ST. NECTARIOS AMERICAN CARPATHO-RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH 405 Marcum Road, Lakeland, FL 33809 • http://www.stnectarios.com Rev. Fr. Demetri Glimidakis Fr.’s Cell: (970) 620-3899 Fr. Demetri’s Email: [email protected] APRIL 2019 BULLETIN

From the desk of Fr. Demetri: especially when you have passion for a spouse or a pas- SINS, PASSIONS AND sion for writing or reading, but in our subtext, we are STRONGHOLDS: THE ENEMY speaking about something that drives us toward the sin THAT STANDS BETWEEN US mentioned above. When specific sins become the objects AND GOD of our desire, they become passions. One of the definitions Our Lord and Savior is the given is a strong or extravagant fondness, enthusiasm, or same, or should be, across all de- desire for anything, and is normally attributed to love or St. Nectarios of Aegina nominations and Christian even hate. In our case, the passions are sins that we can- Born: October 1, 1846 in Selymbria, Thrace groups across the world and of not, or will not live without. We can have unhealthy pas- Reposed: November 9,1920 course, the way we worship or sions and lust even for our spouse or children. Those sins in Aegina, Greece how we express our faith is different, and our creeds and become so familiar and so entrenched they become Canonized: April 20, 1961 cannons are different. Some state that they are the true strongholds in our minds and lives. Feast Day: November 9 church that began from the beginning of Christ’s execu- HOLY SAINT NECTARIOS, tion when He sent out the Apostles to change the way the The final term is stronghold. Now the stronghold, or PRAY UNTO GOD FOR US! world understood His love — others have sprung up in the fortress, is something that is first mentioned by St. Paul’s last week or so. But, the thing that runs throughout all of second letter to the Corinthians. The word stronghold is Directory: history that we all have in common, whether you are a found once in the New Testament, used metaphorically Parish Council Members: Christian or not, is something called sin. Those things in by St. Paul in a description of the Christian’s spiritual bat- President...... Walter Klymenko our lives that we struggle with reconciling with. Those tle: “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war ac- VP...... John G. Sennett things that divide families, divide us from society, other cording to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are Treasurer...... Sam Gjurich Christians and ultimately that divide we who are Christians not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strong- Secretary...... Kendra J. Taylor from God. holds, casting down arguments and every high thing that Stewardship...Daniel Rodriguez exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every Natalie Pope Now, for the sake of this writing, I am not going to focus Outreach & Church Activities ... thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and on any one specific sin, but on sin in general. I write this Arlene Tonjes & Denise Katseralis being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedi- during the midst of Great Lent while we are trying to over- ence is fulfilled.” The definition of a stronghold a well-for- Subdeacons: come and conquer our sins. I will first define the three tified place; fortress or a place that serves as the center of Joseph Brown terms that title this piece that I want to define before you a group, as of militants or of persons holding a controver- Peter Flynn read this writing. sial viewpoint. In short, the stronghold has become so per- manent in our lives that we cannot and will not live The first term we will define is sin itself. In the Greek, without it. The battles that are fought when our flesh and Altar Servers: this word means to miss the mark. We attempt to aim true, spirit clash become an epic war for our souls. George but we miss the mark that we are attempting to hit. The Logan definition according the dictionary is: 1) A transgression We all fall short of the glory of God. We all sin and fight Marek of divine law: such as the sin of Adam with the fall of hu- with things every day. We attempt to destroy that part of manity; 2) Any act regarded as such a transgression, es- ourselves that holds us back from becoming the people pecially a willful or deliberate violation of some religious that we desire to be. Now most of us have something that or moral principle; or, 3) Any reprehensible or regrettable SAINT NECTARIOS we struggle with on a daily basis, something within us that action, behavior, lapse, etc.; great fault or offense. The ORTHODOX CHURCH: drives us to fail. We have passions that we battle with first sin that we encounter in all of history is the willful dis- A Mission of the American sometimes for years, and those things become what Paul obedience of God by our first parents: Adam and Eve. Carpatho--Russian calls strongholds. Something that is so powerfully built Whether we believe in the literal translation of one man Orthodox Diocese: into our lives that we almost cannot live without it. That and one woman, or that God created Adam, a humanity, His Eminence, Gregory sin that has become our “friend” and we cannot imagine the same sin is present. That sin that drove us from the of Nyssa, Metropolitan our lives without that sin and we long for it when we at- Garden in Eden into the wilderness and separated us from Bishop Under the tempt to remove it from out daily routine. our Creator and introduced death. Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople . When we sin, as I have mentioned above, we miss the The second term is the passions. A passion can be good, mark, we attempt to aim true, but something within us fails to make the connection and we push out our conscious aside allowing shown to us as being a freedom. Remember the Prophet Isaiah’s words that us to fail. Remember that feeling when we were about to do something people will see good as evil and evil as good? It is true, we have the freedom wrong. That feeling when your heart beats so hard it is about to jump from to choose, we have free will. And, until the Holy Spirit shows us that there your chest, but you commit yourself to the sin, and your passion and lust is only black and white with sin and there is no gray area, we can only use and desire overwhelm the Spirit and commit what it is you are so desper- the moral compass that we have learned to live with. For those who have ately attempting to overcome? no moral compass, we cannot hold them to the same standard as those who are attempting to achieve the holiness that is Christ. Even for other Now, imagine that same sin, and every time that feeling comes upon Christians in the world, we each have our own walk with God and we all you, that prompting of the Holy Spirit becomes less and less evident. We come to revelations in time that changes us from who we were yesterday learn to suppress that urgency and that feeling of “oh no, I am about to do to who we are becoming. Some Christians have no problem with cheating something wrong” becomes less evident and before you know it you don’t on their spouse or lying, some have no problems with homosexuality, some even think about what you are doing. It becomes common place in your have no problems with living lives contrary to what the church prescribes life and it begins to transform into a passion. Imagine what people do when and others walk a straighter line and see the short list above as sinful. The they begin to lie. They know they should not lie, then they begin to argue truth is, whether a sin is a sin is up to the person committing the sin, and within themselves and they justify themselves that the little white lie will people cannot change until the Holy Spirit reveals the truth to them. not hurt. Then comes the time when the lie becomes more elaborate, and then you find a way to justify yourself again and again and before you know For those who have ever been in Alcoholics Anonymous there are twelves it you cannot tell the blurry lines between what is the truth and what is the steps to recovery, however, the same principles can be used in any sin that lie. This is the same process from any sin… …from the little white lie to we commit and when we are attempting to change our lives. As you read premeditated murder. It does not matter what the sin is, eventually it can the following list, it is the same list taken from AA and changed to entail and will become a stronghold if left unchecked. The demonic entities that any sin that we struggle and wrestle with. Any sin that has become a passion we struggle with become familiar and we eventually learn to suppress that or stronghold. Any sin that we desire to remove from our lives to become part of us that alarms our conscious that shows us between what is right closer with Christ. from what is wrong. The demons watch and learn and know what it takes to prompt us into doing the things that we begin not wanting to do. For the rest of Lent, (and beyond) challenge yourselves with the following: 1) As Christians we need to admit we were powerless over whatever Now, as Christians, we have a set of guidelines that we follow which we sin we are trying to control and that our lives have become call the commandments, a set of laws that divides us from the rest of hu- unmanageable with that sin in our lives. manity by living a life prescribed by God. But, even more, it is our hopeful Reflect: Do I actually have sins I want to remove from my life? desire to become more like God that should spurn us to seek out holiness and purity. For some of us, with the two examples mentioned above, we Reflect: What problems do I have? do not have a problem with committing murder, but it is not so clear cut 2) As Christians we come to believe that a power greater than with a sin such as lying. Some of us struggle with staying faithful to our ourselves could restore us to sanity. That we believe that Jesus the spouse, whether it is physically with another human being, or mentally with Christ died for our sins, and that sin does not belong in our lives. addictions such as pornography. Some of us struggle with idolatry which Reflect: Do I believe that Christ died for me and can and will can be setting up a statue in our living room that we worship in place of forgive me? God, or something that becomes a god in our lives such as the television, our cigarettes or drugs or alcohol. Whenever we let down our guard, that is 3) As Christians we make a decision to turn our will and our lives over the prime time for the enemy to take advantage of our hearts and bring us to the care of God as we understand Him. Each of us have our own to a place where we will fail once again. Remember, it is said that once you walk with God and if we truly desire to be more like Him, we will are an addict of something such as alcohol, you are always an addict, and learn to look into the mirror and be honest with ourselves in our you forever remain a recovering alcoholic. The same is for any sin. An alco- desire to bring down the strongholds in our lives. holic that is recovering cannot take just one sip, for that sip then becomes Reflect: When I look in the mirror who do I see? the foothold needed to allow the enemy in. Reflect: Who do I want to see? The ten commandments are summed up into two commandments, 4) As Christians we make a searching and fearless moral inventory of which are to love God and love others as we love ourselves, or in other words OURSELVES and not others. We all will stand before God alone, it defines what our relationship is between our God and others and our- and the only being we can change is OURSELVES. selves in this life. Now, I am not going to say what is a sin for me is the same Reflect: What are the sins that I do struggle with and what do I as what is a sin for any that are reading this writing. A person must first re- need help with? alize that they need to change before they can seek out the change in their lives. There are things I believe are sins that I will not cross over the line to 5) As Christians we admit to God, to ourselves, and to another human commit, but in today’s society some of the sin that is committed is being being the exact nature of our wrong doings. If we have wronged someone, (God or another person) or if the sin is Orthodox Christians this entails frequent Holy BIRTHDAYS THIS MONTH : persons that we admit those things to the Confession and receiving the gift of Communion as 04/04 Alex Brown appropriate person. often as possible. 04/14 Bruce Tonjes Reflect: Who have I wronged and who do I need to Reflect: Will I set time aside to pray and interact 04/14 Linda Bires seek forgiveness from? with Christ every day? 04/20 Merle Pido 04/25 Subdn Joseph Brown Reflect: And, who do I need to forgive? Reflect: Will I make time to come to services as 04/27 Ellen Flynn often as possible? 04/29 Nina Klymenko 04/30 Raveer George Farag 6) As Christians we’re entirely ready to have God Reflect: Will I set time out for confession? remove all these defects of character. We are ready 05/03 Walter Klymenko Sorry if we missed your birthday, to have God actually change us and help us to 12) As Christians to have a constant spiritual anniversary or nameday - this bul - become the people that he desires us to be. awakening as the result of these steps. We try to letin is a work in progress. Reflect: Do I actually want to become more like Christ? carry the message of forgiveness and salvation to ANNIVERSARIES : others who struggle with sin, and to practice these 04/21 Donald & Linda Bires NAMEDAYS : 7) As Christians we humbly asked Him to remove our principles in all our affairs. 04/23 Raveer George Farag shortcomings. We, as Orthodox Christians, have the Reflect: Will I share this gift with others and 04/25 Marek Wolfe proclaim the goodness of God to everyone for 04/25 Mark Farag ability to go before God and through the sacrament Are there any namedays this of Holy Confession, we are able to be absolved from being forgiven and delivered from the bondage month? our sins. I was in? We are in need of updating our parishioner directories. We’d love Reflect: Will I have the courage to go before God it if you could email your informa - and seek his forgiveness? If we desire to become more like God, we will seek out tion or write out your information change in our lives. If we want to be forgiven, we can be and return it to the church office. 8) As Christians we are able to make a list of all persons forgiven. The battles that we fight against this flesh and PRAYERS FOR HEALTH , HEALING we had harmed, and become willing to make blood form, this human form, struggles every minute of OR OTHER INTENTIONS : amends to them all. If you have any intentions, health, Reflect: Are we willing to seek out the people to every day. St. Paul writes about the spiritual war in the book healing or other, please submit the receive the forgiveness we so deeply desire to of Ephesians. He tells us that the battles we fight against first names last initial to Fr. have if we are truly repentant and truly seek to principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the Demetri. Write that it is a prayer re - change our hearts and will to be able to hand darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness quest so it can be added to list. ANNIVERSARIES , N AMEDAYS & them over to God? in the heavenly places. He is telling us that the demons BIRTHDAYS & OTHER CELEBRA - we face are real, that they are around us and that we are TIONS : Reflect: Are we ready to seek out the people that battling them literally for the sake of our souls. On the 3rd Sunday of the month, we need to forgive? we’d like to celebrate milestones with our parish family, so whether 9) As Christians make direct amends to such people He tells us that we are to put on the Armor of God, which it is a nameday, anniversary, birth - wherever possible, except when to do so would are holy attributes of Christ, and if we do so that we can be day or other celebration in the cur - injure them or others. When you are not able to strengthened when the evil day comes upon us, when sin rent calendar month, let’s make seek forgiveness of the other person then we come rears its ugly head and attempts to destroy us. Remember mention of it and celebrate it on before God in Holy Confession to seek out that the 3rd Sunday of the month. that Satan has no power over us except the power that we VOLUNTEERS FOR OUR WEEKLY forgiveness. give him. We have the tools needed to conquer any sin, COFFEE HOUR : Reflect: Will I follow through with the forgiveness and passion and any stronghold in our lives. It takes a con- We are always in need of volun - from my fellow human being and from God? teers to assist with the weekly cof - scious effort to make the decision to change and to seek fee hour. Please sign-up if your out God’s face and His grace. It’s ours for the taking, the interested in participating in the 10) As Christians make a continued personal Narthex. You’re also welcome to inventory, and when we were wrong, promptly prize is with our grasp, the end of the race is within sight. bring a dish to share! admitted it. This was the key that made King David The only person that stands between our salvation and us CHOIR : a man after God’s own heart. He was quick to is ourselves! All voices are welcome to the peo - realize his shortcomings and would go before God ple / choir / chanter responses and seek forgiveness upon the realization he had listed in your service book. Need “I pray that when I die, hell will rejoice not be a professional singer to par - failed. that I am out of the fight,” - CT Studd ticipate, God doesn’t judge quality Reflect: Will I constantly search my heart and of voice - He knows what He’s constantly seek God’s grace in my life? given you. MEMORIALS / P ANAHIDA : Reflect: When I am wrong will I admit it? Remembering those that passed this life is part of our faith. If you have those 11) As Christians seek to improve our conscious whom you wish to remember, please provide Fr. Demetri their names and contact with God as we understand Him through when they departed this life, we’d like prayer and meditation, praying only for knowledge to offer a monthly memorial on the 4th of His will for us and the power to carry that out. As Sunday of the month. Count Your March Blessings: Ellen Flynn , is collecting names of volunteer readers for the month of We have quite the number of blessings to be April, please see her about reading during one of the many services dur - thankful for in the month of March. ing Lent. We’ll be offering a marathon of services, and with that comes 1) We were blessed to have visited the Greek Monastery & Convent. a lot of readings. 2) We are blessed to have been enlightened by Fr. Frederick on the Use your voice as a joyful offering to the Lord. icon of the Mystical Supper. 3) We are blessed to have a behind-the-scenes look at vesting and its symbolism. 4) We are blessed by the dedication of our Parish Council and its Sisterhood officers. 5) Thankful for the Epistle readers for the month. We have a great of St. Nectarios number of readings coming up in April for Holy Week, so we’ll be As our beloved St. Nectar - looking for volunteers to read Psalms and various readings for the ios recognized the impor - different days. tance of women in the 6) Thankful for the parish participation in the Sunday coffee hour. 7) Blessed to have children participation in services. church, our parish de - 8) We are blessed to have a new Women’s Club. pends on many women 9) We’re blessed by each and every one of you! for the day to day needs ****************************************************** of the parish. From feast ORTHODOX EDUCATION CLASSES - Fr. Demetri is planning on more day decorations to start - education classes. What topics would you like to learn about? Saints? ing up fundraisers to Scripture? Sacraments? Feast days? Traditions? Interested in a movie helping with coffee hour night followed by a discussion? Drop Fr. Demetri an email, note or phone and cleanup - the women call with your interests about the Faith. of the parish have always ****************************************************** Remember, when you write out your utility bills or any kind of bill, been a great blessing! to put aside something to give back to the Glory of God in your life! Our parish council has voted to encourage a sisterhood of the parish: Sisterhood of St. Nectarios.

Our mission is to collaborate with other women of the church for creating fundraising endeavors that benefit the parish’s goal of eventually building a church and at the same time to represent our parish and faith by distributing alms to the poor throughout the year.

Our first event will be a Palm Sunday fish luncheon. We will be pre-selling meals, a donation (suggested donation of $10 a plate) is greatly welcome for an adult meal; children under 12 are free.

You can make a weekly offering or monthly, whether you are in church A portion of the proceeds will go to an Orthodox Mis - or if want to mail it. At some point, we may offer a wireless transfer or sions organization to help evangelize the faith and direct deposit for those tech savvy individuals. bring basic necessities to part of the world.

Passing the tray in service is awkward, clumsy and takes away from the We plan on having a brief meeting in the church on true beauty of worship, but as it is a necessity, please place your offering Sunday, April 7th following services. Every woman is in the basket upfront either as you enter or as you leave the parish. We encouraged to attend and participate. We just need to try not to inconvenience the flow of the service by pushing baskets sev - gather input for the direction of the group and seek eral times a service. Help us make this a welcoming and relaxing aspect out a structure of support in our endeavors together. of service. There are envelopes and pens as you enter, you can put your May God smile upon us, bless us and give us His Grace. name and amount on them or leave them as anonymous. The reason First Meeting (it’ll be brief!) for the names is to assign your donation to your stewardship or to apply Sunday, April 7th the payment to a specific request - building fund or stewardship or other. Your choice! after services! Join us for our first Palm Sunday Fish Luncheon! Sunday, April 21st following service

We are requesting advance purchase to account for meals prepared, as this is also the West’s Easter Sunday. We’ll have some appetizers, a fish meal, a side dish and dessert.

A suggested donation of $10 a plate, a portion of the $ 0ed proceeds will benefit the S1uggest nation Orthodox Missions group. Do

Children under 12 FREE with the childrens menu (fish sticks & fries). Sponsored by the: Sisterhood of St. Nectarios

Services & Scripture Readings: Epistle Reading: St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 12:28-29; 13:1-8 Wednesday, April 3rd - 6:30pm - Pre-Sanctified Liturgy Gospel Reading: John 11:1-45 OT Reading: Isaiah 26:21-27:9 Sunday, April 21st - 9:30am - Palm Sunday OT Reading: Genesis 9:18-29; 10:1 Epistle Reading: St. Paul's Letter to the Philippians 4:4-9 OT Reading: Proverbs 12:25-31; 13:1-10 Gospel Reading: John 12:1-18 Sunday, April 7th - 9:30am - Sunday Epistle Reader: Natalie Pope (Fr. Frederick will offer a teaching on Icons) Sunday, April 21st - 6pm - Bridegroom Epistle Reading: St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 6:13-20 Gospel Reading: Matthew 21:18-43; 24:3-35 Gospel Reading: Mark 9:17-31 Holy Monday, April 22nd - 6pm - Bridegroom Epistle Reader: Arlene Tonjes Gospel Reading: Matthew 22:15-46; 23:1-39 Wednesday, April 10th - 6:30pm - Pre-Sanctified Liturgy Holy Wednesday, April 24th - 6pm - Holy Unction (Fr. will offer confession between 4pm-6pm or arrange a time) OT Reading: Isaiah 41:4-14 Epistle: St. James’ Universal Letter: 5:10-16 OT Reading: Genesis 17:1-9 St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans: 15:1-7 OT Reading: Proverbs 15:22-33, 36-38; 16:1-5; 15:34-35 St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians: 12:27-13:8 Sunday, April 14th - 9:30am - Sunday St. Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians: 6:16-7:1; 1:8-11 Epistle Reading: St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 9:11-14 St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians: 5:22-26; 6:1-2 Gospel Reading: Mark 10:32-45 St. Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians: 5:14-23 Epistle Reader: Subdeacon Joseph Gospel Reading: Luke 10:25-37; 19:1-10; Matthew 10:1, 5-8; Wednesday, April 17th - 6:30pm - Pre-Sanctified Liturgy 8:14-23; 25:1-13; 15:21-28; 9:9-13 Holy Thursday, April 25th - 9:30am OT Reading: Isaiah 58:1-11 (Hospital & home visits by request following service.) OT Reading: Genesis 43:26-1; 45:1-16 OT Reading: Exodus 19:10-19; Job 38:1-21; 42:1-5; Isaiah 50:4-11 OT Reading: Proverbs 21:22-30, 22:1-4 Epistle: St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians 11:23-32 Saturday, April 20th - 9:30am - Lazarus Saturday Gospel: Matthew 26:1-20; John 13:3-17; Matthew 26:21-39; (Church decorating after service) Luke 22:43-44; Matthew 26:40-75; 27:1-2 Services & Scripture Readings (cont.): Holy Saturday, April 26th - 7pm - Vespers Holy Thursday, April 25th - 6pm - 12 Gospels Hymns and prelude to the Resurrection service. Gospel Reading: John 13:31-38; 14-18:1 / 18:1-28 / Matthew 26:57-75 / John 18:28-40; 19:1-16 / Matthew 27:3-32 / Mark Sunday, April 28th - 9:30am - Pascha Sunday 15:16-32 / Matthew 27:33-54 / Luke 23:32-49 / John 19:25-37 / (Fr. Demetri will read an Easter story for the children, followed by a Mark 15:43-47 / John 19:38-42 / Matthew 27:62-66 basket blessing and egg hunt for the children). Due to the Resurrection, no Memorial/Panihida will be offered this Good Friday, April 26th - 3pm - Unnailing Service month. (Any church decorating to be done prior to service or immediately after) Epistle Reading: Acts of the Apostles 1:1-8 OT Reading: Exodus 3:11-23 / Job 42:12-17 / Isaiah 52:14-54:1 Gospel Reading: John 1:1-17 Epistle Reading: St. Paul’s First Letter to the Cor. 1:18-31; 2:1-2 Epistle Reader: Subdeacon Peter Flynn Gospel Reading: Matthew 27:1-38, Luke 23:39-43, Matthew Sign-up for reading the Epistle for May. Sign-up sheet is in the 27:39-54, John 19:31-37, Matthew 27:55-61 Narthex or check with Ellen. Glory be to God for all things. Good Friday, April 26th - 6:30pm -Entombment Service OT Reading: Ezekiel 37:1-14 Epistle Reading: 1 Cor. 5:6-8; Galatians 3:13-14 Gospel Reading: Matthew 27:62-66

Holy Saturday, April 27th - 9:30am OT Readings: Genesis 1:1-13 / Jonah 1-4 / Daniel 3:1-56 Epistle: St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans 6:3-11 Gospel Reading: Matthew 28:1-20 The Tomb is Empty. He is Risen. ST. NECTARIOS AMERICAN CARPATHO-RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH 405 Marcum Road, Lakeland, FL 33809 www.stnectarios.com