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

The Great Joy of Christmas ~ A Message from Fr. Robert

The holidays are a time when family and friends gather together for celebration and fellowship. Many may host

gatherings and some may travel a distance. In the passage that is read every year in preparation for the Feast of

the Nativity of Jesus refers to a feast. We hear Jesus tell the Parable of the Great Banquet in which “someone gave a great banquet and invited many”. Every Sunday, the Church holds a great banquet and feast. We, as the

faithful are invited to attend and in the parable we see certain guests were invited. These first invited guests re-

fused the invitation and the man then set out to gather as many as he could into his banquet. The invitation is

not only given to everyone who wanted to come, but the king sent out his servants to search out to find everyone

who would possibly come. God actively seeks out all to come as salvation is open to all as no one is excluded.

We are invited to the banquet, and kingdom of heaven is open to us. We are invited not simply as guests to ob-serve, but as participants to join and get closer to God.

The parable continues to tell us about some of the responses to the invitations for the great banquet. Jesus says,

“They all alike began to make excuses”. There is a difference between a reason and an excuse. There are times

when we may have a legitimate reason for what we do or don’t do, but excuses usually do not pass the test. It is

common that people will offer various sorts of excuses for their behaviors. The three people in the Gospel reading

seem to have some potential legitimate reasons for not being able to attend. The Church fathers interpret that

there is no excuse is good enough to not attend God’s great banquet. The great banquet is put on every Sunday

and every time we celebrate a liturgy. The excuses for not coming does not fly with God. When we allow excuses

to interfere with not attending Liturgy, we are to rethink them. God does care about us rejecting His invitation

when our priorities are not in line and does not shut us out of the feast and celebration. We keep ourselves out with our own excuses.

Christ invites us every Liturgy to participate in His Great Feast. It is an invitation that, as we approach Christ-

mas, that it is one celebration that we should not miss. Every Liturgy we hear the Word of God in the Epistle, and

Gospel, along with the prayers and petitions of the service. Therefore, it is in attending the great banquet of the

Divine Liturgy that we practice for the heavenly banquet of eternal life with God. We should participate in the

Holy Communion as often as possible, with proper preparation, in order to renew within ourselves the desire for

getting closer to God. The essence of Holy Communion is whoever approaches it with faith and reverence, truly

partakes of the very life of Christ, and becomes one with Him, united with His Body and Blood, in which we can

be nourished. As we approach the Holy Chalice, again we should approach after proper preparation which in-

cludes after fasting, prayer and being repentive.

The Feast of Christmas epitomizes the spirit of good news and great joy. Also, the good news is that we don’t

have to be perfect to come to the banquet as we come with our sins, failures and problems and He can forgive

and heal us. Coming to the banquet becomes a way of life that requires our daily commitment, repentance, wor-

ship, prayer, reading the bible, and receiving regular communion. We can look at our own lives and the priorities

we have in our daily schedules. We are to come with hunger and thirst in response to His invitation and allow

nothing to stand between God and us.

Wishing you a blessed season of the Nativity,

Fr. Robert

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Our next ECHO Sundays are December 4th

and January 8th. 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 immediately at 850-559-8184.

Sunday, December 11 following the Divine Liturgy

On October 16th, a General Assembly was held and nominations were made for the upcoming Parish Council Elections to be held on Sunday, December 11th, in which there are five open positions. Please keep in mind that only mem-bers in good standing are eligible to vote. The Election will take place after Liturgy in the Hellenic Center. Nominations for the upcoming Parish Council

Elections are:

Mark Belcher Michael Gavalas George Catsimpiris Stamie Joanos Ronnie Fetzko Harriet Kanelidis Jim Garland Mary Phipps The Election Committee members are:

Amy Cox Stephanie Joanos White Martin Markovich Irina Grigoryan Atayants (alternate) Absentee ballots, requested only out of true need, are available by contacting Fr. Rob di-rectly. The person requesting the absentee ballot (who will be filling it out) needs to be the one directly requesting it. Completed bal-lots must be turned into Fr. Rob, directly, by Thursday December 8th at 5:00 p.m., in order to be counted in the election.

My Beloved Ones,

As today is the first of December, I wish for all of you strength for a good and blessed month. Καλό μήνα! In this month, of course we look ahead to that joyous feast of the Nativity, but the Church has also given to us the memory of two saints whose lives we are called to emulate on our way to the blessed Feast.

On December 4th, we commemo-rate the holy Barbara, a secret Christian whose father, Diosco-rus, was a pagan. Dioscorus kept her locked away from the world in a high tower. Before leaving on a journey, he com-manded that two windows be installed in his bathhouse. After his departure, Barbara asked that a third window be added, for the Holy Trinity. When he returned, his daughter confessed Christ, and Dioscorus prepared to kill her. However, her fer-vent prayers opened the tower wall, and Barbara escaped. Di-oscorus pursued and eventually discovered his daughter, who was cast into prison and tortured. Such was the holiness of this saint however, that every morning, she would appear in per-fect health. Eventually, Barbara was condemned to beheading and Dioscorus carried out the punishment himself. For the murder of his own daughter, Dioscorus was killed by a bolt of lightning. Barbara’s tomb became the site of many miracles.

On December 6th, we celebrate the Holy Bishop of Myra, St. Nicholas. According to Tradition, one of the numerous exam-ples of this saint’s compassion and generosity towards the poor occurred when he learned of a man who, unable to afford a dowry for his three daughters, was faced with the possibility of their becoming prostitutes. Determined to help, Nicholas waited until night and threw bags of coins through the open window. From this remarkable act, the secular world has cre-ated the legend of Santa Claus and the act of children leaving stockings.

Though the act has become somewhat commercialized, but the Church understands we are to remember the true messages these saints give to us as we approach Christmas: the im-portance of witnessing our faith, even in the midst of fear and danger, as St. Barbara did; and to show Christ-like love and compassion, like St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, especially towards those in need.

We as a Metropolis are especially blessed to have two parishes named after these wonderful saints, and it is a privilege for me to be able to spend the feasts of St. Barbara and St. Nicholas in the communities of Sarasota and Tarpon Springs, Florida. Χρόνια Πολλά to all those who celebrate, and may we all take the lessons of these saints to heart, as we continue to come toward the manger.

+ALEXIOS Metropolitan of Atlanta

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CrossRoad is a ten-day academic summer institute that prepares high school juniors and seniors to make big life decisions and connect with the Orthodox Christian theological and spiritual tra-dition. Hosted on the scenic Hellenic College Holy Cross campus, overlooking the beautiful Bos-ton skyline, participants experience daily worship, visit local parishes, tour Boston, and spend a

day at the beach.

June Session: June 17 – June 27

July Session: July 5 – July 15

Application Priority Deadline: February 1, 2017

Please contact Presv. Joy with any questions.

Sat. Dec. 3rd Christmas caroling

Sun Dec. 4th St. Nicholas pancake

breakfast November Outreach: Goyans putting up Toys for Tots Giving

Tree, assembling activity box, and making Patmos Hall sign

Feast day of St. Nicholas

Community Pancake Breakfast Sponsored by GOYA

Sunday Dec. 4th 2016

Following Divine Liturgy Breakfast, crafts and a surprise visit from St Nicholas

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Parish Christmas Card

Please call the church office (850-878-0747) to include your family in the Parish Christmas

Card or mail your Donation and how you would like your name(s) to appear in the

Parish Christmas Card

no later than Wednesday, December 14th.

Donation is $10 per family.

Christmas Poinsettias

It is now time to place your orders for poinsettias to decorate our Church for the Feast of the Nativity. They always make our Church look even more beautiful at this very special and holy time of the year. We will once

again be purchasing them from Hilly Fields Florist.

You may place them “In Memory” or “In Honor” of loved ones. These names will appear in the January Monthly Bulletin.

Please make your checks payable to the HMOG Philoptochos Society ($20.00) & mark memo line “Poinsettia”.

See Olibia Drzewiecki in the Hellenic Center following Divine Liturgies to place your orders.

Volunteers need for working at the event on Dec 8 (Thurs) & Dec 9 (Fri): 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

More information about the upcoming events above will be in the Sunday Handouts and sign-up sheets will be available in the Hellenic Center

December 2016 We wish everyone a very Blessed & Merry Christmas

Next Meeting: January 12 (Thurs)@ 6:00 pm

Next Events: Dec 8 (Thurs) & Dec 9 (Fri) Victorian Christmas Festival in Thomasville, GA

January 8, 2017 (Sun) Vasilopita Sunday

Philoptochos Christmas Dinner Outing

(Dutch Treat)

Food Glorious Food

1950 Thomasville Rd, Tallahassee

On December 6 (Tues) at 6:00pm. Please RSVP by DEC 4 Sunday

From November

Philoptochos gave 7 complete Thanksgiving dinners from Publix to the Tree House (2) and to Family Connections (5) - all through the Children’s Home Society. Plus 3 others by Fr. Rob.

They were overwhelmed by our generosity

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The Nativity: GOD BECOMES HUMAN TO SHOW US THE WAY

Father Thomas FitzGerald

What shall we offer you, O Christ? Who for our sake appeared on earth as a human? Every creature made by you offers you thanksgiving. The angels offer you a hymn, The heavens, a star,

The magi, gifts,The shepherds, their wonder, The earth, its cave, The wilderness, a manger, And we offer to you, a Virgin Mother.

(Orthodox Christian Vesperal Hymn)

The simplicity of the story of Christ’s birth reveals the depth of God’s love and the mystery of His actions in our life. As we celebrate Christmas anew this year, once again Mary and Joseph, the shepherds and wise men, the an-gels and animals direct our attention to the Lord Jesus. He who is truly the ‘way, the truth and the life” (Jn. 14:1) who reveals Himself in the humble circumstances of a cave in Bethlehem. All of time is centered upon his coming. All of creation surrounds Him who fashioned the creation!

THE EXPRESSION OF DIVINE LOVE

The story of the birth of Christ is a vivid reminder of the depth of God’s love for us. He loves us so much that he has entered into life in this world in the person of Christ. The infinite God mysteriously accepted the limitations of our humanity. It was not enough for God to act through signs and wonders of the physical world. It was not enough for God to guide us through the prophets and teachers of old. No, this was not enough for our God. To express his boundless love for us, the Living God appeared among us in the person of Christ Our Lord. By fully identifying himself with us, Christ has come to teach us, to heal us and to lead us back to the Father. He has come to remind us that we are the Father’s precious daughters and sons. As St. John the Evangelist says: “God so loved the world that he sent His Only begotten Son so that all who believe in him will not be lost but will have eternal life” (Jn. 3:16). Many years before the Beatitudes were taught and many years before His glorious Resurrection, Christ revealed God’s love for us through the simple events of his birth. The Lord of Glory demonstrated his love for us simply be entering into our life and by sharing in all that is truly human. St. Basil the great reminds us of this saying: “Every act and every word of our Savior is a guide for holiness and virtue. For this reason he became human, so that in images he may depict both holiness and virtue for us. For this reason he bears a body so that we may imitate His life” (Ascetical Principles, 1)

Through His birth in Bethlehem, Our Lord reveals to us the breath and depth of God’s love for us. Whether we see him as the child in Bethlehem, the teacher in Galilee, or the Risen Lord in Jerusalem; Christ is truly the greatest gift of the Father ‘for us and for our salvation.’

A SENSE OF WONDER

The story of Christ’s birth speaks to us about the mysterious ways of God. The Triune God acts in ways that we do not always expect! His ways are truly wonder-filled. For centuries, the Ancient Israelites had expected the Messi-ah. The prophets, especially Isaiah and Jeremiah, called the people to readiness and openness to God’s actions. Their message provided the people with indications about the coming Messiah. Yet, when ‘the fullness of time had come’ (Gal. 4:4), the Messiah did not arrive as a conquering hero in a golden chariot with pomp and splendor.

(continued on page 7)

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(continued from page 6)

He was not robed in expensive clothing. He did not appear in the capital city. Throngs of adoring followers did not accompany him. When the Messiah finally arrived, he came first as a baby. He was born to a young girl who was not formally married. The event occurred in the simple village of Bethlehem. He was sheltered in a place reserved for animals because the inn was full. There, in such simple circumstances, “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth…” (Jn.1: 14). This is the mysterious way of God! Through the Christmas story, Our Lord reveals that God acts in ways that we do not always expect. We cannot shape the mighty acts of God to our limited understanding. The Triune God is greater than our limited perceptions of Him. He acts in mysterious and wondrous ways to draw us to Him and to one another in love.

AN OPEN HEART

The persons who are involved in the story of Christ’s birth were all quite different. Mary and Joseph were humble travelers seeking a place of shelter. The shepherds were simple men of the land tending their flocks. The wise men were wealthy and aristocratic foreigners wandering in a strange land. Yet, each of them shared a common charac-teristic. They opened their hearts to the actions of the Lord who mysteriously led them to the village of Bethlehem. Each of them permitted God to act in their lives. Mary and Joseph were willing to change their whole life to nur-ture and protect the child Jesus. The shepherds were willing to hear the words of the angels. The wise men were willing to follow the star. We remember them to this day because they opened their hearts and trusted in the Lord.

Through His birth in Bethlehem, Jesus reveals that we too must open our hearts to his presence and actions. God wants us to share in His work of reconciliation. Like the participants in the first Christmas, we too are called to be person whose hearts are open to the divine presence and actions.

CENTERING THE SEASON ON CHRIST

The story of the birth of Christ and its true significance is often clouded by the commercialism of the season. There is a very frenzied pace to these days which can so easily depersonalize us and dampen the true joy of the season. The stores tempt us for weeks on end to buy this thing or by that thing. Some of us prefer to speak of the ‘Holiday Season’ rather than of Christmas.

Many schools have forbidden the remembrance of Christ’s birth in the classroom. Yes, throughout our

society, many fail to remember that the coming of Christ is truly at the heart of the Christmas celebrations. What can we do? Let us remember that the season celebrates the love of God revealed in the coming of Christ. For those with faith, the colored lights, the green trees, the wreaths and the flowers are the symbols of the joy of Christmas. Let us celebrate the joy of Christ’s coming! Let us share the love of God with others. Christ has come to bear wit-ness to the Father’s love for us. We too can share this love with others, especially with the poor and less fortunate among us. We can be sensitive to those who cannot easily celebrate because of a loss in their lives. Let us be the ambassadors of God who share His care and philanthropy. Let us seek the Lord with an open heart as the shep-herds and wise men did. This means that we find opportunities for prayer and meditation, for reading the Scrip-tures related to Christ’s coming. This means that we can make Christmas a special day by participating in the Di-vine Liturgy and by receiving Holy Communion with reverence for God, with faith and with love. To Christ Our Lord be glory, now and forever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Fr. Thomas FitzGerald is Professor of Church History at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Mass. He is also the pastor of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Manchester, NH. A graduate of Holy Cross and the University of Thessaloniki, he is the author of nu-merous articles and books on Church History and ecumenical relations. Together with his wife, Dr. Kyriaki FitzGerald, they are the authors of Happy in the Lord: The Beatitudes for Everyday.

DEPARTMENT OF

OUTREACH &EVANGELISM Outreach@goarch.org www.outreach.goarch.org

Holy Mother of God Greek Orthodox Church

1645 Phillips Road Tallahassee, Florida 32308

Return Service Requested

The Nativity of Our Lord and

Savior, Jesus Christ

Celebrated

December 25th

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