January 2018¨1645 Phillips Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32308 ¨ (850) 878-0747 ¨ Rev. Fr. Robert J. O’Loughlin¨ http://www.hmog.org Good News for the New Year ~ A Message from Fr. Robert As we begin the New Year, I was reminded of a story that after the baptism of his baby brother in Church, little Johnny sobbed all the way home in the back seat of the car. His father asked him three times what was wrong. Finally, the boy blurted out, “That priest said he wanted us brought up in a Christian home, but I want to stay with you guys.” The start of the new year is a good way to revis- it our Christian home life. As we start a new year, we all want to begin with good news! Some of us made new year’s resolutions so that we could get off to a good start. Maybe some of us began the New Year by reflecting on the past year, and praying that the new year will be better. With un- certainty all around us, it’s nice to come to Church and hear the first Sunday Gospel reading of the New Year tell us, “The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!” On January 6, we celebrate Epiphany and like Christmas, it emphasizes in a special way the beginning of this Good News of Christ. The Good News of Jesus not only gives us a vision of a new life, but shows us how to live within the Kingdom of God here and now. This world, with all its uncertainty, temptations, and evil can be combated with the Good News that Christ promises. Jesus walks with us, lives in us, and guides us along a new, divine path. Jesus shows us how to live in love and charity. The challenge that each of us has to figure out, however, is how can we avoid the tempta- tions of the world, and live daily this new life in Christ? How do we make this year a year in which we truly experi- ence God’s kingdom in our everyday lives? To live in the Kingdom of God, we must realize where we have failed to walk according to God’s commandments and must make a change of heart. It can be so easy to point the finger at others and their wrongdoings but we need to reflect deeply on our own sinful ways. Surely all of us have some areas in our lives where we have fallen short of imitating Jesus in our lives. There was an ecumenical clergy conference several years ago with multiple faiths represented, where the question was posed: “Is there anything unique about Christianity?” Interestingly enough, before anyone could answer, a Rabbi raised his hand and responded: “The unique thing about Christianity is that it never gives up on anyone; it never lets anyone go. It always helps a person begin again. There is always the possibility of a new beginning.” As all of us begin another new year, may we each decide that this year we will truly try to live in the joy and wonder of our Christ’s Good News. We have a choice to make. If we want to experience the Good News that Christ offers to the world, we can begin by repenting – by turning away from our sinful ways and turning towards a Christ- centered life. Let us begin the new year in including or maintaining in our daily lives a prayer life that is laid out simply in our Orthodox Study Bibles. Let us begin the new year with reading Scriptures daily which can include the readings of the day that we get in our weekly handout or are laid out in other areas including the Study Bible. Let us begin the new year with helping those in need in any which way we can provide. Let us begin the year in maintaining the fasting guidelines that can assist us in our spiritual discipline. Finally, let us allow the Good News of Christ to penetrate our hearts. Wishing you a blessed, joyful and healthy 2018! In Christ’s love, Fr. Robert The 2018 Ecclesiastical Calendars are here and available in the Narthex.
Transcript
January 2018¨1645 Phillips Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32308 ¨ (850) 878-0747 ¨ Rev. Fr. Robert J. O’Loughlin¨ http://www.hmog.org
Good News for the New Year ~ A Message from Fr. Robert
As we begin the New Year, I was reminded of a story that after the baptism of his baby brother in Church, little Johnny sobbed all the way home in the back seat of the car. His father asked him three times what was wrong. Finally, the boy blurted out, “That priest said he wanted us brought up in a Christian home, but I want to stay with you guys.” The start of the new year is a good way to revis-it our Christian home life. As we start a new year, we all want to begin with good news! Some of us made new year’s resolutions so that we could get off to a good start. Maybe some of us began the New Year by reflecting on the past year, and praying that the new year will be better. With un-certainty all around us, it’s nice to come to Church and hear the first Sunday Gospel reading of the New Year tell us, “The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!” On January 6, we celebrate Epiphany and like Christmas, it emphasizes in a special way the beginning of this Good News of Christ. The Good News of Jesus not only gives us a vision of a new life, but shows us how to live within the Kingdom of God here and now. This world, with all its uncertainty, temptations, and evil can be combated with the Good News that Christ promises. Jesus walks with us, lives in us, and guides us along a new, divine path. Jesus shows us how to live in love and charity. The challenge that each of us has to figure out, however, is how can we avoid the tempta-tions of the world, and live daily this new life in Christ? How do we make this year a year in which we truly experi-ence God’s kingdom in our everyday lives? To live in the Kingdom of God, we must realize where we have failed to walk according to God’s commandments and must make a change of heart. It can be so easy to point the finger at others and their wrongdoings but we need to reflect deeply on our own sinful ways. Surely all of us have some areas in our lives where we have fallen short of imitating Jesus in our lives. There was an ecumenical clergy conference several years ago with multiple faiths represented, where the question was posed: “Is there anything unique about Christianity?” Interestingly enough, before anyone could answer, a Rabbi raised his hand and responded: “The unique thing about Christianity is that it never gives up on anyone; it never lets anyone go. It always helps a person begin again. There is always the possibility of a new beginning.” As all of us begin another new year, may we each decide that this year we will truly try to live in the joy and wonder of our Christ’s Good News. We have a choice to make. If we want to experience the Good News that Christ offers to the world, we can begin by repenting – by turning away from our sinful ways and turning towards a Christ-centered life. Let us begin the new year in including or maintaining in our daily lives a prayer life that is laid out simply in our Orthodox Study Bibles. Let us begin the new year with reading Scriptures daily which can include the readings of the day that we get in our weekly handout or are laid out in other areas including the Study Bible. Let us begin the new year with helping those in need in any which way we can provide. Let us begin the year in maintaining the fasting guidelines that can assist us in our spiritual discipline. Finally, let us allow the Good News of Christ to penetrate our hearts. Wishing you a blessed, joyful and healthy 2018!
In Christ’s love,
Fr. Robert
The 2018 Ecclesiastical Calendars are here and available in the Narthex.
Page 2
Our next ECHO Sundays are January 7th
and February 4th. Please drop off your non-
perishable 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 immediate-
ly at 850-559-8184.
Home Blessings Please call the office @ 850-878-0747 to schedule a home
blessing which will begin after the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6th.
Message from Metropolitan Alexios
My Beloved Ones,
Christ is Born!
The magnitude and value of the Logos—God’s Son—taking on flesh to become a human being, is beyond human
understanding, in our own era, and throughout the history of the world. His love for Creation was so great that He
became a man, in order that Mankind might reconcile itself to God, and become Godly once again.
The Church Fathers and theologians; the saints and faithful of our Church pay very close attention to this historical event.
St. Gregory the Theologian says that “There is nothing more important throughout the centuries and millennia of the human
race…than the Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.” For by His Incarnation, everything stops—and the new era begins. The trou-
bled past of humanity’s distance from our Creator gives way to the possibility of closeness with Him, if a person desires.
Though the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ is a difficult event for the human mind to comprehend, it is for this reason we are
meant to join the constant angelic powers in admiration, glorifying God, on the evening of the birth of His Son.
Indeed, though the magnitude of the Nativity of our Lord is great and beyond our comprehension, it is possible for a per-son to truly feel it, if we have faith. Only through faith, can we truly come to grasp this event which is beyond all our rea-soning. Through faith, may we truly experience this feast, offering praise and glory to our loving God.
The spiritual fathers of our Church also struggled with this question: what can we as human beings offer to our great God,
who is without beginning and without end, yet took on flesh for our sakes? A hymn explains “…The angels offer Thee a
hymn; the heavens a star; the Magi, gifts; the shepherds, their wonder; the earth, its cave; the wilderness, the manger… and
we offer Thee a Virgin Mother...” We should not forget the Virgin Mary, the Theotokos, who gave birth to our Lord, fulfilling
the centuries old words of the Prophet Isaiah and others. This why a Holy Father says, “The creator becomes a child, and He
who is perfect becomes a kid in order for us, who are His creatures, to become holy.”
Our God who comes to earth and takes on flesh, offers us many gifts; one of which is peace. Before His coming, peace did not
exist—either among nations, or in the hearts of men, because we had separated ourselves from God, who is the source of all
peace. Now, we may a taste of His peace, should we desire it and will it.
We human beings understand the importance and the need for peace, especially in today’s society—where there is still ani-
mosity even in the birthplace of our Lord. But the Devil seeks to remove this gift by instilling the spirit of hatred, and the
misunderstanding that peace can be found in earthly and human power. We as Christians supposedly know Jesus Christ—
though we have not yet become His followers. We try to prioritize our will and our reality over the lives of fellow men.
From the moment of His birth, the phrase “peace on earth” has become part of a song, a greeting, a dream, and a prayer. For
we understand that nothing can be done with peace in our hearts, least of all becoming Godly. As Archbishop Iakovos of
blessed memory used to say, “This kind of peace, even after 2,000 years, continues to be important.” As St. Paul says, “For
He Himself is our peace, who… has torn down the dividing wall of hostility” (Ephesians 2:14).
I ask that you join me in prayer, so that as Orthodox Christians, we grow closer to our God, understanding His coming, and
His presence on earth. With this kind of prayer, we can offer Him a gift: that is, our infirmities. Through His strengthening by
faith, we may become valuable members of our society, in order to better the lives of our fellow man, and to enter the King-
dom of Heaven.
Let us follow the spirit of hymnographer, who says, “Come all you Christians, and let us go to see the miracle that is taking
place today, which is beyond our understanding. And as we worship with faith, let us cry out, today He is born in Bethlehem
of a Virgin.”
Merry Christmas!
+ALEXIOS
Metropolitan of Atlanta
Page 3
JANUARY
2018
SU
N
MO
N
TU
E
WE
D
TH
U
FR
I S
AT
1
No
Fas
t
Offic
e c
losed
HA
PP
Y
NE
W Y
EA
R!
2 N
o F
ast
3
No
Fas
t 4
No
Fas
t
5
+
6
Feast
Day o
f
Epip
han
y/
T
heoph
an
y
Div
ine L
itu
rgy
9:0
0 a
m
Fol
low
ed b
y th
e B
less
ing
of t
he
W
ater
s
7
Ort
hro
s 9
:30
a.m
&
Div
ine
Lit
urg
y
10
:30
a.m
Ec
ho
Su
nd
ay
Vasil
opit
a S
un
day
8
Par
ish C
ou
nci
l
M
eeti
ng 5
:30
pm
9
Ch
oir
Pra
ctic
e
5:0
0 p
.m.
10
+
Cat
ech
etic
al C
lass
(N
ewco
mer
s/In
qu
irer
s)
6:0
0 p
m
11
12
+
13
14
Ort
hro
s 9
:30
a.m
&
Div
ine
Lit
urg
y
10
:30
a.m
C
hu
rch
Sch
ool
15
16
Ch
oir
Pra
ctic
e
5:0
0 p
.m.
17
Feas
t Day
of
St.
Anth
ony
the
Gre
at
Div
ine L
iturg
y
9
:00 a
m
O
rth
od
ox L
ife
Cla
ss
6:0
0 p
m
18
Young A
dult
G
ath
eri
ng -
Orth
odoxy
on T
ap
19
+
20
Gre
at
Vespers
5:0
0 p
m
21
Ort
hro
s 9
:30
a.m
&
Div
ine
Lit
urg
y
10
:30
a.m
C
hu
rch
Sch
ool
22
OC
F M
eeti
ng
23
Ch
oir
Pra
ctic
e
5:0
0 p
.m.
24
+
Cat
ech
etic
al C
lass
(N
ewco
mer
s/In
qu
irer
s)
6:0
0 p
m
25
26
+
27
28
Ort
hro
s 9
:30
a.m
&
Div
ine
Lit
urg
y
10
:30
a.m
C
hu
rch
Sch
ool
29
No
Fas
t 30 N
o Fa
st
31
No
Fas
t
Ort
hod
ox L
ife
Cla
ss
6:0
0 p
m
C
ale
ndar
Sym
bol K
ey
+
= Stri
ct
Fast
= W
ine a
nd O
il
a
llow
ed
s
= F
ish
All
ow
ed
= D
air
y &
eggs
a
llow
ed
= F
ath
er
Aw
ay
Pan
gari
Sch
edu
le f
or
Jan
uary
2018
*9:1
5 a
.m., *
*10:1
5 a
.m s
tart
tim
e &
(c) C
off
ee
01/07 -
Math
es*/
Cats
impir
is**
/(c
) K
an
elides
The poinsettias that adorned our solea during the Christmas 2017 season were
Nadiya & Alex Caspary Vasili & Alexandra Isar, Vladimir Isar & George Caspary
George Condaras Constantine & Anastasia Condaras
Dorothy Downing Ron Downing;; Our parents & syblings
The Drzewieckis Angela & Apostolos Coumanis; Max & Marie Drzewiecki
The Farrars Ioanna & Alexandros Alexopoulos; Theofania & Nikos Voyagis;
& Barbara Higdon
R. Fetzko Aunt Cindy
Michael, Vicky, Janet, Nicholas & Elleni Gavalas Dionisios & Elleni Dimopoulos; Nicholas G. Gavalas
Victor, Mary, & Nicholas Gavalas Nicholas G. Gavalas
Bob & Athena Gill & Angelo Mihalis Erasmia Mihalis & John Mihalis
The Griners Evelyn & George Joanos, Athanasia Kavouklis
Emanuel & Laura Joanos Mike, Popi, & Steve
Stamie Joanos Mike, Popi, Steve, Eva & Eugenia
Harriet Kanelidis, Michael, Kane & Alexandra Peter Kanelidis, Angelo & Theodora Kanelidis, Athan &
Harriette Stambolis
Alexis Lambert Lee Cawley, Richard Cawley & Marjorie Savage
Dr. & Mrs. L. L. LaPointe
George & Connie Mathes Mary Kennedy Pierce, Louis George & Sophia Theophilous Mathes
Fr. Paul & Presvytera Joan Mayernick Our parents and grandparents
Alexandra Nick and Family Antonie Corcau
Helen Nolas Demetrios Nolas
Fr. Robert & Presvytera Joy, Jaclyn & Krista O’Loughlin Grandparents, Charles (father) & Mary (sister)
Keith, Nia, Maria & Magnolia Parmer George & Kathy Vrachnos
The Perrigan Family Bill Perrigan
Claude Rabbath Joseph Rabbath, Ibrahim Badawi
Kathleen Talantis James Nicholas Talantis
John and Tula Vlandis Our parents
Donated by: In Honor of:
Donald Erickson & Joanna Angelos Helene Angelos
Michael, Vicky, Janet, Nicholas & Elleni Gavalas Janet T. Gavalas
Victor, Mary & Nicholas Gavalas Janet T. Gavalas
Harriet Kanelidis, Michael, Kane & Alexandra Mary Kanelidis
Alexis Lambert Carolyn Pointer and the Moomaw family
Billy & Julie Naylor Nolas William Naylor
The Perrigan Family June Perrigan & Paul Pappachristou
Claude Rabbath Rabbath family
Page 6
Anthony the Great
January 17th Saint Anthony, the Father of monks, was born in Egypt in 251 of pious parents who departed this life while he was yet young. On hearing the words of the Gospel: "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell what thou hast, and give to the poor" (Matt. 19:21), he immediately put it into action. Distributing to the poor all he had, and fleeing from all the turmoil of the world, he departed to the desert. The manifold temptations he endured continually for the span of twenty years are in-credible. His ascetic struggles by day and by night, whereby he mortified the uprisings of the passions and attained to the height of dispassion, surpass the bounds of nature; and the report of his deeds of virtue drew such a multitude to follow him that the desert was transformed into a city, while he became, so to speak, the governor, lawgiver, and master-trainer of all the citizens of this newly-formed city.
The cities of the world also enjoyed the fruit of his virtue. When the Christians were being persecuted and put to death under Maximi-nus in 312, he hastened to their aid and consolation. When the Church was troubled by the Arians, he went with zeal to Alexandria in 335 and struggled against them in behalf of Orthodoxy. During this time, by the grace of his words, he also turned many unbelievers to Christ. Saint Anthony began his ascetic life outside his village of Coma in Upper Egypt, studying the ways of the ascetics and holy men there, and perfecting himself in the virtues of each until he surpassed them all. Desiring to increase his labors, he departed into the desert, and finding an abandoned fortress in the mountain, he made his dwelling in it, training himself in extreme fasting, unceasing prayer, and fierce conflicts with the demons. Here he remained, as mentioned above, about twenty years. Saint Athanasius the Great, who knew him personally and wrote his life, says that he came forth from that fortress "initiated in the mysteries and filled with the Spirit of God." Afterwards, because of the press of the faithful, who deprived him of his solitude, he was enlightened by God to journey with certain Bedouins, until he came to a mountain in the desert near the Red Sea, where he passed the remaining part of his life. Saint Athanasius says of him that "his countenance had a great and wonderful grace. This gift also he had from the Saviour. For if he were present in a great company of monks, and any one who did not know him previously wished to see him, immediately coming forward he passed by the rest, and hurried to Anthony, as though attracted by his appearance. Yet neither in height nor breadth was he conspicuous above others, but in the serenity of his manner and the purity of his soul." So Passing his life, and becoming an exam-ple of virtue and a rule for monastics, he reposed on January 17 in the year 356, having lived altogether some 105 years.
• Great job GOYAns
facilitating the St
Nicholas Pancake
Breakfast.
• Jan. - Bowling at
Capital Lanes
Thanks to our Holy Mother of God communi-ty in the wonderful participation of donating
gifts for the Toys for Tots program.
Thanks to the Branch’s for hosting the GOYA Christmas gathering
Feast of St. Nicholas Pancake Breakfast
The parish St. John’s Oratorical Festival will take place Wednesday, Feb. 28th.. Participation is encouraged as this is a wonderful opportunity to discover the fullness of our Orthodox Faith. Please contact Fr. Rob or Presv. Joy if you would
like to participate or if you have any questions.
Page 7
Saturday, February 10, 2018
6:30 pm – 11:30 pm
Music includes DJ
Dinner Menu:
Appetizers
Prime Rib, Greek Style Oven Potatoes,
Green Beans, Greek Salad & Dessert
$25.00 for Adults
$12.00 for Students
Children of Church Members 12 & Under FREE
Cash Bar for Wine, Beer and Sodas
Tickets will be presold in the Hellenic Center following Liturgy or see any
AHEPA member
“Join the fun with music, prizes, dancing”
Remember, profits from this event go towards scholarships
For upcoming qualified high school seniors, plus philanthropic purposes
Next Meeting: January 11 Thursday @ 6:00 pm in the Patmos Hall Conf. Rm
Vasilopita Sunday: January 7th
Thank you to everyone who purchased Poinsettias In Honor or In Memory of loved ones to beau-
tify our church for the Christmas Season. Hilly Fields Florist never disappoints us with
their gorgeous Poinsettias!
Our Christmas Brunch at the Blu Halo was great, the food was fantastic. We missed those of you who
could not make it; however, look on the bright side – there’s always next year!
Vasilopita Sunday Jan. 7, 2018
If you would like to bake a Vasilopita please contact Elaine Mathewes at (850) 251-5211 if no answer
please leave a message or by email: [email protected]. We want to be sure we have enough tables set
up for this beautiful celebration. The Blessing and Cutting of the Vasilopita will follow the Divine Liturgy
in the Hellenic Center. All monetary donations will be donated by Philoptochos to Saint Basil Academy Greek
Orthodox Archdiocese home for children in need. The academy provides a loving Christian environment where resi-
