THE ORTHODOX MESSENGER

Vol. VI, No. 42— Sunday, October 21, 2007

Christ the Savior Greek Orthodox Church - Presentation of Christ at the Temple

The HelIenic Orthodox Mission of Hernando County, Florida — A Pan-Orthodox Christian Community”

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

Website: htttp/orthodoxhernadocountyfl. org. Email:Rharakas@aol.com

Fr. Stanley S. Harakas, Th.D., D.D. - Home (352) 796-2377; Cell (352) 263-3005; Fax (352) 796-9081

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GROUND-BREAKING DAY!

Notice! Because of a severe illness of his mother Angelike, His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios is in Greece. In his care for us, he has sent Bishop John of Amorion to preside at our Ground-Breaking Events

THINKING AHEAD – SPIRITUALLY!

   It with great joy and anticipation that we have arrived at this historic day! It is a day of celebration as we rejoice at the beginning of the construction of our new Christ the Savior church and our new Gus & Alice Marty Parish Hall, which will take place without a mortgage. Yet, we need also to reflect spiritually about our lives in Christ as persons and as a Christian Community as we move ahead into our new future.

   On this day and in the week to come let us therefore take time to reflect on our spiritual life and our devotion and commitment to Christ the Savior so that we may be both in name and in reality the church of Christ the Savior! Think on these things. . . .

From St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 12:1-2:

 “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 perfection of our faith.”

From St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians 6:8-10:

   “He who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

                                  From St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians 3:8-21

   “I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with might through his Spirit in the inner man, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have power to    comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with the fullness of God. Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever.    Amen.”

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

Evening Services as Announced

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Saints:  Righteous Hilarion the Great, and Christodoulos of Patmos (+371); Theodota the Martyr & Priestmartyr Socrates; Martyrs Theodote, Philotheos, Barnabas & Hilarion (+1164); Neomartyr John of Monemvasia (+1773); Martyrs Gaius, Dasius, & Zoticus.

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6^th  SUNDAY OF LUKE –GOSPEL ENTRANCE AND OTHER HYMNS

Dismissal Hymn of the Resurrection – 4th  Tone

   (Sing in Greek before the Entrance) (“To faidron tes Anastaseos”).Hymnal,  84-85

   (Sing in English after the Entrance)“When the tidings . . . ”). (Same).

Dismissal Hymn of St. Hilarion

   Sung by the Singer in Greek “Tais ton dakryon sou”

   (Read) With the rivers of your tears / you made the barren desert boom, / and with your sighs from deep within, / you made your labors bear their fruits a hundredfold. / And you became a star, / illuminating the world by your miracles, / O Hilarion our devout father. / Intercede with Christ our God, / for the salvation of our souls.

   (Sing) Dismissal Hymn of the Presentation of Christ (See paper in the pews)

   Kontakion Sung in Greek by the Leader (Prostasia ton Christianon)

(Read) A protection of Christians unshamable, / intercessor to our Holy Maker, unwavering / please reject not / the prayerful cries of those who are in sin. / Instead, come to us, for yo are good. / Your loving help bring unto us, / who are crying in faith to you. / Hasten 1 intercede for us / and speed now to supplicate, / as a protection for all time, / Theotokos, / for those who honor you.

Return to p. 26 of the Hymnal, to sing  “Holy God . . . .”

EPISTLE — Galatians 2:16-20 (19 Sunday) + BRETHREN, you know that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we ourselves were found to be sinners, is Christ then an agent of sin? Certainly not! But if I build up again those things which I tore down, then I prove myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

     GOSPEL — Luke 8:27-39 (6^th  Luke) +— At that time, as Jesus arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, there met him a man from the city who had demons; for a long time he had worn no clothes and he lived not in a house but among the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him, and said with a loud voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beseech you, do not torment me." For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him; he was kept under guard, and bound with chains and fetters, but he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the desert.) Jesus then asked him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Legion"; for many demons had entered him. And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. Now a large herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside; and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them leave. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. When the herdsmen saw what happened, they fled, and told it in the city and in the country. Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. And those who had seen it told them how he who had been possessed with demons was healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gadarenes asked him to depart from them; for they were seized with great fear; so he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but he sent him away, saying, "Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you." And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.

   FOR THE RECORD: October 14, 2007: Candles $62; Visitors’ Donations  $62; Stewardship  $525; Building Fund $232; Coffee Hour Free Will Basket 9/30/07 $36 - 10/07/07 $20 - 10/14/07 $8; Living The Liturgy (8 Books) $76.  Attendance 51.  Many thanks for your support!

   THE SAINT KATHERINE LADIES SOCIETY met this past Sunday. Among items discussed were: Halloween Party- Saturday, October 27, 4:30 p.m. Admission, canned or boxed food for Food Pantry – Co-Chairs: Curt, Emily, Christina Thomas & Aki Manolis; Bake Sale – Friday, November 2, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Sam’s Club – Chair, Venice Cosmadelis; Thanksgiving Food Baskets – Chair, Carol Gymnaos; St. Katherine’s Feast Day – Sunday, November 25 Lenten Pot-Luck Luncheon. New Officers: President – Harriet Pasisis; Vice-President  - Presbytera Emily Harakas; Treasurer – Venice Cosmadelis; Secretary – Diane Lydia Covington; Board Members – Emily Thomas, Nanka Kastelan, Helen Arvanitis, Kanella Hantzis, Anet Jones. Congratulations to the new officers and members of the Board. The Members voted special thanks to out-going President Emily Thomas for an excellent job well done!

   SING THE LITURGY!: At Christ the Savior Church the people sing! Please take up the  Hymnal and help sing the responses. Sing the Liturgy!

   RECENTLY HOSPITALIZED: Oak Hill: Linda Aspras, Demetrios Belavilas, Rose Minarick. Pray for those who are ill.

   ST. DEMETRIOS, FRIDAY, OCT. 26: Orthros 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy 10:00 a.m.

   THE FOOD PANTRY NEEDS DONATIONS! Bring boxed and canned foods to help the needy families at Pine Grove Elementary School. Thanksgiving is coming!

     BE A BULLETIN SPONSOR: Donate $25 with a message. See Curtis Thomas or Gloria Vardakis today! Get on the list of future “Bulletin Sponsors.”

   COFFEE HOUR SPONSORS: 10/20 Vespers Harriet Pasisis & Venice Cosmadelis, Ladies Society Co-Chairs; 10/21 Coffee Hour Venice Cosmadelis, Harriet Pasisis, & Denise Zotto, Ladies Society Co-Chairs. 10/28 Venice Cosmadelis & Nancy Kastelan. Please sign up for November! Thank you!

   PARISH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM: P.E.P. Last Week, Friday, Oct. 19, Video The Trial and Testimony of the Early Church -1 “Foundations.” Next Week, Friday, Oct. 26 “Church and Politics.” We meet at 2:00 every Friday in the Parish Hall and learn about our Christian Faith, share in fellowship and refreshments! Come!

   GROUND-BREAKING COMMITTEE De-briefing Meeting at home of Fr. Stanley & Presbytera Emily Harakas, Tuesday, October 23 at 2:30 p.m.

   RESCHEDULED PARISH COUNCIL MEETING:  This Thursday, October 25. All Parish Council Members! 7:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall.

CHRIST THE SAVIOR

GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

P.O. BOX 5566

SPRING HILL, FL 34611