S T . J OHN THE B APTIST G REEK O RTHODOX C HURCH
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M ARCH 2015
S PECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST :
T HE ICON OF THE K INGDOM Every year, in the first Sunday of Lent, we celebrate our Orthodox heritage. It is a wonderful festivity involving a touching procession with icons, lifted up high, around the church and ending in the declamatory proclamation of the Synodikon of Orthodoxy. Since we do it every year, it became so engrained in our fiber that we rarely stop to ponder about what does it really mean to us. It is important to know, after all, what we celebrate; otherwise it makes no sense to go on with a party that we know nothing about. So let me start by asking you a simple question. What is Orthodoxy to you?
The icon of the Kingdom
Parish Council Capsule
Stewardship 2015
Youth Ministries News
GOYA Caroling
GOYA Lenten Retreat
Annunciation icon explained
The Akathist Hymn explained
Greek Dance practice
A place called home? A link to the old country? A train station in the pursuit of the most exciting religion? Something your parents make you do on Sunday morning? A badge of honor for the most righteous denomination? A place with free baklava or pirogues? If you already feel a little uncomfortable, don’t! Relax. This is not a test. Whatever brings you to church every Sunday is part of what Orthodoxy is. But it is also important to re(Continued on page 2)
I NSIDE THIS ISSUE :
C OUNCIL C APSULE As we approached the latter part of February, the parish council convened for a retreat @ the church and the benefits from that, I believe, will be innumerable. One of the many fruits of it is a very detailed road map for our committees to follow. Again, if you are asked or find the desire to serve on any of the committees, please don’t hesitate to do so. Your contributions are needed and will be welcomed. As you may already know, we have donated our old pews to a church that was in dire need of them, and at the same time, afforded us the opportunity to create some much needed space. With that, if you need to store something, please speak w/ someone on the council before doing so. (Continued on page 2)
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MUSIC
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C OUNCIL ’ S C APSULE (Continued from page 1)
Something else that needs to be addressed is our kitchen and refrigerator. Understand that an appreciable effort is required to clean, organize, and store ALL of our items that are used on a weekly basis and we all have to assume that responsibility when using the kitchen. I kindly ask that you do so mindfully.
Finally, please help me in welcoming Cristina Korzun as our new Office Administrator. Cristina brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in administrative and accounting principles and we are blessed to have her undertake such a great responsibility. I would also like to thank Lydia Leal for her diligent effort and service over the last four years.
In closing, please mark your calendar for our upcoming General Assembly on the 29th of March. I wish you all a blessed and fruitful Great Lent. Warmly, Michael Eftimie
A GELESS W ONDERS P LEASE
FIND THE DESIRE AND THE TIME TO SERVE ON ANY OF OUR PARISH COMMITTEES . Y OUR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE NEEDED AND WILL BE R EWARDED IN HEAVENS .
Ageless Wonders The Ageless Wonders will meet on Monday, March 9, 2015 for lunch and a movie. We hope to see “The 2nd Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" with Judith Dench, Maggie Smith and Richard Gere. We went as a group to see the first
one. If you haven't seen the first one you can get it on Net Flicks or RedBox. Lunch will be at a nearby restaurant. More details will follow.... If you missed our January Potluck Luncheon, you can pay your $10 dues this month. On behalf of our group I want to Thank Harry Karegeannes for his
wonderful program on his trip to Russia. . Lunch was exceptional as was our speaker!! Don't forget to support our Lenten Soup Suppers on Friday, March 13 and 27 after services; and the church’s "General Assembly" after Liturgy on March 29. You'll be hearing from me soon........Margaret
T HE ICON OF THE K INGDOM (C ONT ) (Continued from page 1)
member that we cannot confine the meaning of Orthodoxy to a single item, however important that item might be for us. Orthodoxy is not only one thing, it is much more than we can ever imagine. With every feast, with every celebration we uncover
another meaning of it and we become richer in the knowledge and the practice of our faith.
Orthodoxy. We have them in our churches, at home in our prayer corners, in our cars, even in our wallets. Orthodox people love icons because they love God The Sunday of Orthodoxy the Church uncovers one of and His saints that are representthe most important aspects ed in them. But you probably of Orthodoxy by remember- already knew that. ing the victory of the protec- There is more, however, to say tors of the Holy Icons at the about the subject. When we last Ecumenical Council. (Continued on page 3) This is significant, as icons are found everywhere in
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T HE ICON OF THE K INGDOM (C ONT ) (Continued from page 2)
enter in a church adorned with icons we are overwhelmed with the feeling that we are in the nether world. All the saintly persons depicted on the walls seem to come forth from the Kingdom and join us in our realm, praying with us. Through their icons, their reflections in the world, they are present with us, right here and right now. The Kingdom of heaven feels “at hand” and we have just walked in. Entering a church with proper iconography is like opening a photo album with pictures of your family. Everything you see in there makes you relive the best moments you spent with them. Your childhood, your parents and grandparents; your good and not so good memories come to life through the pictures you eagerly scan with your eyes. Orthodoxy should be for us our true family. Every icon should tell us the story of one of our relatives. How they followed God, how they taught His word to others with the price of their lives, how they endured tribulations to be able to worship Him, how they spread love around them as Christ Himself did first. Every icon has a story, every icon is more than a dead piece of wood, although it is, but, for those that know the family stories, it is their life.
Give your family album to a stranger and he will put it aside with a sigh. 'I don't know anyone in these pictures', he will say. How can one appreciate the great stories of your people if one does not know them? You can try to tell him a few good funnies, he might politely smile a few times, but he won't appreciate it as you do, because these are not his people. But you do know all of them. When you enter the Church, the icons tell you so many of their stories. You look at the icon of St John the Forerunner and you remember how he dared to baptize Christ in the Jordan. You look at St Katherine’s icon and you remember how she made fools out of the wise of the world, you look at the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos and you remember how she gave birth to Christ in a humble manger in Bethlehem, you look at Christ Himself and you cry as you remember how He gave up His life for yours, but you again rejoice when His glorious Resurrection comes to mind. You want to share these stories with the world but the world does not want them. They even forgot they are actually part of our family, as we all, people of all cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds, have been created in God’s image. The world has made new friends, and forgot its past. The new friends are cooler and they brought with
them all sorts of new glistening proposals, so all the glorious stories of the past have slipped into oblivion. It is even difficult for them to remember that there was a family at some point, that there was a loving Father that gave up His Son so we would have life. The world has lost its family album, but we have preserved it. The glorious faces of the past have faded, their stories forgotten, but we have kept it all alive. We keep their memories on, through icons and hymns; we venerate their glorious past that continues to be contemporary through the eternal Kingdom. Our icons are not dead; they are a living reflection of the heavenly, where the choir of all the saints rejoices in God's presence. We honor them because we are them and they are us: one Church, one people, one Kingdom. They are icons and we are icons of the same God.
Sunday of Orthodoxy
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AM AN ICON OF THE A LMIGHTY , YOU ARE AS WELL AND TOGETHER WE FORM THE ICON OF THE K INGDOM .
This is Orthodoxy, to live in Communion with God and through Him with all that bear His glorious image. I am an icon of the Almighty, you are as well and together we form the icon of the Kingdom. Glory be to the Father that no one has seen, to the Son that is His icon and showed Himself to us in the flesh and to the Holy Spirit that illumines our hearts so we can see Him as He truly is. Amin. The icon of Christ “The Mandylion”
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2015 STEWARDSHIP C HALLENGE IS ON! When we speak of Stewardship, most often, we stress the importance of sharing the great gifts of God’s material world. But which of God’s gifts is greater than family? Family is a beautiful and meaningful opportunity to practice stewardship and to grow in our understanding of the blessing of properly using and sharing God’s gifts.
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ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN OUR G OD ’ S WORK AT S T . JOHN ’ S BY PRAYERFULLY CONSIDERING YOUR CONTRIBUTION IN OUR 2015 STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM AND BEYOND .
But who is our family? In Christ’s Church our family goes beyond our blood relatives and extends to all that partake in the Body and the Blood of Christ from the same Chalice. Our Parish, our Metropolis, all of our Orthodox brothers and sisters are our family. But as Christ did not came to save only His immediate family, the people of Israel, so our family extends to all those who have the image of God in them, the entire humanity. Our family, stretches even beyond the living into the realm of the Triumphant Church going back to all pious generations before us: our fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters into the ages.
But even that is not all. Aren’t the saints our spiritual parents in Christ? Aren’t the angels our protectors? Isn’t the Theotokos the mother of all mankind? As such, the great gathering happens right here, in the Church, during the Divine Liturgy, when, on the diskos, Christ sits in the middle as the sacrificial lamb, with the Theotokos as His right, the angels and saints at his left and we, the living and the departed, resting at His feet. This is our family reunion that mystically takes place at every Divine Liturgy. We are called to share this gift of family with the entire world. We share it by building our meaningful churches that invite people to Christ, by adorning them with icons that open windows into heavens, by serving the Liturgies and the Sacraments, by teaching the faiths to our children, by reaching out in evangelization, by extending our help to those in need, by making everyone our family. All this beautiful family movement towards God and towards one another is not possible if we don’t share, if we isolate ourselves, and our gifts, from one another. Consider Church as a birthday party where we all take turns to give and receive. Everyone is happy in this exchange of gifts; everyone is lifted up
spiritually by the joy of making our family happy. At St. John’s our ministry programs continue to grow and Stewardship is the only way to provide the necessary resources to help sustain them. Stewardship is an opportunity to examine our priorities and values, to express our thankfulness, to give of ourselves and to grow in God’s grace strengthening our family. Giving to St. John the Baptist is a way to thank God for His generosity. The question is not, "How much do I give?" We must ask ourselves instead “How can I thank God for the blessings He gives everyday to my family?” I encourage you all to actively participate in our God’s work at St. john’s by prayerfully considering your contribution in our 2015 stewardship program and beyond. With paternal blessings Fr. Vasile Tudora
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S TEWARDSHIP N EWS 2015 First, let me say that Cecilia and I are so happy to be a part of our wonderful parish council. It will be our pleasure to help you with your stewardship in any way we can. I think stewardship is an invitation to invest yourself through the gifts that God has blessed you with. Whether it is thru your time, your talent, or your treasure.
good of the church. My hope is that all of us feel that generous living is generous giving, and that each and everyone of us invest in our church. Share your gifts with our wonderful parish and enrich you own spiritual life. Angela Cline Cecilia Junnell Stewardship committee
I believe that as disciples of Christ, each and every one of us has a responsibility to support our beautiful church and to contribute ourselves to the Body of Christ.
O UR
In contributing your time, talent, or treasure towards the
H OW TO BECOME A STEWARD IN 2015? How do I become a member of the parish? Membership in the Orthodox Church begins at Baptism (Chrismation for some) and continues throughout our life. We are united with Christ through the sacraments and through our faithful offering of our lives to Christ. We have to distinguish however between voting members and non-voting members. A voting member is over 18 years old and has turned in a signed stewardship commitment card (for time, talent and treasure). The Archdiocese also requires the voting member to remain current through the year on their commit-
ments. Overall true membership in the Body of Christ, involves living daily according to His word and within His Church. Why must I commit to give a specific amount? Knowing the amount of your monetary participation helps our parish plan the activities throughout the year. Your monetary stewardship is kept in the strictest of confidence. What if I cannot fulfill my stewardship commitment? During the course of a year,
people’s circumstances change. Your stewardship is valued because it is made out of your love for God and His Church. Please do not be concerned if you are unable to meet your stewardship commitment – we are glad you are a part of this parish. How do I submit a Stewardship Card? You can find the card in the pews in Church or you can fill one on-line and e-mail it to our church office at stjohndfw@gmail.com. More info here
HOPE IS THAT ALL OF US FEEL THAT GENEROUS LIVING IS GENEROUS GIVING , AND THAT EACH AND EVERYONE OF US ‘ INVEST ’ IN OUR CHURCH .
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Y OUTH M INISTRIES R EPORT Youth Ministries Loucamades Fundraiser in February was a big success. Thanks to everyone who supported us and a special shout out to our chefs: Maria Kerbow, Khanh and George Moutafis, Olga Zingas and Chris and Vivian Geil. Our parish’s Oratorical Festival was held last month. C ONGRATULAT IONS TO A LEX S HAH AND MARIA FOR QUALIFYING TO REPRESENT OUR PARISH AT THE METROPOLIS ORATORICAL F ESTIVAL
T UDORA
As has been noted, Alex Shah won in the Junior Division and Maria Tudora won in the Senior Division. Many thanks to our coaches: Connie Rafailedes, Athena Pachares and John
Blake, as well our timekeeper, Larry Leeders. This year, we had three judges from outside the parish. Both students and parishioners were pleased with their objectivity.
ca Tudora and Penelopi Yiantsou. In the Senior Division (10th-12th grade), we had two speakers: Alex Genovezos and Maria Tudora.
In addition, we had Alex and Maria will repre- two speakers who were ineligible to compete sent St. John’s at the Medue to their young age: tropolis round March 20Marie Johnson and Ma22 at Holy Trinity in Dallas. The National Oratori- tei Tudora. All the essays showed some deep cal Festival takes place at St. Anthony’s in Pasadena, thinking on the selected topics and a growing CA. from June 5-7. understanding of their faith. We are proud of The 2015 Festival had the largest turnout to date. For all of you. the Junior Division (7-9th The 2015 Southern grade), we had six speakers: Elizabeth File, Kateri- Region Lenten Retreat takes place March 13na Genovezos, Zoe (Continued on page 7) Georgulas, Alex Shah, Lu-
C HURCH S CHOOL N EWS Church School Families, We now have our Passports to help keep up with our Lenten Journey. Passport stamps will be available for each Sunday of Lent during Church School. Stamps will be available in the Narthex for “Trips”/Services attended during the week. Here are some upcoming dates that you may want to mark on your calendar: March 1---Sunday of Orthodoxy, Procession of Icons Mar. 15--- No Church School - Spring Break April 4--Lenten Retreat, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. — All ages are invited! We need many hands to help make our Palm
Sunday crosses. April 5--Palm Sunday April 12---No Church School, Easter Sunday May 17--- End of Church School Picnic and Award Ceremony Upcoming Coffee Hour hosts: March 1st---The Ellis Family (Jeremy and Melissa) and File Family April 5th--- The Hodge Family and Korzun Family May 3rd-----The Chokas Family and Zingas Family June 7th----The Geil and Eftimie Family Again, thank you to all of the families who host Coffee Hour on the behalf of Church
School. We appreciate your kindness. Please remember to register your children for Church School, if you have not yet had the opportunity. Each classroom has extra forms and you may also download the registration form and church school calendar from www.stjohndfw.info. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, you can contact me any time at: veronicafisherps50@gmail.com Veronica Fisher Church School Coordinator
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PHILOPTOCHOS UPDATE Our national organization has challenged us to supply meals to the hungry through any agency or idea we may have. The goal is to contribute 250,000 meals by July 2016. We are currently choosing a way to implement this challenge that includes members of our parish that would like to help. We will keep you posted as the plan develops. Items to keep in mind for this Lenten season: Soup Suppers on March 13 & 27. $5 a bowl/meal and all proceeds go to Holy Cross Hellenic College for the seminarians.
gy Sunday, April 12. In other news: We will be holding elections this May for a new Executive Board and then officers from the newly elected board. Please consider these positions. Our annual Garage Sale will take place June 4-7 with set up on the 4th, sale days on the 5th-7th. Please keep your gently used items for donation at your homes. We will be storing items
at the church starting May 1.
PHILOPTOCHOS MEMBERSHIP TEA SUNDAY, MARCH 22 The members of Philoptochos invite you to join them at our Membership Tea on Sunday, March 22 after Liturgy in the Conference Room. Philoptochos is the philanthropic organization of the Greek Orthodox Church and our members are the foundation, heart and soul of our organization. Every woman should be a member of Philoptochos.
Parish hosted Pan-Orthodox Vespers, Sunday evening, March 15. We need all parishioners to bring a Lenten food dish to share with our guests.
Thank you for your support! In His Service,
So join Philoptochos on March 22 and help make an impact. The need is great and you can make a difference!
Collection for the kouvouklion flowers will take place the last 3 Sundays of Lent.
Joanie Ruppel,
Barbara Vittas
President
Easter Bake Sale – forms available in parish hall Holy Pascha repast after Resurrection service and Litur-
Y OUTH M INISTRIES R EPORT ( CONT ) 15 at Sky Ranch in Van, Texas. All students, ages 11-18, are welcome to attend. The deadline to register is midnight, March 1. Cost: $125. The spring Youth Ministries planning meeting will be held Sunday March
22. We realize this is a busy Sunday with the Philoptochos Membership Tea and a Parish Council meeting, but please try to join us as we prepare for Pascha and Vacation Bible School. We will meet in one of the Sunday School
classrooms following services. Harriet Blake Youth Ministries Coordinator
T HE
MEMBERS OF P HILOPTOCHOS INVITE YOU TO JOIN THEM AT OUR M EMBERSHIP T EA ON S UNDAY , M ARCH 22 AFTER L ITURGY IN THE C ONFERENCE R OOM .
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I NSPIRATION
FOR
Greetings from the choir loft! Great Lent is a busy time in our parish, and in our choir. You will undoubtedly notice that during these weeks leading up to Pascha, our choir will be singing some different hymns. Some of the most beautiful hymns of Orthodoxy are only sung during The hand of St. Ephraim the Syrian, a patron Saint of Church Musicians
C HURCH M USICIANS
this Lenten season. St. John’s Choir is comprised of a very dedicated group of church musicians. We are always looking for new members, and with Pascha approaching now would be a great time to start! No prior experience is needed, just an open mind and a willing heart. Let us show you the ropes.
T HE A KATHIST H YMN The Akathist Hymn is a profound, devotional poem or chant, which sings the praises of the Holy Mother and Ever-Virgin Mary (Theotokos). It is chanted in all Orthodox Churches throughout the world during the five Fridays in the Great Lent, and constitutes a very concrete spiritual preparation for the Holy Week and Easter Services. Devotional Hymns to the Theotokos are as ancient as the first Christian Church. The Byzantine Empire from its very inception at Constantinople during the fourth century, closely allied itself to the Virgin Mary and always sort Her protection or intercessions. This we see from the Prayer Services to the Theotokos between the fifth and eighth centuries, and the reference to Constantinople as the 'Queen City'. The Akathist Hymn, which in its present form was added to by many Ecclesiastical
TO THE
We will be holding rehearsals in preparation for Pascha. Please speak with me for more information. Kirsten Shah Choir Director
T HEOTOKOS
Hymnographers, existed for most part even before it was formally accepted by the Church in 626 AD. The Kontakion "To the Invincible Champion... “ was added then, and came to be recognized as the Akathist Hymn, because of the following described miracle attributed to the intercession of the Theotokos. While the Emperor of Byzantium Heracleios was on an expedition to fight the aggression of the Persians on, there appeared outside the walls of Constantinople barbaric hordes, mostly Avars. The siege lasted a few months, and it was apparent that the outnumbered troops of the Queen City were reaching desperation. However as history records, the faith of the people worked the impossible. The Venerable Patriarch Sergius with the Clergy and the Official of Byzantium Vonos, endlessly marched along the great walls of Constantinople with an Icon of the Theotokos in hand, and bolstered the faith of the defenders of freedom. The miracle came soon after.
Unexpectedly, as the chronicler narrates, a great storm with huge tidal waves destroyed most of the fleet of the enemy, and full retreat ensued. The faithful of Constantinople spontaneously filled the Church of the Theotokos at Vlachernae on the Golden Horn, and with the Patriarch Sergius officiating, they prayed all night singing praises to the Virgin Mary without sitting. Hence the title of the Hymn "Akathistos", in Greek meaning 'not seated'. The Akathist Hymn is a very important and indeed an integral part of our religious and ecclesiastical life. When we are present during the first Friday Service, we firmly realize that we commence to ascend the spiritual steps of the lengthy Lenten period, to finally reach the peak with our Lord's Glorious Resurrection. (Continued on page 9)
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E XPLANATION OF THE ICON OF A NNUNCIATION The icon of the Annunciation is one that presents the joy of the announcement of the coming of Christ. It is an icon of bright colors, depicting the Archangel Gabriel (left), who has descended from heaven, and the Virgin Mary (right), who has been chosen to be the Mother of God. The Archangel is shown with his feet spread apart as if he is running to share the good news with Mary. In his left hand is a staff, the symbol of a messenger. His right hand is extended toward Mary as he delivers the message and announces the blessing bestowed upon her by God. On the right side of the icon the Virgin sits on an elevated seat, indicating that as the
Mother of God she is “greater in honor than the cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the seraphim, who without corruption gave birth to God the Word.” In her left hand she holds a spindle of scarlet yarn which depicts the task she was assigned of preparing the purple and scarlet material to be used in making the veil for the Temple in Jerusalem. Her right hand is raised in a gesture of acceptance in response to Gabriel’s message. Her posture expresses willing cooperation with God’s plan of salvation. Mary’s garments also have the three stars commonly used to represent her evervirginity: before, during, and after the birth of Christ.
At the top of the icon the segment of a circle represents the divine realm, from which three rays emerge. This demonstrates the action of the Holy Spirit coming upon her. In other depictions of the same icon, Christ Himself – as a man – is shown in this semi-circle. This icon marks the crowning of our salvation and the revelation of the mystery before all ages. For the Son of God becomes the son of the Virgin, and Gabriel proclaims to the ever-virgin Mary: “Hail, O full of grace, the Lord is with you.” Article found here
T HE A KATHIST H YMN ( CONT .) (Continued from page 8)
In any of our Service Books we can readily see that our glorious and Ever-Virgin Theotokos is at the center of many of our Orthodox Services in which prayers abound for Her interceding to Her Son, and our God, for our Salvation. The Virgin Mary is the most exalted and most honored human person by God. She is the most revered and most loved by humans. She is a binding force for all Christians. She is the Unique Personality of the world, because of the unique fact of the Lord's Incarnation.
She is the daughter of Grace and the Crystal Vessel of the Grace of the Holy Spirit (see Luke 1:26-56). Faith in the Almighty God is primary and all important to the Holy Orthodox Church. Our dependence on God is always beyond question, and from this faith we should strive not to stray. Therefore, Services, like the Akathist Hymn, should be a must and attended by all. Moreover, this particular Service links us so beautifully with a great and glorious period of our Christian history; it is also a very live tradition, which has never ceased in the Orthodox Church since its official acceptance in 626 AD.
Living in these trying times, when we are besieged by many forces of evil, it is hoped that the Akathist Hymn as well as our other Services may become the bulwark to withstand, and indeed to overcome these forces. Adapted from Fr. George Papadeas' THE AKATHIST HYMN preceded by THE BRIEF COMPLINE published by Patmos Press, DAYTONIA BEACH, FLORIDA, 1980
Icon of Annunciation
T HE
ICON OF THE A NNUNCIATION IS ONE THAT PRESENTS THE JOY OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE COMING OF C HRIST .
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G REEK D ANCE P RACTICE
Greek dance practices will be starting early for our two oldest groups: Olympian & Hellenic Dancers. We will be starting with once a month practices up until August.
G REEK
DANCE PRACTICES
WILL BE STARTING EARLY FOR OUR TWO OLDEST GROUPS : O LYMPIAN & H ELLENIC D ANCERS .
Starting with: -Sunday, April 19th -Sunday, May 3rd -Sunday, June 7th *If your child is 14 and older and would like to participate in Greek dance this year, please contact me by email: gpoulakos@live.com * Once I receive their name and age they will be placed in a group :)
B OOK AND S OUP THE S OUL
FOR
C ATECHISM C LASSES AND
L IBRARY
PROJECT
Every Wednesday after Presanctified Liturgy join us for Lenten meal and a satisfying discussion around “The Mountain of silence” a wonderful book by Kyriakos C. Markides.
Catechism and faith Enrichment Classes for inquirers into the Orthodox faith, as well as continue into the Great Lent , each Sunday after Divine Liturgy. Join us!
The book delves in Orthodox spirituality as lived on the Holy Mount Athos but it is masterfully applied to our life in the world.
Also our parish Library Project is on its way, We are currently looking for book sponsors and volunteers to help with Library management.
The dinner is a potluck dinner so bring a Vegan Lenten dish with you .
A COLYTE S CHEDULE U SHER S CHEDULE 1st Sunday: Tim Cline, Nancy Medvic—8/3, 10/5, 12/7, Jeremy Forcum—9/7, 11/2 2nd Sunday: Hope File, Michael Eftimie 3rd Sunday: Jeremy Ellis, Olympia Genovezos 4th Sunday: Olga Papadopoulou, Chris Geil 5th Sunday: Kirsten Shah, Harry Karegeannes—8/31, 11/30 Fill In: Harry Karegeannes
C OFFEE H OUR D UTIES SETUP Arrange pastries/food in a desirable manner on the appropriate tables in the parish hall. You are responsible for making the coffee. Make two pots: one regular, one decaf. Plug in be-
1st Sunday: Jackson Wright, Alex Genovezos, Caleb Ellis, Luca Tudora
C OFFEE H OUR H OST
2nd Sunday: Michael Beebe, John Molhoek, Alex Shah, Chris Eftimie, Joseph Berca
1st Sun: Sunday School
3rd Sunday: James Seals, Alex Genovezos, Caleb Ellis, Luca Tudora, Matei Tudora
2nd Sun: Parish Council
4th Sunday: Michael Beebe, John Molhoek, Alex Shah, Chris Eftimie, George Manos
4th Sun: Philoptochos
3rd Sun: GOYA 5th Sun: Parish Council (if applicable)
5th Sunday: Michael Beebe, James Seals, Alex Genovezos, Alex Shah , Luca Tudora
fore going into church. The instructions are in the kitchen. Prepare a tray with sugar, creamer, sugar substitute, mixing straws, a few spoons. Set with trash bucket. Put donation basket out with appropriate sign.
CLEAN UP Wash all dishes soiled, including coffee pots. Return sugar tray to kitchen and replenish it. Wash off hall tables and kitchen counters. Thank-You
St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church March 2015 SUN
MON
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Sunday of Orthodoxy 8:30 am Orthros 9:30 am Divine Liturgy 6:00 pm Pan Orthodox Vespers Holy Trinity GOC
Hesychios the Martyr Nicholas Planas
Eutropios, Kleonikos, Vasiliskos, Theodoretos of Antioch
Great Compline 6 pm
Gerasimos The Righteous Paul & his sister Juliana
THU
FRI
SAT
5
6
7
Komon the Gardener Theodore the Recruit
42 Martyrs of Amorion Finding the Cross by Helen
Pre-Sanctified Liturgy 6Pm Book and Soup 7pm
Salutations to the Theotokos 6pm Lenten Soup Supper
7 Hieromartyrs of Cherson Laurence of Megara
Great Vespers 5pm
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10
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Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas
40 Martyrs at Lake Sebaste Caesarios the Righteous
Kodratos & his Companions Anastasia of Alexandria
Sophorinos, Pat. Of Jerusalem Theodora the Righteous
Theophanes the Confessor Symeon the New Theologian
Removal of relics of Nicephoros Pouplios, Bishop of Athens
Benedict of Nursia Euschemon, Bp. Lampasakos
Salutations to the Theotokos 6pm Lenten Soup Supper
Great Vespers 5pm
8:30 am Orthros 9:30 am Divine Liturgy 6:00 pm Pan Orthodox Vespers St. Maximos, OCA
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16
Sunday of the Holy Cross
Savinos of Egypt Christodoulos of Patmos
8:30 am Orthros 9:30 am Divine Liturgy 6:00 pm Pan Orthodox Vespers St. John’s GOC
Great Compline 6 pm
22
Sunday of St. John Climacus 8:30 am Orthros 9:30 am Divine Liturgy 6:00 pm Pan Orthodox Vespers St. Peter AOC 29
Pre-Sanctified Liturgy 6Pm Book and Soup 7pm
Great Compline 6 pm
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Nikon & Companions Anatolios & Protoleon
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Alexios the Man of God Patrick of Ireland
Cyril, Patriarch of Jerusalem Trophimos & Eukarpion
Chrysanthos & Daria Demetrios the New Martyr
Fathers Monastery of St. Savas Cuthbert the Wonderworker
James the Confessor Thomas, Pat. of Constantinople
Salutations to the Theotokos 6pm
Great Vespers 5pm
Pre-Sanctified Liturgy 6Pm Book and Soup 7pm
24
Forefeast of Annunciation Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow
Great Compline 6 pm
Vigil 6 pm
30
31
21
25
26
27
28
Annunciation
Synaxis of Archangel Gabriel 26 Martyrs in Crimea
Matrona of Thessaloniki Paul, Bishop of Corinth
Hilarion the New Herodion of the 70
Divine Liturgy 6:00 am Great Canon of St. Andrew 6pm
Pre-Sanctified Liturgy 6Pm Book and Soup 7pm
Akathist Hymn 6pm Lenten Soup Supper
Great Vespers 5pm
Fasting Symbols Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt 8:30 am Orthros 9:30 am Divine Liturgy 6:00 pm Pan Orthodox Vespers St. Seraphim, OCA
John Climacus Sosthenes, Apollos, Cephas, Caesar, & Epaphroditos Great Compline 6 pm
Hypatios the Wonderworker Innocent, Enlightener of Siberia & Alaska
Strict Fast Wine/Oil Fish Allowed
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THE FORERUNNER
Vol. XXXII No. 3 March 2015
The Anunciation of the Theotokos March 25th , 2015