The Orthodox Messenger

Vol. V, No. 25 – Sunday, June 18, 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     

From “COME, Holy Spirit, Sanctify Our Lives!”-2

By Metropolitan John Zizioulas of Pergamon  (Continued From Last Week)

   “One cannot be a Christian alone,” as the old Latin saying put it. It is because of the association of the Spirit with communion that the saying of St Cyprian, “There is no salvation outside of the Church”, must be taken seriously. Should we not look for a transformation of our ecclesial communities before we speak of sharing holiness and sanctification?

   The structure, ministry, etc. of the community - what we call visible unity - cannot be irrelevant to holiness. It is a tragic reality that Christian communities do not recognize each other’s saints, because of division at the level of both or either faith and order. Holiness and ecclesiality cannot be separated. Praying for holiness must go together with working for unity.

Holiness and Freedom

   Finally, holiness means liberation - or rather, freedom. “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Cor. 3:17). Liberation is from someone or something; freedom is for someone or something. Both aspects are associated in the work of the Spirit, who is freedom. These take various forms:

1. liberation from the past-forgiveness through repentance (metanoia);

2. liberation from passions of egocentricity (askesis, healing one's self);

3. liberation from injustice, exploitation, poverty and all social evil;

4. liberation - yes! - even from decay and death - something we speak so little about;

5. freedom to love, even one’s enemies; to allow for personal, cultural and other differences and identities to exist and create; to give one’s life for the others as our Lord gave it on the Cross.

   All this means that the Spirit has a great deal to say to the churches today through sanctification and holiness. We must work for a spirituality that will make sense for all human beings in all walks of life. Yet we must guard ourselves against an easy spiritualism. We often speak too easily and too quickly of the presence and the activity of the Holy Spirit in what we do. We must humbly submit what we are and what we do to his purifying judgment, awaiting for him to reveal the truth.

   There is always the danger of confusing the Spirit of God with our own psychological experiences or certainties. The Spirit is God. He is Lord. He cannot be contained by our own feelings. The best we can do is to worship him as Lord, to pray to him to dwell among us, and to await patiently upon him in all that we do.

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

Today’s Saints: All-Saints Sunday; Martyrs Leontios, Hypatios, Theodoulos, Aitherios (+72); Righteous Leontios the Seeer (+1605); Righteous Theodoulos of Myroblytos. ===============================================================

ALL SAINTS SUNDAY – 1^ST 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 All Saints

   (Read) Your Church is arrayed in the holy blood / of Your Martyrs / who witnessed through-out the world, / as though in purple and fine linen. / Through them she cries to You, / Christ our God, / “Send down to Your people / Your tender love, / grand peace from above / to Your com-monwealth, / and to our souls / Your great mercy.

Kontakion of All Saints sung in Greek by the leaders – “Os aparchas tes physeos”

  (Read) O Planter of creation, Lord, / to You does the entire world / bring as an offering / the God-bearing martyr Saints, / as being nature’s first fruits. / At their earnest entreaty, / keep Your Church in a state of profoundest peace, / through the intercessions of the Theotokos, / O Lord, who is abundantly merciful.

Dismissal Hymn of the Presentation of Christ (See paper in the pews)

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

   EPISTLE –  Hebrews 11:33-12:2 (1^st Matthew) + Brethren, time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets --  who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated --  of whom the world was not worthy -- wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

   GOSPEL – Matthew 10:32-33,37-38; 19:27-30 (All Saints) + The Lord said to his disciples, "Every one who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven; but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny him before my Father who is in heaven. He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me." Then Peter said in reply, "Lo, we have left everything and followed you. What then shall we have?" Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of man shall sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. But many that are first will be last, and the last first."

In the place of the Communion Hymn “Praise the Lord”

   The leaders sing “Aggaliasthe dikaioi.”

  (Read): Praise the Lord from the heavens. / Rejoice in the Lord, O You the Just. / Praise is fitting for the upright. / Alleluia.

  ANOINTING FOR HEALTH AND HEALING will be conducted today following the Divine Liturgy. We pray for your health and the health of our beloved parishioners.

   FOR THE RECORD: June 11-Attendance 32; Stewardship $1080; Candles $99; Building Fund $62; Fellowship $35. Many thanks for your valued support!

   DON’T VACATION FROM GOD! COME TO CHURCH IN THE SUMMER!

  LETTER FROM ST. ANDREW THE APOSTLE ROMANIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH: On Sunday, June 11, Fr. Romulus Barr and Dr. Laurian Mohai, Vice President of the Romanian congregation that worshiped in our chapel for many months, came to our Church and presented us with a letter. They were accompanied by several parishioners. In part, the letter said “On behalf of St. Andrew the Apostle Romanian Orthodox Church parish members, we would like to thank you for your kindness in letting us use the chapel and for the great lunches we were invited at. We always felt being part of your family, and we’ll keep you always in our hearts and in our prayers.” The congregation is joining with another Romanian mission congregation in Clearwater / St. Petersburg to work for the future erection of the first Romanian Orthodox Church in the area. Included in the letter was a generous donation of $500 to Christ the Savior Church. We are grateful!

   MANY THANKS TO NANCY KASTELAN, who for over a decade has been sending Get Well, Birthday and Anniversary Cards to our church members and friends. She has had to give up doing it for health reasons. A wonderful stewardship! Can you do this ministry?