Fo r g i v e n e s s S u n day

Transcript

1 Fo r g i v e n e s s S u n day Po r p h y r i o s, B i s h o p o f G a z a ; Ph ot i n i t h e Sa m a r i ta n & S i s t e r s Transfiguration of our Lord Greek Orthodox Church 414 St. Stephens School Road Austin, Texas (512) office@transfiguration.org website - Sunday Service Schedule Orthros 8:30am; Divine Liturgy 10am Reverend Fr. Vasileios Flegas, Proistamenos

2 HY M N S Resurrection Hymn Εὐφραινέσθω τὰ οὐράνια, ἀγαλλιάσθω τὰ ἐπίγεια, ὅτι ἐποίησε κράτος, ἐν βραχίονι αὐτοῦ, ὁ Κύριος, ἐπάτησε τῷ θανάτῳ τὸν θάνατον, πρωτότοκος τῶν νεκρῶν ἐγένετο, ἐκ κοιλίας ᾅδου ἐρρύσατο ἡμᾶς, καὶ παρέσχε τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος. Effrenestho ta Urania, agalliastho ta epigia, oti epiise kratos, en vraghoni aftu, o Kirios, Epatise to thanato ton thanaton, prototokos ton nekron egeneto, ek kilias athu erisato imas, ke pareske to kosmo to mega eleos. Let all things above in heav n rejoice, and let all things below on earth be glad With all the might and strength of His arm an eternal deed the Lord did perform Beneath His feet He has trampled down death by death, and first born of the dead has He become From the womb of Hades has He delivered us, and to all the world has granted His great redeeming mercy Hymn for the Transfiguration of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Μετεμορφώθης εν τώ όρει Χριστέ ο Θεός, δείξας τοίς Μαθηταίς σου τήν δόξαν σου, καθώς ήδυναντο, Λάμψον καί ημίν τοίς αμαρτωλοίς, τό φώς σου τό αϊδιον, πρεσβείαις τής Θεοτόκου, φωτοδότα δόξα σοι. Metemorfothis en to ori, Christe o Theos, dixas tis mathites Sou tin doxan Sou, kathos idynando Lampson ke imin tis amartolis to fos Sou to aidion, presvies tis Theotokou Fotodota doxa Si. When O Christ our God Thou wast Transfigured on the mountain Thou didst reveal Thy glory to Thy disciples in proportion as they could bear it. Let Thine everlasting light also enlighten us sinners. Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Thou Bestower of light, glory to Thee Kontakion Τῆς σοφίας ὁδηγέ, φρονήσεως χορηγέ, τῶν ἀφρόνων παιδευτά, καὶ πτωχῶν ὑπερασπιστά, στήριξον, συνέτισον τὴν καρδίαν μου Δέσποτα. Σὺ δίδου μοι λόγον, ὁ τοῦ Πατρός Λόγος ἰδοὺ γὰρ τὰ χείλη μου, οὐ μὴ κωλύσω ἐν τῷ κράζειν σοι Ἐλεῆμον, ἐλέησόν με τὸν παραπεσόντα. O Thou Guide unto wisdom, Bestower of prudence, Instructor of the foolish, and Defender of the poor: establish and grant understanding unto my heart, O Master. Grant me speech, O Word of the Father; for behold, I shall not keep my lips from crying unto Thee: Have mercy, O Merciful One, on me who have fallen. Please allow the children and the teachers of our Sunday School to take communion first so they can go to their classes.

3 Epistle - St. Pa u l ' s L e t t e r t o t h e R o m a n s 1 3 : ; 1 4 : 1-4 B rethren, salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not for disputes over opinions. One believes he may eat anything, while the weak man eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains pass judgment on him who eats; for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for God is able to make him stand. G o s p e l - Mat t h e w 6 : T he Lord said, "If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. "And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Ἀ δελφοί, νῦν ἐγγύτερον ἡμῶν ἡ σωτηρία ἢ ὅτε ἐπιστεύσαμεν. Ἡ νὺξ προέκοψεν, ἡ δὲ ἡμέρα ἤγγικεν ἀποθώμεθα οὖν τὰ ἔργα τοῦ σκότους, καί ἐνδυσώμεθα τὰ ὅπλα τοῦ φωτός. Ὡς ἐν ἡμέρᾳ, εὐσχημόνως περιπατήσωμεν, μὴ κώμοις καὶ μέθαις, μὴ κοίταις καὶ ἀσελγείαις, μὴ ἔριδι καὶ ζήλῳ. Ἀλλʼ ἐνδύσασθε τὸν κύριον Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν, καὶ τῆς σαρκὸς πρόνοιαν μὴ ποιεῖσθε, εἰς ἐπιθυμίας. Τὸν δὲ ἀσθενοῦντα τῇ πίστει προσλαμβάνεσθε, μὴ εἰς διακρίσεις διαλογισμῶν. Ὃς μὲν πιστεύει φαγεῖν πάντα, ὁ δὲ ἀσθενῶν λάχανα ἐσθίει. Ὁ ἐσθίων τὸν μὴ ἐσθίοντα μὴ ἐξουθενείτω, καὶ ὁ μὴ ἐσθίων τὸν ἐσθίοντα μὴ κρινέτω ὁ θεὸς γὰρ αὐτὸν προσελάβετο. Σὺ τίς εἶ ὁ κρίνων ἀλλότριον οἰκέτην; Τῷ ἰδίῳ κυρίῳ στήκει ἢ πίπτει. Σταθήσεται δέ δυνατὸς γάρ ἐστιν ὁ θεὸς στῆσαι αὐτόν. Ε ἶπεν ὁ Κύριος Εὰν γὰρ ἀφῆτε τοῖς ἀνθρώποις τὰ παραπτώματα αὐτῶν, ἀφήσει καὶ ὑμῖν ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ὁ οὐράνιος ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ἀφῆτε τοῖς ἀνθρώποις τὰ παραπτώματα αὐτῶν, οὐδὲ ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ἀφήσει τὰ παραπτώματα ὑμῶν. Οταν δὲ νηστεύητε, μὴ γίνεσθε ὥσπερ οἱ ὑποκριταὶ σκυθρωποί ἀφανίζουσι γὰρ τὰ πρόσωπα αὐτῶν ὅπως φανῶσι τοῖς ἀνθρώποις νηστεύοντες ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ἀπέχουσι τὸν μισθὸν αὐτῶν. σὺ δὲ νηστεύων ἄλειψαί σου τὴν κεφαλὴν καὶ τὸ πρόσωπόν σου νίψαι,ὅπως μὴ φανῇς τοῖς ἀνθρώποις νηστεύων, ἀλλὰ τῷ πατρί σου τῷ ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ, καὶ ὁ πατήρ σου ὁ βλέπων ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ ἀποδώσει σοι ἐν τῷ φανερῷ. Μὴ θησαυρίζετε ὑμῖν θησαυροὺς ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ὅπου σὴς καὶ βρῶσις ἀφανίζει, καὶ ὅπου κλέπται διορύσσουσι καὶ κλέπτουσι θησαυρίζετε δὲ ὑμῖν θησαυροὺς ἐν οὐρανῷ, ὅπου οὔτε σὴς οὔτε βρῶσις ἀφανίζει, καὶ ὅπου κλέπται οὐ διορύσσουσιν οὐδὲ κλέπτουσιν ὅπου γάρ ἐστιν ὁ θησαυρὸς ὑμῶν, ἐκεῖ ἔσται καὶ ἡ καρδία ὑμῶν.

4 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. he is always wrestling in prayer for you (Colossians 4:12) 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, SPC Mindy Keys, SPC Andrew Bentzel, MAJ Scot Thornhill, CPT Christopher Gilbert, Major Alexander Stathos, 1st LT Angela Bahlatzis, MIDN 1/C Joseph Barone, SGT Walter Hurbert ( Nikolaos ) Willoughby IV, LCDR Thomas Uhl, Lt. Lance Shannon The Prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective (James 5:16) Prayers for Health Nicholas Wyatt, Presvytera Jenny Newlin, Marihiam, Archie, Paul, Rebecca, Lynne Marie, Simone, Dennis Luke, Jacquie, Hunter, Zenon, Bill, Douglas Edwards, Paul Thomas, Thomas James, Maria, Nancy, Cassandra, Efstathia, Evan, Victoria, Terri, Elias, Tim, Rhonda, Prsv. Aspazia, George Geuras, Sharon, Dante, Loukas, Charlie, Despina, Anna, Mary, Wanda, Kathreen, Chuck, Stephenie, Athena, Bill, Kathryn, John, Harriet Angel, Clarisa, Damon, Athanasios, Niky, Niky, Dino, Diakonissa Claire, Pete, William, George, Ioanna, Panayiotis, Athanasia, Katherine, John, Anna, Emmanuel, George, William, Julia, Andrew, Mary, Ignatius, Eva, Philip Sorak, Jennifer, Antonis, Pete, Maria, Michael, Louis, Cecilia, Gwendolyn, Christine, Athena Cheryl, Dean, Margot, Kyriakos, Costa, Maria, Joy Jackie, Evangelos, Sophia, Alexander, Jim, Trinity, Eddy, Fr. Damaskinos, Prsv. Maria, Emmanuel, Eleni, Thomas, Maria, Spyridon, Angeliki, Maria, Emmanuel, Zoe, Miguel, Anna, Sandy, Konstantinos, Michael, Gail, Mark, Diane 2017 Transfiguration BIBLE BOWL Sunday, A pril 2, It s time, once again, for our annual Transfiguration Bible Bowl where teams of 3 are formed and answer questions on the Gospel. Teams are divided into two categories: adult teams and youth teams and there will be a winning team from each category. TEEN Teams: 3 players aged or ADULT Teams: 3 players 20+. Registration forms and sample questions will be available in Mt. Tabor Hall or by contacting the office at: office@transfiguration.org or Dr. Jacob Angelo at: giddoangelo@gmail.com.

5 ATTENTION BABY BOOMER GENERATION + or - MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR AN UPCOMING ENCORE! EVENT LENTEN POTLUCK FELLOWSHIP SUNDAY MARCH 19 5:00 PM -? HOME OF BILL AND LINDA ROBERTSON 115 BLUE JAY DRIVE LAKEWAY, TX RSVP with Christine Suehs at: cpsuehs@gmail.com, and please let us know what dish you will be bringing. HOPE/JOY Future Planning Meeting All families of preschool through 5th grade children are invited to a meeting at the Garwoods' home on Sunday, March 12 from 4:00 to 6:00. We would like to brainstorm about the future of this group. Please let Amity Garwood know if you can make it or amity_garwood@hotmail.com YOUTH ACTIVITIES GOYA & HOPE/JOY Kite Flying - Sunday, February 26 - Let s go fly a kite!!! Bring your kites. We ll be having a Day Before Clean Monday Kite Flying Picnic 1pm at Austin Ridge Bible Church. Just off Cuernavaca and Bee Caves Road. From Bee Caves, turn right in Cuernavaca. Make the 3rd right into an unmarked road GOYA will provide Pizza. Please feel free to bring drinks / dessert / other snacks. GOYA Southern Region Lenten Retreat at Sky Ranch - March 3 - March 5 GOYA Save the dates: April 1st GOYA Get Together April 8th Lazarus Saturday. Pancake breakfast, making of the palms and church decorating. Holy Week April 10th April 16th Many opportunities for GOYANS that week. April 22nd Lock in at Transfiguration - We'll have dinner (Mr. Marko offered to grill) and play games -- board games AND set up a LAN network on the stage for a huge computer gaming session! PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS Philoptochos wil be having a Festival of Tables luncheon Saturday, May 13. Tickets will be on sale every Sunday starting March 8th at the Philoptochos table. Save the date and gather your family, husband, and friends to attend this great fundraiser. Home made foods and plenty of wine We will also have a fabulous Silent Auction. We are collecting auction items for the festival of tables event now. Please search for something of value so you can enhance our auction. The success of this event will directly impact how generous we will be able to be to all our needy recipients. Remember we help the poor sick needy children and the elderly. Please plan on attending and help us reach our goal. Remember Philoptochos will be sponsoring the Presanctifed dinners on March 1st, 8th, & 15th.

6 ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE CATECHETICAL ENCYCLICAL ON THE OPENING OF GREAT LENT + B A R T H O L O M E W By God s Mercy Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch To the Plenitude of the Church May the Grace and Peace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Together with our Prayer, Blessing and Forgiveness be with you Beloved brothers and children in the Lord, With the grace and loving kindness of God, tomorrow we enter the arena of Holy and Great Lent, the most suitable period for the soul our own soul to turn toward the Lord. This period is one of constant contrition before the mystery of God that daily unfolds before us, the mystery of our salvation. This is why the opportunity granted to us with the Sacred Fast has a special characteristic: the renewal and vigilance of the soul that is called for during this time filled with divine exhortation and sanctity to become aware of the ephemeral and material, while gradually being transferred to the eternal and spiritual. Symbolically and summarily, the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete addresses its author as well as every soul troubled and distressed by the temptations and distractions of this life. Conscious of the burden carried by a soul wounded by sin, St. Andrew cries out with anguish: My soul, my soul, arise; why do you sleep? This cry leads to the realization of vanity and the inexpressible fear of death: The end is near and [my soul] will be troubled. Before the unexpected end of life that comes like a thief in the night, the illumined Cretan poet invites himself and every soul suffering and consumed by the fear of insecurity to awaken in order that Christ our God, who is ever present and fills all things, may take care of us. The Orthodox patristic teaching calls each of us, during this period of struggle, to recognize who we are, where we are, and where we are headed. We are called to realize the vanity of this temporary life and repent for all that we have hitherto done in knowledge or in ignorance, in word or deed, in action and in all our senses contrary to the Gospel of Christ and the law of grace. Only then shall we find mercy and grace; and only then will the Lord, who knows hearts and minds as well as the innermost secrets and thoughts of human beings, take care of us and forgive our unjust thoughts that lead us to vain and useless deeds. The struggle that lies before us culminates in vigilance, renewal and repentance. Through repentance, namely by coming to know our condition, and through confession, our life is crowned with forgiveness of sins, communion of the Holy Spirit, and fullness of the heavenly kingdom. This renewal is identified with the conscience of the repentant soul (see 2 Cor and Rom. 2.15) and is a gift of God. Brothers and children in the Lord, We Orthodox Christians are called to live the period of Holy and Great Lent as a time of conscientious renewal and vigilance, as an eternal moment of our Orthodox identity. That is to say, we are called to live and experience Christ Himself, to love and experience ecclesiastically and spiritually. For it is only through our life in Christ that we have the possibility to renew our conscience and ascend to the level of true freedom and the infallible criteria for our consolation and salvation. At the opening of this blessed period, the Ecumenical Patriarch and the Great Church of Christ spiritually visit every Orthodox Christian soul that labors without consolation and is laden by the values and pleasures of the flesh and this world; we travel with and pray to the King of kings and Lord of lords, who comes to be slaughtered and given as food to the faithful : O Lord, deem worthy all Orthodox faithful in peace and contrition of heart, that they may journey through this sacred period and the arena that opens up before us, granting grace and strength to all, that they may reach their goal and courageously walk the way to the festive day of Your Resurrection in order that they may be crowned with joy and ceaselessly give praise. (Poem of Theodore, Triodion) We bless all of you paternally, beloved and faithful children of the Mother Church. And united with you in prayer and intercession, we invoke upon all the power of the precious and life-giving Cross, through the intercessions of our Lady Theotokos, the holy angels and all the saints, so that all of us may be worthy of our calling to live as Orthodox Christians and thus enjoy the delight and glory of our Lord s Resurrection. To Him belong the might, thanksgiving, honor, power and glory, to the ages of ages. Amen. Holy and Great Lent Bartholomew of Constantinople Your fervent supplicant before God

7 Thank you to all our 2017 Stewards Fr. Vasileios & Prsb. Stella Flegas Fr. David & Prsb. Vasiliki Eckley Fr. Teodor & Prsb. Aspazia Bita Dn. George & Prsb. Ria Bithos Ackerman, Dennis & Eleni Aldridge, Bill & Roxanne Ambrose, Rod & Effie Angelo, Jacob & Diana Appling, Dan & Georgine Arges, Chris Athanasiou, Vaios & Madeleine Ayers, Robert & Magdalene Bjeletich, Marko & Elissa Boukadakis, Michael Bourgeois, Lynne Bowles, Thomas & Niky Boyer, Russell & Christine Bryant, Jason & Katherine Milosovich Burke, Maria Christou, Christakis Chronis, Gregory & Marousa Chronis, John & Amy Clay, Marianne Colovas, William & Betty D. Demetriadis, Alex & Joan Demopoulos, & Joanna DeRossi, Jo & Koula Dow, Stephen & Diann Eagle, Judith & Robert Edwards, Richard & Lia Ekery, Fred & Dorothy Esper, John & Jessica Evgenides, Costas & Ellen Garwood, Jason & Amity Gatlin, Jack & Pat Georgakopoulos, Ilias Georgantonis, Mary George, Anthony & Effie Geranios, Peter & Lillian Gianakopoulos, George & Crissi C. Gianas, Stella Giannopoulos, Demetri Glaros, Michael & Nyda Gouris, Tom & Allison Gradziel, MaryBeth Hahalis, Roula Hatgil, Paul Harris, Christopher & Vicki Hildom, Nick & Ruth Horwedel, David & Eleni Hrissikopoulos, Eleni Jerome, Gwen Elizabeth Jones, Jerry & Julie Justice, Johnny & Argiro Kalenterides, Theodore Kalogirou, Nici Kalpaxis, James Karvelas, Elsie Kenna, Anne Klaras, Patricia Kolber, Carolyn Lambros, Despina Landon, James & Karen Leara, William & Michelle Leatherwood, Lee & Elaine Levendakes, Steve Lindsey, Robert & Susan Margos, Fotini McFalls, David & Mariam Meador, Archie & Dina Misetzis, Despina & Petros Mitchell, Pat Morris, Nina Morros, Maria Moya, Enrique & Ms. Iulia Graf Nikas, Maria O'Brien, Shawn & Stephanie Orr, Terry & Patricia Pappas, Andrea Pappas, Valli Peppas, Nicholas & Lisa Perez, Irene Petty, Ioanna Phelps, Austin & Irene Phocas, Dionissios & Sonia Pon, Ken & Mary-Ellen Postelnicu, Alina Prasifka, Greg & Marisa Price, Peter & Cynthia Colovas Qatato, Jamal & Angele Read, Bruce & Anastasia Reeder, Daniel Rigney, Tom Rivera, Mara Robertson, William & Linda Romell, Peter & Barbara Rossnagel, Stella Shotwell, Pat Sigalos, John Smith, Alexander & Sandra Sounas, Dimitrios Spanos, Kostas & Vasiliki Spiropoulos, Georgia & Athanasios Spiropoulos, Nicholaos & Christiana Stahlke, Karl & Evangelia Stamatis, Harry & Patrice Stateson, Theone Stathos, Judith Stefos, John Streetman, Kyle & Sophie Suehs, Brandon & Jennifer Suehs, Thomas & Christine Tannous, Mays Terzi, Fotini Uritu, Daniel & Marinela Vlahogiannis, Kiriakos Werner, Mark Willoughby, Walter & Triantafilli Wynn, Allen & Julie Yoder, Stuart & Kori Zachos, Elias & Cynthia

8 WEEKLY SERVICES Sunday, February 26, 2017 Monday, February 27 - Wednesday, March 1 - Friday, March 3 - Saturday, March 4 - Dear Parents, Services for this Week : CLEAN MONDAY - GREAT LENT BEGINS - Great Compline - 5:30pm Presanctified - 5:30pm Presanctified - 10am 3rd Saturday of the Souls Orthros 9am Divine Liturgy 10am NO Great Vespers AGAPE CHOIR Our children s choir, the Agape Choir, is back! The Lenten Season will be soon be here and then Pascha! Lazarus Saturday and Holy Saturday are two of the most beautiful liturgies of the year, and have become official Family Liturgies at Transfiguration. They are the favorite liturgies of our children and we will begin reviewing and learning the hymns for these services starting this Sunday, February 26 and the practices will continue through April 2, the Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt. All students are encouraged to join us so that they can sing in the Divine Liturgies for these two Saturdays. The Agape Choir will practice on Sundays before the Divine Liturgy and these rehearsals will begin at 9:20 a.m.. This will allow us plenty of time to finish and get into church before the Liturgy begins. Students who have attended these practices and learned the hymns will sing on April 8, at the Lazarus Saturday Liturgy, and on April 15, on Holy Saturday morning and they will sing the special hymns of the day and help lead the other children singing. I am looking forward to working with your children again this year, and hearing their beautiful angelic voices as they sing to the Glory of God. Love in Christ, Diana Angelo Memorial Service The memorial service today is for: Aikaterine Papadaki (40days) - survived by her niece Maria Sarinaki Kalliope Sarinaki (1 yr)- survived by her niece Maria Sarinaki May Their Memory be Eternal Thank you to last week s Coffee Hour Sponsors Long, Phocas, Korioth, Poulos, Price, Price Thank you to this Coffee Hour Sponsors: Poulos J., Pozharova, Prasifka Qatato, Randol Next week s Coffee Hour Sponsors: Read, Rigney, Roberts Robertson, Ross, Rossnagel Thank you to last week s ushers: George Gianakopoulos (PCM) Harry Stamatis, MaryBeth Gradziel, Brian Holland Thank you to today's ushers: Pat Gatlin (PCM) Allen Wynn, Stella Rossnagel, Jack Gatlin Next week s ushers are: Nyda Glaros (PCM) Irene Perez, Eleni Ackerman Nyda Glaros