GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE HOLY RESURRECTION SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2011 – Vol. 35 #24 Rev. Fr. John Vlahos Office: (516) 671-‐‑5200 Fax: (516) 671-‐‑5205 Email: office@resurrectiongoc.org web: www.resurrectiongoc.org ***
Epistle: Romans 13:11-14; 14:1-4 pg. 134 Gospel: Matthew 6:14-21 pg. 135 CHURCH ORDER: Stella Hetzer, Jim Gabriel, Anne Vandoros, Jimmy Xanthos, Peter Pappas, Lewis Bazakos. ALTAR SERVERS: James Bazakos, Peri Ipiotis, Nicholas Mihaltses, Thomas Nastasi, John Nickas, Matthew Rakowski, Christopher Christodoulou, Nicholas Dilena, Justin Georgiades, Peter Paralikas, Stephen Vlavianos. COFFEE HOUR: Zoe Karousos, Patti Averopoulos, Christine Kostianis, Joanne Karageorgiou, Demetra Kakoulides, Mary Stamatiou. TODAY WE COMMEMORATE The 42 Martyrs of Amorion in Phrygia; the Finding the Precious Cross by St. Helen, St. Hesychios the Wonderworker. WE COMMEMORATE the forty day memorial for Josephine Roman, beloved mother of Jeannie and Dennis Liberatos, grandmother of Marianthy and Tasos Barakos and Gerry and Jessica Liberatos, and greatgrandmother of Helaina, Virginia, Harrison, and Dionisi. Eternal be her memory! THE ALTAR KANDILI is offered by Jessica, Jerry, and Dionisi Liberatos and in loving memory of their grandmother and greatgrandmother. A PROSFORON is offered by Marianthi, Anastasios, Helaina, Virginia, and Harrison Barakos in loving memory of their grandmother and greatgrandmother. THE COMMUNION WINE is offered by Dennis and Jeannie Liberatos in loving memory of their mother. WE COMMEMORATE the three year memorial for Georgeta Frunzas, beloved mother of Mira and Ilin Zorila, and grandmother of Aita. Eternal be her memory! THE COFFEE HOUR is sponsored by the Janedis family in loving memory of their parents. Eternal be their memory!
UPCOMING SERVICES AND RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: Sun, Mar. 6th Vespers of Forgiveness 7:00 pm Mon, Mar. 7th Kathari Deutera (Clean Monday) Eukelaion 10:00 am Great Compline 7:00 pm Wed, Mar. 9th Presanctified Liturgy 6:45 pm Fri, Mar. 11th Presanctified Liturgy 10:00 am First Salutations to the Virgin Mary 7:00 pm Sat, Mar. 12th Third and Final Psychosavvato Divine Liturgy 10:00 am *** WE SHALL HOLD A TOWN HALL following Liturgy on March 13th. We look forward to updating you on parish news and answering your questions. THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO ATTENDED THE STATE OF THE PARISH. It was a wonderful evening that demonstrated all that we can accomplish with faith, enthusiasm and teamwork. The presentation is now available online at http://issuu.com/resurrectiongoc/docs/stateofparish?mode=a_p . OUR GLENDI! THIS SATURDAY! The Glendi will be March 5, 2011 from 5-9 pm. ALL ORATORICAL FESTIVAL PARTICIPANTS are reminded that there will be a practice session on Saturday, March 12. This practice session will take place in church according to appointment times. Letters were mailed on March 3. Any questions, speak to Vivian Casil at 759-1148. THE SEASON OF GREAT LENT is the time of preparation for the feast of the Resurrection of Christ. It is the living symbol of man's entire life which is to be fulfilled in his own resurrection from the dead with Christ. It is a time of renewed devotion: of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. It is a time of repentance, a real renewal of our minds, hearts and deeds in conformity with Christ and his teachings. It is the time, most of all, of our return to the great commandments of loving God and our neighbors. In the Orthodox Church, Great Lent is not a season of morbidity and gloominess. On the contrary, it is a time of joyfulness and purification. We are called to “anoint our faces” and to “cleanse our bodies as we cleanse our souls.” The very first hymns of the very first service of Great Lent set the proper tone of the season: Let us begin the Lenten time with delight … let us fast from passions as we fast from food, taking pleasure in the good words of the Spirit, that we may be granted to see the holy passion of Christ our God and His holy Pascha, spiritually rejoicing.
MEMORIAL SATURDAYS –MARCH 12th (Saturdays of the Souls, Psychosavvata) Divine Liturgy followed by Memorial services on each Saturday FOR CHRISTIANS, THE ACT OF GATHERING TO PRAY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DIED goes back to the earliest days of the Church. In particular, martyrs were honored (for example, placing the Altar Table of a church upon the site where the relics of a martyr were buried); however, gathering at the burial place of a friend or family member was also a common practice among Christians. When we gather today in the Church for a memorial, we are continuing a centuries-old practice. So, why do we use ‘kolyva’? In John 12:24, Jesus says: “Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” The boiled wheat is used in the Orthodox Church as a symbol of our hope in the Resurrection. From the grain that died comes the fruit of eternal life. Why, then, do we call the wheat ‘kolyva’? This name comes from a term commonly used during the fourth century, particularly where the following miracle occurred. The Emperor Julian the Apostate tried to have the fruits and vegetables, for use by Christians who were fasting during Great Lent, contaminated! In a dream, Saint Theodore the Tyron appeared to Patriarch Evdoxios and told him to instruct the faithful to consume only boiled wheat (‘kolyva’). The faithful responded accordingly and were able to continue the fast! This miracle is commemorated annually on the third Saturday of Souls.
PLEASE DON’T THROW OUT THOSE OLD TOYS! ST. CATHERINE’S PHILOPTOCHOS IS SUPPORTING SECOND HAND TOYS by having a Used Toy Drive for disadvantaged children. Gently used, plastic toys should be clean, have no small or missing parts, and battery operated toys must be fully operational. Kindly drop off the toys in large plastic garbage bags, in the Church Hall throughout the month of March. Any questions, kindly contact Millie (516) 801-2731 or Vasilianna (917) 335-4886. Second Chance Toys is a 501c3 community-based program that rescues and recycles gently used plastic toys for distribution to disadvantaged children. Second Chance Toys was founded in 2006 by a NJ high school student. To date it has donated over 64,000 toys, which have helped keep our landfills free of plastic while bringing smiles and laughter to many children.
ST. CATHERINE’S PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS ST. NEKTARIOS MONASTERY----We will be visiting the monastery in Roscoe, NY on Thursday, March 17. We will depart from Church at 9 am and return at 9 pm. To RSVP please contact Maria at 516-677-9650.
HOMELESS SHELTER---We will be providing dinner for the North Shore Homeless Shelter on the following dates: 3/25, 4/1. If you would like to volunteer to help, please contact Irene at ipappas@optonline.net. Sign-up also available during Coffee Hour. IT'S MEMBERSHIP DRIVE TIME. You should have received your membership letter in the mail by now. Please consider joining St. Catherine's Philoptochos and helping support this very important ministry. For more info, call Maria at 917-541-4444. WE HAVE CHOSEN OUR NEXT BOOK for our Orthodox book club. It is titled Dear and Glorious Physician, A novel about St. Luke, by Taylor Caldwell. Books may be ordered through the Church Book Store during coffee hour. SAVE THE DATE---March 9th Lenten Lecture with Bishop Savas. A flyer is attached. WE ARE HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE that Jim Xanthos and Frank Albers would like to offer all 7-‐‑12 year olds the opportunity to play basketball. They will hold intramurals at the church beginning in April. If your son/daughter is interested please get in touch with Jim Xanthos or Nickie Demos. HELP WANTED/HELP NEEDED NY TLC LICENSED DRIVER AVAILABLE FOR HIRE. Available full or part time to help with general driving or errands. 7 years experience. PARISH WISH LIST: Please consider making a donation towards all or part of an item listed below for the health and wellbeing or in memory of a family member. Your gift will continually provide our Parish the opportunity to serve in our Lord’s ministry. A Chalice, Altar Cloths, a Censer. OUR FOOD PANTRY IS NOW OPEN AND HELPING OUR COMMUNITY! THANKS TO YOU AND TO THE SUPPORT OF LONG ISLAND HARVEST, WE ARE ABLE TO OFFER SUPPORT TO ALL IN NEED! We are open each first Monday of the month, beginning at 10:00 am, and also on an as needed basis throughout the week. FOR COMPLETELY CONFIDENTIAL SUPPORT, IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT THE CHURCH OFFICE.