The Orthodox Messenger

Vol. VI, No. 5– Sunday, February 11, 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     

REFLECTIONS AS WE APPROACH GREAT LENT
  HIS EMINENCE METROPOLITAN ALEXIOS

   "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, no angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created things, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39

   Particularly as we approach the beginning of Great Lent, one of the questions we should ask ourselves is, "Am I truly thankful to God?" We know that He has given us abundant gifts, not only life and health, but His grace and assistance in every aspect of our lives, physically, materially, financially, spiritually. If we really understood the reality of what God has given us, we would find it hard to believe. Or we may know all this in our heads, but not know it in our hearts and spirits!

   This love of a Father for His children is so great that there is no hesitation - we are received immediately in His open arms, to live with Him in His Kingdom, unto the ages of ages.

    This love enables us to partake of His Holy Communion, because, if we are honest with ourselves, we know deep down inside that we are unworthy of such a great love and a great honor. Because we are weak and sinful, full of infirmities and disabilities. Often we are not even able to simply think in the right way, much less act out our love for our neighbor.

   My beloved ones, our true joy and happiness is that our Lord is waiting for us in the Church, that He calls us to Him always, gives us opportunities to experience His grace and love through the sacramental life of the Church. Truly if we understood His love and mercy with our heads and our hearts we would be amazed and humbled and filled with love for Him and each other.

   My prayer is that, during this holy season of Great Lent, through prayer and fasting, through participation in the sacramental life of our Church and acts of kindness and charity, that we will truly experience this joy and the love of God, enabling us to say, with all our hearts, "Maranatha!Come Lord Jesus."

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

Evening Services as Announced

3^rd SUNDAY OF THE TRIODION: THE LAST JUDGMENT (MEATFARE)

GOSPEL ENTRANCE AND OTHER HYMNS

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

Kontakion of the Last Judgment

    Sung in Greek by the Leader – “Otan eltheis o Theos . . .”

    (Read) When You come, O God, / upon the earth with glory, / the whole world will tremble. / The river of fire will bring all humanity before Your judgment-seat, / the books will be opened and the secrets disclosed. / Deliver me then / from the unquenchable fire, / and count me worthy / to stand on Your right hand, / O most righteous Judge.

                        Return to p. 28 of the Hymnal, for the Epistle Reading

   EPISTLE –  1 Corinthians 8:8-9:2 (Meatfare Sunday)  + Brethren, food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. Only take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if any one sees you, a man of knowledge, at table in an idol's temple, might he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak man is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of my brother's falling, I will never eat meat, lest I cause my brother to fall. Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

   GOSPEL – Matthew 25:31-46 (Meatfare Sunday) + The Lord said, "When the Son of man comes in his glory and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.' Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' Then he will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.' And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

   FOR THE RECORD:  January 28 – Dino Adamis Philanthropic Fund - $126; February 1-2, Feastday Candles – $52, Dinner Donations -$157; February 4 -Candles $55; Visitor’s Donations $54; Attendance-51. Stewardship 1/28, & 2/4  $1985. Thank you!

    FEBRUARY COFFEE HOUR SPONSORS: February 4 –Venice Cosmadelis, Nancy Kastelan; February 11 – Betty Frangos, Dora Halvatsis; February 18 – Helen Vangel, Sophie George; February 25 – Helene Arvantes, Ruby Hazivasilis. Many thanks for this Stewardship of Time and Talent! Please sign up for the month of March!

    HOSPITALIZED: Oak Hill: Fred Underwood; Aphrodite Nikas. HealthSouth: Angela Tsoumaris. We pray for a rapid recovery! Please keep those who are ill in your prayers.

    MEN OF THE PARISH! Next Sunday, following the Divine Liturgy during the Coffee Hour we will discuss organizing a Men’s Fellowship for Christ the Savior Church. Please  stay and share your ideas. We look forward to your participation!

    ADDITIONAL THANKS to Jennie Palmenteri for help at the Feast Day Dinner!

   PROSFORON BAKERS: George Nikas 2/11; Argyris & Carol Gymnaos 2/18;. Fran Triantafilon 2/18; Gloria Vardakis  2/25 (Sunday of Orthodoxy); Bette Ferriero 3/4; Venice Cosmadelis 3/11; Presbytera Emily Harakas 3/18;. George Nikas is Prosforon Chair.

   DESIGNATED SMOKING AREA: As of last Sunday, February 4, Smokers are kindly asked to use the Gazebo as their smoking area from now on. Please do not smoke in front of the Hall Entrance. Thank you for your cooperation!

  BY-LAW REVISION SUB-COMMITTEE: Meets Wed. February 15 at 2:30 pm in the Church Hall.

  NAME DAY: Today, Theodora Halvatzes. “Many Years!”

  PARISH EDUCATION PROGRAM: Friday, Feb. 16, 2:00 p.m. –Contemporary Issue-3: Health Issue: Medicine and the Christian Faith. Come, Learn, Enjoy Fellowship!

  LENT BEGINS MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2007. OBSERVE LENT THIS YEAR!

  HAVE YOU made your 2007 Stewardship Commitment? Your support is needed now! Make sure you are included when we publish the 2007 Stewardship Honor Role. Soon!

  PARISH COUNCIL MEMBERS! MEETING TUESDAY, FEB. 20 AT 7:00 PM

-----Bulletin Sponsors Needed! – See or Call Gloria Vardakis or Curtis Thomas-----

CHRIST THE SAVIOR

GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

P.O. BOX 5566

SPRING HILL, FL 34611

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