The Orthodox Messenger
Vol. V, No. 29 – Sunday, July 9, 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
Fr. Stanley S. Harakas, Th.D.,D.D.
(352) 796-2377; Cell (352) 263-3005; Email: Rharakas@aol.com
A Long-Distance Call?
There is a story –actually a joke- that has been
going around the internet for a long time. Maybe you have heard it.
But I think that there is an important message in it for all of us
during these hot July days.
It goes this way. A man in Topeka, Kansas decided to write a book
about churches around the country. He started by flying to San
Francisco and worked east from there. Going to a very large church,
he began taking photographs and notes. He spotted a golden telephone
on the vestibule wall and was intrigued by a sign which read:
"$10,000 a minute." Seeking out the Pastor he asked about the phone
and the sign. The Pastor explained that the golden phone was, in
fact, a direct line to Heaven and if he paid the price he could talk
directly to God. The man thanked the Pastor and continued on his
way.
As he continued to visit churches in Seattle, San Diego, Chicago,
Greensboro, Tampa and all around the United States, he found more
phones with the same sign and got the same
answer from each Pastor.
Finally, he arrived in Texas. Upon entering a church in Dallas,
behold, he saw the usual golden telephone. But THIS time, the sign
read: "Calls: 35 cents." Fascinated, he asked to talk to the Pastor.
"Reverend, I have been in cities all across the country and in
each church I have found this golden telephone. I have been told it
is a direct line to Heaven and that I could talk to God, but, in the
other churches the cost was $10,000 a minute. Your sign reads 35
cents. Why?" The Pastor, smiling benignly, replied, "Son, you're in
Texas now... It's a local call."
Of course, I have heard and read the story many times, slightly
revised. Usually, the teller of the story would change it around, so
that the “local call” was available where he or she lives – San
Francisco, Seattle, San Diego, Chicago, Greensboro, Tampa, or from
any other city the teller of the story lived.
Though there is no such telephone, the moral of the story is quite
true – Calling upon God is always a local call! You don’t
need a telephone to call on God – all you need is prayer!
Every prayer is local because God is everywhere. The Psalmist put it
this way: “Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or whither shall I
flee from thy presence? If I ascend to heaven, thou art there! If I
make my bed in the depths of earth, thou art there! If I take the
wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
even there thy hand shall lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me”
(Psalm 139:7-11). Remember that every prayer is a local call. Don’t
forget to call. . . . Regularly. . . . Now. . . . Always. . . .
And its free!
Service Hours:
Sundays and Feast Days: Orthros at 9:30 a.m.; Divine Liturgy at 10:00
a.m.
Evening Services as Announced
Today’s Saints: Pankratios,
Bp. of Tauromina in Sicily, Martyr (1st c.); Bishop Methodios;
Neomartyr Paknan(+1770); Righteous Photios; Dionysios & Metrophanos, of
Athens
===============================================================
4th SUNDAY OF MATTHEW
GOSPEL ENTRANCE AND OTHER HYMNS
Dismissal Hymn of the
Resurrection - 3rd Tone
(Sing in Greek before the Entrance) ("Efrainestho
ta Ourania"). Hymnal, 83-84.
(Sing in English after the Entrance)"Let all things rejoice").
(Same).
Dismissal Hymn of the Presentation of Christ (See paper in the
pews)
Kontakion sung by leaders in Greek “Prostasia ton Christianon.
. .”
(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 p.
26
of the
Hymnal, to sing “Holy God . . . .”
EPISTLE – Romans 6:18-23
(4th Sunday) Brethren, having been set free from sin, you
have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms,
because of your natural limitations. For just as you once yielded your
members to impurity and to greater and greater iniquity, so now yield
your members to righteousness for sanctification. When you were slaves
of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But then what return
did you get from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of
those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and
have become slaves of God, the return you get is sanctification and its
end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of
God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
GOSPEL – Matthew 6:22-33
(4th Sunday) At that time, as Jesus entered Capernaum, a
centurion came forward to him, beseeching him and saying, "Lord, my
servant is lying paralyzed at home, in terrible distress." And he said
to him, "I will come and heal him." But the centurion answered him,
"Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the
word, and my servant will be healed. For I am a man under authority,
with soldiers under me; and I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to
another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does
it." When Jesus heard him, he marveled, and said to those who followed
him, "Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith. I
tell you, many will come from east and west and sit at table with
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of
the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness; there men will weep
and gnash their teeth." And to the centurion Jesus said, "Go; be it done
for you as you have believed." And the servant was healed at that very
moment.
DON’T FORGET TO REFLECT ON EACH DAY’S QUOTE IN THE JULY CALENDAR.
FOR EACH DAY THERE IS A MESSAGE ABOUT “THE LORD!”
FOR THE RECORD: July 2-Attendance 45;
Stewardship $505; Candles $75.33; Visitor’s Offerings $188. We are
grateful to all who support our Mission! Thank you!
TWO TRAYS TODAY:1) Stewardship & Visitors’ Gifts; 2) Building Fund
SYMPATHY: Christ the Savior Church
expresses sympathy to John, Theona and Peter Hatzi on the death on
Saturday, July 1, of John’s sister Alice Mitchell in hospice in New Port
Richey. Burial was in Chicago. May her memory be eternal and may the
Lord of Peace grant the family comfort and strength in their loss.
TODAY’S COFFEE HOUR SPONSOR
is Ruby Hazivasilis. Many thanks! Next week’s
Coffee Hour hostess is Harriet Pasisis. You are invited to the Parish
Coffee Hour following the Divine Liturgy. Please sign up to sponsor the
Coffee Hour in August.
DIAKONIA:
Available in the Parish Hall is the beautiful new issue of the
Metropolis of Atlanta quarterly magazine Diakonia. Beautiful and
interesting, this issue is very much worth the $3 donation. Just leave
your three dollars in the glass next to the magazines. YOUR COPY is
waiting for you to pick up! Support our Metropolis, which generously
supports our Mission!
URGENT!
SUNSHINE CARD VOLUNTEER NEEDED!
A SPECIAL STEWARDSHIP OF TIME
AND TALENTS!
You
can be a person of our Mission who will
send monthly birthday and wedding anniversary cards (and eventually,
“name day” cards) to our parish Stewards and Friends. It will take
just an hour or two a month of your time. The cards, stamps and
names/addresses will be provided by the church. Here is a way you
can help bring blessings to many people from the comfort of your own
home. For more information, or if you would like to volunteer for
this ministry, please call Fr. Stanley -796-2377 from July 17-21.
Please consider helping!
2006 MID-YEAR STEWARDSHIIP REPORT: So
far, as of the end of June, 68 family units are making Stewardship
contributions to Christ the Savior Church, of these 10 family units have
not filled out Stewardship Declarations, which makes it hard for us to
know how to plan our budget. Of the 58 Stewards who did fill out their
2006 Stewardship Declaration cards, we report: A total of $34,815 has
been pledged. There were 24 pledges up to $300 for the year (averaging
$189 per family unit); 19 pledges were from $300 to $600 (averaging $457
per family); 10 pledges were from $600 to $1000 (averaging $804); and 5
pledges were above $1000 (averaging $2,510). These are the pledges; but
they are not actually being received according to your schedule of
giving. To meet our financial obligations, please give your stewardship
on time. We are grateful to Cathy Lemonedes, our Stewardship Secretary
and George Nikas, our Treasurer for this general information. We remind
everyone that individual pledge amounts and giving are not revealed to
anyone, other than to the individual family units themselves. No one
knows the amount you pledge and give other than the Stewardship
Secretary, you yourself . . . and God. Thanks for your support!
PLEASE DON’T FORGET
that there are two kinds of Stewardship, the
Stewardship of Treasure, reported on above, and the Stewardship of Time
and Talent, that you give to the church of yourself, helping and
contributing to the various programs of our Mission. Both are essential
parts of “Stewardship Living.” The “Sunshine Card Ministry” spoken about
above is an example of the Stewardship of Time and Talent.
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.
HOSPITALIZED: Oak Hill: Metaxia Porter. We pray for a
rapid recovery!
PROSFORON BAKERS: Helen Nicolelis 7/9; Gloria Vardakis 7/16;
Venice Cosmadelis 7/23; Presbytera Emily Harakas 7/30; George Nikas 8/6
(Sunday, Holy Transfiguration); Connie Mourgides 8/13; Metaxia Porter
8/15; Argiris & Carol Gynmaos 8/22; Fran Triantafilon 8/29.. George
Nikas is Chair. For recipe and the seal, call George at 597-1375.
HATS! HATS! HATS! Did you see our new church hats? They are
blue with white raised lettering: “Christ the Savior Greek Orthodox
Church.” Your $10 contribution supports the Building Fund. 1st
Come, 1st Sold.
BULLETIN
SPONSOR: NICK MAROULIS
Best
Wishes for the Progress of our Christ the Savior Mission
WORSHIP THE LORD ON
SUNDAYS DURING THE SUMMER
CHRIST THE SAVIOR
GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH
P.O. BOX 5566
SPRING HILL, FL 34611
Have you seen our
new
Paper Recycling
Bin?
Save your
newspapers
And bring them to
the Bin. Help the environment and
Our church which
benefits
Financially.
Thank you!
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