Letting go of Earthly Possessions~ A Message from Fr. Robert

Transcription

1 November Phillips Road, Tallahassee, Florida (850) Rev. Fr. Robert J. O Loughlin Letting go of Earthly Possessions~ A Message from Fr. Robert The Church, in its wisdom, knows that sometimes we may not listen as well as we can and things need to be repeated several times to help sink in a message. We are reminded of the dangers of wealth and the necessity to give to the poor with the parable of the Good Samaritan and the parable of the rich fool. We are also reminded when a man who asks the question of what must he do to inherit eternal life? (Luke 18:18) Jesus was very straightforward with his response to the man but the man did not fully listen and follow what Jesus had communicated as He was giving him another chance to be a proper steward. The man had followed God in many ways as he had followed all the commandments. In spite of all his wealth, success, and influence, there was a hunger in his life that riches and success couldn t fill. When he heard Jesus would be coming through his area, he met Him in hopes Jesus could help him experience real life. He was rich, but he wasn t really happy. This man believed in God and was zealous for spiritual things and was sincere in trying his best to please God. We are to let go of earthly possessions and the cares of this life. Eternal life can begin now and is worked on a daily basis in our relationship with Christ. By believing that God is active in our daily lives, we can let go of some of our worries that we experience along the way. We can try to identify one thing in our life that keeps us from God, whether it be greed, pride, anger, envy or lack of forgiveness, we can try to eliminate it from our lives. God makes the impossible possible as long as we remember to focus and rely on Him. We can follow God in many ways in coming to Church, venerating icons, praying and keeping the fasts but Jesus is telling us that none of this truly matters if we are not willing to part with some of our possessions and give it to those in need and to be a good steward. When we reflect on our attachment to worldly possessions we are to try to understand as God guides us in what our needs are: as St Paul writes We have brought nothing into the world; so we cannot take anything out of it either. We are to be good stewards with our money and give to those in need and the Church to allow His will to be done in our lives. God s will for us is to be filled with joy and thanksgiving. His will is not for us to complain about life, to grumble about what we don t have, or to compare how others may have something we don t. Christ wants us to confront life not with negativity, but with thanksgiving and gratitude! If we can maintain such a spirit, it can transform our whole perspective on life. We do not have to focus on what we don t have, or on what others have. Instead, we can thank God for each and every blessing, and reflect upon those who don t have what we have and be reminded of all the blessings in our lives. Fr. Robert

2 Page 2 Our next ECHO Sundays are November 11th and December 2nd. Please drop off your nonperishable food donations into the bins located in the Hellenic Center and Patmos Hall. If an emergency or special need should arise, please contact Fr. Rob immediately at Archangel Michael Feast and Honors November 10, 2018 Congratulations to Laura Joanos and Alex Caspary. They will be receiving the Archangel Michael Award from His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios in Atlanta, Georgia. Bishop Sevastianos of Zela to assist Metropolitan Alexios ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE HOLY EPARCHIAL SYNOD NEW YORK The Holy Eparchial Synod of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America was convened for its regular fall meeting at the Synodal chamber of the Holy Archdiocesesan headquarters in New York City on October 17 and 18, 2018 and was presided by his Eminence Archbishop Demetrios Geron of America with the participation of all the Metropolitans members of the Synod. During the two-day meetings, the Synod approved the transfer of the Chief Secretary of the Holy Eparchial Synod, His Grace Bishop Sevastianos of Zela, to the Holy Metropolis of Atlanta where he will continue his Archpastoral ministry assisting His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta. In the vacant position of the Chief Secretary of the Synod, His Grace Bishop Apostolos of Medeia will be transferred from the Holy Metropolis of San Francisco to the headquarters of the Holy Archdiocese. Holy Mother of God Greek Orthodox Church General Assembly Meeting Sunday, November 11 Following Proposed Agenda 1. Call to Order - Mike Gavalas 2. Opening Prayer - Father Rob 3. Agenda Review and Adoption - All 4. Priests Comments - Father Rob 5. President s Comments - Mike Gavalas 6. Minutes from previous General Assemblies - Harriet Kanelidis 7. Treasurer s Report - Glen Perrigan 8. Nominations & Appointments a. Nominations for Parish Council - 5 Seats available b. Selection of Election Committee c. Selection of Audit Committee 9. New Business 10.Closing Prayer and Adjournment Daylight Saving Time Remember to set your clocks back! Daylight Saving Time ends at 2:00 am on November 4th.

3 4 11 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT Pangari Schedule for November *Denotes a 9:15 am, **10:15 am start time Coffee (c) Daylight Savings Times Orthros 9:30 am & 10:30 am No Church School Orthros 9:30 am & 10:30 am ECHO Church School General Assembly following Divine Liturgy 18 f 11/03 - MGavlas*Perrigan**/Catsimpiris (c) 11/11 - Drzewiecki*/Kanelidis**/VGavalas (c) 11/18 - MGavalas*/EJoanos**/Perrigan (c) 11/25 -VGavalas*/Drzewiecki**/SJoanos (c) 12/02 - Perrigan*/Catsimpiris**/Kanelidis (c) Orthros 9:30 am & 10:30 am Church School GOYA Meeting 25 f Feast Day of St. Catherine the Great Orthros 9:30 am & 10:30 am No Church School Parish Council Mtg. 5:30 pm, 13 Choir Practice 5:00 pm Choir Practice 5:00 pm OCF Gathering 19 f 20 f The Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple Vespers and 5:00 pm 26 f 27 f Choir Practice 5:00 pm 7 + Catechetical Class (Newcomers/ Inquirers) 5:30 pm 14 f Orthodox Life Class 5:30 pm 1 8 Final preparations for festival, setting up & stocking booths, etc. Synaxis of Archangels Michael & Gabriel Philoptochos Meeting 5:30 pm Young Adult Gathering Feast Day of St. Nektarios 15 f 16 + Feast Day of St. Matthew 21 f 22 f 23 + Office Closed f 30 OFFICE CLOSED Feast Day of St. Andrew 10 Archangel Michael Honors in Atlanta Preparing for the Journey of Marrage 9:30 am - 3:00 pm 17 f 24 f Calendar Symbol Key + = Strict Fast = Wine and Oil allowed = Dairy & eggs allowed = Father Away Page 3 NOVEMBER 2018 s = Fish Allowed

4 Page 4 Worship in the Orthodox Church By: Rev. Fr. Thomas Fitzgerald O Come, let us Worship and bow down before our King and God. O Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ, our King and God. O Come, let us worship and bow down to Christ Himself, our King and God. This invitation marks the beginning of each day for the Orthodox Church. It comes from the office of Vespers, and it expresses the attitude which is at the heart of Orthodoxy. The Worship of God - the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, - is fundamental to the life and spirit of the Orthodox Church. Since Worship is so important to Orthodoxy, the best introduction to the Orthodox Church is for the non- Orthodox to attend the or the celebration of one of the major Sacraments. At first, the visitor may be overwhelmed by the music and the ceremonies, but it is in Worship that the distinctive flavor, rich traditions, and living faith of Orthodoxy are truly experienced. Dimensions Of Worship There are two dimensions to Orthodox Worship which are reflected throughout the many Services of the Church. First, Worship is a manifestation of God's presence and action in the midst of His people. It is God who gathers His scattered people together, and it is He who reveals Himself as we enter into His presence. The Worship of the Orthodox Church very vividly expresses the truth that God dwells among His people and that we are created to share in His life. Second, Worship is our corporate response of thanksgiving to the presence of God and a remembrance of His saving actions - especially the Life, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Orthodox Worship is centered upon God. He has acted in history, and He continues to act through the Holy Spirit. We are mindful of His actions and we respond to His love with praise and thanksgiving. In so doing we come closer to God. Expressions Of Worship Worship in the Orthodox Church is expressed in four principal ways: The Eucharist, which is the most important worship experience of Orthodoxy. Eucharist means thanksgiving and is known in the Orthodox Church as the. The Sacraments, which affirm God's presence and action in the important events of our Christian lives. All the major Sacraments are closely related to the Eucharist. These are: Baptism, Chrismation, Confession, Marriage, Holy Orders, and Anointing of the sick. Special Services and Blessings, which also affirm God's presence and action in all the events, needs and tasks of our life. The Daily Offices, which are the services of public prayer which occur throughout the day. The most important are Matins, which is the morning prayer of the Church, and Vespers, which is the evening prayer of the Church. Continued on page 5

5 Page 5 Continued from page 4 Characteristics Although Orthodox Services can very often be elaborate, solemn, and lengthy, they express a deep and pervasive sense of joy. This mood is an expression of our belief in the Resurrection of Christ and the deification of humanity, which are dominant themes of Orthodox Worship. In order to enhance this feeling and to encourage full participation, Services are always sung or chanted. Worship is not simply expressed in words. In addition to prayers, hymns, and scripture readings, there are a number of ceremonies, gestures, and processions. The Church makes rich use of non verbal symbols to express God's presence and our relationship to Him. Orthodoxy Worship involves the whole person; one's intellect, feelings, and senses. Services in the Orthodox Church follow a prescribed order. There is a framework and design to our Worship. This is valuable in order to preserve its corporate dimension and maintain a continuity with the past. The content of the Services is also set. There are unchanging elements; and there are parts which change according to the Feast, season, or particular circumstance. The regulating of the Services by the whole Church emphasizes the fact that Worship is an expression of the entire Church, and not the composition on a particular priest and congregation. An important secondary purpose of Worship is the teaching of the Faith. There is a very close relationship between the Worship and the teachings of the Church. Faith is expressed in Worship, and Worship serves to strengthen and communicate Faith. As a consequence, the prayers, hymns, and liturgical gestures of Orthodoxy are important mediums of teaching. The regulating of the Services also serves to preserve the true Faith and to guard it against error. The celebration of the and the Sacraments is always led by an ordained clergymen. In the local parish, this will generally be a priest who acts in the name of the bishop, and who is sometime assisted by a deacon. When the bishop is present, he presides at the Services. The vestments of the clergy express their special calling to the ministry as well as their particular office. Since Worship in Orthodoxy is an expression of the entire Church the active participation and involvement of the congregation is required. There are no "private" or "said" Services in the Orthodox Church and none may take place without a congregation. This strong sense of community is expressed in the prayers and exhortations which are in the plural tense. The congregation is expected to participate actively in the Services in ways such as: singing the hymns; concluding the prayers with "Amen"; responding to the petitions; making the sign of the Cross; bowing; and, especially, by receiving Holy Communion at the. Standing is the preferred posture of prayer in the Orthodox Church. The congregation kneels only at particularly solemn moments, such as the Invocation of the Holy Spirit during the Divine Liturgy. The Litany is an important part of Orthodox Services. A litany is a dialogue between the priest or deacon and the congregation, which consists of a number of prayer-petitions, followed by the response "Lord, have mercy" or "Grant this, O Lord." Litanies occur frequently throughout the Services and often serve to distinguish particular sections.

6 Page 6 Fr Rob blesses the classrooms, students and teachers. All enjoy fellowship and ice cream sundaes. The Importance of Religious Education Education is an all-inclusive topic, touching upon every aspect of the human intellect and soul. Religious education, a predominant element of our lives as Orthodox Christians, will be the focus of this brief reflection. Religious education concerns itself with fundamental questions of existence, and, through various ways and means, it seeks to help people to grow in the knowledge of God as they come to terms with these questions. Religious education deals with questions such as these: Who is God? What is my relationship to God? What is the ultimate destiny of human beings? What are the origins of the universe? What is life? What happens at the time of our death? It is in this sense that religious education uniquely differs from other fields of education; such as education pertaining to health, finances, or formal academic study. Fundamental questions of existence are deeply embedded within the human soul, and they persist lifelong. Two examples of persons who spoke eloquently on behalf of humanity in this search for meaning come to mind. The first of these figures is the Psalmist, who upon considering from afar the immensity of God's creation, the heavens, the moon and the stars, turned inward in an attempt to understand his own human predicament of seemingly miniscule significance before the Lord and asked, "What is man, that You are mindful of him" (Psalm 8:4). Continued on page 7

7 Page 7 Continued from page 6 Millennia later as humanity grew into its technological adolescence, the world would hear the very same passage of Psalm 8 read aloud by astronaut Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, this time after having stood, by the grace of God, on the surface of the moon itself. Like the Psalmist, "Buzz" Aldrin was in fact asking a question on behalf of all humanity; like the Psalmist he turned inward to acknowledge his own seemingly infinitesimal significance before God. Both men knew what it meant to be humble before God and truly understood the significance of the proverb, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Proverbs 1:7). This proverb and the examples of these two figures of ancient and modern history, have three meaningful implications for religious education as we endeavor to continue upon the path of our predecessors to understand fundamental questions of our human existence. First, it is clear that we must approach our religious education with humility, rather than with arrogance. Before the awesomeness of God, we are indeed very tiny, yet at the same time God loves us beyond degrees that surpass our human comprehension. Second, as we endeavor to grow in our knowledge of existential questions that will always persist in our mind, we must acknowledge the necessity of our regular reading of the Holy Scriptures and works of theology, beginning with the writings of the Fathers of the Church and continuing into contemporary works of religious literature. Third, our religious education would not be complete without our acknowledging that among all modes of learning the most superior mode is through our worship of the Almighty God in our Church, where together with our co-worshippers, we open not only our minds to the wisdom of God but also our hearts to His infinite love, and where we receive the most inspiring and extraordinary religious education. +DEMETRIOS Archbishop of America Thursday, November 8, 2018 Philoptochos Meeting - 5:30 pm Patmos Hall Conference Room

8 Holy Mother of God Greek Orthodox Church 1645 Phillips Road Tallahassee, Florida Return Service Requested Holy Mother of God Greek Orthodox Church 1645 Phillips Road Tallahassee, FL Office: Hall: Fr. Rob s Cell: Feast Day of St. Catherine the Great Celebrated November 25 Website: Addresses: Father Rob: fr.robert@comcast.net Church Secretary: hmog@comcast.net Secretary Hours: Mon./Wed./Fri. 9am-2pm