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GREEK ORTHODOX COMMUNITY & PARISH

OF PROPHET ELIAS NORWOOD & EASTERN

SUBURBS INC.

87 BEULAH RD. NORWOO

NORWOOD SA 5067 P.O. BOX 277, KENT TOWN SA 5071
71
ALL CORRESPONDENCE T
TO THE HON. SECRETARY

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24
: 8362
62 4139 . 8431 7789 . 0412 710 037

18-12-16
32 . 1638

WEEKLY MAGAZINE

THE WORD OF GOD

PHONES: 8362 4139 H
H. 8431 7789 M. 0412 710 037

DATE 18-12-16
YEAR 32ND NUMBER 1638
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(. 11, 9-10, 32-40) 18 .2016

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SUNDAY BEFORE NATIVITY (Heb. 11, 9-10, 32-40) 18 December.2016
Today on the Sunday before the birth of Christ, our Church transports us- through the
readings- to the events that paved the way for the coming of God into the world. The
Gospel reading records the genealogy of His human nature, beginning with Abraham,
Isaak and Jacob.

And the epistle reading tells us about the people of the Old

Testament who with their way of life and their struggles pleased God. Who were these
people who had played such great historical roles? The Lord Jesus Christ, whos Birth
we will be celebrating in just a few short days, is perfect God and perfect man. That is
why we said that according to His human nature He has ancestors. His genealogy is
from the Hebrew nation, the chosen people of God. From this nation there had arisen
virtuous Patriarchs, Prophets, and glorious Kings and leaders, with spiritual stature and
fine souls that were inclined towards God. The Old Testament is filled with the feats
and lives of these people, who lived with a fear of God and became heroes of faith and
Sacrifice. Many of them prophesised the coming of the Messiah; The coming of the
One who would spread joy and chase away sorrow, the One who would stop the
hatred and wars, taking away any threat of misery. Today our Church commemorates
the people who, as beacons of light the illuminated the path for the coming of Christ. It
is not just the Gospel and epistle readings that tell us, with historical detail, about each
of these people, and how each one in his own way helped prepare the way for the
coming of Christ into the world. If we examine the hymnology from last nights vesper
service, and also from this mornings Matins we will have a better understanding of the
greatness of these people.

Within these there are few distinguished notables,

Abraham, Isaak, the righteous and holy Joseph, Moses, Aaron, Joshua, Samuel,
David, the three Youths, through to the protector of the holy Mother of the Lord, the
blessed and just Joseph. So it was from this chosen people that our Lord Jesus Christ
came.

How did these people please God?

Through their faith, their virtue, their

sacrifice, and in general their holiness. They had their spiritual eyes open and were
able to see the greatness of God. They felt the presence of God everywhere and so

were honoured to see the signs and wonders that God allowed them to see so that
their faith in Him was strengthened.

For example, how would it be possible for

someone today to understand and interpret the faith of Abraham, who did not hesitate
when God asked him to sacrifice his son Isaak? What else could it be other than the
absolute faith in God and His words, and also in is promises. Abrahams example
reveals of such deep dedication, faith and obedience! The same is true of Moses who
witnessed with his own eyes and experienced the living presence of God, as he sent
the 10 plagues into the kingdom of Pharaoh.

Moses, who for forty years led the

Israelites along the path to the Promised Land, lived the wondrous power of the living
God! My brethren it is not difficult to discuss the virtues of these people who our
Church commemorates today. That which is difficult for us is to live like them, and lead
virtuous lives like them. If there is just one message that we should take from todays
epistle reading, it is that faith and the virtue saves man. Often we admire the wonders
of science and consider the wondrous advancements and achievements of man today,
we truly agree that today man has been able to reveal some things that up until now
have remained hidden to him due to the spiritual immaturity of mankind. My brothers
and sisters, God has offered to us so many things and energies from the beginning of
time, that we are just now beginning to uncover just a few crumbs, and this we
consider to be such a great achievement. However since we continue with wars,
hatred, murder, and every type of evil action we hold ourselves down. We think that
we are progressing, however in reality we are stagnating, or rather going backwards.
We are like those drunks, who rowed their boat all night long only to discover with the
rising sun in the morning that their boat was tied to its mooring. Therefore we are
going backwards. How far back have we gone? We say that we have gone back to
the era of Sodom and Gomorrah. At that time God burnt both of those cities to the
ground because of the sin of sodomy, which is named after the cities. Contemporary
society does not look back on this history and, considers itself progressive and
knowledgeable, they think that it is from some new perspective and understanding
that people now the push this issue as a legitimate and progressive understanding.
This is why today we see these spiritual dwarfs filled with pride, proclaiming that they

have no need for Christ. We live in a new century and things have change as they
say. We do not doubt that there has been change, however this has not been for good
but it is for the worse. Often the people who share and push this same point of view,
when they themselves or their child is facing death, they turn to take refuge in God and
His Church and ask for his help. Yes, dear brethren. At one point they considered
themselves self-sufficient and powerful, but when faced with such an illness brining
disaster and death and the find that medial science cannot help them then they run to
God and His Church. If we suppose that it is possible that one day mankind is able to
defeat disease, death, poverty, hatred, war and every type of malice, however he will
never be able to defeat sin on his own. This is because sin is a spiritual condition, it is
not something that can be combated through education, nor wealth, nor technology,
nor science, nor missiles and bombs. How often have we felt powerless in the face of
evil that causes us to shout within ourselves: but I see another law in my members,
warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin
(Rom. 7, 23) as the Apostle Paul describes. We see that the various passions conquer
us.

Self-centeredness, anger, resentment, hatred, envy, jealousy, immorality, and

other passions torment us, our families and destroy all of society. Some of us try to rid
ourselves of these, but we realise that on our own, through our own powers this would
be completely impossible to achieve. And then we are occupied with despair and we
sink deeper into the filth of evil and indifference, offering the excuse: there is nothing
that I can do. Few are those who hear the divine voice: for He will save His people
from their sins. Few turn their gaze towards the only Saviour and ask for strength and
His divine grace to help them fight sin and escape the bonds of sin. Firstly and most
fundamentally to combat sin we need to feel that we: labour and are heavy laden,
that when we are far from Gods grace, without His power, we will always be prisoners
of evil. And only He can give us the strength to fight against evil. Secondly, we are not
forced. Salvation is not forced upon us Whoever desires to come after me the Lord
says to us. If we feel the burden of sin, we would waste no time, and turn towards our
only Saviour. He awaits us with open arms. He shed His Precious Blood for us. Now,
we need approach His cross and become partakers of the holy sacraments,

Confession, and Communion of His Holy Body and Blood. In a few day we will be
celebrating once again this year the Birth of Jesus Christ. It is easy for this Christmas
to be celebrated only with external, superficial joy, with parties and the exchange of
gifts and well wishing, but also with greater sin. However, it is more difficult for us to
accept the Lord as our own Saviour and Redeemer from or sins and passions. Today
we find ourselves at the threshold of the stable in Bethlehem and in our minds we can
hear the first cries of the new-born Christ, the bleating of the sheep and the angels
hymn: Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men! let us,
then, kneel devoutly and humbly ask for the mercy of the Lord.

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MARK TIDDY

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DAVID KINGS

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News from our Community-Parish
Christmas Message from the Sydney Christian Youth Group visiting Adelaide
By personal invitation of His Grace Bishop Nikandros of Doryleon, some members of
the Christian Union of Sydney visited Adelaide on Friday 9th, Saturday 10th and Sunday
11th December. The youth were accompanied by the President of the Christian Union
Dr. John Psaromatis, and three lay-preachers of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia and
professional speakers, as well as chanters and teachers of Byzantine music. The
purpose of this outstanding spiritual visit was to give talks and discussions on the
Christmas theme, to present a theatrical work with the Christmas message, to preach
the divine word, to chant and sing Christmas songs in four different Churches, to keep
company with the youth of Adelaide and to spread the real Christmas message in the
hearts of locals. Hundreds and thousands of the faithful of Adelaide attended with

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spiritual interest, and embraced with brotherly love the enthusiastic members. The
humble, Christian care of about fifty youngsters of the Sydney Christian Union,
especially the Christian enthusiasm with which they spoke, chanted and sung,
undoubtedly conveyed the real Christmas message to the hearts of everyone who
attended. We thank His Grace for the invitation, especially to all those youth who, with
missionary zeal, came and gave us joy from their joy, enthusiasm from their
enthusiasm, and faith from their faith. Also, His Grace thanked and congratulated the
President Dr. John Psaromatis for the positive response to his invitation and wished
everyone a happy festive season.

CHRISTMAS CAROLS CONCERT

This evening, Sunday 18th December, 6.30pm 8.30pm, there will be the annual
Christmas Carols Concert in the Parish Hall. It is organized by the Youth of the Greek
School and Sunday School, along with our chanters, ladies choir, and other volunteers
in our Community-Parish.

NEW YEARS EVE DANCE

On Saturday 31st December, there will be the New Years Eve Dance at Prophet Elias.
We have already started booking tables and seats. Thank you for the interest shown in
securing places early. The ticket is only $15 for children between 6 and 18 years, and
$40 for adults, excluding drinks. It is superfluous to mention the abundant menu, which
is already famous from before. Dont risk missing out - book now! Bookings close

tonight, Sunday, 18th December.

Death-Funeral
While in prayer to our Triune God, Amalia Piantedosi (nee Misopapas) of Katalakkos
Limnos passed away in hospital, aged 48 years. Her funeral was held in our Church
last Monday at 10.30am. The burial was at Payneham Cemetery, and the coffee of
condolence was offered in our Parish Hall. A wreath was laid on behalf of our
Community-Parish by the President Mr. Andrew Kefalianos. The Priest, President,

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Executive Committee, Philoptohos and Youth extend their sincere condolences to the
husband, children and family of the departed, and pray they may have strength and
comfort from above. Warm thanks to those who donated to the Church in memory of
the late Amalia Piantedosi (Misopapas).

Forty Days of Liturgies

The Forty Days of Liturgies continues until 1st January 2017, thus comprising about fifty
days of Divine Liturgy celebrated at Prophet Elias with relevant homilies, 8am
9.30am, apart from Sundays and big festivals, when we finish later.

Program for Christmas, New Year and Epiphany

The program for Christmas, New Year and Epiphany has been printed, and is available
from the front counter of our Church.
Christmas Day: Next Sunday, 25th December, Matins and Divine Liturgy at Prophet
Elias Norwood, 6am 9am.

Donations
John Psaromatis (for Philoptohos)

$250

Eftyhia Morias

$ 50

(for Church

Kalliopi Poupoulas (for health)

$ 10

Many thanks to our devout donors, and may the Lord bless and sanctify them always.

Agiasmos around the homes

With the help of God, our Priest will again come round the homes of our parishioners
for the annual Agiasmos. However, he informs us that he has difficulty with the stairs of
some houses, and kindly asks our devoted parishioners to have ready a glass, so that
he can pour in a little Agiasmos, and they can themselves sprinkle the rooms on the
upper floor. As he tells us: Its one thing to climb one staircase during the day, and
quite another to climb fifty or one hundred staircases! (seems like age is catching up).

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??? THESE ARE SOME OF THE CHRISTIAN YOUTH FROM SYDNEY,
WE INVITED THEM ON BEHALF OF OUR YOUTH & THEY ACCEPTED OUR INVITATION. THEY
CAME THEY SPOKE & PERFORMED LAST WEEKEND IN ADELAIDE! BUT OUR YOUTH
TURNED THEIR BACKS TO THEM. TRULY! HOW APPROPRIATE WAS LAST SUNDAYS
GOSPEL!!!