The Orthodox Messenger
Vol. IV, No. 9 – Sunday, February 27, 2005

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) 688-2382; Cell (352) 263-3005; Fax (352) 688-9846; Email: Rharakas@aol.com

COMPASSIONATE FATHER

e know that 80% of the town of Meulaboh in Aceh (Indonesia) was destroyed by the Tsunami waves and 80% of the people of the town died. This is one of the towns hardest hit by the recent calamity.

But there is a fantastic testimony from Meulaboh. In that town, there are about 400 Christians. They wanted to celebrate Christmas on December 25th but were not allowed to do so by the Muslims of Meulaboh. They were told if they wanted to celebrate Christmas they needed to go outside the city of Meulaboh on a high hill and there celebrate Christmas.

Because the Christians desired to celebrate Christmas, the 400 believers left the city on December 25th and after they celebrated Christmas, they stayed overnight on the hill.

As we all know, on the morning of December 26 there was an earthquake followed by the Tsunami waves that destroyed most of the city of Meulaboh and thousands were killed. The 400 believers were on the mountain and were all saved from destruction. Now the Muslims of Meulaboh are saying that the God of the Christians punished them for forbidding the Christians from celebrating Christmas in the city. Others are questioning why so many Muslims died while not even one of the Christians died there. Had the Christians insisted on their rights to celebrate Christmas in the city, they would have all died. But because they humbled themselves and swallowed their pride, they were all spared destruction and can now testify to God's marvelous protection.

On the Sunday of the Prodigal Son, we are presented in the Gospel with an image of our God as our Heavenly Father who cares for each of us with a father’s love. He awaits our return to Him with open arms. The Christians of Meuloboh in Indonesia experienced first-hand the miracle of a father’s love and concern. They are witnesses to His abiding paternal presence in their lives. As we reflect on our relationship with our Heavenly Father today on the threshold of Great Lent, we are reminded to approach Him with humility in prayer. We are reminded of the fact that He calls each of us to an intimate relationship with Him as children who are united in an unbreakable bond to a loving parent. We pray for the courage and insight that we need to respond to Him in like kind.

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

Evening Services as Announced

Saints: St. Raphael of Brooklyn; St. Procopius of Decapolis; St. Titus of Kiev.

SUNDAY OF THE PRODIGAL SON

Gospel Entrance Hymns

Dismissal Hymn of the Resurrection- 6th Tone

(Sing in Greek before the Entrance) (“Angelikai dhinameis… ”) Hymnal, 86-87

(Sing in English after the Entrance) ("When the angelic powers…."). (Same)

Dismissal Hymn to St. Raphael of Brooklyn (Read): Your proclamation has gone forth throughout North America,/ calling the scattered sheep into the unity of the church./ Hearing your voice,/ they responded to your teaching,/ and through your writings, you instructed them in piety./ Now, guided by your example, O Father Raphael,/ we sing hymns of praise unto Christ, our God./ Glory to Him who gave you strength!/ Glory to Him who granted you a crown!/ Glory to Him Who, through you, grants healing to all!

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

Kontakion of the Prodigal Son (sung in Greek) “Tis patroas dhoxis..”

Kontakion of the Prodigal Son (Read) “I have foolishly turned away from my Father’s glory./ By my sins, / I squandered all the riches that He gave me./ Therefore, like the Prodigal,/ I cry out to Him:/ ‘I have sinned before You,/ O Compassionate Father./ Accept my repentance,/ and take me back again/ as one of Your hired servants.”

Return to a page 26 for “Holy God” and for the Epistle and Gospel Readings

EPISTLE: 1 Corinthians 6: 12-20

Brethren: All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be enslaved by anything. Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food" -- and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who joins himself to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two shall become one flesh." But he who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Shun immorality. Every other sin which a man commits is outside the body; but the immoral man sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body and in your spirit which belongs to God.

GOSPEL: St. Luke 15: 11-32

The Lord said this parable: "There was a man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that falls to me.' And he divided his living between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living. And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have fed on the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.' And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to make merry. Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.' But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, 'Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!' And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.”

EVENTS - JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, 2005

Parish Council Swearing In
	Curt Thomas Builds the Bookmobile!
Fr. Rousakis Preaches	Planning For Metr. Alexios’ Visit

Feast Day Vespers Guest Priests Feb. 1
The Altar of Our Temporary Church

FOR THE RECORD: Sunday, February 20—Attendance 68; Stewardship $712.; Candles $204; Visitors $214. We are grateful! Many thanks!

FESTIVE FEASTDAY WEEKEND: The Wellington at Seven Hills saw a festive gathering of friends and stewards of our parish family on Saturday past for the first annual feast day banquet. Our guest of honor, Metropolitan Alexios, arrived escorted by a delegation from the parish and Fathers Mattis & Murphy. He visited each table of guests and enjoyed a warm welcome from all. In his address to the gathering, the Metropolitan praised the members of the community for their success in establishing a growing community and urged everyone to double their efforts at attracting new members. An elegant meal followed and the guests enjoyed an evening of dancing. Sunday morning saw a full church for the Hierarchical Liturgy. His Eminence tonsured seven members of the parish at the conclusion of the Liturgy and spoke again about the special character of Christ the Savior Church. He chanted both the services using both the Greek and English languages. To emphasize our Pan-Orthodox membership, the Metropolitan led the community in reciting the Lord’s Prayer in Greek, Russian, Arabic and English. He was especially impressed by the fact that our entire community sang the responses to the Liturgy. His presence was gracious. All were edified by his words and demeanor at the Liturgy. A reception breakfast followed the Liturgy. The children in attendance enjoyed taking pictures with His Eminence. The festivities ended with a heartfelt rendition of “God grant you years!” All who helped to make the weekend such a great success have our sincere thanks for a job well-done!

REMINDER - BENEFIT DINNER: The Outback Steak House is sponsoring a dinner to benefit our parish on Tuesday, March 8, 2005 at 6:00 pm at The Senior Citizen Club of Hernando County on Cave Hill Road across from Target on US 19 in Spring Hill. Tickets are sold-out. Dee Nikas is chairperson of the event.

PARISH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM: P.E.P. - Friday, March 4th at 2:00 pm. A discussion of the Creed will continue. John Hatzi will lead the discussion.

SATURDAY OF SOULS: The annual Saturday of Souls, when we commemorate the memories of our departed relatives and friends, occurs on this coming Saturday, March 5th. There will be a Divine Liturgy & Memorial Service at 10:00 am. Please submit the names of your departed. Print their names plainly for inclusion in our Memorial prayers.

FOOD DRIVE 2005 Once again we are planning to prepare food baskets to be distributed to needy families of Hernando County at Easter. Please plan to bring food items before March 20th to be included in the baskets that will be distributed on or before Western Easter, March 27th. Contact Helen Nicolelis, chairperson, at (352) 684-1219.

PROSFORON BAKERS: Argyris & Carol Gymnaos 2/27/05; Chrysokaty Georgacopulos 3/5 & 3/6; Fran Triantafilon 3/13; Fran Mather 3/20; Chrysokaty Georgacopulos 3/25 & 3/27; To join the Prosforon bakers, please call George Nikas, Chairman (597-1375).

BULLETIN SPONSORS NEEDED for April 2005. To reserve your Sunday sponsorship, call Connie Mourgides at 686-0589. Each weekly issue costs $25. Your donation would be most helpful and appreciated.

MARCH ANNIVERSARIES AND BIRTHDAYS: Anniversary – Mark & Demetra Flood 3/17. Birthdays – Peter Hatzi 3/2; Fr. Bill Mattis 3/2; Nancy Urling 3/2; Nick Maroulis 3/3; Edna Kalogiannis 3/6; Gloria Vardakis 3/7; Paul Cosmadelis 3/10; Marian Maniates 3/11; Tony Calligeros 3/17; Zachary Frangos 3/17; Kara Hazivasilis 3/19; Kosta Gymnaos 3/26; Helen Nicolelis 3/24. Many years!

CONGRATULATIONS: Seven of our members received tonsure as altar servers and readers at the hand of His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios following the Hierarchical Liturgy on Sunday, February 20th. The newly tonsured members are: Nikolai Kastelan, Constantine Pappas, Seraphim Ferriero, Bill Pasisis, Paul Cosmadelis, Stephen Heuer and Steve Mourgides. Nancy Kastelan received a blessing and tonsure as our “summer reader”. Congratulations and many years to all.

AMBASSADORS OF GOOD WILL: On Sunday, February 13th, our own Connie Mourgides traveled with husband Steve to Saint Stefanos Church in St. Petersburg where she gave a talk to the parish about our mission church. The pastor, Father Joseph Samaan, invited Connie to speak as a part of their Sunday service. Connie spoke with her wonderful enthusiasm about our parish. At the feast day banquet, Father Samaan presented our treasurer with a check for $1,000 dollars as a gift from St. Stefanos to support our mission. Thank you, Connie and Steve, for being our ambassadors of good will.

PARISH COUNCIL MEETING: The members of our Parish Council met on Wednesday, February 16th with a full agenda. President Paul Cosmadelis reported on the plans in place for the visit of the Metropolitan. Father Jerry attended representing Father Harakas. The various standing committee chairpersons reported on their activities and plans. Bill Pasisis reported that 53 households have submitted their annual pledge cards to date. It is hoped that the remaining families and stewards will submit their pledge cards in the near future in order to facilitate budget planning for this year. Peter Nicolelis reported on upcoming events noting that plans are being made for our Lenten observances including the annual fish dinner for Palm Sunday on Sunday, April 24th. A bake sale is planned by the St. Katherine Ladies Society at Wal-Mart’s/Sam’s Club on or near March 26th. More details will be forthcoming. Peter noted that there are plans in place for one or two parish events each month for the remainder of this calendar year. Dorothy Triantafilon and Connie Mourgides reported on the tentative plans of the St. Katherine Ladies Society. Connie Mourgides was appointed to the Building Committee. George Nikas reported on the activities of the Development Committee including a report on the activities of the realtor. The next meeting of the Council will be March 16th at 7pm.

Bulletin Sponsor: BETTE FERRIERO - IN MEMORY OF MY PARENTS WILLIAM & ANGELA NICHOLSON Memory Eternal!