The Orthodox Messenger

Vol. VI, No. 5 – Sunday, February 4, 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     

THE CHURCH PREPARES US FOR GREAT LENT

here is a profound wisdom in the way the Orthodox Church prepares each of us for Great Lent. This preparation focuses on our inner world. It is all included within a service book called the Triodion. There we find the services of the Church for a period of weeks before Great Lent, the weeks of Great Lent, Holy Week, Pascha, and the Sundays following until the feast of the Holy Spirit on the day after Pentecost. It is a treasure house of devotion and spiritual/moral insight. It begins with the four Sundays before Great Lent.

   The Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee, which we observed last week on January 28 is based on the story that Jesus told to an inquiring man regarding achieving eternal life. A proud religiously observant man boasted to God about how good a person he was. A despised tax-collector humbly sought God’s forgiveness for his many sins. Jesus praised the repentant sinner for his humility. The first lesson for Great Lent is for us to eliminate our pride and to become honest with ourselves before God. Humility means seeing ourselves as we really are.

   The second lesson our Church has as we approach Great Lent is based on the Parable of the Prodigal Son. It tells of the younger son of a rich man who took his inheritance, went to away and wasted it all. Eventually, “he comes to himself,” returns to his father’s house repenting for his sinful life. Here, we learn to examine ourselves, recognize and admit our sins and failures, and confess them so that we might be clean in body and spirit. Repentance prepares us for Great Lent.

   The next step is for the Church to point out to us that what we do, say, think and how we relate in love toward others has eternal consequences. The third Sunday of the Triodion is “Judgment Sunday.” Jesus teaches us that our compassion for others in need is really compassion for Him. And, also, He teaches us that if we do not help those who hunger, need shelter, are ill, we are denying these things to Christ. The Last Judgment tells us that nothing we do is without meaning for all time. It is also Meatfare Sunday, the last day observant Orthodox Christians eat meat before Great Lent.

   The final Sunday is known as Forgiveness Sunday when we are urged to forgive all who have hurt us, so that we enter Great Lent free of resentment and the burden of hurtful feelings towards others. It is also Cheesefare Sunday, the last day for eating dairy products.

   We are taught on these four Sundays humility, repentance, the eternal meaning of our actions, and forgiveness. Thus prepared, we enter spiritually prepared into Great Lent.

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

Evening Services as Announced

2nd SUNDAY OF THE TRIODION: SUNDAY OF THE PRODIGAL SON

GOSPEL ENTRANCE AND OTHER HYMNS

Dismissal Hymn of the Presentation

   Sung in Greek before the Entrance by the Leader - “Haire keharitomene . . .”

Dismissal Hymn of the Resurrection - 1st  Tone

   (Sing in English after the Entrance) ("The stone was sealed"). Hymnal, 80-81.

Dismissal Hymn of the Presentation

   (Sing) in English from the sheet in the pew.

Kontakion of the Prodigal Son

    Sung in Greek by the Leader – “Tes patroas doxes Sou . . .”

    (Read) Foolishly I have run away from Your glory, O Father, wasting in sin / the wealth that You gave to me. Therefore, with the words of the Prodigal / I cry to You: / I have sinned before You, / compassionate Father. / Accept me in repentance / and make me as one of Your hired servants.

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

EPISTLE –  1 Corinthians 6:12-20 (34th Sunday)

rethren, "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 belong to God.

GOSPEL – Luke 15:11-32 (17th Luke – Prodigal Son)

he 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.'"

   FOR THE RECORD:   January 28 - Candles $87; Visitor’s Donations $56; Attendance - 56. Thanks to you for supporting our Church!

   BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARY BLESSINGS TODAY: Anniversaries: 2/8 Michael & Frances Triantafilon; 2/20 Steve and Connie Mourgides. Birthdays: 2/4 Patricia Tsausis; 2/5 Presbytera Emily Harakas; 2/8 Theodora Halvatzes; 2/12 Chris Feola; 2/14 Bette Ferriero; 2/18 Mareda Zoumberos; 2/20 Nikolai Kastelan; 2/23 Electra Butcher; 2/24 Christina Thomas; 2/25 Angie Maniates; 2/27 Vasilios Urling; 2/28 Anastasia Feola. “Many Years!”

   FEAST DAY: Our Feast Day observances were celebrated beautifully again this year. On Thursday, February 1, we welcomed the following Priests from the Tampa Bay Conference at the Vespers: our own Fr. Jerry who preached the sermon, Fr. John Liadis, Fr. William Mattis, and  Fr. Michael Miklos. Also honoring us with their presence were Fr. Joseph Samaan of St. Stefanos, St. Petersburg, and Fr. Julian Damian of Holy Trinity in Clearwater. All remained following Vespers and joined us at the Feast Day Dinner.

   FEAST DAY DINNER: Many thanks to St. Katherine’s Ladies Society members and other Parishioners who contributed to the Dinner. Co-Chairs were Venice Cosmadelis, Presbytera Emily Harakas, Harriet Pasisis & Emily Thomas. Argyri and Carol Gymnaos were chefs for the delicious “Souvlaki.” Also, cooking “Spanakopita” and contributing food items were Helen Arvanitis, Venice Cosmadelis, Bette Ferriero, Agryris Gymnaos, Carol Gymnaos, Dora Halvatzes, Presbytera Emily Harakas, John and Theona Hatzi, Nancy Kastelan, Presbytera Mary Liadis, Nick Maroulis, Presbytera Mary Mattis, Harriet Pasisis, Emily Thomas, Eva Thomas, Gloria Vardakis and Helen Vangel. Servers were Paul Cosmadelis, Venice Cosmadelis, Nikolai Kastelan, Christina Thomas, Curtis Thomas, Emily Thomas & Stacy Underwood. It was agreed that it was a delicious menu.

    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.

   PROSFORON BAKERS: Presbytera Emily Harakas 2/4; 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. George Nikas is Prosforon Chair.

   DESIGNATED SMOKING AREA: Beginning today, 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!

   LENT BEGINS MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 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 Roll. Soon!

- - - 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