Jesus referred to His disciples as a “little flock.” And He told them to “fear not.” So the question arises regarding Christ the Savior Church. Are we a small Church?

Certainly, in the scheme of things surrounding us, the answer seems self-evident. At our best attendance, we may on occasion reach over seventy people on a Sunday. In comparison to some large Orthodox Churches, even right here in the Tampa Bay area, we are unquestionably small in numbers.

But we should know that we are far from being alone. I once read a statistic that over half of the Churches of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese consist of fewer than 100 members. Did you know that more than 100,000 local congregations of all faiths in the United States have 50 attendees or fewer at any given worship service? That means that the average church attendance today throughout the United States, like us, will be less than 100.

So though one of our goals as a Mission is to grow, we should not think that it is the only important aspect of our life as a Church. Yes, we do want to grow. Or better yet, we should say that we must grow! As a mission, our future is in the process of growth. Our goal is to attract some of the new people moving into Hernando County, whether Orthodox Christians or people interested in the Orthodox Christian Faith which responds to their spiritual searching. And, as one of our parishioners recently noted, we have grown. In three years, we’ve almost tripled in size.

But numbers are far from being the most important aspect of our existence. An observer of the American Church scene, H. B. London Jr. wrote an article a while back titled “It’s not the size of the church, but its health that counts.” That’s an interesting idea. What does “health” mean for a church like us?

We could be large in physical numbers, and still be “small” –spiritually and religiously and morally small! We could be people of small faith, small love, small prayer, small worship. We could be small Christians!

On the other hand, we might be few in numbers as compared to urban “mega churches,” but we could be people of great faith, great love, great prayer, and great worship.

So there is the question! What kind of Church is Christ the Savior going to be? A “small” church, or a “great” Church?

Only you can answer that question. Because being a “small” or “great” parish depends upon each and every one of us. So, what do you say? Are we a “small” or a “great” church?

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

Evening Services as Announced

Saints: Sunday after Mid-Pentecost; the Patriarchs of Constantinople; Greatmarter Olvianos; Martyr Theodosia of Tyre (+308); Virginmartyr Theodosiaa of Constantinople (+730); John the Dwarf of Thessalonika (+1802) and Andrew of Chios (+1465), Neomartyrs.

Dismissal Hymn after the Doxology

Sing “Christos Anesti” Hymnal 103 & Christ is Risen (sheet in the pew).

Priest’s Entrance Hymn: In the congregations bless God, the Lord who springs out of Israel. Priest & People: Save us o Son of God who did rise from the dead, we sing to You, Alleluia.

Dismissal Hymn – 4th Tone

(Sing in English after the Entrance)“When the tidings . . . ”). Hymnal 84-85

Dismissal Hymn of Mid-Pentecost sung in Greek by the leaders “Mesousis tes eortes”

(Read) O Lord, midway through the feast, / give drink to my thirsty soul / from the waters of true religion. / For to all You the Savior cried aloud, / ‘Let whoever is thirsty come to me and drink.’ / As the fountain of life, O Christ our God, glory to you.

Dismissal Hymn of the Presentation of Christ (Sing) From the sheet in the pew.

(Read) Even though You descended into the grave, / O immortal One, / You destroyed the power of Hades; / and You arose as victor, / O Christ our God, / saying to the myrrh-bearing women, / “Hail!” / and to Your Apostles granting peace; / You also grant resurrection to the fallen.

Return to page 26 for “Holy God” and for the Epistle and Gospel Readings

EPISTLE – Acts 11:19-30 (Samaritan Woman) In those days, those apostles who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to none except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number that believed turned to the Lord. News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad; and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose; for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a large company was added to the Lord. So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul; and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church, and taught a large company of people; and in Antioch the disciples were for the first time called Christians. Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabos stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world; and this took place in the days of Claudius. And the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brethren who lived in Judea, and they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

GOSPEL – John 4:542 (Samaritan Woman) At that time, Jesus came to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there, and so Jesus, wearied as he was with his journey, sat down beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?" For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." The woman said to him, "Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep; where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, and his sons, and his cattle?" Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw." Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here." The woman answered him, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You are right in saying, 'I have no husband'; for you have had five husbands, and he whom you now have is not your husband; this you said truly." The woman said to him, "Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain; and you say that Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship." Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for such the Father seeks to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." The woman said to him, "I know that the Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ); when he comes, he will show us all things." Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am he." Just then his disciples came. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but none said, "What do you wish?" or, "Why are you talking with her?" So the woman left her water jar, and went away into the city and said to the people, "Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?" They went out of the city and were coming to him. Meanwhile the disciples besought him, saying "Rabbi, eat." But he said to them, "I have food to eat of which you do not know." So the disciples said to one another, "Has anyone brought him food?" Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, then comes the harvest'? I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see how the fields are already white for harvest. He who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, 'One sows and another reaps.' I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor; others have labored, and you have entered into their labor." Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman's testimony. "He told me all that I ever did." So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of your words that we believe, for we have heard ourselves, and we know that this is indeed Christ the Savior of the world."

Translation: The angel cried out / to the one full of grace: / Hail! Holy Virgin, and again I say Hail! / Your Son has risen from the tomb/ on the third day. -Rejoice and be glad, / O gate of the divine Light; / for Jesus who disappeared in the tomb / has risen with greater radiance that the sun, / illuminating all believers, / O Lady favored of God.”

In the place of “We have seen the light” (Sing) “Christos Anesti,” Christ is Risen . . .

FOR THE RECORD: May 22 – Attendance 27; Stewardship $240; Candles $36. Thanks!

COFFEE HOUR! Please sign up when the sheet is passed around. For details see Harriet Pasisis or Venice Cosmadelis. Thank you very much for your consideration.

INTERNATIONAL POT LUCK SUPPER coming on Sunday, June 19 which is Pentecost Sunday and Father's Day. Mark your calendar, plan to attend with your family, and decide what “international dish” you will make for the “pot luck” International Supper. Let’s all participate! Chairpersons are Venice Cosmadelis and Harriet Pasisis. Please contact them!

PROSFORON BAKERS: Presbytera Emily Harakas 5/29; George Nikas 6/5; Argyris & Carol Gymnaos 6/9(Ascension Day); Connie Mourgides 6/12; Fran Triantafilon 6/19.

MOBILE, AL METROPOLIS ASSEMBLY – JUNE 2-5: Fr. & Presb. Harakas & Paul & Venice Cosmadelis will attend. Liturgy Sunday, June 5 will be conducted by Fr. Jerry Murphy.

MEMORIAL DAY PRAYERS

Monday, May 30

- 1:00 p.m. Florida Hills Memorial Gardens

Spring Hill Dr., Spring Hill – Meet at Entrance

- 1:45 p.m. Grace Memorial Gardens

Rt. 19S, Hudson - Orthodox Section

- 2:45 p.m. Brooksville Cemetery

Dino Adamis grave site

- 4:00 p. m. Veterans National Cemetery

Bushnell, FL – Meet at Entrance

Fr. Harakas will conduct one Trisagion at each Cemetery for all those buried there.

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

SUMMER THOUGHTS -1 “ARE WE A SMALL CHURCH?

Evening Services as Announced

Saints: Sunday after Mid-Pentecost; the Patriarchs of Constantinople; Greatmarter Olvianos; Martyr Theodosia of Tyre (+308); Virginmartyr Theodosiaa of Constantinople (+730); John the Dwarf of Thessalonika (+1802) and Andrew of Chios (+1465), Neomartyrs.

Dismissal Hymn after the Doxology

Dismissal Hymn – 4th Tone

BULLETIN SPONSOR: GUS N. MARTY

IN LOVING MEMORY OF MY WIFE ALICE L. MARTY