AUGUST SUMMER THOUGHTS – 8   “FASTING 1-14”  

   “Ya’ gotta eat!” proclaims the fast food advertising motto! Yes, for sure. In order to stay alive, “ya’ gotta eat!” Food is an essential part of life. So it is in the Orthodox Church. Food and drink have a deep and spiritual place in the Church’s religious life.

    Holy Communion is one of the most important sacraments of the Church in which we receive bread and wine, become Christ’s precious Body and Blood.  But additionally, we see the Church offering food or drink to us many times. Think of the wine given the couple who are being married; the “Bread Blessing Service”;  the blessing of the grape harvest on the Transfiguration feast August 6^th;  the Slavic Orthodox practice of blessing the Easter Basket; red dyed Easter eggs; prayer before meals; and at the end of every Divine Liturgy, “antidoron” bread is given to all. Food has an important role in the life of our Church.

   But, too much attention to food can be a vice. Gluttony means that food controls our lives. We are taught to be careful in the amount and kinds of food that we eat.

   So, our Orthodox Church encourages us to abstain from certain foods at different times of the Church year. We use the term “fasting” to describe this religious practice. Jesus taught us “Life is more than food, and the body more than clothing” (Luke 12:23).  So the Orthodox Church teaches us to abstain from meat and other foods on Wednesdays and Fridays each week, to fast 40 days before Christmas and Easter, and the first fourteen days of August before the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos.

   Fasting is an exercise of spiritual discipline. Together with increased prayer, more frequent church attendance, spiritual reading, efforts at moral self-control, acts of love for others, repentance for sins, and deliberately simplifying our lives, we impose control upon our lives for the purpose of focusing upon God and His grace.

   This fast period is the Church’s way of directing us to become more what God wants us to be. St. Paul put it this way: “I appeal to you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:1-2).

   Beginning tomorrow, we Orthodox Christians are called to a two-week fast to prepare for the feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos. Make the decision! Begin the Fast tomorrow!

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

Evening Services as Announced

6^th SUNDAY OF MATTHEW

GOSPEL ENTRANCE AND OTHER HYMNS

Dismissal Hymn of the Resurrection - Plagal 1st  Tone

   (Sing in Greek before the Entrance) "Ton synanarchon logon "  Hymnal, 85-86.

   (Sing in English after the Entrance) "The Eternal Word" (Same).

Dismissal Hymn of St. Eudokimos

  (Read) The Master who called you to eternal mansions on high / preserves incorrupt your body / even after you died, O holy Eudokimos; / for you had led a lifestyle / of self-restraint and decorum, / never staining your flesh. / Thus for our salvation to Christ / intercede with confidence.

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

Kontakion for the Transfiguration “Epi tou orous metemorphothes”(Sung in Greek by Leaders)  (Read) O Christ God, / you were transfigured on the Mountain, / and your disciples saw as much of you glory / as they could hold, / so that seeing You crucified / they would know you had willed / to suffer your passion / and would proclaim to the world / that you are truly the Reflection of the Father.

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

   EPISTLE – Romans 12:6-14 (6^th Matthew) + Brethren, having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; he who teaches, in his teaching; he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who contributes, in liberality; he who gives aid, with zeal; he who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.

   GOSPEL – Matthew 9:1-8 (6^th Matthew) + At that time, getting into a boat Jesus crossed over and came to his own city. And behold, they brought to him a paralytic, lying on his bed; and when Jesus saw their faith he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven." And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming." But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say 'Rise and walk?' But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" he then said to the paralytic -- "Rise, take up your bed and go home." And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

 

  FOR THE RECORD: July 17, 2005:  Attendance 39; Stewardship $761; Visitors’ Offering  $1; Candles $80; Building Fund $123 (tray) $65 (other). July 24, 2005:  Attendance 43;  Stewardship $568; Visitors’ Offering $10; Candles $56; $30. Many thanks!  

   STEWARDSHIP RENEWAL: We are pleased to announce that Kosta Gymnaos has renewed his Christ the Savior Church 2005 Stewardship. Christ the Savior Church now has 74 Stewards for 2005. Many thanks for your support!

   HOSPITALIZED: Oak Hill-Dino Moshonisiotis. Countryside-Mease-Alice Bolio Holy Cross, Ft. Lauderdale-Achilles Koulouvaris. We pray for rapid recovery. Spring Hill – Nicole Underwood, who gave birth to a 7 lb. 12 oz. son on July 26 and was named Nicholas Ryan. Many years!

   BIRTHDAY AND ANNIVERSARY BLESSINGS will be offered next Sunday, August 7 following the Divine Liturgy. Birthdays: Spiro Katehis 8/1; Charles Chronopoulos 8/1; Katy Georgacopulos 8/2; Bill Hazivasilis 8 /3; Pat Pappas 8/5; Mike Kotsifakis 8/7; Eleni Katehis 8/11; Nicole Underwood 8/13; Ted Gioshis 8/17; Paula Katehis 8/18; Alice Bolio 8/19; Richard Urling III 8/22; Kalianna Kotsifakis 8/24; Eleni Roussos 8/26; Evangelos Thomas 8/29; Fran Triantafilon 8/23; Gloria Zahka 8/29. Anniversaries: Dimi & Margaret Andoniadis 8/18; Fr. Stanley and Presbytera Emil Harakas (50^th) 8/28. Many years!

   SUPPLICATORY SERVICES (PARAKLESIS) to the Theotokos will be held this Wednesday, August 3 at 5:00 p.m. in the Chapel. It will be followed by a Lenten Pot Luck Supper. Join us to honor the Theotokos, the Mother of Christ and ask for her prayers at the service. Then bring your prepared non-meat dish for a community meal. This Wednesday!

   HOLY CONFESSIONS: There will be two scheduled opportunities for Holy Confession during the two week fasting period August 1-14. The first will be from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 6 for those able to come during the day. The second will be on Friday, August 12, from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. for those who can only make it at night. If neither of these two opportunities is possible for you, please call Fr. Stanley to schedule a mutually convenient time. Confessions will be heard in the Chapel.

  DIVINE LITURGY OF THE TRANSFIGURATION OF CHRIST: Orthros at 9:30 a.m., Divine Liturgy  10:00 a.m., Saturday, August 6. This major Feast Day of the Church remembers the event when Christ, accompanied by some of His Disciples, was transfigured before them, manifesting His divine nature. A major holy day of our Church.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to Visit United States in January, 2006: His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will visit the Metropolis of Atlanta, headed by Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta, on January 4-8, 2006. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will preside over the centennial Epiphany celebration in Tarpon Springs, Florida, and will also commemorate the centennial of the St. Nicholas Cathedral in Tarpon Springs during a Patriarchal Divine Liturgy.  This is the first time that an Ecumenical Patriarch will visit the Tarpon Springs area for the festivities associated with the celebration of Epiphany.  Please keep those dates reserved.

    LOOK AROUND! As a result of a community service project some painting, cleaning and general maintenance has taken place on our property the past several weeks and will continue for a short while. Check the outside of the Chapel! We are grateful for this assistance in our maintenance program.

    RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: In September we will begin our Parish Education Program on Friday afternoons with Bible Study alternating with other topics weekly. We are investigating the possibility of resuming evening sessions for those who cannot attend in the daytime P.E.P. classes. Please contact Fr. Stanley at 688-2382 to indicate what days and hours would be good for you for these evening sessions.

    INTERESTED in helping resume the Christ the Savior Library/Bookstore project? Please call Fr. Stanley at 688-2382 to discuss how you can help.