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The Orthodox Messenger Vol. II, No. 21 – Sunday, June 1, 2003
“A Pan-Orthodox Christian Community” Ecumenical Patriarchate + Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America + Metropolis of Atlanta Services Held at St. Nicholas Chapel, 13460 Olympic Village Lane, Brooksville, FL - (352) 796-8482 The Hellenic Orthodox Mission Website: http://orthodoxhernandocountyfl.org/ Fr. Stanley S. Harakas, Protopresbyter – (352) 688-2382; Cell (352) 263-3005; Fax (352) 688-9846; Email: Rharakas@aol.com
6th SUNDAY OF PASCHA – HEALING OF THE BLIND MAN Saints: Holy Fathers of the 2nd Ecumenical Council; Justin the Philosopher; Chariton, Charitas, Evelpistos, Ierakos, Peon and Vallerianos; Firmos and Thespios, Martyrs; Dionysios the Abbot of Glushetsk in Vologda, Agapitos the Unmercenary, Physician of the Kievan Far Caves; Thekla of the Well, of Wales; Righteous Isadora. GOSPEL ENTRANCE AND OTHER HYMNSDismissal Hymn for Pascha Sung in Greek before the Entrance (“Christos Anesti... ) Sung in English after the Entrance - “Christ is risen .. . “ Dismissal Hymn of the Grave Tone (Sing in English after the Entrance) (“Eternal with the Father”). Hymnal, 85-86. Dismissal Hymn of St. Nicholas (Sing in English) “An Example of the Faith” Hymnal 110-111. Kontakion for Pascha (Sung) by the Leaders in Greek (“Ei kai en tafo”) (Read) Even though You descended into the grave, / O immortal One, / You destroyed the power of Hades; / and You arose as victor, I O Christ our God, I saying to the myrrh-bearing women, / “Hail!” / and to Your Apostles granting peace; / You also grant resurrection to the fallen. Return to a page 26 for “Holy God” and for the Epistle and Gospel Readings CHANGES LATER IN THE DIVINE LITURGYIn the place of “Truly it is proper . . .” (p. 54) The Leaders (Sing) “O Angelos eboa . . . Fotizou” Translation: “The Angel cried out to the one full of Grace: ‘Hail! Holy Virgin, and again I say, Hail! Your son has risen fro the Tomb on the third day. Shine, shine, the New Jerusalem! For the glory of the Lord has dawned upon you. Rejoice now and be glad, O Zion; and you, O all-pure Theotokos, delight in the Resurrection of Him, to Whom You gave birth.” In the place of the Communion Hymn (Praise Him . . .) (Sing) “Soma Christou”... Body of Christ... Hymnal, p. 104 In the place of “We have seen the light” (Sing) “Christos Anesti,” Christ is Risen.
EPISTLE – Acts 16:16-34 + As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by soothsaying. She followed Paul and us, crying, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” And this she did for many days. But Paul was annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, “I charge you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour. But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market place before the rulers; and when they had brought them to the magistrates they said, “These men are Jews and they are disturbing our city. They advocate customs which it is not lawful for us Romans to accept or practice.” The crowd joined in attacking them; and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely. Having received this charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and every one's fetters were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out and said, “Men, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their wounds, and he was baptized at once, with all his family. Then he brought them up into his house, and set food before them; and he rejoiced with all his household that he had believed in God. GOSPEL – John 9:1-38 + As he passed by, he saw a man blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him. We must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day; night comes, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world As he said this, he spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle and anointed the man's eyes with the clay, saying to him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar, said,Is not this the man who used to sit and beg? Some said, It is he; others said, No, but he is like him. He said, I am the man. They said to him, Then how were your eyes opened? He answered, The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, `Go to Siloam and wash'; so I went and washed and received my sight. They said to him, Where is he? He said, I do not know. They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. The Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see. Some of the Pharisees said, This man is not from God, for he does not keep the sabbath. But others said, How can a man who is a sinner do such signs? There was a division among them. So they again said to the blind man, What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes? He said, He is a prophet. The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight, and asked them, Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see? His parents answered, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age, he will speak for himself. His parents said this because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if any one should confess him to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, He is of age, ask him. So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, Give God the praise; we know that this man is a sinner. He answered, Whether he is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see. They said to him, What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes? He answered them, I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you too want to become his disciples? And they reviled him, saying, You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from. The man answered, Why, this is a marvel! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if any one is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that any one opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing. They answered him, You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us? And they cast him out. Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, Do you believe in the Son of man? He answered, And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him? Jesus said to him, You have seen him, and it is he who speaks to you. He said, Lord, I believe; and he worshiped him.
FOR THE RECORD: Sunday, May 25: Attendance - 53; Candles - $111; Offering Tray - $195; Hospitality $56. Thank you to all for your generous support! BLESSING PRAYERS for those celebrating their Birthdays and Wedding Anniversaries will be offered following the Divine Liturgy today. May you have “Many happy, healthful and joyous years! COFFEE HOUR SPONSORS: Two persons each week select the date they want to sponsor and they write in their names on the COFFEE HOUR SIGN UP SHEET in the Fellowship Hall. Sundays are open for June. Please sign up! ASCENSION DAY, Thursday, June 5. Orthros at 9:30 a.m. and Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m. Attend this important feast day of our Church. PENTECOST SUNDAY, the birthday of the Church and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Sunday, June 15. Orthros at 9:30 a.m. and Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m., followed by the Vespers of Pentecost! A day for prayer, worship and renewal. PENTECOST AND FATHERS’ DAY BARBEQUE: Mark your calendar! A special “Fathers’ Day Barbeque” is planned for Sunday, June 15, following Pentecost services. A special double menu for you, consisting of “Country Style Ribs” and “Shish-ke-bob” with “Original Barbeque” sauce. Mouth watering? You bet! Adults $7, children 12-6 $3, children 5 and under, FREE! Plan on it!
ORTHODOX STUDY BIBLE – NEW TESTAMENT: A New Testament that provides you with helps for understanding the Bible Hardbound, only $20 (our cost) at the bookstore. TO BECOME A PARISH our Mission needs about nine more Stewards. You can become a Steward by declaring your intention to support the Church with Time, Talent & Treasure. Contact Mission Council President Connie Mourgides at 686-0589. HOW MANY GODS DO YOU HAVE? “What a strange question,” you say. Yet it is not strange at all, if you think about what is meant by the word “god.” One of the most important instructions that the early Christians received was to avoid “idolatry.” Literally, they were told not to worship the false gods represented by idols of paganism. In the first Apostolic Council, it was decided that converts from paganism should not be required to follow Jewish ritual law. But they were told that there were certain things they had to avoid. Among them, they were to “abstain from the pollutions of idols” (Acts 15:20). The reason? St. Paul put it very succinctly: “we know that ‘an idol has no real existence,’ and that ‘there is no God but one’“ (1 Corinthians 8:4). This says that there is only one “Ultimate Reality” and only one source of every other value and good in existence. There is only one true God. But St. Paul also knew that people gave ultimate meaning to many things in life. In his day they were often idols, false gods. That’s why he continued: “For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth -- as indeed there are many ‘gods’ and many ‘lords’ -- yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist” (1 Corinthians 8:5-6). Our times have seen a renewal of paganism, new age cultism, and many self-centered idolatries. But even things of small value that are turned into the center of people’s existence, can function as false gods and idols. Maybe you have seen the advertisement on TV that asks people “What do you live for?” People answer that they live for their car, the stock market, rock and roll music, food, ego, and so on. When you live for such things they become false gods, and your commitment to them becomes idolatry. That’s why St. Paul said in his letter to the Colossians, “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you . . . (including) covetousness, which is idolatry” (Colossians 3:6). The dictionary defines covetousness as an “inordinate desire for wealth or possessions or for another’s possessions.” Its synonyms are greed, acquisitiveness and avariciousness. A covetous person lives for money. Money is his idol. Money is his god. So, you see, the question is not so foolish. “How many gods do you have?” If you have things in your life that consume you to the point that the real God, the source of all existence doesn’t have first place in your life, then those things function as false gods. That is idolatry. All this is based on the Commandment given by God “I am the Lord your God. . . . You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20: 2-3). Ask yourself, “How many false gods, do I have?” -by Fr. Stanley S. Harakas, The National Herald, April 14, 2000 ================================================================= THANKS TO Fran Triantafilon who solicited over 1,000 drinking cups for several Hernando County restaurants for our Mission’s use. Check them out at our functions! THE MEN’S BREAKFAST CLUB meets Thursdays for a social gathering. All men are invited to participate. For details of time and place, call Bill Pasisis at 688-7465. SPONSOR AN ISSUE OF THE ORTHODOX MESSENGER: See Connie Mourgides today, or call her at 686-0589. Only $20. Thank you! THE PARISH EDUCATION PROGRAM (P.E.P.) continues this week on Friday, June 6, at 2:00 p.m. We will begin our Summer series of video programs. This week we will view a professionally produced movie called, “Do You Wanna to Dance,” a story about the challenges faced by an Orthodox Christian family. Popcorn will be served. PROSFORON BAKING: Fran Triantafilon 6/1; Presbytera Emily Harakas 6/5 (Ascension); Connie Mourgides 6/8; Venice Cosmadelis 6/15 (Pentecost Sunday); Fran Mather 6/22; Helen Nicolelis 6/29; George Nikas 7/6. Thanks to all! WE PRAY FOR SAFE TRAVELING for our beloved parishioners who are driving or flying to their homes in the north for the summer period. We look forward to your return! STEWARDS! Return your card with your vote regarding the land survey of the Olympic Village Camp Property. IT IS ESSENTIAL! If you haven’t sent it, please do it right away! SPONSORS: FEENIE & BETTE FERRIERO IN MEMORY OF JUDGE NICHOLAS LILLIOS – Aijwniva hJ Mnhvmh! Come To Church During the Summer! HELLENIC ORTHODOX
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