The Orthodox Messenger

Vol. IX, No. 07 – Sunday, February 14, 2010

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

Church Location: 13460 Olympic Village Lane, Brooksville, FL 34614 + 352-796-8482

Website: http://orthodoxhernandocountyfl.org

FINAL DIRECTIVES

oday is known as “Cheesefare Sunday,” focusing on the practice of the Church for us to limit our food to dairy products on this day. Tomorrow, February 15 is “Clean Monday,” when we begin the fasting period before Pascha (Easter) - “The Great Lent.”

    The Gospel reading for today provides us with three important directives from Christ as to how we should practice Great Lent this year. The Gospel passage read today is from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount as recorded by the Evangelist Matthew.

   The first guideline is about forgiveness: The Lord said, "If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. This is pretty straight forward. A condition of the forgiveness of our own sins, is that we genuinely forgive others if they have harmed us in any way. To forgive means to give up resentment and efforts to return harm to those who have harmed us

   The second guideline in today’s Gospel reading is about fasting. Christ’s endorsed the practice of fasting. Christ expects us to fast, so the Church gives us direction about fasting, instructing us to enter into a period of abstaining from certain foods as a preparation for our observance of the suffering, crucifixion, death and resurrection of Christ. Beginning tomorrow, until Pascha, we should be in a fasting mode. When we abstain from certain foods for the Fast, it should be something that calls upon us to discipline ourselves, which means to exert control over our appetite so that we can spiritually exercise our inner person, training ourselves to be true followers of Christ.

   The third guideline is to avoid greed and to concern ourselves with love and support for our neighbor in need. He tells us to “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” Jesus tells us that we need the treasure of works of love, of devotion to the Lord, of commitment of our whole lives to Christ our God. These last forever.

   The purpose of Great Lent is to train us so that we live in God’s presence and do God’s will. This is all that we can take with us into eternity, but it also prepares us so that we can truly experience, at the end of the Great Fast, the Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our directives? Forgive. Fast. Love those in need.

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

TRIODION – CHEESEFARE SUNDAY

 Gospel Entrance & 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 Presentation (Hail of Mother of God) From sheet in pew

Kontakion of Cheesefare: Sung in Greek by the leaders: “Tis sophias odeghe”

   (Read) O You who guide all persons / towards wisdom / and give them intelligence and understanding, / Instructor of the ignorant / and helper of the poor: / strengthen and enlighten / my heart, O Lord! / O Word of God, / grant that I may speak, / for behold I will not keep my lips / from crying out to You, / “O Compassionate One, / have mercy on me who have fallen!”

 

EPISTLE – Romans 13:11-14:4 8:8-9:2-20 (Cheesefare Sunday)

rethren, salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not for disputes over opinions. One believes he may eat anything, while the weak man eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains pass judgment on him who eats; for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for God is able to make him stand.

GOSPEL – Matthew 6:14-21 (Cheesefare Sunday)

he Lord said, "If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. "And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

   ANOINTING FOR HEALTH today, following the Divine Liturgy

  CANDLE STAND SERVERS today: Curtis and Emily Thomas.

  EPISTLE READER for today is Peter George. 

  HOLY CONFESSION THIS WEEK: Clean Monday, 2/15, 2:00-3:00 p.m.; Wednesday, 2/17, 7:00-8:00 p.m. Start Lent off right by coming to Holy Confession.

   SYMPATHY: We extend deep sympathy to Ellen Atwood and her family at the sudden passing of her daughter Jessie this past Sunday morning. A Service of Repose was conducted at the Faupel Funeral Home in NPR this past Thursday. Eternal Memory!

  BUILDING COMMITTEE, Thursday, February 18, 7:00 p.m.

  PARISH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM: Friday, February 19 - 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. – Video and Bible Study 1 Corinthians, ch. 12. Refreshments! All are welcome!

   1ST SALUTATIONS TO THE THEOTOKOS – Friday, Feb. 19 at 4:15 pm, followed by Lenten covered dish supper. Bring your favorite Lenten dish!

  2010-2011 TELEPHONE DIRECTORY: Chair Emily Thomas asks you to donate a Booster Ad in our upcoming 2010-2011 Christ the Savior Telephone Directory. Forms available on the back table in the church and the Hall.

   FOR THE RECORD: 02/7/10: Candles $73; Visitors’ Donations  $75; Coffee Hour $20;  Stewardship for 2009 $40; Stewardship for 2010 $3,097; Bulletin $125.

  HOSPITALIZED: Tampa General: Pani Karen Miklos (at home); Spring Hill Regional: William Eugenides; Evergreen Woods: Toula Panagopoulos, John Messaris; Health South: Delcie Kelo, Chrysokaty Georgakapulos. We pray for their rapid recovery.

  PROSFORON BAKERS: 2/14/10 - Diane Covington; 2/21/10 - Kara Hazivasilis; 2/28/10 - Richard Triconi; 3/07/10 - Venice Cosmadelis; 3/14/10 - Bette Ferriero; 3/21 - George Nikas; 3/28/10 - Rosamond Soulis. A Stewardship of Time and Talent!

  RESIGNATIONS: At the Parish Council Meeting held Monday, February 8, the Council received and accepted the resignations of Helen Arvanitis and Pete Hantzis, expressing regret and thanking them for their valuable service in the past.

  APPOINTMENTS: At its February 8 meeting, the Parish Council, in accordance with the Uniform Parish Regulations and the Parish By-Laws, appointed Peter George and Donna Hados to complete the terms of the resigned Parish Council members. Both have accepted to serve and will be sworn in at the next Parish Council meeting on March 15. We congratulate the new Parish Council members and wish them well in their new service.

   THE PARISH COUNCIL has begun a survey of the present condition of our Olympic Village property including the condition of the grounds, the status of all structures, the demolition of the damaged house, and the chapel for better use for the activities of the parish. Reports will be made at the next meeting when decisions may be made.

   THE ST. KATHERINE PHILOPTOHOS met on Sunday, January 31, at a General Meeting, Chaired by President Rosamond Soulis. Seventeen members were in attendance, including two new members, Ekaterine Ladouceur and Anna Albarella. An additional donation of $100 was made to the Haiti Relief Fund. Treasurer Stacey George gave the financial report. Emily Thomas reported on the Christmas support for the children and families of Pine Grove Elementary which included winter coats, care packages for our troops and forthcoming Dawn Center Mother’s Day baskets. The Bake Sale at Sam’s Club on March 27 will be chaired by Rosamond Soulis and Co-Chaired by Helene Arvanitis. Plans for the Sunday of Orthodoxy Vesper Reception, February 21, included an invitation to all women of the parish to bring food for the Lenten Meal. Venice Cosmadelis was elected unanimously to serve as Corresponding Secretary for a two year term; Denise Zotto was elected unanimously to the office of Chapter Historian for a two year term.

                                            

CHRIST THE SAVIOR

GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

P.O. BOX 5566

SPRING HILL, FL 34611