April Volume 11, Issue 04

Transcription

1 April 2016 Volume 11, Issue 04

2 Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church 900 6th Street Sioux City, Iowa Church Office Rev. Fr. Dimitri Tobias, Proistamenos Telephone: Office Fax: Parish Council President: Costa Tsiobanos Worship Hours: Sundays: Weekdays: Esperinos: Thursdays: Orthros 8:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy 9:00 a.m. For Major Feasts 6:00 p.m. Paraklisis Service 6:00 p.m. 1st of Every Month: Agiasmos Service 8:30 a.m. unless there is a service, in which case it will take place 30 minutes prior to Orthros Year Long Ministries Weekly Sunday School: (During School Year) Following Holy Communion Greek Dance: (During School Year) TBD Wednesdays from 5:00 6:00 p.m. Healthy Body/Healthy Soul Wednesdays from 4:30 5:00 p.m. Monthly Orthodoxy on Tap Check Calendar Philoptochos Check Calendar Youth Ministries JOY GOYA- 1st Wednesday 6:00 p.m. 2nd Wednesday 6:00 pm Seasonal Ministries to begin in Spring: Bible Study: Thursdays from 8:30 9:30 a.m. Blessed Darkness (Adult Education): Tuesdays 7:00 8:00 p.m. St. Basil s Students (Adult Education): Thursdays from 6:30 7:30 p.m. Minerva Faith Group (Adult Education): Tuesdays from 12:30 2:00 p.m. St. Moses the Black Men s Group (Adult Education) Wednesdays from 9:30 10:30 a.m. Athletics Check Calendar April 2016 Page 2

3 Table of Contents Registry Page 4 Father s Message Page 5-7 President s Message Page 7 Stewardship Page 9 Philoptochos Page 10 Ministries Page 11 Services Page Posters Page Outreach Page 15 Pictures Page Church Staff Parish Priest/ Editor: Rev. Fr. Dimitri Tobias Parish Council President: Costa Tsiobanos Office Director Mary Sharp Philoptochos President: Dr. Fotene Karantinos Book Store: Kiki Karras & Dr. Fotene Karantinos Sunday School Director: Shanda Antonopoulos Greek Dance Director: Leah Baryo Youth Directors: Dean & Amy Karras Stewardship: John Bostinelos Orthodoxy on Tap Shanda Antonopoulos Patriarchs: Afrodity Segos We Knead You: Janet Antonopoulos Church & Metropolis News Page 22 Calendar Page 23 Coffee Hour Page 24 Mission of the Parish: To build our Church Family through bountiful religious services, educational classes, fellowship opportunities and outreach. The pillars of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving will feature prominently in the ministries of the Parish. Vision for the Parish: A Dynamic Church, equally strong at home as at the Parish, fortified by Ministries that bring the faithful closer to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, His Holy Mother, and all the Saints. ABRAHAM S PANTRY: Please donate! Foods from Abraham s Pantry are distributed to the local Food Pantries to feed the poor. Check the expiration Date!!! Abraham served the best he had. If we would not eat it, why should we expect someone else to risk getting sick? April 2016 Page 3

4 Registry and Vital Statistics Baptisms: Chrismations: Weddings: Funerals On Saturday, April 2nd John Sydney Baumert will be laid to rest at Memorial Park. May his memory be eternal. ζωή σε σας Holy Trinity Greek Dancers Please contact Leah Brockway if you are interested in signing up your child for Greek Dance! (712) April 2016 Page 4

5 Father Dimitri s Message My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, This Sunday (April 3rd), during the Sunday of the Adoration of the Holy Cross, we will mark the halfway point of the Holy Fast. At this point, many of us may be starting to get into the groove of fasting, praying, and almsgiving. Perhaps we have attended Great Compline, Pre-Sanctified Liturgies, or Salutations to the Theotokos for the first tme. Perhaps we have increased or giving during this period. Perhaps we have tried to increase our fast by making it a little stricter than last year. For many, this might be a time of vitality and increased spirituality, but for many others, the fast has become tiring. For some, focusing on prayers has become difficult; meetings and obligations have suddenly popped up when going to services had been something previously desired. For some, everyday conversations have become irritating and we find ourselves getting annoyed with people in ways we previously would not have. It can seem like a time when we should give up. After all, aren't we only human? This is not crazy. This is by spiritual design. It is not merely lack of healthy fats in the brain causing irritability and increased tiredness. Our enemy who never sleeps and does not need to eat, has increased his war against you to destroy the holiness of your fast. He wants you to give up. Worse, he wants you to judge your brothers and sisters, whether for their sinful behavior or because they do not hold to the fast like you do. So wily is our enemy that he attacks from the other side too. He makes us believe that others are judging us whether for lack of strict fasting or missing service or Church events. He, the great divider, wants to sew discord within our spiritual and physical families. It is for this reason that our Mother Church places right in the middle of Lent the Adoration of the Precious Holy Cross. Some might look to this to remind us that our paltry suffering cannot compare to the brutality of what our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ suffered on the Cross, but the Cross is not meant to be a source of guilt for our weakness. This is not to say, Well Jesus is God, so of course He can whether the cross and all human suffering. Not even remotely. Jesus Christ is indeed 100% God, but He is also 100% human. He showed this to us in several ways. He wept for His friend Lazarus (John 11:35). But the most telling example of His humanity comes to us in the Garden of Gethsemane in which He asked that this cup be taken away. That is, he was praying to God the Father that He not have to face the Scourging, the Crown of Thorns, the Cross, and Death (Matthew 26:39, Mark 14:36, and Luke 22:42). It is very human to fear pain and death, but in all things Jesus Christ teaches us Thy will be done, as he immediately states, nevertheless, not my will, but Your will be done. The cross was not an easy task. Even though it was a task that our Lord Himself agreed to. Our forefather, the Righteous Abraham met with the Lord under the Oak of Mamre. There, the Lord promised for the third time that he and Sarah would conceive and bear a son, Isaac (Genesis 18). At that meeting the Lord gave the three staffs He and the two angels carried as a symbol of that promise. Shortly after this event the Lord rained fire and brimstone on the April 2016 Page 5

6 Frescoes of the Monastery of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem towns of Sodom and Gomorrah. Only Lot and his family were spared, but his wife turned to look back despite the warning not to and was turned to a pillar of salt (Genesis 19). In terror, Lot took his daughters to a cave in Zoar where they caused their father to get drunk and slept with him begetting the Moabites and the Ammonites, two cursed lines because of their incestuous origin. This ends the Scriptural story of Lot. However, according to Holy Tradition in the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Lot traveled to his uncle Abraham and asked what he could do to be forgiven this terrible sin. Abraham told him to plant the green staffs and then travel a half a days journey to the River Jordan to bring water to them. On the day the staffs flowered, Lot would know God had forgiven him. This meant he would need to spend an entire day to bring back the water. Each time Lot would come back, he would lose the water. Whether it was giving thirsty pilgrims drink, or thieves stealing the water, or the sack of water tearing, or the donkey losing its footing or the buckle holding the water, or even the devil himself swallowing the water, not even a single drop touched the staffs, which still had not died. This did not happen over the course of a few days, but over the span of 40 years. My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ. We are losing heart over 40 days. Lot went 40 years. He could have thought, God will never forgive me. Surely I should accept these signs of his wrath and accept my fate. I should give up. But he never did, so zealously did he desire forgiveness of his sin. After 40 years, the Lord accepted the water, and out of a single root came three trees: cedar, cypress and pine; a clear reference to the Trinity. This tree was cut down to help build the Temple of Solomon, but the wood would not cooperate. Despite measuring it, the wood would sometimes be too long, and others too short. They discovered that the wood would contract and expand constantly, making it worthless to building. The wood was placed in the Temple Storeroom until the Crucifixion of Christ in which the Sanhedrin desired to make the execution of Jesus more painful. This shows us that Jesus Christ, the Lord, provided the very wood of the Cross to us, and from its inception it related to the forgiveness of sins. Let us venerate the Cross of the Lord, offering our tender affection as the cypress, the sweet fragrance of our faith as the cedar, and our sincere love as the pine; and let us glorify our Deliverer who was nailed upon it.* * A reference to the three kinds of wood from which the Cross was made; cf. Isa. 60:13 (Sept.). Wednesday Orthros of the Fourth Week of Lent, Ode 7, Lenten Triodion April 2016 Page 6

7 Therefore, let us not allow the evil one to rob us of our salvation. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us ( 1 John 1:8). There is no sin He will not forgive if we repent earnestly. Let us earnestly seek our forgiveness as Lot did. Let us, during this midpoint of Great Lent, look to the source of our hope: the Precious Cross. Let us lift it up and cry out the triumphal Apolytikion: Save O Lord, Your people and bless Your inheritance, grant victory to the faithful against the adversaries of the faith. And protect your people by the power of Your Cross. We are halfway there. Let us finish the Fast strong and greet Holy Week strengthened. Before Your Cross, we bow down, O Master, and Your holy resurrection we glorify. I remain your servant in Christ, Fr. Dimitri Tobias, Proistamenos Friends and family of Holy Trinity, President s Message As I sit down to write this month s message, a quote that I read and had previously heard keeps coming back to me. I have read more than a few motivational articles looking for ways to motivate teams that I coached in the past. What is different about our Church is that we have motivated individuals that keep us moving forward and they don t need a pep talk from the counsel on what we need to do as a group to keep moving forward. What I believe we need to do is get better at asking people to help when there is a task that needs to be done. It is my hope that members of our community will respond by saying yes we can help. The quote I was referring to above is from Wayne Gretzky, the greatest hockey player of all time. I heard one of my sons coaches use it this hockey season and I have heard it used many times before in motivational settings. The phrase goes a good hockey player goes to where the puck is. A great hockey player goes to where the puck is going to be. Why is this fitting for Holy Trinity? It fits our church because we are a point where we need to start looking at what lies ahead of us in the future and not what is affecting us present day. We will still always have current pressing needs that will have to be addressed like broken pipes, leaky faucets, AC s that need to be replaced. What we should start focusing on is what we need to do to keep our church viable for the next generation. Take a moment out of your busy schedule to answer the question what does our church need for the future? If you have an idea, share it with somebody. Share it with a member of the parish counsel. The only bad idea is the one that is not shared! Costa Tsiobanos 2016, Parish Council President April 2016 Page 7

8 Stavroproskiniseos Tray donated to Holy Trinity Calling all Baklava and Spanakopita Makers!! Friday, April 15 th at 10:00 am Saturday, April 16 th at 9 a.m. Sunday, April 17 th if needed for Baklava and Spanakopita making as we begin to prepare for the Festival. April 2016 Page 8

9 Stewardship Time-Talent-Treasure It s amazing to me that so many causes are funded at Holy Trinity Church by a membership that is not large but so generous. We all like to do our part funding the Grecian Dinners and the Festival by donating time, talent, and treasure and even products. Add to those endeavors, the GOYA projects, AHEPA events, Philoptochos projects, and fundraisers to purchase chairs and tables for the basement, the Icon project, and the list goes on and on. Not everyone participates in all efforts, because of personal reasons. Not everyone agrees with all things all of the time. Even so, every project gets it s share of participation and funding. To me, it s Stewardship in action. I know sometimes it seems that the demand for funds is never ending. It s like opening your mail box at home and finding bill after bill that s due and payable. Church is our home away from home and it s mail box is filled with bills that are due and payable too. When we pledge our time talent and treasure, we commit our selves to being good Stewards, which means you promise to commit your time talent and treasure to support Holy Trinity Church. Like I said in the first paragraph, I m amazed at how well we participate. My personal thank you goes to our membership. John Bostinelos, Stewardship Chair Fr. Dimitri & Presbytera Mary Tobias Mr. & Mrs. Perry Antonopoulos Dr. & Dr. Kosta Antonopoulos Mr. & Mrs. Tony Antonopoulos Mr. & Mrs. John Baryo Mr. Tom Baryo Mr. & Mrs. Sid Baumert Mr. & Mrs. George Belbis Mr. & Mrs. Emmanuel Bikakis Mr. & Mrs. Dimitri Bostinelos Mr. & Mrs. John Bostinelos Mr. & Mrs. Greg Boucher Mr. & Mrs. Pete Bovis Mr. & Mrs. Beau Brockway Mr. & Mrs. George Demetroulis Mr. & Mrs. Kosta Demetroulis Ms. Georgia Diavastes Mr. & Mrs. Emmanuel Eliades-Kennelly Mrs. Coula Foundoulakis Holy Trinity 2016 Stewards Mr. Vaios Gennatos Mr. & Mrs. James Giasafakis Mr, & Mrs. Casey Glanzer Mr. & Mrs. Craig Golden Mr. & Mrs. Vasilios Holevas Mr. & Mrs. Rick Jones Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Karantinos Dr. Fotene Karantinos Mr. & Mrs. Dean Karras Mr. & Mrs. Alex Karras Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Ketchelos Mr. & Mrs. Dave Kjos Mrs. Bessie Klimiades Mr. & Mrs. George Klimiades Mr. & Mrs. Tim Konidas Ms. Anna Kounas Mr. & Mrs. Chris Kounas Mr. & Mrs. Harry Kouris Mr. John Lazaris Mr. & Mrs. Lyle Listamann Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Margeas Mrs. Daisy Margeas Mr. & Mrs. John Margeas Mr. & Mrs. Steve Margeas Mr. & Mrs. Tim Margellos Mr. & Mrs. Ray McAvoy Mr. & Mrs. Mike Michelakakis Mr. & Mrs. Dale Milbrodt Mrs. Olympia Niederecker Mr. & Mrs. George Paradise Dr. & Mrs. Michael Paradise Mr. & Mrs. George Poulos Mrs. Maria Rigas Mr. & Mrs. Roger Schultz Mr. & Mrs. Zachary Schultz Mrs. Nancy Selleris Mrs. Richard Sharp Mrs. Helen Siganos Mr. & Mrs. Eric Smith Mrs. Anna Theros Dr. Andrew Tobias Dr. & Mrs. Richard Tobias Mr. & Mrs. Costa Tsiobanos Mr. & Mrs. George Tsiobanos Mrs. Joan Vlahoulis Mr. John Vlahoulis Mr. Spyro Yianopoulos April 2016 Page 9

10 Philoptochos News Kali Sarakosti, As we entered the Lenten season, Philoptochos dutifully fulfilled the devotion of almsgiving this month. Once again with the youth, we participated in the Soup Kitchen this time helping prepare and serve 46 meals to those in need. What a humbling and great learning experience for not only our youth but everyone present. For myself, I was thankful for the blessing I do have. Throughout the month, several Philoptochos members have done double duty preparing wonderful lenten dishes after the Wednesday evening services that we share in fellowship with our St. Thomas neighbors. Then on the Sunday of Orthodoxy, we hosted a spaghetti luncheon to support the national cause of rebuilding the new St. Nicholas Shrine at Ground Zero. Even though this church is far from us, and most will never see it, many of us understand that we are all one church family and that will help each other. For progress on rebuilding, please visit and according to schedule the church will be completed for Pascha 2017! And finally, on the 26th of March, the Philoptochos society hosted parishioners, friends of Philoptochos and Orthodoxy on Tap for the My Big Fat Orthodoxy on Tap fundraiser. What an exciting night to see so many of us dressed in our best greek flag colors, for the premiere of the new movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2. For the evening,we were transported back to Toula and Ian s reception complete with appetizers, souvenirs, and boubouneires! All funds raised from this event will be earmarked for our local projects throughout the year. As we branch out and do more outreach, I would like to say yes to projects as needs arise. And above all, I would like to thank EVERYONE who either cooked, baked, organized, cleaned and supported our events! Upcoming for the Month of April: Sunday, April 3rd following church will be the Stavroproskenisis Luncheon Saturday April 9th will be the April meeting at 5:30 p.m. at Trattoria Fresca. With Sisterly Agape, Dr. Fotene Karantinos, Chapter President Congratulations Michelle Bostinelos We as a community congratulate Michelle Bostinelos as the new Executive Director of Simpco, Siouxland Interstate Metropolitan Planning Council April 2016 Page 10

11 Youth Corner On March 9th the GOYA once again helped at the Soup Kitchen. What a beautiful Lenten example of Almsgiving. We also congratulate Sophia Karras and the SBL 5th Grade Girls Basketball Team for taking 1st in the Edgar s Basketball Tournament in Elk Point, SD. Sunday School 2016 Sunday of Orthodoxy Please continue to bring your child to Sunday School. They learn so much and our teachers work so hard to prepare lessons. Thank you for taking an active role in your child s salvation. Please also remember to pray with your child at home, and ask him/her what he/she learned this week in Sunday School! Kindergarten 2nd Grade Sunday School Projects SAVE THE DATE VACATION CHURCH SCHOOL June 6-9 April 2016 Page 11

12 April 3 Sunday of the Holy Cross With the help of God, we have almost reached the middle of the course of the Fast, where our strength has been worn down through abstinence, and the full difficulty of the labour set before us becomes apparent. Therefore our holy Mother, the Church of Christ, now brings to our help the all-holy Cross, the joy of the world, the strength of the faithful, the staff of the just, and the hope of sinners, so that by venerating it reverently, we might receive strength and grace to complete the divine struggle of the Fast. Apolytikion in the First Tone Lord, save Your people and bless Your inheritance, granting our rulers to prevail over adversaries, and protecting Your commonwealth by Your Cross. April 10 Sunday of St. John Climacus (The Ladder of Divine Ascent) The memory of this Saint is celebrated on March 30, where his biography may be found. He is celebrated today because his book, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, is a sure guide to the ascetic life, written by a great man of prayer experienced in all forms of the monastic polity; it teaches the seeker after salvation how to lay a sound foundation for his struggles, how to detect and war against each of the passions, how to avoid the snares laid by the demons, and how to rise from the rudimental virtues to the heights of Godlike love and humility. It is held in such high esteem that it is universally read in its entirety in monasteries during the Great Fast. Apolytikion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone With the rivers of your tears, you have made the barren desert fertile. Through sighs of sorrow from deep within you, your labors have borne fruit a hundredfold. By your miracles you have become a light, shining upon the world. O John, our Holy Father, pray to Christ our God, to save our souls. April 17 - Sunday of St. Mary of Epypt The memory of this Saint is celebrated on April 1, where her life is recorded. Since the end of the holy Forty Days is drawing nigh, it has been appointed for this day also, so that if we think it hard to practice a little abstinence forty days, we might be roused by the heroism of her who fasted in the wilderness forty-seven years; and also that the great loving-kindness of God, and His readiness to receive the repentant, might be demonstrated in very deed. Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone The image of God, was faithfully preserved in you, O Mother. For you took up the Cross and followed Christ. By Your actions you taught us to look beyond the flesh for it passes, rather to be concerned about the soul which is immortal. Wherefore, O Holy Mary, your soul rejoices with the angels. April 2016 Page 12

13 Confession with Fr. Christodoulos Monday, April 18 th Tuesday, March Aril 19 th Wednesday, April 20 th Call Fr. Dimitri Tobias to make an appointment on one of these three days. Pray and think and your confession over several days. Ask God to help you perceive your sins and to make a thorough confession of them. Sometime before the sacrament of Holy Confession, offer selected prayers from the following Confessional Prayers, Psalm 51 or the following prayer of repentance: Prayer of Repentance O Lord my God, I confess that I have sinned against You in thought, word and deed. I have also omitted to do what Your holy law requires of me. But now with repentance and contrition I turn again to Your love and mercy. I entreat You to forgive me all my transgression and to cleanse me from all my sins. Lord, fill my heart with the light of Your truth. Strengthen my will by Your grace. Teach me both to desire and to do only what pleases You. Amen. Now, without justification or self-pity, make a prayerful examinations of your conscience regarding all things. As a help, reflect on your life in the light of the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes. Take pencil and paper and specify your sins so that, at the time of the sacrament, you will be able to make a thorough confession from the list, without confusion or lapse of memory. The Ten Commandments I am the Lord your God, and you shall have no other gods before me. Has God been the source, center and hope of my life? Have I put myself, others or things before God? Have I failed to trust in God's existence, love and mercy? Have I failed to pray to God, to worship Him and to thank Him for His blessings? Have I tried to serve God and keep His commandments faithfully? Have I murmured or complained against God in adversity? Have I praised and glorified God through my words and deeds? You shall not make for yourself a graven image in order to worship it. Have I valued anyone or anything above God? Have I given to anyone or anything the love, honor and worship that belongs to God alone? Have I made and idol of any person, idea, occupation, or thing? You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. Have I blasphemed God's holy name in any way? Have I sworn a false oath? Have I broken any solemn vow or promise? Have I entered into an agreement, promise or contract against God's law? Have I cursed or used foul language? Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Have I worshiped regularly on Sundays and major feast days and have I helped others to do the same? Have I worked unnecessarily on Sundays or major feast days or caused others to do so? Have I spent the Lord's Day in a wholesome and edifying ways? Honor your father and mother Have I loved and respected my parents as I should? Have I neglected them or failed to help them? Have I disobeyed them, deceived them or caused them pain by my words or deeds? Have I treated all my family members with patience and love? Thou shall not kill. Have I caused the harm, injury or death of anyone? Have I wished my own or anyone's harm or death? Have I been cruel to animals or destroyed any life unnecessarily? You shall not commit adultery. Have I committed any immoral acts alone or with others? Have I caused others to commit immoral acts? Have I committed immoral acts in my heart? You shall not steal. Have I taken anything that was not mine from anyone or from anywhere? Have I cheated anyone? Have I caused others to steal or cheat? Have I tried to find the owners of lost things I have found? Have I damaged or destroyed anything that belonged to another? Have I defrauded anyone of rightful wages? Have I paid my debts? Have I given to the poor and to philanthropic causes in proportion to my means? You shall not bear false witness. Have I given false testimony against anyone? Have I spoken evil, told lies or spread rumors about anyone? Have I disclosed to anyone the sins and faults of another? Have I made careless statements or done April 2016 Page 13

14 anything else to harm the name and reputation of another? Have I engaged in idle gossip? You shall not covet. Have I looked with envy jealousy or hatred toward the possession talents or achievements of others? Have I desired the downfall or loss of others out of evil intent that I might benefit? Have I grieved that God has bestowed greater blessings on others than on me? The Beatitudes Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Have I truly recognized my complete dependence on God? Have I been proud arrogant and self-righteous in my ways? Have I been selfish, possessive and selfseeking? Have I sought after status power and wealth? Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Have I endured difficulties and afflictions with faith and patience? Have I felt sadness for the sufferings of the poor, the hungry, and addicted; the sick, the lonely and the sinful of the world? Have I truly been sorrowful for my sins and faults? Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Have I tried to serve or rather to dominate others at home, school, work, office, Church and elsewhere? Have I nursed against anyone? Have I been resentful, bitter, unforgiving or insulting and abusive to others? Have I loved my enemies? Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Have I truly yearned for God's will to be done in all things? Have I worked for justice in my family, society and the world in ways with in my reach? Have I tried to cultivate a righteous life through prayer, fasting, worship, receiving Holy Communion and deeds of love toward others? Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Have I shown compassion and help toward the poor, hungry, lonely and needy around me? Have I tried to understand and forgive others? Have I been indifferent judgmental or legalistic? Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Have I loved goodness, purity and holiness? Have I succumbed to evil motives and intentions? Have I given way to impure thoughts, words or deeds? Have I been guilty of bias and prejudice? Have I been hypocritical, pretentious or self-indulgent to sinful passions? Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Do I have God's peace in my heart? Have I been unfairly angry, aggressive or impatient? Have I worked for peace at home, work, Church and in society? Have I been irritable, polemical, or divisive? Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Have I complained when persecuted for God's sake? Have I prayed for my persecutors? Have I failed to defend anyone in the truth for fear of humiliation or persecution? Have I had the courage to stand up for what is right despite criticism, ridicule or persecution? Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you on my account; rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven Is the joy of Christ in my heart even in trying moments? Have I been pessimistic despondent or despairing? Have I truly delighted in the promise of God's treasures in heaven? April 2016 Page 14

15 Daughters of Penelope Daughters Pascha Bread and Tsoureki Sale to take place Tuesday April 19 th. 9:00 a.m. Please see Joan Vlahoulis to place your orders or Sign Up in Parish Hall. They can be picked up that day or else over the weekend Matthew 25: The Last Judgement For I was hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me drink: Please donate food to Abraham s Pantry. Please volunteer at the Soup Kitchen. Upcoming Philoptochos Program I was a stranger, and you took me in: Please welcome our Catechumens Naked, and you clothed me: Please consider donating clothes to Abraham s Pantry I was sick, and you visited me: Please pray for the speedy recovery of: Barbara, Sophia, Nicholas, Chris, Polyxeni, Stavros, Mary, Maria, Maria, Nicholas, Chris, Stavros I was in prison, and you came unto me: Please pray for and consider visiting our shut-ins. Stella Kreekos (Westwood Nursing home), Maria Baumert (Embassy Rehab), Georgia Diavastes (at home), Betty Pavlushik (at home) Save the Date! 2016 GreekFest July 29, 30, &31st Please see Festival Chairs Christine McAvoy and Shanda Antonopoulos April 2016 Page 15

16 Holy Week Liturgical Schedule Saturday, April 23 Saturday of Lazarus Orthros 9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy 10:00 a.m. Sunday, April 24 Palm Sunday Orthros 9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy 10:00 a.m. Holy Monday Orthros Orthros 6:00 p.m. Monday, April 25 Holy Tuesday Orthros Orthros 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 26 Holy Wednesday Orthros Orthros 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 27 Unction Ευχέλιον Service Unction 3:00 p.m. Holy Thursday Orthros Orthros 6:00 p.m. (With Unction) Palm Sunday Fish Luncheon Adults $8.00 Children $5.00 April 2016 Page 16

17 Thursday, April 28 Vesperal Divine Liturgy Vesperal Liturgy 9:00 a.m. The Passion Service Orthros 6:00 p.m. Friday, April 29 The Hours Hours 9:00 a.m. The Apokatheilosis Vespers 3:00 p.m. (The Removal from the Cross) The Lamentations Lamentations 6:00 p.m. Saturday, April 30 The Protianastasi (Little Resurrection) Vesperal Liturgy 9:00 a.m. The Orthros of the Resurrection Orthros 11:00 p.m. Sunday, May 1 The Resurrection Come Receive the Light 12:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy 12:30 a.m. Light Meal Following The Agape Vespers Vespers 12:00 p.m. Easter Egg Hunt for the Children AGAPE Luncheon 1:00 p.m. Adults $25 Children 5 yrs. no Charge Youths 6-18 $10 April 2016 Page 17

18 CALLING ALL YOUNG LADIES We need our darling myrofores (myrrh bearing women) for Holy Friday Night Please wear a white dress and see Michelle Bostinelos if you are interested in your child participating! Please Join us following the Proti-Anastasi Liturgy April 30th Holy Saturday Morning to wrap the Easter Eggs for the Paschal Service! CALLING ALL STRONG ARMS We need volunteers to carry the Kouvouklion around the Church Holy Friday Night. Please participate in the honor of carrying the bier of our Lord Jesus Christ. See John Vlahoulis if you are interested participating! AGAPE VESPERS SUNDAY MAY 1ST Please contact Fr. Dimitri to read the Gospel in a Foreign Language! Looking for: Spanish Italian Chinese Tigrinia Latin Russian Romanian Swahili German Arabic Oromo English French Japanese Amharic ETC. April 2016 Page 18

19 A PASCHA PARISH CELEBRATION AND LUNCHEON EASTER SUNDAY May 1 st FOLLOWING AGAPE SERVICE SERVING A TRADITIONAL GREEK EASTER FEAST! APPETIZERS ROASTED LAMB BAKED HAM OVEN POTATOES SPANAKOPITA TYROPITA SALAD *DESSERTS & BEVERAGES ADULTS $ AND UNDER $ AND UNDER NO CHARGE Contact Mary Baryo for reservations April 2016 Page 19

20 I never saw another Butterfly March 2 Leah Brockway honored for her work during Tolerance Week March 9 Soup Kitchen Shift 1 & 2 March 15 Koulouma Dinner 1st Salutations to the Theotokos Annunciation April 2016 Page 20

21 Western Region Metropolis of Chicago Tournament (Feb ) My Big Fat Greek Orthodoxy on Tap Philoptochos Party March 26 April 2016 Page 21

22 Parish News April 3 April 9 April April 20 Stavroproskiniseos Luncheon & General Assembly Philoptochos Meeting at Trattoria Fresca at 5:30 pm Confessions with Rev. Fr. Christodoulos Margellos April 15,16 Spanakopita and Baklava Baking April 19 April 23 May 1 April 23 April 30 May 1 May 4-6 Daughters of Penelope Tsoureki Sale Holy Week Saturday of Lazarus Palm Cross Workshop Wrapping Easter Eggs after morning Liturgy PASCHA PARISH CELEBRATION AND LUNCHEON Pilgrimage Trip to Retreat Center May 9 13 Metropolis News Metropolis of Chicago Clergy Retreat Fr. Dimitri will be out of town for this period. All pastoral emergencies that cannot be handled over the phone should be directed to Rev. Fr. Lucas Rice (712) mobile April 2016 Page 22

23 24 8:30 am Sunday Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy 11:30 am Choir Practice 6:00 pm Orthros of Holy Monday 25 6:00 pm Orthros of Holy Tuesday 26 6:00 pm Orthros of Holy Wednesday 27 3:00 pm Euchelion (Unction) Service 6:00 pm Orthros of Holy Thursday 28 9:00 am Royal Hours Apokatheilosis 6:00 pm Removal from Cross) Lamentations 29 Vesperal Liturgy of the 9:00 am The Mystical Supper 3:00 pm The The Passion Service (The the 6:00 pm The 30 11:00 pm Orthros of the Resurrection 11:59 pm Pascha 9:00 am Vesperal Liturgy of the Proti Anastasi 17 8:30 am Sunday Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy 11:30 am Choir Practice :00 am Daughters of Penelope Tsoureki Sale 20 4:30 pm Healthy Body Healthy Soul 6:00 pm Liturgy of the Pre- Sanctified Gifts at Holy Trinity :00 pm Office Hours 6:30 pm Little Compline with 5:00 pm Byzantine Music Class Canon of Lazarus 23 8:30 am Saturday of Lazarus Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy 11:30 am Holy Week Retreat and Decorations 10 8:30 am Sunday Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy 11:30 am Choir Practice 11 6:00 pm Great Compline :30 pm Healthy Body Healthy Soul 6:00 pm Liturgy of the Pre- Sanctified Gifts at St. Thomas 14 2:00 pm Office Hours 5:00 pm Byzantine Music Class 15 10:00 am Spanakopita & Baklava 6:00 pm The Akathist Hymn 16 9:00 am Spanakopita & Baklava 3 General Assembly 4 Stabroproskiniseos Luncheon 6:00 pm Great Compline 8:30 am Sunday Orthros 7:00 pm Parish Council followed by Divine Meeting Liturgy 11:30 am Choir Practice :30 pm Healthy Body Healthy 2:00 pm Office Hours 6:00 pm Salutations to the Soul 5:00 pm Byzantine Music Class Theotokos 6:00 pm Liturgy of the Pre- Sanctified Gifts at Holy Trinity 9 5:30 pm Philoptochos Meeting at Trattoria Fresca 1 6:00 pm Salutations to the Theotokos April 2016 Page 23 2 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Holy Trinity GOC April 2016

24 Prosforo to be offered by the following Families on the following Dates: April 3 Mr. & Mrs. Periklis Antonopoulos Mrs. Daisy Margeas Mr. & Mrs. John Kounas Mr. Spero Vlahoulis April 10 Mr. & Mrs. Pete Bovis Mrs. Joan Vlahoulis Mr. & Mrs. Lyle Listamann Mr. Spyro Yianopoulos April 17 Mr. & Mrs. Peter Konidas Mrs. Leah Brockway Mr. & Mrs. Nick Kasotakis Mrs. Anna Theros April 24 Mr. & Mrs. Ray McAvoy Mrs. Nancy Selleris Mr. & Mrs. Paul Madsen Mrs. Cula Fondoulakis May 1 Mr. & Mrs. Richard Presbytera Vasiliki Mr. & Mrs. Robert Mrs. Maria Rigas Sharp Balomenos Ladeas-Conyers May 8 Mr. & Mrs. Rick Jones Dr. & Dr. Kosta Antonopoulos Mr. & Mrs. Spero Siganos Mrs. Mary Eliades May 15 Mr. & Mrs. Roger Schultz Dr. Fotene Karantinos Mr. & Mrs. Ted Mihelakakis Ms. Cornelia Ketchelos May 22 Mr. & Mrs. Steve Fr. Dimitri & Presbytera Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Mr. Bill Margellos Margeas Mary Tobias Ketchelos May 29 Mr. & Mrs. Timothy Davenport Mr. & Mrs. Alex Karras Mr. & Mrs. Tim Konidas Mr. Chris Jones We need Coffee Hour Sponsors! Does a loved one have a name day, birthday, anniversary, memorial coming up? Why not honor that loved one by sponsoring the Coffee Hour in his/her/their honor? Check the Coffee Hour Section of the Website to see open days. Sun April 3 Sun April 10 Sun April 17 Sun April 24 Stavroproskiniseos Luncheon Coffee Hour: The Bikakis Family Coffee Hour: Palm Sunday Luncheon April 2016 Page 24