S T . J OHN THE B APTIST G REEK O RTHODOX C HURCH
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APRIL 2015
I WILL ABIDE BY THE T RUTH OF R ESURRECTION As citizens of the post-modern world we got so used to relative truth that we are quick to label any one that supports a fundamental truth of any kind as a fundamentalist. But there is no shame in upholding a fundamental truth. Imposing it on others yes, this could be a problem. But there is no evil in standing by it with a solid moral backbone while respecting the opinions of others. In a society obsessed with political correctness at all levels of life nobody dares to claim the possession of any truth that transcends material reality. This concerns religious beliefs in particular. Everyone is so scared to even use a simple "Merry Christmas" or "Christ is risen!" We don't want any one to be offended. We therefore see centuries old greetings like "Merry Christmas" replaced with generic, one-size-fits-all, sayings of trite neutrality: "Seasons Greetings!" "Happy Holidays!" or even the contrived "Happy Quanza!" As Orthodox Christians however, we know that the Truth we hold is not relative, but everything else is relative to it, depends on it, gravitates around it. Without this point of support, the Earth will collapse, and all our many and insignificant relative truths will be shattered with it. (Continued on page 3)
S PECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST :
I will abide by the Truth of Resurrection
Parish Council Capsule
Stewardship 2015
Youth Ministries News
Camp Emmanuel Registration is on
Philoptochos Membership Drive
The Services of Pascha in the Orthodox Church
Greek Dance practice
I NSIDE THIS ISSUE :
C OUNCIL C APSULE March proved to be a quite the busy month for us. We hosted our Pan-Orthodox Vespers on the 15th, which indeed had a very nice turnout and I believe we did a great job in making our guests feel welcomed. Thank you to everyone who helped in setting up and getting the hall ready for our guests. I particularly would like to thank Cristina Korzun for her thorough, detailed and restless efforts along w/ Mark Beebe and Jeremy Ellis for their contributions in ensuring our hall was properly lit and all light fixtures, bulbs, etc. were functional and matching prior to our big visits.
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Y OUTH M INISTRIES
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MUSIC
On March 19th, we had the great pleasure to be visited by his Eminence, Metropolitan and Archbishop Isaiah joined by Ms. Elaine Cladis, who gave our parish, along w/ our brothers and sisters from St. Demetrios a great description about the Advocates Group and their (Continued on page 2)
M INISTRIES
C ALENDAR
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T HE F ORERUNNER
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C OUNCIL ’ S C APSULE (Continued from page 1)
vision and work. His Eminence closed the presentation by imparting words of wisdom and truth in his warm and inspiring fashion. He was also kind enough to afford any one as much time as they would have needed for personal conversation.
Please feel free to pick up a brochure and review/ share with anyone who you feel might have the desire to support this wonderful work.
us, I strongly recommend it. Great food, atmosphere and your extended church family.
In closing, I pray that Finally, note that we have strength and resolve will started planning our Agape grace us all through the reLuncheon for Pascha. We will mainder of Great Lent. have tickets for sale in the Warmly, Michael Eftimie hall. If you’ve never joined
A PRIL 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 .
Y'all know how to make an old lady cry!!
I want to thank everyone for my "Big Surprise" at our last meeting!!
Our April meeting will be Thursday, April 16, 2015. We are planning a trip to "Winstar Casino". More details will follow. Carpooling, times etc…
The Geranium is thriving and I open my Butterfly box and read the notes when ever I need a boost!!
Our May meeting is going to be a play at the Artisan Theater in Hurst....Saturday matinee and then dinner. You will be contacted early as we have to have reservations in by the middle of April Happy Easter to all ..........Margaret
P LANNING C OMMITTEE N EWS The Planning Committee resumed activity with a meeting of its leadership group on March 9th. The main purpose of the meeting was to review a summary of the Strategic Objectives questionnaires that had been prepared in 2014 by representatives of the various parish ministries, including: Parish Council; Youth; Music; Adult Education; FoodFest; and, Philoptochos. Joining the group for the first time were Council President Michael Eftimie and Vice President Jeff Younger.
The results of the ministries questionnaire returns were grouped into 6 categories:
Objectives / Needs to be accomplished or met;
Personnel Needs;
order to begin space planning for specific facilities and site development projects. Among the major projects identified for space planning and cost estimating were:
Completion of the final Phase IV of the capital program Resources Needed; under which the new church was Facilities Needs; completed in Phase III (Phase IV is generally thought to include Capital Equipment Needs; Hall and Kitchen expansion and and additional, improved storage areas and/or facilities), South Major Projects. Auto Parking improvements; The next step in the renewal of Phase II Iconography to prethe strategic planning process pare the new church for consewill be to identify, and where cration; and a Chapel. possible, quantify facilities and (Continued on page 3) capital equipment needs in
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I WILL ABIDE BY THE T RUTH OF R ESURRECTION (C ONT ) (Continued from page 1)
But what is this powerful and ultimate Truth? David Brown offers "The DaVinci's Code" and says: Jesus is a normal man, the Bible is a fake, the Church is a fraud. And the crowd listens and makes his book a bestseller. Can we call this "truth" or rather a sophisticated scam to sell more books? Then comes Michael Persinger, a neuroscientist. He claims that the disciples were members of a religious sect that administered to Jesus a psychotropic drug that induced a coma. Three days later he regained consciousness. No miracle on the cross. His proof: experiments on rats. Episcopalian Bishop, John Shelby Spong, arrives with another version. All the so called miraculous events that happened in Jerusalem are just a symbolic interpretation of some very natural facts taken from the Midrash Jewish tradition. Spong asserts that Jesus died on the cross
and did not physically rise, but his disciples continued to spread His teachings, making His message of change, peace and love live forever. It really doesn't matter if Christ resurrected. So where is the truth? Are they all variations of a relative truth? The short answer is no. I simply cannot admit they are all true. I cannot accept that Christ is risen and in the same time Christ is not risen! There is only one Truth and by this Truth only I will abide. Jesus says: I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but by Me (John 14:6). Where is the relativism here? I believe in Christ and His resurrection or I don't! How can we call ourselves Christians if we don't believe Christ is the Son of God who rose from the dead? If this is not true every other single truth of faith falls down like a domino. Christ's Resurrection is the One Truth that sustains our way of life, the corner stone of a meaningful existence.
I don't need a scientist to tell me what happened on the Golgotha, I don't need a writer to invent false stories about Jesus because I know, in my heart that Christ is risen, then and now and forever. He died on the Cross for my sins and is risen so I can follow Him in Resurrection. There is no science that can explain this because God's reality reaches beyond the boundaries of matter. It is enough for me to remember the supreme sacrifice of the Church martyrs to realize the power of the Truth we hold. They died in the world expecting to live forever in Christ: simple and sublime faith! Their martyria preserved this Truth unchanged, despite the odds, allowing us to be still called today Orthodox. Therefore I choose to carry on their pure faith and to boldly proclaim the fundamental truth of my faith, the only thing that really matters: Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed!
Resurrection Icon
J ESUS
SAYS : I AM THE W AY , THE T RUTH , AND THE L IFE ; NO ONE COMES TO THE F ATHER BUT BY M E (J OHN 14:6).
W HERE
IS THE RELATIVISM HERE ?
P LANNING C OMMITTEE N EWS (C ONT ) (Continued from page 2)
With many new Council members and parishioners, it was decided to present the background history to the renewed planning effort to the next General Assembly. This was accomplished on March 29th.
In the days following Easter the Planning Committee will hold discussions with all ministry leaders to quantify specific equipment and space requirements. Those requirements will then enable the preparation of concept drawings and cost estimates for further review, discussion and selection of preferred concepts for major projects‌ Finally, following an assessment
of financial strength and financing methods, the capital program consisting of project scopes, implementation timelines and development budgets will be presented to the Council and the General Assembly for approval. George Vittas
Descent into Hades
T HE F ORERUNNER
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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.
I
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 I can't tell you all how thrilling it is to see a stewardship card placed in the offering tray on a Sunday morning. We are so excited that you all feel as passionate as Cecelia and I do about watching our church and ALL its ministries grow. We have a general assembly meeting planned for the end of this month, and we would love to have the hall full of members expressing their thoughts, asking questions, and hearing about each ministry and our future. Voting on a decision is the only way to help our church reach its full potential. Filling out a
stewardship card makes that all possible, please pray about how you would like to contribute to the growth of our church. Thank you so much for sharing your time, talent, and treasures with our community of faith. Again, thank you so much for filling out that membership card which is available in the pews, or the church office. God bless,
T HANK
Angela Cline Stewardship committee
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
YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR TIME , TALENT , AND TREASURES WITH OUR COMMUNITY OF FAITH .
P AGE 6
T HE F ORERUNNER
Y OUTH M INISTRIES R EPORT
C ONGRATULAT IONS TO A LEX S HAH AND MARIA FOR QUALIFYING TO REPRESENT OUR PARISH AT THE METROPOLIS ORATORICAL F ESTIVAL
T UDORA
Happy Spring! Lots of news from Youth Ministries this month. During the April 4 Lenten Retreat, the kids will be making luminaries to line the walkway around the church for the Good Friday and Pascha services. The luminary project is a Youth Ministries fundraiser. Parishioners may honor a loved one and their name will be placed on the outside of the luminary. Families may choose to do one or several. The cost is $5 per name. Please see attached flyer. Flyers also will be available in the Church and Parish Hall. All funds support Youth Ministries, which oversees all youth-related activities at St. John’s. All girls, ages pre-school to sixth grade are invited to be a Myrofore on Good Friday, April 10. The Myrofores rep-
resent the myrrh-bearing women who anointed the body of Christ in the Tomb. The girls must wear white and arrive at church no later than 6:45 on Good Friday, April 10. Their duty will be to spread flower petals around the epitaphion during the service. Please see Stacey Ivanov for details. (babiesnbottles@yahoo.com) . We will hold our annual Easter Egg Hunt on Pascha, April 12. Athena Russo has graciously agreed to coordinate again. This year we are asking all participating families to bring in 20 stuffed eggs for each child. Parishioners who wish to donate candy are still welcome to do so. A box for donations will be placed in the Parish Hall. The annual High School and College Graduation Luncheon will be held May 3. Help
support Youth Ministries and recognize our young graduates. The Philoptochos Scholarship will be announced on this day as well. Church School Graduation which will be held May 17 along with the End-of-Year Picnic - details to come. We are looking for parents to help coordinate. Please see Harriet Blake or Margo Yiantsou. Camp Emmanuel will be held June 7-13 for junior session (ages 11-14); and June 14-20 for senior session (ages 15-18); deadline to register is May 1. The cost is $350 ($330 for additional members of same family). (Continued on page 7)
C HURCH S CHOOL N EWS Please remember to register your children for Church The Lenten Season is flying Upcoming Coffee Hour hosts: School, if you have not yet by, we are enjoying many had the opportunity. Each Thank you to the File family beautiful services! classroom has extra forms and for hosting Coffee Hour in you may also download the Here are some upcoming March. registration form and church dates for Church School, that April 5th--- The Hodge Family school calendar from you may want to mark on and Korzun Family www.stjohndfw.info. your calendar: rd May 3 -----The Chokas Fami- If you have any questions, April 4---Lenten Retreat, ly and Zingas Family comments or suggestions, you 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. — All ages are invited! We need June 7th----The Geil and Eft- can contact me any time at: many hands to help make our imie Family veronicafisherps50@gmail.com Palm Sunday crosses. Again, thank you to all of the April 5--- Palm Sunday families who host Coffee Veronica Fisher April 12---No Church School, Hour on the behalf of Church School. We appreciate your Church School Coordinator Easter Sunday kindness. May 17--- End of Church School Picnic and Award Church School Families,
Ceremony
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PHILOPTOCHOS UPDATE If you missed our membership tea in March, it is not too late to join our dynamic ladies organization that is referred to by Metropolitan Isaiah as “an army of women.” What do we do? We host events and fundraisers and then use those funds to aide those in need, support community projects for the betterment of people, and support Metropolis and National endeavors of the same type. Your stewardship contribution to St. Irene Philoptochos goes towards these projects and we also offer many ways for you to be involved hands on. Here are some of the ways you can lend your time, talent and treasure. Outreach Committee visits homebound or ill parishioners bringing a bit of cheer or necessity to someone’s day. Soup Suppers support the seminarians at Hellenic College/Holy Cross.
Taverna Night partial proceeds were used to purchase books to donate to the local WIC office and they in turn will give the books to young parents encouraging reading at an early age. Festival of Tables profits go in part towards our annual scholarship to a graduating high school senior. We supported the Trinity Habitat for Humanity build project in DFW last fall. The National Autism committee helps families monthly with treatment money and other necessary items for special needs families. Many in need were assisted monetarily with our funding.
We hope you will consider becoming an active or supporting member of your parish’s chapter of the Philoptochos Society. ON THE TABLE: Bake sale order deadline: March 29 Pick up bake sale items: April 5 Anastasis reception: April 12 Garage Sale items: May 3 Garage Sale: June 4-7 In His Service, Joanie Ruppel, President St. Irene Philoptochos
These are just seven of the ways we used the profits from all of our projects.
Y OUTH M INISTRIES R EPORT ( CONT ) Please see the Metropolis website for details: http:// youth.denver.goarch.org/ events/2015-events/2015camp-emmanuelhome/2015-campemmanuel-registrationinformation Vacation Bible School is targeted for June 8-11. Our theme this year is the Feast Days of the Church. We are discussing whether a morning program or evening program is preferable. Thoughts welcome. See Harriet. Dance practice for the 2015
Festival will begin end of July/beginning of August for all dance groups. First official practice for the older groups - Hellenic and Olympian dancers - will be held after Pascha on Sunday, April 19. After that, there will be first of the month practices. See Gina Poulakos for details. Harriet Blake Youth Ministries Coordinator
W HAT DO WE DO ? W E HOST EVENTS AND FUNDRAISERS AND THEN USE THOSE FUNDS TO AIDE THOSE IN NEED , SUPPORT COMMUNITY PROJECTS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF PEOPLE , AND SUPPORT M ETROPOLIS AND N ATIONAL ENDEAVORS OF THE SAME TYPE .
T HE F ORERUNNER
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I NSPIRATION
The hand of St. Ephraim the Syrian, a patron Saint of Church Musicians
FOR
With Pascha quickly approaching, our choir continues to sing in anticipation of this great feast day. The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Denver Church Music Federation’s 2015 Annual Church Music Conference will be held May 1st – May 3rd at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Houston, TX. This event will coincide with the
Metropolis of Denver Clergy – Laity Assembly and Philoptochos Conference. The weekend will culminate with the conference choir singing the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy celebrated by His Eminence Metropolitan Isaiah. This is a wonderful opportunity for church musicians throughout our Metropolis to join together in singing the beautiful hymns of our faith. Please speak with Rena Poletes or myself if you
T HE C ELEBRATION A little before midnight on the Blessed Sabbath the Paschal Tide service is chanted and the Church lights are put off . At exactly Midnight the priest proceeds from the Altar holding the Light of resurrection chanting “Come receive the light”. All people receive the light from the priest leave the church building singing: “The angels in heaven, O Christ our Savior, sing of Thy resurrection. Make us on earth also worthy to hymn Thee with a pure heart.”
C HURCH M USICIANS
OF PASCHA
would like more information about the conference. Kirsten Shah, Choir Director
S ERVICES
be scattered; let those who hate him flee from before his face! Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life. (Troparion) This is the day which the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!
At this point the Procession begins. The procession circles the church building and returns to the closed doors of the front of the church. This procession of the Christians on Easter night recalls the original baptisThe people gather in front mal procession from the darkof the Church where the ness and death of this world to Priest reads the Gospel of the night and the life of the Resurrection. Before the Kingdom of God. It is the proclosed doors of the church cession of the holy passover, building, the resurrection from death unto life, from of Christ is announced. The earth unto heaven, from this Easter troparion is sung for age to the age to come which the first time, together with will never end. the verses of Psalm 68 The people re-enter the church which will begin all of the building and continue the serChurch services during the vice of Easter Matins which is Easter season. entirely sung. Let God arise, let his enemies
The canon hymns of Christ’s resurrection. ascribed to St John of Damascus, are chanted with the troparion of the feast as the constantly recurring refrain. The building is decorated with flowers and lights. The vestments are the bright robes of the resurrection. The Easter icon stands in the center of the church showing Christ destroying the gates of hell and freeing Adam and Eve from the captivity of death. It is the image of the Victor “trampling down death by his own death.” There is the continual singing and censing of the icons and the people, with the constant proclamation of the celebrant: Christ is risen! The faithful continually respond: Indeed he is risen! It is the day of resurrection ! Let us be illumined for the feast! Pascha! The Pascha of the Lord! From death unto life, and from earth unto heaven has Christ (Continued on page 9)
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T HE C ELEBRATION OF PASCHA S ERVICES (C ONT .) (Continued from page 8)
our God led us! Singing the song of victory: Christ is risen from the dead! (First Ode of the Easter Canon) Following the canon, the paschal Stichera are sung. In general, nothing is simply read in the Church services of Easter: everything is fully sung with the joyful melodies of the feast. The Easter Divine Liturgy begins immediately with the singing once more of the festal troparion with the verses of Psalm 68. Special psalm verses also comprise the antiphons of the liturgy, through which the faithful praise and glorify the salvation of God: Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Sing of his name, give glory to his praise. Let all the earth worship Thee and praise Thee! Let it praise Thy name, O most High! That we may know Thy way upon the earth and Thy salvation among all nations. Let the people thank Thee, O God! Let all the people give thanks to Thee. The troparion is repeated over and over again. The baptismal line from Galatians replaces the Thrice-Holy Hymn. The epistle reading is the first nine verses of the Book of Acts. The gospel reading is the first seventeen verses of the Gospel of St. John. The proclamation of the Word of God takes the faithful back again to the begin-
ning, and announces God’s creation and reÄ creation of the world through the living Word of God, his Son Jesus Christ. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God… all things were made through him… In him was life and the life was the light of men. ... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us full of grace and truth. .. we have beheld his glory, glory of the only-begotten Son of the Father, and from his fulness have we all received grace upon grace. ...(Jn 1:1-17). The Liturgy of St John Chrysostom continues, crowned in holy communion with the Passover Lamb at his banquet table in God’s Kingdom. At the end of the Liturgy, the celebrant solemnly proclaims the famous Paschal Sermon of St. John Chrysostom. This sermon is an invitation to all of the faithful to forget their sins and to join fully in the feast of the resurrection of Christ. In the Orthodox Church the feast of Easter is officially called Pascha, the word which means the Passover. It is the new Passover of the new and everlasting covenant foretold by the prophets of old. It is the eternal Passover from death to life and from earth to heaven. It is the Day of the Lord proclaimed by God’s holy prophets, “the day which the Lord has made” for his judgment over all creation, the day of His final and everlast-
ing victory. It is the Day of the Kingdom of God, tile day “which has no night” for “its light is the Lamb” (Rev 21:22-25). The celebration of Easter in the Orthodox Church, therefore, is once again not merely an Icon of the Extreme Humilihistorical reenactment of the ty event of Christ’s Resurrection as narrated in the gospels. It is not a dramatic representation of the first Easter morning.” There is no “sunrise service” since the Easter Matins and the Divine Liturgy are celebrated together in the first dark hours of the first day of the week in order to give men the experiP ASCHA IS THE ence of the “new creation” of ETERNAL the world, and to allow them P ASSOVER FROM to enter mystically into the New Jerusalem which shines DEATH TO LIFE eternally with the glorious light AND FROM of Christ, overcoming the perEARTH TO petual night of evil and deHEAVEN . stroying the darkness of this mortal and sinful world: Shine! Shine! O New Jerusalem! The glory of the Lord has shone upon you! Exult and be glad O Zion! Be radiant O Pure Theotokos, in the Resurrection of your son! It is inspired by Isaiah’s prophecy and the final chapters of the Book of Revelation, for it is exactly the New Creation, the New Jerusalem, the Heavenly City, the Kingdom of God, the Day of the Lord, the Marriage Feast of the Lamb with his Bride which is celebrated and realized and experienced in the Holy Spirit on the Holy Night of Easter in the Orthodox Church. Adapted from here
T HE F ORERUNNER
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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 . A PRIL 19 TH F IRST PRACTICE
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
We have just finished the reading of “The Mountain of silence” a book by Kyriakos C. Markides. It was a wonderful experience for all, we could not get enough of it!
Catechism and faith Enrichment Classes for inquirers into the Orthodox faith. Our 2014-2015 program has ended on March 29, but we’ll be back in September !
Many thanks also to all that contributed to the wonderful meals every Wednesday.
Also our parish Library Project is on its way, We are currently looking for book sponsors and volunteers to help with Library management.
We’ll take a little break in April but we’ll be back with a new book in May! Stay tuned!
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 April 2015 SUN
MON
TUE
WED 1 Mary of Egypt
THU
FRI
SAT
2
3
4
Titus the Wonderworker
Nikitas the Confessor Joseph the Hymnographer Small Compline with Canon of St. Lazarus 6Pm
Pre-Sanctified Liturgy 6Pm
5
6
7
Palm Sunday
Holy Monday
Holy Tuesday
George of Maleon 8:00 am Orthros 9:00 am Divine Liturgy 10:00AM Lenten Retreat Great Vespers 5pm
8
9
10
11
Holy Wednesday
Holy Thursday
Holy Friday
Holy Saturday
Pre-Sanctified Liturgy
Pre-Sanctified Liturgy
8:30 am Orthros 9:30 am Divine Liturgy
Eutychios, Pat. Of Constan.
Kalliopios & Akylina,
Eupsychios The Martyr
Terence & his Companions
Antipas, Bishop of Pergamon
Martyrs Claudius, Diodor, Victor and Victorinus
Agavos, Rouphos, Asynkritos, Phlegon,
Pre-Sanctified Liturgy 6am Bridegroom Service 7pm
Pre-Sanctified Liturgy 6am Bridegroom Service 7pm
Pre-Sanctified Liturgy 6am Holy Unction 6pm Holly Supper Matins 7:30pm
Holy Supper Vesperal Liturgy 10am Washing of the Feet Service 11:30 Holy Passions Service 7pm
Royal Hours 9am Service of Taking down from the Cross 3pm Lamentations Service 7pm
Baptisms/Chrismations 9am Divine Liturgy of Descent into Hades 10am Resurrection Service 11:30pm
Bridegroom Service 7pm
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Great and Holy Pascha
Renewal Monday
Renewal Tuesday
Renewal Wednesday
Renewal Thursday
Martin, Pope of Rome
Aristharchos, Pudens, Trophimos Thomais of Alexandria Raphael, Nicholas, Irene
Crescens the Martyr Leonidas, Bishop of Athens
Agape, Chionia, Irene, Martyrs
Renewal Friday Theotokos of the Life Giving Font
12:30 Agape Vespers
Symeon, Bishop of Persia Divine Liturgy and blessing of Waters 6am
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Theodore the Sykeote Nathaniel, Luke & Clemente
Great Martyr George
Vespers 6 pm
Divine Liturgy 6am
18 Renewal Saturday John the Righteous, disciple of Gregory of Decapolis Euthemios, Enlightener of Karelia Great Vespers 5pm
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Elizabeth the Wonderworker Savvas the General of Rome
Mark the Apostle &Evangelist
Sunday of Thomas 8:30 am Orthros 9:30 am Divine Liturgy Pahnoutious the Holy Martyr George the Confessor
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Theodore the Trichinas Zacchaeus of Caesaria
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Basil, Bishop of Amasea
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Great Vespers 5pm
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Strict Fast
Sunday of the Great Myrrh Bearers 8:30 am Orthros 9:30 am Divine Liturgy
Ianouarios and Companions Alexandra the Empress
Symeon the Holy Martyr Eulogios the Innkeeper
9 Monk-martyrs of Cyzikos Memmon the Wonderworker
Jason & Sosipater of the 70 Martyr Cercyra Paraklesis 6 pm
James the Apostle Argyra the New Martyr
Wine/ Oil Allowed
Fish Allowed Fast Free
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THE FORERUNNER
Vol. XXXII No. 4 April 2015
The Holy Resurrection April 12 , 2015