who offered to
serve Christ the Savior Church in this important Stewardship of Time
and Talent. The election results have been submitted to the
Metropolis for ratification.
The date of the
swearing in will be announced upon ratification.
PARENTS! Plans are being made to
participate in the Greek Independence Day Parade in Tarpon Springs in
March, 2008, but only if we have an adequate turnout. If your children
are interested in participating representing Christ the Savior Church
please contact Carol Gymnaos, Chair of the Youth Committee to declare
your children’s participation. Call her at 683-6513.
ABOUT ONE THIRD of our Stewards have returned their 2008
Declaration of Stewardship cards so far. If you are among these, your
Parish Council thanks you! If you are not among them, please make every
effort to return your Stewardship cards this week. Let us start
2008 at 100%! Do it now!
YOU CAN MAKE PROSFORON BREAD: We
need parishioners (women and men) to make Prosforon Bread! It is
spiritually rewarding to make the bread from which the portion is taken
to be consecrated, and which is given in Holy Communion. You’ll like
making it!
PROSFORON BAKERS: Venice
Cosmadelis 12/9; Anet Jones 12/16; Fran Triantafilon 12/23; Presbytera
Emily Harakas 12/24; Argiri & Carol Gymnaos 12/30; Frances Porter 1/06.
We are looking for a Prosforon Chairperson.
Call Fr. Stanley! 796-2377.
OOPS! Corrections: Birthday
Blessings: 12/9 Angela Kotsaris; 12/10 Harriet Pasisis; 12/21
Daniel Hazivasilis. Sorry about the typo last week!
PARISH EDUCATION PROGRAM (P.E.P.)
for this coming Friday, December 14, will be “War and Peace” Come
reflect on the statement of the Russian Orthodox Church on this topic.
We meet from 2-3:30 p.m. Refreshments served.
TODAY IS THE LAST DAY to include your name in the Parish
Christmas Card. See Nanka Kastelan after church. Any contribution is
welcome for this 2007 fundraiser for our church.
PREPARE YOURSELF SPIRITUALLY FOR CHRISTMAS! Holy Confession,
Tues., Dec. 11, 2-3 pm; Wed., Dec. 19, 7:30-8:30 pm. Or, by appointment.
TAMPA BAY CONFERENCE ADVENT HOLY UNCTION SERVICE: Holy Trinity
Greek Orthodox Church, Clearwater. Dec. 12, 2007 at 7:00 pm. If you are
interested in attending, please call Fr. Harakas to arrange for
carpooling. 796-2377.
BEAUTIFUL POINSETTIAS! Of the twenty Poinsettias decorating our
church today, thirteen remain to be donated! You can donate one or more
at $10 each! See Nanka Kastelan after church, or mail her your check at
14058 Sullivan Street, Spring Hill, FL 34609.
CHRISTMAS SERVICES CORRECTION: Monday, Dec. 24, Day
Before the Nativity of Christ: Hours and Orthros, 9:00 am; Divine
Liturgy of St. Basil & Carol Sing at 10. Tuesday, Dec. 25 Feast of
the Nativity of Jesus Christ, Dec. 25, Orthros -9:30 am, Divine
Liturgy of St Basil 10:00 am (Note Time Correction) &
Carol Sing.
A REMINDER: What is Christ the Savior Church all about?
Answer: Our Mission Statement; “The Mission of Christ the Savior
Greek Orthodox Church –The Hellenic Orthodox Mission of Hernando County,
FL – is to serve the religious and spiritual needs of all Orthodox
Christians, converts, those of interfaith marriages and the ‘unchurched’
living in Hernando County, FL, and especially, though not exclusively,
those whose mother tongue is English.”
Be a Bulletin
Sponsor With Your Own Message! See Gloria Vardakis Today!
BULLETIN SPONSORS:
GREGORY & MARIA ANGELIADIS
May God
always shine his Blessings on our beautiful children, George &
Stacy, Aspacia & Erik and our wonderful grandchildren, Amelia,
Gregory, Miccah & Rylee Basilea.
CHRIST THE SAVIOR
GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH
P.O. BOX 5566
SPRING HILL, FL 34611
LET US
WORSHIP TOGETHER
WORK TOGETHER
WALK TOGETHER
IN
THE
UNITY
OF CHRIST’S LOVE
NOTE:
CHRISTMAS DAY SCHEDULE CORRECTION
ORTHROS 9:30
AM – D. LITURGY 10 AM
FOLLOWED BY
CAROL SING
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