The Orthodox Messenger
Vol. V, No. 27 – Sunday, July 2, 2006

Christ the Savior Greek Orthodox Church - Presentation of Christ at the Temple

The Hellenic Orthodox Mission of Hernando County, F lorida–“A Pan-Orthodox Christian Community”

Ecumenical Patriarchate + Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America + Metropolis of Atlanta

 Website: http://orthodoxhernandocountyfl.org     

A TOMATO SEED

Fr. Andrew Demotses, St. Vasilios Greek Orthodox Church, Peabody, MA

  

     I have often thought that my love of gardening has always helped me to sustain my sense of wonder and appreciation for God’s constant process of creation. Each spring I marvel anew when I take a tiny tomato seed, seemingly dry and lifeless, and plant it in a small pot.      It soon bursts forth from the soil, a small, fragile, green sprout, and begins its task. It grows quickly and vigorously, and after the sun has warmed the soil, it is transplanted into the garden. Once there, it gathers from somewhere more than two hundred thousand times its weight, and forcing all of this raw material through a single stem, it constructs a large plant, fills it with blossoms and begins to make tomatoes. It ornaments its tomatoes with a smooth shiny skin, fills them with flavorful juice and warm meaty pulp, and makes scores of new seeds like itself, each one capable of repeating this miraculous process of reproduction. It does this so many times that the tomatoes produced on a single plant in one season will weigh more than 100 pounds! All this from a single seed.

    Who conceived the marvelous plan by which that little seed does its work? Where does it get its tremendous strength? Where does it find the lovely red color that it needs? Where in the soil does it collect the flavors it uses in making its tomatoes? How does it make so many tomatoes?

    Now that we have been to the moon and back, we have become arrogant and complacent. We think that we can answer every question, solve every problem, and understand all the mysteries of creation. We have come to believe that we are the measure of all things.

    And yet, how does one explain the simple tomato? How can the wisest scientist, with the greatest laboratory, duplicate what a tiny dry seed can do with only a spadeful of soil? God remains the undisputed sovereign of His creation, in spite of our human pretensions. And He demonstrates for us the majesty of his power and the depth of His wisdom in the simplest ways lest we forget our appointed place in the created order. A tomato seed not only makes tomatoes, therefore, it also teaches valuable lessons.

         COME EVERY SUNDAY AND WORSHIP GOD – THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE!

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

Today’s Saints and Holy Events: Holy Martyr Pankratios, Bp. of Tauromania; Martyrs Andrew and Probus; Cyril, Bp. of Gortyna of Crete; Deposition of the Robe of the Theotokos in Vlachernae (+473); Patriarch Juvenalios of Jerusalem (+460); Neomartyrs of Samothrake; Alexander, Soldier of Egypt; Theodore, Bp. of Edessa.  ===============================================================

3rd SUNDAY OF MATTHEW

GOSPEL ENTRANCE AND OTHER HYMNS

Dismissal Hymn of the Resurrection - 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 Feast (Read) Ever-Virgin Mother of God, / refuge and protection of the human race, / you gave your mantel and belt / toyour city as a powerful defense. / These garments remained uncorrupt / because of your virginal child-bearing. / Time and nature are renewed in you. Wherefore we pray that you may grant peace to the universe / and great mercy to our souls.

Dismissal Hymn of the Presentation of Christ (See paper in the pews)

Kontakion of the Feast

(Read)  O pure one, / whom God Himself has blessed, / you have given as a blanket of purity / to all the faithful / the holy mantle that had covered your pure body. We celebrate with love / the deposition of this mantle and sing out with joy: / “Hail, O Virgin most honorable, / glory of all Christians!”

                        Return to p. 26 of the Hymnal, to sing “Holy God . . . .”

   EPISTLE – Hebrews 9:1-7 (Robe of the Theotokos) + Brethren, the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary. For a tent was prepared, the outer one, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence; it is called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain stood a tent called the Holy of Holies, having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, which contained a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. These preparations having thus been made, the priests go continually into the outer tent, performing their ritual duties; but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood which he offers for himself and for the errors of the people.

   GOSPEL – Matthew 6:22-33 (3^rd Matthew) + The Lord said, "The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is not sound, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear? For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows you need them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well."

   FOR THE RECORD: June 25-Attendance 35; Stewardship $345;  Candles $74; Fellowship Hour $37. Monthy Mission Support from the Metropolis $400.We are grateful to all who support our Mission! Thank you!

  USA INDEPENDENCE DAY DOXOLOGY will be offered today following the Divine Liturgy in honor of the 230^th anniversary of the United States of America. On July 4, 1776, we claimed our independence from Britain and Democracy was born. Every day thousands leave their homeland  to come to the  "land of the  free and the  home of the brave"  so they

can begin their American Dream. Happy birthday to our country – the USA!

  BIRTHDAY AND WEDDING ANNIVERSARY BLESSINGS for July, will be offered today following the Divine Liturgy. We pray Congratulations! and “Many Years!”

  NEW PARISH COUNCIL MEMBERS Carol Gymnaos, Nick Maroulis and Helen Vangel will take their oath of office today immediately following the Divine Liturgy. Metropolitan Alexios has approved their membership on the Parish Council through a letter dated July 27, 2006. Congratulations and “Many Years!”

  DIAKONIA MAGAZINE: Now available in the Parish Hall is the beautiful new issue of the Metropolis of Atlanta quarterly magazine Diakonia. Full of striking photographs and interesting stories and articles, as well as news from around the Metropolis, this issue is very much worth the $3 donation. Just leave your three dollars in the glass next to the magazines. So far, three of thirty have been sold. YOUR COPY is waiting for you to pick up! Support our Metropolis, which generously supports our Mission!