The Orthodox Messenger

Vol. VII, No. 29 – Sunday, June 22, 2008

Christ the Savior Greek Orthodox Church - Presentation of Christ at the Temple

The Hellenic Orthodox Mission of Hernando County, Florida – “A Pan-Orthodox Christian Community”

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

Website: http://orthodoxhernandocountyfl.org

A STORY TOLD BY A DOCTOR

 medical doctor was describing a sermon he heard, which talked about how  inconceivably big God is . . . how He spoke the universe into being. Then the preacher went on to tell of how this universe creating God also knitted our human bodies together with amazing detail and wonder. “At this point I was remembering how I was constantly amazed during medical school as I learned more and more about God's handiwork,” the doctor said.

   The sermon went on to talk about how we can trust that the God who created all this, and Who also has the power to hold it all together is our loving Creator and the One who sustains us. “And then I lost my breath when the preacher started talking about laminin. I knew about laminin. Laminins are a family of proteins that are an integral part of the structural scaffolding of the basic membranes in almost every animal tissue."

   You see....laminins are what hold us together... literally. They are cell adhesion molecules. They are what holds one cell of our bodies to the next cell. Without them, we would literally fall apart. But what I didn't know is what laminin looked like.”

   “But now I do,” said the doctor. “Here is what the structure of laminin looks like. This is not a ‘Christian portrayal’ of it. If you look up laminin in any scientific/medical piece of literature, this is what you will see . . .

   Amazing! The 'glue' that holds us together is in the shape of the cross! Immediately Colossians 1:15-17 comes to mind. Thousands of years before the world knew anything about laminin, St. Paul penned these words. "He (Jesus Christ) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created; things in heaven and on earth , visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things,  and in Him all things hold together. " Colossians 1:15-17. (Edited)

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   As Orthodox Christians, we can receive these words favorably, for in the Creed of the Church we confess God as the Creator and Sustainer of all. Is the laminin a message also of faith for us? Speaking to the ancient Athenians St. Paul quoted the Greek Poet Aratas, “In God we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). Unconsciously it is true – can we make it a conscious and daily reminder for living our daily lives?

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

ALL SAINTS SUNDAY – 1ST 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.

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

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.

EPISTLE –  Hebrews 11:33-12:2 (1st Sunday)

rethren, 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)

he 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.

   TODAY – JUNE NAMEDAY BLESSINGS after the Divine Liturgy.  

   FOR THE RECORD: June 8, 2008 – Candles $75.00; Vistors’ Donations $67; Coffee Hour $65; Stewardship $560; Bulletin $25; Attendance 54.

   PARISH COUNCIL CANDLE STAND ASSIGNMENTS June 22 – Argiris & Carol Gymnaos; June 29 – Helene Arvanitis & Venice Cosmadelis; July 6 – Curtis & Emily Thomas; July 13 – Bill Pasisis & Helene Arvanitis; July 20 – Argiris & Carol Gymnaos; July 27 – Venice Cosmadelis & Jennie Palmenteri.

   PROSFORON BAKERS: Stacy Underwood Humbert 6/22; Presbytera Emily Harakas 6/9; Bette Ferriero 7/6; Venice Cosmadelis 7/13; Argiris and Carol Gymnaos 7/20; George Nikas 7/27; Diane Covington 8/3. If you would like to learn to make Prosforon Bread, please contact George Nikas for the recipe and assistance.    

    RECENTLY HOSPITALIZED: Oak Hill - John Kelo, Zorca Giuchi, Theodora Williams, Evelyn Jarocki. Herron Poine Rehab - Toula Panagopoulos. St. Joseph’s (Tampa) Matthew Hazivasilis. We pray for a rapid recovery.    

   2008-2009 PARISH TELEPHONE DIRECTORY is available at the Candle Stand today. Pick yours up after the Divine Liturgy, so that we can avoid the high postal charges. We will be mailing books not picked up this coming week.

   SYMPATHY: We were saddened to learn that Ruby Hazivasilis’ sister Edna Marie Johnson passed away in Brooksville on June 9, 2008 while in Hospice care. Christ the Savior Church extends sympathy to the Hazivasilis’ on their loss. Eternal Memory!

   PINE GROVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL held their annual “Partners in Education Celebration” at the School on Tuesday, June 10, 2008. Attending the awards breakfast representing Christ the Savior Church were Parish Council Member Carol Gymnaos and Kanella Hantzis. A plaque and a framed certificate were presented to Christ the Savior Church in appreciation for this St. Katherine Ladies Society project. We are grateful for the opportunity to spread Christ’s love to our friends at Pine Grove Elementary School.

    SAM’S CLUB MATCHING FUNDS: Venice Cosmadelis reports that St. Katherine’s Ladies Society was the last philanthropic group to receive Sam’s Club matching funds, receiving $745 for our Bake Sale held there on May 10. The total, thus, for that event is $1,775. Congratulations.

   SYMPATHY to Fr. Stanley & Presb. Emily on the death of their son Spero on June 14 in Massachusetts. The funeral was in Nashua, NH on Friday, June 20. Eternal Memory!

  THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING FOR JUNE was held on Tuesday, June 10. The Treasurer’s Report from Curtis Thomas indicated expenses to date were $19,839, while Stewardship donations to date were $17,234. As we go into the summer, we have a financial cushion. It was decided to reorganize the Parish Library and Bookstore. A discussion on the Archangel Michael Award Nominees of the Metropolis took place (See below). An assessment was made of the June 1 Parish Assembly. Venice Cosmadelis made the St. Katherine Ladies Society Report. Niko Maroulis reported on the Facilities Committee and a decision was reached regarding the grass cutting for this season. A report on the work of the Building Committee was made by Niko Maroulis (details next week). The Parish Council was pleased to proceed with the appointment of Cathy Lemonedes and Aphrodite Nikas and Co-Chairs of the Publicity Committee. Emily Thomas discussed the Parish Assembly suggestion that pre-sales be made for fund-raising events, which was approved. A report on the reorganization of the Education Committee was received from Carol Gymnaos. The Parish Council thanked Venice Cosmadelis and the Committee that produced the 2008-2009 Parish Telephone Directory, which netted over $2,100. Next meeting will be Tuesday, July 8, 2008.

COME TO CHURCH WEEKLY – ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS NEED THE LORD EVERY SEASON OF THE YEAR!

CHRIST THE SAVIOR

GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

P.O. BOX 5566

SPRING HILL, FL 34611

Bulletin Sponsors Needed! See Bill Pasisis or Curtis Thomas Today!