The Orthodox Messenger
Vol. III, No. 41– Sunday, October 10, 2004

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

13460 Olympic Village Lane, Brooksville, FL -  (352) 796-8482

                                             Website: http://orthodoxhernandocountyfl.org

         A  WONDERFUL CHURCH?

   Once, a woman was asked by a friend to attend the friend’s church. The friend told her how wonderful her church was. The friend ended her invitation by saying, “And guess what? You don’t have to do anything or give anything, at our church. No one will ask you to commit any time, or use your talents, or give any money. Somebody left us millions of dollars for our expenses. So no one has to give or do anything.”

    Was that a good selling point? Well, hardly. Without the opportunity to share our appreciation for all that God has done for us, our spiritual health is stunted. Why is that? The greatest part of our Christian Faith is found in the practice of believing, committing, sharing, sacrificing, giving, and serving, worshiping, praying, working and offering. We are told in the Bible that Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). 

  The woman who was invited to attend that church thought about it for a while. In the end, she decided not to go there. Talking it over with her husband, she said, “I keep thinking that something is wrong with that kind of church. I’m convinced that it is not a good thing to belong to a church that doesn’t expect anything of you.”

   The lady was right! How can we be Christians if we don’t respond to the Lord’s blessings to us? Otherwise, why would Christ have taught us that the greatest of all commandments is not about “getting,” but about “giving out of love” for God and for our neighbor?  “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself ”  (Matthew 22:37-40).   

                      God gives me the thoughts

                                                And I will reflect on them

                                            God gives me the words

                                                And I will say them.

                                            God gives me the prayers

                                                And I will pray them.

                                           God gives me all things

                                                And I will share them.

       Service hours: Sundays and Feast days: Orthros at 9:30 am; Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am.

3^rd Sunday of Luke

Dismissal Hymn of the Resurrection - 2nd  Tone

   (Sing in Greek before the Entrance) ("Ote katelthes").Hymnal,  81-82.

   (Sing in English after the Entrance) ("When you descended"). (Same).

Dismissal Hymn for Sts. Eulampios & Eulampia

   (Read) O Lord our God, / your Holy Martyrs, Eulampios and Eulambia, / brother and sister in the flesh, / have deserved the crown of immortality / on account of their good fight. / Armed with your strength, / they have vanquished their persecutors / and crushed Satan’s dreadful might. / Through their supplications, O Christ God, / save our souls!

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

   (Text): “Hail, O Mother of God, Virgin full of Grace. Through you did arise the Sun of righteousness, Christ our God, enlightening those in darkness. And you made glad righteous Elder Simeon, receiving and embracing the liberation of our souls; also giving to us the resurrection.”

Kontakion of the Theotokos “Prostasia ton Christianon”(Sung in Greek by Leaders)

   (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 a page 26 for “Holy God” and for the Epistle and Gospel Readings

   EPISTLE – 2 Corinthians 11:31-12:9 (19^th Sunday)  + Brethren, the God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed for ever, knows that I do not lie. At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas guarded the city of Damascus in order to seize me, but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped his hands. I must boast; there is nothing to be gained by it, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven-whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into Paradise-whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows-and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. Though if I wish to boast, I shall not be a fool, for I shall be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I besought the Lord about this, that it should leave me; but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

   GOSPEL – Luke 7:11-16 (3^rd  Luke) + At that time, Jesus went to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. As he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a large crowd from the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep." And he came and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, arise." And the dead man sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all; and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!" and "God has visited his people!"

   TRISAGION SERVICE: A six month Trisagion Service will be offered at today’s Divine Liturgy for the rest of the soul of the late Katy Kalligeros by her sisters Connie Mourgides and Helen Nicolelis. Eternal Memory!

  40 DAY CHURCHING: Following the Liturgy today, Achilles and Evangelia Thomas will be presenting their child Evangelos “Evan” for the 40 day Churching. Evangelos was born on Sunday, August 29 at Spring Hill Regional Hospital. We pray many blessings on baby Evan, parents Achilles and Evangelia, and grandparents Kurt and Emily Thomas, Carole Kaniaris, and great grandparents Achilleas & Filio Koulovaris. Many years!

   BIRTHDAY AND ANNIVERSARY BLESSINGS will be offered today following the Divine Liturgy. Birthdays: Susanne Heuer 10/2; Patricia Heuer 10/8; Theresa Hronis 10/9; Stacy Angeliadis 10/12; Emily Mourgides 10/24; Tyke Nicolelis 10/15; Basil Allison 10/21; Fred Underwood 10/24; Elaine Underwood 10/27; Robert Borden 10/28; Gus Marty 10/29; Ann Prestage 10/31. Anniversaries: Sam & Janice Jabbour 10/1; John & Pat Tsausis 10/3; Robert & Paula Borden 10/23; Mike & Pat Panopoulos 10/26. Congratulations and Best Wishes!

   FOR THE RECORD: Sunday, October 3: Attendance – 46; Candles - $28; Offering - $79; Adamis Philanthropic Fund - $64; Pave It! Fund - $560. Thanks for your support!

   HOSPITALIZED: Oak Hill Hospital:  John Giftos. We pray for a rapid recovery!

   SIGN NEWS! Our petition will be going before the Hernando County Commissioners on Tuesday, October 19 at 10:45 a.m. We need to have a very good turnout!

      PROSFORON BAKERS: Patricia Lilore 10/10; Fran Mather 10/17; Fran Triantafilon 10/24; Emily Harakas 10/26 (St. Demetrios); George Nikas 10/31 Connie Mourgides 11/. Gloria Vardakis 9/19; Presbytera; Argyris & Carol Gymnaos 10/3. Prosforon Bakers Chairperson, George Nikas – 597-1375.

   THE PAVE IT! FUND: New contributions to the Pave It! Fund were received as of Sunday, October 3 in the amount of $560. We are grateful to these generous donors. The balance left to collect is now $901. Can you help? Let’s pay this off!

   COME AND LEARN! P.E.P.-1: Friday, October 15, 2-4 p.m. – Reading “John 11:1-37.” P.E.P. -2: Thursday, October 14, 7-8:30 p.m. at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, Elgin Blvd. – 1^st Unction Service Epistle “Is Any Among You Sick?” Come and Learn!

   THE GARAGE SALE has been postponed. Keep bringing items for the sale. Thanks!

   BOOKMOBILE: Needed! Someone with cabinet making skills to build it! Plans and costs of materials will be provided by the church. Can you build the Bookmobile? Contact President Paul Cosmadelis at 686-1199. A real Stewardship of Time and Talent!

   STEWARDSHIP RENEWAL: New Stewards for 2004 are Richard and Nancy Urling and son Vasilios, and Richard Lewis Urling III. Welcome! We thank you for your support! We now have 75 Steward Members of Christ the Savior Church! We’ve reached our 2004 goal! To become a Steward, contact Bill Pasisis at 688-7465.

Come to Church On Sunday!

 

CHRIST THE SAVIOR

GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

P.O. BOX 5566

SPRING HILL, FL 34611

“A Pan-Orthodox Christian Community”

 

 

 

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