THE ORATOR ST. DEMETRIOS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH
MESSAGE FROM FR. NICHOLAS How is your foundation? When we lived in Houston we had a nice house, in a nice yard in a nice neighborhood. Or so we thought. It turns out, “All the Greeks used to live in that neighborhood.� They all moved out for reason. The neighborhood had deterioriated. And our landlord, was his own handyman. He made a lot of repairs himself. The yard, oh the yard, that was really the only good thing. Safe and secure, lush grass and big trees, all within the confines of the 6 foot fence. So the house, had some particular things about it that we knew were not right but we did not know what was wrong. Within a couple years, we needed to have the foundation repaired. I don't know what they had to do, but they dug holes around the house then eventually filled in with concrete. But once the foundation was fixed, we had a whole new list of problems. The doors didn't close right anymore, the windows became drafty, my smooth walls had buckling in them.
Presiding Priest: Fr. Nicholas Hadzellis Cell: 617.530.0885 Parish Assistant: Samia Shiber Office: 817.626.5578 Fax: 817.626.5073 Parish Council Members Elias Shiber, President John Sempeles, V. President Artemis Moon, Co-Treasurer George Vardakis, Co-Treasurer Georgia Sparto, Secretary Magda Fleming Marina Katzianis Lisa Kelly Terry Kouris Elaine Reidl
It turns out, the landlord did a lot of self repairs before he repaired the foundation. Everything looked all right, until he fix the foundation and then all his repairs came undone.
Office email: admin@stdemetrios.net
This is much like our own spiritual lives. We try to do a lot of self-help, we make personal repairs when the real problem is the foundation. If we have a poor foundation we can make all the repairs we want, but they won't be just right. If we have a poor foundation we just patch the walls of our lives, on the surface they may look smooth but underneath there is a greater problem. We will spend a lot of time, a lot of effort and sometimes a lot of money in self repair before we realize we have a foundation problem. Once we discover the foundation problem, our attempts to fix it, will undo our previous surface repairs. We will notice that the doors don't swing right, or that the wall has buckled. Once we see this, we may think again about fixing the foundational problems.So what do we do? Just like the landlord, he had to get professional help, for the foundation repair and then to fix all the other
Orator: Orator.stdemetrios@gmail.com Web: www.stdemetrios.net Parish Office Hours: Tuesday - Friday 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
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consequential problems. We have to recognize our limitations and realize that self-help may not be the best way to go. This requires self evaluation and humility. In our own spiritual journey,we have to ask ourselves, “how is my foundation? When we can acknowledge we have foundation problems, we then have to find those who can assist us in the proper repair work. Saint Paul writes to Timothy, “laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on the life which is life indeed. O Timothy, guard that which is committed unto thee, turning away from the profane babblings and oppositions of the knowledge which is falsely so called which some professing have erred concerning the faith” (1 Tim 6:19-21). Although It is easy to find someone, as there are many looking to help, but the goal should be to find the right resources. It doesn’t make sense to find a roofer to fix the foundation, or if you have a concrete slab to find a bugaglo repair man to do the job. Within the context of our spiritual journey we should turn to the Church which has handed dow n the teachings to us until today, through the Bible, the Church Fathers and other Orthodox resources. There are pleanty of Catholic and Protestant and nonChristian resources that you may use and may seem useful, but this may lead to more damage to the foundation. Saint Basil the Great teaches that secular readings may be helpful if we can discern what us good and what is bad. Like a Bee, to only take the sweet nectar and leave all the junk behind. He writes “For just as bees know how to extract honey from flowers, which to men are agreeable only for their fragrance and color, even so here also those who look for something more than pleasure and enjoyment in such writers may derive profit for their souls. Now, then, altogether after the manner of bees must we use these writings, for the bees do not visit all the flowers without discrimination, nor
indeed do they seek to carry away entire those upon which they light, but rather, having taken so much as is adapted to their needs, they let the rest go” (Address to Young Men). Many will come and speak fantastic things only to lead you to more confusion as the Lord warns that there are many who will say, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then [He] will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (Matt 2:4:5). Not everyone who preaches the Gosepl, is of God. Saint Paul continues in 1 Timothy, “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions” (2 Tim 4:3), and to the Galatians he warns, “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! (Gal 1:8). People may come in the Lord’s name, and preach what is easy to listen, and may not at the same time, be from the Lord, or preach His gospel. We have to use discernment as to how this teaching compares to the teaching of the Church. We must be diligent to rediscover the faith as was handed down to us by the Apostles and preserved by the Church Fathers so that we may stand on a firm foundation. To build up our foundation as Saint Paul writes to Colossians, “Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ” (Col 2:6-8). Where should you look? Ask me and lets start a discussion about it. How is your foundation
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SERVICE TO OUR CHURCH Date
Parish Council Ushers
Orthros
Readers
November 1
Artemis Moon
Ellyn Ponton-Chanter
Greek-Stathis Michaelides
George Vardakis
Open - Reader
English- Grace Beasley
Georgia Sparto
Phil Hieger-Chanter
Greek-Tony Xenios
John Sempeles
Open - Reader
English- Adlai Sexton
Festival - volunteer to usher?
Phil Hieger-Chanter
Greek- Cathy Xydas
Open - Reader
English- Lexi Vardakis
Lisa Kelly
Ellyn Ponton-Chanter
Greek-Morfoula Mouzakis
Terry Kouris
Open - Reader
English- Katherine Kallinikos
Georgia Sparto
Ken George-Chanter
Greek-Stathis Michaelides
George Vardakis
Open - Reader
English- Issa Shiber
November 8 November 15 November 22 November 29
If you would like to be a St. Demetrios Usher, please speak to a Parish Council Member. If you would like to be a Reader (Youth and Adult), please see Cathy Xydas or Ali Winters.
PLEASE VOLUNTEER TO BE AN ORTHROS READER OR CHANTER - see Ellyn Ponton or Phil Hieger
FELLOWSHIP HOUR Date
Hosts
November 1
Michael & Persa Hadjikriakos Victor and Abier Wakileh Panagopoulos & Alexandrides FESTIVAL Mary Kime & Carrie Apostilos GOYA Pancake Breakfast & Fall General Assembly
November 8 November 15 November 22 November 30
Witnessing the love of Christ to our parishioners and guests alike, Fellowship Coffee Hour is a ministry that generously provides care and kindness by building up our community through refreshments after the Divine Liturgy on Sundays. Contact Leeann Hieger(817.295.3704 / 817.556.1963 or mritech56@yahoo.com)or Artemis Moon (817.800.6407 or moonartemisk@sbcglobal.net) to host the next Fellowship Hour.
The sign-up sheet is on the wall opposite the doors to the fellowship hall. Many thanks go out to all of you that have taken your turn to make the Fellowship hour a success. You can say, “Fellowship Hour is your second communion, as we come together after the Divine Liturgy as the body of Christ to care for one another and spend time with each other.” Some great occasions to Host a Fellowship Hour are: Anniversary Baby Blessing Birthday
Memorial Name Day
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FALL GENERAL ASSEMEBLY
Save the Date: Fall General Assembly November 29, 2015 During Fellowship Hour! Agenda will be available soon, please check your e-mail and Sunday’s Bulletin for more information ORTHODOX TRADITIONS The Artoklasia is a service usually held at the end of Vespers (or occasionally at the end of the Divine Liturgy, and sometimes at the end of Matins). It is a special service of thanksgiving, expressing our gratitude to God for His many gifts and asking Him to continue sustaining us with everything necessary in this life.
In the Artoklasia, five round loaves of sweet bread are offered as a sign of devotion for personal, family, or parish anniversaries such as name days, feast days, and other significant occasions. In addition, wheat, wine, and oil may also be blessed. Five loaves are used, reminiscent of the five loaves that Jesus Christ blessed and multiplied in the desert to feed five thousand of His hearers.
The Artoklasia also symbolizes and brings into practice today the Agape (Love) meals of the very early Christian communities. In those days, after the faithful received the Body and Blood of our Lord in the Divine Liturgy, they would gather for a common meal signifying the fraternal community in Christ established between them through their common faith and by their receiving the same Holy Eucharist. 4
STEWARDSHIP HOW MUCH SHOULD I GIVE? I can remember eating with my friends in college and getting stuck with more than my share of the bill because the restaurant wouldn’t give us individualized checks. You’ve been there, you know it can get complicated. Some of your friends don’t chip in enough, some have to pay more to make sure the waiter gets a tip. Good news: Giving to the Church is nothing like this! We don’t give in order to pay the Church’s bills, and we don’t try to give enough to make sure we can make the budget. We give to God proportionally. Not in proportion to how much the Church needs, but in proportion to how much God has blessed us. That's the important thing. If we do it this way, giving isn't about paying the bills, it is about working out our salvation! How should I decide how much to give to the Church? Short answer? Start with 5% of your total income. Here's the long answer: I hope we've all asked this question at some point. You've decided you want to give to the Church. So you have to ask yourself, how much? What is the right way to decide how much? Should I give what's left at the end of the month after I've paid everything else? Should I try to figure out how much I need to give in order to make sure the Church can pay its bills? To answer this question, we have to be clear about another question: Why do I give to the Church? Here are four reasons: 1. It's an act of Worship. Have you ever wondered why we collect money right at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy with a thanksgiving offering prayer? In fact, we should do it at the most solemn part of the Liturgy, right after the gifts are consecrated and before we receive Communion! We do this for a reason. God has always taught His people to worship by making a sacrifice, or an offering. This is what priests do. It's what makes a priest a priest. If you don't do it, you're not a priest. When we were baptized into Christ, we were united with him in his priesthood. He offered himself for us. We offer ourselves to him. One way we do that is by giving a part of our livelihood. 2. It's Thanksgiving During the Divine Liturgy, just before we make our offering of bread and wine, the Priest says "Let us give thanks to the Lord!" We reply “It is proper and right..." Eucharist means 'Thanksgiving', and worship always includes giving thanks to God for all that he has given us. Giving to the Church is an important way we say 'Thank You' to God. 3. It's all His anyway! Everything belongs to God. Nothing that we have really belongs to us. We've just been asked to take care of some things for awhile. That's what being a steward means. It's easy to fool ourselves about this though, and get caught up in our possessions. Do you really believe that everything you have belongs to God? We need a real, tangible way to remind ourselves, to teach ourselves, that this is true. There is no better way to acknowledge that everything is His than by giving some of what is his back to him. "Your own, of Your own, we offer to You in and for all." We've been promised a great blessing in return for our gift. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that God will make us rich if we give to the Church. If we give to God, we'll get treasures in Heaven. The Kingdom of Heaven is now. It is within you. The greatest blessing that you'll get from giving to the Church is a changed heart, a spiritual awakening, a deeper relationship with God. Who doesn't want that? Now that we understand why we give, how much should we give? Here are some questions I ask myself, and that I encourage everyone to ask themselves. How much of a blessing do you want? How much do you need to give in order to really acknowledge that everything you have belongs to God? How much do you need to give to say 'Thank You' for everything He's done for us? How much is an acceptable offering, a reasonable act of worship? 5
In the Old Testament, God taught his people to give 10%, or a tithe (Hebrew for tenth) of everything that they made in a year. Ten percent of their harvest, their flocks, etc., but not just any 10%. The tithe was the first 10%, the first fruits. For the ancient Israelites, it wasn't an option. It was the law. We've been set free from the law, though. We are called to be slaves to the law of Christ. Christ gave himself for us voluntarily. He took the form of a servant, even though he was God by nature. We get to choose whether we take up our cross and follow Him. So how do we do that when it comes to our finances? 1. We can't give him what's left over. We have to give him the first fruits. That's the only way to really acknowledge, and teach ourselves (and our children) that everything we have belongs to God. 2. We can't give just enough to pay the Church's bills, and we can't judge how much we should give by how much the person next to us gives. Remember the story of the Widow's mite? A poor widow gave a penny, because it was all she had. Jesus said that her offering was greater than the impressive gifts given by rich people because what she gave was significant to her. A rich man might give a large sum of money, but if it's not really a significant amount of money to him it doesn't do anything for him. Sure the money might be put to good use, it might pay the church's bills, but that's not why we give! The best way to give, in light of the reasons why we give, is to give the way God taught us to give: proportionally, or a percentage of our income. This way our gift will be significant enough to us to really teach us that everything we have belongs to God. 3. It will be a worthy act of worship, an acceptable offering. It will be a meaningful act of thanksgiving. It will really enable us to receive the blessing that God wants for us. I don't think it's the same to just give God what you can afford after you've paid your bills and bought all the things you want. It's not the same if you're just dividing up the cost of doing business for the parish. Belonging to Christ's Church is not like belonging to a country club where you just have to pay your dues. It's not like splitting a check at the end of a big meal with your friends.
Stewardship Statistics As of 10/20/2015 Pledges Stewardship Goal Total Pledged Total Collected Averages by Family Number of Families Contributing Avg. Paid Per Family Contributing Number of Families Pledging Avg. Paid Per Family Pledging
% of Goal $210,000 100% $178,403 85% $154,927 74%
119 We're not trying to give just enough to $1,302 take care of our obligations. We're trying 79 to worship, to give thanks, to be real about who our money belongs to and to store up $1,961 treasure in Heaven! Ten percent of your total income is an excellent goal to shoot for. We've got good precedent for it. I realize that it can be difficult, and sometimes impossible to get all the way to 10% when you're not used to doing so. It can be tough to adjust your budget that quickly. Let me challenge you to start with 5%. My family and I will do the same. I'm excited to see what the results will be if we commit to doing this. I'm not talking about a balanced budget, a retired debt, or a healthy bank statement either. I'm excited about what will happen in our hearts. In Christ, Fr. Nicholas
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Our Ministries are Growing and we need you support! Please consider supporting our ministries directly by making a restricted contribution: Altar Fund: Priest Discretionary Fund for those in need and special projects Daily Bread: a ministry supporting Tarrant Area Food Bank, One Harvest Food Ministries and the Samaritan House. All gifts will help provide food supplies to assist those who are in need. Friends of the Festival: Will assist in the preparations of the Greek Festival Greek Language and Culture School: Youth and Adult ministry teaching the Hellenic Language and Culture OCF: College Ministry Peace Beyond Understanding: Visitation and Prayer ministry for those who are sick. Sunday Church School: Youth Enrichment program YAM: Young Adult Ministries ages 21-35 Youth Ministries: Hope and Joy (Elementary Aged) GOYA (Middle and High School Age) Please see Fr. Nicholas if you would like to make an additional Special Offering for Special Projects
ALPHA OMEGA There will be no meeting this month because of the Festival. Looking forward to seeing you in December!!!‌..Mary Galanis AHEPA AHEPA FORT WORTH WINE TASTING OCTOBER 13th AHEPA Fort Worth and friends gathered at the home of Stathis and Laura Michaelides for wine tasting and meze on Tuesday, October 13th. Our delightful host and sommelier Stathis provided samples of more than 15 different Greek wines along with expertly selected appetizer pairings and Greek desserts. It was an extraordinary night filled with delicious Greek wine, music, food and great friends. Many thanks to Stathis Michaelides, our gracious and generous host who organized the festivities. OPA!
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St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church
BOOKSTORE Don’t forget to stop by the St. Demetrios Bookstore after the Divine Liturgy Gifts! Gifts! and More Gifts!! Check out the St. Demetrios Bookstore to find your perfect gift!!
Daily Bread We are now accepting donations to this ministry. If you wish to donate by check, please indicate "Outreach Ministry--Daily Bread" in the memo section of your check. SCHEDULE Saturday, November 21st 9AM - 10AM
St. Demetrios One Harvest*
Saturday, November 21st 9AM - 12PM
Tarrant Area Food Bank sorting**
On this month, both events will be on the same day. Volunteers have the option to sign up for either one the same day. Contact John Sempeles in advance to set up which event you wish to participate in. *For One Harvest, we will need to be at the St. Demetrios Hall by 8:30am to prepare, and one volunteer will need to go to the distribution center (300 Belmont Street, Saginaw, TX) by 7:30am to pick up the kits. Please contact John Sempeles (682-215-3151, dfwgrimlock@yahoo.com) if you want to volunteer for the One Harvest events. Follow the link to see full menu : http://shop.oneharvest.com/ **Please contact John Sempeles (682-215-3151, dfwgrimlock@yahoo.com) if you are interested in volunteering for any Food Bank events. On Food Bank days we will meet at St. Demetrios parking lot and leave for the Food Bank by 8:30am. 8
St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church
BLACK FRIDAY SERVICE PROJECT Every year, on Black Friday members of St. Demetrios prepare meals for those who are in need. After spending a day celebrating our blessings and giving thanks to God with our family, we come together to share those blessings with others. By preparing meals, deliviering and spending a little time with those who are in need we bring Church to them, to share fellowship and God’s Blessings. It means so much to our those who are served to benefit from such a ministry, it lets them know they are still members of our community, and we have not forgotten about them. Join us this year to share what we are thankful for, God’s blessings. We can be the blessing to others. November 27, 2015, we start prep work at 10:00am and will deliver the meals for lunch. For more information please see Fr. Nicholas
FESTIVAL NEWS The 2015 Greek Festival is around the corner and we need your help! Planning is complete and it is time to start the preparations. There are several ways in which you can help. These include: o Help cook and bake. The calendar is directly below. It shows when each item will be prepared. Come as often as you can to lend a hand in making our legendary food and desserts! o Volunteer for one or more shifts during the Festival itself in your favorite booth. See John Semples to sign up. Many spots are already filled. o Friends of the Festival Donations General cash donations Cash donations for a specific Festival item Ingredient and item donations Booth Sponsorship (individual and business) Purchase an ad in the Festival Guide Book (individual and business) Businesses that donate will receive a link on the Festival website.
Festival Baking Schedule for November MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
Sunday, November 1 (9am) Baklava Monday, November 2 (9am) Baklava Friday, November 6 (9am) Trigona Tuesday, November 10 (9am) Bread/Tsoureki Thursday, November 12 (9am) Ekmek 9
St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION St. Demetrios Adult Religious Education
The Parables of Jesus By Ellyn Ponton
The adult religious education class in October began a study of the parables of Jesus. Father Nicholas led us through three classes on October 14, 21, and 28. The first class focused on gaining an understanding of each of the four gospels. We looked at who was the author, who was the audience, and what were the major themes. Matthew, Mark and Luke are called the Synoptic Gospels because they focus on the facts of Jesus’ life and his background and ancestry. The Gospel of John, however, is dominated by a mystical, theological perspective. Because of the profundity of his Gospel, Saint John is often called The Theologian. This gospel focuses on the divinity of Jesus, the Trinity, the spiritual and sacramental dimension of the revelation of divine life which is resisted by the world, and the presence and activity of God in the world, linking the saving work of Christ to Baptism (3:5) and the Eucharist (6:52-59). We learned that to understand the parables, we must first understand the three periods of time in Jesus’ ministry. The first period is the Beginning of Christ’s ministry: the parables relate to the Conditions of Spreading and Strengthening the Kingdom of God. The second period is towards the end of Christ’s ministry and emphasized God’s love and kindness towards repentant people and includes the Prodigal Son, who exhibits total rejection of the Father, yet is welcomed back home with a great feast. The third period is just prior to Christ’s Passion and shows us God’s kindness and man’s accountability before God. Each parable is examined not only for the lesson Christ taught at the time, but also how we can apply the teaching of the parables to our lives today. For example, in the parable of the Wheat and the Tares, the enemy sowed tares (a weed that looks very much like the wheat ear) among the wheat while the men slept. The master’s servants asked if they should pull up the tares and were told no, you cannot weed out the tares early or you may also destroy some wheat… when the harvest is ready, the reaper will separate them and burn the tares and put the wheat in the barn. We see from this parable that moral sleep, when we accept the lies of the world, gives rise to false doctrine. We see also it is not our place to condemn (weed out the tares), as we do not know their final dispensation and may cut off their salvation, as well as harming the wheat ears. Christ as the reaper will come and judge as He will. We can also ask ourselves, What seed am I nourishing, wheat or tares? Unfortunately, we seem to have only begun the actual study of the parables when our time ended. However, Father Nicholas has agreed to continue the study in early December, so we may continue this journey together. We invite you to join us for the continuation of our study of the parables of Jesus and learn how to use the lessons of the parables to guide us on our Orthodox journey.
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St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church
Orthodox Christian Mission Center: News from the Mission Field Around the world there are adults and children longing to learn more about the Faith. There are women who want to offer their time and talents to the Church, but need guidance on how best to serve. There are people desperate for healthcare. In 2016, Orthodox Mission Teams from the OCMC will do these things and more. Your service on one of these teams is needed! Mission teams will be serving in seven countries this year including Alaska (USA), Albania, Guatemala, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, and Uganda. Dates and descriptions for upcoming mission teams are as follows:
MARCH 3/19/2016 to 3/27/2016 - Albania: Work with Albanian youth leaders to host a conference for young adults from throughout Albania.
6/15/2016 to 6/28/2016 - Guatemala: Offer a summer church school program for two communities outside Nuevo Conception in southwest Guatemala.
3/26/2016 to 4/2/2016 - Mexico: Offer youth and adult catechism to educate and encourage the faithful in the remote villages of San Esteban and Pisaflores.
6/28/2016 to 7/11/2016 - Indonesia: Teach the Faith at schools operated by the Orthodox Church in Indonesia.
APRIL 4/8/2016 to 4/17/2016 - Guatemala: Provide healthcare and education in northern Guatemala.
6/28/2016 to 7/11/2016 - Indonesia: Offer a family and youth outreach by teaching about the Orthodox understanding of marriage, family life, and raising children in Singaraja, Bali.
MAY 5/9/2016 to 5/21/2016 - Indonesia: Assist with the healthcare outreach at the Theotokos Orthodox Hospital in Medan, North Sumatra.
JULY 7/1/2016 to 7/11/2016 - Alaska: Participate in an annual youth camp in Kwethluk and lead a young adult retreat in Napaskiak.
5/9/2016 to 5/21/2016 - Uganda: Provide healthcare at the Holy Cross Orthodox Mission Hospital in Kampala.
7/20/2016 to 7/30/2016 - Alaska: Participate in an annual youth camp near Pilot Station.
5/23/2016 to 6/10/2016 - Albania: Earn credit hours and study Orthodox Christian missiology with coursework offered through the Missions Institute of Orthodox Christianity with a missions practicum to Albania.
7/27/2016 to 8/5/2016 - Alaska: Offer a camp program for children, teenagers, and adults in Old Harbor. AUGUST 8/26/2016 to 9/4/2016 - Guatemala: Provide healthcare and education in northern Guatemala.
JUNE 6/7/2016 to 6/20/2016 - Albania: Help administer summer programs for the Children's Home of Hope in Shen Vlash and the Protagonist School in Tirana.
OCTOBER 10/25/2016 to 11/5/2016 - Albania: Plan and lead spiritual retreats for clergy wives and women leaders in Albania. Dates and details for teams to Kenya are still to be determined. Don’t miss this opportunity to share your faith! Please see Fr. Nicholas for more information abour participating with OCMC! Visit http://www.ocmc.org/about/open_teams.aspx, e-mail teams@ocmc.org, or call 1-877-463-6784 for more information or to volunteer. Full information is available at www.ocmc.org. 11
International Orthodox Christian Charities: News and Information Baltimore, MD (IOCC) — International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) is responding to the urgent needs of survivors from a deadly 7.5 magnitude earthquake that struck Afghanistan, Pakistan, and parts of India on Monday. Pakistan suffered the worst casualties, with at least 230 people dead and more than 1,600 injured. IOCC, working in cooperation with the Orthodox Church in Pakistan, is providing support for the distribution of food and tents to 300 families displaced by the disaster. Thousands of families remain homeless after their houses were destroyed or became too unstable to live in. "So many people are out of their houses, so much destruction," said Father John Tanveer, pastor of the Greek Orthodox Church in Lahore, Pakistan. "Hospitals are full with casualties and injured. Please, pray, and help our country." The quake comes just three months after heavy monsoon rains unleashed a torrent of water that swept away thousands of villages across Punjab's agricultural heartlands. More than 1.7 million acres of crops were destroyed, leaving thousands of families in Pakistan without homes, a source of food or farm income. IOCC responded with emergency food parcels for flood victims from the hard hit Punjab province, home to more than half of Pakistan's people.
Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry OCPM ministers to nearly 1,000 men and women who are in prison or who have recently been released. Many have embraced the Orthodox Faith, while others who were already Orthodox found their way back to The Church. Five men have been tonsured Orthodox monks in prison and several others have become Iconographers. There are currently over 300 Orthodox catechumens in jails and prisons across America. Many of the men and women whose lives have been touched by OCPM are now out of prison and leading productive, Christ-centered lives as active members of their local parishes. OCPM has published 8 books and distributed more than one million copies to prisons. Over two million icon prayer cards have been printed and distributed. OCPM ministers monthly to more than 300 homeless and needy people, including families of those in prison. OCPM sends 1,000’s of personal letters to those in prison each year offering them spiritual guidance
EASTERN ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS AND ICONOGRAPHY Contnued from last month Icons depict silence. There are no actions displayed, no open mouths. The icon invites the Christian to enter into contemplation,prayer, and silence (Ware,1979). Space is not defined as threedimensional and time is insignificant. The story told by the icon precludes time and space. An example
would be the icon of the Nativity, which shows the cave where Christ was born in the background with those who came to adore in small vignettes. Lighting proceeds from the character portrayed in the icon. There are never shadows in icons. This shows us that the saint portrayed is “glorified” 12
St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church
having completed the race and entered into heaven (Quenot,1991). Symbolism is used in icons and details are used minimally. For example, when showing John the Baptist baptizing in the river the grown man he baptizes is shown as an infant because the baptism is a rebirth. Colors are also symbolic. Blue reveals heaven and mystery. Green is youth, fertility and the earth’s vegetation. Red, the color of blood, suggests life, vitality and beauty. White is purity, the divine world and innocence. Gold indicates sanctity, splendor, and the glory of God and life in the heavenly kingdom. Purple reveals wealth, power and authority. First and foremost, icons are a constant reminder of the incarnation of Christ, that is to say, they remind us that God “sent His only begotten Son”(Bible, John 3:16) to rescue us from our sin and death. We cannot see God the Father or God the Holy Spirit, but, because Christ chose to take on human flesh, we can see Him. His face can be portrayed on wood with paint. We can also paint His Mother and other saints who have finished the race and gone on to heaven. The Orthodox believe that surrounding themselves with icons help them to acknowledge the constant presence of Christ and the saints in their lives. According to Father Nabil, priest of St. George Orthodox Church in Indianapolis, IN, the icon is a representation of the person portrayed upon it. The term used to describe this link is typology. Typology means that an event or item is somehow related to another event or person. An example of this would be the icon buttons on the computer tool bar. When a person uses the tool bar and clicks on the “print” button the user knows that the print button represents something else. That is, the print button will not cause itself to be duplicated on paper with ink but instead the user knows that the print button at that moment is a typology for the item on the screen. By interacting with the “print” icon the
user expects the item the button represents to be printed. When an Orthodox Christian gives honor to an icon by kneeling or bowing before it or by kissing the icon the Christian is not paying respect to wood and paint. Instead he acknowledges that the icon represents much more and that the link between the icon and the person in the heaven is real. He believes that in some mystical fashion the veneration given to the icon will be received by the person it portrays. As a recent convert to the Orthodox Christian faith this author has some experience on which to base an analysis of the use of icons. As a convert ten years ago icons were one of the additions to worship unfamiliar to me. I came from a protestant background and the worship I had been involved in up until this point involved sitting in a pew and repeating prayers, creeds and hymns when appropriate. It didn’t take long for me to realize that the Orthodox utilize all of their senses and beings in their worship. Incense floats through the air representing the prayers ascending into heaven. A bell is rung during the call to worship and at other key times in the worship. Altar boys, deacons and the priest serve in the altar area, chanting prayers and hymns, bowing, performing prostration, acknowledging the heavenly hosts of saints and angels whose worship we are entering into. Parishioners do not sit primly in the pews but may walk throughout the church lighting candles, venerating icons. The hands of parishioners are not quiet and closed but may be raised heavenward to show the lifting of the worshiper’s heart toward God or they may be making the sign of the cross, reminding the one who makes it that Christ loved us enough to die for us. Later communion will be available so that one can even utilize the sense of taste during worship. In those first weeks the activity of worship seemed almost distracting to me but as I have entered into the worship it has became natural. The Orthodox believes worship is ongoing in the heavenly kingdom. They believe heaven is a 13
St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church
place where worship doesn’t cease, that those who have gone before and have been faithful are worshiping the Holy Trinity continuously. When earthly Christians join together to worship we join the heavenly throng and begin participating in that worship. For that reason the walls and ceilings of the church are decorated with icons of Christ, Mary the Blessed Virgin, saints and angels. When parishioners stand in the pew during worship they only need to look around to see the saints surrounding them. In this way the icon is a reminder of a larger reality. It reminds us that we have stepped out of one world and into another. It reminds us that though we struggle on a daily basis to remain faithful to our beliefs and our God there are many who have finished this life successfully and now dwell in a place were there is no more sorrow. We are encouraged to persevere, to set our eyes on the finish line, to continue to live a life that is pleasing to God. Living as we do in a society that demands that our lives be lived at a fast pace and with very little quiet time the icon beckons to us to slow down. The stillness of the icon draws us into the quiet so that we can lay aside the cares of this world and meditate on the splendor of the next. The benefit of the icons is not so much in alyzing the style of painting, the iconographers name or even in knowing the individual representations in the icon. The benefit is in meditation, in quietness and in guiding the heart to prayer. There are other components of the Eastern Orthodox culture that contribute to the use of the icon. It has been this author’s personal observation that the Orthodox culture values family. Aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, grandparents, cousins and so on worship together, live together and often even work together. A large number of Orthodox are immigrants who have been able to assimilate into the American culture due to a strong work ethic and a respect for the freedoms afforded a democratic society. Many have lived under Communist
governments, some have suffered under the authority of anarchists. Strong family ties, even family businesses have helped to sustain these immigrants. This respect for unity and extended family goes beyond the earthly family and makes the recognition of the saints more acceptable. For example, if Aunt Sally prayed for us while she was on earth and we know that she has eternal life now, why would we expect her to stop praying for us now? Also, I have found that the Orthodox are a very expressive people. If I meet an Orthodox friend at the grocery store or at church I have learned to expect that friend to drop whatever he is doing and come toward me with both arms reaching out. First he will embrace me, then give me a kiss on each check. This is called the kiss of peace. Often a greeting such as “Christ is Risen!” or “Thanks be to God” will accompany the kiss. It should be noted that this kiss of peace is shared among men and women equally. The greeting can be between two men, two women or a man and a women. I have often wanted to follow a single person throughout a Sunday worship to tally the number of such greetings a person offers on such a day. If such a greeting is given to people who are simply acquaintances then the kissing of the icon is in keeping with the cultural practices.In conclusion, viewing the use of icons from within the Orthodox culture has given the author the opportunity to develop an appreciation for icons. I have found that hanging an icon in my home reminds me that God is present in my home. When I pass the icon I remember that I am to be praying continuously. When life is just speeding by too quickly I know where to go to find some quiet and to pray for the peace that surpasses understanding. It is no longer surprising to me that the God who created humans would realize that sometimes in our crowded lives it is beneficial to have a “window on the kingdom” (Quenot, 1991).
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St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church
CHALLENGE QUESTIONS 1. The word "Amen" means "let it be so." This word originally comes from what language? a. Latin b. Aramaic c. Hebrew d. Greek 2. The title of "Protomartyr" is given to which saint? a. Stephen b. James c. Philip d. Peter 3. Which of the following is frequently a symbol of the Holy Spirit? a. Shepherd b. Lamb c. Dove d. Eagle 4. a. b. c. d.
Sunday is always devoted to: The Resurrection The martyrs Christ's Betrayal The cross
5. Icons of which two people are usually immediately to the right and left of the royal doors? a. Sts. Stephen & Philip b. Archangels Michael and Gabriel c. Jesus and Mary d. St. Nicholas and John the Baptist
6. What are the names of the Virgin Mary's parents? _______________________ 7. Which of the following saints lived in Greece in the 20th century and is noted for many healings? a. St. Seraphim b. St. Patrick c. St. Demetrios d. St. Nectarios 8. Which of the saints is called the "goldenmouthed"? a. St. Basil the Great b. St. Gregory the Theologian c. St. John Chrysostom d. St. Simeon the New Theologian 9. The Theotokos was an ancestor of which of the kings? a. David b. Nebuchadnezzar c. John d. Saul 10. Who was the first martyr for the Church? a. St. Philp b. St. Matthias c. St. Stephen d. St. Paul
1.c 2.a 3.c 4.a 5.a 6.Joachim and Anna 7.d 8.c 9.a 10.c
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St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church
Burn the Mortgage Challenge Dear St. Demetrios Family, Thank you to our 20 Burn the Mortgage Champions! As of this date we have raised over $20,000 towards our $30,000 goal. We are almost there! I invite you all to be a part of this monumental undertaking of burning the mortgage by 2016. Please prayerfully consider making a fruitful contribution toward our Burn the Mortgage campaign and have it matched up to $30,000. Let's watch this mortgage go up in flames! Together in Christ, Fr. Nicholas
COMMUNITY IN PICTURES
F IGURE 7 METROPOLITAN ISAIAH B LESSING
F IGURE 5 P OOL AND JOHNSON 40 DAY B LESSING
F IGURE 6 NAME DAY C OMMEMORATION
F IGURE 4 G2REEK S CHOOL F IGURE SUNDAY CHURCH SCHOOL P REPARES FOR BISHOP F IGURE 1 P RE K PREPARES FOR BISHOP S T . DEMETRIOS SKIT
F IGURE 3GREEK SCHOOL OXI DAY P RAYER 16
St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church
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November 2015 Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1 5th Sunday of Luke 7:45am Orthros 9am Divine Liturgy 10:30am Church School 11am Festival Baking: Baklava 11:30am Greek Dance Practice 8 7th Sunday of Luke 7:45am Orthros 9am Divine Liturgy Veterans Day Artoclasia 10:30am Church School 11:00am GOYA Meeting 11am Festival Baking: Pastry Packing & Ekmek 11:30am Greek Dance Practice 15 8th Sunday of Luke FESTVIAL 7:45am Orthros 9am Divine Liturgy 10:30am NO Church School Nativity Fast Begins
2 9am Festival Baking: Baklava 4:30pm-6pm Greek School
3 7pm Parish Council Meeting
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5 4pm -6pm Supper Club at Samaritan House
9 4:30pm -6pm Greek School
10 6pm AHEPA Meeting
11 Veterans Day 6:30pm Souvlaki preparation
12 9am Festival Baking: Ekmek Festival Set up 12pm Festival Doxology
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21 The Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple 9am Divine Liturgy-Feast of the Theotokos 10:30am Festival Clean-up
22 9th Sunday of Luke 7:45am Orthros 9am Divine Liturgy 9am Philoptochos Turkey Raffle 10:30am 50 yr. Memorial George & Angela Fenichis 10am Last Day Church School
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25 9am Divine LiturgyFeast of St. Katherine the Great Martyr
26 Thanksgiving Day
27 9am-12:30pm Black Friday Service Project
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29 13th Sunday of Luke 7:45am Orthros 9am Divine Liturgy 10:30am Fall General Assembly & GOYA Pancake Festival 10:30am NO Church School
30 4:30pm Greek School
NO Greek School
Strict Fast Fish allowed
6 9am Festival Baking: Trigona
13 FESTIVAL
7 9am Festival Setup/Cleaning 9am Festival Baking: Karithopita 14 FESTVIAL
Dairy, Eggs, and Fish allowed
Wine and Oil allowed
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St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church
Sunday Readings for November 2015 Nov. 1
5th Sunday of Luke
Epistle: I Corinthians 12:27-31; 13:1-8 Gospel: Luke 16:19-31
Nov. 8
7th Sunday of Luke
Epistle: Hebrews 2:2-10 Gospel: Luke 8:41-56
Nov. 15
8th Sunday of Luke
Epistle: Ephesians 2:14-22 Gospel: Luke 10:25-37
Nov. 22
9th Sunday of Luke
Epistle: Philemon 1:1-25 Gospel: Luke 12:16-21
Nov. 29
13th Sunday of Luke
Ephesians 5:8-19 Luke: 18:18-27
THE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF ST. DEMETRIOS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH THE FIRST GREEK ORTHODOX PARISH IN TEXAS
St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church 2020 NW 21st St. Fort Worth, Texas 76164 www.stdemetrios.net
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