THE LAST JUDGMENT

   Our society does not like to hear about the Last Judgment. We prefer to believe that regardless of what we do, we will all get to heaven. But, here is our Church on Meatfare Sunday, just two weeks before the beginning of Great Lent, telling us that there will be a Judgment at the end times, and we will stand before the Lord, who will accord to us for eternity, what we have been in this life.

   Jesus Christ Himself declared that "The hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come forth, those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment" (John 5:26-29).  The Creed says, Jesus Christ “will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.”

   We don’t know when the Second Coming of Christ will take place. Jesus assures us, “But of that day or that hour no one knows . . . only the Father” (Mark 13:32). But He does tell us what our responsibility is now: “Take heed, watch; for you do not know when the time will come” (Mark 13:32). St. Peter tells us that “the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10).

   So, this day is a challenge for us. In the face of the coming last judgment, St. Peter asks, “What sort of persons ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God?” And he answers, “Therefore, beloved, since you wait for these, be zealous to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace” (2 Peter 11-12, 14). If we die before the judgment, we’ll experience a foretaste of our eternal destiny.

   So, the second century Church Father Clement of Rome, teaches us “Let us, so long as we are in the world, repent whatever evils we have done, so that we may be saved by the Lord while we yet have time for repentance.” And he tells us clearly, “If we do the will of Christ we shall obtain rest; but if not, if we neglect His Commandments, nothing will rescue us from eternal punishment.” Now you know. And it’s up to you!

Service hours: Sundays and Feast days: Orthros at 9:30 am; Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am.

Evening Services as Announced

3rd SUNDAY OF THE TRIODION- MEATFARE SUNDAY - THE LAST JUDGMENT

                                     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 Presentation of Christ - (Sing) From the sheet in the pew.

Kontakion for Meatfare Sunday

   (Read) When you come down to earth, / O God, in your glory, / all things will shudder with trembling, / and a river of fire / will draw before Your judgment seat; / the books shall be opened up, / and hidden things will be revealed. / Rescue me then, I pray, / from the unquenched fire, / and count me worthy / to stand at Your right hand, / O You the most righteous Judge. Return to Page 26 – “Holy God . . .”

EPISTLE – 1 Corinthians 8:8 – 9:2  (Meatfare)

rethren, 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)

he 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: Sunday, February 8, 2004: Attendance - 44; Candles - $44; Offering - $85; Hospitality - $36; Building Fund - $131. Thank you!”

   A MEMORIAL SERVICE WITH “KOLLYVA” was offered on Sunday, February 8 at the Divine Liturgy by George & Betty Roussos and Eleni and James, for the rest of the souls of Betty’s mother Georgia Spiropoulos and George’s father James and his mother Eleni. May their memories be Eternal!

   LOOK FOR YOUR “2004 GREAT LENT PROGRAM” in the mail. Great Lent begins on Monday, February 23. Make Lent Meaningful This Year!

  ANTHONY VARDAKIS: Our fellow steward Anthony Vardakis passed away Thurs., February 12th. Funeral will be in Springfield, MA. Today we will conduct a Trisagion Service. We express our condolences to Gloria and family. May his memory be eternal.

   MEMORIAL SERVICE: Today a 40-Day Memorial Service with Kollyva, will be offered by Demosthenes  and Margaret  Andoniadis, for the rest of the soul of Margaret’s late mother, Chrisi Gunakis. May her memory be eternal!

    P.E.P CLASS: Friday, February 20, 2004 at 2:00 p.m. Our topic will be “The Sacrament of Ordination.” Join in learning about our Orthodox Church. You are welcome! Refreshments!

   PROSFORON BAKERS: Connie Mourgides 2/14 (Sat. of Souls); Betty Roussos 2/15; Venice Cosmadelis 2/22; Emily Thomas 2/29; George and Maria Angeliades 3/7; Fran Mather 3/14; Gloria Vardakis 3/21; Bette Ferriero 3/25 (Annunciation); Fran Triantafilon 3/28;  Presbytera Emily  4/3 (Saturday of Lazarus). George Nikas 4/4 (Palm Sunday); Patricia Lilore 4/8 (Holy Thurs.); Eleni Nicolelis (Holy Sat. 4/9; George Nikas is Prosforon Coordinator.

   MISSION COUNCIL MEETING: The Mission Council of our church will be meeting on Wednesday, February 18, at 7:00 p.m. at the Fellowship Hall. If you have concerns, please bring them to the attention of the Mission Council President, Paul Cosmadelis (686-1199).

   THE DINO ADAMIS FOOD PANTRY is located in our Fellowship Hall. You are asked to bring boxed or canned foods for collection there.

   ALTAR CANDLE DONATION: Many thanks to Yanni and Jenny Kotsifakis for the donation of six months of Altar Vigil Light Candles.  Fr. and Presbytera Harakas have donated three months of Altar Vigil Light Candles in memory of their daughter Katherine.

“No God – No Peace.    Know God – Know Peace.”

   SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21  - 4:00 P.M.  AT THE PARISH DINING HALL

DEE JAY CAL BUCK   PROVIDING GREEK,     AMERICAN & INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FOR

YOUR DANCING PLEASURE

“Heavy Hors D’oeuvres” Will Be Served

            Meat Balls, Chicken Wings; Tiropittes, Dolmades, etc. Wine included.

                   $8 per person at the Door

COME AND BRING FRIENDS OR NEIGHBORS

COME TO CHURCH EVERY SUNDAY

CHRIST THE SAVIOR GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

P.O. BOX 5566

SPRING HILL, FL 34611

“A Pan-Orthodox Christian Community”

 

Repentance – Lent Begins on February 23