The Orthodox Messenger

Vol. III, No. 27 – Sunday, July 4, 2004

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

13460 Olympic Village Lane, Brooksville, FL -  (352) 796-8482

                                           Website: http://orthodoxhernandocountyfl.org

INDEPENDENCE DAY MESSAGE OF ARCHBISHOP DEMETRIOS

Protocol 52/04                                                                                               July 4, 2004
     To the Most Reverend Hierarchs, the Reverend Priests and Deacons, the Monks and Nuns, the Presidents and Members of the Parish Councils of the Greek Orthodox Communities, the Day, Afternoon, and Church Schools, the Philoptochos Sisterhoods, the Youth, the Hellenic Organi-zations, and the entire Greek Orthodox Family in America
     My Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
     On this Day of Independence, I greet you in the spirit of love and joy inspired by our gracious God, the giver of life and liberty.  Our annual celebration of July 4th as a national holiday commemorating the independence and founding of the United States of America is an occasion to affirm the necessity of freedom for promoting loving and lasting relationships with others and with God.  As such, it is also an occasion to consider the tremendous blessings of God in our lives, and especially the great gift of true freedom and national independence.
     Our cultural and religious legacy as Greek Orthodox Christians in America speaks directly to the real sources of freedom and independence, as we have been blessed by the double advantage of adhering to the Hellenic culture of freedom and of living in a free and democratic country, while also living as citizens of the kingdom of Heaven, enjoying "the glorious freedom of the children of God" (Romans 8:21).  Thus, our citizenship in both these earthly and heavenly do-mains places upon us the awesome responsibility to promote liberty and freedom for all, and to call others into a loving fellowship with us and with one another in a spirit of freedom enriched by love, and love enriched by freedom.
     As we proclaim the necessity of personal freedom and national independence in the world, celebrating them with all our might on this great Day of Independence, I invite all of us to be mindful of this our charge as Orthodox Christians "to proclaim to others that which we have seen and heard" (I John 1:3), that which we have inherited from our ancestors, and that which we happily experience in this blessed land of freedom which is America.  May God bless every one of you on this important day of freedom.
     May He grant unto you liberty, prosperity, and peace, and may He offer continued strength to our American nation in advancing His gift of liberty unto all peoples and all nations of the world.
                                                                  With paternal love in Christ,
                                                                            + DEMETRIOS
                                                                             Archbishop of America

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

 5^th  SUNDAY OF MATTHEW

GOSPEL ENTRANCE AND OTHER HYMNS

Dismissal Hymn – 4th  Tone

   (Sing in Greek before the Entrance) (“To faidron tes Anastaseos”).Hymnal,  84-85

   (Sing in English after the Entrance)“When the tidings . . . ”). (Same).

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

   (Text): “Hail, O Mother of God, Virgin full of Grace. Through you did arise the Sun of righteousness, Christ our God, enlightening those in darkness. And you made glad righteous Elder Simeon, receiving and embracing the liberation of our souls; also giving to us the resurrection.”

   Kontakion “Prostasia ton Christianon”(Sung in Greek by Leaders)

   (Read) O never-failing protectress of Christians / and their ever-present intercessor before the Creator: / do not be heedless to the prayerful voices of us sinners, / but in your goodness extend your help to us / who call upon you with confidence. / Hasten, O Mother of God, / to intercede for us. / You have always protected those who honor you!

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

   EPISTLE –  Romans 10:-1-10 (5^th Matthew) + Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but it is not enlightened. For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law, that every one who has faith may be justified. Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on the law shall live by it. But the righteousness based on faith says, Do not say in your heart, "Who will ascend into heaven?" (that is, to bring Christ down) or "Who will descend into the abyss?" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart (that is, the word of faith which we preach); because, if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For man believes with his heart and so is justified, and he confesses with his lips and so is saved.

   GOSPEL – Matthew 8:28-9:1(5^th Matthew) + The Lord said this parable. "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants of the householder came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seeds in your field? How then has it weeds?' He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, 'Then do you want us to go and gather them?' But he said, 'No; lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'"

   FOR THE RECORD: Sunday, June 27: Attendance – 43; Candles - $48; Offering - $132; Hospitality - $33; Dino Adamis Philanthropic Fund - $101;. I Say PAVE IT! Fund Drive $1060. Many thanks!

   THE ROAD IS PAVED! Please send your generous gift to help pay for the paving. We are almost at the half-way point of the fund drive - $3,632 with 33 contributors, a little less than half of our Stewards. We need $3,986 more! Make your check out to CSGOC and write I Say “Pave It!” on the memo line. Thanks!

   YARD SALE: Bring your donations Sundays for storage. Leave items in front of, or in the Dining Hall. Speak to Connie Mourgides for details.

     PROSFORON BAKERS ; Presbytera Emily Harakas 7/4; Fran Mather 7/11; Fran Triantafilon 718; George Nikas 7/25; Patricia Lilore 8/1; Connie Mourgides 8/6 (Feast of the Transfiguration of Christ); Gloria Vardakis (New Prosforon Baker!) 8/8; Argyris & Carol Gymnaos 8:15 (Dormition of the Theotokos). You too can bake the Prosforon Bread! Call our Prosforon Coordinator, George Nikas at 597-1375.

   TODAY IS INDEPENDENCE DAY! Following the Divine Liturgy, a Doxology will be sung.. Afterwards we will sing the National Anthem at the flagpole and then enjoy an Independence Day Pizza Party in the Fellowship Hall. Please join in for the observance and pizza & salad. Free will offering.

   HOSPTALIZED: Oak Hill:  Dia Eleftherion, Paul Cosmadelis, Kosti Yoanides, Valentina Dergacheff, all recuperating at home. Also, recuperating from surgery is Parish Council member, John Hatzi. We pray for a rapid recovery!

  SIGN A PETITION SUPPORTING THE CHURCH’S VIEW ON MARRIAGE: You can sign a petition to our elected U.S. Senators and U.S. Representative asking them to support the upcoming vote on the Marriage Amendment. If you are on the internet, you can do so by accessing the national effort sponsored by the National Alliance for Mar-riage, which wrote it at http://www.grassfire.net/32/petition.asp?PID=6630817&NID=1. Or, you can find printed petitions on the table at the entrance, which you can mail. Just cut out the three petitions and then copy the names and addresses to three envelopes, and mail your signed petition.  

   JULY ANNIVERSARIES AND BIRTHDAYS:  Blessing Prayers will be offered today following Divine Liturgy for those listed in last week’s bulletin. Added to the list are the Birthday of Dia Eleftherion 7/24, and the Anniversary of Demetri and Kara Hazivasilis 7/24   Congratulations to all!

   HALF THE YEAR 2004 is over! With July, we begin the second half of the year. It is also summer. The expenses continue during the summer, so if you are here in Florida, or “up north,” your financial assistance is needed to help meet ongoing expenses. Please send your Stewardship of Treasure contributions on a regular basis. Many thanks!

   FRANK FONZO, CPA has agreed to become our Christ the Savior Greek Orthodox Church accountant. He will be working with our Treasurer, Connie Mourgides, to set up our badly needed reporting system. Mr. Fonzo will be doing our financial books pro bono. We are very grateful for this most generous support!

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Come to Church On Sunday During the Summer!

              “If you forgive not, neither does your heavenly Father forgive you” - Jesus

CHRIST THE SAVIOR GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

P.O. BOX 5566

SPRING HILL, FL 34611

“A Pan-Orthodox Christian Community”

“ PAVE IT!

    FUND DRIVE ”

Cost:                         $7,618

06/27/04 Donated:   $3,632

 Still Needed:   $3,986

  Send Your Donation

             Today!

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