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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

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

20-11-16
32 . 1634

WEEKLY MAGAZINE

THE WORD OF GOD

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

DATE 20-11-16
YEAR 32ND NUMBER 1634
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9th SUNDAY OF LUKE (Gal. 6. 11-18) November 20, 2016

We have previously concerned ourselves with the text of todays epistle reading, so
today we will attempt to take a closer at the reward that who keep, in their daily lives,
the commandments of God and apply them as a rule will receive. And here we use the
word rule to mean that they allow no transgression or deviation. To aid our study
today we will use the words of the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Galatians: as many
as walk according to this rule peace and mercy be upon them. The late Trembelas

provides a very straight forward interpretation of this passage: those who follow this
teaching concerning the new creation, and have this as their standard in their lives, will
have peace and mercy upon them and will by grace become part of the new Israel, a
new person, and through faith the elect of God, replacing the old fleshy Israel. Dear
brothers and sisters God is inviting us into a life of obedience and piety, a life that can
become a source of abundant blessing if we choose to follow it. This is exactly what
the Apostle Paul is highlighting and is wishing for us. He is wishing that all of those
who bring their lives into line with Christs teachings and become new people enjoy the
peace and mercy of God. as many as walk according to this rule peace and mercy be
upon them, here the Apostle is talking about following a rule, and he stresses that all
those who keep the rule will be rewarded by God. What does he mean by rule? By
rule he means the heavenly teaching, the new life, the new creation that the Lord
brought to us and taught us about. Rule also means the example of our Lords holy
life, that every believer is called to imitate. About this life Saint Peter writes: Christ
also suffered for us, leaving us and an example, that you should follow His steps.
Christ left us His own personal example for us to follow, even to the Cross, if we
seriously believe and desire our own resurrection. Unfortunately, a large number of
otherwise faithful Christians do not wish to follow this rule. They refuse, and express
contempt and mockery for this way of life to convince others to follow them. They
especially target those who are struggling to live according to the heaven-sent rule for
our salvation. These people have as a guide only their passions and sin-filled selves.
They have promised their allegiance to God, and yet they worship the various deities of
this age and follow the idols of our times. Truly, my brethren, what a great pity, and
what great stupidity..! God is calling us to become superior and we prefer to remain
inferior? God is call us into renewal, to become a new man, to be transformed, and we
prefer to remain old, dirty and sinful? To allow sin to distort us, to wear us down and to
enslave us. However this state and spiritual downfall is beyond any understanding and
logic. Some may even argue that God is asking of us something that is extremely

difficult or even impossible. And our answer to this is that yes, truly, it is extremely
difficult and impossible for anyone who does not want to tire, to control themselves, to
fast, to be vigilant in prayer and to live the Holy Sacraments of our Church. It is difficult
for anyone who does not read and study the rule for a true life in Christ, because they
are afraid of their spiritually weak and cowardly selves. Today we see even young
people who have become haggard, exhausted and withered as they are dragged to
and fro by their soul-destroying passions. And so, without hopes and dreams, without
the hope for spiritual uplifting, without the hope for eternal life and blessedness, they
become weighed down by their passions and sinful selves. On the other hand, all of
those, who like the apostle Paul choose to fight to the death, the struggle is a joy,
enthusiasm and heart-felt celebration. For all of those who turned their heads up
towards the Crucified Christ, our saviour and liberator and understood the salvific
purpose of His divine sacrifice, things are completely different. They see that that
which the Lord asks of us is very little, almost nothing compared to that which He will
give them.

They have come to a self-awareness, they have understood that it is

themselves who led them down the wrong path and is their own greatest enemy. They
asked the Lord to help them unburden themselves and they succeeded. The Apostle
Paul has already told us that now that his old-self has died, he has begun to feel the
true life. That now he no longer lives, but the Lord inside of him. The first requirement
for the Christian struggle, my brethren, is self-denial. This is what our Lord wants,
people of sacrifice. But people of sacrifice are not born such, they need to strive to
achieve this. All of the millions of Saints who sacrificed themselves for the truth of the
Gospel, did not simply inherit their sense of sacrifice and all of the other virtues, from
their parents, but rather they fought, worked and struggled to cultivate them. The
ancient proverb: anything good requires work, means exactly this. Our Lord wants
those who people who are willing to fight for the good to follow Him. And they will be
the ones who will be awarded the wreath of eternal glory, just like Paul and all the
Saints. What does the Lord want with the cowardly who are too scared to even do

their Cross correctly, so that nobody notices them and criticises them? What does our
Lord want with those who even though they sin lack the courage to confess? What
does he want with those who cant even be bothered to go to Church to be sanctified?
What does He want with those who rush head-long into sinful pleasures only to betray
their baptism? What does He want with all of those who waste their God-given gifts to
become like animals? What does our Lord want with those who blame God for making
them a man when they wanted to be a woman, and visa-versa? What does He want
with the flaccid homosexuals and their unnatural behaviours? The Apostle of Christ
clarifies things for us: as many as walk according to this rule peace and mercy be
upon them, only those who follow Gods commandments fighting against their own
weaknesses will receive Gods peace and mercy. Only those who struggle against
their old and sinful self will receive the reward, they will become a new creation, a
renewed man and find spiritual edification.

Paul, taking from his own personal

experience in finding spiritual peace and tranquillity and freedom, offers his advice as a
spiritual prescription for others. For this reason he wishes that everybody is able to
achieve this inner peace. Today, especially, peace is especial coveted and scarce.
As is mercy, which means Gods forgiveness.

Peace with God and a peaceful

conscience are the key elements of true happiness, which is received by the person
who pleases God. And is there anything more precious than for a soul to enjoy inner
peace and joy?

And mercy, the other precious gift given from above by the all-

forgiving God. In other words the forgiveness and mercy granted to us by the Lord, to
give us relief from our guilt and remorse and the hope of salvation. This then is the
reward for all of those who striving to become a new creation. The Lord promised
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you I give you My peace He said- and
this promise always remains true. The same can be said for mercy, the example of
Paul the former persecutor of Christianity shows us the greatness of Gods mercy. We
are amazed at how great Gods mercy towards Paul was since He permitted Paul to be
taken up to third heaven to hear those things indescribable by human words. The

same mercy is received by all of those who struggle, with self-sacrifice for the glory of
the Most Holy Trinity and the spread of the evangelical truth of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, let us diligently set aside our sin and willingly take
the decision into action, into sacrifice and spiritual struggle for the glory of our Lord.
May it be so.

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News from our Community-Parish
Death-Funeral
On Wednesday 16 November 2016, Joanna Stamatelopoulos of Stenosia Messinia
heritage, passed away peacefully at 86 years. Her funeral will be held in our Church
tomorrow Monday 21 November Day of Holy Evangelist Mathew at 11am. The burial
will be held at Cheltenham Cemetery and the coffee of condolence will be served in
our Community Centre Hall. The Priest, President, Executive Committee and
Philoptohos extend their sincere condolences to the children and relatives of the
departed, and pray they may have strength and comfort from above. Warm thanks to
those who will donate to the Church in memory of the late Joanna Stamatelopoulos.

From now to the 1st of January 2017 there will be everyday services in the Church of
Prophet Elias Norwood
Friday 2nd December, Last Vigil for 2016; and no Divine Liturgy on Saturday morning
3rd December.

Other Functions this year

Sunday evening 4th December, Saint Barbara and Saint Porfyrios, His Grace Bishop
Nikandros will officiate at our Church, from 8.00am-11.00am and soon after Church at
the Parish Hall we would be blessed to see a video of a service officiated by Saint
Porfyrios, when he was still among us.Sunday evening 4th December, Greek School
End-of-Year Function in the Parish Hall, 5pm. Everyone, especially parents and
grandparents, is invited to come along and encourage the children.

16

Monday 5th December Eve of St. Nicholas, Great Celebratory Vespers with artoklasia
and anoixantaria, 6.30pm 8.00pm.
Tuesday 6th December Day of St. Nicholas of Myra, Matins and Divine Liturgy with
artoklasia and procession of the Holy Icon in the grounds of our Church, followed by
luncheon in our Parish Hall, 8.00am-10.30am
Wednesday 7th December Eve of St. Patapios the Wonder-Worker, Celebratory
Vespers with artoklasia, 6.30pm-8.00pm.
Thursday 8th December Day of St. Patapios, Matins and Divine Liturgy with artoklasia,
8.00am-10.30am.

Christmas Day, Matins and Divine Liturgy, 6am 9am. Everyday Church services will
continue until 1st of January 2017
Donations
George Dimitriadis

for the Church

$30

We thank the donor and we pray that the Good Lord may grant him and to the entire of
his family, peace, health and all of His blessings.

Bible Study
Orthodox Christian topics are discussed in the rooms of the Prophet Elias Community
Centre every Wednesday, 7pm 8pm. Discussions are in English and there is
opportunity for everyone to listen, ask and examine every topic. All the topics are very
interesting and enrich our spiritual knowledge.
Sunday evening 18th December, Christmas Carols Concert in the Parish Hall,
organized by the Youth of the Greek School and Sunday School, along with our
chanters, ladies choir, and other volunteers in our Community-Parish.
Saturday 31st December, 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 soon!