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Transfiguration of Our Lord Greek Orthodox Church Newsletter Transfiguration of Our Lord Greek Orthodox Church 414 St. Stephens School Rd, Austin, TX 78746 Phone: (512) 329-6363 Fax: (512) 329-6364 Rev. Economos Jordan G. Brown, Parish Priest “Better a man who has sinned, if he knows that he has sinned and repents, than a man who has not sinned and thinks himself as righteous.” ~Desert Fathers The crowd grumbled because Jesus was kind to a man they considered to be an evildoer. Zacchaeus was a Jew who collected taxes from his own people for the hated Romans who oppressed them. He was a dishonest tax collector who took more money from his people then pocketed the difference. Zacchaeus admitted his sins and knew he was guilty before all the people. This reminds me of two little boys who were known for getting in trouble all the time. The neighbors and store clerks watched the boys with caution because of their bad reputation. One day the two boys walked into a museum. They walked around walls of paintings and came to a large piece of an abstract art. It was the kind of art where it seems the artist spilled 20 gallons of paint on the canvas and then framed it. When the boys saw the large abstract painting, one of them said, “Let’s get out of here quick. They’ll think we did it!” This story is sad for two reasons. Unfortunately the boys failed to see the beauty in abstract art. The boys failed to see the beauty in themselves. They forgot of the potential of good in them. The crowd was cursing Zacchaeus when he made the greater effort of climbing the tree in order to have a better view of Jesus. He knew he was a sinner. Jesus embraced him. This is not the first time the people would complain because Jesus offered mercy and love to a sinner. “And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” Jesus responded to them, “Rejoice with Me, for I have found the sheep which was lost. Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance” (Lk 15). Jesus saw something in Zacchaeus that no other person could see. He saw the saint in Zacchaeus buried in sin like precious gold buried in rock. Most of us only see the “rocks and dirt” of a person. Jesus sees the gold in us. God’s love is the greatest love because He sees in us the tremendous potential of what we can become by His grace. Zacchaeus had an amazing conversion take place in his life. He received salvation because he showed eagerness to see Jesus. He was not slow to obey God. “And he made haste, and came down and received Him joyfully.” Zacchaeus stripped himself of everything he had and gave it to God. He obeyed God with joy. Let us take the example of Zacchaeus and put a stop the bad practice of giving God the minimum. If you had a problem with your heart, and required surgery, would you tell the doctor, “When I go into surgery, please do only the minimum when repairing my damaged heart.” We would ask the doctor to do his best and do whatever it takes to repair my heart. Zacchaeus’s heart was full of love for God. He had the desire to be with Jesus. His life changed and became new when he came to be in the presence of Jesus. This kind of conversion can take place in our live. We have to seek Christ out and embrace Him like Zacchaeus with joy. ~ Fr. Jordan “Today, salvation has come to his house…” Saint Luke 19:9 Volume 12, Issue 2 February 2009 Parish Council Officers President: Lou Apostolakis Vice President: Stuart Yoder Secretary: Christopher Harris Treasurer: Ron Jernigan
Transcript
Page 1: Orthodox Church Newsletter - Transfiguration Greek ... · Orthodox Church Newsletter ... Hearing the parable of Christ about God’s loving forgiveness, ... St. Makarios of Egypt

Transfiguration of Our Lord Greek Orthodox Church Newsletter

Transfiguration of Our Lord Greek Orthodox Church 414 St. Stephens School Rd, Austin, TX 78746 Phone: (512) 329-6363 Fax: (512) 329-6364 Rev. Economos Jordan G. Brown, Parish Priest

“Better a man who has sinned, if he knows that he has sinned and repents, than a man

who has not sinned and thinks himself as righteous.” ~Desert Fathers

The crowd grumbled because Jesus was kind to a man they considered to be an evildoer. Zacchaeus was a Jew who collected taxes from his own people for the hated Romans who oppressed them. He was a dishonest tax collector who took more money from his people then pocketed the difference. Zacchaeus admitted his sins and knew he was guilty before all the people. This reminds me of two little boys who were known for getting in trouble all the time. The neighbors and store clerks watched the boys with caution because of their bad reputation. One day the two boys walked into a museum. They walked around walls of paintings and came to a large piece of an abstract art. It was the kind of art where it seems the artist spilled 20 gallons of paint on the canvas and then framed it. When the boys saw the large abstract painting, one of them said, “Let’s get out of here quick. They’ll think we did it!” This story is sad for two reasons. Unfortunately the boys failed to see the beauty in abstract art. The boys failed to see the beauty in themselves. They forgot of the potential of good in them. The crowd was cursing Zacchaeus when he made the greater effort of climbing the tree in order to have a better view of Jesus. He knew he was a sinner. Jesus embraced him. This is not the first time the people would complain because Jesus offered mercy and love to a sinner. “And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” Jesus responded to them, “Rejoice with Me, for I have found the sheep which was lost. Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in

heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance” (Lk 15). Jesus saw something in Zacchaeus that no other person could see. He saw the saint in Zacchaeus buried in sin like precious gold buried in rock. Most of us only see the “rocks and dirt” of a person. Jesus sees the gold in us. God’s love is the greatest love because He sees in us the tremendous potential of what we can become by His grace. Zacchaeus had an amazing conversion take place in his life. He received salvation because he showed eagerness to see Jesus. He was not slow to obey God. “And he made haste, and came down and received Him joyfully.” Zacchaeus stripped himself of

everything he had and gave it to God. He obeyed God with joy. Let us take the example of Zacchaeus and put a stop the bad practice of giving God the minimum. If you had a problem with your heart, and required surgery, would you tell the doctor, “When I go into surgery, please do only the minimum when repairing my damaged heart.” We would ask the doctor to do his best and do whatever it takes to repair my heart. Zacchaeus’s heart was full of love for God. He had the desire to be with Jesus. His life changed and became new when he came to be in the presence of Jesus. This kind of conversion can take place in our live. We have to seek Christ out and embrace Him like Zacchaeus with joy.

~ Fr. Jordan

“Today, salvation has come to his house…”

Saint Luke 19:9

Volume 12, Issue 2 February 2009

Parish Council Officers President: Lou Apostolakis

Vice President: Stuart Yoder Secretary: Christopher Harris

Treasurer: Ron Jernigan

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Preparing for Great Lent – The Triodion

The Triodion begins on Sunday, February 8. This is the first Sunday which prepares us for the Great and Holy Lent which will begin this year on Monday, March 2. February 8, the 1st Sunday of the Triodion is the Sunday 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. 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 preparation for Great Lent is the Sunday of the Prodigal Son (February 15). 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 self-inflicted and sinful separation from that “home” where we truly belong. The next Sunday is called Meatfare Sunday (February 22) since it is officially the last day before Easter for eating meat. It commemorates Christ’s parable of the Last Judgment. (Matthew 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. 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 (March 1), 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. Father Thomas Hopko

Clean Monday Retreat The Transfiguration and St. Elias church will celebrate together

the first day of Lent, known as “Clean Monday. ”

Fr. Jordan Brown and Fr. David Barr will offer reflections both

in the morning and evening of Clean Monday, March 2nd.

The morning reflection will be given by Fr. David at the Transfiguration Church

at 10:00 am., and the evening reflection will be given by Fr. Jordan at St. Elias at 7:00 pm

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The Presentation of Our Lord

February 2

When the most pure Mother and Ever-Virgin Mary's forty days of purification had been fulfilled, she took her first-born Son to Jerusalem on this, the fortieth day after His birth, that she might present Him in the temple according to the Law of Moses, which teaches that every first-born male child be dedicated to God, and also that she might offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons, as required by the Law (Luke 2:22-24; Exod. 13:2; Lev. 12:6-8).

On this same day, a just and devout man, the greatly aged Symeon, was also present in the temple, being guided by the Holy Spirit. For a long time, this man had been awaiting the salvation of God, and he had been informed by divine revelation that he would not die until he beheld the Lord's Christ. Thus, when he beheld Him at that time and took Him up into his aged arms, he gave glory to God, singing: "Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, O Master. . ." And he confessed that he would close his eyes joyfully, since he had seen the Light of revelation for the nations and the Glory of Israel (Luke 2:25-32). From ancient times, the Holy Church has retained this tradition of the churching of the mother and new-born child on the fortieth day and of the reading of prayers of purification.

Reading courtesy of Narthex Press

Super “Souper” Bowl Party Sunday, February 1st at 5:00 pm

Families, Young Adults, Students, Yiayias & Papous! Everyone is invited! Watch the game on the BIG Screen! Delicious Food and Great Fellowship!

This event’s purpose is twofold: 1) for the Capital Food Bank...please bring canned goods to donate.

2) the proceeds will help with the OCF Real Break Mission Trip.

Donation $5.00 children / $10.00 adults

IOCC, founded in 1992 as the official humanitarian aid agency of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA), has implemented over $275 million in relief and development programs in 33

countries around the world. Help IOCC speed relief to suffering families all over the world. Visit www.iocc.org, call IOCC toll free at 1-877-803-4622, or mail a check or money order payable to “IOCC”

to: IOCC, P.O. Box 630225, Baltimore, Md. 21263-0225.

An example in St. Makarios

St. Makarios of Egypt said once that his life was like an onion. He kept peeling off layers of skin each day. He called these layers: anger, envy, fear, anguish, anxiety, hate, lust, slothfulness, avarice, judgmentalism, over-indulgence - you name it. One by one these layers had to be shed before one could reach the innermost chamber of one’s heart. There, in the innermost chamber, one finds a crawling serpent nestled in comfort. The serpent’s name is self-love and self-pity. This serpent has invaded and wounded the soul’s most vital organ, the heart. The snake cannot be killed, says St. Makarios, it can only be controlled through ascesis, watchfulness, prayer and the Holy Spirit. St. Makarios was so busy shedding the many layers of sin from his life, so busy coping with the snake of self-love and self-pity in his heart that he had no time to criticize the sins of others. All he could say was, “Lord, be merciful to me the sinner.”

What a difference it would make in our lives if we would begin with ourselves. If we would repent without waiting for others to repent first. If we would seek forgiveness, without waiting for others to seek forgiveness first.

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WEBSITE: WWW.TRANSFIGURATION.ORG Emails: Church Office: [email protected] Fr. Jordan: [email protected]

Parish Announcements

Men’s Fellowship  

 

Transfiguration Men’s Fellowship will meet on  Tuesday, February 17th.   

They will be meeting at Dot’s Place in Pflugerville.  

If you are interested in receiving email notifications/reminders about the Men's Fellowship Luncheons and other gatherings please send an email to Allen Wynn at 

[email protected]

Weddings

Congratulations to: Tsambika Bakiris and Angelo Papaspiros who were married on January 10th.

God grant you many years!

Prayers for Healing

Dolly, Betty, Arlena, Sophie, Archie, Lou, Thomas, Kathy, Linda, Suzanne, Pat, Steve,

Nina, Phyllis, James, Gwen Elizabeth

Baby News! Congratulations to:.

Jenny and Lucas Jacomides on the birth of their daughter, Bailey Vasiliki, on November 6th.

God grant you many years!

Our Sympathies to: Maria Burk whose father, Andreas, passed away in December.

May his memory be eternal

Philoptochos February Events

The Philoptochos Society would like to thank all the parishioners of Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church who participated in the

2008 Community Christmas Card. It was a great success! ****************************************

Philoptochos Chocolate and Greek Pastries Lover’s Bake Sale.

The ladies of Philoptochos will sponsor their annual bake sale on Sunday, February 8th - not too soon for

Valentine’s Day! This is a great opportunity to purchase all kinds of goodies and sweets for your Valentine! The sale will take place in the fellowship hall immediately

following the Liturgy.

***************************************** On February 16th, we will have our 3rd Quarterly Meeting at

6:30pm. We will have dinner at a member’s home (TBA). If you need a ride due to night driving issues, please contact one of our

members for a ride...or carpool anyway!

Baptisms

Congratulations to:

• Smaranda and Nick Papanikolaou on the baptism of their son, Yannis Andrei.

Godfather - Ioannis Tassoulas • Carol and Judd Willmann on the baptism of their

son, Luke Robert. Godparents - Brandon and Jennifer Suehs

God grant you many years!

A matter of concern for our Parish…

There has been a man named Richard Edgell, who also goes by Simeon, coming to our church recently. He has a history of mental problems and being destructive in public. He has recently displayed this behavior here at Transfiguration and we have been forced to take action. He is no longer allowed on our property and will be charged with criminal trespassing if he returns. He is a middle-aged man with graying hair and is about 5’9” and weighs approximately 120lbs. Do not interact with him if you see him, just call the Sherriff's Office.

Parish Council NewsParish Council NewsParish Council News

Congratulations to our new Parish Council Congratulations to our new Parish Council Congratulations to our new Parish Council Officers for 2009: Officers for 2009: Officers for 2009:

••• Lou Apostolakis Lou Apostolakis Lou Apostolakis --- President President President ••• Stuart Yoder Stuart Yoder Stuart Yoder --- Vice President Vice President Vice President ••• Chris Harris Chris Harris Chris Harris --- Secretary Secretary Secretary ••• Ron Jernigan Ron Jernigan Ron Jernigan --- Treasurer Treasurer Treasurer

The next Parish Council meeting will be on Feb. 9th at 7:00pm. As always, Council meetings are open to all.

Notice!

Our first General Assembly for 2009 will be held on Sunday, February 22nd.

A delicious Luncheon benefiting our Building Fund and sponsored by our Men’s Fellowship Group

will be held during the assembly.

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Adult Education

YOUTH NEWS: GOYA 6th – 12th grade – February dates:

Saturday, February 7th, Junior GOYA Fireside Chat, 6:30 pm - Pizza & Bible Study

Host family: The Bensons 17 Swiftwater Trl. - phone: 465-2713

Senior GOYA lunch with Father Jordan Sunday, February 8th, 1:00 pm Lunch & movie @ the Galleria

The GOYANs will be attending a Metropolis Lenten retreat at Camp Eagle on Feb. 27th

through March 1.

Orthodoxy 101 The Orthodoxy 101 Class begins this month!

We will meet on Wednesday evenings at 7:00pm.

Our 1st Class will be on Wednesday, February 4th. Topic: The early church ~

The class will discuss the early church, how the Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ transformed the first Christians. We will look at church history and worship.

Father Jordan will be offering this class. Please contact Father with any questions

The second class will be on February 18th.

Orthodoxy 101 is offered for everyone. If you are interested in learning more about the Orthodox faith,

please join us!

Women’s Morning Bible Study

Wednesday Morning Bible Study is back! We will be meeting February 4th &

18th at 10:00 am We will be studying the gospel and

epistle lessons.

Father Jordan will be leading the study. We welcome all women to participate.

Child care is available.

Contact Kori Yoder for more information at [email protected]

OCF/UT

Orthodox Campus Fellowship

We welcome all college students to the OCF ministry. Please note the change in the day we are meeting on

campus. Beginning in February, the OCF will be meeting every other Monday, 6:00 pm at the University Episcopal

Center located at209 W. 27th at University Ave.

Tuesday, February 9th at 6:00 pm and

Tuesday, February 23rd at 6:00 pm

Please contact Gabe Kaim at 832-656-1657 or email - [email protected]

or Fr. Jordan Brown at (512) 329-6363 or [email protected] with any questions

Real Break Valentine’s Dinner

This Spring Break eight members of our OCF will travel to St. Innocent Orphanage in Mexico as part of the Real Break Program. Please help us on our mission to serve God’s children.

Where: St. Elias Eastern Orthodox Church When: Saturday February 14 at 7 PM

Cocktail Reception followed by 3 course meal.

Tickets can be purchased for $50 at coffee hour through any OCF member or through St. Elias Donations can be sent to St Elias at 408 E• 11th St• Austin• TX 78701

Please make checks payable to St Elias with “Real Break” as the memo.

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Stewardship and St. John Chrysostom by Father John Ketchum

Our Orthodox Church greatly honors one of the giants of the Faith, one of the Three Great Hierarchs and Physicians

and Teachers of the Orthodox Theology. The par-excellence preacher of all the ages, Patriarch of Constantinople, prolific author of huge volumes of works on a wide array of subjects, interpreter of the Holy Scriptures, social advocate and champion of morality even in the face of Emperors and Kings, author of the Divine Liturgy which is celebrated on most days of the year, Saint John Chrysostom. St. John was born in Antioch in the year 354. His father, Secundus, was an imperial commander and his mother's name was Anthusa. These two became Saints in the Orthodox Church as well showing that the Christian family is the foundation of those who would go on to become Saints in the Church. This is why the Family is so important and critical and why in our modern society marriage and family are belittled but there will be grave consequences for this as time goes on.

Studying Greek philosophy, John became disgusted with Hellenic paganism and adopted the Christian Faith as the one and all-embracing truth. Meletius, Patriarch of Antioch, baptized John, and his parents also subsequently received baptism. Following his parents' repose, John was tonsured a monk and lived a strict life of asceticism. He then wrote a book, On the Priesthood, after which the Holy Apostles John and Peter appeared to him, and prophesied that he would have a life of great service, great grace and great suffering. John was chosen as Patriarch of Constantinople at the behest of Emperor Arcadius. As Patriarch of Constantinople, he governed the Church for six years with unequalled zeal and wisdom. He sent missionaries to the pagan Celts and Scythians and eradicated simony in the Church, deposing many bishops guilty of this vice. He extended the charitable works of the Church and wrote a special order of the Divine Liturgy. He shamed the heretics, denounced Empress Eudoxia, interpreted Holy Scripture with his golden mind and tongue, and bequeathed the Church many precious books of his homilies. The people glorified him, the envious loathed him, and the Empress, on two occasions, sent him into exile. John spent three years in exile, and reposed as an exile on the Feast of the Elevation of the Precious and Life-giving Cross, September 14, 407, in the town of Comana in Georgia.

I would like to share some of his great wisdom on certain subjects of our Orthodox Christian lives:

On Church attendance he warns us how we make all kinds of excuses for coming late or not at all during the Summer months, which is a big problem in our Orthodox parishes: “Where are those who oppress us with their presence on Feast Day? I look for them, and am grieved on their account when I mark what a multitude are perishing of those who are in a state of salvation; how large a part of the body of Christ is like a dead and motionless carcass! They, perhaps, make the summer season their excuse. I hear them saying, 'The heat is excessive; the sun is intolerable; we cannot bear the heat and confined space.' Such excuses are foolish without basis. When you have spiritual wells and rivers, are you afraid of material heat? No, in the markets, where there is much turmoil and crowding and scorching wind, how is it that you do not suffocate and find the heat an excuse for absenting yourself there? It is plain that these silly excuses are the offspring of indolence and of a lazy disposition, destitute of the grace of the Holy Spirit. St John Chrysostom

On the theme of Materialism he compares us with the angels: Do not the angels differ from us in this respect, that they do not want so many things as we do? Therefore the less we need, the more we are on our way to them; the more we need, the more we sink down to this perishable life. St. John Chrysostom

On the theme of Prayer he warns us how if we try and pray to God that the devil wants to try to interrupt our prayer: “The Apostle has told us to pray uninterruptedly, without anger or passionate thoughts. And this is excellent advice, for every thought which takes the mind away from God is not merely from the devil but is the devil himself." St. John Chrysostom.

On the theme of our Salvation he teaches why not all of humanity will be saved and enter into the heavenly Kingdom: “If Salvation is by grace some will ask ‘why is it that we are not all saved?’ because they did not will it. For grace even though it is grace saves only the willing, not those who are not willing, not those who turn away from God’s grace and constantly fight against God and oppose themselves to grace,” this includes the devil and the fallen angels along with any humans who exercising their freewill do not choose to be with God in Heaven.

On the theme of receiving Holy Communion he teaches we should receive it often and with preparation: “Some of you say you are not worthy of receiving Holy Communion, if that is true neither are you worthy then to even stand in Church for the prayers…I beg you a Royal Table is set before you. Tell me suppose someone were invited to a feast, and were to wash his hands and sit down and be all ready at the table and after all his this he refused to take part in the feast, is he not insulting the man who invited him? I beg you not to put off coming to Holy Communion but make yourselves worthy both of being present in Church and approaching the Altar, for it is laziness and nothing else that makes us unworthy to receive Communion.

Chrysostom reminds us that the way we receive Holy Communion is by breaking the bread into little pieces to

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2009 Stewardship Updated as of 01/25/09 Mr. & Mrs. Jacob Angelo Mr. & Mrs. Harry Benas Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Benson Mr. & Mrs. Marko Bjeletich Fr. & Presvytera Brown Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Burks Mr. & Mrs. William Chriss Mr. & Mrs. John Chronis Mr. & Mrs. William Colovas Mr. & Mrs. Michael Daskalantonakis Mr. & Mrs. Joseph DeRossi Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Dow Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Draina

Mr. & Mrs. Costas Evgenides Mr. & Mrs. Michael Gaddis Mr. & Mrs. Jason Garwood Mr. & Mrs. Anthony George Mr & Mrs. James George Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Gimenez Mr. & Mrs. Tom Gouris Ms. Heather Harlan Mr. & Mrs. Chris Harris Dr. James Hitt Mr. Christopher Hooks Mr. & Mrs. David Horwedel Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Kaim Ms. Nici Kalogirou

Mr. Stephan Kounelias Mr. & Mrs. Tony Kniffen Mr. & Mrs. Lee Leatherwood Ms. Nicki Leatherwood Mr. Steve Levendakes Mr. & Mrs. Archie Meador Mrs. Maria Moros Mr. & Mrs. Jim Norman Mr. & Mrs. Shawn O’Brien Mr. & Mrs. Tom Papadatos Mrs. Sophie Paulos Mr. & Mrs. John Peet Mr. & Mrs. Austin Phelps Mr. & Mrs. John Phillips

Mr. & Mrs. Denis Phocas Mr. & Mrs. Ken Pon Mr. & Mrs. Theodore Rodis Mr. & Mrs. Mihalis Salmatanis Mr. & Mrs. Michael Shannon Ms. Pat Shotwell Mr. & Mrs. George Simbles Mr. & Mrs. George Skevofilax Mr. & Mrs. Michael Strong Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Tsihlas Mrs. Bettie Vaselakos Mr. & Mrs. Allen Wynn

receive with the spoon to this is compares: “What the Lord Jesus did not endure on the Cross (they did not break his legs), He submits to now in His Sacrifice for His love for you, He permits Himself to be broken into many pieces that all may be filled. What is in the chalice is the same blood as that which flowed from Christ’s side after being speared. What is the bread? Christ’s body, we should not only see the Lord but we ought to receive Him and unite ourselves with him in closest union.”

On the theme of Stewardship, even in Chrysostom’s time, people were overly concerned with given an inheritance to their children, to this he states, “If you wish to leave much wealth to your children leave them in God’s care, for He who without you doing anything gave you a soul, formed your body, granted you the gift of life, when he sees you displaying such benevolence it must surely open them up to riches, but do not leave them riches but rather leave them virtue and skill On sharing our gifts with others he reminds us: “Lift up and stretch out your hands not to heaven, but to the poor, for if you stretch out your hand to the poor you would have already reached the heights of heaven. If you lift up your prayer to heaven without having given to the poor you have gained nothing. Feeding the hungry is greater work than raising the dead.”

On the theme of Fasting he admonishes: “Do you fast, give me proof of it by your works, If you see a poor man take pity on him, if you see a friend being honored do not envy him, do not let only your mouth fast but all the members of the body. Let the hands fast by being free of materialism, let the feet fast by ceasing the run after sin, let the eye fast by disciplining them not to glare at what is sinful, let the ear fast by not listening to evil talk or gossip, let the mouth fast from foul words and unjust criticism. For what good is it if we abstain from eating meat or fish but bite and devour our fellow Christians.

St. Andrew, the fisherman, was among the first to hear and answer the call of Christ. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." Andrew came and followed and invited others to do the same. That was good stewardship. St. John Chrysostom says, "After Andrew had stayed with Jesus and had learned much from him, he did not keep this treasure to himself, but hastened to share it with his brother." Therefore the Stewardship of St. Andrew led to the calling of the rest of the Apostles, who in turn established the first Christian Churches. Therefore we must always share what we have been given with others, keeping things unto ourselves is a grave sin and must be defeated in the Spiritual Warfare of our Lives.

Finally I would like to remind us on what Chrysostom felt was the holiest part of the Divine Liturgy service that he presents to us not as a work of his own making or authorship, but one of Divine intervention and inspiration of the Holy Spirit—meaning Chrysostom’s mind and body were only the vehicle to deliver to Orthodoxy the gift of the Divine Liturgy. For St. John the holiest part of the Liturgy is not the Gospel reading, not when we kneel and invoke the Holy Spirit to change the gifts of bread and wine into Holy Communion. The holiest part of Liturgy is when we receive the blessed bread (antidoron) at the end and exit the church. This is because we are called to take the blessings we receive in the church, the Gospel of Christ’s love for us and His Resurrection and new Life and take this out into the outside world. We are expected to share these great gifts with others. This is true stewardship this is what we are called to do each and every Sunday worship service. If this is what the author of our Divine Liturgy thinks we should take extra care and heed to his wisdom. We have only so long in the time God gives us in this life to do what is pleasing to Him, and to share our time, talents and treasures with each other, with our local Church community, our greater Church community in the nation and the world and with our community outside of our Orthodox Church. Then we shall be justified in our faith through our good works. Through the Holy Intercessions of the great Physician of the Faith, the Golden mouthed St. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople may Christ our God have mercy upon us and save us. AMEN.

This article was taken from the National Stewardship Commission of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

Page 8: Orthodox Church Newsletter - Transfiguration Greek ... · Orthodox Church Newsletter ... Hearing the parable of Christ about God’s loving forgiveness, ... St. Makarios of Egypt

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Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church

414 St. Stephens School Road Austin, Texas 78746

Non profit Organization U.S. Postage

PAID Austin, Texas

Permit No. 2218

Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church Newsletter

Sacrament of Confession

After Saturday Great Vespers - or call Fr. Jordan to schedule a convenient time

Memorial Services Please schedule Memorial Services through the Office. Memorials will be offered only at Saturday Great Vespers, unless it is a 40-day memorial, which may be offered at Saturday Great Vespers or following Divine Liturgy on Sundays.

Feast Days & Fast Days

Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord - Monday ,February 2 Orthros - 8:00 Am. Divine Liturgy - 9:00am

Wednesday evening Paraclesis Services: February 4 - 6:00 pm February 18 - 6:00 pm

Sunday Worship Orthros 8:45 a.m. Divine Liturgy 10:00 a.m.

Saturday Great Vespers 5:00 p.m.

Schedule of Services


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