Transfiguration of our Lord Greek Orthodox Church

Transcript

1 Sunday Bulletin February 2, 2014 The Presentation of Our Lord Transfiguration of our Lord Greek Orthodox Church 414 St. Stephen s School Road Austin, Texas (512) office@transfiguration.org website - Sunday Service Schedule Orthros 8:30am; Divine Liturgy 10:00am Reverend Fr. Vasileios Flegas, Proistamenos

2 Hymns for today Entrance Hymn The Lord made known His salvation; He revealed His righteousness in the sight of the Gentiles. Save us, O Son of God, who in the arms of righteous Symeon were held. We sing to You: Alleluia. Resurrection Hymn (Grave Tone) Κατέλυσας τῷ Σταυρῷ σου τὸν θάνατον, ἠνέῳξας τῷ Λῃστῇ τὸν Παράδεισον, τῶν Μυροφόρων τὸν θρῆνον µετέβαλες, καὶ τοῖς σοῖς Ἀποστόλοις κηρύττειν ἐπέταξας, ὅτι ἀνέστης Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, παρέχων τῷ κόσµῳ τὸ µέγα ἔλεος. Katelisas to Stavro Su ton thanaton ineoxas to listi ton parathison ton Miroforon ton thrinon metevales ke tis. Sis apostolis kirittin epetaxas oti anestis Christe o Theos parehon to kosmo to mega eleos. O Lord by Your sacred Cross You abolished death, and granted unto the thief blessed paradise. The Myrrh bearers ceased lamenting and turned to joy. The apostles did preach the Good News at Your command, that You had risen from the dead O Christ Our God, bestowing mercy upon the world evermore. Hymn for the Presentation of Our Lord Rejoice, thou who art full of grace, O Virgin Theotokos, for from thee hath risen the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, enlightening those in darkness. Rejoice thou also, O righteous Elder, as thou receivest in thine arms the Redeemer of our souls, Who also granteth unto us the Resurrection. Kontakion Thou Who didst sanctify the Virgin's womb by Thy birth, and didst bless Symeon's hands as was meet, by anticipation hast even now saved us, O Christ God. But grant peace in the midst of wars unto Thy commonwealth and strengthen the hierarchs whom Thou hast loved, O only Friend of man. Megalynarion Theotokos, as the hope of us Christians one and all, guard and shelter and protect those who put their hope in you. O believers, come let us perceive a type in the law, and the shadow and the letter. Every male that opens the womb shall be holy to God. So the unoriginate Father's first-born Logos and Son who is the firstborn of the Mother who knew not man, we magnify. Special Communion Hymn I will take up the cup, the cup of salvation, and call upon the name, the name of the Lord. Alleluia.

3 Epistle - Hebrews 7: 7-17 BRETHREN, it is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. Here tithes are received by mortal men; there, by one whom it is testified that he lives. One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him. Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become a priest, not according to a legal requirement concerning bodily descent but by the power of an indestructible life. For it is witnessed of him, "Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek." Ἀδελφοί, χωρὶς δὲ πάσης ἀντιλογίας, τὸ ἔλαττον ὑπὸ τοῦ κρείττονος εὐλογεῖται. Καὶ ὧδε µὲν δεκάτας ἀποθνῄσκοντες ἄνθρωποι λαµβάνουσιν ἐκεῖ δέ, µαρτυρούµενος ὅτι ζῇ. Καί, ὡς ἔπος εἰπεῖν, διὰ Ἀβραὰµ καὶ Λευῒ ὁ δεκάτας λαµβάνων δεδεκάτωται ἔτι γὰρ ἐν τῇ ὀσφύϊ τοῦ πατρὸς ἦν, ὅτε συνήντησεν αὐτῷ ὁ Μελχισεδέκ. Εἰ µὲν οὖν τελείωσις διὰ τῆς Λευϊτικῆς ἱερωσύνης ἦν - ὁ λαὸς γὰρ ἐπʼ αὐτῇ νενοµοθέτητο - τίς ἔτι χρεία, κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Μελχισεδὲκ ἕτερον ἀνίστασθαι ἱερέα, καὶ οὐ κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Ἀαρὼν λέγεσθαι; Μετατιθεµένης γὰρ τῆς ἱερωσύνης, ἐξ ἀνάγκης καὶ νόµου µετάθεσις γίνεται. Ἐφʼ ὃν γὰρ λέγεται ταῦτα, φυλῆς ἑτέρας µετέσχηκεν, ἀφʼ ἧς οὐδεὶς προσέσχηκεν τῷ θυσιαστηρίῳ. Πρόδηλον γὰρ ὅτι ἐξ Ἰούδα ἀνατέταλκεν ὁ κύριος ἡµῶν, εἰς ἣν φυλὴν οὐδὲν περὶ ἱερωσύνης Μωϋσῆς ἐλάλησεν. Καὶ περισσότερον ἔτι κατάδηλόν ἐστιν, εἰ κατὰ τὴν ὁµοιότητα Μελχισεδὲκ ἀνίσταται ἱερεὺς ἕτερος, ὃς οὐ κατὰ νόµον ἐντολῆς σαρκικῆς γέγονεν, ἀλλὰ κατὰ δύναµιν ζωῆς ἀκαταλύτου µαρτυρεῖ γὰρ ὅτι Σὺ ἱερεὺς εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Μελχισεδέκ.

4 Gospel - St.. Luke 2: At that time, the parents brought the child Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord") and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons." Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Symeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, "Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel." And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him; and Symeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher; she was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity, and as a widow till she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God, and spoke of him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. And when they had performed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him. Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἀνήγαγον αὐτὸν εἰς Ιεροσόλυµα παραστῆσαι τῷ Κυρίῳ,καθὼς γέγραπται ἐν νόµῳ Κυρίου ὅτι πᾶν ἄρσεν διανοῖγον µήτραν ἅγιον τῷ Κυρίῳ κληθήσεται,καὶ τοῦ δοῦναι θυσίαν κατὰ τὸ εἰρηµένον ἐν νόµῳ Κυρίου, ζεῦγος τρυγόνων ἢ δύο νεοσσοὺς περιστερῶν.καὶ ἰδοὺ ἦν ἄνθρωπος ἐν Ιεροσολύµοις ᾧ ὄνοµα Συµεών, καὶ ὁ ἄνθρωπος οὗτος δίκαιος καὶ εὐλαβής, προσδεχόµενος παράκλησιν τοῦ Ισραήλ, καὶ Πνεῦµα ἦν Αγιον ἐπ αὐτόν καὶ ἦν αὐτῷ κεχρηµατισµένον ὑπὸ τοῦ Πνεύµατος τοῦ Αγίου µὴ ἰδεῖν θάνατον πρὶν ἢ ἴδῃ τὸν Χριστὸν Κυρίου.καὶ ἦλθεν ἐν τῷ Πνεύµατι εἰς τὸ ἱερόν καὶ ἐν τῷ εἰσαγαγεῖν τοὺς γονεῖς τὸ παιδίον Ιησοῦν τοῦ ποιῆσαι αὐτοὺς κατὰ τὸ εἰθισµένον τοῦ νόµου περὶ αὐτοῦ,καὶ αὐτὸς ἐδέξατο αὐτὸν εἰς τὰς ἀγκάλας αὐτοῦ καὶ εὐλόγησε τὸν Θεὸν καὶ εἶπε νῦν ἀπολύεις τὸν δοῦλόν σου, δέσποτα, κατὰ τὸ ῥῆµά σου ἐν εἰρήνῃ, ὅτι εἶδον οἱ ὀφθαλµοί µου τὸ σωτήριόν σου, ὃ ἡτοίµασας κατὰ πρόσωπον πάντων τῶν λαῶν, φῶς εἰς ἀποκάλυψιν ἐθνῶν καὶ δόξαν λαοῦ σου Ισραήλ. καὶ ἦν Ιωσὴφ καὶ ἡ µήτηρ αὐτοῦ θαυµάζοντες ἐπὶ τοῖς λαλουµένοις περὶ αὐτοῦ.καὶ εὐλόγησεν αὐτοὺς Συµεὼν καὶ εἶπε πρὸς Μαριὰµ τὴν µητέρα αὐτοῦ ἰδοὺ οὗτος κεῖται εἰς πτῶσιν καὶ ἀνάστασιν πολλῶν ἐν τῷ Ισραὴλ καὶ εἰς σηµεῖον ἀντιλεγόµενον.καὶ σοῦ δὲ αὐτῆς τὴν ψυχὴν διελεύσεται ῥοµφαία, ὅπως ἂν ἀποκαλυφθῶσιν ἐκ πολλῶν καρδιῶν διαλογισµοί.καὶ ἦν Αννα προφῆτις, θυγάτηρ Φανουήλ, ἐκ φυλῆς Ασήρ αὕτη προβεβηκυῖα ἐν ἡµέραις πολλαῖς, ζήσασα ἔτη µετὰ ἀνδρὸς ἑπτὰ ἀπὸ τῆς παρθενίας αὐτῆς,καὶ αὐτὴ χήρα ὡς ἐτῶν ὀγδοήκοντα τεσσάρων, ἣ οὐκ ἀφίστατο ἀπὸ τοῦ ἱεροῦ νηστείαις καὶ δεήσεσι λατρεύουσα νύκτα καὶ ἡµέραν καὶ αὕτη αὐτῇ τῇ ὥρᾳ ἐπιστᾶσα ἀνθωµολογεῖτο τῷ Κυρίῳ καὶ ἐλάλει περὶ αὐτοῦ πᾶσι τοῖς προσδεχοµένοις λύτρωσιν ἐν Ιερουσαλήµ. Καὶ ὡς ἐτέλεσαν ἅπαντα τὰ κατὰ τὸν νόµον Κυρίου, ὑπέστρεψαν εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν εἰς τὴν πόλιν ἑαυτῶν Ναζαρέτ.Τὸ δὲ παιδίον ηὔξανε καὶ ἐκραταιοῦτο πνεύµατι πληρούµενον σοφίας, καὶ χάρις Θεοῦ ἦν ἐπ αὐτό.

5 Welcome Visitors! We welcome all new visitors who worshipped with us this morning. We are pleased to have you with us! Please join us next door after service for coffee and fellowship. There is material in the entrance of the church regarding ministries and events of Transfiguration. We hope that you will return often to worship with us and grow in Christ! Receiving Holy Communion The sacrament of Holy Communion is reserved for only baptized and/or Chrismated Orthodox Christians who have properly prepared by fasting, prayer and confession. The Orthodox Church is not in sacramental communion with any other church outside the Orthodox Christian Faith. If you are not Orthodox, you are invited with everyone to receive the Antidoron (blessed bread) at the end of service. If you would like information about the Orthodox Church, please see Fr. Vasileios after services. Our Sunday School Classes are back in session. Please allow the students and teachers to receive Communion first so that they can get to their classes. Thank you. Prayers for Health Arlena, Philip, Glenna, Euther, Nicole, Michael, Wanda, John, Lili, Archie, Paul, Michael, Petra, Luke, Matthew, Elizabeth, Cecilia, Venton, John, Julia, Ricky, Wayne, Sarah, Christopher, John, Arsinoi, Konstandinos, Jan, Marie, Chris, MaryAnn, Cliff, Maggie, Lou, Thomas, Kathy, Kathryn, Greg, Bill, Christopher, Steve, Maggie, Nakis, Martha, George, Richard Simeon, Terri, Nicole, Mark, Maria, Madeleine, Nassos, Maria, Amy, Christina, Ana, Dolly, Fr. Ambrose, Vickie, Pat, Bill, Linda, Mindy, Jenny, Rosemary, Fr. Andreas, Emmanuel, Alkmene, Maree, Constanze, Jennifer, Timothy, Andrea, Janis Mae, Andreas, Luke, Zlata, Andrea, Albert, Dorothy, Presbytera Krissy, Malamo, Larry, Jane, Boyd, Wilma, Ted, Nicolette, Danae, Alexandra, Fr. Damaskinos, Emmanuel, Thomas, Maria, Zoe, Kalliopi, Aikaterini, Garyfalia, Ioannis, Konstantinos, Nikolaos, Evangelia, Carol, Frank, Aikaterini, Eleni, Eirini, Dimitrios, Antigoni, Sharon, Georgia, Chrysoula, Michael, Dimitra, Suzanne, Fotini, Kirsten, Kimberlin, Alvin, Eric, Alison, Emily, Olga, Angie, Anastasios, Tahseen, Athanasios, Tristen, Damon, Fran, Melanie, Theone, Betty (Mary Elizabeth), Zoe, Gabriel, Themis, Maria, Panayiota, Dmitriy, Brandi, Cia, Jimmy, Sybella, David, Anthony, Susan, Carole, John, Stephanie, Maria, Sophie, Christa, Andrea, Greg, Patricia, Stephen, Wanda, Nick, Westin, Larry, Anna, Barbara, Anna, Dana, Colleen, Zoe, John, Kh. Anastasia-Velvet, Christine, Sam, Alex, Gabriella Marie, Lisa, Patricia, Joe, Marija, Sophia, Alysun, Dave, Maria, Jerry, Layla, Deacon James, Johnathan, Xenia, Robin, Ben, Khouria Luanne, Kathy, Bill, Lisa, Katy, Katherine, Nici, Dina, Heidi, Madeleine, Eleni, Philio, Irene, Crissi, Kimberly, Robert, John, Jerry, David, Mary Katherine, Virginia Prayers for those in our Armed Forces SGT Jennifer D. Atkinson, SSG John Atkinson, COL Dave Romine, CPT James Alfaro, SSG Deane Anderson, CPT William Willett, MAJ Timothy Ullman, MAJ Chris Chase, Cadet Mindy Keys, SPC Andrew Bentzel, MAJ Scot Thornhill, CPT Christopher Gilbert, CPT. Alexander Stathos, 1st LT Angela Bahlatzis, MIDN 1/C Joseph Barone, Specialist Walter Hurbert (Nikolaos) Willoughby IV, LCDR Thomas Uhl

6 The Meeting of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the Temple Commemorated on February 2 Today the Church commemorates an important event in the earthly life of our Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 2:22-40). Forty days after His birth the God-Infant was taken to the Jerusalem Temple, the center of the nation s religious life. According to the Law of Moses (Lev. 12:2-8), a woman who gave birth to a male child was forbidden to enter the Temple of God for forty days. At the end of this time the mother came to the Temple with the child, to offer a young lamb, a young pigeon, or a turtle dove to the Lord as a puri ication sacri ice. The Most Holy Virgin, the Mother of God, had no need of puri ication, since she had given birth to the Source of purity and sanctity without de ilement. However, she humbly ful illed the requirements of the Law. At this time the righteous Elder Simeon (February 3) was living in Jerusalem. It had been revealed to him that he would not die until he should behold the promised Messiah. By inspiration from above, St Simeon went to the Temple at the very moment when the Most Holy Theotokos and St Joseph had brought the Infant Jesus to ful ill the Law. The God-Receiver Simeon took the divine Child in his arms, and giving thanks to God, he spoke the words repeated by the Church each evening at Vespers: Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word, for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people, a light to enlighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel (Luke 2:29-32). St Simeon said to the Most Holy Virgin: Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be spoken against. Yea, a sword shall pierce through your own soul also, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed (Luke 2:34-35). At the Temple was the 84-year-old widow Anna the Prophetess, daughter of Phanuel (February 3), who did not leave the temple, but served God with fasting and prayers night and day. She arrived just when St Simeon met the divine Child. She also gave thanks to the Lord and spoke of Him to all those who were looking for redemption in Jerusalem (Luke 2:37-38). In the icon of the Feast she holds a scroll which reads: This Child has established Heaven and earth. Before Christ was born, righteous men and women lived by faith in the promised Messiah, and awaited His coming. The Righteous Simeon and the Prophetess Anna, the last righteous people of the Old Testament, were deemed worthy to meet the Savior in the Temple. The Feast of the Meeting of the Lord is among the most ancient feasts of the Christian Church. We have sermons on the Feast by the holy bishops Methodius of Patara (+ 312), Cyril of Jerusalem (+ 360), Gregory the Theologian (+ 389), Amphilocius of Iconium (+ 394), Gregory of Nyssa (+ 400), and John Chrysostom (+ 407). Despite its early origin, this Feast was not celebrated so splendidly until the sixth century. excerpt on the Presenta on of our Lord from oca.org

7 WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS: Sunday, February 2, 2014 Schedule of Services Feast of St. Photios- Thursday, February 6 Orthros - 9:00am; Divine Liturgy - 10:00am Chrismation Today Today we will welcome into the Orthodox Faith (and our community family!), the Landon family: James (Dimitrios), Karen (Elizabeth), and Kaleb (Ignatius) who will be Chrismated after the Gospel reading. Their sponsors are the Falkowski and Strong families. God grant you many years! TODAY IS SOUPER BOWL SUNDAY! Today is our Souper Bowl of Giving. In front of both the church and the hall you will find collection areas for canned goods and dollars. The canned goods will go the food bank and the money will be sent to IOCC-- an Orthodox Christian charity that helps people around the world. We would love to have some kids help us (after Sunday School) load the canned goods into Amity Garwood's car. See Amity or Jessica Esper if you are interested in helping out. CARNE- VAL On Saturday, February 22nd at 6:00pm we will have a festive Dinner/Dance for the whole community! Please bring your whole family to one of our fun community-wide celebrations. Love donations will be accepted. Encore! On Sunday, February 23, the Encore! Fellowship is having a MARDI GRAS PARTY at the home of Jacob and Diana Angelo at 5:00pm. Please join us! Contact Linda Robertson: for more information Philoptochos News Save the Date! Our next Philoptochos meeting will be on Saturday, Feb. 15 at noon. Please remember to fund-raise while you shop and pick up your gift cards from us! We have many different cards on hand, and we can order any that you would like! House Blessings Father Vasileios will be working on house blessings from now until the beginning of Great Lent. Please contact the church office to discuss scheduling your house blessing.

8 WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS continued: Sunday, February 2, 2014 Save the Date for the Great Lent Bible Bowl! Get ready because we are going to have another amazing Bible Bowl during Great Lent on the Sunday of the Cross, March 23, at 1:30 pm. The ques ons will come from the book: Great Lent: Journey to Pascha by Alexander Schmemann. We have ordered several copies of this book to carry in our bookstore. Place your order with us now! Transfiguration Oratorical Festival & GOYA Awards Party! The afternoon begins with our Parish Oratorical Festival at 4:00. The community is invited to join us for student presentations on the Orthodox Faith in the sanctuary. That evening, we'll have a GOYA Awards Party (dinner and dancing) where we'll present both basketball and Oratorical awards, watch the tournament slideshow, and finish with an epic GOYA dance. Registration and Information on the Oratorical Festival are online: oratorical.transfiguration.org/ GOYARegional GreatLent RegionalRetreat! The2014GOYALenten Retreatwillbeheldon April4-6,2014 attheskyranchretreatcenterinvan,texas. GOYAns,ages11-18,areinvitedtoretreataway fromeverydaychallengesforaweekendof growthandfellowship. Mark your calendars for: YES ATX 2014 This event will be happening just a er Pascha - April 25, 26, & 27, We'll sleep in the church and immerse ourselves in a transforma ve, eye-opening experience. All youth, make plans to join us! Thank you to today s Coffee Hour Sponsors: Keriotis, Kersch, Keys, Khan, Kinnas, Klaras Thank you to last week s Coffee Hour Sponsors: Justice, Kalogirou, Kalpaxis, Kangos, Karides Next Week s Luncheon Sponsors: Anonymous Thank you to today s ushers: Tom Gouris, Vaios Athanasiou, Maria Miller, Chrissie Spiropoulos Thank you to last week s ushers: Mike Strong, Nyda Glaros, Dan and Gigi Appling Next week s ushers are: Mary Georgantonis, David Horwedel, Allen Wynn, James & Karen Landon,