The Orthodox Messenger
Vol. III, No. 42– Sunday, October 17, 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 LETTER FROM GOD

Dear Faithful Follower,

   I’m writing this in reply to your letter to me in which you complained about the Church asking for money.  You wrote quite a strong letter. I showed it to My Son, Jesus. He said that he had made it quite clear how important the Stewardship of My gifts really is.

   You know your whole life is made up of My gifts to you. Time is My gift to you, each hour of your life. Your talents are My gift to you, your abilities and special skills. Your treasure is My gift to you, the money I enable you to earn. How you use these gifts, selfishly or unselfishly, foolishly or responsibly, is what my holy writers have called your Stewardship. When I call you to Myself, I will ask you to give an account of your Stewardship to My Church.

   You say the Church asks you for money for this and money for that, and time for this and time for that, and talents for this and talents for that. Obviously, you are referring to the Stewardship program of your parish for its support and for its work of outreach for the poor and needy, and for the national and worldwide mission of My Church. Aren’t the time, talent and treasure that I ask for simply to continue My work of salvation for you and your family through your church, and to give you the opportunity to share my blessings to you, with your less fortunate brethren whether spiritually or materially?

   You mention that you go to Church to worship, but that the collection tray and the appeals for your time and talent turn you off. But isn’t this giving part of your worship? Don’t the time and abilities and your gift of money represent actual hours of your life, the hours that I gave to you? Isn’t then your gift a gift of some of yourself? Doesn’t this whole matter amount to one simple question for you: How much of time, talent and treasure should I give? When you have determined that, you can be at peace.

   Each person has different abilities, different levels of health and energy, different income, and therefore a different ability to give. You give as you have received. What could be more fair? And isn’t that what I Myself said: “Give to the Most High as he has given to you, according to your means” (Sirach 35:9).

   I hope My words will give you food for thought and prayer. Giving is always supposed to be and act of loving. Stewardship of time, talent or treasure, that’s My way. That is the way of My Son. Will you also make it your way?  With infinite love,

                                                                                                 GOD

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

4^th Sunday of Luke

Dismissal Hymn of the Resurrection - 3rd  Tone

   (Sing in Greek before the Entrance) ("Efrainestho ta Ourania"). Hymnal,  83-84.

   (Sing in English after the Entrance)"Let all things rejoice"). (Same).

Dismissal Hymn of the Fathers

   (Read) Supremely blessed are You, / O Christ our God. / You established the holy Fathers upon the earth as beacons, / and through them / You have guided us all / to the true Faith, / O greatly merciful One, / glory be to You.

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 – Titus 3:8-15 (Holy Fathers) + Titus, my son, the saying is sure. I desire you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to apply themselves to good deeds; these are excellent and profitable to men. But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, bissensions, and quarrels over the law, for they are unprofitable and futile. As for a man who is factious, after admonishing him once or twice, knowing that such a person is perverted and sinful; he is self-condemned. When I send Artemas or Tychicos to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. And let our people learn to apply themselves to good deeds, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not to be unfruitful. All who are with me send greeting to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.

  
    GOSPEL – Luke 8:5-15 (4^th Luke) + The Lord said this parable: "A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell along the path, and was trodden under foot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew, and yielded a hundredfold.”    And  when his  disciples  asked him  what this   parable   meant,   he said,   “To you  it  has  been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but for others they are in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy; but these have no root, they believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. And as for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience." As he said these things, he cried out "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
 

HAVE YOU CHECKED OUT our Christ the Savior Mission website recently? We have just been informed that we are now listed on an international Orthodox Group based in Russia! Our website is http://orthodoxhernandocountyfl.org. Dorothy Triantafilon is our Webmaster. Many thanks, Dorothy, for this wonderful Stewardship of time and talent!

Come to Church On Sunday!

 

CHRIST THE SAVIOR

GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

P.O. BOX 5566

SPRING HILL, FL 34611

“A Pan-Orthodox Christian Community”

 

 

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