May 2016 ¨1645 Phillips Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32308 ¨ (850) 878-0747 ¨ Rev. Fr. Robert J. O’Loughlin¨ http://www.hmog.org

Remaining Thirsty for Christ ~ A Message from Fr. Robert

General Assembly Meeting - Sunday, June 5th, 2016

Christ is risen! Χριστος aνεστη! Khristos voskrese! El Messieh kahm! Hristos a inviat! Christos t'ensah em' muhtan!

Kristos haryav ee merelotz! Helisituosi fuhuole! Christus ist erstanden!

Khristus zmartwyckwstal! Cristo ha resucitado! Kristo amefufukka!

We now greet each other enthusiastically during Pascha and Bright Week with Christ is

Risen and hopefully throughout the Paschal season. The main problem for us may be re-

membering in our hearts going forward what the implication of the Resurrection for us is.

We may lose some of our thirst for what Christ has offered to us. In the Gospel reading of

the Samaritan woman, Jesus needed water to quench His physical thirst and she needed

living water to quench her spiritual thirst. In His short conversation with her, Jesus points out that she is living an unfocused and deceiving life. Christ is showing and en-

lightening us about how we are to live and what the Resurrection means.

There was an openness in the Samaritan woman‘s soul, because as God revealed Himself

to her, slowly, there was awakened in her a great thirst, and a great honesty. Our life is

full of many moments, when God tries to reach out and touch us. Many of these moments

we have missed, sometimes because we have other things to do, other priorities. At times,

we may cut off our conversation with God as we may not say our prayers very often, or we

may not come to church as often as we should or don't receive Holy Communion or confess very often. These are

all parts of the conversation with God.

God awakened the Samaritan woman and in her thirst, her soul was saved. He cleansed the unclean life that she

was leading because He touched her with the idea of water, living water, and the woman begins to pursue after

this idea. She pursued and she became enlightened. She started to understand because the conversation contin-ued. She desired this water greatly. The living water that Christ talks about is the Holy Spirit that God brings to a

person. God wants to shed grace upon us abundantly, yet we often don‘t complete our conversation with Him. We

may not even know what it is that He wants to give us. Because we can be so burdened with the cares, and dis-

tractions of our every day life. When we allow Christ to speak with us, He reveals Himself as we live our lives and

we can receive this living water that quenches our thirst. It is only possible if we continually participate. That‘s

why saying our prayers consistently, keeping the fast consistently, coming to the services consistently can quench

our thirst.

We may watch ten times more television or spend more time on the computer than we pray. We may read things

that are either unholy or useless, rather than the Scriptures. We may say that we don't have time for this and not

know what we have missed in not conversing with God. The Samaritan woman came to the well without any spir-

itual purpose; she came, as she came daily, to fetch water and she met Christ. Each of us may meet Christ at any

turn in our lives, if our hearts are turned in the right direction, we will be prepared to receive a message, to listen and prepared to ask questions.

And this is what the Samaritan woman teaches all of us: be open at every moment of our lives while we are busy

with the simplest things. We can receive His Word, be illumined by His Light and receive it in the depths of our

souls so that people can witness to the world.

Fr. Robert

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Our next ECHO Sundays are May 8th and

June 5th. Please drop off your non-perishable food

donations into the bins located in the Hellenic Cen-

ter and Patmos Hall.

Next Spaghetti Dinners: May 6th June 3rd July 8th

If an emergency or special need should arise, please contact

Fr. Rob immediately at 850-559-8184.

Dear Parishioners:

By the time you read this message, we will have completed the Great Lenten Season , Holy Week and cele-

brated Pascha! Thanks to all in our community who have assisted in the preparations during Great Lent, Holy Week and Pascha. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to our spiritual leaders, the mem-

bers of our Parish Council, the many volunteers and all of you for making the 2016 Pascha a memorable

one.

Looking ahead, on May 6, we will resume the monthly Spaghetti Dinners. The Spring General Assembly of

our Parish will take place on June 5. The Parish Council invites everyone to attend. It is a good way for all to

hear about the current plans and activities of our church and provide input on related issues as well.

Kali Anastasi and HAPPY EASTER!

Catherine Branch

May Their Memory Be Eternal…

On Thursday, March 31st, Katie Camechis, beloved sister of Johnnie (Patsy) Camechis and Vicki (George) Corradino, fell asleep in the Lord. May her memory be eternal! On Sunday, April 3rd, Goharik Atayants, beloved mother of Albert Atayants (Sofia), grandmother of Armen (Irina), Vaughn (Viktoria), and Marga-ret Atayants, fell asleep in the Lord. May her memory be eternal!

Easter Lilies in memory of loved ones Donor In Memorandum

Atayants Family - Goharik Atayants

Mark & Bonnie Burrell - Christopher

George Condaris - Constantine & Anastasia Condaris

Dorothy C. Downing - Ron Downing, our parents & siblings

Gary & Olibia Drzewiecki - Apostolos & Angela Coumanis, Max & Marie Drzewiecki

Ronnie Fetzko - Cindy Armel

Janet T. Gavalas - Nic Gavalas

Vicky, Michael, Janet, Nicholas & Elleni Gavalas - Dionisios & Elleni Dimopoulos, Nic Gavalas

Angelica Grigorian - Stepan, Ivan, Nelly

Martin & Elizabeth Markovich - Lubica Markovich, Doris Hoge

Fr. Paul & Presv. Joan Mayernick - Parents & Grandparents

Vasily (Billy), Julie & Helen Nolas - Demetrios Nolas

Fr. Robert, Presv. Joy, Jaclyn, & Krista O’Loughlin - Charles O’Loughlin and Mary

Keith, Nia, Maria & Magnolia Parmer - George & Kathy Vrachnos

Corinna Reeves - Anna & Max Scholz, Lila & Helmut Zeugner, Erdmann

Scholz, Ilona Frey, Cornelia Saur & Ruth Gaebisch

If you have high school/college graduates, please call the church office so the graduates

can be listed in the Reflections.

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Holy Mother of God

Church School Graduation “Grow in Grace and Knowledge of Our Lord and

Savior Jesus Christ” 2 Peter 3:19

Sunday, May 22nd

Please join us after Liturgy in the Hellenic Center for hotdogs,

hamburgers, ice cream, and fellowship

Presentation of certificates to students of all grades.

Great job GOYAns preparing and serving on

Lazarus Saturday Pancake Breakfast and

palm-folding.

Sunday, May 6th -flowers to all moms for

Mother’s day

Pancake Breakfast and Palm-folding

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The Paschal Sermon of Saint John Chrysostom If any man be devout and loveth God, let him enjoy this fair and radiant triumphal feast! If any man be a wise servant, let him rejoicing enter into the joy of his Lord. If any have laboured long in fasting, let him how receive his recompense. If any have wrought from the first hour, let him today receive his just reward. If any have come at the third hour, let him with thankfulness keep the feast. If any have arrived at the sixth hour, let him have no misgivings; because he shall in nowise be deprived therefore. If any have delayed until the ninth hour, let him draw near, fearing nothing. And if any have tarried even until the eleventh hour, let him, also, be not alarmed at his tardiness.

For the Lord, who is jealous of his honour, will accept the last even as the first. He giveth rest unto him who cometh at the eleventh hour, even as unto him who hath wrought from the first hour. And He showeth mercy upon the last, and careth for the first; and to the one He giveth, and upon the other He bestoweth gifts. And He both accepteth the deeds, and welcometh the intention, and honoureth the acts and praises the offering.

Wherefore, enter ye all into the joy of your Lord; receive your reward, both the first, and likewise the second. You rich and poor together, hold high festival! You sober and you heedless, honour the day! Rejoice today, both you who have fasted and you who have disregarded the fast. The table is full-laden; feast ye all sumptuously. The calf is fatted; let no one go hungry away. Enjoy ye all the feast of faith: Receive ye all the riches of loving-kindness.

Let no one bewail his poverty, for the universal Kingdom has been revealed. Let no one weep for his in-iquities, for pardon has shown forth from the grave. Let no one fear death, for the Saviour's death has set us free. He that was held prisoner of it has annihilated it.

By descending into Hell, He made Hell captive. He embittered it when it tasted of His flesh. And Isaiah, foretelling this, did cry: Hell, Hell, said he, was embittered when it encountered Thee in the lower re-gions.

It was embittered, for it was abolished. It was embittered, for it was mocked. It was embittered, for it was slain. It was embittered, for it was overthrown. It was embittered, for it was fettered in chains. It took a body, and met God face to face. It took earth, and encountered Heaven. It took that which was seen, and fell upon the unseen.

O Death, where is thy sting? O Hell, where is thy victory?

Christ is risen, and thou art overthrown! Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen! Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice! Christ is risen, and life reigns! Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in the grave.

For Christ, being risen from the dead, is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

To Him be glory and dominion unto ages of ages.

Amen.

- See more at: http://lent.goarch.org/messages/pascha

- See more at: http://lent.goarch.org/messages/pascha_stjohn.asp#sthash.cnNWKfwL.dpuf

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For May 2016

email: hmogphil@comcast.net

Visit us on Facebook at Holy Mother of God Philopto-

chos Society of Tallahassee Florida

A Very Special Thank you

To all of our members and friends for the hard work that went

into preparing the food for our annual Greek Dinner. It was a lot

of work but also a lot of fun. Special thanks to our angel in the

kitchen, Richard Allen!

Also thank you to ALL of you who helped with the food prepa-

ration and who contributed food for the Makaria following the

funeral for Katie Comechis. May Her Memory Be Eternal.

May 12 Thursday, we will be setting up for our Annual

Greek Dinner. We need everyone to volunteer some time. This

is our largest fund raiser of the year. If you have not signed up

for an area to help on the night of the dinner now is the time to do

so. Please contact Olibia Drzewiecki as soon as possible!

End of Year Get together

May 19th

Time and place “To be announced”

Dolmathes — June 25th

Moussaka — July 16h

Pastitsio - July 23d

Koulourakia — August 27th

Baklava — September 15th, 16th, & 17th

Paximadia — September 21st

Kourambiedes — September 24th

Galatoboureko — October 8th

Rice Pudding - October 19th

Festival - October 21st & 22nd

Please note: Baking dates are subject to

change.

2016 Festival Baking Dates 9:00 am start time

HOLY MOTHER OF GOD GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING

June 5th

Following Divine Liturgy

HELLENIC CENTER

Agenda

1. Call to Order - Catherine Branch

2. Opening Prayer - Father Rob

3. Priest's Comments - Father Rob

4. President's Comments - Catherine Branch

5. Approval of November 2, 2014 General

Assembly Minutes - Michael Eudy

6. Treasurer's Reports - Glen Perrigan

a. Current Year Financial Report

b. Year 2015 Operating Results

7. Status Report on Capital Projects

8. Update on 2016 Greek Festival

9. Closing Comments

10. Closing Prayer and Adjournment

Page 7

The Great and Holy Feast of Pascha http://lent.goarch.org/holy_pascha/learn/

On the Great and Holy Feast of Pascha, Orthodox Christians celebrate the

life-giving Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This feast of

feasts is the most significant day in the life of the Church. It is a celebra-

tion of the defeat of death, as neither death itself nor the power of the grave

could hold our Savior captive. In this victory that came through the Cross,

Christ broke the bondage of sin, and through faith offers us restoration, transformation, and eternal life.

Holy Week comes to an end at sunset of Great and Holy Saturday, as the

Church prepares to celebrate her most ancient and preeminent festival,

Pascha, the feast of feasts. The time of preparation will give way to a time of fulfillment. The glorious and resplendent light emanating from the empty

Tomb will dispel the darkness. Christ, risen from the dead, cracks the for-

tress of death and takes "captivity captive" (Psalm 67:19). All the limita-

tions of our createdness are torn asunder. Death is swallowed up in victory

and life is liberated. "For as by a man came death, by a man came also the

resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive" (I Corinthians 15:21-22). Pascha is the dawn of the new and

unending day. The Resurrection constitutes the most radical and decisive

deliverance of humankind.

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the fundamental truth and absolute fact of the Christian faith. It is the central experience and essential kerygma of the Church. It confirms the authenticity of Christ's remarkable

earthly life and vindicates the truth of His teaching. It seals all His redemptive work: His life, the model of a

holy life; His compelling and unique teaching; His extraordinary works; and His awesome, life-creating death.

Christ's Resurrection is the guarantee of our salvation. Together with His Ascension it brings to perfection

God's union with us for all eternity.

The Resurrection made possible the miracle of the Church, which in every age and generation proclaims and

affirms "God's plan for the universe, the ultimate divinization of man and the created order." The profound

experience of and the unshakable belief in the risen Lord enabled the Apostles to evangelize the world and

empowered the Church to overcome paganism. The Resurrection discloses the indestructible power and in-

scrutable wisdom of God. It disposes of the illusory myths and belief systems by which people, bereft of di-vine knowledge, strain to affirm the meaning and purpose of their existence. Christ, risen and glorified, re-

leases humanity from the delusions of idolatry. In Him grave-bound humanity discovers and is filled with

incomparable hope. The Resurrection bestows illumination, energizes souls, brings forgiveness, transfigures

lifes, creates saints, and gives joy.

The Resurrection has not yet abolished the reality of death. But it has revealed its powerlessness (Hebrews 2:14-15). We continue to die as a result of the Fall. Our bodies decay and fall away. "God allows death to ex-

ist but turns it against corruption and its cause, sin, and sets a boundary both to corruption and sin." Thus,

physical death does not destroy our life of communion with God. Rather, we move from death to life - from

this fallen world to God's reign.

Metropolitan Alexios on Mt. Athos

His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios is on the Holy Mountain in The Holy and Great Monastery of Vatopaidi where he was tonsured a monk 53 years ago on the Saturday of Lazarus. During these days, he is praying for the well-being of HIs flock. He especially is praying for enlightenment and sanctification of our Orthodox Youth. His heart and prayers are with all the faithful of the Holy Metropolis of Atlanta during the Holy Week of our Orthodox Church. He prayerfully sends His heart-felt blessings for a blessed Holy Week and the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Holy Mother of God Greek Orthodox Church

1645 Phillips Road Tallahassee, Florida 32308

Return Service Requested

Great and Holy Pascha

Celebrated

May 1st

Holy Mother of God Greek Orthodox Church

1645 Phillips Road Tallahassee, FL 32308

Office: 850-878-0747 Hall: 850-877-2501

Fr. Rob’s Cell: 850-559-8184

Website: www.hmog.org

Email Addresses:

Father Rob: fr.robert@comcast.net

Church Secretary: hmog@comcast.net

Secretary Hours: Mon./Wed./Fri. 9am-2pm