Hunger for Christ ~ A Message from Fr. Robert

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1 August Phillips Road, Tallahassee, Florida (850) Rev. Fr. Robert J. O Loughlin Hunger for Christ ~ A Message from Fr. Robert There was a family that was a having a dinner party for a number of people from their place of work. It was quite an undertaking for them, but the family wanted to be hospitable and gracious in hosting this gathering. When it came time for dinner, everyone was seated and the mother asked their little four-year-old girl if she would say the prayer. The girl said, "I don t know what to say." Her mother said, "Honey, just say what I say." Everyone bowed their heads and the little girl prayed, "O dear Lord, why am I having all these people over for dinner! Amen!" We can have many stressful events in our life that can create uneasiness and anxiety in our daily lives. If we go back to the Book of Exodus, the Israelites became anxious about their lack of food and wished they were back in Egypt. In the wilderness, God provided manna for the Israelites who escaped from Egypt. God told Moses that He would provide food for them. It has been said that trials and tests do not make us what we are but they reveal who we really are. When the Israelites complained for lack of food and wished they were back in Egypt, the Lord told Moses that He would provide food as a test of the Israelites obedience. God did not merely supply their need for food with manna as He also taught them. Ultimately, God wants us to be hungry for Christ. As long as we live in this world, there will be things that will vie for our attention, including the children, work, recreation, our health and Church. God has entrusted these things to us, and for us to balance them. Jesus shows us to take time to get refueled, before continuing with the demands of our everyday needs. The hunger for Christ is never ending but can be always filling. We can be hungry and remain alive in Christ through prayer, reading Scriptures and fasting. We can build on our prayer life slowly and not taking on too much all at once. We can continue reading the Bible with incorporating the readings of the day into our daily routine and expand on it. We can partake in Holy Communion as much as possible as long as we prepare properly. It is important for us to enter into this hunger of Christ, and to do so to the extent that, with St Paul, we can cry: "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me!" This level of communion with our Lord is acquired only gradually, by renouncing evil, but also by renouncing ourselves, our self-centeredness, our desire always to assert ourselves and always to be "right". Thereby our hunger is transformed into a desire for the true nourishment that only God can provide. May we all hunger for applying Christ teaching in our lives and bring ourselves and others closer to Him. May you and your families continue to have a blessed summer, Fr. Robert

2 Page 2 If an emergency or special need should arise, please contact Fr. Rob immediately at Our next ECHO Sundays are August 4th and September 1st. Please drop off your non-perishable food donations into the bins located in Patmos Hall.. Next Spaghetti Dinner: Friday, August 16th Friday, November 1st Dear Parishioners, I hope everyone had a wonderful summer and for those, who still are away, wish you a safe return home. Our Parish remained very active on many aspects this period. Church services were provided regularly while other activities stayed on track. Spaghetti dinners were held with success in June and July. Many thanks to those dedicated volunteers for their hard work and continuing commitment month after month. This month, the spaghetti dinner will be on August 16th and the next on November 1st. Baking for the festival has been going on every Saturday since last week of June. 1 am happy for our Parish's future in that a good number of new and younger volunteers, who have shown up to help. They all seemed to have a great time. So far, we have completed only a relatively small portion of the preparations needed. The bulk of the baking work remains and much has to be done between now and October 11. We count on all members and friends to contribute as much time and help as possible toward this great ministry. Experience is not required. I hope everyone will be able to participate in this wonderful event of our Parish. In addition to helping your church, you will have fun finding out how much you can do with your hands and enjoying fellowship with the other volunteers. Progress on grounds improvements and beautification work has fallen behind schedule. So far, bad weather has caused about four weeks of delay. We are now looking to early/middle August for completion. Yours in Christ Pete Koikos The Consecration of St John the Theologian Greek Orthodox Church in Panama City by His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios CHOIR NEWS Choir practice is scheduled for Tuesdays, August 6H, 13th, 20tTh & 27H at Do you sing in the pews on Sunday? Join us in the choir it s a rewarding experience. For more information, please see Corinne Lapointe at

3 Prosforo Schedule 08/04 Angie Poulos 08/18 Margarita Joanos Calendar Symbol Key + = Strict Fast = Wine and Oil allowed Page f 4 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT Orthros 9:30 am & 10:30 am s = Fish Allowed AHEPA Mtg. Orthros 9:30 am & 10:30 am Orthros 9:30 am & 10:30 am Youth Ministry Registration Orthros 9:30 am & 10:30 am Youth Ministry Registration 12 + Parish Council Meeting 5:30 pm Pangari Schedule for August 08/04 - Gorb*/Branch/E.Joanos (c) 08/11 - Koikos*/Poulos/S.Joanos (c) 08/18 - Manias*/Perrigan/Branch (c) 08/25 - E.Joanos*/Gorb/Poulos (c) 09/01 - S.Joanos*/Manias/Perrigan (c) *Denotes a 9:30 start time OCF Gathering Feast of the Transfiguration 9 am Choir Practice Choir Practice Choir Practice Choir Practice Paraklesis Second Harvest Outreach 11 am-1pm Great Vespers of the Dormition of the Theotokos Followed by refreshments in the Hellenic Center Feast Day of the Dormition of the Theotokos 9 am 16 + Paraklesis Paraklesis Spaghetti Dinner 11 am 7 pm Feast Day of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist 9 am Great Vespers 5 pm Great Vespers 5 pm Great Vespers 5 pm Festival Baking 9 am Great Vespers 5 pm = Dairy & eggs allowed = Father Away August 2013

4 Page 4 Youth Ministry Registration Registration for Church School, GOYA, JOY, OCF, and Greek Dancing will be held following the on: Sunday, August 18th & 25th In the Hellenic Center. The outing to St. Marks was enjoyed by all. Thanks to Harold and Catherine Branch for coordinating the event. The first GOYA meeting of the new ecclesiastical year will be Sunday, September 15. This ministry provides teenagers time for fellowship, growth in faith, and opportunities for outreach. For more information, contact Presvytera Joy at or flrjjk@yahoo.com. GOYAns honoring fathers on Father s Day Holy Mother of God Monthly Community Outreach Wednesday, August 14th If you want to make a difference and help fight hunger, join us for our monthly community outreach in serving others at America s Second Harvest warehouse facility, which supports numerous agencies in the Big Bend area. If you are interested in assisting in this effort for a half hour, one hour or two contact: Fr. or Presv. The OCF Orthodox Christian Fellowship is the official collegiate campus ministry program under the Assembly of Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America. The mission of OCF is to support fellowships on college campuses, whose members experience and witness to the Orthodox Christian Church through community life, prayer, service to others and study of the Faith. We look forward to welcoming new and returning students. Our first gathering will be: Monday, August 26th.

5 Page 5 The 2013 Greek Food Festival will be upon us soon. Please mark your calendars for October 11th and 12th. The baking is now in full swing. Thank you to those that helped with the Pastichio baking. Kudos to Richard for doing an excellent job with such a small number of volunteers. Please join us for the following baking days: July 20 Moussaka, July 27 Dolmathes, August 24 Pastichio. Our Community is full of talented individuals. The Festival needs you! Please let me know how you can help. Thank you to the 2013 Booth Chairmen: Gyro Chris Myers Souvlaki Manny Joanos Outside Taverna Stelios Manias Inside Taverna Jim and Sophie Garland Ala Carte Nick and Stephanie Joanos Pepsi Wagon Sara Hill T-shirts and Vendors Stamie Joanos Dinner Facilitator Electra Bustle Kafenion - Sally Papageorge Pastries Tom Mookas Dinner Tickets Dorothy Downing Facilities Harold Branch Grecian Delights/Ice Cream Joanna Erickson/ Becky Pettijohn Jeff Phipps, Harriet Kanelidis, Richard Allen, and I look forward to working with you! Catherine Branch Festival Co-Chair catbranch2000@yahoo.com or August 16 Spaghetti Dinner September 7th - Koulourakia September 13th & 14th Galatoboureko September 19th, 20th & 21st Baklava September 28th Kourambiedes **Baking Dates are subject to change Note: Baking begins at 9 am Picking eggplant at Hopkins Farm for the festival AHEPA News The AHEPANs and their wives/friends had a great time at the end of the year dinner this past June at Georgio's restaurant. We want to thank George Koikos for providing us with plentiful and complimentary appetizers for the evening. It was all most enjoyable. It was also announced that new officers need to take place for the coming year. Our next AHEPA meeting will be held on Sunday, August 4th after liturgy in the Patmos Hall. Please, ALL members try to attend. On Sunday, September 15, we are planning to have a "Welcome Back Student Lunch". Hope everyone is having a great summer. Mike Papageorge, President

6 Page 6 August hmogphil@comcast.net Visit us on Facebook at Holy Mother of God Philoptochos Society of Tallahassee Florida hmogphil@comcast.net Visit us also On Holy Mother of God Philoptochos Society of Tallahassee, Florida On the Horizon: Philoptochos Membership Brunch: September Next Meeting: September 2013 Metropolis of Atlanta Clergy-Laity & Philoptochos Conference Hosted by St. Mark Greek Orthodox Church in Boca Raton Our Board Members, Harriet Kanelidis, Connie Mathes and Amy Cox, who attended the Philoptochos Conference at St. Mark Greek Orthodox Church in Boca Raton have returned with a wealth of information that will help our chapter even more in implementing our philanthropic endeavors in this coming year. They are anxious to share everything they learned with all of us. As always, we are looking forward to working together again and to the challenges of this coming year! We invite those of you who are interested in becoming members to come, learn and find joy in the work you will be doing as you become a part of this exciting philanthropic arm of our Church. We want to make Philoptochos more fulfilling and rewarding for both the giver and the receiver. Our example can inspire and excite those who are to follow in the future. This is a challenge worth taking by all of us. Not a Philoptochos member yet - you can join now! Come and see what we are about!

7 Page 7 Feast of the Dormition of our Most Holy Lady, The Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary August 15 Introduction The Feast of the Dormition of Our Most Holy Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary is celebrated on August 15 each year. The Feast commemorates the repose (dormition and in the Greek kimisis) or "falling-asleep" of the Mother of Jesus Christ, our Lord. The Feast also commemorates the translation or assumption into heaven of the body of the Theotokos. Biblical Story The Holy Scriptures tell us that when our Lord was dying on the Cross, He saw His mother and His disciple John and said to the Virgin Mary, "Woman, behold your son!" and to John, "Behold your mother!" (John 19:25-27). From that hour, the Apostle took care of the Theotokos in his own home. Along with the biblical reference in Acts 1:14 that confirms that the Virgin Mary was with the Holy Apostles on the day of Pentecost, the tradition of the Church holds that she remained in the home of the Apostle John in Jerusalem, continuing a ministry in word and deed. At the time of her death, the disciples of our Lord who were preaching throughout the world returned to Jerusalem to see the Theotokos. Except for the Apostle Thomas, all of them including the Apostle Paul were gathered together at her bedside. At the moment of her death, Jesus Christ himself descended and carried her soul into heaven. Following her repose, the body of the Theotokos was taken in procession and laid in a tomb near the Garden of Gethsemane. When the Apostle Thomas arrived three days after her repose and desired to see her body, the tomb was found to be empty. The bodily assumption of the Theotokos was confirmed by the message of an angel and by her appearance to the Apostles. Apolytikion In birth, you preserved your virginity; in death, you did not abandon the world, O Theotokos. As mother of life, you departed to the source of life, delivering our souls from death by your intercessions Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

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: Dormition of the Theotokos Celebrated August 15th Website: Addresses: Father Rob: fr.robert@comcast.net Church Secretary: hmog@comcast.net Secretary Hours: Mon./Wed./Fri. 9am-2pm