Praying with Faith, Patience and Humility ~ A Message from Fr. Robert

February 2014 1645 Phillips Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32308 (850) 878-0747 Rev. Fr. Robert J. O Loughlin http://www.hmog.org Praying with Faith, Patience and Humility ~ A Message from Fr. Robert We are asked at times to pray for various people and for specific needs and are to correspond to the will of God. We ask for the intercessory prayers to the Theotokos every as exemplified in the Antiphon hymn of At the intercession of the Theotokos save us or in other words, intercede for us. There are people like monks and nuns, whose ministry are specifically the prayer of intercession. From of all of us who are asked to pray for others, faith needs to be a key component. We find several examples in Scripture of Jesus answering prayers with the faith of those who approach Him on the behalf of those who need assistance. An example is the story of the Canaanite woman. Christ does not look for faith from the daughter, who He heals miraculously, He looks only for the faith of the one who intercedes. Prayer is also founded in humility, which subsequently leads us closer to God. As a community here at Holy Mother of God, we are to pray for one another. And we should do this with faith, patience and humility. Elder Sophrony writes, Do not let the things of this world disperse your energy. Concentrate all your attention on, devote all your energy to, a life which corresponds to the spirit of the Gospel commandments. Let us keep control over our mind in the face of the distractions of the exterior world. Without ascetic effort, our mind will never be able to remain constantly in God. It is from now, in this life, that we must learn to dwell in God, just as our spirit will dwell in God after our death. Our Orthodox Church consists of many amazing treasures which include the traditions of faith, patience and humility that we can find in the writings of the Church Fathers. This can be experienced through the spiritual discipline of our prayer life, fasting and good works. As a Church, we should be concerned about each others welfare. As a Church, we should do whatever we can to assist one another. Whether it is by welcoming visitors to our church, assisting others in coming to church or doing errands for those that are home-bound. As a Church we are to put our faith in Christ with patience and humility. Prayer is also something that we need to practice and practice more as we mature and grow in our spiritual lives. The more we pray, the more we open up our hearts to God. So often in our prayers, whether our private prayers at home, or in our communal prayers here at Church, we may forget that we actually stand in the presence of God. Whenever we come before God in our prayers whether when we wake up for our morning prayers, or say prayers before we go to sleep, or offer prayers before any meal or at any other time throughout the day, let us remember to offer our prayers with faith, patience and humility. Fr. Robert

Page 2 If an emergency or special need should arise, please contact Fr. Rob immediately at 850-559-8184. Next Spaghetti Dinner: February 7th The Parish Council, at its meeting of January 13, elected the slate of officers for this year. I appreciate the trust of the fellow Council Members and look toward another great year serving together our Church Community. Your Parish Council for 2014 is: Pete Koikos - President Connie Mathes - Secretary Jorge Gorb - Vice President Glen Perrigan-Treasurer Catherine Branch, Michael Eudy, Emanuel Joanos, Stelios Manias and Andrew Poulos - Members Last year was a blessed one in many aspects for our Parish. We wish that this year would be as good or even better with every member participating in the ministries and other events of our Church. Truly, it is a joy worshipping and celebrating the traditions of our faith in such a wonderful community. The monthly spaghetti dinner, on January 10, was a successful one. Many thanks to all, who helped with this event. Especially, I commend our octogenarians and nonagenarians as well as the other few dedicated volunteers, who (as always) showed up before 7:00 am to get things ready and stayed around throughout the day. They really set an excellent example for all of us to follow. The Parish Council approved contracts for refurbishing work of the walk-in refrigeration equipment in the kitchen and the replacement of two very old air-conditioning units in Patmos Hall. Better refrigeration will assure easier and safer handling of foods for our fund raising and celebration events. The new A/C units will result in savings from lower use of electricity and repair cost reduction. The existing units are over 35 years old, inefficient and in bad condition. Finding replacement parts for them has been extremely difficult and expensive. Our ecclesiastical calendar shows that Triodion begins on Sunday February 9. Through the centuries, the four-week period has been a preparation period for Holy Great Lent. The Parish Council has decided to offer a free lunch for everybody on Judgment Sunday (Meatfare Sunday), February 23. Please plan to join us. Thanks and God Bless everyone! Yours in Christ, Pete Koikos Our next ECHO Sundays are February 2nd and March 2nd. Please drop off your nonperishable food donations into the bins located in the Hellenic Center and Patmos Hall. HANDS ON KOLIVA WORKSHOP Saturday Feb 8th In the Hellenic Center 10:00AM-11:30AM Please join us in learning how to make koliva and its significance in our Orthodox tradition. If you would like to participate please contact Fr. Rob @(850)559-8184, Presv. Joy @ (850)320-1101 or flrjjk@yahoo.com by Thurs., Feb 6th to ensure adequate supplies are available for all participants. Vasilopita Sunday

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1 Page 3 2 Presentation of 23 Meatfare Sunday Luncheon following Spaghetti Dinner 11:00 a.m. 7 :00p.m. AHEPA Valentine s Dinner/Dance 6:30-11:30 p.m. 9 Our Lord Orthros 9:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. ECHO Sunday Church School SOUPER BOWL Orthros 9:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. Church School Family Fun Day GOYA Mtg. 16 Youth Sunday Orthros 9:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. Church School Orthros 9:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. Church School 3 4 10 Fast Free Feast Day of St. Haralambos 9:00 am Parish Council Mtg. 5:30 pm 17 OCF Meeting Choir Practice 11 Fast Free 18 24 25 Pangari Schedule for February *Denotes a 9:30 start time 02/02 Perrigan*/Eudy/Koikos (c) 02/09 Gorb*/Mathes/Joanos (c) 02/16 Manias*/Perrigan/Eudy (c) 02/23 Joanos*/Poulos/Branch (c) 03/02 Koikos*/Manias/Mathes (c) 03/09 Poulos*/Branch/Gorb (c) Choir Practice 5 + 6 Clergy Retreat at the Diakonia Center Choir Practice Choir Practice 12 Fast Free Second Harvest 11 am 1 pm Catechetical Class (Newcomers/Inquirers) 19 + 26 Orthodox Life Class Orthodox Catechetical Class (Newcomers/Inquirers) Philoptochos Mtg. 7 + 13 Fast Free 14 Fast Free 20 21 + 27 28 Valentine s Day 8 Koliva Workshop 10:00am 11:30am Great Vespers 5:00 pm 15 Fast Free 22 Great Vespers 5:00 p.m First Saturday of Souls 9:00 am Prosforo Schedule 02/02 Margarita Joanos 02/16 Youla Lountos Calendar Symbol Key + = Strict Fast = Wine and Oil allowed = Dairy & eggs allowed = Father Away FEBRUARY 2014 s = Fish Allowed

Page 4 Sun. Feb 2nd Our community will team up with International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) as we bring help and hope to people affected by war, poverty disease and natural disaster in the U.S. and throughout the world. Sun. Feb 2nd Youth Sunday Sun. Feb. 9th GOYA Meeting Bowling Outing Next OCF meeting Mon. Feb. 17th on the campus of FSU OCF District Retreat hosted by Holy Mother of God with Fr. Robert Lawrence from St. Luke Greek Orthodox Church, Mooresville, NC Introduced in 1983, the St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival provides Greek Orthodox teenagers the opportunity to learn, write and speak about their Orthodox faith, Church and heritage. The Oratorical Festival Program begins at the parish level and is divided into three divisions: Holy Mother of God Monthly Community Outreach Wednesday, February 12, 2014 Elementary Division (local festival only) for students in grades 4 6 Junior Division for students in grades 7 9 Senior Division for student in grades 10 12 America s Second Harvest of the Big Bend is the food bank that distributes over 5.5 million pounds of food every year, equaling 4.5 million meals for those in need. Our Holy Mother of God community can collectively make a difference. The time that we donate at the food bank will go a long way toward helping the men, women, and children of the Big Bend get the food they desperately need. We will meet at Second Harvest at 11:00 am. If you are interested in assisting in this effort for one or two hours or have any questions, please contact: Fr. Rob @850-559-8184 or Presv. Joy @850-320-1101. Our local Festival will be March 12 and the North Florida district is April 5 at St. John the Divine in Jacksonville. Students have received topics in their church school class. Additional copies are available in Church Office or from teachers. Participation is encouraged as this is a wonderful opportunity to discover the fullness of our Orthodox Faith. Please contact Fr. Rob @ (850) 559-8184 or Presv. Joy @ (850) 320-1101 if you would like to participate or if you have questions.

Page 5 AHEPA News Our Chapter is preparing for a wonderful Valentine's Dinner and Dance on February 15, 2014. The menu includes many Hors d'oeuvres, Roasted Lamb Dinner, Greek Salad and Dessert. In addition, there will be a Cash Bar for Wine, Beer and Soft Drinks. Coffee and Iced Tea will be available also. Proceeds will provide for scholarships to our students, donations to Diakonia Center, our Church and other charitable contributions. You may contact any AHEPA member or call our Chapter Secretary (at 241-4711) to purchase tickets. The price is $20 for adults and $10 for students and children. Please, do not forget to tell your friends and buy the tickets early. Hope you can make it. Mike Burmester, President PS: The next AHEPA meeting will be on Sunday February 9, 2014

Page 6 February 2014 Next Meeting: February 6 @ in the Patmos Hall Family Fun Day Sunday, February 9 Thank you to all who attended our annual cutting of the Vasilopita on Jan. 12 and for all of the beautiful and delicious vasilopitas. The ladies of our church really have some wonderful recipes. It was a great success. All monetary donations benefit St. Basil Academy. Congratulations to all of our parishioners who received a slice of Vasilopita with a coin and in particular to those who received a slice in recognition of their service to our Church. Congratulations to our President, Harriet Kanelidis, who received the coin in her piece! A year s Good Luck for her and for our Philoptochos Chapter! Thank you to all of our members and students who helped with our Annual Greek Dinner on January 31. A special thanks to Richard Allen who manages the kitchen and makes sure that everything goes perfectly. We hope everyone had a great meal and a great time. Sunday February 9 following Family Fun Day Chili, games and prizes Fun for the whole family

Page 7 The Orthodox Faith Volume II Worship The author is Fr. Thomas Hopko, Dean Emeritus of St. Vladimir's Seminary, Crestwood, NY. The Church Year - Pre-Lent The paschal season of the Church is preceded by the season of Great Lent, which is itself preceded by its own liturgical preparation. The first sign of the approach of Great Lent comes five Sundays before its beginning. On this Sunday the Gospel reading is about Zacchaeus the tax-collector. It tells how Christ brought salvation to the sinful man and how his life was greatly changed simply because he sought to see who Jesus was (Lk 19:3). The desire and effort to see Jesus begins the entire movement through lent towards Easter. It is the first movement of salvation. The following Sunday is that of the Publican and the Pharisee. The focus here is on the two men who went to the Temple to pray one a pharisee who was a very decent and righteous man of religion, the other a publican who was a truly sinful tax-collector who was cheating the people. The first, although genuinely righteous, boasted before God and was condemned, according to Christ. The second, although genuinely sinful, begged for mercy, received it, and was justified by God (Lk 18:9). The meditation here is that we have neither the religious piety of the pharisee nor the repentance of the publican by which alone we can be saved. We are called to see ourselves as we really are in the light of Christ s teaching, and to beg for mercy. The next Sunday in the preparation for Great Lent is the Sunday of the Prodigal Son. Hearing the parable of Christ about God s loving forgiveness, we are called to come to ourselves as did the prodigal son, to see ourselves as being in a far country far from the Father s house, and to make the movement of return to God. We are given every assurance by the Master that the Father will receive us with joy and gladness. We must only arise and go, confessing our selfinflicted and sinful separation from that home where we truly belong (Lk 15:11-24). The next Sunday is called Meatfare Sunday since it is officially the last day before Easter for eating meat. It commemorates Christ s parable of the Last Judgment (Mt 25:31-46). We are reminded this day that it is not enough for us to see Jesus, to see ourselves as we are, and to come home to God as his prodigal sons. We must also be his sons by following Christ, his only-begotten divine Son, and by seeing Christ in every man and by serving Christ through them. Our salvation and final judgment will depend upon our deeds, not merely on our intentions or even on the mercies of God devoid of our own personal cooperation and obedience.... for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you took me in, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and in prison and you visited me. For truly I say to you, if you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me (Mt 25). We are saved not merely by prayer and fasting, not by religious exercises alone. We are saved by serving Christ through his people, the goal toward which all piety and prayer is ultimately directed. Finally, on the eve of Great Lent, the day called Cheesefare Sunday and Forgiveness Sunday, we sing of Adam s exile from paradise. We identify ourselves with Adam, lamenting our loss of the beauty, dignity and delight of our original creation, mourning our corruption in sin. We also hear on this day the Lord s teaching about fasting and forgiveness, and we enter the season of the fast forgiving one another so that God will forgive us. If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your heavenly Father forgive you your trespasses (Mt 6:14-18).

Holy Mother of God Greek Orthodox Church 1645 Phillips Road Tallahassee, Florida 32308 Return Service Requested Holy Mother of God Greek Orthodox Church 1645 Phillips Road Tallahassee, FL 32308 Office: 850-878-0747 Hall: 850-877-2501 Fr. Rob s Cell: 850-559-8184 The Holy Hieromartyr Haralambos Celebrated February 10th Website: www.hmog.org Email Addresses: Father Rob: fr.robert@comcast.net Church Secretary: hmog@comcast.net Secretary Hours: Mon./Wed./Fri. 9am-2pm