The Orthodox Messenger
Vol. VII, No. 13 – Sunday, March 9, 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
Fr. Stanley S.
Harakas, Th.D.,D.D. (352) 796-2377; Cell (352) 263-3005; Fax
(352-796-9081)
Forgiveness – two stories
A
NEW COAT
- I have a new coat, it was designed by God and given to me by Jesus
Christ. I find it fits me perfectly unless I allow myself to become
puffed up with foolish pride, then it’s too tight. If I walk with my
head high, trying to be above those about, then it is too short. But if
I walk humbly as I should before God, it fits me just right.
How is the coat made? The shoulders are wide and roomy so that I can
help my fellow man carry his burdens. The collar is made of God’s mercy,
yes, the mercy of God’s promises. First, that I may be a child of God
and second, that I will grow in God-likeness and third that I will one
day dwell with God in that home prepared for God’s children. The cuffs
are narrow, so that there’s no room to tuck away grievances and hard
feelings toward my neighbors. The pockets are oversized: One is for the
love of God; the other is to hold my love for my neighbors and all
humanity.
There are three buttons on my coat which stand for faith, hope and
charity. I check on them often so that none becomes loose or lost. The
lining is made of God’s forgiveness, which I need so often that I want
it next to me at all times. The belt is made of God’s love that
encircles me every day. The material is thick enough to protect me when
the storms of life come my way, but not too thick that I will not be
able to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit who guides me. There are
many threads in my new coat, but not one thread of doubt of God’s love
and salvation.. I will need my coat all through life. When I travel
through the valley of death and when I view the future, I will always
wear my new coat.
A KING AND HIS ENEMIES - How did Louis XII, King of France
treat his enemies after he ascended to the throne? Before coming to
power, he had been cast into prison and kept in chains. Later when he
did become king, he was urged to seek revenge but he refused. Instead,
he prepared a scroll on which he listed all who had perpetrated crimes
against him. Behind every man’s name he placed a cross in red ink. When
the guilty heard about this, they feared for their lives and fled. Then
the king explained, “The cross which I drew beside each name was not a
sign of punishment, but a pledge of forgiveness extended for the sake of
the crucified Savior, who upon his cross forgave his enemies and prayed
for them.”
(ICQUS
=
Early Christian Greek Anagram for “Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior”)
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: The 40 Holy Martyrs of Sebasteia (+320);
Martyr Urpasian; Caesarios, brother of St. Gregory the Theologian;
Martyrs Grandfather, Grandmother, Father, Mother and two children,
made perfect by the sword.
TRIODION 4TH SUNDAY - FORGIVENESS SUNDAY (CHEESEFARE)
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 the 40 Martyrs
(Read) By reason of the sufferings / of the saints / endured
out of love for You, / we implore You, / O Lord and Lover of Humankind,
/ to deliver us from all our pains.
Dismissal Hymn of the Presentation of Christ (Sing)
From the sheet in the pew.
Kontakion of Forgiveness Sunday Sung in Greek by the Leader –
“Tis sophias odege. ”
(Read) O guide of wisdom, / provider of prudence, /
disciplinarian of fools, / and defender of the poor, / fortify and
discipline my heart, / O Master. / You, give me a word, / O Word of the
Father. / For behold, / I will not hinder my lips / from crying out to
you: / O merciful Lord, have mercy on me / who has fallen.
EPISTLE – Hebrews
12:1-10 (40 Martyrs)
RETHREN, 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. Consider him who endured from
sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary
or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted
to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the
exhortation which addresses you as sons? "My son, do not regard lightly
the discipline of the Lord, nor lose courage when you are punished by
him. For the Lord disciplines him whom he loves, and chastises every son
whom he receives." It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is
treating you as sons; for what son is there whom his father does not
discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have
participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides
this, we have had earthly fathers to discipline us and we respected
them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father.
GOSPEL – Matthew
6:14-21 (Cheesefare)
he Lord said, "If you
forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive
you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your
Father forgive your trespasses. "And when you fast, do not look dismal,
like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting
may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their
reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that
your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret;
and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. "Do not lay up for
yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where
thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in
heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not
break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be
also."
Return to
p. 32
of the
Hymnal
TWO TRAYS
TODAY: 1) STEWARDSHIP & VISITORS’ DONATIONS
2)
BUILDING FUND
WEDDING CONGRATULATIONS!
Christ the Savior Church extends best wishes
to Robert (Bobby) Thomas and to Airien Irene Bryan who were
married on Saturday, March 1, 2008 at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Tarpon
Springs. Sponsor was Achilles Thomas. Fr. Stanley Harakas conducted the
service. We pray “Many Years” for the newly married Mr. & Mrs.
Robert Thomas!
TRISAGION MEMORIAL:
A one year Trisagion Service will be
conducted at today’s Divine Liturgy in memory of Fred Underwood, husband
of Elaine Underwood, and father of Stacy Underwood Humbert of our
parish. May his memory be eternal!
PARISH COUNCIL CANDLE STAND:
3/9 Jennie Palmenteri & Venice Cosmadelis; 3/16 & 3/23 Curtis Thomas &
Emily Thomas; 3/30 Venice Cosmadelis & Achilles Thomas; 4/6 George
Angeliadis and William Pasisis; 4/13 Argyris & Carol Gymnaos.
COFFEE HOUR SPONSORS:
Gloria Zahka & Janice Jabbour 3/9; Betty Frangos & Stacy Underwood
Humbert 3/16; Skevy Larson & Emily Thomas 3/23; Maria, Stacy & Amelia
Angeliadis 3/30. Please sign up for April! Thanks to all Coffee Hour
volunteers.
JUST ONE MORE WEEK REMAINING!
- 2008 STEWARDS HONOR ROLL
If you have not yet sent in your 2008
Stewardship Declaration Cards
please do so right away. Return the new “Declaration of Intention
Cards” you received recently in the mail!
March 16 is the date for “The 2008 Stewards Honor Roll!”
March Name day
blessings next sunday, march 16:
Diane Lydia
Covington 3/23; Evangelia Thomas 3/25; Evan Thomas 3/25. If your name is
missing from the March list of Name Days, please let Fr. Stanley know
right away-796-2377.
A STORY FROM THE FATHERS: A monk who was insulted by another
monk came to the wise Abba Sisoes, and said to him: “I was hurt by my
brother, and I want to avenge myself.” Abba tried to console him and
said, “Don’t do that, my child. Rather, leave vengeance to God.” But the
monk said, “I will not quit until I avenge myself.” Then Abba said: “Let
us pray, brother,” and standing up, he said “Our Father . . .forgive us
our trespasses as we forgive NOT those who trespass against us . . . “
Hearing these words, the monk fell at the feet of the Abba and said: “I
am not going to fight with my brother any more. May the Lord forgive
me.”
PARISH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM:
The next session will be on March 7 with a Video presentation on the
persecutions in the early church. The session will be conducted by Fr.
Jerry. Thanks, Fr. Jerry!
HELP SOLICIT ADS for the
2008-2009 Parish Telephone Directory!
Contact Co-Chairs: Achilles Thomas (684-6171) or Venice Cosmadelis
(686-1199).
Mark your calendar!
GREEK PASTRY BAKE SALE! Saturday, March 22, 10:00 am to
5:00 pm at Sam’s Club on Route 50. Benefits the Dino Adamis
Philanthropic Fund. Chair, Venice Cosmadelis. A St. Katherine Ladies
Society project.
PARISH COUNCIL COMMITTEE CHAIRS: Candle Stand -
Helene Arvanitis 727-868-1436; Parish Legal Advisor -
George Angeliadis 688-1294; Grounds - Argyris Gymnaos
683-6513; Facilities - Co-chairs Niko Maroulis 597-9516
and George Maniates 727-243-7817; Building Committee Liaison
- Niko Maroulis; Education & Youth Committee - Carol
Gymnaos; Telephone Directory - Co-chairs Achilles Thomas
684-5171 & Venice Cosmadelis 686-1199; Fund-Raising - Emily
Thomas 684-0084, assisted by Harriet Pasisis 688-7465; St.
Katherine Ladies Society Liaison - Venice Csomadelis 686-1199.
Parish Council Officers are: President - William Pasisis
688-7465; Vice President - Carol Gymnaos 683-6513;
Treasurer - Curtis Thomas 684-0084; Recording Secretary -
Jennie Palmenteri 597-5400; Corresponding Secretary -
Achilles Thomas 684-5171.
Building Committee Co-chairs Paul Cosmadelis 686-1199,
Nikolai Kastelan 686-0634.
- Cut This Out and Post on Your Refrigerator For Ready Reference -
“LET US WORSHIP TOGETHER,
WORK TOGETHER, WALK TOGETHER IN THE UNITY OF CHRIST’S LOVE”
BULLETIN SPONSORS:
GEORGE & MARIAN MANIATES
“IN MEMORY OF KATHERINE GREGERSON”
CHRIST THE SAVIOR
GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH
P.O. BOX 5566
SPRING HILL, FL 34611
All
Parish Women Are Invited!
St. Katherine Ladies Society
General Meeting
This
Thursday,
March 13 at Noon
Red
Lobster Restaurant - Rt. 19
Dutch Treat!-Short Meeting!
Let President Harriet Pasisis
Know You Are Coming - 688-7465
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