The Orthodox Messenger
Vol. VI, No. 30– Sunday, July 29, 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
Fr. Stanley S. Harakas, Th.D., D.D.
(352) 796-2377; Cell (352) 263-3005; Email:Rharakas@aol.com
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What’s
Special About Christ the Savior Orthodox Church?-7
WHY
Do The People Declare a Stewardship of Time & Talents?
People who wish to become part of Christ the Savior Church declare
their Stewardship (Membership) by telling the Parish Council what they
will try to do for the coming calendar year in terms of their giving of
“Time, Talent and Treasure.” These are based on a fourth “T” word,
“Thanksgiving.”
One time, Jesus healed ten men who were victims of the deadly and
disfiguring disease of leprosy. The Bible says, “And as they went they
were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned
back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus'
feet, giving him thanks. . . . Then said Jesus, "Were not ten cleansed?
Where are the nine?” (Luke 17:15-17). Since we all receive blessings
from God, we should be grateful to the Lord and clearly He expects that
we will be thankful to Him and express it. How should we express our
thanks to God? With the dedication of Time, Talent and Treasure in
service to Him and His Church!
What about our Time? The Psalms give us direction about using
our time in His service. “My times are in thy hand” (Psalm 31:15); “I
will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth” (Psalm 34:1); “Trust in him
at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him” (Psalm 62:8);
“Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all
times!: (Psalm 106:3); “But we will bless the Lord from this time forth
and for evermore” (Psalm 115:18); “My soul is consumed with longing for
thy ordinances at all times” (Psalm 119:20); “Hope in the Lord from this
time forth and for evermore” (Psalm 131:3).
What about our Talents? In the Gospel of Luke Jesus tells the
parable of the “Talents,” the name of a large sum of money. A Rich Man
gave ten Talents to one servant, five Talents to another, and two
Talents to a third for them to invest while he was traveling. When he
returned he praised the first two because they doubled his money. But
the third did nothing but bury his two Talents, for which he was
severely punished. The moral of the story is that we all have from the
Lord abilities and talents of different kinds. It is our obligation of
thanksgiving to use our talents for His purposes. So we declare how we
will help the work of His Church.
In the Liturgy we say, “Let us commit ourselves and one another,
and our whole life to Christ our God” That is Stewardship of Time
and Talent! So we show we are members of Christ’s Church when we
declare our Stewardship of Time & Talent!
Service Hours: Sundays and Feast Days: Orthros at 9:30 am; Divine
Liturgy at 10:00 am
Evening Services as Announced
Saints: Kallinikos, Martyr (+250); Theodote and her children,
Martyrs (+304); Theodosios, the pious Emperor; Constantine,
Patriarch of Constantinople; Anomymous Martyrs, Father, Mother & Two
Children; Mamas & Basiliskos, Martyrs of Darius; John the Soldier;
Benjamin & Berius of the Palace of Hebdomon.
9TH SUNDAY OF
MATTHEW
GOSPEL ENTRANCE AND OTHER HYMNS
Dismissal Hymn of the Resurrection - Plagal 4th Tone
(Sing in Greek before the Entrance) ("Ex ypsous katelthes").Hymnal,
89.
(Sing in English after the Entrance) ("From on high did you
descend"). (Same)
Dismissal Hymn of the Presentation of Christ (See paper in the
pews)
Kontakion for the Feast of the Transfiguration (August 6)
(Read) On the Mountain You were transfigured, / O
Christ our God, / and your Disciples saw / as much of your glory as they
could hold, / so that when they should see you crucified, / they would
know that You suffered willingly, / and would proclaim to the world /
that You are truly the Splendor of the Father.
EPISTLE – 1 Corinthians 3:9-17 (9th Matthew) +
BRETHREN, we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's
building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled
master builder. I laid a foundation, and another man is building upon
it. Let each man take care how he builds upon it. For no other
foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus
Christ. Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver,
precious stones, wood, hay, straw - each man's work will become
manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with
fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the
work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive
a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he
himself will be saved, but only as through fire. Do you not know that
you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If any one
destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy,
and that temple you are.
GOSPEL – Matthew 14:22-34 (9th Matthew) +
At that time, Jesus made the disciples
get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he
dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up
into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there
alone, but the boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the
land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them. And in the
fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when
the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying,
"It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. But immediately he spoke
to them, saying "Take heart, it is I; have no fear." And Peter answered
him, "Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water." He said,
"Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to
Jesus; but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he
cried out, "Lord, save me." Jesus immediately reached out his hand and
caught him, saying to him, "O man of little faith, why did you doubt?"
And when they entered the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat
worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." And when they had
crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.
Return to p.
26
of the
Hymnal, to sing “Holy God . . . .”
FOR THE RECORD: July 15, 2007-
Candles $45; Visitors’ Donations
$139; Steward-ship $210;
Attendance 39. July 22, 2007 -
Candles $47.50; Visitors’ Donations $132; Coffee Hour Free Will
Basket $39; Stewardship $ 775; Attendance 43. Many Thanks!
BIRTHDAY AND ANNIVERSARY BLESSINGS
will be offered for all those
celebrating in the month of August next Sunday. Birthdays:
Charles Chronopoulos 8/1; Chrysokaty Georgakoplos 8/2; Bill Hazivasilis
8/3; Pat Pappas 8/5; Nicole Underwood 8/13; Mike Kotsifakis 8/17; Ted
Gioshes 8/17; Richard Urling III 8/22; Fran Triantafilon 8/23;Vera
Mattis 8/23; Kaliana Kotsifakis 8/24; Evangelos Thomas 8/29; Gloria
Zahka. Wedding Anniversaries: Fr. Stanley & Presbytera Emily
Harakas 8/28. Congratulations and we wish all “Many Years!” If your
birthday or anniversary is not listed, let Fr. know.
PROSFORON BAKERS: Constantina Selemaj 7/29; Presbytera Emily
Harakas 8/5; Fran Triantafilon 8/6 (Feast of the Transfiguration of
Christ) Argyri & Carol Gymnaos 8/12; Venice Cosmadelis 8/19;
Anet Jones 8/26. We are in need of
more persons to make the Prosforon / Offering Bread for the Divine
Liturgy for each Divine Liturgy. We are in need a Chairperson for
the Prosforon Committee. Please speak to Fr. Stanley today.
SUMMER COFFEE HOUR SPONSORS: 7/29 Nancy Kastelan & Venice
Cosmadelis. August Sponsors: 8/5 Emily Thomas & Emily Harakas; 8/12
Harriet Pasisis; 8:19 Venice Cosmadelis and Nancy Kastelan; 8/26 Gloria
Vardakis and Helen Vangel. A free will offering is requested to cover
costs. Give what you like, but do remember that it costs about $1 for a
pastry and a cup of coffee. Thanks to all Coffeee Hour Sponsors. You too
can be one! Speak to Harriet Pasisis for details!
THE TWO WEEK FAST OF
THE DORMITION OF THE THEOTOKOS
All Orthodox Christians are called by the Church to join in the
two week fasting period prior to the Great Feast of the Dormition of
the Theotokos, celebrated on August 15. Though there are many feast
days for the Mother of our Lord, the Theotokos, the Dormition Feast
is the most important, since most saints are honored on the day of
their death. “Dormition” literally means “Falling Asleep (in the
Lord) In Greek it is Kee-mee-sis
tes Theh-oh-toh-kou.
We abstain from meat products during this fasting period from
August 1 to August 14. On both Monday, August 6, the Great Feast of
the Transfiguration of our Lord and on Wednesday, August 15 the
Great Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos we worship with the
Orthros at 9:30 a.m. and the Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m.
On Friday, August 3 and Friday, August 10 a Supplicatory Service
for the Living, will be conducted at 4:00 p.m. followed by a
Pot-Luck Lenten Dinner. All are welcome!
SUMMER TIME! Please remember to bring or send in your 2007
Stewardship contributions so that we can meet our expenses.
2008 CHURCH CALENDAR: We have been informed by Mr. Douglas A.
McCaul of the Pinecrest Funeral Chapels that they will again sponsor
our Christ the Savior Church calendar for 2008. We are indeed grateful
for this continued support!
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.
If you are not an Orthodox Christian, please receive the blessed
bread at the end of the Divine Liturgy and join us at Coffee Hour.
To learn more about the Orthodox Church, contact Fr. Stanley at
796-2377.
