{"id":2260,"date":"2017-03-10T08:38:13","date_gmt":"2017-03-10T15:38:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stannagocutah.org\/?p=2260"},"modified":"2017-03-10T08:38:13","modified_gmt":"2017-03-10T15:38:13","slug":"pastoral-letter-march-12-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stannagocutah.org\/?p=2260","title":{"rendered":"Pastoral Letter March 12, 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,<\/p>\n

Today, our parish of St. Anna’s was greatly honored as I was invited to the Utah State Capitol to offer the invocation for the final day of this legislative session for the House of Representatives. Joining me was my mom, Dena Savas, Elaine Zambos and our youngest son, Dimitri Savas. I would like to thank two, fine, young Greek Orthodox men, Christopher Coombs and Niko Priskos who intern at the Capitol, and extended\u00a0kind hospitality throughout the morning.\u00a0I also wish to thank\u00a0Chris Gamvroulas, president of Ivory Development who is no stranger to Capitol Hill, and through whom the invitation was given.<\/p>\n

I thought it appropriate, since our parish was officially acknowledged on the floor of the House Chamber, that you are given the opportunity to read what\u00a0was offered in prayer on behalf of our legislators. May the name of St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church continue to grow throughout Utah and beyond,\u00a0to the glory\u00a0of our Lord, Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n

With Love in Him and a Grateful Heart,<\/p>\n

Fr. Anthony
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\n<\/b><\/p>\n

Prayer at the Utah State House of Representatives
\nThursday, March 9th<\/sup>, 2017 at the Utah State Capitol
\nGiven by the Rev. N. Anthony Savas,
\nSt. Anna Greek Orthodox Church, Cottonwood Heights<\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNow a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with the wine, put it<\/i> on hyssop, and put it<\/i> to His mouth.\u00a0\u00a0<\/sup>So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, \u201cIt is finished!<\/i><\/b>\u201d And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.\u201d<\/p>\n

This reading is from the Gospel of St. John.<\/p>\n

Let us pray to the Lord.<\/p>\n

Lord have mercy.<\/p>\n

Lord, God, and Savior, Jesus Christ, you uttered, these words: \u201cIt is finished<\/i><\/b>\u201d as you hung upon your most precious, awesome, and life-giving cross. You proclaimed this to the world\u2026not succumbing to death\u2026for as the author of life, you proceeded, steadfastly from the Cross\u2026liberating all who were held captive by the evil one\u2026from the time of the Fall\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2026But rather\u2026You pronounced the end of your earthly ministry, making way for the gift of the Holy Spirit to come upon this world\u2026and to continue the Work of the Father, through the Incarnation of the Son.<\/p>\n

You pronounced, O Lord, \u201cIt is finished<\/i><\/b>\u201d \u2026so that the next chapter in God\u2019s Salvific Plan for the human race could be written and commenced.<\/p>\n

You pronounced, O Lord, \u201cIt is finished<\/i><\/b>\u201d \u2026so that You could break the chains, smash the bars and free your children from Satan\u2019s once-eternal Prison.<\/p>\n

You pronounced, O Lord, \u201cIt is finished<\/i><\/b>\u201d \u2026so that You could once again\u202640 Days after your Resurrection from the dead\u2026ascend into the Heavens and reclaim Your Throne on high\u2026the Right hand of the Father.<\/p>\n

You pronounced, O Lord, \u201cIt is finished<\/i><\/b>\u201d \u2026so that Your Bride, the Church, could be established\u2026through the Journeys of Your Sainted-Apostles, spreading the message of your Gospel, and to preach the good news of Your Resurrection from the dead.<\/p>\n

You pronounced, O Lord, \u201cIt is finished<\/i><\/b>\u201d \u2026so that the gates of Paradise might be reopened unto us, thus embracing us\u2026 and receiving us back as sons and daughters\u2026 as rightful heirs to your Kingdom.<\/p>\n

You pronounced, O Lord, \u201cIt is finished<\/i><\/b>\u201d \u2026so that life could\u2026begin.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

Christ our God, Who at all times and in every hour\u2026in heaven and on earth\u2026are worshipped and glorified; Who are longsuffering, merciful, and compassionate; Who love the just and show mercy to the sinner, Who call all to salvation through the promise of good things to come\u2026receive our supplications to bless\u2026on this the final day of this Legislative Session, our State House of Representatives\u2026together with all those in Utah\u2019s public service\u2026and also those who are served.<\/p>\n

Lord, when our Representatives proclaim on this day, that:
\n\u201cit is finished<\/i><\/b>,\u201d I pray that they may stand before You in humility\u2026confident\u2026that their work has been fruitful and productive\u2026worthy of Your favor and blessing.<\/p>\n

Lord, when our Representatives proclaim on this day, that:
\n\u201cit is finished<\/i><\/b>,\u201d I pray that You accept the laws that have been authored, discussed, voted upon and accepted\u2026are protective of Your environment and the respect of all who are created in Your holy image.<\/p>\n

Lord, when our Representatives proclaim on this day, that:
\n\u201cit is finished<\/i><\/b>,\u201d deign them to have been proper stewards of the trust given to them\u2026through the prestige and dignity of the titles that have been bestowed upon them.<\/p>\n

Lord, when our Representatives proclaim on this day, that:
\n\u201cit is finished<\/i><\/b>,\u201d let them return to their families, careers, businesses, and lives, knowing that the great sacrifices they have made\u2026through the time dedicated to their elected office, is acknowledged and rewarded by Your generous and loving grace.<\/p>\n

Thank You, Lord, for Your strength, guidance and inspiration in their soon-to-be-finished efforts. For You are the fulfillment of all good things.<\/p>\n

These things we ask of You, together with your Father Who is from everlasting\u2026and Your all holy, good, and life-giving Spirit. Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.<\/p>\n

Amen.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/b><\/i><\/u><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Today, our parish of St. Anna’s was greatly honored as I was invited to the Utah State Capitol to offer the invocation for the final day of this legislative session for the House of Representatives. Joining me was my mom, Dena Savas, Elaine Zambos and our youngest son, Dimitri […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[57],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2260","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-pastoral-letter"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stannagocutah.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2260","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stannagocutah.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stannagocutah.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stannagocutah.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stannagocutah.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2260"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/stannagocutah.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2260\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2261,"href":"https:\/\/stannagocutah.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2260\/revisions\/2261"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stannagocutah.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2260"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stannagocutah.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2260"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stannagocutah.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2260"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}