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The Orthodox Messenger 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 13460 Olympic Village Lane, Brooksville, FL - (352) 796-8482 Website: http://orthodoxhernandocountyfl.org Fr. Stanley S. Harakas, Th.D.,D.D. (352) 796-2377; Cell (352) 263-3005; Email: Rharakas@aol.com DOES LIFE HAVE MEANING? You could divide the world today into two main camps: 1) those who believe that life has no meaning, other than what we make up so as to avoid total despair; and 2) that our lives are meaningful because the way we live has an eternal dimension. Atheists, materialists, most Marxists and people who live only for pleasure, are in the first group. Most religious people Christians, Jews, Muslims, etc. are in the second group. Today, our Orthodox Church continues its preparation for Great Lent with “Meatfare Sunday,” which focuses our attention to the Last Judgment. In Christ’s teaching, life continues after death and our lives have meaning because we will be accorded either the consequences of evil deeds or the rewards of a life well-lived. In the Parable of the Last Judgment, Christ speaks about the goats - those who, in unbelief, have committed unrepentant evil throughout their lives. The Bible says of them: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Roman.6:23). He speaks here of spiritual death. - those enrolled in the army of sin, are dead already, even in this life. He also speaks of the “sheep” - those enrolled in His Church through their Baptism and living the life of communion with God. Those are the one’s who receive “the free gift of God,” which is “eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord.” Does life have meaning? We who believe in Christ, are Baptized in his death and resurrection, share in the sacramental life, and follow Him in our lives -we are assured of eternal life in His Kingdom. For us, there is no question that life has meaning. From St. John's First Universal Letter Beloved, if any one says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should love his brother also. Every one who believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God, and every one who loves the parent loves the child. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burden-some. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God Evening Services as AnnouncedSaints: Porphyrios, Bp. of Gaza (+420); Greatmartyr Photine, Equal of the Apostles and her Five Daughters and Two Sons; Martyrs Sebastian and Christodoulos, Theokletos, Martyr (+750); Sebastian of Poshekhonye, Neomartyr John Calphes, the Apprentice. MEATFARE SUNDAY 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 Presentation of Christ (See paper in the pews) Kontakion of Meatfare Sunday / The Last Judgment Sung in Greek by the Leaders: “Otan elthes o Theos . . .” (Read) When You come down to the earth, / O God, in Your glory, / all things will tremble, / and a river of fire will draw all before Your Judgment Seat; the books shall be opened up, / and public knowledge will be of hidden things. / Rescue me, then, / I pray, from unquenchable fire, / and count me worthy / to stand at Your right hand, O You, / the most righteous Judge. Turn to pp. 26-27 of the Hymnal, for “Holy God . . . .” EPISTLE – 1 Corinthians 8:8-9:2 (Meatfare Sunday)
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 Sunday)
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." THERE WILL BE TWO TRAYS TODAY- 1) FOR STEWARDSHIP OR FOR VISITORS’ OFFERING, and 2) FOR THE DINO ADAMIS PHILANTHROPIC FUND FOR THE RECORD: February 19 – Attendance 49; Stewardship $999; Visitors’ Offering Tray $40; Candles $86. Thanks to all for your support! memorial Service: a 40-Day Memorial Service with Kolyva is offered today by Argyris Gymnaos for the rest of the soul of his late brother, Vasilios Gymnaos who passed away in Greece. We extend our sympathy to Argyris and the whole Gymnaos family. May his memory be eternal! Aionia e mneme! father HARAKAS’ 50th AnniversarY: Many Stewards and Friends have contributed to our Building Fund in honor of Fr. Harakas’ 50th Ordination Anniversary. We remind those who haven’t as yet, that the honor roll of contributors will be published in mid-March. If you plan to give, please do it now. Thank you! MOSI FILM TRIP: The parish bus excursion on Thursday, March 2 to the Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa will leave from the South side of the Publix Parking Lot in the shopping center at Spring Hill Drive and Route 19. Please don’t be a “no show.” Be there by 4:15 p.m., we must leave at 4:30 p.m. NEEDED: EASTER FOOD BASKET DONATIONS - Our Food Pantry is practically empty – all non-perishable food items will be deeply appreciated so that we may be able to help those in need at any time. Thank you! Suggested non-perishable food items for our Easter Food Baskets: Apple Sauce, Pineapple (sliced or bits), French-style Green Beans, Peas, Corn and Carrots. The Ladies Society will buy other foods from the Adamis Fund. WELCOME VISITORS! We are happy that you are worshiping with us today. Please know that HOLY COMMUNION is offered in the Orthodox Church only to Orthodox Christians in good spiritual standing, for example, if married, married in the Orthodox Church. Non-Orthodox persons are welcome to attend our services, and to receive the blessed bread at the end of the Divine Liturgy. telephone Directory: You can help this project by soliciting advertising for the Directory. Call Cathy at 684-4082 to help! Can you solicit two business ads? Can you solicit one business ad? If you can’t solicit – can you be a Booster? STEWARDS: We now have 52 Stewards for 2006 as of last Sunday. If you haven’t sent in your Stewardship Declaration Cards yet, please do so as soon as possible. Your support is greatly needed for us to continue the work of Christ the Savior Church. PROSFORON BAKERS: Presbytera Emily Harakas 2/25 (Saturday of Souls); George Nikas 2/26; Connie Mourgides 3/5; Fran Mather 3:12;. Argiris & Carol Gymnaos 3/19; Fran Triantafilon 3/25 (Annunciation). Helen Nicolelis 3/26; Gloria Vardakis 4/2; Bette Ferriero 4/7; George Nikas, Prosforon Chairman -597-1375. THE PARISH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM (P.E.P.) for Friday, March 3 will consist of watching a film on the life of Palestinian Christians called “Salt of the Earth.” Living as religious minorities among Muslims, nine Palestinian Christians share their faith, hopes, and challenges. We will view the video (in Arabic with excellent English subtitles) and then talk about it. We start at 2:00 pm. Refreshments will be served. Come! HOSPITALIZED: Oak Hill: Helene Dwyer, John Giftos, Evelyn Jarocki, Emanoil Kalfa, Kosti Yoanides. We pray for a rapid recovery. CONGRATULATIONS to Fr. Stanley & Presbytera Emily Harakas on the birth of their seventh grand-child. Theodora Ioanna was born on Thursday, February 23 to Angelica and Gregory Parigian. Mother and daughter are doing well. Many years! THERE WILL BE A MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL AND PLANNING AND BUILDING COMMITTEE FOLLOWING DIVINE LITURGY TODAY BULLETIN SPONSOR: In Loving Memory of My Mother-In-LawALICE L. MARTY. MAY HER MEMORY BE ETERNAL!LENT BEGINS MONDAY MARCH 6 – LOOK FOR THE LENTEN PROGRAM IN THE MAIL
CHRIST THE SAVIOR
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