The Orthodox Messenger

Vol. V, No. 26 – Sunday, June 25, 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     

A BIT OF CHURCH HUMOR FOR THE SUMMER

 There was a little old lady, who every morning. stepped onto her front porch, raised her arms to the sky, and shouted: "Praise the Lord!" One day an atheist moved into the house next door. He became irritated at the little old lady.  Every morning he'd step onto his front porch after her and yell: "There is no Lord!"  Time passed with the two of them carrying on this way every day.  One morning, in the middle of winter, the little old lady stepped onto her front porch and shouted: "Praise the Lord!  Please Lord, I have no food and I am starving, provide for me, oh Lord!" The next morning she stepped onto her porch and there were two big bags of groceries sitting there. "Praise the Lord!" she cried out.  "He has provided groceries for me!" The atheist neighbor jumped out of the hedges and shouted:  "There is no Lord. I bought those groceries!!" The little old lady threw her arms into the air and shouted: "Praise the Lord!  He has provided me with groceries and made the Devil pay for them!

                                                       

CHURCH SIGNS
 

 1. There was a church that had problems with outsiders  parking in its parking lots, so they put up a sign:  CHURCH CAR PARK - FOR MEMBERS ONLY,  TRESPASSERS WILL BE BAPTIZED!  That took care of the problem!
 2. "No God - No Peace?   Know God - Know Peace."
 3. "Free Trip to heaven.   Details Inside!"
 4. "Try our Sundays. They are better than Baskin-Robbins."
 5. "Searching for a new look?   Have your faith lifted here!"
 6. An ad for one Church has a picture of two hands holding stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments are inscribed and a headline that reads:  "For fast, fast, fast relief, take two tablets."
 7. When the restaurant next to another Church put out a sign with big red letters that said, "Open Sundays," the church reciprocated with its own message: "We are open on Sundays, too."
 8. "People are like tea bags - you have to put them in hot water before you know how strong they are."                
 9. "Fight truth decay - study the Bible daily."
 10. "How will you spend eternity - Smoking or Non-smoking?"
 11. "Dusty Bibles lead to Dirty Lives"
 12. "Come work for the Lord.   The work is hard, the hours are long and the pay is low.  But the retirement benefits are out of this world."
 13. "It is unlikely there'll be a reduction in the wages of sin."
 14. "Do not wait for the hearse to take you to church."
 15. "If you're headed in the wrong direction, God allows U-turns."
 16. "If you don't like the way you were born, try being born again."
 17. "Looking at the way some people live, they ought to obtain eternal fire insurance soon."
 18. "This is a ch_ _ ch.   What is missing?" ----- (U R)
 19. "In the dark?   Follow the Son."
 20. "Running low on faith?   Step in for a fill-up."
 21. "If you can't sleep, don't count sheep.

       Talk to the Shepherd."

         SMILE! GOD LOVES YOU!

 

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

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Today’s Saints: Righteous Martyr Febronia (+310); Neomartyr Prokopios, Dionysios of Athos (+1380); Methodios; Neomartyr George (+1823); Martyr Orentios and his Six Brothers; Pharanakios, Eros, Phirmos, Phirminos, Kyriakos and Longinos (+284-305). ===============================================================

2^nd SUNDAY OF MATTHEW

GOSPEL ENTRANCE AND OTHER HYMNS

Dismissal Hymn of the Resurrection - 1st  Tone

   (Sing in Greek before the Entrance) ("Tou lithou sfragisthenos").Hymnal,  80-81.

   (Sing in English after the Entrance) ("The stone was sealed"). (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 2:10-16 (2^nd  Matthew) + Brethren, glory and honor and peace for every one who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality. All who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. When Gentiles who have not the law do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or perhaps excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.

   GOSPEL – Matthew 4:18-23 (2^nd Matthew) + At that time, as Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left their boat and their father, and followed him. And he went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people.

   FOR THE RECORD: June 18-Attendance 36; Stewardship $345; Visitors’ Donations $90; Candles $44; We are grateful to all who support our mission! Thank you

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

   THE FATHERS’ DAY POT LUCK LUNCHEON last Sunday was attended by a small number of parishioners who enjoyed a great variety of foods and ample quantity. The family-style fellowship was enjoyed by all in attendance along with the great tasting food!

 A SPECIAL OUTREACH STEWARDSHIP: As noted last week, Nancy Kastelan has been our “Sunshine Card Committee” person for over a decade, a ministry she has had to give up because of health reasons. We now need one or more persons who will monthly send 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. If you want more information, or would like to volunteer for this ministry, please call Fr. Stanley -796-2377. Someone has to do it! Why not you?